"Sensei, please!" Sakura pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
"I can't make that decision, Sakura." Kakashi said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
"No you're not! You don't care about anything or anyone!" Sakura hurled the nearest object at him which he caught easily due to his excellent reflexes. He carefully placed the photo back down and looked over at her again. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself protectively as she cried.
"Sakura, it was his choice. We have no way of knowing where he is right now and it would take too long to try and track him down." Kakashi explained. "Not only do I not have the authorisation to make that decision, but I can see why the answer so far has been no."
"It's not fair!" Sakura yelled, then softened. "Why won't he just come back?"
"He has revenge practically tattooed to his head." Kakashi said.
"Sakura, why can't you move on? Everyone else has." Naruto said quietly as he stood to the side.
"Exactly! Everyone else has practically forgotten he exists! I can't forget about him! I'm too scared that.. if.. no one remembers him.. he'll cease to exist.." the words stumbled out of her mouth and more tears fell from her eyes.
"Sasuke is one lucky boy." Kakashi said, chuckling lightly.
"Lucky?" Naruto scoffed.
"Yes. He has such a dedicated and loyal friend." Kakashi said, smiling at Sakura. "I'm sorry that we can't send anyone to look for him, but I do hope he comes back for you one day. He'll be a git if he doesn't."
"He's already a git." Naruto said, narrowing his eyes.
"Sensei, I'll be back in a little while." Sakura said quietly, turning to the door and slowly opening it.
"Take your time." Kakashi said as Sakura walked out.
Once she was outside, Sakura glanced over her shoulder and then ran. She knew exactly where she was going. The bench where she had last seen him.
As she got closer, she slowed to a walk. It had begun to rain and she was staring at the ground, watching as the raindrops fell to their resting place where they splashed gently. Lifting her head, she saw the bench. A lump appeared in her throat as she saw someone was already sitting there. It wasn't fair! Just when she wanted to lie down on the bench and remember the day so many years ago, the stupid bench was being used.
For some reason, her legs didn't stop walking until she got there. Sakura found herself sitting on the opposite end of the bench that the other person was sitting on. She felt awkward, sitting in the presence of a stranger, but didn't want to go home defeated. This bench held so many memories, she couldn't just walk away.
Sitting there in the rain, she stared down at her hands which were folded neatly on her lap. She was still crying, but not as much as before.
"Why are you out in the rain? You're gonna get sick." Sakura looked up, startled as the person sitting beside her had turned their head to speak to her. Her breath caught in her throat and she stared.
"S-Sasuke!" she managed, before throwing herself at him, arms going around his neck in a hug. Her sobs shook her body as she buried her head in his shoulder. "Why didn't you come back sooner?" she yelled, her voice muffled.
"I tried." came the short reply.
"Sasuke.. I love you." Sakura mumbled. Sasuke gently prised her away from him, holding her chin in his hand gently and looking into her eyes.
"Sakura, you're so annoying." he said. Tears overflowed from her eyes and she smiled slightly.
"I love you Sasuke." she repeated. Sasuke sighed, looking down for a moment and then up at her again.
"I know." with that said, he pulled her into a hug, holding her there.