Spring had finally gotten rid of most of the winter chill in Konoha. Cool but not cold, in this ideal weather Sasuke walked silently beside the buzzing former 7th Hokage. Unlike Sasuke, Naruto always had a clear path in mind so retirment was definitely something ...bittersweet. Though Sasuke would argue somehow he's receiving the brunt of the bitter half in this bittersweetness.
Even in his 60s Naruto was as loud and attention-grabbing as he was at 12 years old. Moreover, several of Narutos ill-timed jokes passed down from his former master often garner uncomfortable stares from the younger generation. In these situations it was often Sasuke by his side, walking through the new city, going on "bro trips" which was some term the youth had coined that Naruto insisted on using, or scouring the town for rare instant noodle flavours. At first Sasuke didn't think much of Naruto showing up to his apartment door at 8a.m sharp with some weird quest of the day they absolutely must set out for. He accounted it to Naruto being Naruto. But by the fourth week, his patience was drawing thin with Narutos retirement-life crisis.
They sat beside each other at the counter in one of the many Ichiraku Ramen restaurants for lunch, yet again. Naruto was happily downing his extra serving of charsiu and rambling about how this is the "good stuff" and thats when Sasuke really began to question things.
Why was he subjected to this? Didn't Naruto have a wife?
Sasuke set his chopsticks down and angled himself slightly to look at the wrinkly old blond beside him.
"Oi, dobe. Did you have a fight with Hinata?"
"Hinata? No-mph we mm good." He confidently said while slurping down a huge mouthful of noodles.
If it wasn't a fight with his wife that was keeping him out of the house... well it probably can't have something to do with the children since they've moved out. Was it something bigger? Was there something that Sarada had confided in Naruto with, being his successor and all.
"Hinata and I actually went to visit Himawari and the grandkids just yesterday! You know they looks just like Hinata, even Kurama agreed..." Naruto trailed off, noticing the slight change on Sasukes face "-Ah, my bad, I didnt mean to ramble about Hinata."
That apologetic look and tone... suddenly Sasuke understood.
"So thats what this is about." Sasuke sighed.
It was about Sakura.
"We're done for today. I'm going home."
Sasuke got up, left the money he owed on the table and took his coat in his arms while very deliberately ignoring the pouty discontented face Naruto was making. If thats the face he uses to persuade Hinata, it makes alot of sense why she leads the household. Honestly, Sasuke can't believe he was getting worked up over nothing when the answer was so blatantly simple.
"But Sasuke the night is still young!" Naruto cries out in one last deperate plea.
"It is the afternoon."
-
At home, Sasuke switched to indoor slippers and hung his coat. He washed his hands, put away a cup that was left to dry, and sat down on the sofa with a big exhale. The simplicity and mediocrity of life was something he deeply appreciated, Narutos erratic adventures only deepend this appreciation. His eyes zoned out onto the ceiling, a simple white plaster ceiling ...with a crack running through from that one time Sakura got angry.
"Should I fix it?" he wondered aloud, a question he's asked himself numerous times before.
"Sasuke-kun?"
He heard her voice and instantly a small smile pulled at his lips.
"Sakura?" he softly asked back.
Her beaming face came into view, aged but just as beautiful as the day they met. Instinctively, his hand reached out to stroke the side of her face but it never quite reached.
"I've told you before haven't I, it's fine for you to get a few wrinkles too. People will think I robbed the cradle elsewise."
She smiled even brighter, "And since when were you one to take the thoughts of passing strangers into consideration?"
She'd got him there.
"Touché."
His smile widened slightly, he couldn't help it. Not when he thought of her.
The doorbell rang, disrupting the moment.
"I'll get it," he spoke to no one in particular, rising with a fraction of the speed and agility he has in his prime.
A parcel delivery. Sasuke brought it into the kitchen and opened it with great care, even if it was Narutos kid ...no, because it's Narutos kid and his student turned son-in-law, Borutos packages were always welcomed. This time it came all the way from Sunagakure. He remembers Boruto mentioning following Sarada to Sunagakure for the Hokage summit, no idea why Boruto still remained there though. Oh well, ninja work was now part of his past.
Inside was an array of different items; tomato flavoured snacks and photos with little inscriptions on the back mostly.There was even one with Sarada, the winds of Suna blowing her hokage robe partially across her face mid-photo and Boruto was caught mid-laugh. Sasuke made a mental note to tell Sakura about this as he placed that photo of them onto the fridge with a magnet.
The rest of his day is spent in peace as per before Narutos interruptions except for one crucial aspect, he set his alarm 2 hours earlier than usual.
-
Its another quiet morning at the Uzumaki household. Hinata holding her granddaughter in in her arms as she dotes on her daughter-in-law before said daughter-in-law heads over to work. Or so it should be.
"Sarada your dads gone... again!" Naruto yelps, bursting through the gates with force that almost ripped them right off their hinges.
"It happens, he'll come home eventually."
After years of living with her dad and slowly understanding his nature, Sarada isn't all too worried about him disappearing now and then. She's more worried her daughter might've woken up from the noise at the moment.
"Naruto, you'll wake the baby up," Hinata chides.
Naruto peers over at his grandchild and he momentarily turns to mush looking at the sweet little bundle but quickly regains his composure. Or lack of composure per se.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Lord Seventh. I think Papa is with Mama."
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, a little perplexed at first but then it hit him. In no time he's running out his house gates once more, quietly yelling goodbyes to his wife and daughter-in-law.
A wave of nostalgia washed over Sarada seeing how similar the retired 7th Hokage was to genin Boruto. Hinata chuckled, time had graced even her youthful face. The smile lines by her eyes were most prominent... well, with a husband like Naruto it made sense but there was something that worried her.
"I hope Sasuke-san won't be too inconvenienced," Hinata said with a small hint of apology.
Sarada turned back to Hinata with a smile "He doesn't show it but I think he finds it funny."
"Though I do hope he isn't doing this because he feels guilty about what happened," Sarada quickly adds, feeling worried that Naruto is taking upon some unsaid and unecesary guilt about what happened.
Hinatas smile dropped in the slightest, after so many years of marriage she's certain Naruto doesn't feel as guilty as before but he definitely still held onto it just a little in spite of telling her elsewise. Maybe if it was anyone else he wouldn't, but because its Sakura and Sasuke he can't seem to let go entirely.
"It'll be something only those two can resolve."
-
The morning breeze flutters past Sasuke face. It's been awhile since his mornings were this peaceful.
"Was Naruto that nosey when I was away from the village?" He wonders aloud, despite already knowing the answer.
Hokage work kept him busy. It had kept him relatively busy up till his retirement a month ago. Sasuke shook his head, after a whole month he finally gets to spend some peace and quiet with his wife in the morning. There's no way he'll waste it like this, there's so much he had to tell Sakura... starting with that picture from Sunagakure. He pulled it out from his pocket and presented it to her.
"Sarada and Boruto are doing just fine. She even attended her first kage summit about two weeks ago and just got home last night. Hinata and I have been taking turns looking after our youngest granddaughter, she looks more like you each day. Naruto tries to help but after that time he left his other grandchild in the store ...both the Yamanakas and Uchihas are a little skeptical."
Sasuke shuddered at the thought of what could happen. While he doesn't doubt Narutos ability to keep their grandchildren safe ...he does doubt his ability to change diapers or remember feeding times.
A small puff of air left his nose, a laugh.
"I guess the age of peace has finally returned huh. To think Naruto and I even share grandchildren now..." he paused and looked straight ahead at his wifes picture on the tombstone "...I guess it isn't so bad, you always did mention having a feeling that Sarada and Boruto would fall in love with each other. I'm sure if you saw them now you'd go 'I knew it shannaro!'"
Another amused puff of air left Sasuke, proud of his Sakura impersonation. Though behind his hallmark stoic exterior, the longing that set into his eyes soon after was impossible to miss. He longed to sit by her side, to hold her warm hand in his on a chilly day like this. To see her face flush red from his teasing, have her hands hit him out of embarassment. Hear her laugh, hear her call his name. The gaping chasm Sakura's absence had on his soul never lessened with time. He'd only learnt how to cope with it.
He missed Sakura.
His hand moved atop the stone edge of her grave, as if in his own way, translating into hold her hand.
"Don't worry, when we meet again I'll tell you everything all over again."
With one last squeeze onto her tombstone, Sasuke rose to his feet. He looked at his wife with a smile and took his now empty breakfast container with him. He kept his composure until he walked out of the graveyards entrance. The gentle Sasuke vanquished instantly, with lightning fast reflexes he threw several shuriken at a nearby tree. Theres a strained yelp before a familiar ball of yellow and orange comes leaping out of the trees.
"Sasuke teme!-" Naruto begins but his rage is quickly dampened upon remembering where they are ...and also why they were here.
"If you'd done your job as Hokage, Sakura would still be alive," Sasuke said, cold and emotionless.
Guilt immedietly spread throughout Naruto. He'd promised Sasuke he'd look out for Sakura-chan and Sarada while he was away, even without that promise as a Hokage they were extensions of his family. Heck, Sakura-chan would be family even if he wasn't Hokage.
So what kind of half-assed Hokage gets sealed away and has his village destroyed.
"Sasuke I-"
"Is that what you thought I'd say?" Sasuke cuts him off, one cold black eye narrowing in on a guilt-ridden Naruto who didn't know what to say.
Sasuke sighed.
"If you think my wife needed your protection to live you're overestimating yourself. Sakura did what she had to as a shinobi in a time of crisis. The only person blaming you, is yourself Naruto."
Narutos chest tightened, no matter how much Sarada or Hinata told him he wasn't to blame ...a small part of him still held onto those beliefs. How could he not, Sakura-chan was finally happy and so was Sasuke, but it all ended in one fight. One fight that saved the village, a fight that the Hokage should have handled.
"Sasuke I-"
But Sasuke had already walked off, now a few steps ahead of Naruto.
"Oi Sasuke! You're killing the mood here!"
"Walk faster dobe, I'll accompany you to breakfast this once. Ichiraku?"
Naruto watched Sasukes retreating figure; a back he's seen so often. In the academy after losing to him, as genin on a mission, as teenagers on opposite sides of conflict, comrades in war... and now friends going to Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto quickly jogged up with a bright smile and slung an arm over Sasukes shoulders.
"You sure do know me well huh!" Naruto loudly laughed.
"Unfortunately."
"What?!"
A cherry blossom petal landed on Sasuke's hand as Naruto filled his ears with complaints.
Sasuke smiled on the inside.
Team 7... will always be together.