Haruno Sakura looked down at her patient before her. His breathing was calm and even, and his long black hair was free of the blood that had coated it when Sakura and her friend Ino had treated him. Lying there with pure white sheets in a coma, Sakura thought that Sasuke looked at peace. She hadn't expected to see him and his teammates to join their side against the masked man. Sasuke had protected them – all of them – with his justu, Susano. Tears had poured down her cheeks when she realized who their savoir was. She had wanted to shout out his name, but her throat was closed, unyielding to her wishes. It was Naruto who had called out to him. But their teammate didn't respond. Instead, Sasuke had faced their enemy before them. The mask was steadily falling off when Sasuke spoke. "So…here we meet again…Father." At that moment, the mask that had hidden their enemy's face had fallen. The first thought Sakura thought that Sasuke didn't look like the man before him. He had bags under his eyes, and creases along his nose. The only similar trait they shared was their onyx eyes. It was Kakashi-sensei who had revealed the truth. "Fugaku-san!" Sakura's sensei appeared horrified and shocked, as were the other older Konohagakure shinobi. Fugaku paid no attention to them. His eyes remained focused on Sasuke. At last, Sasuke turned to the Allied Shinobi Forces. Sasuke's eyes, Sakura realized, did not bore hatred or malice. His eyes were calm, assessing the situation before him. "This is my fight." No one had moved or disagreed with him. Sakura watched as Sasuke glided gracefully to the other side of the battle; the other side that wasn't protected. Sakura remembered how Naruto had protested Sasuke's plan, and had wanted to fight with him against his father. Surprisingly, Sasuke had nodded.
The battle had been deadly, Sakura remembered. Many times she thought that Uchiha Fugaku would end her friends' lives as the battle raged. Naruto had almost died from exhausting his chakra, as had Sasuke. It had been a week since the Fourth Shinobi World War ended; Naruto's wounds had already healed, and was walking around the village that he loved so much. Sasuke had healed slower, had remained unconscious. Sakura wondered if his coma was related to his emotional state; Sasuke had fought against his father, who he had thought long dead, and had been forced to kill him. His teammates had died in the battle as well. Sakura remembered of how the three of them had left the safety of the Susano and sacrificed themselves for their leader. The other teammate had disappeared during the fray. Sakura heard Sasuke moan in his sleep, calling for Jūgo, Karin, and Suigestu. That must have been their names, Sakura thought sadly. Other shinobi had died as well. Kiba, Shino, Gai-sensei, Hiashi-san, Hinata's father, Tenten had perished it the battle. And Kankurō, the Godaime Kazekage's own brother, had died moments ago from his wounds. He had the worst burns that Sakura had even seen in her medic-ninja career, and could do nothing. Even Tsunade-sama hadn't been able to ease the Sunagakure shinobi's pain. Somehow Kankurō had held on for reasons unknown to them. Sakura remembered how she had treated him for getting poisoned by the Akastuki member, Sasori. Sakura hadn't been able to help him this time. It was Ino who had comforted her. "Kankurō-san isn't in any pain anymore, Sakura." She remembered how Ino had given her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "He is with his parents now." Numbly, Sakura had nodded. Ino had become strong since the Fourth Shinobi World War. She had become stronger than Sakura when it came to death. She remembered of how Kankurō had requested her to take his puppets to his brother, Gaara, for safe-keeping. "He…will protect them…keep them safe. Gaara…tell him I'm sorry. I told Sasori-san that I would bestow his puppets…Mother and Father…to the next generation. Gaara must find them and keep them…until my successor is able to fulfill Sasori-san's last request." Kankurō's breathing had been rapid at that time, and his movements feeble as Sakura held his hand. It was only when Sakura promised Kankurō that she would fulfill his promise did his fierce grip loosened and he died. Ino had reported the shinobi's death to Temari, his sister. She had quickly become distraught, according to her. Kankurō's body and the many other bodies of the Sunagakure's shinobi would be transported to their village the next morning. Shikamaru would be the Kazekage's temporarily bodyguard. Sakura had begun to notice that the Allied Shinobi Forces were already breaking apart. Iwagakure had retreated into their shinobi village two days after the war had ended to have a funeral for the Kage, Ōnoki, who had died battling Uchiha Madara, who they had defeated. The Kirigakure and Kumokagure shinobi were here as well even though their respected Kages were in their villages. Soon there would be a summit to decide Sasuke's fate. Ōnoki had declared that whoever had released Edo Tensei would be declared a hero.
Did that mean that Sasuke's crimes would be pardoned? Sakura hoped so. Sasuke had put his life on the line for the shinobi world. In her mind, Sasuke was still a hero. But would the new Tsuchikage see it that way? Sakura would always love Sasuke, no matter what would happen to him. Like Hinata is with Naruto, she thought to herself. She had seen Naruto recently walk up to Hinata, who had been grieving for her lost teammates and father. Her usual bright lavender and pupiless eyes were dull, and she stared at Naruto as if she had never seen him before. Naruto hadn't faltered, and had asked Hinata calmly and gently if she would like to take a walk with him. Hesitantly nodding her head, Hinata had taken his hand in his and Naruto slowly lead her away from the make-shift hospital and the destruction. Sakura remembered how she had always blushed too when Sasuke had spoken to her. Now her love for him was deep, and more understood. She would stand by him no matter what. Sakura clutched his still and warm hands in hers and didn't let go.
