AN: I want to give a big thank you! You all have been so wonderful and supportive of my story! I received many wonderful suggestions, and I will keep them in mind!

Seriously, shout out to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed. Your support helps others find this story! I blow you all imaginary kisses.

I hope you enjoy the third chapter! We are beginning to dive into Sasuke's perspective (which is always fun).

Please review, favorite, and follow! It would mean a lot to me, and I am very appreciative! Enjoy!

The next day Sasuke woke up with a heavy feeling in his chest and a rather brutal headache. Perhaps he drank more than he thought.

As the last Uchiha struggled to get out of bed the memories of last night came rushing back to mind. He could recall the rookie nine taking shots, his idiot best friend singing poorly around a stereo, and lastly the pink haired Haruno's declaration of pining. Even Sasuke's own repressed longing appeared in the shadows of the night.

He missed her...words he never believed he would utter.

Sasuke was not an emotional man; he was not talented in the arts of conversation or sentiments. His infamously scarring life has given him a thick and tall emotional wall. He didn't handle these types of situations well, and he was aware of it.

Sasuke decided to go train, that was his typical coping mechanism.

As Sasuke got ready to leave for the training grounds, the light of day irritated his already hung over eyes. He needed to be stricter with his alcohol intake; he didn't want to loose any of his muscle tone. Sasuke was very particular with his body, and he worked too hard to keep it in pristine condition. Sasuke was a strong believer in physical health; it is what keeps you alive on the battlefield.

When Sasuke finally arrived at his old team's training ground his problems came roaring back. The images of a certain green-eyed pink haired girl were flashing in his memory.

Why did he decide to push her away? He wasn't so sure anymore...

When Sasuke finally returned back to Konoha he was determined to face all his past demons, he wanted nothing more but to mend all the broken bonds he left behind. But then he saw Sakura. He saw Sakura in all her glory and a part of him knew he wasn't ready to address the chaos that was them. They were never friends, a simple fact, but they were something.

Sasuke decided he would focus on aiding the village and recovering the bond with his blonde best friend instead. During his probation he worked endlessly on building back the village from his childhood. Somehow Sasuke never addressed Sakura, he never attempted to rekindle their relationship, and thus here they are.

They missed each other, she was mad at him, and he was too closed off to address it.

Sasuke relentlessly practiced his Chidori until his body was sore and his chakra almost depleted. This was what he did everyday; he trained until his body demanded him to stop. He didn't become one of the best ninja of his lifetime by simply doing the average.

Sasuke sat near one of the wooden poles Naruto was tied around during team 7's first bell test to catch his breath. It seemed that wherever he went Sakura and Naruto, even in memory, would follow him.

Naruto was right, he should have never avoided Sakura. Naruto lectured the Uchiha relentlessly about his poor decision-making; the blonde knew ultimately Sasuke's ignorance would hurt everyone.

When Naruto discovered his old rival's behavior he was fuming. Sakura begrudgingly told Naruto during a routine hospital visit that Sasuke did not come to see her. In fact, the Haruno girl confessed that after his return he never made any effort to even try to speak with her. To Naruto that was shameful.

Naruto attempted to confront Sasuke on the training grounds months ago. The meeting did not go well...

The encounter was full of loose fists and short tempers. Naruto, angrily, declared that Sasuke Uchiha was a selfish asshole afraid to tap into his own feelings. Then in retaliation Sasuke called Naruto Uzumaki a nosey idiot too concerned with his friend's lives.

Nothing was resolved.

Glancing back, Sasuke regretted not taking Naruto's advice.

In truth, Sasuke was not aware of why he wanted distance from Sakura, and that was a contributing factor as to why the issue was never resolved. If Sasuke didn't have the emotional intelligence to realize his own feelings, how could he deal with another person's? Sakura's feelings have always dizzied him to the point of confusion and provocation. He has been historically known for handling Sakura Haruno's emotions rather poorly…they were far more dramatic than his own. Still, someone having different ways of expression than your own is no excuse.

As Sasuke left team seven's official training grounds the guilt of it all persuaded him to go speak to one particular person...

Sakura's day was brutally long and agonizingly tortuous. She woke up with her body screaming for help, if her body wasn't decaying before the hangover surely pushed it over the edge. Sakura knew drinking would lead to such issues...

And yet somehow her body's hangover was not the worst of it. Sakura remembered everything from last night. She could recall the boisterous behavior of her friends and her moment of vulnerability with Sasuke. The pinkette could never regret her honesty with the last Uchiha, she knew she needed to say it, but that didn't mean the consequences would be any less difficult.

Young genin Sakura was fearless. Twelve-year-old Sakura paraded throughout her youth declaring her crush for Sasuke Uchiha everywhere. She would put it on a billboard if she could.

But why was adult Sakura so closed off?

Nevertheless, Sakura was relieved she had the strength to finally express what was troubling her. Alcohol was an amazing confidence booster. Sakura still had anger towards the last Uchiha, she has never been one to forgive quickly.

However, despite her emotional growth, Sakura was till ashamed of her physical troubles. Despite her emotional progress, her physical body was still ill.

Sakura completed an immensely experimental surgery that morning, one she has researched for weeks. It went well, it was successful, but she struggled throughout the process. Her hands have been shaking lately. Her chakra was not as fine tune as usual; Sakura struggled to keep her fingers steady throughout the procedure.

Perhaps a step in recovery was accepting one's regressions.

As Sakura sat in her office slouched over her paperwork she decided it was no longer acceptable to be sick. She was sick. Sakura could no longer ignore the truth.

Every time she tried to eat she was haunted. She was short of breath, nauseous, and weak constantly. Perhaps she needed a visit to the doctor...maybe for once she needed treatment. Everyone needs help; no one can do it all alone. Doctor or not, she deserved to be a patient too. A medical exam could be what she truly needs.

Sakura then decided it would be beneficial to visit her beloved Shishou. Tsunade would never judge her, she would only help with the problem on hand. The fifth hokage would also respect Sakura's privacy. Tusnade would never force the Haruno to do anything she was uncomfortable with.

Like the past, a student needed her master.

Sakura found Tsunade scratching off lottery tickets in her secretive apartment. The apartment was huge and well decorated, one of the most beautiful homes Sakura has ever seen. Nobody knew where Tsunade lived, the blonde woman didn't want any guests...ever. The only people who were honored enough to know her address were Shizune, Sakura, and Kakashi the sixth hokage. The busty woman enjoyed her privacy.

"Shishou can I talk to you?" Sakura questioned as she timidly entered the Senju apartment.

Tsuande turned around to see her sweet apprentice. The Senju woman loved Sakura Haruno, she was the closest thing to a daughter she would ever have. Not only did Sakura fill an emotional role in Tsunade's life, but also Sakura's talents in the medical field allowed the fifth hokage to take her desired retirement.

"Of course Sakura. What is it?"

As the pinkette sat on the floor Tsunade observed Sakura's sickly appearance. Tsunade's instincts screamed something was wrong. The sweet girl of her memory resembled a zombie. She was thin and lifeless.

"I...I think I need a medical exam." Sakura confessed. She was deeply embarrassed too face her old master in such a pitiable state.

Tsunade eyed Sakura and nodded. As Tsuande began to set up her equipment a feeling of sorrow filled her gut. Sakura Haruno was too young to be unwell, but she supposed life was hard for everyone.

"I heard you are doing phenomenal work at the hospital. I expected no less." Tsunade encouraged.

"I am trying. I want to do well." Sakura whispered as her master began to check her heart rate. Sakura saw her heart rate reach over 100 beats per minute...not good.

"I know it is hard Sakura. It is violently hard. There is a reason there are so few medical ninja. It drains everything you have then leaves you empty." Tsunade quietly whispered. Tsunade understood Sakura's dark circles and her stressed persona. Tsunade knew the same troubles a little too well.

Sakura felt tears form around her eyes, the unspoken truth of her life finally found its way into conversation. "I feel so tired. I can't even eat..."

Tsunade offered Sakura a sad smile. "When I was younger I couldn't sleep. I swore I could see my dead patient's ghosts."

"Really?" Sakura doubted. The idea of the legendary Tsunade struggling with the same issues she did felt false.

"Yes, I worked myself into a frenzy. That was when I decided to leave the village with Shizune and travel."

Sakura's frown slowly turned into a small mischievous smile. "You mean when you decided to go gamble throughout the fire nation." A giggle soon followed Sakura's snarky comment, giving Sakura her first true laugh in weeks.

"You have always been too feisty for your own good." Tsunade laughed as she continued to examine Sakura's poor health. The sorrow in their hearts were shortly replaced with quiet giggles and taunts.

A silent moment of content filled the room as the two women happily sat in silence. They understood each other. They suffered from the same hauntings and shared the same fates. The two were the best doctors in history, and the two were undeniably tired.

"I'm sick aren't I?" Sakura whispered. She wanted to know the prognosis of her body's status.

Tsunade finished her exam solemnly. Nothing was direly wrong, but Sakura's body was undeniably worn.

"Sakura you are severely underweight, your heart rate is too fast, and your chakra is loosing its precision. You need to take better care of yourself. I doubt you have been sleeping, and your stress is taking a toll on your body…You need to rest." Tsunade said softly.

"I can't simply rest, the hospital needs to me." Sakura declared. She could never take a break, too many people relied on her. Too many lives dangled in her hands.

Tsunade got up and hugged her beloved pupil, she was sad to see the pink haired girl hold so much misery. "Sakura, perhaps this is not the right time, but Kakashi told me he is debating on promoting you to become a medical kage."

Sakura was stunned. A medical kage? What could that mean?

"Tsunade-shishou what does that mean? What is a medical kage?" Sakura questioned curiously. Never in her life has she dreamed of such success…of such opportunity. It is rare for a ninja from no clan to rise through the ranks to this degree. Sakura Haruno was a prime example of coming from nothing and becoming everything.

Such a wonderful opportunity at such a horrible time.

"The medical kage position was created solely for you. Kakashi and I designed the position to aid the other villages. Konoha has the most progressed medical unit of all the five villages, and you are a huge part of it. The medical kage will travel throughout the villages and aid each hospital in becoming up to will be a symbol of unity and progress" Tsunade explained.

The pinkette was simply stunned. Astonished. Overwhelmed. Amazed.

Never has the girl imagined such a dazzling position, she would fulfill her life's destiny to heal. Her fate has been determined, and she would become an icon for peace. She would travel the world helping all those who need her. But her body…her body was damaged. Sakura's mind and body were in need of recovery. Her body was tired and impaired while her mind was unstable. Sakura was not reaching her full potential.

"I'm not well enough to travel." Sakura confessed to her lifelong teacher. She was aware of her inability to even train, let alone string along throughout the nations trying to restore the health programs.

"No you are not, but that does not mean you will never be ready. I strongly urge you to take a leave of absence, even if it is for a few weeks. The quicker you recover, the quicker you can be promoted."

Sakura woefully nodded her head. She knew her Shishou was right. Professionally, a leave of absence would be the best option for her own self, but it would be wildly embarrassing. The infamous Sakura Haruno…too sick to work.

"My pride would never allow it."

Tsuande smirked and understood her pupil. The two women were full of immense pride for their work. Backing down would never settle with either of them. "Then say you are focusing on research for a few weeks. Nobody needs to know. It will be confidential."

Perhaps that was the answer: a white lie.

"Maybe…" Sakura debated. Time away from the hospital could be a good thing, it could be a great thing.

"Simply think about it Sakura. This promotion is a huge opportunity for you. It promises glory and recognition."

With those last words in mind Sakura thanked the fifth hokage and went on her way. A leave of absence, especially because it would be secret, sounded like the a step into recovery. She could never become a medical kage in her pathetic state. She needed to quickly reach rehabilitation.

Reluctantly Sakura went back to the hospital. The pinkette begrudgieedly decided she needed to map out her secret absence. She would need to construct a believable excuse to tell the public; she would need to create a false theme of research that was 'dire'. Sakura felt her body weaken under the common fluorescent lights, perhaps she truly needed a break.

When Sakura arrived back to her constraining office her secretary loudly made her presence known. The girl was not a superb secretary, very often important messages and notes would get forgotten or misplaced. The only talent the girl possessed was a knack for discovering gossip.

"Dr. Sakura you have several messages." The young girl stated.

Sakura glanced up from her desk to see several written messages being placed in front of her. "You wrote down all the messages or people I need to contact?" Sakura questioned tiredly.

The girl proudly nodded and told her boss she wrote down everything…Then the secretary began to giggle. " I didn't know you were dating Sasuke Uchiha?"

Sakura, shocked, instantly shot her head up from her papers. "I am not!" Sakura loudly announced, quickly wanting to shoot down whatever rumor that was circulating. She heard nurses continuously gossip about Sasuke, he has always been the village heart throb. But this latest rumor could not be farther from the truth.

"Oh…Well Sasuke Uchiha was waiting for you for quite some time. He left leaving a note, which I mixed in with the rest of your messages." The girl said with very obvious disappointment. She clearly was hoping for the inside scoop on the last Uchiha's romantic status.

"Thank you for your help, you can leave for the day." Sakura wished to be alone, and the girl didn't need to stay any longer. Sakura had things to sort out on her own and she wished to lock herself in her cluttered office to hide from everything life handed to her.

Once the secretary exited the dark office, Sakura was left alone with her thoughts. She hesitantly found Sasuke's note. In perfect handwriting the note simply said one thing.

"The bench at 9PM."

Sakura was shocked to see Sasuke reach out to her, especially after their strange meeting last night after the bar. He also asked her to meet in one of their most intimate places. Sakura knew exactly what bench. She would meet Sasuke at the bench she long ago confessed her love for him. They would meet at the bench she lost a piece of herself.

She had no clue what he wished to talk about, but she knew she had to go. Sakura was not ready to forgive Sasuke, she was still angry, but unfortunately he still meant something to her. She guessed the confrontation would not be pleasant, but it would be necessary. He deserved to know what he put her through…even if she ached for him terribly. Sakura also knew soon she would leave the hidden laugh and it needed to be addressed.

All her emotions of pining aside, Sasuke Uchiha deserved to be put in his place.

Sasuke Uchiha sat alone on a bench near the gate of the village. To bystanders this bench meant nothing, but to him the cold marble was a reminder of a past life. A life he left behind for all the wrong reasons.

Sasuke waited for what seemed to be an eternity. How long has he been waiting? He couldn't say. Sasuke waited in the hospital for hours, and now he waited outside in the dark for hours. He knew Sakura left work late, but this was unacceptable. He told her a time, she should have respected his decision and followed the directions. Sasuke, quickly loosing his patience, began to grow frustrated. She wasn't making this easy for him. She never did.

Then, right before Sasuke decided to march home, a distant figure with pink hair slowly came into perspective. Sasuke saw the pinkette tiredly walk towards him. She must have pulled a double shift at the hospital. Sakura Haruno worked tirelessly until she was practically debilitated.

"What do you want?" Sakura sharply muttered as she took a seat next to him on the bench. She was exhausted, you could see the dark circles under her eyes and all the color gone from her cheeks.

"Hn…to talk." He said without a drip of emotion.

It was weird to be together. It was weird to sit in a spot that once broke her heart and challenged his.

Sasuke starred at the girl for what seemed minutes. He never truly observed her since he arrived home. He would steal glances here and there, but he never honestly looked at her. She was different, and he knew that before, but he now saw every change. Her hair was long, a little longer past her shoulder blades. She was short, shorter than he expected, but her legs were still long. Her skin was pale and she smelled floral, she has always smelled sweet but her scent now was more mature. Her eyes, despite their tired state, were wide and as green as the leaves on the trees with long eye lashes to frame them. She was a woman now, a foreign concept, but he finally saw it... All her girlish features matured and her body was now the one of a woman, even if she was too skinny.

He was now a man and she was now a woman, and for whatever reason that changed things.

Sakura kept her eyes on the floor, she was afraid to look him in the eye. She felt his eyes analyze her and she didn't want to see his disappointment stare back at her. "Then talk." She kept her answers short, she wouldn't allow herself to be a fool in this situation.

"I shouldn't have…not seen you." Sasuke muttered quietly. He was too arrogant to say his sorry, so this is what he could offer. He wasn't one to grovel.

"Not see me? You ignored me for months, last night was the first time we have had a conversation since you came back." Sakura sharply retorted.

Sasuke, too prideful for his own good, quickly began to loose his patience. He was there to make amens not dismiss her feelings, but his infamous short-temper was taking control. "I won't do that now." Sasuke's voice harshly explained.

"I am not going to give you a free pass Sasuke. I have been too tired and too busy to express my anger to you, but I will not meekly sit here today. You came back with no intention of connecting with me. I watched you rekindle with everyone else, even with those you weren't close with before, while you ignored me like a stranger…for months…"

Sakura then looked Sasuke in the eye and saw her reflection stare back at her. In his dark onyx eyes she saw herself enraged and depleted. A part of her longed for him, but her pride wouldn't allow her a second night of vulnerability. She experienced months of confusion and hurt because of this inconsiderate man.

"It doesn't matter anyway…I'm going to be traveling soon and we won't need to worry about this." Sakura confessed bluntly. She was going to be promoted soon and from miles away this problem would disappear. His shitty attitude would be left behind.

Sasuke was simply confused. He didn't have a clue to what she was implying, but he never liked being in the dark. "What do you mean you will be traveling soon?" Sasuke said as he forcefully stood up. He stood up to lean over her like a skyscraper; he practically engulfed her as he starred down.

Sakura glanced up suddenly awestruck by the handsome man in front of her. Life was cruel. Why create such an adonis if he would never want anyone or anything…but she knew that was untrue. Sakura heard he wanted some things and they simply weren't her. Quickly she repressed these feelings of rejection.

"I am being promoted. Eventually I will go throughout the villages and repair their medical units, a medical kage of sorts." Sakura explained as she tried to ignore his closeness.

Sasuke felt immediate rage rush throughout his veins. He wanted to grab and shake the petite woman seated below him. "You can't. They work you too hard here as it is."

"You have no right to tell me what I can and can't do." Sakura stated matter of factly. Sasuke Uchiha had no sway in her decisions...not anymore.

Sasuke, clearly displeased, took the pinkettes arm and pulled her up to stand next to him. "I won't allow it." Sasuke spat as he kept his grip on his teammates wrist. Sakura was uncomfortable as he held her down. She didn't do well with physical contact lately, and she especially felt awkward doing it with him.

"Sasuke you have no right to get angry you left for years. Besides this could be good for me…you waited a little to long to make amends."

"You told me you missed me last night, and I know you weren't lying." Sasuke stated back.

Sakura shook her head and watched Sasuke's beautiful face scrunch with displeasure. He was pissed, and she knew it. There was no way to avoid the elephant in the room. "…I do miss you…but you can't keep treating me like I am nothing. I need to start taking care of myself and knowing my worth is a part of that."

Sasuke remained quiet but kept his grip of her wrist tight. He didn't want to let go either. A foreign feeling tingled throughout his body like electricity, and her close proximity for whatever strange reason was exciting him. He listened to her words, but they weren't his concentration. Her presence was.

"You have nothing to say?" Sakura was amazed he wouldn't even defend himself. He had the audacity to call her here to boss her around.

Sasuke watched as Sakura squirmed to get free with a sour look on her face. He didn't let go of her stick thin wrist. "You cannot go I forbid it."

"Sasuke-kun don't end it this way." Sakura pleaded. It was the first time in months she used his name with the suffix and it felt strange to roll off her tongue. Sakura didn't want them to argue over something that wouldn't change. She began to see it was clear the two of them would never get along.

"We aren't ending anything and you aren't going." Sasuke stated as he sensed Sakura's aura shift, her anger seemed to have dissolved, but something else replaced it. Sasuke didn't want her to leave without them being something. The roles were reversed. Unlike years past, Sasuke was the one trying to get Sakura to stay in the hidden leaf. Sasuke watched the girl take back her arm as she avoided his gaze. He watched as her lips pouted and her eyes glazed over.

"I'm going home Sasuke, I need to rest… I'll see you around." Sakura announced softly, she knew now nothing would resolve.

With that Sakura went home. Sasuke watched the Haruno girl's figure slowly disappear into the night, and he didn't call for her either. He was alone and the meeting did not go as planned. But why?

Then a sudden spark rekindled and Sasuke discovered why he felt so strongly.

The man within Sasuke wanted Sakura. He wanted her. After years of ignorance and sabotage he felt the sparks fly and the fire flame throughout his body. Perhaps his subconscious was aware of his instincts, and that is why he ignored her all this time. He couldn't say he loved her, but there was something. Attraction? Who knew.

Seeing her tonight made it clear. For the first time the man within Sasuke noticed the woman within Sakura…and that was enough. Sasuke really saw Sakura. He saw her in a different light and it felt bizarre. Her body was womanly, her face was no longer girlish, and she was an accomplished Ninja. She wasn't the genin girl he always thought of her as.

Sasuke, for perhaps the first time in his life, had no strategy for his current predicament.

AN: Yay! The story is forming! This was a mostly Sasuke centered chapter so I hope you all enjoyed it! Finally the angst has been replaced with a little romance? I promise things will continue to develop and grow.

Sakura is finally starting to find a balance and solution for her issues which is fantastic.

I truly appreciate you reading my story and supporting my writing! I hope you liked it! Please review, follow, and fav!