SasuSaku Fanfiction: Chapter One

For the first time in four years, I returned to my my village. Cold and weighted down, with two oranges in my pocket left over from the last night's journey. After two weeks travel, I arrived at 7:24am. The village was just waking up as the light of dawn peaked over the hillside where the faces of the Great Hokage's were carved into the stone. I remember the oddity of the morning, frost cracking beneath my steps, with my breath before me, then gone. Wandering stares and glances darted from the one's who recognized me, and scolds quickly formed on their expressions as I walked timidly down the avenue. I felt the hand of my former Sensei, Kakashi brush my shoulder and then withdraw when he realized I wasn't seeking comfort. It was true, I betrayed my Village in my unrelenting hunger for power; haunted by thoughts of hatred and anger, I left them. Kakashi barely spoke to me the entire journey, restricting his words to only answer or ask simple questions. I wondered how long it took for the Fifth Hokage to accept my plea, and how many voices it took from those who were willing to speak for me in my absence. I had a suspicion of who, but nonetheless, I was heard and answered.

And here I stand, waiting at the bridge for the comrades I had shamefully abandoned. The gray of December painted most of the city with fog, and with anticipation, I watched for them to peer out of the mist. I looked over to Kakashi for reassurance, but his eyes were too fixated on his book to notice.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi..." I announced in desperation.

I could tell by his bleak stare that my voice had somehow came out taciturn, as it almost always did. However, to my surprise, his stare had become somewhat warm, and his smile creased an outline through his mask. He turned towards me and took me into an embrace. A tear slipped from my eye and, discretely, I wiped it away with my hand. Four years later, I was at his height, and he no longer had to kneel down to be at eye level.

But still, in the most fatherly way, he placed his hand around the back of my neck, and tilted his head down to meet my eyes. "That's all I ever wanted to hear, Sasuke. From here on, you must begin redeeming yourself."

I nodded, my eyes still on his. Kakashi smiled again, and in an instant, he vanished, leaving traces of smoke behind him. He never said anything more to me about my honour, Kakashi knew that all I had was one chance, and I knew it too.

"Naruto...Sakura." I muttered under my breath as I turned around to face them.

Naruto broke the silence by responding first,"Sasuke." He said.

Sakura remained silent, only looking at me when my eyes averted from her. Ironically, I was scared that she would be afraid of me. She used to be so confident in my humanity, but now her faith in me had faded, with so little of it restored. I came closer, and looked at them both, my hand pulsating as I placed it on Naruto's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't reject my gesture. He responded by mirroring my motion.

"I'm so, sorry...Naruto, and you Sakura-"

I interrupted myself as I looked at Sakura's expression. She looked at me, eyes red with water. She opened her mouth to speak, but I stopped her words by impulsively pulling her into an embrace. My arm rested around her neck, the other around her waist. I held her tightly, but almost immediately released her after. I stretched my hand, trying to rid it of the fixating pulse. I didn't realize how much I missed my friends. Whether they had still considered me a friend at the time, or not, I had never rid them of that title.