Dangerous Bond: Clan of Peace

Part 40

"Sakura" Sasuke interrupted before she could say another word. 

Said woman seemed startled as she heard his voice, not expecting him to reject her so early on. Her eyes grew sad as she cast her vision downward.

She tried hard not to but she could feel the tears lining up in her eyes, ready to fall at the snap of his fingers.

Yet, no more words came. No words of rejection or malice. Nor words of love or emotions. 

Instead, the pink-haired Kunoichi felt soft fingers grasp the edge of her chin, almost hesitant in their action. Her breath hitched as those fingers pulled her chin up only for her eyes to meet those reflecting her emotions. 

"You doubt my feelings for you too quickly" Sasuke muttered as he stared at her with love in his eyes. 

Sakura felt her whole world come to a stop. Had he just admitted his feelings...for her? He had read her emotions so easily yet she still could not read anything of what was going through his head.

"Sasuke..." She muttered.

Instead of saying anything more, Sasuke slowly dropped his hand from her chin to her waist and gently pulled her toward him. The two could feel the breath of the other on their cheeks as they watched what the other would do. 

Sasuke, not known for his patience, lifted his other hand to her cheek and slowly leaned in, placing a soft and surprisingly hesitant kiss on her lips. 

Sakura closed her eyes as she focused on remembering the feel of his lips against her. It was so much different than the kiss they shared as kids. That was quick, sloppy, and held the feeling of goodbye whereas this kiss felt as if they were finally saying hello. It was gentle, soft, loving, and passionate. 

Sakura sighed into the kiss as she returned it. Even as war loomed over them, she had never felt happier. 

Now he knew and now she knew. Their feelings were one and understood by the other. 

Nothing could come between that now, not even death. 

___

Itachi sat on the roof of a water tower overlooking most of the village. He smiled as he caught a glimpse of his little brother finally making a move before giving them their privacy and turning away to watch the multitude of shinobi coming and going through the gates. They'd all been assigned divisions and were on their way to each village to prepare. 

He'd seen war when he was a child and celebrated with Shisui when it was over. It was a strange notion for him to go through it again and instead of fighting alongside his father, he'd be fighting with his brother. 

"Feeling nervous?" A voice joined his peaceful bubble on the water tower.

Itachi didn't have to turn around to know the voice belong to Kakashi. 

"I feel strangely at peace" Itachi muttered as he felt the breeze flow through his hair.

Kakashi stayed quiet for a moment before coming to sit next to the Uchiha and looked over the village as well. 

"That better not be foreshadowing for your death or something" Kakashi chuckled.

Itachi smiled but said nothing.

"Remember that time we delivered the scrolls of Ishiamatsu to Suna? The dog that followed you all the way until the tree line and waited until we came back? I guess it must've been too hot for the little guy to go onto the sand" Kakashi chuckled, reminiscing about the past.

Itachi slyly smirked "The way I remember it, you had placed a pack of meat in my bag and it wouldn't stop jumping on me to get it" 

Kakashi turned to Itachi with a smile "Why did I do that, I wonder?" He mused with a mysterious look in his eyes.