Quote of the chapter:  "It isn't giving up, it just means moving on."

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          cнαpтer 22

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"Tsunade-baachan come on, open it already!" Whining, Naruto enabled his puppy eyes as he begged the hokage.

The four shinobi had already returned to Konoha after a day and a half of travelling back. Naruto and Hinata did not know what happened between Sasuke and Sakura that night since no one spoke of it.

Sakura and Sasuke had a glint of awkwardness if ever they would talk, but in terms of teamwork, they would still cooperate with each other.

Also, Sakura had recover the next day from the disease like what Saitu had told them.

Now, Naruto was pleading Tsunade to reveal what was inside.

"Geez, alright." Tsunade commented before unlocking the padlock and unsealed the box, showing a scroll.

Once she agaped the summoning scroll then formed a jutsu to receive the item or items that were inside.

((~*PLAY SONG*~))

Tsunade embraced the objects inside with love as if it was the best thing in the world.

"A sake?" Hinata questioned with question marks smeared all over her face.

A sweat dropped Sasuke's face while he twitched, irritated.

Sakura smacked her palm right to her forehead.

"It's a one of a kind sake made by Saitu and it is also the best-selling type in the Land of Sand."

"You mean, we prepared to give our lives just to protect a stupid drink!" Naruto ranted in fury which led Sakura to restrain him from harming anyone, especially the hokage in front of them.

"So, I suppose you regret taking part in the mission?"

Tsunade's backfire resulted to Naruto's silence as he recalled the memories he had shared with his teammates. Tint of crimson flashed his cheeks once he remembered his moments with Hinata during the fireworks.

"Well then, you are dismissed for the time-being." Tsunade declared and they took their leave.

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The taste of the hot beverage was like a drop from heaven as Sakura took another sip of her cup of coffee.

"So, you and Sasuke-kun went to second base?"

That question nearly made her choke and she reminisced the time she almost tasted his lips. The closing gap and rising tension. But then she turned away.

She gulped before coughing. "No. Ino, I broke the glance because you know, we're both in different marriages."

Ino had just finished her mission on the same day as Sakura's. They met up at the Hokage tower then had an unplanned drink of coffee to talk, because Sakura needed it.

Sakura placed her cup down at the glass table as she ruffled her hair then covered her puzzled face. "I don't know what to do anymore, pig."

"Awwww," Ino purred, bringing down her drink. "That's a sign a that you still love him."

"Excuse me?"

"That, what you're doing right now. You're confused. Love makes you confused. And the fact that you don't know what to do now, proves that you love him."

Sakura sighed, "What if I'm not in love with him?"

"If you're not, then you shouldn't have had this talk to me and you should've went with your wedding with Shee Jin with no doubts." Winking at her best friend, Ino finished half of her coffee. "You know, there's still lots of boys out there forehead." She brought up, looking out for her companion as a worried friend.

"But there's only one for me. "For the last time, a begrudging sigh flew out of Sakura's mouth.

((Yes yes I made another hugot huehue /slapped/ okay back to the story))

It was as if she was leaving already, taking her new step in life. And that made Ino uncomfortable. It may be selfish like the team seven but nonetheless, she doesn't want her best friend to leave. Who does?

Sakura stared at Ino before giving up. "What do you suggest, I'll do?"

"Do you want to continue with the marriage?"

"Yup."

"Then there's only one way to do it." Ino shot her a stern look after landing her cup at the table.

"What is it?" Determined, she questioned.

"Avoid him."

END OF CHAPTER 22

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//PUBLISHED.5.28.15//

Huehue things are heating up >:3 sorry for the short chap tho

Thanks for reading, voting, commenting!

:)

~TheSketcher