🌸The Journey🌸

Day 5

The next morning, Sasuke and Sakura parted ways with Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino and headed eastward on their days' travel to the Village Hidden in the Sound.

"I'm sorry, Darling..." Sakura panted as she stopped and leaned against a tree, "can we take another quick break?"

"Okay." Sasuke set his bag down and held Sakura's hand to help her sit down on the grass, "you holding up?"

"Yeah. Barely." Sakura chuckled weakly as he sat next to her, "this reminds me of our Genin days."

She glanced nearby and imagined their younger days as Genin on Team 7 with Kakashi and Naruto.

"The dobe was always asking to stop." Sasuke added, "I remember. He always complained about walking so much and even asked Kakashi to carry him."

"Oh yeah!" Sakura laughed, "and I would chastise him about being lazy while you'd stand aside and watch."

"I would always mentally judge him, though." Sasuke looked at her face, "but you know, he's changed. We all have. Including you."

Sakura smiled, "heh. You think so?"

He nodded, "I know it. You've changed the most out of all of us. Your strength and persistence kept us going, you know. Your impact on both me and Naruto is unimaginable."

"Well." Sakura rubbed the back of her neck, "I've never really thought of it that way, but I really did work so hard to catch up with you two. You guys kept me going and made me work harder to help you both. So, in a way, I should be thanking you guys. For being supportive teammates in our childhood and for helping me become the woman I am today."

Sasuke smiled, "thank you, too."

Sakura nodded and chuckled to herself as she put her hand on Sasuke's shoulder and used him to get herself up, "c'mon, we can't sit here any longer!"

"Oh, hey, hold on." Sasuke took her hand and stood up to help her stand, "here, let me help you. You might fall."

"I'm fine." Sakura wiped the sweat from her forehead on the back of her hand and held Sasuke's arm tighter, "how much longer?"

Sasuke studied the road ahead of them, "it's only about three miles left. Once we get to the village, we'll stop overnight at an inn there before moving on to the hideout."

"An inn?! You mean... A bed?!" Sakura beamed, "I'm all for that! That's awesome! I can't remember the last time I slept in a real bed!"

"Yeah." Sasuke smiled at her, "let's go."

Sakura's determination and perseverance got her to continue on another two and a half miles in forty-five minutes before stopping to rest once again.

"I'm sorry." Sakura sighed as she took a long drink from her canteen of water.

"Don't apologize. You're doing great." Sasuke looked at her, "I'll be back. I just have to go send something out."

"Alright. Don't take long." Sakura nodded as Sasuke stepped away from Sakura and further back down the path where she couldn't see him.

He brought his hand out from his cloak and looked down at the small scroll he held in his hand. He looked up and spotted his messenger hawk circling overhead before it flew down and landed on his shoulder.

"Take this to Naruto." Sasuke attached the message to the bird's leg and released it to fly back to the Leaf Village. Once it was out of sight, Sasuke quickly returned to his wife, "are you ready? The village is just over this path."

"Yeah. Let's go." Sakura smiled, "I could use some good buffet food right now."

Sasuke helped her stand up once again, "I'm sure we'll find some good food at the inn."