note: what a cliche...
.
He wiggles his fingers, his arm is bound to his form by a sling. The movement causes Sasuke to narrow his gaze – his arm does not hurt. He is not in pain.
"Same thing happens when I do that do my leg," Naruto remarks whilst lying on his bed. He right leg is elevated, a hard cast wraps around it. The blond wiggles his toes to demonstrate his statement. He winces from the slight pain.
An hour later, a doctor strides into the shared room of both boys. 'The world saviours' they had been called – or at least, Naruto was.
"You've done this village, no, this world a truly great service," the doctor gushes, standing at the end of Naruto's bed.
The blond smiles, "thanks old man".
There was a war – that much Sasuke can remember.
He wouldn't be in Konoha if not for that circumstance. His condition as of now allows him no other choice. Naruto's enthusiasm reminds him that the blond's desire had to appear, at least to him, coming true before his very eyes.
He had gotten his best friend back.
Naruto's chatter is endless, "so doctor, how long do me and the bastard need to stay here?"
The doctor's eyes briefly flick over towards Sasuke. There is no warmth in that gaze, not until it returns to Naruto, "we'll need to observe you overnight".
Naruto pouts, "aw dammit".
.
.
Kakashi visits them the next day. He comes baring no tangible gifts; merely a chuckle and a nod is what he brings. Naruto waves over the older man, ready to begin divulging the final days of the war that their old sensei had apparently not been around for.
Sasuke remains silent in his bed. He has remained silent for a while now. What feels like weeks, and months, have only been two days.
Half an hour in, and Kakashi notices the lack of involvement, "Sasuke, you're being unusually quiet".
Said Uchiha's response is cut off when Naruto decides to interject with a snort, "did you forget, Kakashi-sensei? The bastards always like that".
"Not always," Kakashi shrugs.
With this, Sasuke turns on his side, and mumbles something about needing to get some rest. His back faces them, Sasuke drowns out the sounds of Naruto's complaints.
.
.
He does not remember his dream. There are no images – but he can remember a sound; a voice.
The soft voice of a girl, or woman. She sounds so very familiar. But unfortunately, Sasuke cannot remember what it is that she said.
.
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They are to be discharged from the hospital this afternoon. Naruto is practically bounding in his bed with excitement. "Finally," he wiggles whilst still wearing a cast around his leg that limits him so.
Sasuke feels no better, but he also feels no worse. Which to him is expected because he'd not felt any issue the first day when he'd woke up and found himself wrapped in several bandages.
The doctors had not believed him when he'd told them of his lack of pain."Its just the medication, you still need to remain in the hospital for observation," they had said. Whatever fight normally had resided in his spirit gave way at that moment. He had stayed until they told him he is ready.
"Bet you're excited to leave as well, huh bastard," Naruto gushes.
He is excited, though his countenance says otherwise.
"Oi, Sasuke. Say something," urges the blond.
Sasuke turns to his friend, "yea...yea I'm happy".
Naruto softens his expression. He gently nudges Sasuke with his shoulder, "hey, man. I..." he pauses, "I know this is a little weird for you. Being back in Konoha and all..."
Of course it is weird – he is still ranked a criminal, despite his actions during the war. His words against Konoha, his declarations against the shinobi world, so far he'd been sheathed under the guise of recovery – but that doctor's cold expression told Sasuke all he needed to know.
There will be consequences for his actions soon enough. If he were smart, he'd leave before then.
"So we're out of there now, I was thinking we should head to–"
"Naruto," Sasuke interjects, "I'm going to head home".
The blond blinks, "oh, okay...I thought–"
"I'm tired," Sasuke continues.
"Yea but," the grin of Naruto's is nothing but forced, "we've been resting in the hospital this whole time and like...aren't you dying to just, you know, not do that".
Sasuke tries not grin; some things never change. "I'll see you tomorrow," Sasuke replies.
Naruto scratches the back of his head, and nods. "Oh really, you're no fun".
.
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His side of town is quiet tonight. No sounds of a television, no fighting couple, not even a bird can be heard through the non-existent wind. But this is normal, it is usually this quiet.
Probably.
"I thought Naruto would put up more of a fight trying to get you to Ichiraku's".
the voice is calm, and welcoming, and familiar. Sasuke looks up, to the pole of power line that runs above him. "Hello Kakashi," he remarks blankly.
The copy-ninja flickers with a blink, and is beside the younger man within a second, "heading home?" he asks.
Sasuke nods.
"Are you going to be staying home?" continues the older man.
The last Uchiha is caught between whether to smirk, or scowl. He should have figured that Kakashi would be able to predict his intention before they run its course.
In a split second decision, Sasuke decides to feign ignorance, "I don't know what you're talking about?"
"Yes you do," the older man replies, "you're planning to leave the village".
Playing the fool is not a route to take; Sasuke clenches his jaw, "Do you blame me?"
"Its what I'd do".
"Good, so we've come to an accord".
The jonin stretches his neck, "not quite," he says. Taking two steps, he faces the older man. Kakashi exhales, letting his shoulders relax, "you don't need to leave the village".
"No, but I choose to".
"Yes, I can see that," Kakashi scratches the back of his head, "but you've only chosen this route because you believe the punishment for your crimes are not worth sticking around for".
"If this is about being a better person, and accepting my fate–"
"No, this is not that," Kakashi interjects, "I am here to tell you, Sasuke, that there will be no consequences for any of your actions before the war".
.
.
He is lying. It is all lies.
"Believe me Sasuke, I can assure you there will be nothing. After all, I'm to be sworn in as the new Hokage within due time. So I can promise your safety," Kakashi had told him.
Can he believe that?
And if so, why?
His presence in Konoha would be nothing more than an eyesore to everyone except his old team. But his former sensei had urged for him to focus on those that care. "At least for Naruto's sake," Kakashi had stated, "at least stay for him, for his sake – he'd almost given up his life to get you back. Next time, it wont be an almost".
Grade-A blackmail, Sasuke muses bitterly. Though Kakashi did have a point, on all counts of the situation.
He decides to stay for a week. One week, at least then he can test and see whether his former sensei's words had merit to them. Though Sasuke still packs his bag.
Only the essentials; just in case.
.
.
On Monday the eyes of the villages watch him with scrutiny. However it isn't overly cold, most briefly glance towards him out of curiosity anyway.
On Tuesday there are a few glances, but most people go about their day with rarely an acknowledgement to his presence within the village he'd once spat to never be his home.
On Wednesday Naruto finds him by the training ground. He stands silently within the clearing, wanting to begin training but unsure whether or not he truly has the desire to.
But Naruto – being Naruto – doesn't consider any such train of thought. Why would he? The blond bounds his way over to his friend, and punches Sasuke square in the shoulder.
Naturally, Sasuke stumbles back. Somewhat surprised that he'd not sensed the incoming source of stupidity. He rubs his shoulder, and knows that at least Naruto had been holding back. The punch was weak, very weak.
In fact, it didn't hurt at all.
"Hey, how come you've been hiding?" bombards the blond.
Sasuke replies, "what?"
Naruto chuckles, and folds his arms over his chest, "come on man, you're acting like a hermit – or something. You know the village isn't angry at you or anything, Kakashi-sensei made sure of it".
By Thursday, said jonin is officially sworn in as the new leader of the village. Reception for their old sensei is warm, and full of relief.
By Friday, Sasuke decides to stay in the village. He has two days left to make said choice, but he knows now he does not need it.
Without the threat of retribution for the village, there really is no need for him to leave. Naruto would prefer for him to stay, and so would Kakashi. The villagers, surprisingly, are rather indifferent to his presence. So why should he leave?
There is nothing to atone for, nothing to fix. Konoha, as a whole, may still hold a dark image within his mind – but that perception does not extend to the lives that now walk the streets of such a place.
.
.
That night, he has a dream. One that is vivid, and feels almost real.
There is a girl that stands before him. She is beautiful, and familiar. She smiles, and reaches out to him but cannot ever touch him.
Then, she fades.
"We should go for a spar, just the two of us".
Naruto looks up from his meal. Noodles hang from his mouth, the blond slurps them up quick enough to reply, "what, now?"
"Yes".
Naruto grins, and point to his meal, telling Sasuke that he wants to finish first. Sasuke replies that the knuckle-head only has five minutes.
"Ha," grins Naruto, "I only need four".
Three minutes later, the pair begin heading off towards the training ground. Naruto's chatter is incessant, Sasuke finds that he can maintain the conversation without and input. Until, that is, Naruto asks him, "why did you want to spar today?"
Sasuke continues looking ahead, "I don't know".
"Usually its me asking you to spar," replies Naruto.
Sasuke shrugs, "don't look into it too much".
.
.
It takes Sasuke all of seven minutes to accidentally break one of Naruto's bones.
A cry of, "my wrist! Bastard!" is followed with Naruto collapsing onto the ground, still spewing out profanities of the childish kind.
Sasuke tries not to smirk, "I'll take you to the hospital".
"You better!"
Sasuke rolls his eyes, "although, wont your tailed beast inside you heal this up?"
Naruto blinks, then gapes for a passing seconds, "no!" he cries out, "stop stalling bastard and help me!"
.
.
After dropping off the human representation of petulance; known also as Naruto, at the hospital, Sasuke had come to learn a quite interesting fact whilst waiting for the blond to finish his treatment. Sasuke, somehow during the spar, had broken two ribs.
"How are you not in pain?" the doctor had asked him.
A shrug and a bewildered look was all Sasuke could return in response.
Nevertheless, despite feeling no discomfort, he'd still been advised to 'take it easy'. Which is easy enough to do – given the fact that he'd no missions coming up.
Arriving home, and kicking off his sandals, Sasuke makes his way towards the living room and sits on his couch without thinking. He looks down to his ribs – it didn't hurt, but his landing weren't as graceful as it could have been.
Putting that from his mind, Sasuke looks around the apartment of his that hasn't changed since he was twelve – with good reason. He glances over towards his left, upon the small table beside the couch, there is a photo framed as propped up.
He picks it up; it is the photo taken when he'd first been place on his genin team. Kakashi stood behind them, probably smiling but one could never really tell. The vitriolic but dear rivalry of himself and Naruto is captured perfectly within the moment of the shot. He scowls, whilst Naruto grumbles.
And that's it – the three of them in the photo.
Which isn't right, a team of genin should have three people.
.
.
"Who was our third member?"
Without any consideration for whom Kakashi may have been meeting with, Sasuke had entered the Hokage's office. The assistants protests are drowned out to white noise. Of course, it wasn't a meeting Sasuke had interrupted.
Kakashi looks up from his novel, "I'm busy".
"Just answer my question," Sasuke retorts.
The older man pauses, then sighs. He sits up in his chair, and nods for his assistance to leave the two of them be.
Once the doors to the office are closed, Kakashi begins, "what is this about, Sasuke?"
"Team 7".
"Okay".
"Who was our third member?"
If Sasuke weren't scrutinising the conversation, he'd have missed the slight twitch in the older man's eye. He keeps the reaction in mind, and listens to Kakashi's reply of, "there was no third member".
He frowns, "that's...not right".
"There weren't enough people in your graduating class. Which didn't matter in the end, you and Naruto proved enough of a team together without the need for another member".
Sasuke nods, but doesn't believe him.
.
.
That night, his dream is vivid once more.
There is a girl – woman. The same one from nights now past.
She smiles, and speaks to him, "hello Sasuke-kun. I didn't expect you here".
Sasuke attempts to reach out, but instead, he feels himself instinctively reply to her, "Sakura".
.
.
There should be three people on a genin team, but for his, there were only two. Naruto's story aligns with Kakashi's, and though he has no ground to stand on, Sasuke knows they're wrong.
"Is there a girl in this village with pink hair?" Sasuke asks one afternoon.
Naruto snickers, "pink hair, what – like dyed?"
"No".
"No one can naturally have pink hair".
Sasuke grits his teeth, "have you seen a girl like this before?"
"No".
Sasuke pauses, "alright".
Naruto snorts, and lies back on the ground, "there isn't anyone like that, bastard. No one has pink hair".
.
.
A month into his stay, and Kakashi offers Sasuke the chance to take a mission.
And it isn't any sort of menial task where he'd be required to catch a feline, or weed a farmer's yard. No, his duty required of him the task of espionage, over several days. The hours were long, his task – rather difficult. But it was exactly what Sasuke needed to get his mind of the girl that plagued his dreams.
It takes him three days to complete his mission. He arrives back to Konoha with nothing more that a few scratches.
That night, he dreams once more – and she is there.
She once again appears within his vision; pink hair, green eyes, a real beauty.
He is glad to see her.
.
.
Her name is Sakura – this girl from his dreams.
And though he has no proof to this thought; Sasuke knows that his dreams are more than just wisps of his subconscious. These dreams are his memories, they have to be.
Months flow by, and every night now he'd relieve a new scene that he'd never seen before. Most nights, he merely holds a small three sentence conversation with Sakura. Some nights, they share a moment of silence. And all nights, she smiles at him. She is happy to be with him.
"What are you doing?" Kakashi step forth, falling in line with the Uchiha who scans the shelves of record room below the Hokage towers.
"She never existed," Sasuke remarks.
"Who?" asks Kakashi.
If he were to tell them now, they'd think something were wrong with him.
He clears his throat, and replies with a lie. Kakashi's raised brow tells the Uchiha that the older man doesn't believe him, but at the very least, Kakashi doesn't push for the truth.
.
.
.
"Sasuke-kun, what is this?" Sakura asks, blinking in surprise, and blushing as Sasuke reaches for her hand.
He gently opens her palm, and drops a simple necklace into her grasp. The small charm of his clan's insignia draws attention to itself immediately as Sakura gasps, and looks up to meet his soft gaze.
"Sasuke-kun, are you sure?" she whispers.
He smirks, "why wouldn't I be?"
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He wakes without a fuss, his alarm clock illuminates the normal time for him to wake. He sits up, and buries his face within his hand; his groan his muffled.
That dream had been too real – no, it had been a memory. He is sure of it.
She was real, and she was important to him. Sakura – she was blushing, and smiling, and looking at him as if he were her whole world.
Maybe she was a lover, or girlfriend...but that could not be possible. He'd abandoned the village, he'd fought a war, and now he'd been dragged back to Konoha. Where in such a journey would he have found time to establish a romantic relationship with Sakura?
It cannot be a memory – it must be a dream.