Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.
Entering the village he noticed two guards standing nearby. Both seemed to be sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. This was irritating to see so he made a mental note to talk with Kakashi about the lack of security alertness. There were still rogues wandering around and others who opposed the continued alliance. Dangers still lurked and he wondered how Konoha was still standing after all that it has been through.
As he continued walking he noticed it was very empty. Most places were dark and closed which was not surprising as it was 2:00 a.m. He came here in order to avoid being noticed but would not deny that his arrival was lacking some enthusiasm. Was he hopeful for something? A warm welcome perhaps? It had to be his imagination as he liked his solitude and chalked it up to relating the town to Naruto, loud and overly energetic; it seemed to be lackluster at the current time probably due to the association of the loser and the village.
As he continued he noticed unfamiliar buildings. New buildings. From all the destruction from the prior year's involving the akatsuki and the war, he would not be surprised if all the buildings were new. They were also taller than before as if they had no fear of falling over. However, as he continued to walk, he did notice at least one building that remained the same, the Ramen Shop. He paused and looked at it, still the same look with maybe some new paint. It reminded him of how, as a genin, he couldn't stand ramen because that was all Naruto would eat and, honestly, all Naruto could afford (included himself). He did have his inheritance but he had that safely stashed away. He really felt no need to keep anything of monetary value on his person and honestly didn't know why he kept the inheritance. Something at the back of his mind nagged him to hold on to the inheritance. With a sigh and the passing of the thought, he began walking again. As he passed the shop, he took in the aroma of different flavors of broth, vegetables, and the warmth from the steam of dishes having been washed for the night. He had to admit, he was a little hungry and tired after continuing non-stop so he could return to the village at this specific time. The continuous travel prevented him from stopping for food or rest. It was late, but maybe a hotel was still open.
Looking around and stopping at various places that were surprisingly still opened, he noticed everything was either completely booked or closed for the night. What did he expect though, with people re-building, folks migrating to the cities and how late it was, it shouldn't be surprising that all places were unavailable. After giving it another thought, he considered going back to the outskirts of the village to stay in the woods for the night. One last night wouldn't be so bad. However, as he progressed through the streets, he came upon a familiar sight.
He had let his guard down and although he masked his chakra to avoid anyone from realizing he had returned, there in front of him was someone he would not openly admit thinking about frequently on his redemptions journey.
It appeared she had spotted him first while he was looking around aimlessly, oblivious to the fact that she was so close. He would probably regret it later for allowing himself to not be more aware of his surroundings. But maybe the village did provide him with some sense of home and relaxation in a way that allowed him to let his guard down, if only for a moment. They made eye contact and it appeared that neither knew what to do. Not being one for conversation but wanting the awkward tension to cease, he made the first effort of walking towards her. However, before he could say anything she stepped forward, causing him to halt as they were close to each other at this point. He decided to speak first but the only thing he could think to say was, "I'm back, Sakura." She smiled and though he swore he could see tears swelling in her eyes, not a single one dropped as she spoke, "Welcome home Sasuke."
It took a moment to register what she had said. "Welcome home"…. Home? Was he home? It didn't quite feel right. His journey for redemption/repentance and to see with eyes unclouded by hate never provided any real answers. However, it did provide clarity and understanding for which he had accepted. He accepted who he was, where he was in life, and where he was going….for now.
Some things may be drawn out but in order to fully grasp the development this may take time, so your patience is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for reading!