OLD TIMES

Sasuke just received a gift from his daughter Sarada when she didn't make it to his 84th birthday. He appreciated it. He wanted to come over her house to thank her. But Sasuke believes that she won't be there because of her duties as Lady Hokage. The old Uchiha decided to go the park filled with cherry blossoms.

At the park, Sasuke was surprised to see his best friend and former Hokage Naruto sitting on the park bench. He approached him "Hello, Naruto. It's good to see you here."

Glad to see him, Naruto smiled. "You too, Sasuke... Finally decided to stay, huh?"

Sasuke sat down beside him. "I already did. 30 years ago." He chuckled. "It's your old mind, my friend. You are forgetting things now."

Naruto admitting his frail self. "I know. I'm not that active anymore. Then he looked at the cherry blossoms. "They're so beautiful."

"Yes. They sure are." But then the Uchiha wondered. "Why are you here, Naruto? Are you suppose to be at home resting?"

The former Hokage revealed to his friend. "I just got back from the hospital. ... They told me I have few days left."

Sasuke was surprised to hear the news. He knew Naruto was not feeling well for months now. "I'm sorry."

"I just... I just want to spend my last days here... enjoying the view." Naruto watched the beautiful flowers. "The flowers remind of- her."

Knowing Naruto's past, Sasuke realized who he was talking about. "You still love her."

Naruto smiled but he wanted to be honest to his friend. "We both did. But showed it very differently."

"Does Hinata know?"

"No. ... I don't want her to- After I told you about my sickness, it's too much for her."

Then Sasuke remembered something. He asked Naruto many times but his friend always avoid the question. Now they're old, probably he could get an answer. "Do you remember? Do you remember what she said before she- before she drew her last breath?"

The Hokage remembered. He remembered Sakura dying in his arms. Blood stained her clothes. He tried to stop the bleeding. Her lips moved. Her eyes looked at him. She just smiled. "Nothing. She said nothing." He never forgets her last beautiful smile. "She just smiled. Like everything's will be okay." Tears began to stream down from his wrinkled eyes.

Sasuke began to remember his regret at that time. "If only I didn't leave... I could've been there."

"I'm sorry, Sasuke."

"For what?"

Naruto remembered Sakura's face. Her last faces. One was her bloody face when she died in his arms, keeping her smile. The second is her pale but peaceful face in the white casket. Naruto doesn't want to think of it. He doesn't want to recall what he done. "I'm sorry for killing her."

30 years ago, the village was attacked by a radical cult. Naruto fought one of them. This shinobi appeared to be wearing the Yugakure headband. After seeing his friends Shikamaru and Ino murdered by the man, Naruto fought him until he struck him with his powerful Rasenshuriken. However, he later realized that the man was a Jashinist and he used his curse technique to survive his rasengan.

Then he realized, at some point, the Jashinist got Sakura's blood and used it for his curse. And that is how he unintentionally killed her.

Reinforcements arrived and helped their Hokage end the conflict in the village. They defeated the Jashin cult and restored peace in the peace. The village was then saved but many died. That includes Sakura. The Hokage managed to find her in the ruins of the village lying on the pool of her blood. He tried to revive her but it was too late. She looked at him and smiled. She wanted to say something but she could not say it.

Sakura died at the age of 54.

When Sasuke heard the news, he immediately went back to the village. As he got there, the funeral service was over and they buried her six feet under the ground. Flowers surrounded her tombstone. When night came and alone in the cemetery, Sasuke cried letting his tears out.

Naruto saw Sasuke's frail face. "Will you forgive me, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, patting him. "It was not your fault. Not yours..." Sasuke remembered himself letting out his rage towards the imprisonest Jashinist who was responsible for her death. He punched him so hard that his fists began to bleed. He could no longer count how many times he beat the guy up. The immortal bastard kept on laughing at the Uchiha. That's when Sasuke decided to stop. He switched to more painful method. He asked the immortal how can he last with the Amaterasu.

Then the immortal's smile disappeared.

Suddenly, his daughter Sarada came to the park to pick up her old man. She wore her Hokage robe and greeted the two elders. "Hello, dad. You didn't tell me you are going here."

"Forgive me, Sarada. I completely forgot." Sasuke chuckled. "Thank you for the present anyway." He showed her the necklace with the Uchiha insignia. "I loved it."

"He made that, dad." Sarada said.

"Really? Oh, can you tell him that I appreciate his gift?"

"Sure." Sarada said.

Then Sasuke asked, "How was he, Sarada?"

Later, Boruto came after. He was guarding the Lady Hokage. "Don't worry about it, sensei. If her husband hurt her, I'll kill him."

Sarada retorted, "He's not like that. He's a great guy, Boruto. You should know that."

The blond jonin responded, "Whatever." He then looked at his father. "Are you alright, old man?" He was not told about his father's sickness.

Naruto nodded. "I want to go home now."

"Oh, all right. Come on. Mom is making your favorite." He helped his old man get up.

Naruto was excited. "Oh, boy! Is it ramen?"

"Instant ramen."

"Damn it. I don't want those now."

"Then you have to discuss it with mom at home."

Sarada told her dad to come with them. "You too, dad. Let's go home."

Sasuke doesn't want to go yet. He wanted to stay for a little while. "I'll be right behind you. I just need a minute."

His daughter understood. "Okay. I'll prepare the meal." She left with Boruto and Naruto.

Now alone again, Sasuke sighed and watched the cherry blossoms slowly withering away as the sun sets. It's the end of the season. Winter is here. He got up and started to walk back home. Before he left the park, he said his farewell to the cherry blossoms. "Good night, Sakura."

=END=