Disclaimer: tch yeah right Me own Naruto? If I did do you really think I'd be here? XD

A Fan of Fire Under a Cherry-blossom Tree of Spring

Haruno Sakura P.O.V.

It has been two years since Sasuke's return to Konoha and four years since he left when we were twelve to go to Orochimaru. That makes all of us in team seven sixteen and Kakashi-sensei thirty, but he'll still tell you he is twenty-eight.

Sasuke has changed since his return but that might have to do with the punishment forced upon him by Tsunade-shishou, six months of no ninjutsu and complete isolation so they could confirm he was back without brain tampering or such. Naruto found the isolation and no ninjutsu unfair because he really wanted to spar with Sasuke. Though now that Sasuke is free from his restrictions he has been helping Naruto train for the ANBU Black Ops Corps, surprising I know but Naruto has grown significantly since we became team seven he has been working very hard with Jiraiya-sama and is now possibly stronger than Sasuke but neither will admit it. But now thanks to Sasuke who has been helping Naruto train every single day we have been spending a lot of time together, I feel like I've gotten to know Sasuke much better now he is much more talkative and he seems happier. This is odd considering he used to be everyone's favourite stoic avenger, now though it doesn't even look as if he cares about his murderous older brother Itachi, he smiles more often and is close to most of the old rookie nine even though none of us are genin any more we're all chunin or higher even Sasuke. Tsunade-shishou allowed him to take the chunin exams recently because Naruto and I begged her to let him. Its strange how he smiles at me when ever we meet though I don't mind, I wonder if his improved social skills are due to him spending too much time with Naruto, but that's just my opinion. It's amazing how open he is when we speak to each other instead of his normal 'hn' he actually replies and seems to enjoy talking. I've noticed that he is normally only this open with Naruto and I, but he doesn't talk about the two years he was with Orochimaru not a single peep. Even though Orochimaru has been confirmed dead, Sasuke won't claim he did it, but I have a strong feeling that Orochimaru tried to grope him and Sasuke didn't care for that much.

Sasuke still isn't allowed out of the village so we don't go on many missions but we do spend as much time as we can together as team seven, I don't know how but we've become so close we're like family.

"So Sakura, where do you want to go?" Asked Ino as she and I walked down one of the main streets in the shopping district of Konoha.

"I'm not sure, Naruto and Sasuke are probably still training and won't be done for a while…Do you want to go to the new Kunoichi Surplus store?" I asked pointing out the store.

"Sure, I do need some new kunai pouches and I want to try on some clothes!" She squealed, I rolled my eyes.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I said laughing.

Uchiha Sasuke P.O.V.

I sighed as I walked down the street, Naruto had been asked for by Tsunade so we quite training early and now I was wandering downtown Konoha doing nothing, I sighed again and leaned against a wall. I scanned the crowd of afternoon shoppers; the corners of my mouth twitching upward, Sakura and Ino were walking side by side and talking about what they wanted to buy. 'Well, I have nothing better to do,' I thought, 'and I am feeling playful, I might as well have some fun.' I grinned as I walked up behind them unnoticed, I slipped my arms through theirs feeling them both jump at the contact.

"Hello Ladies! Mind if I join you?" at first they looked startled then they both started giggling and grabbed onto my arms.

"Sasuke-kun you surprised us!" Sakura said grinning at me.

"Yeah Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Naruto, training?" Ino asked curiously, looking at me with her head tilted.

"What tiered of me already?" I said sounding hurt even though I was just teasing her.

"Eh?! Of Course not Sasuke-kun!" Sakura rolled her eyes and started laughing noticing my sense of humor.

"Ino don't be silly he's just kidding!" Sakura told her, gaining a sigh of relief from Ino, and a grin from me.

"Oh, well I didn't know!" Ino said defensively as her cheeks turned a shade of pink, Sakura and I started laughing.

"So Sasuke why are you here? Did Naruto bail out again?" Sakura asked after her giggles had subsided.

"Yeah, Tsunade wanted to see him for something, probably for eating most of the ramen at Ichirakus' the other day." I shrugged, "you don't mind if I follow you around do you? I really don't have anything better to do." They both smiled at me and said they'd enjoy my company, then they started going on about the new store they were taking me to and how I could help them pick out some supplies. Ino squealed after that and said to Sakura I could give my opinion about the outfits they were going to try on. I sighed, 'What have I gotten myself into?' I thought.

"Sasuke-kun! How do I look?" Ino had come out of the dressing room with a very short purple skirt on with a tiny purple tube top on under a fishnet shirt, and with black knee high boots. I cringed on the inside.

"Um…good I guess," I replied, she giggled and went back into the dressing room. I could hear her talking to Sakura.

"Come on Sakura, go ask him, I bet he'll like it!" I raised my eyebrow at what Ino was saying.

"But what if he doesn't Ino? I don't want to look like a slut!" Now this was interesting why was Sakura so scared?

"You do not look like a slut, you look Hot!" Ino squealed.

"I think I'm going to try on something-" she was abruptly cut of as she came flying out of the room, I assume because Ino pushed her, as Ino grinned at me then pulled the curtains shut tight.

My eyes widened, Sakura was wearing a forest green skirt that reached mid thigh with slits up both sides, showing the black fishnet shorts. The shirt was the same forest green with a gold pattern at the bottom; it only had a right sleeve. She also wore green arm and leg warmers tied with thin black cord, her shoes were basic ninja issued sandals only black. In my honest opinion I agreed with Ino.

"Um…so what do you think?" She asked nervously noticing my eyes scanning her, I couldn't help it; I blushed she didn't notice, as I turned my head and coughed a little.

"You look great Sakura" I heard her sigh a little then go back into the dressing room. I sighed too, 'Great day to get summoned by the Hokage Naruto' I thought, though slightly thankful for the dobes' absences.

Haruno Sakura P.O.V.

After Ino and I bought our supplies she had to leave and offered to take my bags, saying she was head in that direction because she had to save Shikamaru from paperwork. After we said our goodbyes Sasuke and I wandered around the village just walking until it was dark and we found ourselves in the training ground where we first became team seven.

"Hey Sasuke remember when Naruto got tied to the pole and when Kakashi-sensei told us we'd never be ninja?" I laughed and saw him smile at me and nod in response.

"We sure have grown since then haven't we?" I smiled as I thought about our past times together, noticing his eyes on me, I sighed.

"Sakura…" He said quietly, I turned to face him.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Sakura…I…need you…" took a step closer to him.

"Are you feeling alright? Do you need some water, are you sick?" I asked placing my hand over his forehead.

"No, Sakura…I need you." He said, and before I could do anything else he gently grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him capturing my lips.

OH.MY.GOD. Sasuke is kissing me.