AN: Hey guys! Merry Christmas and A Happy New year! Here's a present from me to you guys! I hope you guys will like it. Its sort of like a request… it's an epilogue to this fanfic. It is belated, I know, but it's better than nothing right?
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and I don't really want to, well, as long as its in the lone hands of Kishimoto-san.
(This fic occurs five years after their mission, Tsunade is now their Hokage and Sa---…um…well, just read. I'll answer your questions so don't worry)
It is spring. What else is there to say? Konoha was full of joy and happiness. Nothing seemed to bother them at the moment. The wind would match up with trees and make it dance here and there. Flowers bloomed more often in this season then any other. Sakura was one of them. A pink-petal tree with a sturdy trunk but very fragile and delicate, it was.
There, in a Cherry Blossom sanctuary (meaning, it was a place full of Cherry Blossom trees), stood a girl that resembles one to this delicate tree. Right at the outskirts of Konoha, she stood, with her pink her swaying behind her. She was looking straight at every detail of the tree that stood before her. 'I know you can hear me somewhere out there…please---'
"Sakura, we have to go. The hokage called us for urgent news" A manly, deep voice yelled from behind.
This girl named Sakura, snapped out of her trance and turned to see where, or morever, who the voice came from.
"Don't worry, I'm coming Naruto-kun!" He just nodded in reply then headed back to Konoha. Sakura followed in suit.
Hokage's Office
"Team 7, I called you here because---" Tsunade was about to finish his sentence until SOMEONE had to cut in.
"Yeah, yeah… it better be something good old geezer. Sir Iruka will treat me to Ichiraku right after this… and you know how much I HATE being late for free treats." Naruto, the blonde and also known as 'dobe', demon-tailed fox, and loud-mouth, was responsible for this.
Sakura's vein twitched, Kakashi slapped his forehead protector, and the 4th Hokage couldn't help but be out of his usual temper.
"AS I WAS SAYING! I called you here because of good news you would be glad to hear about. It regards one of your charges on your mission five years ago." Everyone in team 7 immediately recognized who this was.
"Hokage-sama, what has happened to him?" Sakura asked, respectfully but with a tone of curiosity in her voice.
"Well, about him, he has decided to be one of the knights. And you know their knights back there, they are like ANBUs back here. He is the captain now." Sakura smiled at the news.
"Furthermore, he will be visiting us in a week from now so I expect you three to be one of the first to be there." Team 7, or what is left of it, nodded and left the office right after the hokage dismissed them.
"Who knew that guy would come and pay us a visit?" Naruto said with his hands behind his head. Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi were in their usual meeting spot from long time ago. Sakura just shrugged as she was speechless as well.
"I miss this place, and how we would always, meet up here before when we were genins." Sakura said, changing the topic for some reason.
"But you guys aren't genins anymore, you guys are now chuunins." Kakashi stated the obvious.
"I know. I just miss…" she paused for awhile as if she was about to say out a forbidden name. "…many things from long time ago."
"You mean like Otaru?" Naruto stupidly asked. It couldn't be helped but Sakura just smiled sadly.
"Yeah, like Otaru." Her smiled faded a bit as she just stared at the river flowing beneath the bridge.
Silence occurred… neither one spoke. They seemed to have mind telepathy. All of them were thinking of the same thing at that moment…Sasuke, the boy who betrayed Konoha five years ago. FIVE YEARS AGO, and yet, Sakura couldn't help but feel guilty about the whole thing.
"Hey guys! Want to go to Ichiraku with me? I almost forgot about the treat Iruka-sensei was going to give me." The awkward silence broke.
"Ichiraku sounds like a good idea to me! Let's go!" So, together, they went to the ramen store called 'Ichiraku'.
One week later, the village prepared a welcoming party for the royal family of the country of River. The first people to welcome the royalties were Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura. They all stood at the gigantic gates of Konoha waiting under the heat of the sun. Suddenly, silhouettes appeared from a far. There were a lot of them but they were too unclear to see.
Inch by inch, they came closer until finally, they saw who they really were. It was the royal family, along with their guards on horses.
Otaru seemed the same but grew a bit taller and more handsome. Some of the girls even fainted looking at him. Tai looked more mature but deep down, Naruto could tell the evil in her. There father, the king, looked like he was growing older every second with all his white hair growing.
"Well, hello there Sakura-san, Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun. It's so very nice to see you again." The king greeted as the three nodded in reply. He led his horse to the hokage so they could talk.
"Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun, Sakura-san, its very nice to see you again…where's Sasuke?" he questioned looking around but couldn't find the stoic person anywhere.
"Er…you should come inside first and rest. You must be exhausted from your trip. We'll tell you about everything later." Sakura smiled and assured him while they were all being welcomed into the village.
INSIDE A RESTAURANT…
Otaru's father, the king, was having 'business issues' with the Hokage while Otaru decided to be with Sakura and Naruto. Sir Kakashi had a mission to attend to so he wasn't there. There they were the three of them inside a restaurant…Ichiraku.
"So, where is he?" Otaru asked again. His bowl of ramen was served and so were Sakura's and Naruto's.
"Whrehuisfwho?" asked Naruto. His sentence was a bit unclear for Otaru but he was still able to understand his sentence. In the back of his head, his brain was smart enough to somehow translate that question.
"Sasuke, Where is he?" he asked once again.
"He left the country. It all happened five years ago. We never heard from him ever since." Sakura lowered her head a little bit lower so her bangs were covering her eyes now. This made Naruto stop eating for awhile and keep silent.
Otaru couldn't believe what she had just said. She did seem to be lying. But still…Sasuke? Why him? Sure, he was always cold and quiet all the time, but deep inside, he was a really cool guy. He had to admit that. He even won the hearts of many girls which he didn't reply to…except one. His only teammate that is a girl, Sakura.
"S-so he's gone now?" he remained silent after that.
"How's your life been?" Naruto asked, trying to lighten up this gloomy mood as always. He began eating his ramen, and Sakura did too.
"Well, business as always. Father is really busy now days though. I get worried for him. Right now, I'm one of the royal knights, captain, actually." He smiled proudly and ate his untouched ramen.
"Wow, I'm sure you have a girlfriend by now, right?" the kunoichi asked.
"Girlfriend? No. My heart never seemed to give up on you." He turned to face Sakura, who was blushing red like a tomato.
"Hey, don't even think about it!" Naruto placed his fist in front of Otaru, while strangling from Sakura's grip.
"Naruto, calm down."
"Haha, same as always. It was a joke, but I really don't have a girlfriend." Otaru laughed at the sight.
"So, how about you Naruto? Any girlfriend?" Naruto stopped all of a sudden with all his strangling and sat down quietly, blushing furiously. Not only that, he was FIDDLING WITH HIS FINGERS? (AN: Now who do we usually see this from?)
"Hinata is her name. Turns out she has always had a crush on him. She is a quiet person and he is a loud one. Very awkward pairing but it is really sweet!" Sakura grinned at the thought as she answered for Naruto.
"Wow, that is awkward." And they all began to laugh… except Naruto. He was still fiddling with his fingers.
After Ichiraku, they were walking around in the village until Naruto shouted something from out of the blue, making Otaru and Sakura quite startled.
"What time is it? Sir Iruka is suppose to treat me to ramen!" He had a half-annoyed, half-shocked look on his face.
"But we just came from there? Aren't you full yet?" Otaru asked, astounded.
"Don't bet on it. Naruto, you're a jounin already, you should learn how to pay for your own food." Sakura said with a twitch on her lip.
"Well, let's not be hasty now. He just wants us to stay tight 'ya know?" Naruto said with his famous foxy grin and then fled back to Ichiraku.
It was only Sakura and Otaru left now. They walked to the bridge, Sakura's favorite place in Konoha. There, it was quiet. Only the sound of rushing water from the river, the wind, and the rustling of trees were heard. Sakura spoke up after ten minutes or so.
"You know, when I was still a genin, my team would always go here and meet for our missions. You know my team, Kakashi, me, Naruto, and Sasuke. Boy, do I miss those days." The pink-haired kunoichi smiled, remembering her happy memories. She stared at the river beneath the bridge as if it were the best thing in the world. Heck, she looked like she was talking to it.
"Oh really? You must really miss those days and…Sasuke, am I right?" he looked at her as she looked up and faced him as well. Their eyes met for awhile and then Sakura planted her eyes below once again.
"Yeah. I loved him. I told him you know? The day he left…" Otaru was quite shocked at this.
He just smiled at her. 'He actually said that? It is so unlikely of him to do so.' He silently thought. For a second there, he thought he heard sobs. When he faced Sakura, he saw tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I'm s-sorry. sob I sob really am. sob" Sakura said silently, as soft as a whisper already.
"Oh Sakura-san." He hugged her from behind. He could hear her heart beat one level after the normal heart beat as he rested his head on her back. Her shoulders would unconsciously move up and down because of her sobs.
They stayed like that for awhile until she stopped crying. Otaru saw that she fell asleep and let her down on the floor for awhile. It was already four hours passed. Time sure knows how to fly when you don't pay attention to it. Sakura's peaceful face was really beautiful to Otaru's eyes. He stared into it.
The king saw them on the bridge and smiled at the incident that was happening. He approached the two and spoke to the man standing above the one who appeared to be sleeping.
"Otaru, did you tell her yet?" His voice remained low as to not wake the girl up.
"No. I didn't have the courage to do it. I don't want to let her go. That Sasuke… he broke her heart. I won't forgive him." His fists unconsciously balled into a tight fist.
"Don't worry, well, we are leaving the day after tomorrow. I'm telling you in advance so you would have time to tell her the news." He placed his man sized hands on his son's shoulders.
THE NEXT DAY, AFTERNOON…
"Sakura, come with me. I have to tell you something." He led her to a beautiful garden of cherry blossom trees. He stopped and turned around to face her.
They both just looked at each other straight in the eyes.
"Yes?" She curiously asked.
"Well, I just wanted to ask if, you still wanted to marry me. I mean, Sasuke isn't a part of your life anymore so why don't you just give up on him. Onegai…" He pleaded.
Sakura seemed to be really surprised at his question. This scene seemed too familiar. Oh yeah, back in the country of River, Otaru asked the same question.
"I'm sorry…" She just nodded a 'no' in reply to him.
"But why? Sasuke isn't even here anymore! I could give you anything you want of you be with me." Otaru said or, moreover, shouting, losing a bit of his cool.
"Because, there is a part of this…" she placed her hands on her heart and closed her eyes, as if listening to the wind speak. "…that still wants Sasuke and believes that Sasuke will come back and that he is still alive."
Otaru was speechless. After all the cold treatment he gave her, she never gave up on him. 'her love for him is very strong. Sasuke is a really lucky guy…' Otaru just smirked inwardly.
"Oh Sakura," He caressed her cheek gently, making her look up at him.
"I'm really sorry. We could always be friends, ne?" He just smiled in reply and then walked away, bading her goodbye.
His face seemed really saddened but nevertheless, he tried to put a smile on. On the way to the hotel, he saw Naruto who came out of Ichiraku.
"Ohayou, Otaru!" He shouted at about, 1km away. He waved back at him then walked up to Naruto.
"Come on, I'll treat to more ramen. I am in a good mood today, a bit." Naruto gratefully accepted it. (Even though he just came out of there)
"So tell me, how Sasuke left the village in details." Otaru asked watching Naruto sloppily eat his food.
"Well, the night he left, Sakura stood in his way and persuaded him to not leave and that if he wouldn't stop, she might as well join him. Then he didn't want her to come with him so she threatened him that she would shout---" He paused to slurp ramen into his mouth while Otaru was just shocked at what Sakura did to try and stop Sasuke.
"So anyway, he of course, he didn't want that to happen so he knocked her unconscious. Oh, by the way, she confessed her love to him but as usual she didn't receive a reply from him…poor Sakura-chan…." He slurped ramen once again and stopped.
'so that's what happened…' Otaru thought, silently. Now, he was really surprised at what occurred and what he had missed five years ago.
"But, before Sasuke did knock her unconscious, he said…'thank you' to her. Awkward, ne? It is very unusual for Sasuke to do that. After that, the next day, genins and one chuunin were formed to retrieve Sasuke back but unfortunately, we weren't successful." He paused and drank more soup.
Otaru smiled at the thought of Sakura trying to persuade Sasuke to stop. 'I can't believe he said that. That cold hearted guy really could be open if he tried!'
DAY OTARU AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE LEAVING….
"What? He didn't tell you?" Tai asked in a surprised manner. Everyone was in the hotel lobby, in pack, and ready to go.
Otaru was still up stairs, fixing up in packing. Tai was talking to Naruto and Sakura while her father was biding goodbye to the hokage.
"Tell us what?" Naruto asked, baffled.
"You see, he is engaged… to someone from another country." Sakura and Naruto exchanged looks and faced Tai again.
"Only, he rejected. So now, father is really mad at him. Another engagement was arranged so now he is marrying a princess soon." She grinned mischievously. Naruto's jaw dropped and Sakura was in very deep thought.
'And he still had the courage to ask a marriage with me?' Sakura said silently, 'But, I can relate to his feelings.' She smiled and had an idea in her head.
When everyone was at the gates already, and when everyone was waving their goodbyes, Sakura approached Otaru. She smiled at him and so did he in return.
"Arigatou." (Thank you) She said, planting a light kiss on his cheek.
"Sayonara, Sakura-san, Naruto-kun." He waved his goodbye and his figure went smaller and smaller until it disappeared with the others.
Otaru's POV
What was that about? His hand unconsciously made its way to his cheek, where Sakura placed her lips on.
"Otaru-chan, what happened to Sasuke-kun?" She asked in a somewhat respectful manner.
"I'll tell you later. By the way, who told her about it?" he asked, addressing everyone in the trip.
"About what?" The king asked.
"Uh…never mind." He shook his head and just shook away the idea.
There, they were, making their way home. This can't be called a happy ending just yet. Not everyone was happy but, at least, smiles were always there all along…
THE END
AN: I hope you like it! R&R please. I know its not much but its only one chapter. Anyway, if you do have any questions, do not hesitate to ask because I will answer them. Sorry for the spoilers in here, btw. For the continuation, ask Kishimoto-kun. He is the one who would plan the rest of how Sasuke will come back to Konoha…he WILL come back right? Oh gosh, please tell me he will. Bye ka- dudes at ka-dudettes! taglish!
MeRrY cHrIsTmAs And A hApPy NeW YeAr OnCe AgAiN!
Ayumi-Aldaba