Sakura found herself enjoying the company of everyone, so far, it took a while before Kakashi had rejoined them, they had found another spot to sit at to enjoy drinks and food, Gaara staying close to Sakura excepting the fact that he won't be getting as much alone time with her as he would rather be happy with but he will take what attention from her he can get. Drawing late into the night, Gaara was pulled from the group work as Kazekage demanding him back, but he was able to pull Sakura from the group and outside to say good night, "Maybe at some point while you're still here we'll be able to hang out without any interruption."
Sakura blushed, understanding that the last few times the cause of interruption were for her and more needed her attention, "Yeah, I know, how about tomorrow I help you do as much paper work as possible that way the next day, you and I will get away early, just the two of us to hang out, no interruptions anything. How does that sound?"
Gaara nodded his head smiling at her, "I like that," he pulled her into a tight hug, some of the villagers around them noticing and whispering to each other at the sit, his hands drawing down to her waist his fingers leaving a trail of tingles on her skin, "No interruptions."
Sakura's face was hot as he stepped away from her leaving her standing outside the restaurant, gathering herself and fanning her face a little before walking back in she looked at the group, a part of her still hurt and angry at them for their words, she had done so much for them growing up, and what felt like in a second they gave up on her. Taking a deep breath she walked back over to them sitting down between Naruto and Neji, she listened to them talk about the Hidden Leaf, about missions that they had done and such. Looking up before her Sai was staring at her, smiling to him, "What?"
Sai took a second before speaking, "How long was it before you became loyal to the Akatsuki after they took you?" Everyone hearing the question stopped talking and looked at Sai, a little shocked that he would out right question her like that, but they had to remind themselves that it was Sai and he never beat around the bush with anything and before Sakura was taken she was trying to reteach him manners and social ques. Sakura on the other hand was taken aback, silent staying at him, her smile gone, "I've been thinking about that question since hearing that you were actually loyal to them."
Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat, everyone then turned to look at her, she slowly looked around the table, the question lingering on their eyes now too, as she continued to look at all of them a rage grew within her, who were they to question her about that, was it so hard to believe that she would. Standing up quickly she looked down at Sai, eyes narrowed, her hurt and pain sitting in her stomach, "Do you really have to ask me that? I gave so much of myself to the village and my team, to all of you, and you want to pick at me and take more?" Shaking her head she turned on her heel shoving the chair she was sitting in aside walking out scoffing, she didn't need anyone to question her, especially fake people.
"Sakura, wait!" Turning her head Naruto ran out after her everyone else following him, "Please wait, everything was going great."
"Yeah, they were, almost covering up the stupidity in what you guys said back then, but someone couldn't stop picking." Sakura said as she looked to Sai, "From everything I tried to teach you, why couldn't you pick up any of that, what made you think, that questioning me like that would do anything for you? Did you think I would have an answer for you? Why do I even owe you, any of you an answer to that?" Sakura tried to hold herself together, she was not going to let herself break down in the middle of the street, not in front of them, they were going to see that side of her, she didn't want them to.
Naruto walked to her, reaching out hoping to holding onto her shoulder or hand, "You don't Sakura, I'm sorry that you heard any of that, even more that any of it was even said. I shouldn't have ever said anything bad about you. You always stood up for me, you always believed in me, when no one else did, you always had my back, I should've had yours." His fingers lightly wrapped around her wrist, "I'm sorry, Sakura, I know that won't ever be enough but I do hope that it can be a start, let me fix what I've said, give me a chance?"
