𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓘𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I apologize," she said, her voice regaining its steady cadence, a mask of professionalism slipping back into place. Mrs. Uchiha's gaze darted between Dr. Haruno and her son, a flicker of suspicion and bewilderment in her eyes. "Do you two know each other?" she asked

"No, he just bears a striking resemblance to someone I used to know. It caught me off guard. I'm truly sorry, Mrs. Uchiha. Now, shall we delve into your test results?" Sakura said swiftly, her tone shifting to one of brisk efficiency, desperate to steer the conversation away from the unsettling familiarity she felt with Sasuke.

"Yes, please proceed, Doctor," Mrs. Uchiha replied, her suspicion seemingly assuaged for the moment.

"The results indicate that you do not have breast cancer, which is excellent news. However, you do have a benign cyst. It's likely the cause of the discomfort you've been experiencing. If you'd like, I can perform a simple aspiration procedure to drain the fluid and alleviate the swelling," Sakura explained, offering a solution to address the immediate concern.

"Yes, I would greatly appreciate that. However, my husband and I are expected at a rather crucial meeting shortly. Would it be possible for me to reschedule for another day to have the procedure done then?" Mrs. Uchiha inquired, a hint of apology in her voice.

"Absolutely. I'll prescribe you some Tylenol and antibiotics to manage any discomfort you might experience until then. Please stop by the nurses' station on your way out, and they'll be happy to schedule an appointment for you." Sakura instructed, offering a reassuring smile.

With a final nod, Sakura excused herself and practically fled back to the sanctuary of her office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Closing the door firmly behind her, leaning against the cool wood, she let out a shaky breath, her composure finally crumbling. Gripping her hair in frustration, she let out a muffled sob. "Why is this happening?" she whispered, the question echoing in the quiet room.

Taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, Sakura walked over to her desk and sank into her chair, the soft leather a small comfort. A soft knock startled her, and she smoothed her hair, attempting to regain some semblance of normalcy before answering.

"Come in," she said quietly, her voice still slightly trembling. Of course, it had to be Ino, her best friend and colleague, appearing at the worst possible moment.

"Excuse me, Dr. Haruno. I wasn't aware my presence was such an unwelcome burden," Ino remarked, her tone dripping with mock offense, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she took in Sakura's disheveled appearance.

"Even if it were, you'd still find a way to rope me into whatever crisis you're currently embroiled in," Sakura retorted playfully, a small smile tugging at her lips despite her inner turmoil.

"Couldn't argue with that, sis. Now, down to business. I'm working late tonight, and Shikamaru isn't quite comfortable taking the baby out on his own just yet. I'm in dire need of some pads, could you possibly grab me a pack?" Ino asked, lowering her voice slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"Sure, no problem," Sakura agreed, glad for the small distraction. "What kind do you need?" she asked

"Thanks, babe. You're a lifesaver and wings medium flow," Ino said, giving Sakura a grateful smile before leaving her office.

Sakura had initially wanted to confide in her best friend about her unsettling encounter with Sasuke, but the thought of being bombarded with Ino's well-meaning but often overwhelming questions was too much to bear at that moment.