Letters from afar
07/30/??
Hello Dad, hello Papa!
How are you? I’ve been keeping busy with Sasuke for the past few weeks. It’s so weird that 3 weeks have already passed, though I suppose, as the old saying goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” I’ve been having a great deal of fun too!
Sorry I didn’t write you sooner, I guess I’ve just been a bit… caught up.
It is odd to complete missions nowadays. Before we were fighting against other villages or enemy nin, there was certain to be some kind of conflict on even the simplest of missions. I can’t say the same here, don’t worry, I always stay on high alert anyway. It’s just that we have, so far, run into no issues! Knock on wood it stays that way, though, because honestly it’s been quite nice chatting with Sasuke and doing ninja work with him again. Even if it’s just diplomatic work.
Anyway, I hope you two are well. How’s physical therapy been Papa, how has your pain been? I hope it’s been going well, I hope your pain is more manageable. How’s being the Hokage, Dad? I heard from Ino that you’ve been making Shikamaru and Iruka work extra hard to teach Naruto everything he needs to know so you can, “pass down the torch,” or whatever it was Ino wrote me.
Well don’t make the three of them work too hard, Naruto will get there one day, I guarantee it! You two don’t work too hard either, as much as you two are in your, “springtime of youths,” you aren't exactly twenty anymore. So take care of yourselves.
I have to go soon, so I’ll stop here, but I can’t wait to hear back from you two!
Love you! <3
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08/13/??
Sakura! I’m glad to hear that you are well! I am glad that time is flying and you and Sasuke are exploring your youth together! exploring the world together and enjoying your youth! (Your father insisted I rewrote this part.)
You are right! Things are much different now, peace is quite an enjoyable thing, no? I am glad that you can focus on the diplomacy of your mission, as well as get plenty of time with Sasuke!
You and Sasuke are dating now, no? How is that going if so?
As for physical therapy, it has been going well!! I can move much more of my body freely!!! I am still in pain, some days it is quite bad while others are more bearable. I have not been able to fully come off the pain meds they prescribed, but I have gone down in the amount I take! And, I’ll have you know my youth is far from gone! But, do not worry, I will not push my body beyond what it can handle. Your father will keep me accountable for that, he already has. I will keep him accountable too, I’ll make sure he does not push himself too hard! Your dad will write you a letter too!
Allow me to ask you some questions!
How have you been since you wrote us your first letter? How is Sasuke? How is the mission going? Any new fun experiences or pictures you can share with us?
I love you more than life sweet girl, stay safe!
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08/13/??
Hello Sakura, I’ve been good. How have you been since you wrote last? Although I love hearing from you and miss you, I understand that you are now an adult. You are off figuring things out and experiencing things, so please enjoy it! Do not feel obligated to write every day. Though, your Papa and I miss you. The ninken too.
I’m glad that things are going well in your mission, I’m also glad that you are enjoying your time with Sasuke. I heard you and him might be a thing. ;) Good for you. I hope the rest of your mission goes by with relative ease as well.
Don’t worry, I won’t work too hard. Being the Hokage is… challenging, especially given I didn’t even want this position. Still, for some reason, I can’t help but give my all at anything I do. But, don’t fret, I’m not stressing too much over all this. As for Iruka, Shikamaru, and Naruto, I haven’t been giving them more than they can handle. Ino get the complain-y version of events from Shikamaru, haha, don’t worry. By the time you get this letter, I believe Naruto and Hinata’s letter will have been long since sent. So, as you know, Hinata is pregnant! That has slowed things a bit, I will be putting aside a lot of Naruto’s training for right now.
I hope you’re doing well, I hope you’re safe, and I hope you’re happy. I love you so much my sweet girl, can’t wait to hear from you again. Send some pictures of you two if you can. <3
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09/01/??
Hello, again Dad and Papa!
I am doing okay, I’ve not been feeling the best lately, so me and Sasuke are going to travel to Orochimaru so Karin can make sure that I’m in tip-top shape! And, yes, me and Sasuke are a thing now! We’ve only recently made it official, though, Ino and her big mouth!
The mission is still doing well, a few small issues popped up, but we dealt with them. I don’t have too much to share yet, but after I get checked out by Karin we are supposed to go to the Land of Flowers, I heard it’s beautiful, so I’ll take lots of pictures!
I’m glad you too are doing well! :) That’s awesome about physical therapy! Don’t beat yourself up too hard about the pain meds Papa, you’ve begun to wean off them a lot sooner than projected! Also, I’m sorry you have to work a job you did not want Dad. :( I understand it had to be done, but after everything you and Papa have done for the village you two deserve a nice long vacation.
I did get the letter from Naruto! I sent a letter of congratulations to the two of them, Sasuke did too!! I’m so happy for them. :D Also, I kinda figure Shikamaru was just being hyperbolic and Ino didn’t catch on, haha.
As for Papa’s questions, as I said before, I’m okay. A bit tired and sick, but I’m sure it’s nothing! Sasuke is doing well, it’s been so nice to spend so much time with him. He has a really weird sense of humor, I made a joke about a frog looking like Naruto and he laughed for like 10 minutes straight. His face got red and his eyes teared up. I didn’t know he could laugh like that. I’ve also gotten to see him smile in ways I’ve never seen before. He is so gentle and caring to me! The mission is going well! I don’t have pictures, yet! I also don’t have any super interesting stories. Mostly we’ve been collecting knowledge as well as spending time together.
Although, we were in the sand for a few days so we hung out with Gaara and Kankuro. Kankuro has gotten a lot more knowledgeable on poisons since the whole Sasori thing. His knowledge almost outdoes mine! As for Gaara, he was pleasant to talk to, but I get the idea he dislikes Sasuke. He seemed really annoyed anytime Sasuke even breathed too loudly, he was fine when Sasuke left the room. I wonder why Gaara dislikes him so much, I have to assume it’s the whole war criminal thing. Aside from that, we haven’t had many interactions or experiences you’d find entertaining.
I’m glad you two are doing well, I hope that stays the same! I love you both so much and miss you lots!! Talk soon <3
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09/19/??
Sakura!! I hope you are feeling better or figuring out what is wrong by the time you receive our letters!!! I am sure Karin will take good care of you!
It is unfortunate that you are running into trouble, though I am glad the problems are minor! I heard that the Land of Flowers is gorgeous, take lots of photos! You know, I once had a bouquet delivered from there to the leaf for Kakashi once. They were still so fresh when they arrived as well as beautiful, Kakashi was still no good at receiving gifts back then, he was so awkward! HAHAHA, I think it just made me fall in love more though!
I am trying to be as kind to myself as possible, it is a bit challenging to go from who I was to who I am, but with each passing day, I learn to live with my new reality! With you and Kakashi cheering me on I’ll be better in no time!
As for a vacation, it would be nice, and Kakashi will definitely deserve one once he passes the torch to Naruto! Do not fret! He has already begun planning, HAHA!
I am also very happy for Hinata, I’m unsure if you are writing back and forth, but if not know she is doing very well. The last I saw her she was practically glowing!!!
I am glad that things with Sasuke have been going well! :D As for your chats with Kankuro and Gaara, it is good to hear that Kankuro is still learning and improving! As for the Gaara disliking Sasuke, are you sure? I thought he disliked me at first too, Kakashi says that just his resting face. He also said Gaara is a bit shy with people at first, so maybe it was that?
I hope you have more exciting experiences! You’re father and I have been doing wonderful! I hope you are doing better, sweet girl, love you!! *3*
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09/19/??
Hello Sakura, I’m sorry you’re feeling unwell, I hope that’s not the same when you are reading our letters. I’m sure Karin will take good care of you, you don’t know how long it took me to convince your Papa not to write some cheesy dad joke about Karin carin’ for you. Haha.
It's good news is that things are more or less the same with the mission. As you said in your previous letter, a few issues here and there are to be expected on even the easiest of missions. Good that it hasn’t been anything too big.
Your Papa once bought me flowers from there, while we were in the middle of a trade war! I don’t think he knew, haha, still to this day he chalks up my nerves to awkwardness. Mostly, I was worried someone would find out and chastise Gai. I can’t wait to see all the pictures!
Don’t sweat the small stuff, sweet girl, in no time I’ll be retired and missing all this ninja/Hokage bullshit. Don’t you worry, I’ve been planning a nice long vacation with Gai since he woke up from his coma!
Sasuke is a bit of an oddball, it doesn’t surprise me that something like that would make him laugh. Naruto and Kiba go around the village pointing to stuff and asking, “This you?” It kills them every time, though Naruto is normally with Hinata now if he’s not doing some kind of mission.
It’s good to hear Gaara and Kankuro are doing well. Gaara 100% hates Sasuke, I noticed that at one of our last meetings. He side-eyes the hell out of Sasuke. Me and Kurenai think he’s jealous of how close he and Naruto are. I’m sure the war criminal thing doesn’t help, but he’s also technically a war hero. Are you a hero of war if you aided in starting it? I don’t know.
Again, I hope you feel better by the time our letters arrive! Hopefully, the mission stays relatively easy. I love you lots and lots, sweet girl.