He hasn't changed.
This is the first thing she thinks. He still looks the same, the dark hair, the eyes echoing a loss she has never been able to understand. He still looks at her the same way, as if she is someone he doesn't know. As if she is merely a stranger.
And then she realizes that is exactly what they are. This is not the Sasuke who fought with her on missions. This is someone else. This is a stranger who faces her across the battlefield now.
She has been fighting all this time for someone she doesn't know.
"What are you waiting for?" It takes her a moment to realize Naruto's voice is not speaking to Sasuke, but to her. She glances at him. Naruto does not return her gaze, but she knows he is waiting for an answer. Last time, he fought alone and lost. This time –
This time, they cannot lose.
The stranger across the field from her stares at her expressionlessly and repeats Naruto's question in a flat voice.
"What are you waiting for?"
She doesn't know Sasuke – maybe she has never known him. But he doesn't know her either, and he doesn't know Naruto. Not anymore.
Maybe she is fighting for something she will never have. Maybe she is fighting to bring back someone who was never there in the first place. Maybe she is fighting a battle that can't be won.
But she has fought far too long and lost far too much to turn back now.
Sakura raises her chin, leveling her gaze at Sasuke. "Nothing," she says.
Her hand closes slowly into a fist.
