#sasukeandsakura

The dark-haired nin raised an eyebrow at the spectacle below him, perched on a tree branch, remaining unnoticed. The young woman, though small and frail looking, managed to stab through an assailant who came at her with a knife. And she back-flipped to land a slipper and sock clad foot on another's jaw.

She further astonished him when she buried her polished nails into the ground and threw dirt at a man who took hold of her thin wrist. The bulky scum screamed with anger and swung his fist at her. Before he was able to land a punch however, the young avenger finally decided to intervene.

As Sasuke held the fist of the bandit, he let out a smirk, and in less than a second, an electrical current runs through the man's arm, in which another pained yell resounded through the flower fields. The other men were stunned but foolishly launched themselves onto his person.

The woman joined in the fight as well, and together, with her skills wielding her weapon, and his basic taijutsu, Uchiha Sasuke and Nakano Aya managed to defeat seventeen more attackers.

It was over in mere minutes.

When the young Uchiha straightens his back and turns to the girl he just rescued, his lone visible onyx eye widens when he is faced with the tip of her blade.

"What do you want?"

Her voice, which was surprisingly a soft tone, quite similar to someone from his past, was laced with suspicion that all he could manage was lift an eyebrow in return because hadn't he just saved her?

"A thank you would've sufficed."

He doesn't hesitate in smacking the weapon with the back of his hand and it lands a few feet away from where they stood.

She lets out a frustrated huff.

"Thank you for helping me there. But I honestly had it covered."

"One second more, and your face would have been severely bruised."

"I've experienced worse."

Sasuke narrows his eyes and decides to just end the stupid conversation. This girl, was stubborn, and rude, and honestly, quite annoying. So he turns on his heel and starts to walk away.

"Wait!"

He pauses.

"My village is nearby, and if you were a gentleman, you would see through my safety there."

"Where are your escorts?"

There is a flinch in her form, as Sasuke regards her with a sideways glance over his shoulder.

"How did you..."

"You're obviously a high class woman."

He faces her then and starts to scrutinize her person. Now that he thinks about it. It was actually suspicious that this girl seemed to be travelling alone. He scans their surroundings and notices only her suitcase and a spear. What was this woman doing without protection?

She raises an eyebrow back at him and walks over to pick up her weapon as well as her suitcase. She thrusts the bag into his hands, and it only baffles the avenger when she cranes her neck to the side and holds out a hand.

"I'm Nakano Aya. And you?"

Her actions only serve to confuse him, but the question she asked was one he had no qualms about answering.

"Moriyama. Moriyama Sasuke."

"Sasuke."

She utters his name to test it on her lips and smiles at him.

"Now, if you would be so kind as to accompany this "high class woman" back to her village? The sun is setting, and my brother would be enraged if I don't make it back by dinner time."

And she turns and treks her way back.

And for some reason.

Out of curiosity.

And out of amusement at her unique way of handling things,

.

.

.

Uchiha Sasuke falls into step with her.

______________

The Village of Nogusa is big and unlike anything Sasuke has ever seen before. He thinks that the name makes sense now that he's seen it, what with the vastness of the fields of grass that surrounded them. There wasn't even one sight of concrete anywhere.

He takes note of the various wooden houses that surround him as Aya leads him through the village. And it doesn't take him a second to realize that this village was a bit backwards because not once has he seen any indication of a sign of electricity being actively used here.

Most of the houses screamed traditional Japanese, from what he could see. And it tugs at his heart a little because his former home was somewhat similar in style.

He almost bumps into his female companion when she halts and grumbles out a soft.

"Crap, he's coming our way."

Sasuke regards the panting man running towards them. He supposes that this person is probably three years his senior, copper strands slightly wet from the sweat and mouth wide open as he screams.

"Aya-samaaaaaaa!"

Said woman flinches and takes a step back, sliding a foot backward with an arm bent as she forms a fist and threateningly yells out.

"Ren! Don't you dare hug me!"

The man's arms were wide open, with his eyes kinked shut, relieved tears flowing down as he takes a wide jump to close their distance.

"Baka! You had this coming!"

And Sasuke watches with mild interest as the petite woman lets out a war cry and swings her fist forward. He expects it to hit the man but what happens next is quite surprising.

This Ren person, catches her fist in his hand and laughs.

"Your punches are too gentle Aya-sama."

He lets go of her hand and turns to Sasuke.

"Nakamura Ren, thank you for escorting my lady."

Sasuke lifts an eyebrow at this while the "lady" elbows the man.

"Actually, he's my bodyguard."

The rogue nin tilts his head a little and lifts his hand to shake Ren's.

"Moriyama Sasuke."

Ren gives him a firm handshake and takes the suitcase off his hand.

"Now, if you will please follow me Aya-sama, your brother has been worried sick."

"Nii-san is being over dramatic."

Hearing the word nii-san actually freezes Sasuke's whole person, and it takes him a second to see that the two strangers are walking farther ahead. He decides that maybe it's about time he left. He shrugs his black coat over his shoulder and begins to walk the opposite direction when a soft hand grabs his wrist, stopping his movement.

"And where do you think you're going?"

She still has that playful smile on, and the way she carried herself with confidence unexpectedly affects him a little. Because, how long has it been since someone piqued his interest like this?

Not since his brother.

Not since Naruto fought him.

Not since...

"Sasuke?"

He blinks his eyes and stares straight down her hand and it takes him a minute to realize that Aya had said something.

"What?"

She giggles innocently.

"I asked where you were going."

Sasuke couldn't help but stare deep into her sea green eyes.

"I don't know."

She furrows her brow and lets go of him, an awkward silence ensuing.

"Well, if you don't have any plans then you better come with me. Oni-san will find something for you."

And as baffling as it was when he accepted her demands to take her home, Sasuke couldn't help but follow.

______________

As it turns out, he was right about Nakano Aya being a member of a wealthy clan. The moment he meets Nakano Senji, with his long aristocratic nose, pale features and classy black robes, Sasuke knows that he is in the presence of the daimyo of this village.

He instinctively bows his head once in the presence of the man. Aya runs to her brother and gives him a hug.

"Aya."

His voice is stern and laced with worry that immediately tells Sasuke that they have a close bond.

The blue haired girl laughs and sheepishly apologizes for disappearing for a while, reassuring the lord that he didn't have to worry.

Sasuke lets out a tiny scoff when she tries to convince him that she was never near harm. And it was a bit pitiful too, considering that her skirt was torn and she looked ragged and obviously shambled.

Senji looks briefly at him. There's an air of understanding between both males when the long haired man pats his sister's head and addresses him.

"I thank you for saving my sister."

"Eh?! He didn't! I could've fought them all on my own!"

The daimyo looks at her with an amused expression on and teases her.

"Sure you could've, but it was nice of this man to at least save you some time right?"

She gawks comically and crosses her arms before her.

"I suppose he did."

"I thought you didn't get into trouble Imouto?"

Her eyes widened and she scratches the back of her head while sticking her tongue out.

"No use in dwelling in the past right?"

They have such a unique dynamic that leaves Sasuke slightly envious of the fact that they have each other.

He is invited to dine with them that night. And then the next, and then on their third dinner, Sasuke finally decides that perhaps he has overstayed his welcome. But when he attempts to bid his farewell, Nakano Senji lifts his hand to stop him from speaking, calmly saying.

"I want to offer you a position in my sister's guard. She gets into too much trouble sometimes."

"I don't need protection."

Aya pierces a fork into the meat before her and aggressively slices a piece, loudly chewing in an act of defiance. The more time Sasuke spends with her, the more she starts to become the opposite of what he first perceived her to be.

How can a tiny lady such as herself eat so much?

And why was she so violent?

Still though, he notices the delicate slump of her shoulders upon being unintentionally called difficult. She chances a glance at him and sits up straight, quickly regaining some composure.

"I mean, if Sasuke has nothing better to do, then maybe it's fine for him to make friends and stay, right?"

Senji nods his head.

And that's how it happens.

That's how Sasuke suddenly finds himself being officially welcomed into the Village of Nogusa.

______________

"Sasu-chan."

He scowls.

"Mori-kun."

He dodges her punch and flips back.

"Moriyan."

He aims a kick at her which she narrowly jumps out of the way of.

"Momo."

"Are you kidding?"

He improves his stance and catches her fist.

"You're improving."

She gives him a sly smile, plants her foot on the ground, gathering a bit of strength and attempts to give him a roundhouse kick.

He blocks it again.

Then she lets out a series of jabs and has him walking backwards as he avoids the hits.

"I'm trying to think of a nickname for you."

He jumps up and hangs himself off a branch from a tree.

"Sasuke is fine."

"Hey! No fair! You just started teaching me how to use my chakra like that. Come down and fight me like a man."

The only reply she gets is a quirked eyebrow and a smirk as he positions his feet to push himself off the tree only to land a foot behind her.

She turns to him with a fist far too quickly and almost loses her balance. He attempts to help her but what she says next jars his brain that it was too late for him to react. She had somehow launched her whole body onto him, taking advantage of his moment of distraction, knocking him off balance and landing with a smooth "oomph" onto the forest floor.

"What did you just say?"

She is breathing deeply and pushing her body off him, caging his head as her hands lay on the ground beside him. There is a blush on her cheeks.

"Damn you Sasuke-kun?"

The young nin returns her stare with a blank expression on.

"Sasuke-kun!"

"Onegai, Sasuke-kun. If I have a tiny place in your heart then please...!"

He blinks away the memories and sits up to put some space between them.

"I'd rather you don't call me that."

"Huh?"

He picks his shirt off the ground and puts it on. Then, he turns to her.

Aya, with her long hair tied into a high ponytail remains on her knees and looks at him with confusion and slight hurt.

It makes him feel a bit guilty.

So he walks over and offers her his hand.

"It's better than Momo I guess."

She rewards him with a big grin and accepts his offer.

"Sasuke-kun then."

The name sounded foreign and a little bit right on her lips because it didn't involve any crying or pleading, or...

.

.

.

Anger.

______________

A year passes without any significant events. He continues to train Nakano Aya and accompanies her when she goes around her village.

A healer.

She was actually a healer.

And the idea of what she is and what she represents churns his heart a bit.

The young woman doesn't use her chakra to treat her patients though. What she does is just the basic mixing of herbs and bandaging. It astonishes him a bit how often people seek her out however, and he briefly notes that there must be something she is doing different than any traditional herbalist.

His confusion about her abilities is answered three weeks later when she and Senji lead him through the caves behind their mansion.

"Tell me Sasuke, you're a strong ninja aren't you?"

He doesn't answer the rhetoric.

"It doesn't matter though, because every ninja in any village should've heard about the strongest kunoichi in the world right?"

The sentence catches him off guard but he nods anyway.

"I heard that she is actually the best medic as well."

He remembers Tsunade Senju and affirms that yes, she is considered a pioneer in the medical field and was in fact the best medic out there. She was part of the legendary Sanin after all.

"In addition to that, she is quite the beauty as some people say."

Sasuke blanches at the thought. Sure the fifth hokage was decent looking for her age.

"If you're into older women."

Aya turns to them. The light of the flame of the torch she is holding flickers around the dark.

"She must be so beautiful if you're not deterred by her age Senji-ni."

"I don't think she's that old. But I'm curious about her pink hair."

He stops.

Uchiha Sasuke stops, and his eyes widen all the more.

But there is no time to react because the moment that last bit of information sinks into his brain, the Nakano siblings turn to him with a determined expression on.

"This is why she's coming here in three days. And this is what you must help protect."

.

.

.

He could only stare in astonishment.

______________

Sasuke stands in ninja gear beside Aya three days later, with a sword strapped to his person as they await for the arrival of their esteemed guest at the village gates.

He tells himself that perhaps Senji had gotten the details wrong.

That maybe he was indeed talking about Tsunade Senju rather than...

"She's here."

He knows she's here, had sensed her chakra from meters away. And somehow he still managed to convince himself that this was all a misunderstanding.

There is a light tap and a rush of wind as she lands steadily on her feet.

He lifts his head up to regard her.

And it skips.

His heart skips a beat.

And he berates himself when he suddenly realizes it.

The reason why Nakano Aya always managed to get under his skin.

The reason why he felt like he had to come to her rescue.

And the reason why he felt that it was his place to stay by her side.

Her emerald eyes met his, slightly widening with surprise that was admirably held back with full control.

It was all so obvious why.

Nakano Aya had reminded him of someone.

.

.

.

A hundred miles from Konoha, Sasuke strips himself of his title as the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan.

A hundred miles from Konoha, Sasuke finds a home for himself, one which he lost when he was a mere boy.

A hundred miles from Konoha, Sasuke sets aside his ninja status.

A hundred miles, and he finds himself capable of moving on.

Of forgetting tortured dark memories.

Of forgetting the faces of precious people.

Of forgetting his previous family.

A hundred miles.

He puts a hundred miles between them.

.

.

.

Fucking wasted distance.

.

.

.

Because...

.

.

.

A hundred miles from Konoha, Uchiha Sasuke manages to cross paths with Haruno Sakura again.

.

.

.

Five years after the Fourth Ninja War.

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Author's Note: A new multi-fic! Hell yeah! Actually had this idea a long time ago but finally decided to sit down and write it. This will be rated M. I haven't decided on how many chapters yet. :D