Part 1 of the sequel to A Number of Complications. When he left to pursue power, she was left to fight off the growing hole that he left behind. Ten years have passed since Konoha Gakuen. Uchiha Sasuke is intent on exacting his revenge while Haruno Sakura is intent on getting him back. There must be a number of reasons why he became hatred itself and also a number of reasons why she just wasn't the same. For the both of them, the pain became their strength.
Artist for this sequel: Phoenix
Song for this chapter: Lisztomania (the title of the chapter is derived from a words in the lyrics of the song, as well as the theme; maybe you can guess what happens if you listen carefully)
You can listen to the song during or after you read this.
A Number of Reasons
Uchiha Sasuke x Haruno Sakura
Rated M
The First Reasons
Chapter One
His Fortune, Her Sentiments
"Sakura… always remember… do b-better."
Do better.
Better than who? Than what?
"I love you."
Fading eyes turned to another woman whose grip around that weak, left hand was so strong anyone with eyes feared that it would break.
"So lovely… as lovely as the day I met you. Lovelier now more than…" A cough. "Ever."
"Shut up," the blonde woman choked out. "Stop talking. I can still make you better."
She was saying this while the curtains closed and numerous machines hummed to life. He was slowly closing his eyes as the anesthetics took over, lulling him to a dreamless sleep.
"I'm sure you will. You always have," he murmured. "You make everything better. You… and Sakura… and our daughter…"
"I love you, Tsuna. I… love you m-more than… life itself."
Sakura felt her fingers move on its own as hours passed, feeling puppet strings take over as she methodically tried to save the life of someone who believed in her… who loved her. Someone who never left her.
Her eyes briefly took note of the way her grandmother led them – her and an army of doctors and nurses. She was trying her best to stay as calm and rational as possible. Everything was a blur as vitals were said. Tools whose names she memorized since the day she started medical training were ordered without preamble. The skin of the man she grew up recognizing as her father, even though he was not, was cut up to gain access to the parts that needed to be repaired.
She wanted to stay calm. She needed to. She removed her heart from the situation. She hated the way he was so pale. He was life to her.
But he just kept on bleeding.
The blood wouldn't stop.
Her throat suddenly stung. She wanted to scream. But bile blocked the passageway. No sound came out. But she wanted to. She ached for a release from this pain.
"Damn it! Don't die!" she heard someone bark. She instantly went cold. For someone as collected as her grandmother, known to all as the most brilliant medical mind in the country, to be alarmed was not a good sign.
The monitor screamed for her, signaling the end.
Her grandmother screamed for her.
"JIRAIYA!"
"DON'T DIE!"
Haruno Sakura, aged 26, woke up screaming.
The sound of gunfire roared in the still background. Again, she was awakened by the sound of the television which she always left open whenever she slept all because she didn't like the silence. She didn't like to be reminded that she was essentially alone.
What a bad way to wake up. She decided to stop at a television channel where someone from their programming chose to air an action movie when everyone was too asleep to even care.
This wasn't the first time this happened. Nightmares come and go, but they never stopped. Two years had passed since her grandfather, Jiraiya, died. Cause of death? Heart failure. That was the official record. But what people didn't know was that the cause of that failure was seven gunshot wounds, two of which found its way into his lungs, the resulting damage drowning him in his own blood and ultimately overwhelming his heart.
Not even the presence of two of the world's most renowned doctors could save him – his wife and his granddaughter.
And to this day, no one knew who fired the shots.
Sakura took three steadying, deep breaths as she scrunched her eyes closed. Slowly, she opened them after a few minutes, mentally reacquainting herself with her surroundings. The room was just as spacious as ever, the blinking red digits indicating that for the seventh time in the past two weeks, she woke up two hours before any normal person should be awake.
She sighed. She knew that there was no use going back to bed. After experiencing this plenty of times, she knew the futility of trying to go back to sleep. She'd just be too restless. Or if she falls back to sleep, the nightmares might visit her again.
Running her fingers through her silky, pink tresses, she got up and took one of the robes that hung in the adjoining dressing room. Really, her room was ridiculously large. She almost destroyed the remote by pressing the off button a little too hard. The silence rang cruelly in her ear. She stopped for a moment before quickly plugging on her earphones and starting up a more or less cheerful tune to drown out the quiet.
She felt more and more alone as she walked outside of her bedroom, taking quite a while before reaching the wing's nearest kitchen where she could fix herself a cup of coffee, hopefully not disturbing the help. She might cause another ruckus if they found out that the mistress of the house had been wandering the halls at night fixing her own food or drink without asking for them.
Sometimes the term "ridiculously rich" should have the word "ridiculous" emphasized to the extreme.
Because even with the vast riches, the huge estate and house, dozens of helpers, and a personal assistant to boot, Haruno Sakura had always felt alone the past two years. And the irony of her situation was that, despite being surrounded by people who would do everything for her and would wait on her every second of every day, she felt that she was the only one in the world that existed and nothing could ease that taunting void.
Without the boosting and positive presence of his grandfather, the Senju household all but died.
Her grandmother, Tsunade, stopped being a doctor altogether, handing the reins of the entire Senju fortune and all of its holdings to Sakura. She disappeared after her husband's funeral, too broken and too afraid of blood to even continue her profession. The once mighty Senju matriarch almost gave up on life, if it weren't for her granddaughter. Currently, Sakura had no definite idea where the woman was. Tsunade had spent the past two years traveling the world, racking up a substantial amount of gambling and drinking expenditures that were fortunately covered by her own personal accounts.
In this regard, the board of directors were relieved that Tsunade had inherited a ton of money through the previous Senju generations. Luckier still, Sakura had managed to separate the company's money from her grandmother's, expanding their reach to a multinational medical conglomerate in the little time given to her. She was a genius in every aspect – hardworking and talented.
All of these achieved with a single-minded and passionate drive to succeed in everything she did. Because of this, she had effectively earned the respect of the Senju elders, the board, and everyone in Konoha's high society.
What they didn't know was that her motivation to do better each and every time she put her mind into something was because of her grandfather's dying wish.
And also to do better than him.
"If you leave, it would be very, very lonely for me…"
To somehow catch up to him and be someone worthy to be standing beside him. To someday have the power to get him back and ask him why. Why did he have to leave? Why wasn't she enough? Why would he choose a life of revenge and hatred rather than love and peace?
"If you stay, I promise to make everyday happy. I'll even help you with your revenge."
Her grandfather taught her never to give up. To never let go of a love you know that you deserve to have. To fight for the truth of what you feel to the very end.
"Stay, Sasuke-kun. I love you so much!"
Uchiha Sasuke.
The man who destroyed her heart.
Black eyes surveyed the view from a tastefully designed office. Rain poured ceaselessly down for days now but for some reason, not a hint of flooding could be seen in the streets below. The man sitting on the most powerful chair of Taka Enterprises – the most powerful seat in Otogakure – stared unblinkingly at nothing. He was always in deep thought.
He loved the silence. He reveled in it. He would rather spend his time alone than listen to the stupidity of other people. He accomplished everything on his own anyway. Rarely could anyone match the standards that he set. Only he had the energy and drive to reach his vision.
Unfortunately for him, silence would not be granted to him tonight.
The door opened from behind him. He closed his eyes briefly in annoyance. Only one person had the audacity of barging into his office without so much as a knock or an appointment.
His wife.
He swiveled his chair and looked at the fiery young woman who hastily threw a stack of papers with a dull thud on his table.
He almost raised his eyebrows.
"You're late," he said.
Uchiha-Uzumaki Karin adjusted her glasses and almost plopped ungracefully down a chair she pulled for herself. "Ah, anata. Always the soul of affection and politeness."
Sasuke said nothing and merely stared.
"What?" Karin hissed. "You have nothing to say to me?"
The silence from the man answered her question.
She rolled her crimson eyes. "After being married to you for three years, I almost thought that you have something to say to me. After what? Successfully stealing all of my assets and shares in every goddamn company on this planet!"
The lack of response and remorse only made the former princess of Konohagakure more furious. She wanted to smash something against that stoic face. He looked so shameless after she just found out earlier today that all that was left to her was the settlement that he would give once the proceedings were over. Her house, her shares in his company, her investments in various trades in Oto, Konoha, Kiri, and other smaller countries were all transferred to his name. She didn't know what happened but all she knew was that she had to rush over to wherever the hell her husband was. If she had to literally break open his head to give back what was rightfully hers, she would. And more.
"I gave up everything for you!" she venomously spat, standing abruptly. "You said you and that sick bastard Orochimaru had a way out! I gave up my title and gave you everything that I have so that you can take me away from that wretched place!"
"I did," he finally spoke. "I gave you a home outside of Konoha. Away from the people who expected too much of you. A way to escape that man you said you loved."
Karin stilled. He always mentioned Her former lover whenever things get a little rocky between them. If she knew that everything would turn out this way, she would have married Suigetsu and played the dutiful wife until the day she died. She would have been happier with that arrangement. She knew that she loved Sui and he loved her back. But things changed and Karin suddenly wanted power. And she wanted to prove herself. And oh, was she tempted by the power Uchiha Sasuke exuded. And for a while, she thought she could love him. But it was just infatuation. Just admiration. Just her, being drawn to that dark flame that seemed to burn forever with sinister purpose.
She gripped the edge of his table. "And instead of keeping your promise, here we are about to be divorced, with me not getting what I gave in the first place to this sham of a marriage!"
"It's not my fault that you were too distraught over Suigetsu that you never bothered to read the contract," Sasuke deadpanned.
He was right. After reneging on her betrothal to Suigetsu because she said 'she wanted more time to do the things she wants to do', her former fiancé left and never looked back. He couldn't wait because Karin promised to be with him. But she lied. And now, he was part of an ancient military order in Kirigakure that forsook all worldly attachments, including marriage.
But despite the stabbing pain she felt at Sasuke's uncaring words, Karin wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Fuck you, Uchiha," Karin retorted. "Give the money back. It's rightfully mine. You don't need it. You already have everything."
Sasuke chose not to hear her. "You will never be poor with the amount of money I will give you out of this divorce."
"That pittance is nothing compared to what I had before I married you!" Karin screamed. If it weren't raining, the entire building would have heard her. "Give it back, Uchiha!" She felt like a helpless child once again – the princess who was sheltered and pitied because of her precarious status. Wretched tears came unbidden and started streaming down her face. "At… at least give me back my house. My h-home… Father gave it to me before h-he…"
"You should have given me a son first."
The cold reply from Sasuke prompted Karin to hurl her purse at him. He calmly dodged it and let it slam against the glass windows.
He watched as violent tremors overtook his soon-to-be ex-wife's frame. He didn't feel anything for what he said was true. The only reason he was divorcing Karin was that she couldn't provide him with an heir to his self-built empire. He needed an heir.
Especially now that Itachi had two.
Unfortunately, Karin had inherited her mother's frail constitution. But compared to her daughter, Konan was still able to bear one child before she was told that she couldn't anymore. Karin could not at all. Not now, not ever. And that was Sasuke's mistake. He should never have believed Orochimaru when he proposed to the young Uchiha that annulling the betrothal contract between Uzumaki Karin and Suigetsu, a low-ranking noble from another country, and taking the princess as his own bride would get him the right amount of influence he needed when he returned to Konoha. He should have thought of the minor succession crisis that once plagued his country when Nagato, the emperor, didn't have any male children. So the crown had to pass to the only male heir of the next generation – his nephew, who was the son of his sister.
Another person from Sasuke's past.
Eventually, he realized that this influence that Karin brought for a time would have no use to him if he didn't have anyone to continue the legacy he worked so hard to achieve. If Karin died before him, his grasp to power would weaken without anyone from the Uzumaki bloodline to continue it. His own clan should be built to defeat Itachi and his family. Sasuke's only goal in life is to show his parents, his brother, and Uchiha Madara that he should not have been deprived. He should not have been left in the dark. He should have gotten what was rightfully his.
He didn't need them anymore. He had his own power. His own riches. He could even match theirs in the little time that he had been given and it was still growing. He was known all over the world and the media were having a field day over him. He was hailed as the "most promising CEO of the time". But one thing was obviously missing in his life, as many had pointed out, especially by his mentor, Orochimaru. He failed to acquire the proper wife for his needs.
"I will get everything back, Sasuke," Karin whispered. Sasuke almost forgot that she was there when he retreated to his thoughts. Maybe because at the thought of the word 'wife', a flash of pink and emerald made its way through his treacherous brain.
"Mark my words." And with that, the woman left, slamming the door behind her.
"Hn." Sasuke knew that her threats were usless, no matter what she did. Karin already gave up her position when she married him. The same goes for her cousin, Namikaze-Uzumaki Haruko, Itachi's wife. When the Uchiha leadership was forced on his older brother, he had to revoke his initial decision of joining the Uzumaki household so that Haruko could keep her title. Haruko, who was so devoted with Itachi, was glad to return the favor. She willingly relinquished the Uzumaki name and became the new lady of the Uchiha clan.
The same went for Karin when Sasuke promised her a way out. Now, she could revert back to being an Uzumaki, but she would never regain her title. The laws of Konoha made sure of that. Divorce was never an option for a member of the royal family, even amongst its most senior members. Not unless Naruto, the idiot, decided to take pity on his cousin and give her some semblance of the dignity that she lost to Sasuke.
He took the divorce papers that Karin left and opened them, methodically signing one after the other.
Maybe it was time to go back.
Now was the perfect time. Now that Karin was gone, maybe it was time to revisit an even older contract made when he was a teenager.
He knew that even though he had effectively nullified it when he left, it could still be valid since the other party had kept faith on their end. And now that he was about to be available once again, maybe he could find a way to make it happen.
He knew where she was and what she was doing. She was light years better than Uzumaki Karin and marrying her would make him achieve his goal of being the most powerful man in the world. She didn't have a title, but she was at the head of one of the most influential clans on the planet. Given the work that she had been doing during the past years, he knew she was his equal in every single way. He had been closely monitoring her progress because he just needed to know about her. He was his secret addiction, even though the thirst for power momentarily averted his focus from her.
Sasuke knew that he had a penchant for making the right decisions ever since he left Konoha. One of those correct moves was that he left her all those years ago. The pain served her well. The despair made her grow and blossom into a steely maiden worthy of the Uchiha name.
Such was Uchiha Sasuke's twisted way of thinking. He had changed alright.
He could finally destroy the Uchiha. And out of the ashes, he would be the one to rebuild it all.
He knew that with his abrupt departure all those years ago, it may take some time for him to get her back. She might distrust him completely. She might be angry. She might be anything at the moment. He could not safely say with Sakura. She wasn't safe for him. She destroyed all his expectations. But he didn't care. He always got what he wanted in the end.
That made her more desirable. She was a woman now. His woman.
The intercom buzzed to life as his assistant spoke, "Are the papers ready for me to get, Sasuke-dono?"
"Yes," he replied. "Find something for me."
"What is it, sir?"
"My betrothal papers to Haruno Sakura."
1… 2…3…
100… 101… 102…
1000…
Shannaro! It's not working!
Meditating usually calmed her down after a hard day's work. She attended various meetings the entire day and as someone who loved her true profession, she preferred to be stuck in an operating room rather than face even one administrative task. But being the CEO of the Senju Medical Group and Senju Pharmaceuticals, as well as being the Chief Medic of the Konoha Medical Center, she had no choice but to do what she had to do to keep everything afloat.
She sighed and got up, opting instead to turn to the punching bag suspended a few meters away from her mat. For some reason, meditating never cleared her head lately. Again, the silence drowned her, even though her psychiatrist advised her to take a time away from all the noise and just immerse herself in peace so that she could feel a little bit better. But she never felt better. She was a big bundle of energy always ready to explode. She could never calm herself down.
Sakura's fists clenched as she suddenly started pummeling the poor piece of equipment. Inheriting her grandmother's martial arts skills and her natural strength, the pinkette trained herself in hand-to-hand combat over the years. She refused to be helpless, especially because someone as influential as she was a subject for many threats and kidnappings.
Whatever happened to her, she wanted to go down fighting. She wasn't weak anymore. She wouldn't cry helplessly. She would protect the people she loved in any way she can.
Part of that promise was to protect herself as well.
"Excuse me, Sakura-sama," a voice interrupted her thoughts.
Sakura stopped and turned around.
Her assistant, a woman named Shizune, bowed and extended her hand, which was holding a letter. Sakura took it and examined it. It was a pristine white envelope with her name embossed in an elegant script at the back. She assumed it was an invitation to another high society gathering. There had been a few of those in recent years and she never failed to attend. And it was only because since she became the head of the Senju clan, she needed her family to be represented well.
It was also a means to deter the elders' continuous pestering of her to find a match amongst the suitable bachelors in her circle. With her attending every function, it would seem that she was trying to find her own match and was always keeping constant contact with relevant people. She also pretended to date once in a while to keep them from breathing down her neck.
Her failed engagement to Uchiha Sasuke all those years ago and the resulting abstinence from any serious relationships led many people to believe that Sakura was very much in love with the younger Uchiha heir. Even with Fugaku and Mikoto's attempts to remedy the situation and try to salvage the friendship they had re-established with the Senju, Tsunade and Jiraiya were furious that the contract was dissolved because of Sasuke's abrupt departure. No one knew where he went, according to his parents. Tsunade did not believe a word they said. With the network that the Uchiha had, it was impossible not to know where someone was if they set their minds to it.
And it was laughable that Sasuke's parents couldn't find a trace of him anywhere in the world. Tsunade was sure that they knew, they just wouldn't give him up because according to her, Sasuke was a 'spoiled brat who needed to throw a temper tantrum to get his way and his parents are letting him.'
And it didn't even take a year before they all knew where he was and exactly what he was doing.
Apparently, a shadowy organization named the Akatsuki, whose origins stemmed back to a newly established Otogakure, started funding the business ventures of a certain young man who was apparently a genius in acquisitions and finance. As time went on, this person would focus all his energies to acquiring smaller companies piece by piece, tearing them apart and rebuilding them with efficiency.
But what his latest venture was what started turning heads. The conglomerate, known all over the world as Taka, began making feats in science and technology that was unparalleled. It seemed that the Uchiha Sasuke acquired the talents of an obscure genius that was infamous of having no holds barred when it comes to experimentation. All in the pursuit of knowledge.
And this man was Orochimaru, her grandparents' long lost friend.
Now, as the Chief Technological Officer of Sasuke's empire, Orochimaru purportedly was given free rein as long as he kept Taka on top. And that, the scientist did.
And now Sasuke was in the front page of almost every business magazine and newspaper, much to Sakura's chagrin. But even with the pain that she felt, she couldn't help but look and absorb all the information available about him. She knew deep inside of her that she could never, not in her lifetime, fall out of love with this man.
For the longest time since he disappeared from her life, she felt that she would never get out of the hole that Sasuke had unceremoniously dug into her life. She wasn't the same. She moved and lived almost like a machine – doing things by schedules, by routine – just so that she could have a semblance of purpose. It was when her grandfather died that everything came into perspective for her. She suddenly knew what she had to do.
She remembered yesterday, when she saw a picture of him (in a women's magazine, no less!) getting out of a sleek, black car. He looked as elegant and handsome as he was ten years ago. If possible, he even grew better looking than she could remember. But there was none of that smirk and hidden mischief that only Sakura had the privilege of knowing. No. This Sasuke, if his picture could move, seemed to exude power and poised masculinity. In her mind, she recalled the way his crisp, black suit hugged his tall frame. From the photo, she could more or less estimate his height and his build. His eyes conveyed a sense of single-mindedness that melted the world around him. He obviously paid no attention to the paparazzo that took this photo.
He was too immersed in where he was going and what he should do that his entire expression took on a certain hardness to it that she had never seen before. He looked almost unrecognizable. Almost… dangerous.
Even when she should feel loathing and even a semblance of disappointment towards the man, she couldn't. She knew that there had to be a reason. Nothing was done without any purpose. She knew better.
She wondered if he was happy with what he had achieved. If this was everything that he wanted in reality. If he even knew the pain he had left in his wake. Despite the falling out between their clans, Sakura still kept constant contact with Sasuke's family. She was a close friend through and through. She loved Fugaku, Mikoto, Itachi, Haruko, and even Sai. She would visit them on a weekly basis and would sometimes go on shopping trips with Mikoto just to ease the woman's mind. She knew how Sasuke's departure destroyed his family even though he didn't know it.
She shook her head, willing the negative turn her thoughts were leading away. She was so stupid for even thinking about him right now. She was Haruno Sakura, for crying out loud! What Sasuke achieved, she also got. She shouldn't feel any form of insecurity because of him and he wasn't the only reason she pushed hard to succeed.
At the very least, compared to him, she didn't give up the people she loved and her very soul and integrity just to get what she wanted. If she had to beat some sense into him, she would. Right now just wasn't the time. Not now when she was in the middle of something so important for the fate of the company she worked tirelessly to build. She was in a pivotal point and she couldn't afford any distractions.
"W-what's happening here?"
Sakura's hand shook a bit at the unbidden memory as she thanked Shizune and opened the letter.
"What's going on with you, Sasuke? You know that you can tell me anything. Aren't we… aren't we in love? Aren't I your fiancée?"
"I'm not in love with you. It was all a mistake."
Sakura gritted her teeth. It was getting quiet again without the sound of her fists and legs hitting the bag.
She read the letter.
"You really are annoying…"
She was being invited to a gala that honored the brightest rising CEOs of the world, and it was being held in Konoha. Apparently, she was the awardee in the field of Medicine.
Look, Sasuke-kun. The girl you thought who was so annoying is finally getting recognition from the most esteemed body on the face of the planet. Who knew, huh?
But her thoughts were interrupted by his voice – one that she fantasized to be deeper, more mature… the voice that she fantasized that would belong to the 26-year-old Sasuke in the photo that she had seen. And he was saying the last words that he ever said to her before he had gone.
"Thank you."
The words wouldn't stop coming. His voice wouldn't stop. And before Sakura could crack, she turned on the speakers inside her personal gym and sounds sprang to life.
So sentimental,
Not sentimental, no,
Romantic, not disgusting yet,
Darling, I'm…
"Down and lonely…" Sakura sang, pursing her lips as she laid a powerful punch that blew the bag away.
She mentally made a note that she would go shopping tomorrow to find a dress for the event. She only wished that she still had Ino to find the proper outfit with. But with her best friend who was now the most important woman in the country of Sunagakure, unscheduled shopping trips in another country would be hard to set.
Slowly discouraged… distant from other interests.
Again, she would have to do it alone.
"Are you sure, Sasuke-kun?"
Orochimaru's raspy voice always annoyed him but right now, Sasuke didn't mind. He was more focused on ticking his mental checklist of things he had to do before leaving Oto.
"Hn," that verbal habit of his of saying nothing yet everything at the same time had Orochimaru grinning. He had gone especially soft for this young man who he considered as his protégé. No one was willing to give the old scientist a chance until Sasuke came along and changed his life. Now, he was content to be a means for the Uchiha's wind to blow in whichever direction he chose.
"I'm sure your parents would be happy to see you again." The statement was said almost mockingly. Sasuke stared at the older man with hard eyes.
"Gomen, gomen," Orochimaru said unapologetically. "I'm just trying to picture the situation. What a bittersweet reunion it would be."
"I didn't take you to be a sentimental fool."
"Ah, age does a number on any human. I hate mortality."
Sasuke's lips thinned. He didn't particularly care for any of Orochimaru's whimsical statements right now. The plan was already set and would be in motion any moment now. All sentiments that he held if and when he was reunited with his family were the last things on his mind. The primary goal now to reestablish his hold on Konoha was her.
And it seemed that his shrewd companion read the direction of his thoughts.
"Did you find the contract?" he asked, hoping that he would get an answer this time.
"Yes," Sasuke replied.
"And it's still valid?"
"Yes. I made sure of it."
Orochimaru chuckled. "And you're confident that she would accept?"
"She has no choice in this."
"What about Tsunade?"
Sasuke frowned. "She's been gone for two years. She won't come back any time soon. I think you made sure of that."
"Heh," Orochimaru said. "People come back unexpectedly."
The meaning of the statement wasn't lost to Sasuke. His mentor was talking about him in particular.
"She's too… bereaved to go back to Konoha," Sasuke stated. "Now's the right time to go back to Konoha."
The other man's snake-like eyes glittered with amusement. "As you have said. I won't go against this decision. I know you are ready to face your family. I just hope that you are ready to face Sakura-chan."
The familiarity in which Orochimaru addressed Sakura made Sasuke clench his teeth involuntarily. "This is none of your concern."
"On the contrary, Sasuke-kun. I have spent ten years stomping out any form of weakness out of you for you to achieve your goal. I would hate to see all that time unravel because of a pretty girl," Orochimaru stated. "Unless… you mean to do to her what you did to Karin."
"Take her company for my own?" Sasuke asked, smirking. "You know I can easily do that. But I don't have to divorce her if she can give me a son."
"Ah. An heir. Yes."
"And you know we got delayed in that aspect because you forced Karin on me."
Orochimaru sighed almost too dramatically. "The fault is mine. I failed to take into account the faulty gene in Uzumaki Karin borne out of generations of inbreeding amongst the royal families in the world. The infertility… tsk. What a pity. She was such a fine match."
"Hn." He wouldn't even have to stick his hands in mud and try to get Sakura to marry him if the original plan with Karin worked. He didn't like to beg so he wouldn't let her have the satisfaction.
"But seeing it now, Karin is not a fine a gem as Sakura-chan. The spoiled princess just didn't have it in her to make it on her own. She just had to find someone to cling to for her to get power. Unlike Sakura-chan. She has such a bright, young mind. I must say, I am biased. Inclined towards Sakura-chan, to be more specific. I value intelligence more than inherited power because it can be cultivated and sustained. Intelligence has more potential for growth and is a worthier investment. And to have a wife like her that possesses riches, influence, and intellect would make your business grow exponentially. Medicine equates well with the path that you have chosen."
"I know you will agree with this decision," Sasuke flatly said. "You're quite talkative today."
Orochimaru nodded. "Not that my opinions matter in this aspect to you, Sasuke-kun. I know you've set your mind on Tsunade's granddaughter long before I met you. You just never had the time to mention her to me and I would have pushed you to marry her instead of Karin."
Sasuke did not respond to that. He knew that the real reason why he never pursued Sakura before was out of guilt. And he also knew that her grandparents would never accept him and he simply did not have the energy to fight that battle at that time. Grotesquely, time and patience worked in his favor. Sakura's grandfather died, leaving Tsunade a grieving mess. The former Senju matriarch left, putting Sakura in a vulnerable position – open to predators looking for powerful matches to expand their respective empires.
"You just had to go back to get her. And it seems that she has held the torch for you long enough… waiting for you to return. She loves you so, Sasuke-kun."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Sasuke abruptly spat, fists clenching.
"But I do. Whether you like it or not, I know you better than anyone right now."
Sasuke stood up and looked outside his window again. "Do you have anything more of substance to say? If there's nothing else, then you can go. I'll contact you once I arrive at Konoha tomorrow and while I am not here, you are in charge. Do not fail me."
Orochimaru almost laughed. "You wound me, dear boy. Since when has the mentor become the mentee? I resent being threatened."
"But you have to be."
"Good luck with your mission, Sasuke-kun. Let's just hope that Sakura-chan successfully bears you a son. Or else, this would be all for naught."
"I'm sure she's capable enough. Karin was a special, disappointing case," Sasuke said.
"Does it have to be a son, though?" Orochimaru wondered aloud as he stood up to leave. "I'm pretty certain that potential doesn't choose genders. Don't tell me you're still following the Uchiha way even after renouncing that clan repeatedly over the years."
If lightning fell from the sky right now, Sasuke wanted it so badly to hit the smug bastard in front of him right now.
"Again, this is none of your business," he ground out.
"Maybe," the older man turned and made his way to the door. But before he could open it, he threw a dismissive glance at Sasuke before continuing, "Oh, but you must remember, no son has ever been born to the Senju clan since Nawaki, and he died of a mysterious illness when he was barely eight. And even before that, the Senju were almost always led by a woman. But then again, that particular family didn't care about gender when it comes to choosing an heir. Maybe the Uchiha could learn a thing or two from them about choosing successors."
The door opened and closed, leaving Sasuke fuming. With Orochimaru's statement, the threat that was supposedly hung over his head earlier in their conversation now hung over Sasuke's.
Hello dear readers! Finally, the first sequel to A Number of Complications. This is the sequel to Sasuke and Sakura's love story and the first thing I wrote after more than three years. So if you've just stumbled across this fic, please check out the prequel in my profile. True to previous forms, I've incorporated songs that inspired me to write the story of the sequels while staying as close as possible to my previous intentions of where this fic was going to end up.
And yes, I deeply apologize for the long wait. I'm the type of person who goes on hiatus for years. Mainly because life caught up with me, I was uninspired even with the recent manga milestones of all my favorite couples becoming canon over the years (NaruHina, SasuSaku, IchiHime, GrUvia, etc.).
Hopefully, the past three years have improved my writing. I can't believe that I'm now almost of the same age as the characters I'm now writing (wink, wink). I started writing ANoC when I was 21 and in the depths of clinical depression. Now, years later, I'm very happy with life and have extensively traveled. Writing and editing are now my profession, so I also wish that my writing structure and the way I plan out my stories have improved in your view. But it's too early to judge at this moment.
Now, fear not. Due to a recent illness that rendered me motionless for a few days (that may seem unlucky for me, but for the readers, this occurrence became almost like a blessing from the writing muses), I was so bored to the point that I revisited the plot of all of my old fan fics and started rebuilding them in my head and on paper. I suddenly became hyperactively inspired. As to what had me on bed rest, I have bone problems that cause severe back, shoulder and joint pains. It's a bit hard to type right now but meh, I'll manage.
I actually forgot about my stories and had to re-read all of them, especially this rollercoaster ride known as ANoC. I even sighed and cringed at the various plot holes and inconsistencies that I have made, but it's too late to cry over spilled milk. A thousand reviews in and three years later is a bit too late to complain. But hopefully, I'll able to rectify the situation with these sequels.
So, I'll finish A Number of Reasons first before moving on to the other sequels. The story is finished in my mind and I know where all of this is going and how it will interconnect with the other sequels. There will be little to almost no appearance from the other pairings from ANoC (KibaIno, NaruHina, and NejiTen), mainly because most of them have moved out of the Konoha circle as stated in the ANoC.
Again, I cannot thank you all enough for the continuous faith and patience. The numerous private messages I have received here on is proof that I still have a following and that Naruto has remained strong inside all of us.
To close, in these times of darkness where real manifestations of Madaras and Kaguyas walk this earth as leaders of different nations too drunk in their own glory and power, let us not forget that the alliance of the many defeated the twisted visions of the few.