Mine

Questions

Sakura began her day at the hospital with a renewed sense of purpose, eager to be useful again. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead as she made her way to her office. As she passed the nurses' triage desk, Ino spotted her and quickly approached with a bright smile. "Forehead! My, oh my, how I've missed you!" Ino exclaimed, pulling her into a quick hug. Sakura could sense her friend catching a familiar scent before stepping back with a mischievous grin.

Ino ushered them both into Sakura's office, practically bouncing with excitement. "You actually did it! How? When? Tell me everything," she demanded, perching herself on the edge of Sakura's oak desk, the cool surface against her legs.

Sakura's cheeks flushed as she waved for Ino to lower her voice. "Is his scent really that strong?" she asked, her embarrassment deepening.

"Yes! He's the Hokage, and his scent is unmistakable. And let's not forget, he's ridiculously hot. You're so lucky!" Ino teased, her grin widening.

Sakura smiled shyly, the warmth in her chest growing as she thought about Kakashi. "He really is great," she admitted softly.

Ino playfully smacked her arm. "Come on, spill! I need details."

Deciding to confide in her best friend, Sakura hesitated for only a moment. "I didn't expect the bond to be so... otherworldly. I can hear his thoughts sometimes."

Ino's eyes widened with intrigue. "You can hear him? Sakura, that usually doesn't happen."

Sakura furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean? I thought that was part of it, the whole point of being connected."

Ino's excitement was palpable. "Sakura, it's true about the Hatake Clan! Do you not realize what this means? Only the strongest of bonds can share thoughts. It's always been a rumor, hearsay—especially since Hokage-sama has never claimed anyone before. Who else have you talked to about this?"

Sakura was caught off guard, her emotions swirling. "I haven't talked to anyone about it. Kakashi never made it seem like it was rare. He just said we'd hear each other better once the bond finalizes." She began chewing her thumbnail, rocking slightly in her office chair, her mind now too preoccupied to focus on work.

"The bond might be final, but with Hokage-sama being so unique, his bonds could be different from what we've learned. Maybe you're different too. I can still smell your scent on you, and that usually fades." Ino's words came out in a rush, her excitement and curiosity evident.

Sakura sat in silence, trying to process everything. Ino, always the chatterbox, continued. "And besides the Hatake clan, there's another rumor—that only soulmates can hear each other's thoughts! Sakura, I'm so jealous!"

Ino leaned forward on the desk, her eyes full of questions, waiting for Sakura to respond.

"It's all so overwhelming, Ino. I'm struggling to separate my emotions from his, and his thoughts sometimes leak into mine. I can even see what he sees sometimes, like a dream playing in real-time in my head. Is it always going to be this intense?" Sakura placed her head in her hands, feeling the emotions bubbling up inside her.

"Hey, don't get all worked up, Forehead. It'll normalize eventually," Ino reassured her. "You can see what he sees too? That's really interesting. Usually, bonds only allow you to feel each other's emotions, which is why they're so important. You should know this!" Ino smiled, leaning back and twirling a strand of her hair.

"I did know some of this, but I didn't expect it to be so overwhelming. Do you think Kakashi knows this isn't normal? He's never claimed anyone before, but he didn't act like it was a big deal." Sakura's questions grew deeper, her excitement mingling with confusion. She knew these were her own emotions this time, and she hoped she wasn't sending them to Kakashi. She still didn't know how to control that, and if it was as rare as Ino said, finding answers might be even harder.