EDITED 4/7/2014

Sharingan.

The Uchiha clan's treasured bloodline limit was one of the most powerful techniques of all time. It had been coveted as a prize by hidden villages and countless shinobi from every country and soon he would finally have custody over it. A decade ago his village had almost started a war for a young pair of different eyes. It had been a futile attempt, but there had been neither gain nor loss so it had been far removed from his village's mind.

The sharingan was considered more powerful than the one that belonged to the prestigious Hyuuga clan. There was also only one pair left for every member but one was dead and gone, so that made it even more valuable than it ever had been. However, that particular kekei genkai has caused too much conflict already and so the eyes of the wielder would come to him sealed. It mattered not to him. The value was that he'd have his revenge for the danger and destruction that had been caused.

An agreement between Konohagakure and Kumogakure had been made, and the other villages have all agreed as well, that the brat that carried this near-extinct weapon would be his. As an orphan, no family could make an appeal or influence Konoha to terminate the deal, and even if she did have a family her crimes were too heavy. The village she had once called home did not even attempt to shield her from the awaiting fate. They have become too weary of Uchihas that had been destroying their much-coveted peace over and over, and so they had been eager to pass this problem onto him immediately upon his request.

The brat would be his prisoner. As bargained, he could do whatever he pleased.

Soon.

Chapter 1

With unreadable eyes Sakura came to her with tight, slightly trembling fists. Besides a guard called Nagi no else had visited her cell during the seventeen days of captivity. In the cramped darkness she had only slept or listened to the faint sounds of activity coming from outside the walls. The war had concluded three months prior. Konoha, and the other nations had been rebuilding their homes and were helping each other heal wounds and forget shared nightmares. They had locked her up as she had been one of the main players in several destructive incidents and she was now only waiting for the rest of her punishment to arrive.

With Tsunade barely breathing and thousands dead, wounded or missing, everyone was too busy to deal with one traitor. Today she would learn that the village absolutely refused to deal with her any more than this and that they were ready to release her from their responsibility.

Though half-bathed in shadow Sakura's eyes told her the depths of her weariness. With the greasy hair and weak, dragging steps and slightly slouched back, Sakura looked so much older than sixteen. As a medic she was frequentlys engaged in some chakra-draining activity so her appearance was actually of no surprise. They made no effort to begin any small talk, and no friendly or comforting smiles were going to be offered to each other. In the first minute the pink-haired female watched Sasuke's eyes, probably making sure that they weren't sightless.

"Tomorrow," Sakura began with some hesitance, "a group will escort you to Kumogakure."

Beneath the weary, monotonous voice Sasuke heard her ex-teammate's disagreement and she understood what Sakura did not say. They had been teammates for less than a year, and a large gap of time and physical separation had come between them after that brief experience together, yet somehow she understood the other girl quite well.

Konoha's council was getting rid of her. Sakura, despite her feelings (whatever little of the sort-of friendship that was still surviving) could do nothing because she, too, understood many things. The village must come first. Always. Any selfishness was frowned upon and had no place at all especially at this crucial time of recuperation.

There was now some semblance of peace, and to keep it agreements had been made by those in charge. She was renounced by the village as she had done to it when she was twelve years old. Her youth did not lighten her sins in anyone's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Sasuke." Three years ago she had left this girl with those same words of parting, and now it was being thrown back at her. She almost smiled, because there was nothing for her to properly respond with. There was something in the air that made it seem like the conversation was reaching a conclusion although with so much between them were still unsaid and their relationship greatly undefined.

"I know," She answered just as Sakura began to turn away, so it would split the silence even momentarily. She had to say something so that she could leave this person with a memory of her voice and not just a face that was as empty as the physical and metaphorical space between them. Saying goodbye, though, seemed unfitting…

…because Sakura could not handle another one, while she did not deserve one.