Compunction
The red and black emblem of his clan was prominent against his white shirt. Dark, matted hair stood out in spikes, contrasting against his sickly pale complexion. The Kusanagi remained safely tucked into its holder on the belt around his waist. Not yet unsheathed to draw blood from their necks.
Yet was the operative word.
Everyone settled into a startled silence. There was only wide-eyed disbelief.
Only Naruto seemed unfazed—even faintly smug as he called out, "Fashionably late... eh, Sasuke?!"
As if he'd already anticipated the Uchiha's arrival.
Sasuke paid him no heed, instead fixing his gaze on some rubble ahead.
Nobody else spoke, but he could feel their eyes burning onto the spot where he stood. Uncomprehending. Accusing. Speechless.
Even she hadn't said anything yet. The seconds ticked by like days until Sakura broke the silence.
A soft half-whisper, half-gasp of incredulity, as if he was as immaterial as a wisp of smoke, unseizable, that would vanish any instant. "Sasuke...kun...?"
His shoulders stiffened, his hands fisting themselves at his sides unconsciously.
The lips that called out his name resounded the same voice that had haunted him for months.
Unwillingly, he turned towards her...
And got caught in her gaze.
—
—
—
In those few seconds, Sasuke took his first real look at her.
This was his teammate. The same, annoying fool who'd never left him alone in their Genin days (—and yet, Sasuke can't help but note, unjustly so, that she's not throwing herself at him or crying).
This was the girl who'd cut off her hair in a desperate attempt to fight back. (—to protect them, Naruto and himself, in the Forest of Death. To protect him.)
This was the girl who'd professed her love to him (—foolishly so.)
No. This woman was the very same one he'd tried to kill.
The one he had never really bothered to acknowledge before now.
The one that he owed the most to.
"...Sakura, huh?"
A/N: Just something short that came out of the recent Naruto chapter (631). Amazing what just one look from Sasuke can inspire.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and any related characters. Obviously.
(Or there would have been much more than just eye contact going on between these two.)
