Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 1/ Intro

A rather sleepy Sakura looked outside the vast window of her office. Instantly, she became jealous of the passerby's, as it was the ideal day outside. The sun was completely out as there wasn't a grey cloud pinned in the clear sky. She felt the warmth of a sun ray land on her too fair of skin.

Lately, the days have felt rather dull and lengthened without Naruto and Sasuke pestering her sides. The two nin were both keeping busy with their own tedious tasks and missions, as was she.

Sakura couldn't help but let out a short sigh as she looked at team seven's infamous photo on her desk. Her slim fingers then carefully rested on top of the memorable photo's wooden frame. The medical ninja held Sasuke and Naruto extremely near to her. The three of them have gone through hellfire and surprisingly back. They went from being a clueless pack of genin to a trio of some of the most successful and proficient jōnin. The transformation was inordinate compared to the other teams, and the entire village took notice.

After the passing of their chūnin exams, each member of Team 7 was approved to train with a legendary sannin for three years. Sasuke and Naruto, unfortunately had to leave the enclosed village and train in precise, secretive locations. But luckily, Sakura had the opportunity to stay in Konoha for her continuous training. For three enduring years, Sakura felt as if she was missing an essential piece of her. Although surrounded by people that truly loved her, she ultimately felt alone without the the blonde and the raven haired boy by her side.

Seeing their faces after three entire years, felt like a vivid dream. The two boys, now young men, came back much taller, more masculine and untouchably strong. Easily, they were deemed two of the top shinobi in Konoha. However, that did not just apply to the two of her robust teammates. For the duration of those three years, Sakura underwent a strict regime of her own. The fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, accepted Sakura as her apprentice. In result of her apprenticeship, Sakura obtained the monstrous and vigorous strength of Konoha's only female Hokage. Being able to destroy an entire village in one critical punch, she was feared, but praised.

Besides her newfound strength, Sakura mastered her chakra reserves and succeeded the Byakugō seal. The nimble seal on her forehead was proof and reminder of the precise chakra control she mastered over the span of over a thousand days. The pink haired kunoichi was now known as the strongest medical ninja Konoha had to offer.

Sakura was not just another darling face, she was an entire force to be reckoned with.

Although all three teammates were excessively close, there was an unspeakable closeness between Sasuke and herself. There was always something about the delicate way he would call her name that set a fire inside her. Or maybe it was the way their skin would touch in such a comfortable and familiar manner that made her feel safe within his prolixity. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she was absolutely certain of one thing;

She was most certainly and undeniably in love with him.

Sakura can recall every single day spent at the academy. The small pink haired girl followed Sasuke around like a lovesick teenager. And although Sasuke had quite the crowd, he never gave attention to any of the weeping girls, including Sakura. It wasn't until they were fortunately placed on the same team that Sakura got to really know who Sasuke really was. Behind the rigid and cool persona, stood a cautious and determined man who would fight to the death for his clan and comrades.

For seven years, the duo of three carried out various missions together. These missions ranked from child-like D rank mission to high profile S rank missions. Their days would consist of sleeping under the luminous stars, racing through the lush forest, and most importantly, carrying out and executing rule number four; Always put the mission first.

All while Sakura was in a deep trance that Sasuke unintentionally put her under.

The unfavorable day Sasuke was scheduled to leave Konoha for three entire years, was the day Sakura told herself she would tell him how she ultimately felt. The medic ninja couldn't bare let Sasuke go all those years without knowing her uttermost true feelings about him. And when the time came for his heavy-hearted departure and Sakura caught him off guard at the gates, her frame halted. In only a matter of seconds, her world shattered in a quiet manner. After she wholeheartedly confessed her infinite love to the raven haired boy, she received nothing but silence on his part.

What could have been the most perfect scenario played through her head in an endless loop. But that ungrateful loop came to a sudden hault, as it was bested and vanquished in the blink of an eye. Sakura felt her steamed tears form and hit the rises of her cheeks in a matter of seconds. Although he was the cause of these sudden tears, the red eyed wielder still wiped them away, as he always has.

"I'll see you soon, Sakura."

When a much older Sasuke came back, it was as if nothing had ever happened on that defeated day. He was not distant and he still did not shy away from being around the rose haired girl. It was as if that cruel, degrading moment never happened. The bond between the three students became even stronger. And the bond between Sasuke and Sakura progressed even deeper. Although his silence on that day gave her the response she needed to move on from her child-like love, she didn't dare to.

Either if it was trailing around Konoha's busy streets, walking through the Uchiha compound, or resorting to a tree branch, Sakura felt happiest when he was physically by her side. Any innocent touch or gesture, never ceased to make her feel still infatuated with him. However, she knew she shouldn't feel that certain way. Sakura knew she had to put those infatuating feelings aside, because he didn't reciprocate her warm feelings. Try as she might, it seemed impossible.. as it ultimately was impossible. It was a cruel world, but Sakura grew to not seem to mind, as she was unquestionably content with how things were.

Until Ino told her on that grim day;

"You can't keep going on like this Sakura. What are you going to do when he actually finds someone? We're 18 now, Uchihas are known to get married around this time."

Sakura couldn't sleep that night, nor the following. Ino's words cut deep, and were on a constant cruel loop. What actually would happen if Sasuke actually finds someone? The members of the daunting Uchiha Clan did prefer to marry and court within their own to keep their bloodline pure. Sasuke was turning 19 soon, perhaps the clan heads were selecting someone for him already?

Sakura felt numb at the thought. Her heart was heavy. Sleep wasn't in question that entire week, and the following month.

Slowly but surely, Sakura set aside the somber thoughts and continued to progress with life. She tried the best to her abilities to set her enamored feelings aside, but much to her disliking.. falling out of love wasn't that simple.

Constantly, she swore to herself that Sasuke wrote her off as an interest the moment he first met her. But that changed entirely the day the long awaited Tsukimi festival had come.

3 months earlier

"Hey! Teme!" Naruto called out Sasuke with a mouth full of heavy food. "You're late!"

Sasuke arrived in his casual wear, which somewhat took Sakura by surprise. The dark haired man was always keeping busy with the anbu and being assigned countless missions, which resulted in him fluctuating between both sets of attire. Seeing him in his casual wear made Sakura smile, assuring her that he was still human.

"I was busy, unlike some people." He scoffed. Thankfully, Naruto didn't hear him.

"Sakura." Sasuke's velvet like voice called out.

"Nice to see you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura replied with a beaming smile. "I'm glad you made it."

"N..Naruto-kun."

The three teammates looked behind them to the all too familiar, fragile voice. An always shy looking Hinata stood there, both arms on her clutch, wearing a ravishingly lavander colored Kimono. Sakura couldn't help but feel regret not wearing a kimono like Hinata and the majority of the woman celebrating tonight did so. However, Sakura didn't have time as she came straight from her prolonged hospital shift. She clutched on her dusty-rose colored fleece sweater, feeling underdressed and quite jealous of Hinata's hina doll appearance.

The four of them went about the lively and overcrowded festival. They happily looked at booths, festival games and endless food stalls. Naruto and Hinata were hand in hand as they took the lead, or rather, Naruto took the lead. They looked as happy as every newly engaged couple should look like. Sakura couldn't help but smile seeing the unlikely couple together.

Growing up, Naruto undoubtedly thought he truly loved Sakura. Confession after confession, Sakura would always reject any advances the blonde would slyly try. However, this only fueled a rivalry between the blonde and the cunning Uchiha. As Naruto grew older, he began to understand the complexities that was Sakura's feeling, and ultimately had to learn how to let go. The rejected jinchuriki did not take this as a loss, as he still most importantly had Sakura's undisputed friendship.

Over the last year, Naruto began to develop and understand newfound feelings for the Hyūga princess. After a retrieval mission for the long haired heiress, he ultimately realized he couldn't possibly imagine living without her.

"Sakura." Sasuke called out to her and handed her a half eaten tri-colored dango.

"Oh, thank you, Sasuke-kun."

The four friends sat at a near by bench. They talked amongst themselves about work, missions and life in a general sense. Sakura couldn't help but steal quick glances at Sasuke, as something about him seemed different, but she couldn't quite pin it. It wasn't until Sasuke caught her wandering emerald eyes with his own, that Sakura quickly steered her vision elsewhere.

"Have you picked out a date for the wedding, Hinata?" Sakura asked, rather quickly.

"Ah, well.. not yet," Hinata said with a small smile. "I was thinking in the spring."

"Ah, that would be wonderful," Sakura replied. "That is usually the season for weddings."

Sakura couldn't help but feel a little envious. Although she was nothing but ecstatic for her blonde best friend and the nothing but kind Hinata, she couldn't help but wonder if she'll ever have a wedding too. Weddings are everything to the woman of the leaf. From the engagement, to the actual wedding.. it's all a girl has ever dreamed about growing up. But Sakura was a realist now, and had made peace with her ever-growing situation.

"The moon viewing is about to start," Naruto said with excitement. "Lets go, Hinata." Naruto said as he took his fiance's small hand in his own.

"We'll catch up with you later, Sasuke, Sakura-Chan!" Naruto called out.

Naruto and Hinata disappeared into the crowd of people, leaving Sakura and Sasuke by themselves. Sakura swallowed hard and clasped her hands together. Nervousness took over her senses at the unlikely picture. Although she was use to Sasuke's company, they have never been left alone for Tsukimi before. As it is said, the viewing of the full moon is to be enjoyed with your significant other. And in this case, there was no significant other for either one.

"Sakura."

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

"We should go on that hill." Sasuke said as he pointed to the lonesome hill. She smiled and silently obliged as they both began to disperse from the still crowd and walk up the dispersed hill for a better view of the harvest moon. The two perched on top of the now conquered hill and began to face upwards to the direction of the glistening sky.

"Wow." She said lowly.

Sakura had never seen the moon this close. It almost felt as if someone had lassled the moon and pulled it forward for their viewing. The moon isn't always promised to be full on the night of Tsukimi, but it is said that the moon on the night of is at it's most brightest and it's most beautiful.

"Incredible. Isn't it Sasuke-kun?" She asked with a smile.

"Mm." He quietly agreed.

After a few minutes of viewing the gracious moon, Sasuke broke his trance and reached for something in his pocket. Sakura peeped from the corner of her prying eyes at his distracting doings. She noticed him pull out a pink anemone flower clip that she recalled looking at earlier from one of the street vendors.

"I saw you looking at it." He admitted.

A feeling of astonishment washed over her body at his kind, yet extremely unexpected actions. Although Sasuke was almost always warm to her, she couldn't recall a moment similar to this. They've shared food, water and other necessities, but she couldn't recall him ever giving her a gift this intimate.. especially in the middle of Tsukimi.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." She let out.

"Here." He said and brought his coarse hand with the dainty clip up to her neat pink locks. Sakura couldn't help but blush furiously as he clipped the flower on her hair.

Surely this wasn't real.

She couldn't help but feel as if he placed her under one of his infamous genjutsus. But that also couldn't be real, because she was a master of disarming them. Sakura looked at Sasuke from the corner of her eye yet again. She felt her heart pound faster as her mind began to overthink the situation. It's been 6 years since she confessed her deepest feelings to Sasuke. She couldn't help but think.. what would happen if she did it again, right now?

"Sasuke-kun, I... I need to tell you something." Sakura began to speak without thinking.

His black tousled locks fell perfectly around his face as he turned his head to look at Sakura's own. She hated how everything he did made him look so effortlessly beautiful. It made this so damn harder than it already is.

The breezing wind-flow felt as if it died down whilst the stars felt as if they hid away their gleam. Sakura felt the world stand still, once again, before she reluctantly began. She swallowed hard a second time.

"Sasuke-Kun, after all this time, I... I still feel the same way about you." She gave him a small chaste smile, but was unable to meet his eyes.

Sasuke didn't flinch at her words, or have any reaction whatsoever . He continued to look into her jaded eyes, and then suddenly switched his view back to the harvest moon once again.

Rejected. Again.

She felt her heart patter from the sudden embarrassment. The sweet high her body had from her bewildered emotions quickly turned into the type that made you feel as if you're reliving an embarrassing moment. And she was living it, yet again.

"Don't be silly, Sakura." Sasuke's words pierced her sharp.

Two times is enough, she thought. Nothing hurts more than heartbreak, even if taking the biggest blows of punches into thought. Nothing hurts more than being dismissed by the man you've loved for what seemed like ages now.

"I understand." Sakura said in a hushed voice.

A disheartened Sakura felt a familiar hand cup her cold cheek. And suddenly, she felt a pair of warm lips on hers.

It took a second for Sakura to process what was going on. Ultimately, she was being kissed; kissed by the man who she swore wrote her off less than a minute ago.

She was being kissed by Sasuke Uchiha.

And this was no genjutsu.

The kiss was chaste and quick, but to Sakura, it felt infinite. Questions regarding his swift act filled her already flustered mind. But the hundreds of questions ceased to stay there. She didn't know why he did it, but was glad he did. For this was a moment she had only dreamed about in the comfort of her mind.

Sasuke-Kun." She let out as her cheeks turned into a rosey tinge. Sasuke turned his head away from her, rather quickly.

"It's getting late. We should go."

Sasuke found her hand with his own and proceeded to rejoin the festival. Sakura took one last mental photo of the enlarged moon.

Not a word was said between the two for the remainder of the night.

...

It's been three months since they've kissed. It's also been three months since Sasuke has held a decent conversation with Sakura. She kept thinking that If she never confessed her feelings, yet again, this would have never happened. The team would probably still be training, drinking, eating and doing everything together like the tight knit team they once were.

"Ah, cha." Sakura sighed as she shook back to reality.

"I need to get over it." She slowly said to herself.

Rejection wasn't ideal, but Sakura was determined to let it go and focus on herself. So what if all her fellow classmates were all dating eachother? She would just train harder and focus on building her strength and perseverance. If a relationship is in store for her future, then so be it. But for now, she'll manage.

But yet, she couldn't help but think of how much she missed her raven haired friend. And what she really couldn't help but think, was why in the world did Sasuke do what he did?

Suddenly, a loud knock on the door jolted her out of her intrusive thoughts. Sakura shook her head out of the higher clouds and stood up.

"Ah, you may enter." She called.

Shizune came through the large metal doors, holding a mountain of scrolls.

"Tsunade is calling for you, Sakura."

"Ah yes, I'll be right there!" Sakura called out.

"It looks like it's going to rain." Shizune called out as she looked at the fogged window behind Sakura's desk.

"That's strange, I swear I just saw the sun out a second go."

Sakura quickly fixed the clump of papers on her desk into a neat pile. She glanced at her team's picture one more time before hurrying out.

It was going to be a long day, yet again.

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Well, that was Chapter 1! It was so nerve wrecking posting this. I wrote all of this on my phone so please excuse any grammar mistakes. I have written a lot more and have some more chapters loaded. Please let me know if you'd like to read more of my first fic.