After the Storm.

5.

"Last one to the gate has to report to Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto blurts out once the Konoha gates came within view. He quickly took off running with Sai trailing behind him. Sakura gave a sigh.

"We all have to go there anyway." She mumbles. "I can't believe Sai actually ran with him."

"I can't believe you actually thought I did." Sai speaks from her right startling her.

"Y-You didn't?!" She asked.

"No. I sent a clone so he wouldn't feel stupid that no one ran with him." Sai blinked once before stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Sakura snorted. Sometimes Sai didn't seem so bad.

When the two first met, she tried to figure him out. But that only lead to her punching him in defense to Sasuke. She tolerated Sai because he was thrown on their team. Once she realized his vulnerability, she aided him. Although he lacks empathy, he tries to relate or understand emotions by reading books. So far, he's learned he has a crush on Ino Yamanaka— Sakura's best friend.

Sai haven't physically re-met the Uchiha, but it confused him how both Naruto and Sakura fought so hard for him. Sai figured he's what one would call an asshole. He never grasped how they even meshed together.

Sakura was rude, ugly and whiny. Naruto was obnoxious, ignorant , and immature. Sasuke was arrogant, distant , and ruthless. How'd Kakashi manage all those personalities to form the perfect 3 man team? Sai couldn't deny that, once they put their jutsus together, it's like they're unstoppable. He's witnessed their teamwork, he knows how in sync they are. But how they managed to have a strong friendship as well baffled him.

Up ahead, Naruto bounced around in victory as Sai's clone hunched over catching his breath. Sakura chuckled.

"Such an idoit." Sai says with a long sigh. "The Hyuga girl deserves him."

"It's a privilege for Naruto that she even likes him back." Sakura corrects.

Sai snorts. "My my, that was an ugly thing to say."

"N-No not like that." Sakura shook her head. "Naruto is handsome, but sometimes he forgets that women can be delicate and sensitive and he tends to say things that he'd say to either you or Kiba."

"What could he possibly say to me and that mutt?" Sai frowned being grouped into an analogy with Kiba. It wasn't that he didn't like Kiba, it was just that Kiba was weak. Simple.

"I dunno, guy stuff?" Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever it is you guys talk about."

"I don't talk about anything." Sai says flatly. "I just listen."

"Well, listen to." Sakura corrects herself.

"Huh?!—what the hell Sai?!" Naruto grunts once the two finally come within eyeshot. The clone Sai had waiting, finally vanishes into a pool of ink by Naruto's side.

"Well I didn't want you to feel stupid that no one ran with you so." Sai shrugs then smiles. "I guess I made you look pretty foolish doing that too, huh?"

Naruto growled gaining a laugh from Sakura who grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him from assulting Sai.

"Come on, we have to check in with Kakashi Sensei." She says pulling him along. He mumbled something to himself before pulling away and throwing his hands behind his head. Clasping his hands together, he shut his eyes and continued to step in stride with Sakura. Who now stood in between himself and Sai.

It felt good to be home. People greeted them as they walked the dirt pathway to The Hokage's Office. They mostly spoke to Naruto, but those who did speak to the others were greatly appreciated.