#shikasaku fanfiction

[eggtoasties]

star stains

Pairing: Haruno Sakura/Kankuro, Previous Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru

Rating: T for swearing and smoking

Word Count: 1.4K

Summary: You can't tether a kite with gossamer threads.

AO3

a/n: It's been a long time since posting and came up with this story super randomly. I feel like in my past work, there was almost a formula, and things felt too similar across fics. Not that this is a huge departure, but I think it feels a little different?? Let me know what you thought, it feels good to be writing again!

“We should end things,” Kankuro says.

Sakura doesn’t stop portioning dried herbs and flower petals into two sachets.

“Why now?” she asks.

He runs a hand over his unpainted face and watches as she measures her handiwork to the gram. 

“It’s just time, I think,” he states simply.

“Can I at least finish my tea?” she asks, placing the silk muslin into two mugs. 

He fills shallow dishes with hard biscuits and listens to the water boil. Taking a seat, he studies the wood grain. They had built it together over the course of a week. He called it an intro to woodworking. She said his previous table--a concrete slab that used to be a workstation--was an abomination. 

In the early days of her diplomacy work, they’d meet at a dusty conference room in the village hospital to discuss a collaboration to share catalogs and samples of plants to advance research. Kankuro wanted total access to the Nara and Aburame libraries and Sakura told him she’d rather milk every spider species native to Suna than tell that to the clan heads.  

But now, she slides into the chair in front of him and sets his mug over an indent he had been meaning to sand over. 

“I want my notes back by the end of the week,” she says idly. “And I want to take the snake venom samples back to Konoha.”

His hair rises, but he ignores the urge to rub the back of his neck.

“You’ll leave?”

Sakura rolls her eyes and Kankuro can’t help the cold sweat that’s bloomed. 

“It’s been 9 months, Kankuro,” she says evenly. “My work here is done.”

“I thought it was done 3 months ago,” he snarks. 

“I was under the impression there’d be more to do.” She takes a sip of her tea and crosses her arms. “Let’s cut the bullshit, you and I both know I’ll win this game.”

He sighs. She’s right. There’s a reason why Gaara’s the Kazekage and Temari's the diplomatic liaison. He’s never really had the patience for roundabout conversations. 

“Out with it,” she snaps impatiently. “What is it this time?”

He grimaces. “It’s the council again. They want me to marry soon and--”

“You said you and your siblings were abandoning tradition after your father’s reign,” Sakura said pointedly. “Gaara said the council’s still scared after he lost his shit during the chunin exams.”

“I always forget he kind of has a sense of humor these days,” Kankuro chuckles wryly to himself. 

Sakura hides her mouth with a biscuit. 

“I’m taking partial credit for that,” she says through bites.

“He’ll miss you, you know.” 

“I’m sure we’ll become great penpals.”

.

Across a three day trek to the east, Shikamaru balances a cigarette between two fingers, comparing it to the clouds above him. 

“Sakura’s coming back soon,” Ino says next to him.

He rummages his flak vest for his lighter and sighs, “It’s about time.”

“She never really loved it out there, you know,” Ino says. 

He hears her start to sharpen kunai, quick and precise like their fathers taught them. 

“I always thought she suited Suna though,” Shikamaru says. “All the reds and oranges of the desert match her hair.” The methodical ringing stops. “And all the poisonous animals for her to have fun with,” he drawls.

“Shikamaru--” 

He interrupts her with a long exhale that she endures unblinking, even as her face three feet away from him becomes shrouded in smoke.

“What you did was fucked up and--”

Shikamaru covers his ears with his hands and groans. It had been nine months and he thought Ino would let it go. It’d been nine months and he figured she’d berated him enough for it. It had been nine months and he couldn’t help that he had felt immediately taken by Temari when she arrived in Konoha, just hours after Sakura had departed.  

“Can’t you let it go,” Shikamaru complains, “Sakura has.”

He listens to the birds rustling in the treetops surrounding them, the quiet buzz of the cicadas, and wonders when the first cool breeze will break through this late summer. 

“Just because she didn’t come straight back to Konoha and beat the shit out of you doesn’t mean she wasn’t hurt,” Ino says. 

He feels the daggers she’s shooting at the back of the head and she picks up her whetstone again. 

“And just because she didn’t come back,” she swipes at her kunai faster, “and beat the shit out of you when Temari broke the news to her instead of you,” Shikamaru burrows his head further into his arms, “doesn’t mean you didn’t obliterate her confidence,” she huffs. “And her heart,” she mutters. 

“I know, Ino” Shikamaru groans, “she sent me a very detailed letter about me being the scourge of the planet and sent a recipe for hair growth.” He drags himself up to a sitting position and grinds his half-smoked cigarette under his boot. 

“I felt like a fucking dick, but I figured she wasn’t that mad since she bothered to send a letter. And we had already ended things.”

Ino groans and throws her kunai to the side. “You’re a fucking moron, Shika.”

“Thank you, Ino.”

“No, I’m serious.” She throws her head back and groans again. “Fuck, give me a cigarette.”

He silently passes her one and holds his silver lighter out. 

“Sasuke,” Ino spits, “joining a terrorist organization really chilled her out,” she snarks. “Unsurprisingly, her appetite for violence was replaced with uhm, what was it again?” she feigns confusion, “right, depression.”

“God, I fucking needed this,” she moans and Shikamaru watches as the tip of the cigarette burns orange and gives away to ash.

Itching for a drag, Shikamaru busies himself with a stray pebble that made its way up to the rooftop.

.

“Look,” Kankuro starts, “Temari’s with Nara--”

Sakura ignores the dull throbbing at the base of her head.

“--and Gaara’s never going to get married, so it’s my responsibility as an heir to continue the lineage.” 

“That’s very selfless of you,” Sakura says. 

Kankuro deflates in his chair. Fights with her have always been like this. Bitter and sharp even though he knows it takes so little for her to smile. He thinks of a dark-haired ronin in his bingo book and the jounin who’s been keeping his sister away for months. 

He pushes away his mug and meets her eyes. Green in a way that would never occur in Suna. 

“I’m sorry I said I love you,” he says. “I know we said this would be casual, but I couldn’t help it.”

She holds his gaze and bridges the gap across the table, taking his hands in hers. Both warmed by the tea and calloused with years of work. 

“Don’t be sorry,” she murmurs, eyes slipping to his shoulder, “this was always going to be the ending.” She squeezes his hands and smiles.

“I love you.” And she says it with the earnestness that won him over in the first place. “I’m glad we met each other.”

.

“Whether she likes it or not--I’m sure she does not like it--Konoha is always going to be home to her,” Ino says, lying back on the rooftop. 

Shikamaru works on dislodging a stick between two shingles.

“You don’t think she’ll follow her mentor’s steps and travel the world?”

“As an alcoholic with a gambling problem?” Ino raises a well groomed brow. 

“Right,” he says. 

She ignores him and flips on her front, resting a cheek on crossed arms. 

“I thought she’d like it out there,” she says, eyes downward. “I thought she’d love bossing people around and teaching the hospital staff and feeling important.” She frowns. “I thought she’d find herself in Suna and maybe stay for a few years or meet someone, or--” she cuts herself off by closing her eyes. 

“I just wanted her to forget about Naruto and Sasuke and you, honestly,” she finishes.

He feigns slumber, but Ino knows better.

“I’ve missed her so much,” she says while rolling her eyes. “I miss her and Tenten and Tsunade and I know even you miss her a little.”

She rolls towards him and splays an arm across his neck. “Ugh, she’s never going to leave the village for some hot foreign shinobi. What a bitch,” she says fondly.

“Such is life,” Shikamaru adds.

“Messy,” Ino counters.

“Hard,” he agrees.

Ino groans, “Troublesome.”

[stu-dyingstudent]

Sakura Haruno fic recs: romance-centric

I, like many others, definitely enjoy a a good romance every so often. All of these recs are going to have the romantic development of the characters as the forefront of the story, so just because the fic includes a ship doesn't mean it will go on the list. That means, many of them might feel more on the slice of life side of the spectrum, but that's not the case for all!!

There is going to be a mix of ships here so if you're interested in one in specific then use the search feature!

Started: 2024.08.28

Last Updated: 2024.12.19

note: feel free to check out my master list which has a bunch of Sakura Haruno fic recs (all organized)!

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To Build a Home - RedPowder || ao3 || E || kakasaku || canon divergence || ongoing

Sakura and Kakashi are assigned a mission that will change the path of their lives forever.

Kakashi and Sakura are forced to marry on orders from the village and I know that description sounds dumb, but trust me when I say this fic is gold. I've always had a hard time with kakasaku fics because I feel the whole teacher/student thing gets swept under the rug too easily, but that's not the case here. Their past relationship from team 7 is a glaring shadow over their marriage and the guilt over the whole situation weighs heavy on Kakashi. This mission isn't easy for either of them and it takes a lot of pull and tug to ensure things don't completely blow up. To Build a Home is probably one of my favorite takes on this ship as the portrayal feels realistic and the character feel accurate to themselves. Just give it a go!

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Approaching Sun - ANerdInAllHerGlory || ffn || T || sasusaku || blank period || ongoing

After 2 years, Sasuke returns to the village where friends anxiously await him. Still troubled by the mysteries of Kaguya and his personal guilt, Sasuke is split between friends and his journey. Troubled by rising casualties and international dependence on her abilities, Sakura is torn between her love for Sasuke and her duty to her village.

Approaching Sun is probably one of the most realistic depictions of Sasuke and Sakura's relationship that I have read. This takes place during the blank period and references the novels, so it feels like an actual possibility of what went down. As much as I love them, I have a hard time believing that their relationship was smooth sailing and so I think this is an interesting take.

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The Fool - thekatthatbarks || ao3 || T || shikasaku || blank period || complete

Ino kicked at a pebble on the ground, her arms folded across her chest. “How long?” Shikamaru sighed and pulled the cigarette away from his lips. “The war." It was a lie somewhat. He’d liked her since they were kids but had simply ignored the budding crush expecting it to fade over time. It hadn’t and by the time the war came around, he accepted he would always carry it despite his increasing efforts to drop it. He’d tried drowning it in the river, burning it in a fire, covering it up with something else. But it was all to no avail. It stuck with him, always apart of him. “Have you ever told anyone? Chouji? Her?” "No."

I actually really like Shikamaru and Sakura as a pairing (or just working together in general); however, I haven't read much of them. The Fool was a great post-war read where with some meddling (curtesy of Ino) we get to watch the progression of their relationship into something more than friends.

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Nightmare in Red - Sariasprincy || ao3 || M || itasaku || non-massacre AU || complete

Haruno Sakura used to think the eyes were the windows to the soul, but after witnessing the horrors of the Sharingan firsthand, she's convinced they are the doors. It was pure chance that led Sakura to the discovery of the disease eating through Uchiha Itachi's lungs and now that she's aware, she knows she cannot just turn a blind eye. But how is she to treat the very man who tortured her while at the same time keep her nightmares from consuming her? That she doesn't know, but she knows she has to try, even if it nearly kills her in the end.

Itachi unintentionally captures Sakura in his mangekyou after being rolled into the hospital for her to heal. While Sakura tries to work through the impacts of the genjutsu she continues to work with him in an effort to cure him of the disease infecting his body. I actually really liked how the whole thing played out. Itachi's sickness was sort of a mystery in the original series and so I found it rather interesting to see what was done in regards to it. Anyway, I love their interactions and Shisui is (like always) a great character as well.

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Blind - ObsidianSickle || ffn || sasusaku || T || canon divergent || complete

It was almost time, Orochimaru was going to take his body as a vessel. He hated being used...he refused to be used. With that thought, he took the kunai in his hand and slashed across his eyes.

I won't lie, Sakura is pretty weak in Blind and the whole thing is super cheesy, but it's still an enjoyable read.

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Ghosts - ElegiesforShiva || ffn || sausaku || M || blank period || incomplete

In love and loss, it often comes back to family, and Team 7 had always been fated, hadn't they? Deny it as she may, Sakura finds her heart strung to them with an uncanny reverence and the weight of their ghosts. Sakura-centric. Heavy, heavy angst. Slow burn Sasusaku. Canon pairings. Lots of friendship feels. Eventual (consensual) lemon.

Ghosts is a pretty dark read where basically everyone is suffering. Sasuke and Sakura in specific have an especially hard time coping with their individual struggles yet they find comfort in each other. Check TWs before going in

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Home is Where the Heart is - DeepPoeticGirl || ffn || sasusaku || T || blank period || complete

And with every moment together, they get just a little closer, a little more comfortable with each other. Fall a little more in love. Post-war. Pre-epilogue.

This fic is actually adorable! Taking place during the black period we get to see how Sasuke and Sakura's relationship slowly progresses. If you've always wondered what their travels were like then definitely check this one out.

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In Times of Peace - SouthSideStory || ffn || sasusaku || M || blank period || canon divergent || complete

The war is over, and like Konoha, Team 7 has rebuilt itself from the ground up. Everything has changed, but Sasuke and Sakura remain much the same. Eleven years, she thinks, is a long time to be in love.

Sakura and Sasuke have like a secret relationship going on. Also, Sakura as a jonin sensei is so good!! I really wish that someone from the original cast actually went down that route, but whatever.

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Labyrinthine - FM_White || ao3 || itasaku || M || canon divergence || complete

ItaSaku (Post Uchiha Massacre) AU: Some things are destined to be. It just takes a couple of tries to get there.ItaSaku. Light KakaSaku.

I actually really liked how this was done as team 7 is still a family, Sasuke didn't lose his mind, Itachi picked a much more respectable path imo, and the characters are all adults.

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Only a Crush by Gingersoup || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent || complete

It was supposed to be an easy, fun night out. She never intended to wake up in her sensei's bed, half-naked and with no memory of what happened the night before! As she tries to unravel the mystery of that night, something sinister is growing beyond the walls of the Leaf Village... and what was only a crush spirals wildly out of control.

Sakura is unwillingly thrust into the world of illegal drugs, trafficking, and sex all while coming to terms with her new feelings regarding her former sensei. I typically don't like kakasaku, but I think this work is done tastefully well. The characters are both adults and the immorality of the relationship is not ignored, so be prepared for a lot of "we can't," "this is wrong," etc.. Anyway, Sakura is an absolute powerhouse and I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between all of the different characters and villages!

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Dreaming's End - thepiedsniper || ao3 || T || kakasaku || canon divergence || complete

Sakura didn't avoid the Infinite Tsukuyomi with the others, and all the events that happened afterward were simply the product of her dream-state. When Sakura finally wakes up from years spent in her personal "paradise," she must to learn how to start again. Kakashi is there to help her. ~*~ (TWs for genjutsu-related unreality)

Basically, imagine the entirety of Boruto was Sakura's dream in Infinite Tsukuyomi. When Sakura manages to breakout during the war she's left to deal with serious ramifications of the life she just lived. She finds herself constantly questioning what's real and Kakashi tries to help her through it.

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Mamihlapinatapai - FM_White || ao3 || E || itasaku || canon divergence || ongoing

Mamihlapinatapai・Yagan. (n.) a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something they both desire, but which neither wants to begin In which Sakura tries her hardest to raise one hell of a rambunctious baby by herself, Sasuke is searching for something unknown, and Itachi is the uncle.

In another life where Itachi doesn't end up dying and instead tries his best to help Sakura raise his niece in Sasuke's absence. It's my head canon that everyone came together to help with Sarada just like they did for Kuranai, and so Mamihlapinatapi satisfies that thought for me. I like how Sasuke was criticized in this since as much as I understand the necessity of what he's doing, I also find it completely unfair to his wife and daughter. Itachi and Sakura form a great bond and it's all very domestic and just super fluffy all around, which I love.

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Louder than Words - SouthSideStory || ao3 || T || sasusaku || non-massacre AU || complete

Sakura hasn’t uttered a single word since the day her family died, but Sasuke is determined to hear her, one way or another. (No Uchiha massacre AU.)

Sakura gets taken in by the Uchiha family after Fugaku finds her on a mission. She's been mute ever since, but that doesn't stop her and Sasuke from forming a close bond.

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Snake Bound - shefalls || ao3 || E || sasusaku || canon divergence || complete

"You... took me with you." "That's what I said." "To Orochimaru. You took me with you, to Orochimaru." Sasuke nodded curtly and shoved the medical kit a little more insistently into her hands. Sakura accepted, and prayed to every known god that Orochimaru would ignore her existence. She should've known the gods don't listen. Now only on AO3. Sequel up.

What if Sasuke took Sakura with him like she asked? Snake Bound explores that idea and it's honestly a very uncomfortable read. Their relationship is based off of the isolation and dependency their new situation puts them in. All they really have is each other and the new bond that brings is not a healthy one.

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Armour-Sleeved Single Hit - thatdamnuchiha || ao3 || T || madasaku || time travel AU || one-shot complete

Sasuke always told Sakura she was weak. Even after she trained with Tsunade for years he only had eyes for Naruto whom he considered strong. She would forever be invisible to him no matter how many mountains she toppled.Being a member of Team Seven despite Sasuke’s refusal to acknowledge her meant she got herself into her fair share of sticky situations. Getting stuck a hundred odd years in the past had to take the cake though.But she was just a weak little girl and compared to the shinobi of old she’d be ridiculously pathetic. Sasuke had said she was weak to him – a modern day shinobi who hadn’t been forced into battle after battle like they did in the Warring Clans Era. Obviously she’d be nothing more than a spec of dirt in the eyes of the Founders.

Sakura manages to find herself in founding-era Konoha! While trying to prove that medical ninja are capable fighters she unknowingly gains the affection of Madara Uchiha. After all, the Uchiha find beauty in strength. Super cute read!

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Always You - alex-halcyon || ffn || T || kakasaku || age swap AU || complete

[AU. Age-swap] Kakashi x Sakura. From academy days to the third shinobi war and beyond, Kakashi and Sakura grow up and fall in love.

Basically, Sakura takes Rin's place on the old team 7. The progression between the character is quite interesting as it definitely isn't smooth sailing for Kakashi and Sakura. However, even through everything they find themselves drifting towards each other. Pretty cute imo.

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interim - stannide || ao3 || T || sasusaku || blank period || one-shot complete

Sasuke lives with Sakura in the weeks after the war.

Interim is such a wholesome read where Sasuke and Sakura rekindle their former relationship. Super fluffy

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Tozette || ao3 || T || sasusaku || blank period || one-shot complete

Sasuke is actually eighteen the first time he looks at Sakura and realises abruptly that he wants her.

I think we all know by now that Sasuke has always been attracted to strength, power, so why not when it comes to romance? Essentially, one day on a mission, Sasuke discovers he has a strength kink. Watching him continuously get flustered throughout the fic because of his admiration towards Sakura's strength is so entertaining. Really fun read

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the problem with how time works - MurderMittens || ao3 || E || kakasaku || generation swap AU || complete

"I don't remember you being this uncomfortable when Kakashi was nine and had a crush on you," Ino pointed out neutrally. "You thought it was flattering before." She moved to pour more wine into their glasses as Sakura exhaled sharply out of her nostrils. "Obviously! It was fucking cute when he was a kid! But now he's..." she trailed off, gesticulating feebly. Ino, taking pity on her, finished the sentence: "Now he's a stone cold hottie who looks and sounds like he'd murder the ever-loving shit out of your vagina."

Sakura and Kakashi's generations swap place and boy is it entertaining. With Naruto as his sensei, of course Kakashi has met Sakura. Now that she's back in the village after years, Kakashi decides to try his best to win her over.

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on still water - summersirius || ao3 || T || shisaku || canon divergence || complete

and sometimes, there are days without rain. —shisui/sakura

I'm actually devastated that the author decided to not pursue the plot line after about chapter 15 (it was so good too), but On Still Water is great nonetheless. Some really cute Shisui x Sakura moments

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never let 'em know your next move - MirrorImage003 || ao3 || T || itasaku || non-massacre AU || one-shot complete

six times itachi is surprised by sakura, and the one time he's surprised by his mother.

Sort of drabble style moments between Itachi and Sakura and it's honestly adorable.

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Hatsukoi - sparklyfaerie || ao3 || sasusaku || gen || non-massacre AU || complete

Sasuke leans away as the girl turns to him, and his mother doesn't need to be any closer to guess as to the expression on his face. The girl's body language changes in an instant, and Mikoto recognizes the posture of a little girl in love. It's kind of adorable.

Probably one of the cutest sasusaku fics I have read as Hatsukoi follows them from genin to marriage! It's told in multiple perspectives and it's full of tooth rotting fluff. You get to watch the slow progression of their relationship over time and how they grow even closer in Naruto's absence. Definitely read is you want something light!

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(oh, you'll probably go to heaven) please don't hang your head & cry - SafelyCapricious || ao3 || T || itasaku || time travel AU || one-shot complete

There’s no such thing as a good death. But Sakura faces her death without any regrets. Her dying is keeping her precious people safe — and that’s all she can ask for. So she dies with a smile, taking thousands of enemies with her. She wakes up and falls off the branch she’s laying on.

More of a pre-ship than anything actually romantic, so maybe this isn't the best for this list lmao.

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Ghost - twilightdazzle || ffn || M || sasusaku || canon divergence || complete

Sakura is officially declared missing on a Wednesday morning. Wednesday, what a stupid day to go missing. Of course, Sakura is the only person he knows that is annoying enough to interrupt the middle of the week like this.

Sakura goes missing and this fic is basically Sasuke slowly losing his mind over it. Ghost is honestly pretty darn touching and feels true to Sasuke's character. Everyone is concerned for Sakura and that doesn't exclude him despite how nonchalant he makes himself seem.

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Send me some recs if you have any to share! I'm generally fine with any ship as long as the story is good :)

[elouizamariaa]

top 50 Naruto fanfics on AO3 in 2024 (F/M)

the "multi-Sakura shipper world" still alive. these are the Sakura Haruno ships with the most productions on AO3:

1 - SasuSaku (Sasuke + Sakura) 2 - KakaSaku (Kakashi + Sakura) 3 - NaruSaku (Naruto + Sakura) 4 - ItaSaku (Itachi + Sakura) 5 - ShiSaku (Shisui + Sakura) 6 - ShikaSaku (Shikamaru + Sakura) 7 - GaaSaku (Gaara + Sakura) 8 - MadaSaku (Madara + Sakura) 9 - LeeSaku (Rock Lee + Sakura) 10 - SasoSaku (Sasori + Sakura) 11 - SaiSaku (Sai + Sakura) 12 - NejiSaku (Neji + Sakura) 13 - KisaSaku (Kisame + Sakura) 14 - ObiSaku (Obito + Sakura) 15 - TobiSaku (Tobirama + Sakura) 16 - KibaSaku (Kiba + Sakura)

[summersirius]

weathering the storm|shikasaku—part one

✦ rating: t

✦ summary: The lost years and everything in between. —Shikamaru/Sakura

or

(Kaguya does not accept Sakura as a summoner and bonds do not break no matter how much she wants them to).

✧ read part one on ao3

She's never needed help.

Once upon a time, he admired that. Sakura was the only one in their graduating class who could keep up with his intellect and line of thought. She was thorough, resourceful, curious—and intelligent. If she ran into a problem, she would tackle it from all sides, take root in the library, and figure something out through deductive reasoning. This started before the academy. Though now that he thought about it, this happened more or less when he wasn't speaking to her—when Chouji wasn't speaking to her because of Ino.

Shikamaru scowls into his pillow.

Hell, she's never asked for help either, or if she did it was to Iruka-sensei.

But everyone went to him.

So now she's bypassed him and went straight to his father. Is his advice not good enough? Was he not smart enough? Did it even matter? His nails dig into his sheets: why was this bothering him?

The door slides open and Shikaku stands beside Sakura. He says gruffly, "Shikamaru, I'm going out into the forest with Sakura-chan. Tell your mother I'll be back before dinner."

Shikamaru stares at his father incredulously. He cannot be this exhausted. His father wanted to take an outsider into the Nara Forest. Ino and Chouji, obviously were the exception having been on the same Genin team and their family being friends for generations. The Nara Forest is private land, closed to the general population—it is sacred land, meant for his clan and clan-adjacent members.

He scrambles up, "I'll come with you."

Sakura stares at him in confusion, "Are you sure? You were pretty tired earlier."

Shikamaru snaps, "I can handle myself just fine, Sakura."

Sakura flinches at his hard tone and flickers her gaze to her shoes in an attempt to subdue her emotions. She retorts weakly, "Right."

Shikaku flares his nose at the slight and glares at his son in disapproval.

[23raccoons]

let me bleed (you're losing me) Ao3

Fandom: Naruto (Anime & Manga) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura & Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura & Yamanaka Ino Characters: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Hatake Kakashi, Yamanaka Ino, Sai (Naruto), Karin (Naruto), Uchiha Madara Additional Tags: Dubious Consent, Blood and Violence, Unhealthy Relationships, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Dark Uchiha Sasuke, Dark Nara Shikamaru, Protective Hatake Kakashi, Rough Sex, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Self-Harm, Akatsuki (Naruto), War, Konoha 11 (Naruto), Everyone is Problematic ok?, Heavy Angst, Domestic Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fourth Shinobi War (Naruto), Memory Loss, PTSD, Manipulation, Bullying, Suicidal Thoughts, Degradation, Dacryphilia

Chapter 15 (chapter list)

Sasuke works to keep his temper even throughout Kabuto’s examination of Sakura. Shikamaru had warned him beforehand that she would not react well, perceiving the exam as an attack—taking both Shikamaru and Sasuke to convince her to agree to let Kabuto examine her. More than meeting those expectations, as Sasuke pulls the lightning shock that fills her mind and runs it straight into Kabuto. 

Sasuke escorts the man back to Konoha. There’s a pep in Kabuto’s step, despite having just been mildly electrocuted. Thinking he now has an advantage over Sasuke. Kabuto is unfortunately too useful to the war effort—with all the dead ninja he’s been bringing back to life to fight for their side. Sasuke will have to bide his time to deliver his retribution—another name to add to his shrinking list—but it will come. He has no doubts about that.

“Just how long have you been keeping a little pet, Sasuke?” Kabuto breaks the silence as they near the village. Smirking as he turns to look at Sasuke’s reaction, instead finding an already activated sharingan. 

“What pet?” Sasuke tilts his head as he grabs hold of the memory. Releasing the jutsu. Walking on like nothing ever happened. Inside Kabuto’s mind is a wicked place, full of his gross, based desires. Currently thinking far too much of all the testing and examinations he would enjoy performing on the still-ill Sakura. Memories stored like files in large open shelving units. Carefully tagged and color coded. Tightly packed together. Unlike Sakura's, whose mindspace seems to stretch on endlessly, Kabuto’s seems to be more like a very large plane, eventually meeting a boundary of capacity. 

Sasuke shelves the memory in his own mind, with all the other odd-shaped ones he’s collected thus far. An immense maze of a library, Sasuke navigates with ease. Darkness drips through cracks and leaks in through the seams, coating rows and rows of book-like memories in a thick, foul black venom. Tainting his past with its cursedness. Transmuting his mind with its sinister nature. 

Sasuke visits Sakura as often as he can at the Nara house without raising suspicion. Watching over her between missions if Shikamaru has need to venture into Konoha for a meeting with Madara. Pulling the buildup of static from her, popping them off away from her to avoid the sting of the shocks. Every day that passed has him more on edge. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. He's so, so close to having her and there’s not anything he can do to protect her if he’s not directly touching her when her seal of the chidori finally fails. (If he is unable to control it when the dam does burst.)

Shikamaru himself has been working on the chakra cuffs restraining her. Both getting Kakashi’s pair off and a new, improved set for the two to use to recontain Sakura, to ensure she remains safe and protected in their care until Sasuke can take out the threat that is Kakashi. But they can’t get the cuffs off. Shikamaru was sure that the two of them working in tandem were going to be able to, but something’s not working correctly, leaving her stuck. Trapped.

Sasuke’s tracking a whole skulk of chakra foxes that have ventured onto the Nara land. At least six of them this time. He takes out a handful right off the back, less for him to deal with as he follows the others. They are quite a ways from the house and are causing the deer to behave strangely. More skittish and jumpy than usual. 

He feels the familiar vibration of Sakura thinking about ‘Kakashi-sensei’, slipping into the genjutsu, just enough to fling the shard of memory that she doesn’t like Kakashi up the string, catching it as it rebounds back through. Only to find that there’s a Sakura in Sakura’s mind. Right at the hard border of his space. Her glowing hands pressed against the barrier, trying to break it. He lets himself float through and land on the bottom, in her line of sight. 

“Sakura,” he calls. His Sakura. She stands up straight, pulling off the jutsu as he strides for her. Caught at its limits as she backs away from him. Her eyes widen as she takes in Sasuke at the hard glass-like structure filled to the brim with her memories. Bone chilling fear seeping into her mind. Still backing away, one foot after the other, until she reaches the cross-arm of the webbing. “Sakura, won’t you come to me?”

The strings act like tributaries, starting off small—in the far reaches of her mind—before combining into each other time and time again, growing thicker as they reach the focal point that feeds into the conscious side of her mind. Sasuke currently holds a lot of power over who and what she remembers because both his and Naruto’s main lines run through his genjutsu. People like Shikamaru and Ino have their own lines, out of his reach. Ino’s waves closer towards Sasukes at one point before sloping closer to Shikamaru again. She’s used this closeness to create a new thin string to bridge the gap and another to reach Naruto’s. Naruto’s to Kakashi’s. The more time Sasuke spends in his spot in her mind, the better he gets at recognizing what belongs to who. 

Thinner, more fragile strands connect branches crosswise. Connecting people to each other. A lot of the webbing is damaged, broken, and snapped in places. Sasuke’s line connects into Naruto’s just outside the jutsu. And together they have lines that feed into Kakashi’s. 

Sakura weaves her way across and back down. Around–until she is on the other side of Sasuke’s jutsu. Reaching the point where she has to start healing, repairing broken strands to connect them to one another, retrieving memories she’s been unable to recover thus far from the damage of the lightning storms in her brain. While simultaneously creating a bypass around Sasuke’s hold in her mind. 

Sasuke meets her at the point where Kakashi’s runs parallel to his and Naruto’s. Why is she ignoring him? Banging on the surface of the barrier with a fist. It sounds almost like ice cracking as it echoes through her mind. “Sakura!”

It startles her enough to get her to look at him again. Before scurrying on her way. Working her way back across to the memory she needs. The fear is morphing. Evolving. Alarm and horror and disgust. A storm building as she works. Sasuke pulls out of the genjutsu, abandoning his hunt to rush to Sakura. 

He can’t sense her, but that is not abnormal. Both the barely trickling flow of her chakra system and the masking the cuff provides conceal her well from a distance. Less so, the closer you grow to her. There’s no sense of her as he approaches the house. Blood tracked over the yard and porch, continuing on into the bedroom Sakura should be occupying. 

Bedding is scattered everywhere, blankets torn and solid with blood and the stench of rotting flesh. 

“Sakura.” Sasuke calls out, drawing his sword. Following the trail. Deja-vu of another blood-soaked house overlays itself on his surroundings. Mother and Father. He still cannot sense her, and he nearly gags. Stomach turning. He had been too weak to protect them then. She is still alive. He can feel her in his mind.

“Sakura.” He swallows down the rising bile as he clears the house. Tracing the blood outside to the shed. “Sakura!”

The shed door is open as Sasuke approaches, kicking the door clean off its hinges. There is blood and black goo smeared everywhere. Still no Sakura. When he exits, Shikamaru is entering on the far side of the yard. 

“Where is she?” Sasuke demands to know, striding across the yard. “She is gone. Where. Is. Sakura?”

Shikamaru eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the yard, the state of Sasuke. Brushing past Sasuke to enter the shed himself. Slamming its contents around. Racing toward the tree line when he emerges. “It’s not her blood, but we need to find her. Now.”

Sasuke keeps any smart comments to himself. Two searching for her are better odds than one. Luckily, whatever they are following has done little to hide its tracks. An easy path right to Sakura. They arrive, just in time to see Sakura grab onto the blade of a large scythe, fresh red blood dripping down. The chidori. Too late for Sauke to help, to control the flow out of her. But his perfect Sakura already knows how to handle his ill-tempered chakra nature. Streaming in straight into her attacker, knocking him back. Sending Sakura to her knees. 

“Sasuke.” She whispers as he catches her. She’s covered in blood. Warm and wet and sticky as Sasuke carries her back. Quickly falling into unconsciousness. She sleeps for days as she heals. Mending the damage from holding the chidori and exhausted from the wear and tear of the fight. 

Sasuke stays away for the most part. Keeping tabs on her through the genjutsu link. When he does stop by, Shikamaru is either working on the cuffs or annoyingly curled up with Sakura in the bed they share. Sasuke swallows the distaste that leaves in his mouth. Finding himself spending most of his time there scrubbing the bloodstains from the floor and the bedding Shikamaru had flung outside to replace with fresh, clean laundry. 

The cuffs are ready, right at the time that Sakura is healed enough of the damage to go back into them. Healthier than she’s been in months. She will have to continue to repair the damage in her mind with them on. Sasuke does not have to hold her down, kicking and screaming—fighting for her freedom. Because Sakura loves Sasuke. She’d do anything for him. Shikamaru sneaks his cuff on when she’s occupied with Sasuke—the lazy bastard. 

A mission near the lightning border calls Sasuke away for a few days. Sightings of old-leaf ninjas, rumors of a transport of civilians and much-needed supplies. Sasuke smirks as the group he’s pursuing splits. Two going ahead with one turning back to face him. To fight.

Rock Lee . 

Sasuke mentally prepares for the fight. Lee is a strong opponent, but Sasuke’s fueled by vengeance. Punishment delivered for daring to be complicit in Sakura’s mishandling. When they meet, however, Lee does not fight. Falling to his hands and knees instead. Wetness streaming off his face already. Weak.

“Stand and fight.” Sasuke tells him. Lee shakes his head back and forth, fingers digging in the dirt as his body shakes. 

“You will not fight?” Sasuke questions, drawing his sword. Lee was never the type to turn down the chance for a fight. 

“I do not deserve to live,” Lee says brokenly. “I was chosen, entrusted to protect Sakura, and I have failed her. I am no shinobi, I will accept my death.”

Sasuke moves to stand in front of Lee. At least some of them have realized the cost of their actions, even if Kakashi does not. “How did you fail her?”

“I didn’t stop Naruto when he was telling her what he would do to keep his promise to her, even as she was begging him to break it. I did not protect her from you. I did not understand the lengths she would go to to get there. I didn’t protect her from Kakashi and his cuffs. I thought I was helping to keep her safe.” It comes out broken by sobs, Lee tripping and stumbling over his words.

Sasuke can hardly keep the smirk off his face, keeping his expression as neutral as possible as he squats down. Tilting his head in mock confusion. “Why would Sakura ever need protection from me?”

It’s enough to break Lee’s incessant crying, as he looks up at Sasuke. Snotty and gross. Ew. “W-what?”

Resisting the urge to mock the sad excuse of a man, Sasuke repeats himself.

“I-I, but Kakashi said,” Lee tries to get out. How pathetic. 

“That I killed Sakura,” Sasuke fills in for him. Leaning in closer, like he’s sharing a secret. “That’s what he told everyone. Poor little Haruno Sakura slain by the hand of Uchiha Sasuke. And we both know that that’s not the truth now, is it? Because she’s not dead, now is she?”

Lee’s eyes widen as Sasuke’s implication settles over him. “But…you…”

“What reason would I have to harm Sakura, of all people?” Sasuke narrows his eyes. Lee will suit this purpose well. Already having doubts about Kakashi’s sanity over the situation. “But you are a different story entirely. You wish to die? No, you shall live. And you shall suffer for what you’ve done to her.”

Sasuke activates his sharingan, pulling Lee into a genjutsu—not even a strong one, Lee’s mental state needs to be well enough to be believed after all. Now that Sasuke has Sakura, he has the power to shift the trajectory of the war in his favor. To sow the seeds of distrust in Kakashi. He shows Lee an approximation of Sakura’s memory of being held down by those she loves so dearly. Restrained and cuffed. Confused. Betrayed. Heartbroken. 

Lee collapses to the ground when he comes out of it, panting hard. Nearly hyperventilating. 

“Why has Kakashi gone to such extensive lengths to be sure Sakura is contained? Who benefits the most from faking her death?” Sasuke rises as he speaks, leaving the fallen man to ruminate over his words. Lee’s time will come, Sasuke will not be so lenient with him when they cross again. “Tell Kakashi the clock is ticking. His penance is near.”

Sasuke returns straight to Konoha. To what remains of the boarded-up Uchiha district. Madara resides in the clan head's household—Sasuke’s childhood home. He doesn’t bother knocking, not wanting to wake the ghosts of his past that still reside here. Avoiding eye contact with the bloodstains that remain no matter how many times he scrubbed at them as a child. 

He finds Madara on the dock out by the pond. Meditating. Sasuke sits near him at the end of the pier. Losing himself in his thoughts as he gazes over the water. Waves lap at the posts of the structure, fish causing ripples where they break the surface.

“Something on your mind?” Madara asks, tone even and neutral. He always insists that Sasuke can come to him. To intrust the older Uchiha to help with his problems. 

“I used to practice my fireball jutsu out here for hours in the evening after the academy. Father would chastise me for not being as skilled as Itachi was at my age. Even if I was well outpacing the other Uchiha children my age. Mother kept burn cream handy in the kitchen to help with the chapped skin. Itachi too busy to train with me when I asked... and then they were just gone, all of them except for me.” Sasuke lets the numbness wash over him. Better than the pain. A night he’s relived countless times. In his memories. In his nightmares. In Itachi’s tsukuyomi. 

“My mother kept burn cream in the kitchen also. Ready to slather it on at any given moment, even as we grew into adults.” Madara comments. He rarely speaks of his own family, long dead now. The closest to understanding the pain that becomes overwhelming if Sasuke dwells on it too long.

“There has been a development I have come across.” Sasuke informs the older man as he looks over the calm surface of the water. Madara hums his encouragement to continue. “There is a girl living on the Nara lands. I have been monitoring the situation. I believe she could be useful in the outcome of the war.”

“You delayed telling me,” Madara clarifies. 

“My intentions were to ensure the correct course of action. To avoid any unnecessary retaliation against her from her exposure.” Sasuke carefully picks out truths, avoiding directly lying to Madara. “There were some underlying circumstances that needed sorting before things could progress. I believe Shikamaru used the word ‘broken’ to describe her.”

“You knew her.”

Sasuke lets a moment pass. “Yes, I know her. She was in my academy class.”

Madara hums. Sasuke thinks of Shikamaru’s emotional outburst, gauging how much emotion to portray without seeming to be overtly concerned for Sakura. What falls into the realm of an act believable of Sasuke, who kills everyone he finds in the Five Nation’s hideouts, age or ninja affiliation unmattering to him. Working to frame keeping her alive for the good of the war instead of Sasuke’s own drive to keep her his. 

“When I was small, I thought the idea of a police force inside Konoha to be almost silly. How could anyone who’s sworn to protect the village turn against another resident? Sheltered from the realities that the world is cruel. That even as small as four or five, there was already a discrepancy in power dynamics. Already a risk for those who were weaker, with less powerful connections.” Sasuke takes a deep breath and adjusts his posture before continuing. “The other children would have never dared to treat me the way they treated her. A handful of us held above the others. Me, the Hyuuga heiress. Ino-Shika-Cho. Clans big and powerful enough for their children to have had private tutorage before the academy, giving their own an edge over the others.”

“Clans often work to put their own in better positions. A show of power.” Madara agrees. 

“She did not have those advantages. Civilian parents. Less affluent than even middle-class clan kids. I didn’t even know that it was happening.” Sasuke pauses. “No. I knew they picked on her, just not to its fullest extent. That the other children were the reasons behind all her bruises and cuts and scrapes—not after-school training with a taijutsu master or kunai training with weapons specialists. They would call her awful things they should have been too young to know the meaning of. That the teachers let it slide because she wouldn’t raise a fuss. I thought if the clan kids were truly hurting her, an adult would step in and stop it. A true shinobi wouldn't stand for such a thing.”

“Did they?” It breaks Sasuke out of his rambling. A slight downturn to Madara’s lips when he turns to face him. Sasuke finds himself frowning too, lacing his fingers together. “Did the senseis step in?”

“No. No, they didn’t.” Shaking his head. “Not then. Not when someone decided it would be a good idea to shove her on a genin team with the last Uchiha and the jinchuriki they let run amok unattended in the village. Not when Kakashi locked her up and hid her here in Konoha to go and start a war in the name of a girl who never died.”

“She was your teammate?” sighs Madara. 

"She shouldn’t have been. She was never cut out to be a ninja. Too soft to be a shinobi. Certainly ill prepared for the real world. And when I found her, she was just so sick. So broken. I thought, ‘If everyone thinks her dead already, what harm will come from letting her die in comfort instead of in a harsh prison cell?’” Sasuke turns his attention back to the water. A small family of ducks gathered at the far side of the pond. 

“Did you ever intervene?” Madara asks quietly. “Or were you complicit in her treatment?”

“By the time I realized the true extent of her issues, my perspective was skewed. What’s a handful of harmful words in comparison to a tsukuyomi? What’s a few bruises to an entire clan slaughtered in the dead of night?” Sasuke shrugs. “I didn’t even see, until much more recently, how easy it would’ve been to do something about it. That by simply supporting her, I could’ve stopped it. That even five-year-old Sasuke, the second son of Fugaku, head of the Uchiha clan, could have told them to stop. And they would have listened to me. Instead, I waited for someone else to do the work for me.”

“On occasion, the best move to make is no move at all. Waiting and watching where your opponent is setting pieces. Observing. Letting plans grow to fruition, until they are ripe to be picked.” Madara says after a moment.

“I believe the jinchuriki is looking for her to confirm she is alive. Kakashi will not come for her so long as the nations continue to believe his lies. He will come when they lose control of the nine-tails. Naruto will take up the search himself, and when he finds her as broken as she is, we will have no need to deal with Kakashi ourselves.” Trying to keep Sakura as passive a piece in Madara’s plan as he can.

“You believe, by keeping her here, to be discovered by the nine-tails, that it will ensure the death of Hatake Kakashi?” 

“I believe Kakashi will go to great lengths to keep everyone under the impression that she’s dead. That I killed her.” Sasuke rises with this. 

“And the Nara boy?” Madara questions. “Where will his loyalties fall?”

“He will only support what he feels are the best options for her survival. His loyalty is sound and sure, but only to her. Only for her.”

"Remember, Sasuke, even a weak pawn can cross the board and become a mighty queen.” Madara calls out as Sasuke’s walking away. A true sentiment. But Sakura was never merely a pawn in Sasuke’s game. Losing Sakura would be losing the game. 

And Sasuke has every intention to win.

[thedevotedhealer]

"Troublesome Love" - ShikaSaku

// I have spent an entire day working on this one-shot.

Broke my fingers and bruised my arms from non-stop typing, BUT IT WAS WORTH THE ENDING!!!! I honestly never have worked with ShikaSaku in any shape or form, especially with college AU, only reading fics, but holy shit did inspiration hit hard after I started writing from lack of sleep. I already had a modern Sakuro and Sakura, where they're actually siblings, so I followed up with that story. I hope you won't mind!

I really enjoyed writing this, so I hope you do as well!

Highly suggest listening to: Hako is Alive and She is 59 by MokuMoku and Sunflower, Fascination and The Longing by Tamino I kept listening to the two songs as I wrote this on repeat, along with some other songs, but these four hit the hardest.

Requested by: @leilamadegwa

Thanks for requesting!

MultiSaku: ShikaSaku

Graduating from school was a relief to Shikamaru.

Well, sort of...

He often thought of school as a nuisance, because his intellect was always way above his years. He could've skipped some grades easily, no sweat, if it weren't for the fact that he'd have to go through exams and end up in a completely stranger class, which was even more of a hassle than staying where he had been. He somehow, miraculously befriended some interesting and colorful individuals. Some of them, he had known since kindergarten, like Choji, Ino and Naruto, some from his neighborhood, and some he had no idea about.

And that's when he met Haruno Sakura, Ino's self-proclaimed rival. He thought of women as drag, but eventually, he grew feelings for the girl during their schooldays. It was nothing special, a troublesome crush, which he resented, but there was this... Aura around her. Unlike half of the kids, who came from rich or entitled families like himself, Sakura was from an average household of her mother working at a pottery shop, while her dad worked an office job. She was always hanging around Sasuke and Naruto, being both a mediator to the ever so quarreling boys and a mother figure to Naruto, a child, orphaned by war that happened eighteen years ago. As far as he knew, she had no siblings or relatives living nearby, so he guessed she was an only child.

Well- that was until he started the second semester of college.

Apparently, Sakura, Ino, Sasuke, and Kiba ended up going to the same college for Medicine, psychology, and law as he did. He, Ino, and Sakura had the same classes in biology and chemistry since he had to take those two as extras since it was a family tradition to learn law and have a basic understanding of the medical field. It was a drag, really.

He found himself falling for the girl every day, but, eventually, he came to find out that Sakura was now dating Sasuke.

Of course it was alright, it wasn't like he actually had the guts to confess, or anything...

Then in their second semester, Sakura was absent one day and they were being introduced to a new transfer student, or so he thought.

The scene went like this:

His head was resting on the desk of the auditorium. The seat, was not too close so that he wouldn't constantly be in the teacher's vision and not too far so that he wouldn't be able to see the projected material and the chalkboard.

That's when he heard it: "Everyone, please welcome our new exchange student." Miss Shizune's, their modern medicine professor's voice rang out. He heard the door open and shut before he heard those heavy but unrushed footsteps.

No- not unrushed... Big steps...?

Could've been.

Then he heard a male's voice. It was soft but had slightly rough edges to it. "Hello, everyone! I am Haruno Sakuro. I am an exchange student from the Japanese military, Medical Corps division. I hope to get along with you all."

Wait...

Haruno...?

His eyes opened and he blinked, before straightening. He glanced down towards where the man currently stood in front of the large chalkboard and his jaw nearly came off his face.

There, in all his tall, rather muscular, pink-haired, green-eyed glory stood "Sakuro", wearing a t-shirt and a red hooded jacket over it, complimented by black cargo pants, red Converses, and a black bag slung over his shoulder. The man was a split image of the girl he had harbored feelings for!

Of course, the whole class started talking about how much he resembled Sakura, which the pinkette gave a nervous laugh at.

Picking up his jaw from the desk, he glanced over at Sakura's usual spot, squinted, and thought 'Did... She get transitional surgery in one day, or is this one of those paradoxical glitches in the matrix shit? Or maybe an unknown relative of hers? Does pink hair run in their family?' the pineapple head was filled with so many questions. Questions he didn't have answers to, which was a drag of its own.

How troublesome...

No answers...

Not yet, anyway.

Miss Shizune glanced around before spotting an empty seat by Shikamaru. "There! You can sit by Mr. Nara!" She smiled at the newcomer. "Mr.Nara, please raise your hand."

He sighed, doing as he was asked. 'Another Haruno? like one wasn't enough... What a drag.' but hey, at least this way he would sate his curiosity.

The pinkette glanced towards where he sat and gave a polite smile, before ascending the stairs and taking a seat next to him.

The first thing Shikamaru noticed?

Sakuro smelled of Kilian cologne fragrance. The smokey one, if he wasn't mistaken. He wasn't big on scents and all, considering it a drag, but damn, did this one get his attention. Well, that was a way to differentiate the two pinkettes in his mind from now on, he mused. Sakura smelled ironically of her favorite floral or strawberry scents, her favorite being Sakura scent by Dior (don't ask him how he knew, he just happened to listen in to many of Ino's and her convos, while he was trying to take a nap in the middle of the two bothersome women), while this dude smelled of spice, tobacco, and vanilla. His nose picked up other scents he couldn't identify, but this guy sure did know how to make first impressions, Shikamaru would give him that.

During breaks, he made some effort to get to know the man, which the pinkette didn't mind. In fact, he looked relieved and happy that someone made an effort since he knew nobody in the college. Shikamaru offered him a tour around the college, which shocked everyone that the great Nara Shikamaru would make an effort to... Show a newbie around.

Sakuro agreed and promised to buy him lunch in return.

He soon found out that Sakuro indeed was fresh out of the military, and excelled at his studies before he left, opting to finish the service much earlier while keeping up with his studies online, managing to come out of high school on top of his class, earning him a grant to study wherever he wanted, so he chose WJU (Western Japan University). Shikamaru also found out that yes, he was indeed related to Sakura, and that they were actually identical twins, both from the small village in Osaka, where he was from, but the promise the two Harunos had made, ended up with him practically growing up in Osaka with his grandmother and uncle, after much begging and convincing from both the twins, their grandmother and uncle, who were more than happy to host one of their daughter's and sister's children, and they had been very kind to him throughout his stay there.

Oh wait-

This made Shikamaru ponder throughout the class: Why would anyone go through the trouble of going separate ways so young? He later asked the pinkette and got an answer. Turns out, it was because when the two siblings saw each other again, it would be a special moment for the separated duo. The Nara also found out not much later that both had sixth sense if something went wrong, or if they were up to something. "Call it a sixth sense from the bond shared between the twins!" Sakuro had told him with a smile, a soft look in those viridian-colored eyes, which were way too similar to Sakura's own, but also, somehow... Different. Shikamaru couldn't place his finger on it. Maybe... Hardened from his time in the military...?

'Perhaps...' he thought, before resting his head on the desk as the next lecture started, which was the ancient law by Professor Ebisu. Of course, the man called him out a few times, fixing those damned shades. Seriously? Who the fuck wore shades indoors?!

He remembered Shino, the he mentally shrugged. He guessed there were many weirdos around the world.

He just ignored the man and closed his eyes.

After lunch with the Haruno and two more lectures, Shikamaru went home, separating from Kiba and Ino at the crossroads, and looked at the cloudy sky. Yeah, today would be a good day to sit on the roof and cloud gaze, he thought, since the cold weather hadn't quite hit just yet. Might as well enjoy the weather while he could, he mused.

As always, his mind was filled with that troublesome woman, Sakura that evening as he lay on the roof before his vision changed into a more masculine version of Sakura.

His eyes snapped open and he sat up in shock.

Why was he suddenly thinking of that oversized Pink-haired man?!

'I mean, it's not like I'm gay or anything...' He thought and tried to divert his attention towards the clouds once again but to no avail.

His mind just wouldn't cooperate. It kept flashing him with the images of Sakuro and that soft smile of his and that scent of his cologne.

He groaned and sat up with a grumpy look on his handsome features. 'What a drag... Like one Haruno wasn't enough...' He thought before he scratched his head out of frustration and sighed.

"Shikamaru, Dinner!" He heard his mom call, probably poking her head out the kitchen window to call for him.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming!" He called back and sighed. "Troublesome women..." He got up and went back inside.

The next day, Sakura and Sakuro came through the door, chatting away like no tomorrow, ignoring everyone who gave them weird or fascinated looks. "So, I was like BAM! Take that, you fucker! and socked her in the eye." Sakura demonstrated with a roundhouse kick. "And Ashura-senpai scolded me, but when we went back inside, he patted my back and praised me and said, "Serves her right, little bull!" You HAD to be there to believe, dude. Like- Seriously!" She ranted on and Sakuro kept listening intently to his sister's tale, whatever it was about. Shikamaru blinked. 'Oh, right... She's into wrestling, isn't she? Damn, with her body in frilly and oversized stuff, I all but forgot about that.' He mentally shuddered, remembering how Sakura was called "The Nut Cracker" in her high school days. She and Ino were considered the "Fury of Konoha high" for the longest time when they actually put their minds together, punishing those who went around bullying or badmouthing their friends.

His ears perked as he heard Sakuro laugh for the first time, his green eyes lit from amusement. He looked up at Sakuro and thought. 'Okay, I think I might be a little gay... Oh, well.' He accepted his fate, too lazy to object, since he deemed it troublesome. 'Women are a pain to deal with, anyway.' His mind helpfully supplied, before he set his head back down onto the desk.

A week passed and throughout the week, he found himself more and more fascinated by Sakuro. Apparently, he and Sakura had similar hobbies, minutes, him preferring boxing over wrestling and wild berries like blackberry over strawberry. He had a certain love for the author Akutagawa and his writings, and his favorite genre was surprisingly, classical and rock music. He remembered Sakura loved Pop and rock. Shikamaru also noticed how Sakuro's eyes would light up when he talked about something he was passionate about, in which case for now, it was becoming a surgeon. One time Shikamaru ruffled those shoulder-length locks, to find it soft and extremely pettable. He noticed the little things, like the way Sakuro would twitch whenever somebody gave a dumb answer during questioning, or how those pink-tinted lips would curve up in fascination whenever Shikamaru talked about his favorite pastime, history of battle tactics, which made everyone's jaw drop because he didn't put so much effort in anything. He noticed the way those cat-like eyes would squint when he gave his signature smiles, directed at him and the way his body moved when he stretched. The muscles under his arms and through his shirt, rippling from the effort. He was no pervert, but he observed just how nice Sakuro's ass looked in jeans. He supposed it was genetics, with Haruno and their bubble butts, And he also figured he had a thing for a nice ass. The things he learned about himself...

Shikamaru was desperately falling in love and he hated it. 'What a drag...' He would think each time the older of the siblings would pop into his head.

Shikamaru turned over to his side, frustration clear on his features as his thoughts took a more suggestive turn. His hair was down from its usual high ponytail, framing his face. It was the weekend, so he got to nap in his room during the afternoon. He sighed and gave up on his precious nap. He got up, put on his slippers, flung over a jacket, and headed out of his room, pulling his hair back into its usual place. He descended the stairs and sat on the ground by the entrance, pulling on his shoes.

The more he observed, the more his mind wandered and the more he was forced to accept the fact that he was down bad. What would it be like for Sakuro to look at him in a different light? To give him that perfect pearly smile, the one you would give to a lover? To taste those soft lips that sometimes looked busted, no doubt from his hobby, boxing, To lean on that strong body? To be held by those muscled arms that rippled each time he made an effort to do something?

Just his back against Sakuro's chest, those perfect arms wrapped around his middle securely, almost in a protective, loving manner. What would those calloused hands be capable of doing other than writing, punching, and holding...

He didn't really know where he was going, he had no particular destination.

"Shikamaru? Where are you going?" His mother came out of the living room.

"I'm gonna go for a walk for a bit." He replied and got up, adjusting his footwear, before he opened the front door and stepped outside. He closed it behind him and walked onward.

His feet ended up taking him to a meadowy clearing. He blinked and looked around. The sun was high in the sky, ready to descend down the horizon within an hour and a half or so.

His eyes took in the familiar clearing before he spotted a familiar pink hair. It was Sakuro. He could tell from the large build. He blinked, before descending the small hill and approached the man, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Sakuro?" He called out to the man who looked to be in deep thought. The green eyes blinked before he looked up at the newcomer. "Oh, Shikamaru-kun..." That smile... That graceful smile came over his features, lighting up his face. "Hello!"

Shikamaru nodded in response "Mind if i take a seat?" He asked to which Sakuro patted the spot next to him. He sat next to the man and looked ahead, resting his arms on his knees, looking ahead. "You hang out here often?" the raven-haired male asked. "Oh. Not really, but it does make a nice scenery from here. Don't you think so, too? I found this place not too long ago. It does the sunset justice! It helps me clear my mind." He smiled, stretching in his spot, which captured Shikamaru's eyes before he coughed, averting his gaze forcefully. "So... A penny for your thoughts?" He asked.

Sakuro hummed and leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky. "Well... It's kind of embarrassing..." He trailed off. "What is it? You didn't accidentally piss yourself or something, did ya?" He joked, which Sakuro laughed at. "Pffhaha! No! Of course not. It's... Something else." He looked down. This piqued Shikamaru's interest. "I'm all ears. Maybe I can help." He shrugged. He wanted to be a good friend, and he was told he was a good listener. Well- if you called falling asleep or cloud-gazing, not paying attention to what they were yapping about whatever, a good listener then sure, he was that.

"Well... It... Has to do with love..." Sakuro bit his lip and looked at the sky. "I... Think I've fallen in love, Shikamaru-kun..." He breathed out.

Shikamaru froze.

Oh...

Dread spread throughout his body. "Oh... Is that so? Who's the lucky girl?" He managed after schooling his emotions. Of course, this would happen eventually, He cursed himself.

"Well, they're not a girl, actually... He's from our class, and I don't know how to... Confess? I guess..." Sakuro replied, his cheeks taking on a pink tint.

Of course, another opportunity slipped past his hands. "So uh..." He swallowed a lump in his throat. "Who's the lucky boy?" He asked.

Shikamaru's eyes widened and he turned to Sakuro, admiring the rare blush that rared on those very slightly tan cheeks. "A guy...? You're into dudes...?" He blinked. Sakuro nodded. "Bisexual." He confessed.

Great, a dude from his class. There went his chance. Of course, now he wasn't going to confess. He didn't want to ruin Sakuro's opportunity of being with someone he loved!

Sakuro stared at the sky with a smile gracing his lips, his blush intensifying. "You actually know him. He's a kind person. Very intellectual and he has beautiful dark brown eyes. Very handsome features... He's mostly passive, but he's actually very kind..." He described the man. "I know him...?" He thought over people with that kind of description. "Is he in our class?" Shikamaru asked, turning to the pinkette. "Yeah." He nodded, before flopping back onto the soft bed of the grass, the colors from the sky and around him giving him nearly an ethereal look, which punched a breath out of Shikamaru. 'What a drag... Why does he have to look so beautiful?' He asked himself in his mind. He felt his ears warm up. "our class, huh..." He thought about it for a while. "Uhh... Kenji?" He guessed. "No." "Midori?" He took another shot. "Ew, no. He's a jerk."

Shikamaru scratched his head. Who else had handsome features and brown eyes. "...Kaneki?" Sakuro shook his head. "No..." He answered and blushed. Shikamaru sighed. "I give up." He threw up his hands in defeat, before looking at Sakuro. "Does he at least know you like him?"

Sakuro shook his head, no.

In the end, he sighed and turned to Sakuro. "Well, I think you should tell him outright, despite whatever the answer you get. It doesn't matter. If he loves you, he loves you, if not, you'll move on with a relieved heart, knowing at least you've made your feelings known. Trust me. It's better to pour it out to him before he finds someone else, no matter what gender he's into, it's best to ask them. Trust me I... I'd know..." He trailed off, looking forward again, blocking the pinkette's view of his face.

"Great." Shikamaru sighed. "You're so troublesome, sometimes... What a drag..." He scratched his head. "I say tell him you like him outright."

Sakuro blinked. "I'm struggling with that if you hadn't noticed, genius." He deadpanned before pouting. Shikamaru found it adorable. It did funny things to his stomach. 'Troublesome... I can't get distracted... He likes someone else. Think Shika, Think!'.

But he couldn't focus. His mind still hung up on the fact that he was letting another person he fell for, go...

He could feel Sakuro observing him, probably thinking. He mentally sighed.

"Have you... Been rejected before, Shikamaru-kun?" The pinkette asked.

Shikamaru shook his head. "Not quite. I guess you could say, I didn't voice out feelings soon enough. Not that it would matter. That person had been in love with the other for a long time, so I never really stood a chance." He shrugged. "Oh..." Sakuro nodded, understanding, before looking forward again.

After some time of awkward silence, Shikamaru watched as the sun slowly descended towards the mountains. The days were getting shorter and it was getting chillier with each passing moment. He deemed it was finally time to go home, he'd deal with these stupid feelings of his in the comfort of his own room. Probably nap it off or overthink about them, try to find a logical solution out of yet another heartbreak.

What a shame...

"Well," He clapped his hands on his thighs. "I think it's time I take my leave. You think about what I said." He was about to get up when Sakuro stopped him mid-way. "Wait..." He mumbled. Shikamaru glanced towards Sakuro, eyes widening in confusion. "Huh...?"

After a brief moment of what looked like Sakuro was conflicting with himself, he looked up at the Nara with his face flushed in a rosy tint. "I-..." Shikamaru could tell he was searching for the right words. "What is it?" He asked, frowning, and sat next to Sakuro. "Something on your mind?" He asked, trying to ease whatever it was out of Sakuro's mind.

"I... What if... What if I said that person was here right now...? And that I was scared to tell them because I was afraid he wouldn't feel the same...?" The pinkette looked at him and for once after two weeks and something of knowing him, there was genuine fear in those beautiful eyes of his that in the right light, shone in different shades of green, looking almost like a sea foam in his irises.

Shikamaru blinked. "I... Don't think I follow, Sakuro... What do you mean they're here...?" He frowned. Sakuro looked at him, almost pleadingly, he looked ready to just burst out and cry.

Then it dawned on him. His eyes went wide and his jaw slacked slightly. "Oh..." He breathed out. "...Me?" He asked, unsure, looking like a deer in headlights.

Sakuro looked away, a frown gracing his lips. He nodded mutely, before speaking up, his voice cracking. "I was scared to... Tell you. I didn't want to ruin our friendship... You were the first person that took interest in me, interest in who I really was... You hung around and made an effort to get to know me. It... It truly warmed my heart. The more we hung out, the more I fell in love with you, your mind, your sharp tongue, that lazy, yet somehow affectionate attitude of yours..." He rambled. "And those eyes of yours, ever so lazy, yet somehow sharp and always calculating. The shogi games we played together... I knew the game was special for you and that it was your own way of accepting me as your friend, and for that, I felt honored, but... My feelings have grown since then... I... I wanted more. I know, it's selfish... I'm sorry... But you're right; It's better to spill it before it's too late... I won't hate you for whatever your decision will be...

Shikamaru breathed out a breath he was holding. "You're... Not joking, are you?" He finally managed to ask.

He listened to what the pink-haired man had to say to him, shocked.

'He... He...Likes-...No...He loves me...? HE loves ME?! Is this one of my daydreams...?' To confirm that he was, in fact, not dreaming, he pinched himself, hard. Yep, that hurt like a son of a bitch...

Sakuro's brows furrowed, looking deeply offended, as if saying: he just poured his heart out to Shikamaru and this was his response? "Why would I joke about such matters?..."

"Okay, okay. Just... Checking is all..." He mumbled and looked away. 'What a drag... But he loves me... He has feelings for me...' This made his stomach flutter in happiness. 'Is this what Ino meant when she said she felt butterflies in her stomach when Sai confessed...?' Shikamaru thought. He felt his face heat up, and his heart raced in joy.

Sakuro loved him...

He looked up at the taller male, before looking away, scratching his head. "I-I guess... if you're serious, I could... Accept your feelings..." He mumbled.

He saw Sakuro's eyes widen before stared into his eyes. "R-really...?" He looked like a hopeful puppy. God, why did this dork have to be so cute?!

"I mean- If you want to... I don't mind it, being a thing, ya know...?" Shikamaru, at this point, was 100% sure that his face was red as a tomato. "I kinda... Do like you like that, too..." He admitted, averting his eyes. 'WHY AM I BLUSHING LIKE A VIRGIN, WHAT THE HELL?!' He thought.

When he looked at Sakuro, he saw his face light up like a Christmas tree. The man teared up and grinned. "Yeah, I'd like that!" Sakuro replied a tear of joy and probably relief running down his perfect face. Shikamaru smiled, before leaning up, setting a hand on Sakuro's cheek, wiping away the stray tear. "Hey, no chick-flick moments, 'kay?" He teased. Sakuro sniffled, before giggling. "Yeah, okay. No chick-flick moments!" He grinned before they relaxed.

Two men looked into each other's eyes, before closing the distance, pressing their foreheads against one another, getting lost in each other's eyes.

"So... Boyfriends, huh?" Shikamaru asked, his tone soft.

"Yeah..." Sakuro whispered. "I guess Ino-chan has something to gossip about now." He gave him a small smile, those beautiful eyes reflecting the sunlight as it slowly set, finally reaching the mountain.

"I guess so..." He hummed in agreement.

Eventually, the two inched closer, until their lips connected into an experimental, gentle kiss, signifying the start of their lives as an official couple.

Yeah... He could definitely find appeal to this relationship thing, he mused as the two kissed gently. Unrushed and passionate, sweeter than any grape any autumn season could provide, more intoxicating than any wine he could drink...

Two genius dorks in love...

What a day to be alive, Shikamaru thought.

Yes...

He could get used to this... As troublesome love was, he didn't mind this...

As the two kissed by the sunset, the two butterflies circled them, before flying away together.

This day signified the start of a new beginning for the two men.

[kayparker20]

Well, I was laying in my bed today when thoughts of my sasuino fic started plaguing my brain so maybe, JUST MAYBE my muse has finally returned after two years

Can't blame her considering the last two years of my life have been absolutely stressful and full of change so how could we possibly think about WRITING, but here's trying to make a comeback?

[vae1bixy]

[dimancheetoile]

to those gods I will speak bluntly

for ShikaSaku Week Hanami 2023 @shikasaku-week

Day 1: (don't) hug me, stay away (come closer) Non-Sexual Intimacy/Touch-Starved Character(s)

read on AO3

notes: quotes from Inkpot Gods and Not Yet/Love Run (reprise) by The Amazing Devil

_________________

I made a vow out to the dark

Please let her live just one more day

'Cause she is so much more than all her scars

There is a moment of stillness, a rare pause in the violence and the fighting. Greedily, they grab onto it and refuse to let go, teeth sunk into the flesh of this instant in time, this peace well-fought for. This strange stopping of the clock in the middle of the day, sun high in the sky; strange mostly because, if asked, they'd have thought this sort of pause would only come in the darkest hour of night or the earliest ray of sunlight. Something romantic like dusk or dawn, a moment deserving of the poetry of nature. Shows what they knew of war, before this all started.

No, this is not a romantic time, a moment of stillness when they most need it, as if a reward given for their continued fighting, their relentless drive. It comes right after noon, the sun at its zenith, harsh and almost white in its blinding light, right after noon when he should be meeting with the council, under the harsh white light of the sun when she should be in the medic tents triaging who deserves to be healed and who isn't worth the effort.

This, they should be doing. But for a brief instant, the beating heart of war quiets, the screams echo and end instead of coming directly from the mouth of the dying. For a brief moment, the world stills, and they're greedy, the both of them.

(they're not, gods they've never been greedy a single day in their life, they've sacrificed everything they have and everything they are for a country that despises their continued existence, their perpetual demand for it to be better, they've never known greed because they were never given the opportunity to fully realise how little they've been allowed to live, how small they've been made to feel, to be)

(they've never been greedy a fucking day in their life, but even if they had been—)

From opposite ends of the camp, they've been staring at each other, since the moment the sounds of fighting stopped. Shikamaru is supposed to turn around, enter the tent, plan the next assault for the third time this week alone, deciding which of his friends he'll send to their death today. Sakura is supposed to round her own tent to the large tarp draped in-between Fire trees where a dozen injured will be brought very soon, so she can decide which of her friends she's let die today.

But, you see, there is a moment of stillness, a rare pause in the violence and the fighting.

Without exchanging a single word, they disappear in a whirlwind of leaves.

(they're not greedy, neither assholes nor morons, so they only shunshin to the edge of the forest; where the cover of shadows will give them the illusion of peace, where Shikamaru might even catch a glimpse of his clan's deer for the first time in weeks)

Silently, they sit on one of the larger branches of an ash tree, far from the ground, where the leaves and the other trees will hide theme easily enough.

Like a string cut, a bell rung, the tension leaves their bodies in a snap. They slouch, her against the trunk, him against the offshoot of another branch. They're facing each other, one knee up or one leg crossed, hands on the bark or the leaves, eyes never leaving the other's face.

“And what you hear is not silence, it's just the trees waiting to hear what next you'll hum.” Her words are quiet, almost inaudible between the birds and the wind in the leaves. His breath catches in his lungs. He listens.

“And what you see is not the dark, it’s just the gods upturning inkpots 'cause they know what you'll become.” He doesn't recognise the poem; he's never been much into poetry. But he knows she grabbed a single book out of the ruins of her flat, the first thing she could see. It's been keeping her company ever since, as she read and re-read it every single evening, around the fire or in the shared tents where they all rotate to guard their only surviving medic. He hasn't read the book, but she's been quoting pieces of it to him when they've found some time together, and even when they haven't. Sometimes he finds strips of paper in the pockets of his flack jacket, on the folded blanket he uses as a pillow. He cherishes them, these pieces of the last piece of her home. He knows what they cost, what they're worth now.

“And to those gods I will speak bluntly, we've an accord. If you ever touch or harm him, please rest assured that you might not fear a man, but to a woman by the end you'll kneel and plead.”

He swallows, incapable of blinking when faced with everything this woman is, everything she means to him.

He answers the only way he knows how: half-truth and bitter honesty, the knowledge of knowing too much, the burden of age that aged too fast, his wisdom and years heavy on shoulders so young, so dumb.

“Love, run. Love, run, for all the things we wished we’d done. Run until your lungs are numb.”

She crying, soft and quiet, hot tears on the grime of her face, still leaning against the tree holding them both up. Her eyes are the same colour as the leaves around them, pierced by the rays of the afternoon sky. He sees their years, their weariness, their memories, all written on the streaks left behind on her dirty cheeks.

“I think I've been missing you for a long time,” she sobs, gasping on air and empty, broken promises made by the broken, empty boys of her childhood.

On his knees, he reaches for her, crawling on the branch with chakra helping him stick to it. His hand wraps around hers for a second before she brings it to her blackened, wet cheek. His hand looks huge next to her face, his tanned skin contrasting with her paleness, the darkness under her eyes.

He can't believe they're here. He can't believe these weeks of war and fighting, of sticking to each other's side, of deciding against everything and everyone that they were going to make a choice for themselves, just for once.

He whispers, “Sakura...” and she swallows, hard.

“Yes,” she croaks. “Yes, always.”

It's his turn to choke on tears, incapable of looking away. “I love you. I love you, I love you.”

“I love you,” she's saying over him, with him, voices mingling grime and tears together.

He falls more than he leans into her open arms, legs on either side of him, and she embraces him completely.

He can't believe this.

He can hear her heart, beating. Her lips against his temple, her fingers running through his dirty hair.

As usual, she hears him when he's not speaking a single word. “It's worth it. We're worth it, we deserve it. It's worth fighting for this, Shikamaru.” She puts some space between them, just enough that she can look him in the eyes. “I want to be with you. We deserve this, you and I.”

Gods, they do. So much. How could he ever doubt that?

“I love you,” he breathes against her neck. “I love you, I lov—”

The ground shakes so hard it dislodges them from the tree and they fall to the ground. Reflexes faster than the speed of sound help them react and they've twisted in the air before their brain even catches up with gravity. They fall stable on their feet, the wave of residual heat from the explosion almost knocking them backward.

The moment of stillness is gone, the pause in the violence is broken. But there is steel in their spine now, a glint in their eye. She'd call it spite, but that's because she's Haruno-fucking-Sakura. When he was thirteen, he learned the value of raw emotions; it's alright, he thinks, looking at her. He can call it hope for them both, until she can believe it too.

Run from all you know that’s coming

Run to show that love’s worth running to

[justhellacesome]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru Characters: Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Hatake Kakashi, Sai (Naruto), Yamato | Tenzou Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Death, War, Non-Linear Narrative, world building, Vore, Cannibalism, read notes about those tags, Magic, POV Multiple, Storytelling, Implied Sexual Content, Graphic Description of Corpses, Morally Ambiguous Character, BAMF Haruno Sakura, BAMF Nara Shikamaru, Sakura eats a god Series: Part 8 of so come meet me in the garden (where the angels sing) Summary:

Shikamaru dies, he does not stay dead. Oh no, he can't die, Deathless they call him because of his luck, because of his tenacity. But what they don't know, what no one knows— except those so close to his heart that they are a part of him and him a part of them— is that luck or strength has nothing to do with it. Death knows his name, knows his blood, knows his bones. She looks at him with such sadness he aches with it, dreams of it. Death's hands cradle his face as she sends him back to the world of the living in order to fulfill his fate and save the world.

Only, it isn't as simple as that. Nothing is. Nothing ever will be. The dead do not stay dead and the world has been taken by an unending war with enemies who rise again and again. Once upon a time ago, there was a boy, not any boy, a hero. But this is not the beginning, nor is it the end. He has fate carved into his skin and hope behind his eyes and he will endure these nightmares over and over and over.

(You see, there are things worse than never-dying foes. There are girls with bones forged of fury and blood made of rage who look at the world and decide to eat it.)

[your-strangebouquetbeliever]

Linger Chapter 25 Update on Ao3!

Chapters: 25/? Fandom: Naruto Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba/Yamanaka Ino, GenJutsu!Kakashi/haruno Sakura Characters: Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Hatake Kakashi, Yamanaka Ino, Choji Iimori, Gaara (Naruto), Tenten (Naruto), Hyuuga Hinata Additional Tags: Ninja virtual reality, Community: kakasaku, shikasaku, Excessive Making Out, Love Triangles, Ok but not really a love triangle, Shikasaku slowburn, Genjutsu Master Haruno Sakura, That's DOCTOR Sakura to you, Hatake Kakashi is a Good Teacher, but terrible with kids, close friendships, Fluff and Humor, Character Growth, Aged-Up Character(s), Lemon, inapropriate use of ninja magic, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Unresolved Tension in General, Romance, Longing, Sexy Times, fantasy boyfriend, Lucid Dreaming, slowburn, Friends to Lovers, Haruno Sakura-centric, BAMF Haruno Sakura, Matchmaker Ino, Smut, Mutual Pining, Haruno Sakura & Yamanaka Ino Friendship, Eventual Happy Ending, eventual shikasaku - Freeform, community: shikasaku, emotional support sensei

Summary:

Ninja virtual reality: The first time Sakura cast a Genjutsu on herself had been an accident; the second time a wild experiment. But after coming to terms with her morally questionable new ability, Sakura must now use it to decide who she really wants: the frustrating man, the blissful fantasy...or maybe someone else all together.

LEMON Mild/complicated Kaka/Saku, Spicy Genjutsu!Kaka/Saku, Slowburn Shika/Saku with eventual HEA

Eventual war related civilian deaths that may be not so nice to read about if you are very sensitive to that kind of thing.

[fieryraven379]

It's been a long long long time since I've written, but recently I've been getting back into reading and rereading some of my fav Naruto fics. So I had to come back and write one of my fav ships.

This one here is a special little baby.

ShikaSaku, dealing with love, life and growing and healing slowly but surely.

If realistic story settings and communication is your jam, give this one a go <3

[akabbyrenee]

Ok public apology. First OG post I mentioned this was a SasuSaku fic. Kinda is? But more platonic friends/teammate situation. Looks more like ShikaSaku and SasuIno? Like I’m ok with this but still a bit odd for me as I don’t really read many fics with those pairings.

So back to updates on my reads. In Chunin exams and yay they escaped Orochi without the curse seal on sasuke. Haven’t gotten out of the forest quite yet but hoping for ok turn outs for it.

I cant wait to see what kind of plot twists await!

It’s time for ANOTHER big fanfic dive! This time it’s a SasuSaku fic!

Again it’s time travel. I love that troupe for sakura tbh. Like it’s just so fun to see what kind of mischief she would get into being who she is and how well her mind works in retaining information.

This time I’m reading:

In Pursuit of Sunshine by @jimmythemystic on ao3

It’s 80 chapters. I will do updates just like I did with the last one… wish me luck

[stu-dyingstudent]

Sakura Haruno Fanfiction!!

Started: 2024.05.01

Last Updated: 2024.05.31

Total Works: 48

Okay, I absolutely adore Sakura as a character, but I do wish that we got a bit more of her just being awesome and progressing as a ninja. Generally speaking, I prefer multichapter (finished) fics, so that is what this list is primarily going to contain. This list contains my some of my favorite Sakura centric fanfiction, so everyone can enjoy these masterpieces too!!

note: this is my original list, but you can also check out my master list which has some more fics, is organized, and gets updated!!

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Survival of the fittest - cywscross || ao3 || T || shikasaku || canon divergent || one shot

Sakura is thirteen, still a Genin, lost in the middle of Earth Country, lugging an unconscious Chuunin around, and so far beyond scared that she’s moved right on to pissed off.

AHHHH this one is soooo good!!! I know I literally just said that this list is mainly going to be multi-chapter fics, but survival of the fittest is great!

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The Ocean is Deep and Dark - Pleasedial123 || ao3 || M || canon divergent || complete

Gato doesn't trust Zabuza to get the job done. Instead he sends a team of thugs to ambush the Bridge Builder on his return to Wave. Team Seven, exhausted from their fight and Kakashi still unconscious, is separated. Sakura gets captured. Terrible things happen to pretty girls in the hands of men like Gato and his thugs. But Zabuza puts his claim in first and suddenly Sakura isn't the prisoner of a civillian businessman and his hired muscle. Suddenly she's Momichi Zabuza's.

I won't lie, I have a soft spot for fics that take place during the land of waves arc, especially when they focus on Sakura's growth. I love how Zabuza was portrayed in this as although he wasn't necessarily a bad guy, he wasn't a good one either. He simply has morals. Sakura's fear in this is also quite raw and eye opening as it covers a theme that isn't ever covered in the original series. The reality is, the world is not kind to women, and a captured young female ninja is most certainly going to be at some untasteful risks. Oh, team 7's concern was also pretty touching ngl.

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Satori (Between the Lines) - Jaylene || ffn || gen || T || AU || complete

While attending the Academy, Sakura's field experience assignment with the Konohagakure Intelligence Division ends up being more valuable than she'd ever guess.

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Pulling my weight - itsthechocopuff || ao3/ffn || shikasakucho || T || AU || complete

During their mission to Wave, Sakura realises how behind she is in her training and decides to do something about it. She vows to become a shinobi her Village and her teammates can respect and depend on. But Sakura has always been a paper-ninja, so her first stop for inspiration is the library where she finds unexpected help in the form of one very bored tokujo who quickly goes on to become an integral part of her life. Soon, despite the neglect of her sensei and all odds seemingly against her, Sakura's destiny begins to change.

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Kill Your Heroes - TheLightAtLastAndAlways || ao3/ffn || T || canon divergent || ongoing

It's time to stop waiting for other people to save you. A story about fear, resilience, and Sakura.

I feel like anyone that is a fan of Sakura centric fics has read this one and it's for a good reason! Probably one of my all time favorites as I love how Sakura's emotions are handled in this and simply the fact that she is so driven by fear and just the will to keep surviving. It's an aspect of the original series that just was not addressed imo. They are essentially child soldiers, so I wish that we got to witness more moments of vulnerability from the young ninja. Unfortunately, it probably won't be finishing anytime soon.

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Stumble - writer168 || ao3/ffn || gen || T || time travel AU || complete

Sakura wanted to die. Sasori was fine with staying dead. But it seemed fate had other plans for them, because when they both wake up younger with blood pulsing through their veins, they had to remember how to live again. Time Travel AU

We need more fics with Genma and Ibiki!!!!

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Five Petals - PrecariousSauce || ao3 || sasusaku || gen || canon divergent || complete

Several things happen all at once in less than a minute’s time. Sakura’s elbow slams into Sasuke’s side from an angle he doesn’t anticipate, sending him tumbling end over end off the branch. Sasuke rights himself just a second too late and without checking where he’s going to land– When he does his knee twists, he feels a lightning bolt of pain shoot from his sole to his head, his leg gives out. And Orochimaru’s teeth sink down to the gum in Sakura’s shoulder.

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Blind - ObsidianSickle || ffn || sasusaku || T || canon divergent || complete

It was almost time, Orochimaru was going to take his body as a vessel. He hated being used...he refused to be used. With that thought, he took the kunai in his hand and slashed across his eyes.

I won't lie, Sakura is kinda weak in this one and it got pretty cheesy, but I still enjoyed it.

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A Twist in Time - wolf08 || ffn || sasusaku || T || time travel AU || complete

With Konoha on the verge of destruction, Sakura is sent on a last-resort mission to save her world by travelling to the past. Join her in coping with her old body's shortcomings, testing the natural laws of time, falling in love all over again, and rediscovering who she is.

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With Every Beat - halfdemonfan || ffn || sasusaku || M || canon divergent || incomplete

Pain can come in various forms. Sakura had suffered all of them; but with the war raging on she found the torture would continue.

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Ghosts - ElegiesforShiva || ffn || sausaku || M || AU || incomplete

In love and loss, it often comes back to family, and Team 7 had always been fated, hadn't they? Deny it as she may, Sakura finds her heart strung to them with an uncanny reverence and the weight of their ghosts. Sakura-centric. Heavy, heavy angst. Slow burn Sasusaku. Canon pairings. Lots of friendship feels. Eventual (consensual) lemon.

I won't lie, this one is pretty dark, so definitely read the TWs if that applies to you.

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Your Move, Instigator (draw your weapon and hold your tongue) - Laysan_albatross || ao3|| AU || complete

“We are still under wartime policy,” the recruiter had told her parents. He had an envelope in his hand. He sounded sorry. “She has two parents who are successful ninjas. We would be remiss to overlook her potential based upon that alone.” The Third Shinobi War never ended. Konoha needs more soldiers, grabbing anyone who can fight, especially those who can't say no.

You guys, I love this one to death. It's definitely a darker take on the Naruto universe, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been looking for more like this fic where the civilian born shinobi are deemed as more expendable (thrown into war prematurely).

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Find Your Place (whatever it takes) - Dovey || ao3 || AU || incomplete

The war lasts longer than in canon, and has only just ended. While most of the 'Konoha 12' are clan heirs and thus protected from having to go to war prematurely, Sakura is from a civilian family, with naturally advanced chakra control, and thus is thrown immediately onto the frontlines. Now she's on a genin team in peacetime, and she's struggling to figure out how to live when she's not constantly at risk of dying. Team seven bonds in new weird ways, The Uchiha are actually all dead except for Sasuke (including war-hero itachi) who's got a chip on his shoulder the size of Konoha, Naruto isn't the kyuubi container and he finds Sakura kinda scary. Sakura would just like to have a hobby.

This one I actually have not read (I hope to read), but "your move, instigator" was inspired by this one!

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Icarus (protect the flames) - ginoeh || ao3 || canon divergent || incomplete

When Sakura realizes that playing little girl and flunking combat training had probably been a gross miscalculation on her part, she’s stranded in a rickety home in a run down country with an unconscious sensei. Sakura isn’t sure if she can make up for that mistake before it kills her or her team but she sure as hell will give it her best shot. She really couldn’t have known that falling victim to Hatake Kakashi’s unique attempts at teaching would open up another can of worms entirely.

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team. - waterpllar || ao3 || AU || complete

She’s under Neji's command, which apparently means she’s under the Hyuuga’s command. The Hyuuga’s role is on the frontlines, but Neji must be special for a kid from the branch family, because they mostly send him and Sakura out after the big battles are done, to pick off the wounded, and burn bodies. Sakura kind of wishes she had someone to keep her from the big fights, too. Her job is with Neji, taking back kekkei genkai and retrieving important people’s bodies, but she has other assignments, too. She’s given a dull kunai and told to go through the battlefield, dodging blows and jutsus from friend and foe, slashing at whatever isn’t wearing a Konoha headband. (the third shinobi war doesn't end, dragging on for years. konoha is running out of troops, and unimportant children in the academy with even a modicum of talent are snatched up to the warfront. sakura, unfortunately, is one of them. so is neji.)

Yay, a fic inspired by "your move, instigator" so of course I gotta put it on the list!! Although, I gotta say that the ending was rather disappointing imo. There was so much potential, but the author admitted to not wanting to continue the story so it was cut short. Hopefully more works of this nature will come to light!

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Cold Green Eyes - Wolfgang_in_the_Stars || ao3 || AU || complete

Haruno Sakura is 12 years old when she realises she has to make some changes in her life or else she'll die. Three years ago, Sakura split herself. Inner took her trauma, her pain, her violence, and Outer took the rest. If she wants to survive, if she wants to become a strong kunoichi, she'll have to accept herself as a whole. It's not as easy as it sounds.

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Home is Where the Heart is - DeepPoeticGirl || ffn || sasusaku || T || blank period || canon divergent || complete

And with every moment together, they get just a little closer, a little more comfortable with each other. Fall a little more in love. Post-war. Pre-epilogue.

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In Times of Peace - SouthSideStory || ffn || sasusaku || M || blank period || canon divergent || complete

The war is over, and like Konoha, Team 7 has rebuilt itself from the ground up. Everything has changed, but Sasuke and Sakura remain much the same. Eleven years, she thinks, is a long time to be in love.

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Ripples - Yellow Mask || ffn || sasusaku || T || canon divergent || complete

Following a botched mission, Sakura is made a slave by Sound, a position that could very well alter the future…especially concerning a certain familiar missing-nin.

I thought this fic was pretty interesting as we get to see Sasuke under Orochimaru's command.

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The Pack Survives - ihopethelightwillshineupon || ao3 || team 7 || canon divergent || complete

When a simple C-rank mission turns into a straight-up nightmare, the members of Team Seven narrowly escape with their lives. They end up stuck in the middle of nowhere, each of them injured and forced to rely on one another for help. They’ve only been a team for a couple of weeks, still distant from one another, still trying hard to prove themselves. But when they’re all hurt and struggling desperately to survive, they have no choice but to lower their walls. Stranded far away from the village, Team Seven fights to get back home safely – but with help impossibly far away, with their food supplies shrinking and with their injuries slowing them down, their journey becomes more difficult with every step. In the wake of their struggle, though, their bonds grow steadily stronger.

Sakura is not the main character in this one as it it more focused on team 7 as a whole, but she still has some great development!

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Return & Rehash - SpaceNugget11 || ffn || sasusaku || M || time travel AU || incomplete

"You," Sakura snarled with bared teeth. Sasuke gagged for air, clutching at her forearm, but she only pressed harder into him. Her green eyes crackled, and she wished she could burn him alive with the heat of her anger.

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An Inch of Gold - KuriQuinn || ffn || sasusaku || T || time travel AU || complete

Team 7 is sent on a mission to investigate a disturbance outside of the village, where they encounter an unconscious girl in a crater. The mysterious Sarada insists she's a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf trying to rescue her teammates. When the team discovers she possesses a Sharingan, things become even more unbelievable. [Part of the Legacy of Fire Series]

Honestly, anything by this author is great! The writing captures the personalities of the characters so well and I'm a complete sucker for the whole Sarada meets Sakura and Sasuke trope!! Sasusaku is super cute in this (while being realistic) and I love how Kakashi is such a shipper.

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Trial by Ninja - jacobk || ffn || T || canon divergence || complete

To become great, one must overcome great opponents. A moment of inspiration during the chuunin exam puts Sakura on the path to greatness, whether she likes it or not.

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Loyalty - TrueRadicalDreamer || ffn/ao3 || M || AU || complete

A ten-year-old Haruno Sakura is put in the worst situation of her young life - being forced into working as a spy for an enemy village. As she navigates the mores of her new world, Sakura begins to realize that she is changing as a person and that she may not recognize who it is she is becoming. A story about personal responsibility, about the duties of a ninja to their village, and about the true meaning of loyalty. (Pre-Skip, Unapologetically Sakura-centric, 13 years in the writing)

Ok, a little note here is that this fic is actually being rewritten. I read the old version and loved it (the one I linked), but there is a new one coming out on ao3 although I think it might incomplete. Nonetheless, I HIGHLY recommend this one as I think it's great and pleasantly dark!

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Five Kingdoms for the Dead - EvilIsARelativeTerm || ffn || M || AU || complete

After the Forest of Death, Sakura comes to realize that being weak is no longer an option. However, she finds that change is sometimes painful and that truth doesn't always come easy. Luckily, she'll have some help along the way.

Two words: SO GOOD!!!! It made me wish that we got more of Sakura and Neji doing missions together.

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It's Just That Any One of Us Is Half Without Another One Is You - Branch || ao3 || AU || complete

An AU in which all the character development of part one gets its due: Kakashi finds another way, Sasuke does not leave the Leaf, Itachi remains a villain, no one is a carbon copy of a previous generation, Sakura grows up to be terrifying, Sasuke finds his way back to family, and Naruto wins all hearts. Featuring Team Seven fluff, filling in the time-skip, and a rather different second half. Drama, Angst, Romance, Fluff, Action, Occasional Porn.

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I Know Those Eyes - roomfishing || ffn || sasusaku || T || AU || complete

Seven years following Sasuke’s disappearance, Sakura, now a medical-nin, goes on an ANBU assassination mission. SasuSaku. Contains spoilers, PG-13 for mild V, L, S.

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A Lesson in Humility - aobears || ao3 || itasaku || AU || incomplete

It's a fierce desire to protect, to possess. What's Sakura's will stay Sakura's, until she says otherwise. Where Sakura gets sick of being the weak link.

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These Eyes of Mine (I Can See) - tsukuyue || ao3 || gen || time travel AU || complete

They've lost. Naruto was dead, killed at Kaguya’s hands. Along with him died any illusions of hope that they could win. They couldn’t win, but perhaps they wouldn’t need to. In attempts to stop the Fourth Shinobi War from ever occuring, Sakura is sent back in time to the moment of her birth. Protecting the people she cared about would be much easier if she knew all the facts. OR Where Sakura can see the dead, and Danzō deserves to die.

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Little Piece of Heaven - Leanne Ash || ffn || sasusaku || T || canon divergent || complete

"I don't do it because I think you're weak! I do it because—! Because I… just… Never mind." Years later it finally happened. Unfortunately, she just didn't care anymore. A story of love and irony, where one is oblivious… and the other is Sasuke.

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Dessert Blossom - Aphiria || ffn || kankusaku || T || AU || complete

Sakura’s accepted a mission to help Suna with an unknown illness that has affected a handful of its villagers. And all Kankurou has to do is watch over her while she’s in his city. It should be easy. Right?

Despite me being a sasusaku fan, I've always been a sucker for kankusaku every since she healed him in shippuden, so this was a nice read (a bit cheesy but fun).

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Two Minds (are better than one) - Lesemaus16 || ao3 || gen || AU || complete

Tobirama doesn't generally object to being reborn. He does object to being stuck in the mind of a little girl, though. Sakura grows up with a grumpy voice in her head, telling her to train more. Tobirama's influence on Sakura might very well change the story. Or maybe not, who knows.

Tobirama is such a great character (so refreshing) and his interactions with Sakura in this are gold! I hope one day Kishimoto will release some side stories about him and other characters from his time as we really don't know that much about them tbh.

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Expedient - SwiftKick || ffn || T || AU || complete

Konoha and Iwa sign a truce and agree to an Exchange Program between recently promoted genin to "bolster village relations." Fortunately, if anything were to go wrong, Haruno Sakura was just average enough to risk losing.

Wow, this one is another all time favorite of mine! I didn't have high expectations going into it, but this fic is truly great. Deidara is such a fun character and I really enjoyed Sakura's growth in this.

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The Nearest Star - summersirius || ao3 || minasaku || canon divergent || complete

The quest for strength comes from the spirit or in this case, the soul. —Minato/Sakura

I quite honestly though that I was going to hate this because of the pairing, but it was surprisingly very well done! Also, Sakura is a total badass in this.

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Trials of Change - Espoiretreves || ao3 || gen || time travel AU || complete

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life. Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War. Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic put her through have her questioning her very existence, but for the sake of peace, she has to push forward. No matter what.

This one is a really good non-massacre fic where we get to see Shisui!

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Dirt and Ashes, or: The One-and-a-Half Body Problem - Tozette || ao3 || gen || M || canon divergent || complete

The invasion of Konoha during the chuunin exam didn't fail. Team seven is broken, people are dead, and Sakura is hurt and frightened and a very long way from home. Alternative summary: In which Sakura carries half of Hidan across two countries, leaving a trail of blood, bodies, and other people's legs.

This one is pretty gross tbh, but I highly recommend!

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Obito-Sensei - Ser Serendipity || ffn || gen || M || AU || ongoing

During the fateful mission to the Kannabi Bridge, Obito is too slow, and Kakashi ends up paying the price with his life. Years later, Elite Jonin Mangekyou no Obito is placed in charge of a very familiar genin team, determined to keep them safe in a world at peace. Or: Obito surviving wrecks everything, in twenty steps or less.

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Time Flies Like An Arrow - Katlou303 || ao3 || gen || K || time travel AU || complete

Sakura traveled back in time with the intent of changing everything, but something went wrong, and now she's four years old having nightmares about impossible monsters and losing friends she has yet to meet.

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Labyrinthine - FM_White || ao3 || itasaku || M || AU || complete

ItaSaku (Post Uchiha Massacre) AU: Some things are destined to be. It just takes a couple of tries to get there. ItaSaku. Light KakaSaku.

I actually really liked how this was done as team 7 is still a family, Sasuke didn't lose his mind, Itachi picked a much more respectable path imo, and the characters are all adults.

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The Misadventures of Kakashi and the Girl From No Where - Goldfishlover73 || ao3 || kakasaku || M || time travel AU || complete

When a girl called Sakura seemingly falls in the sky, Kakashi is skeptical. Far more skeptical than the rest of Team Minato are. War is approaching quickly and this strange girl is leaving more questions than answers in her wake, Kakashi must decide where his trust and loyalties lie in a constantly changing world.

Told in the perspective of Kakashi in his youth! Really interesting take and I love how strong Sakura is in this in addition to the fact that we get to see a different side of Kakashi that we aren't used to.

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The Sixth Shadow - thinknicht || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent - eventual time travel AU || ongoing

No one seemed to find it odd when little Haruno Sakura threw herself smack dab in front of a Chidori and Rasengan. Not even Kakashi stopped to wonder. (He really should have.)

The story of how Sakura came to be the sixth hogake despite all of the challenges thrown her way. Maybe I'm just late to the game, but this is a true hidden gem! Such an interesting take on how the events of the series could have unfolded. I especially love Sakura's drive in addition to the political aspects. However, be warned that Kakashi is an absolute HATER (in the beginning), but he gets better! Also, the fic is super long....

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Hell's Radiance - Angel of the Godless || ffn || M || AU || complete

AU Fate can be a twisted thing, some only exist in hate. Sakura was one of those, a container of the most feared demon in history, hated by her village. Lost in the darkness, she tried to find a reason for living.

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Will Of Stone - sadfascist || ffn || M || AU || complete

Timeskip: Sakura travels to the Earth Country to take the Iwa chuunin exam. Waiting for her there is a place of ancient wonder… violent trials… star-crossed love… and a conspiracy that threatens world peace itself. An epic novel. COMPLETE.

Another really long fic.

still waters by Vulpecula_et_Anser || ao3 || gen || M || canon AU || one-shot complete

Sakura is twelve when she queues up in front a desk with a bunch of other equally-terrified looking shinobi. The ages range from younger than her to old enough to be her grandpa. The man sitting at the desk is stony-faced as he doles out assignments. Sakura obediently shuffles forward when it is her turn, and recites her shinobi identification number in a shaky voice when asked. When the provost marshal looks at her, looks down at his paper, looks back at her, and grimaces, Sakura knows it’s not going to be good. or How Sakura survives the war, told in bits and pieces.

Canon-fodder! Sakura makes her shinobi debut on the front lines, forcing her to get creative in her means to survive. It's gritty, raw, and the clever use of seals is great! Y'all know this type of story is my personal guilty pleasure (also one of the best I've read thus far)...

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A Drop of Poison by Androgyninja || ao3 || gen || M || canon divergent || complete

After being humiliated during a sparring match, Sakura realizes that she no longer wants to base her future on a boy who doesn't even like her. With a newfound sense of determination, she sets off to become a truly terrifying kunoichi, making her fair share of friends and enemies along the way. In other words, Sakura discovers who she really wants to be and fucks shit up along the way. And if she poisons a few important people? Well, that's just collateral damage. Begins during Sakura's final year at the academy and ends right before the canon time skip.

Where the hierarchy of the clans and clanless is more prominent than ever, Sakura comes to the stark realization of her true purpose on team 7. Along with fics like Kill Your Heroes, Sakura makes sacrifices out of her newfound determination to become a respected shinobi. However, her actions bring ramifications which she'll have to face head first. Also, poison-user! Sakura is such a great idea (I wish this was canon)!

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Only a Crush by Gingersoup || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent || complete

It was supposed to be an easy, fun night out. She never intended to wake up in her sensei's bed, half-naked and with no memory of what happened the night before! As she tries to unravel the mystery of that night, something sinister is growing beyond the walls of the Leaf Village... and what was only a crush spirals wildly out of control.

Sakura is unwillingly thrust into the world of illegal drugs, trafficking, and sex all while coming to terms with her new feelings regarding her former sensei. I typically don't like kakasaku, but I think this work is done tastefully well. The characters are both adults and the immorality of the relationship is not ignored, so be prepared for a lot of "we can't," "this is wrong," etc.. Anyway, Sakura is an absolute powerhouse and I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between all of the different characters and villages!

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Masks by mads999 || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergent || complete

1. Sakura's Inner is far more diabolical than anyone ever expected 2. Crows prove to be cruel mentors 3. Sakura comes to learn exactly how much she hates Kakashi (as well as how alike they are, in the most terrible of ways)

Kakashi is a hateful turd and Sakura is spiteful! I hate this ship and I'm not a big fan of Kakashi here, but boy is this fic good. One of the best character developments I've read for Sakura and she certainly becomes of force to be reconned with. In addition, the Anbu worldbuilding (can I use that here?) is phenomenal!

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New Day Dawning - IncompleteSentanc (Erava) || ao3 || narusaku || T || canon divergence || complete

One day, while visiting the grave of Nohara Rin, Obito stumbles across a young girl terrifyingly like her. He decides to ensure she doesn’t meet the same fate. As for Sakura? Sakura had no idea what she was awakening the day she went to visit her parents graves - but she never looked back. One way or another. (Feat. Sakura raised by Obito and the Akatsuki, and her eventual return to Konoha and all those she left behind)

Sakura is brainwashed and manipulated, but loved by notorious killers nonetheless. Incredibly well written and I won't lie when I say that the ending took me a bit by surprise.

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[23raccoons]

Fandom: Naruto (Anime & Manga) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura & Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura & Yamanaka Ino Characters: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Hatake Kakashi, Yamanaka Ino, Sai (Naruto), Karin (Naruto), Uchiha Madara Additional Tags: Dubious Consent, Blood and Violence, Unhealthy Relationships, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Dark Uchiha Sasuke, Dark Nara Shikamaru, Protective Hatake Kakashi, Rough Sex, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Self-Harm, Akatsuki (Naruto), War, Konoha 11 (Naruto), Everyone is Problematic ok?, Heavy Angst, Domestic Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fourth Shinobi War (Naruto), Memory Loss, PTSD, Manipulation, Bullying, Suicidal Thoughts, Degradation, Dacryphilia

Chapter 5 (chapter list)

Sasuke’s rebuttoning his pants when Sakura starts her usual lineup of pathetic attempts to convince him to return to Konoha. Like he could just as easily gain power there as with Orochimaru. Like she can’t see how hard he fights. How hard he trains. Nothing less than absolute perfection. Perfect katas. Perfect jutsu. Perfect answers on coursework. Sleepless nights spent finding more and more avenues to become stronger. “Come back with me? Please?”

“You’re being annoying. Isn’t this enough for you?” Sasuke snaps. More annoyed with himself than her. Frustrated. Torn. He fights to urge to comply, to agree to take her with him, to hide her away, deep in the snakes' den, safe. But Orochimaru’s lairs are no place for someone as soft as Sakura. Someone so willing to give and so many more than willing to take until there is none of her left. Dark. Dangerous. Deadly. Protecting her there would be near impossible.

“It certainly is more than enough for you,” she mutters. It’s not, really. But the best middle ground he can find to keep contact with her. To be able to keep tabs on her. (To make sure she is still alive.) To ease the ache in his chest that seems to get bigger every time they separate. Every time he has to tell her no. Every time he breaks her heart again, leaving her alone to pick up all the pieces.

“If you’re becoming too attached in our arrangement—” Sasuke starts, before she cuts him off.

“Of course I’m too attached, Sasuke. What did you think this was going to be?” She’s looking at him, but he keeps his eyes on the knot he’s forming in his belt, not wanting to admit this is exactly what he thought it would be. What he wants it to be. Sakura knows him too well though, smart enough to know exactly why he feels the need to trail along when her missions end up close to a base.

“I thought you would be sensible about this whole thing. It’s what you wanted all along.” Sasuke at least understands the irony in this, as he is by far being the most insensible one here. As she is here to try and convince him to return, trying to save him, and he’s really just being a creep about it. Seeing how far she will let him push her before she snaps. Before she deems him what he truly is. Broken. Irreparable. Unloveable.

“You think I wanted this? To sneak away from my missions, so you can fuck me in the forest?” Sakura never stops him, never tells him no. Lets him fuck her however he deems fit. He knows he is rougher with her than he should be. He should be more careful to not damage her. To not cause so many tiny little fractures in her psyche that she refuses to come back to him.

“You enjoyed it.” It’s a fact. He can usually get her off at least twice, simply, with only as much effort as it takes to get himself to orgasm. It’s not all about the fucking, but Sasuke likes to pretend it is. He doesn’t try to get her off. Some part of him worried if he does try, if he is bad at it, that he will lose her. That she will decide to stop loving him. To find someone else more worthy of her love.

She stands, gathering all her things. Her upset is visible in her movements as she shoves things back in her pack. “Find someone else to fuck then, if you think that’s all I want, Sasuke.”

He knows she’s well aware this is about more than that. He’s been interrupting her missions ever since he’s left. Just one or two, every couple months or so. Little rewards to himself for accomplishing a new jutsu or mastering a new technique. A long-term goal of defeating Itachi, laden with short-term goals of the next time he would allow himself to check in on Sakura. Taking a little more from her each time he graced her with his presence.

“If you’re going to be petulant, I might,” Sasuke threatens. He won’t, probably. He doesn’t fuck any other girls, not giving Kabuto the chance to make an Uchiha baby to experiment on. He had entered one of the hideout’s fucked-up version of a nursery one singular time, needing Kabuto to heal a wound, and had decided he’d rather bleed out than speed another second in the room.

Sakura mutters, just loud enough for him to hear. “I sure as fuck should.”

“What?” Sasuke whispers, seeing red, as he moves in closer to her. She wouldn’t dare. Would she? The curse mark is darkening his thoughts. Imaging the worst scenarios. The worst reactions to them.

“You left me. You found me. And I’m not the one who’s tracking you down on your missions, now am I?” Sometimes Sasuke thinks this would work out a lot better if Sakura didn’t need to be so fucking smart all the time.

Sasuke bends in until their noses brush, close enough to be sharing breaths. Threatening, “Find another man to fuck then. See how much I care.”

Sakura is his. He does not care if it makes him feel like a toddler on the playground throwing fits over his toys. He can feel the energy of the curse mark swirling under his skin. Ready to break free should she agree, should she fight back against him. Throwing herself out like a whore to the next man to come along.

“I just want you to come home, Sasuke. We can help you—“

We? Naruto and Kakashi couldn’t do anything to help him. They can’t do a thing to stop him. This is his path of vengeance. His family slaughtered before his eyes. His brother responsible for the massacre.

“I don’t need your pity. I don’t need your help. I don’t need you.” Sasuke’s words are sharp. Knives intended to cut and wound her. They do. He can see it in her face, like a kunai to her heart.

“Tell me how much you hate me then. Tell me, and I’ll quit trying. I’ll let you use me however you want. I’ll leave you alone. But I want to hear you say it. I can’t keep doing this anymore.” It’s whispered, hoarse.

He cannot take her with him. He cannot take her with him. He cannot take her with him. Sasuke activates his sharingan. Tucking her hair behind her ear and tilting her chin until he can taste her chapstick on his lips.

“Tell me you love me. Tell me you need me. You want me. Beg for it.” Sakura begs. She begs like she always does, offering Sasuke, everything, anything. Willing to trade her body, her heart over to him. It’s desperate. Needy and pathetic. Sasuke wouldn’t want it, doesn’t want it, any other way. Some twisted part of him getting off on knowing she needs him, just as desperately as he needs her.

He. Does. Not. Need. Her.

“Go fuck someone else. I’m sure Naruto’s been dying too.” Sasuke’s glob of spit lands on the ground between her feet, and he has body-flickered off before he can see her upset reaction.

Sasuke gives himself one last chance to see Sakura before he takes on Orochimaru. He finds her in a small outpost, wandering through the hastily set-up stalls of a street market. He lets his hand brush up against hers. She does not acknowledge him but he can feel her gaze after he's moved on. (He knows some of her missions are extremely time-sensitive and will not interfere, usually just waiting outside of town until she has accomplished her task and comes to find him.)

He forces himself to walk past. One foot in front of another. To keep walking. Out of town. Faster, through the trees. Until he is far enough away from her to ignore the pull. The desire to go back and find her. Fuck her until she is his, and only his, full of little Uchiha babies.

A new reward. For when he slaughters his older brother.

Orochimaru.

Deidara.

Itachi.

Tobi and Madara.

Family- Uchihas.

Itachi’s secret.

Konoha must fall.

Danzo. (Karin.)

Sakura.

Sakura comes to him. Showing up as his reward for killing the man responsible for the Uchiha massacre.

Sakura is his. As she always is. As she always was.

Sasuke eyes Sakura as she kneels down next to the sort of dying Karin. Danzo had tried to use her as a shield. Sasuke, gone enough in the darkness of his own mind, stabbing through both of them with a lightning blade. Sakura gathers a medical jutsu in her hand, laying it on Karin’s back. It’s not the razor-sharp style favored by Kabuto. Softer, gentle even.

He himself gathers a Chidori. If she will not listen, he will make her. He grabs her neck, and it’s easy to get her face in the pavement, dropping in behind her, being sure to pin her legs in the process. He grabs her by the hair, pulling her back taunt, digging his elbow into her spin to keep her in place. Shifting her head to look at the girl she is trying to save.

“Kill her.” A useless order, Sakura’s not one to hurt others. Nose to temple, he inhales her scent. He’s loathe to admit he misses her. But now she’s back where she belongs, where he needs her to be.

“Already so insolent. Hmm, disobedience in a subordinate requires correction. Are you looking for a punishment so soon, Sakura?” He shifts her weight, bringing the Chidori in close enough for the electricity to jump the gap. Sasuke groans as the force of the Chidori rolls through them, diffusing it out from himself in pops. Exhilarated. Intoxicated. Euphoric. He can feel the way Sakura is conducting it away from both him and Karin, trying to circle the force of his lightning chakra through her own pathways. To pull the weight of the hit from the others.

Karin grabs a hold of Sakura’s arm, clinging to her weakly. “He’s not the Sasuke he used to be.”

He’s not. Better. Stronger. More powerful.

“I told you to kill her. So do it, you crybaby. You’d do anything for me, wouldn't you?” Why isn’t Sakura doing what he wants? She always does everything he wants. She loves him. She loves him.

The last of his Chidori fizzles away, much quicker than normal.

Sakura is shaking and crying underneath him. He tugs at her, adjusting her twitching body as he sees fit, pulling her ass higher so he can grind his half-hard cock right against the fabric, preventing him from sinking into her warm heat.

Sakura will always love him.

Right?

He bites down in her ear, a punishment fit for the crime she’s committing only in his head. She is his, to do with what he wants. Sakura’s jutsu picks back up again, swirling through Karin.

“I remember you. Why do I remember you?” Sakura whispers to Karin. She’s not supposed to be talking to her. Paying attention to her. Sakura loves Sasuke. Why is she ignoring him?

He grips her by the neck. Intent on shaking some sense back into her. It doesn’t work, in his anger, he slams her head down, causing her chakra to flicker. He holds her down under him, pressing his weight against her.

The chakra Sakura is circulating through Karin grows, cloaking all three of them. The rush is almost as good as the shock had been. Coating muscles and wounds, even his sharingan feels better with each blink. “When we were looking for Sasuke. You were there.”

“SHUT UP.” Sasuke slams her down again, speaking another wave of Sakura’s chakra through his system. It flickers, and the comeback is less strong than before. The peak high of it lessened. But Sakura is still pushing a good deal of chakra into Karin to save her.

Sakura is supposed to love Sasuke. Not Karin.

He can feel the curse seal chakra pushing at its boundaries, searching for retribution. For revenge. Influencing, encouraging darkest thoughts.

“Sasuke. Sasuke, you’re going to kill her.” Karin’s attempts to forward this are dismissed. He could kill her. Sakura would let him. He knows she would. Killing Naruto, his rival (his best friend), would gain him power. Killing Itachi did give him power. Power he’ll need to bring Konoha to its knees. To destroy it.

How much power would killing Sakura bring? Someone who loves him. Someone who would do anything for him.

He will kill her. Because deep down Sasuke knows that he loves Sakura. Or it’s the closest he can come to loving anything. She is his. She will let him do anything. She loves him.

He can feel the change in himself with the decision. The Sharingan sharper, clearer than it’s ever been. The power seeping through him. He blinks, easily pulling Sakura into a genjutsu just to test his powers.

Sasuke’s not just in Sakura’s mind. He’s in her memories. Flowing past him as if floating on water, controlled by her subconscious. He starts collecting them as they move by. Ones of himself. Of Naruto. (He does not know how much of the two of them he leaves behind for her. Nor does he care.)

“Good.” Sasuke lifts Sakura again, twisting her in his grip. She blinks a few times, like she can’t focus on him.

He takes others too. The events of the chunin exams while Sasuke and Naruto were both unconscious, Sakura giving herself over to the enemy to protect them. One of her getting a sword shoved through her heart. Anything of his lookalike replacement on the team. One of her and Nara Shikamaru fucking, it’s nothing like the rough fucks Sasuke gives her—romantic, loving even. He could gag. A whole block of the events leading up to this moment, everything from the point of her fucking someone else until this point. Where she will die in his hands.

One thought echoes around her mind while he works. ‘Naruto, where is Naruto?’

“Sasuke!” It’s not the high-pitched whining of Karin. It’s deeper, angrier. Enough to pull most of his consciousness back to the real world, leaving enough of the genjutsu for him to continue to rifle through her memories, taking whatever he pleases.

‘Naruto?’

Sasuke lifts her up, higher. He’ll do it this time. He will kill her. He can sense the Chidori before it’s even fully formed. Sakura laughs. once.

“You knew he’d come,” Sakura squirms in his grasp. Trying to deny it. He knows that it’s not Kakashi she was expecting, not with the way ‘Naruto!’ keeps bouncing around her mind. Kakashi cannot save her. He’s not the hero she’s waiting for. One that will be too late to save her.

He should wait to be sure Naruto sees her die by his hand. To see how much he was much too weak to ever stand up to Sasuke. That Naruto could do nothing to stop him, that he has failed his precious friends.

He sits up straighter, pulling Sakura up between himself and Kakashi. A shield. Kakashi would never dare hurt his favorite student. (He’s seen the way Kakashi frets over Sakura—more memories popping up with his appearance. The way he worries over her safety.) Karin loses her grip on Sakura at the motion. Sakura’s arm is bleeding where Karin’s nails had dug in, trying to hang on.

‘Where’s Naruto?’

“Let. Her. Go.” Kakashi demands, like a toddler not getting his way. Poor little lazy, late CopyCat Kakashi. ready to witness the death of Sakura. He’ll be the first to fall to Sasuke’s new powers. The new level of Sharingan unlocked.

“Kakashi, you’re late.” Sasuke tells him as he dips his head down to mouth at Sakura’s neck. One last taste of her. It’s really too bad he won’t get to fuck her one last time.

“Where’s Nartuo?’

“Tell me you hate me. Tell your dearest Kakashi-sensei how much you hate me,” Sasuke mocks in Sakura’s ear.

“I don’t hate you, Sasuke. I love you.” Out loud she sounds out of it, words slow and sloppy. But she’s looking mostly at him when she says it.

Sasuke tsks, with a laugh. “See that, Kakashi? She loves me.”

He catches her line of sight again to try and pull her back under the genjtsu, but it doesn’t work. She’s still lightly under the first round genjutsu. He can feel it. He is still vaguely in her memories, only glimpses now, bits and pieces he can latch onto. But the second layer of genjutsu won’t stick and he finds he can’t lift the original layer.

‘Naruto. Naruto. Naruto?’  Echoing around her head.

Sakura does not love Naruto. Sakura loves Sasuke. Sasuke knows she does. The darkness infecting his thoughts, like a virus, spreading, spreading, spreading.

Sakura is his.

He doesn’t need to kill Sakura. He needs to kill ‘Naruto’. To kill everyone, until it’s just the two of them.

Sasuke and Sakura.

Alone.

Together.

Sasuke drops Sakura right as Kakashi attacks.

Chapter 6

[eggtoasties]

quiet storms

Pairing: Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru

Rating: G. After the Pein invasion, Danzo doesn’t rise to power, No Mass, Canon Divergence, Quiet fondness, Shikaku just wants the best for Shika and that’s Sakura

Summary: She clouds his mind like a quiet fog and in the haze all he sees is her.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38323465

Sakura hears the heavy double doors of the library open and close behind her but doesn’t let it deter her from the frantic search through the mess of files, scrolls, and parchment spread out in front of her. 

Pen in one hand, she quickly shuffles through land deeds, blueprints, and village maps while referring to a large pad of notes.  

With the village still reconstructing after the Pein invasion, the purples of her eyes have deepened and the veins on her eyelids map out weeks of little sleep.

Shikamaru walks to the side of her desk and eyes her current project: moving the Uchiha military police headquarters to a more strategically effective location in the heart of the village while acknowledging that most wanted to maintain a certain distance away from the building. 

Among the various maps and diagrams of the village as it currently is, references to the village before the invasion and mock-ups of what planners hope the village will look like in one, five, and ten years are spread in a haphazard mess along with scrolls and scrap paper, all written in Sakura’s neat writing. But cleverly hidden between mundane documents, classified documents, stamped with the Hokage’s official seal, catch Shikamaru’s sharp eyes. 

Over the course of the spring season, the library of the Hokage tower slowly became Sakura’s office. If she wasn’t in the hospital or by Tsunade’s side, she was sat at the large oak desk where she had learned and practiced medical ninjutsu years and years ago when her hands were unsteady, softer, and emitting a steady glow of green was still a cause for celebration. 

But now, Shikamaru only knows the hard lines of her muscular figure and the vision of her destroying Pein’s massive summons with a single punch. He’s memorized the tempo of her confident stride—measured steps with her shoulders thrown back. He follows the cadence of her voice explaining meticulously researched recommendations day in and day out and floats on the crescendo of her laughter.

For months they were the first to arrive at the tower and the last to leave. Shared time accumulated with brief hellos at the entrance before splitting to their respective divisions at dawn and quiet goodbyes when the village was shadowed in cool blues and grays. Now he’s learned how she takes her tea and she keeps his favorite pens at her desk.

Shikamaru knows his life has been a never ending torment of work  and can’t imagine having to pretend to have decent bedside manner on top of it—a headache, he’s sure. 

“You’re overworking yourself,” he states simply, hands deep in his pockets and tracing the ink stains running through the cracks of her calluses.

She closes her eyes and sighs in response.

“There’s just so much to do.” Sakura wrings her hands together and cradles her forehead.

Rolling his eyes, he clicks his tongue at her, making Sakura bare half her face towards him, raising an incredulous brow.

“Would the great Nara Shikamaru like to share with the class?”

“We’re always going to have a shit load to do,” he says resolutely, walking in circles around her desk. Even though the certainty of it makes his stomach churn. “But even if you stay up all night, you’ll never finish it all,” he says, jerking his chin at the piles of paper in front of her. “At this point, it’s better to take a break.” He stops his pacing and stands directly behind her. 

He places his hands on the back of the wooden chair, thumbs just barely brushing against the fabric of the jounin top she’s wearing and he refuses to meet her eyes when she tilts her head up to look at him.

Keeping her in his periphery and pretending to appraise the rows of bookshelves around them, he finally glances down when she stretches her arms and rests her forehead against a thick manilla envelope. 

“But if I do keep working, that’s less work for tomorrow,” she counters, reaching for her pen.

She squeaks as Shikamaru quickly pulls her seat back, just as her fingers skim the pen, its cap gnarled with teeth marks.

“What are you doing?” she questions accusingly, twisting to press a finger to his chest. 

“This’ll all be here tomorrow and the next day and the next day and—”

“Okay I get it.”

“Eat dinner. Eat dinner and sleep,” he commands, pulling her further away from her desk, grinning at her scowl. 

But Sakura’s shoulders slump in defeat and she slowly stands up, long bangs slipping from the hold of her hair tie.

“I guess you’re right,” she sighs. “Where do you want to eat?” she asks, tidying her notes.

“Oh, I ah, can’t,” Shikamaru mumbles, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Told my mom I’d be back for dinner and she said she’d skin me alive if I were late….again”

“Hell hath no fury like the scorn of a Nara woman,” Sakura says fondly. 

“My dad says that,” Shikamaru says, words lilting into a question. 

Taking the classified documents in between innocuous files and folders, she nonchalantly pushes her desk and channels chakra to her foot, revealing a small hatch, and places the documents into a chakra sealed safe.

“He’s in Tsunade-sama’s office a lot,” she says, while pressing a hand to the intricate seals of the safe. “We chat,” she shrugs.

“Huh,” he says dumbly.

“I’ve probably seen him more often than you have these past few months,” she jokes, grabbing her jacket. “He helps me with strategy and talks about you and your mom a lot.”

Shikamaru’s skin prickles as his mind whirs through all the embarrassing stories his dad could have shared.

“I think he’s scheming something though,” she says absentmindedly and all the hairs on Shikamaru’s arm raise, “but I’m having a tough time figuring it out.”

Shikamaru flags and catalogues every conversation he’s had with his dad in the past three—no, if his dad is involved, 6 months, and analyzes any strange behaviors, recurring topics, and weaves a common thread through it all while running through dead end after dead end until Sakura places a warm hand on his forearm.

“He’s invited me to dinner tonight,” she says warmly, “is that okay with you?”

He blinks and forgets to breathe. He nods.

“Good,” she smiles and weaves her arm in his. “Then we can figure out together.”