Chapter Text
A long while has passed since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War. With all the peace going around the continent, many shinobi have taken the chance to relax and some even decided to start families.
Sakura on the other hand wasn't looking to start a family just yet. Oh no, she was at the top of her game after all. Head of the Hospital, head of a new project to help children deal with the aftermath of the war... Everything was going in her favor.
That is except for love.
With everything that happened, her feelings for a certain wandering shinobi have changed drastically. She still cares for Sasuke as a friend, but her love for him... it wasn't the same.
Her eyes have been opened. Sure it hurt for a while there, but she eventually got over it. Having Sasuke as a teammate and close friend was all that truly mattered.
She smiles at the thought of the team when Sasuke came back for a briefing during his trip for finding himself. They all went out for ramen during his little stay and Sakura glances between him, Naruto, Sai, Yamato, and even Kakashi. Sighing happily, she rests her chin on her hand and closes her eyes. This really is the best.
But, something popped into her head. Looking to Naruto and his extremely bright smile that could light up the world, she smiles again, but softer this time as her heart skipped a beat. She should ask him, but... it could wait til later. She could ask Kakashi since he's right next to her.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi looks over with both eyes away from his beloved novel, "Mm?"
"Would you do all this again? I mean, training us the way you did?"
Humming softly, the older Jonin closes his green book and taps the binding gently against the table in front of him. "Now that is an interesting question. I'd have to say yes and no. I definitely wouldn't be as naïve as I was if I tried to do it again. And I'd definitely pay attention to each and every one of you. Rather than just one."
Sakura smirks at that. "Would you have gone out with Anko-sensei earlier on too?"
Kakashi sputters and blushes faintly and that was just what Sakura wanted to hear.
Turning her attention away from her sensei, Sakura asks everyone aside from Naruto. They pretty much gave the same answers, which doesn't surprise her.
After their dinner, they went their separate ways, but Sakura told Naruto to walk with her as they went towards her apartment.
"So, Naruto... I know you heard me asking everything questions..."
Naruto nods enthusiastically. "Uh, yeah duh! You didn't even ask me! That's not cool, Sakura-chan, ya know?"
Sakura laughs. "I wanted to ask you when we were by ourselves. Since the promise I asked you to keep was made just between the two of us..” She smiles faintly as she glances forward, not making any sort of eye contact.
This causes Naruto to look at her with a curious glance. He blinks a few times then crosses his arms up and behind his head. “Well... aren’t you gonna ask me, Sakura-chan?”
She adjusts her side swept bangs then grasps her hands behind her, she takes an exaggerated step and walks backwards to look at him. The smile still on her flawless features. “Naruto, would you have gone through all of this, again, for me? To keep the promise you made to me all those years ago?”
Stopping in his tracks, Naruto looks to the ground. This causes Sakura to stop too as she stares, waiting for him to do something.... say something. Anything. Her heart nearly stops as she worries that all the stress of the promise he made was too much and he wouldn’t want to do it again.
But then again, that’s just not in his nature.
Next thing she knows, his lips is on hers. She stares at him wide eyed. However, the want to hit him or pull away doesn’t occur. Sakura’s eyes close as she leans forward slightly, but as it turns out, Naruto’s the one to pull away. She looks directly into his eyes.
“Sakura-chan... I’d always do anything for you. If I had to do my promise over? I’ll always do it. Again and again. That’s my nindo, ya know? I never go back on my word.” Naruto gives her his signature toothy smile.
Her eyes go wide as she brings a hand to her mouth to hide how happy that makes her to hear this. Naruto is definitely someone she can always count on. “Na-Naruto... Thank you.”
Then they both heard a coughing noise and glance over to the left to see Kakashi with a shit-eating grin under his mask.
“Well, looks like Tenzo owes me 500 ryo. Thank you, Naruto.”
With a look of exasperation, they both groaned at their sensei.
“What? We both bet to see who would kiss who first. And I won. So, thank you, Naruto. Again.”
Sakura mumbles under her breath then crosses her arms, trying to look away and hide her blush.
“You’re the worst, Kakashi-sensei...” Naruto mumbled out as he too tries to hide his blush.