Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Rise

"You've seen my descent. Now watch my rising." - Rumi

"She's admirable, isn't she?"

Naruto's gazing out across the village, feet dangling over the edge of the Hokage cliff. His blue eyes are tinted gold from the rays of the sinking sun.

Sasuke tilts his head in Naruto's direction, mismatched eyes shifting ever so slightly to look at him. He is a man of few words; his body language is a question in itself, and Naruto knows him well enough to recognize it.

"Sakura-chan, that is," the blond responds, jutting his chin outward, eyes still focused on the village below.

Sasuke follows his gaze slowly, finally landing on a splash of pink hair and green eyes that glitter happily even at a distance.

She's walking next to Yamanaka Ino, lips curved into a full smile, laughing at something the blonde girl has said. Ino slings her arm around Sakura's shoulders, her free hand gesturing forcefully in the air, mouth moving quickly as she speaks.

Suddenly Inuzuka Kiba runs up behind them, jumping between the two girls and pulling them both close under his arms. Ino brings her fist down on his head, but Sakura only smiles wider, and ruffles Kiba's hair as he beams, talking excitedly.

They disappear around a corner, but Sasuke's gaze doesn't move.

"I mean, just think about it. Look at the two of us. You're an Uchiha. You were destined to be great ever since you were born," Naruto continues, turning now to face his friend. "My dad was the Fourth Hokage, and I've got this damn fox inside me. Even the rest of the Rookie Nine, they're all from shinobi families. They had family jutsu that they started learning ever since they could walk."

Naruto shakes his head. His lips turn up at the edges. "But Sakura-chan? Everything she's done, everything she's learned—none of it was given to her. She busted her ass again and again until she felt like she was strong enough to prove herself to the world. And now she's probably one of the strongest kunoichi in all the Hidden villages."

Naruto's bright blue eyes meet Sasuke's as he twists his head away from the scene. "Crazy, huh? She really is something special."

Shaking his head a little once more, Naruto then rises to his feet, intent on being back home before the sun sets completely. He leaps out into the air and is gone in a flash of orange color, leaping from rooftop to rooftop.

Sasuke leaves soon after, off to train with what little light the sun still has to offer him. An hour later, cloaked in darkness, sweat, and dirt, he makes his way home, and just as he's passing by the hospital something catches his eye, and he decides to take a look back.

Sakura's stepping out of the hospital's front doors, pulling her short pink hair free of its ponytail, muttering to herself as she makes her way down the steps. She yawns widely, then pauses.

Sasuke freezes. She couldn't notice him, could she? No, surely not. He's hidden perfectly in the shadows, shrouded in darkness.

Seconds later, Sakura merely turns her gaze upward to the sky, and Sasuke relaxes just a bit.

The moon is almost full. It shines a bright white, thousands of stars glittering beside it.

Sakura smiles a small smile. Her eyes close for just a moment before reopening. And with the smile still on her face she continues away from the hospital until she's gone from his sight.

Alone in the shadows, Sasuke thinks to himself that a lot has changed. And for the first time since he left, he thinks that Sakura is one of them. Who she was in the past and the woman she is now are two completely different people. He likes to think he knows Naruto, even though he left for so long, but Sakura?

No, Sasuke thinks. He doesn't know Sakura well at all.

But he agrees with Naruto. The dobe was right. She's admirable—if nothing else—for the path she has created for herself. He'll give her that.

With that thought, Sasuke turns and continues to make his way back home.

A/N: Hello friends! Long time no see. :) Life has changed for me so much in the two years (?) or so since I last posted a fanfic here. But I'm back and better than ever. "Out of the Smoke, into the Fire" fans: please don't kill me. One day! I promise, one day that story will be finished. Today just isn't the time.

Besides that, I'm extremely excited for this story. More so than any other story I've ever written.

You'll be hearing from me soon. :)

Best,

Shannon