Painful Truths
Written by dryingtears
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N: This is the sequel to the first chapter. :D
"Sasuke-sensei! You're late again!"
He gave his students a small smile. Over the years, he learned to show minimal emotion. The loss of his former teammate and lover had taught him one important thing: show the people you love and care for that you truly love and care for them...before they fade without knowing.
"Sasuke-sensei! What's your excuse this time?"
He looked at the three youngsters standing before him. It was just like his old team: a hyperactive, potentially dangerous boy, the village heartthrob of the year award winner that came with a lot of stamina, and the potentially strong girl with excellent chakra control. It seemed that time liked to replay itself, and the way it had replayed for him was pleasing.
"Did you get lost on 'the path of life' again, or something?"
He smiled. After passing his Chuunin exams, and thereafter passing the Jounin exams, he became a Jounin, and cared for three little bundles of joy. Over his lifetime, he was an ANBU captain, and was made famous by his successful mission of completely destroying the Sound. A few years later, after the peak of his career simmered down into that of a regular ANBU, he decided to take a few years off, as seeing the sight of so much blood had wounded him.
"Sasuke-sensei!"
However, no matter how annoying his bundles of joy would get, they were his children that he would never have. They brightened up his day when he was feeling dismal and morose, and they reminded him of his childhood that he cherished. No matter how strict or crazy they thought he was, he knew they respected him and loved him.
"HELLOO? Sasuke-sensei! Answer us!"
He remained silent, purposely getting on their nerves. It made him smile and lighten up when he was reminded of his childhood. His old Kakashi-sensei and his perverted Icha Icha books, Naruto and his amusing stupidity.
...But to him, Sakura was a different story.
She was his love. She was his hope. She was his light.
He admit that it took a while for him to accept that his love, his light, his hope was gone.
...but now, a long years later, when he was aging faster and faster, and when he knew his time would come sooner than he thought, he was able to accept that she was indeed gone.
And through the days, weeks, and months, he came to understand that if she saw him acting morose and despondent, she would not be happy in her eternal resting place. So he cheered up, and soon began to learn how to love again.
And he knew as well as she did, that he would never love another woman in his life.
She was forever his, and he forever hers.
"Sasuke-sensei! Stop ignoring us! We need to train..."
He looked at his three little ninja, their foreheads covered with their newly acquired headbands. He smiled. Their eyes were shimmering with happiness and joy, and their lives were not as painful as his. When he had taken the responsibility of this team, he promised that he would never let what had happened to his Team 7, happen to them. He would be there to protect them.
He would be there when they needed him the most.
He would teach them like his old sensei did; teamwork was more valuable than strength and power alone. He smiled. Over the time he had spent with these children, he found they completely understood the teamwork concept better than he had. Kakashi-sensei would surely be proud.
...And about the old man?
Hatake Kakashi passed on a while ago, as his age had caught up with him. Sasuke's smile widened; he knew the old man would be smiling down upon him behind that mask of his. And he envied Kakashi's presence with Sakura.
...But he was glad. It was time for him to pass on; a silent insanity was tearing him apart inside. He would finally be able to be reunited with the people that he held dear.
"Sasuke-sensei! This isn't fun anymore! We have to get ready for the Chuunin Exams, remember?"
He smiled at them once more, and nodded, ruffling his raven hair with one of his hands. They smiled and jumped with joy, happy they could get some of their intense training done.
...How he loved how enthusiastic they were for some intense training.
He would let them get stronger, yes.
...But if anything, he would not allow them to be like him.
"Well, let's go then, Sasuke-sensei!"
He smiled and turned around, waiting for them to walk closer before fully leaving their meeting spot on the bridge. He heard their synchronized footsteps and began walking, every step bringing him closer to happiness.
"Yay! Thank you, Sasuke-sensei!"
His smile grew wider, and he couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. His three children smiled, all talking and enjoying each other's presence. They were a happy family.
They were a team.
He was old, and it was time for him to pass on. He was lying on his deathbed, his skin losing pigments of color by the second. It was his time to pass on. It was his time to be reunited.
The team that he had fathered sat beside him. They became the new Sannin. They were his pride and joy, and he loved them with all his heart.
"Oh, Sasuke-sensei. It's alright, you'll make it."
He let a gentle smile play on his lips, and he felt her hand clasp his.
"Yeah, Sasuke-sensei! Even the Hokage is here! Be happy old Mr. Heartthrob found time in his schedule!"
"Shut up, idiot. Being Hokage isn't as easy as you think it is. You should try it someday. ...Oh, that's right, you can't, because for one, you're pretty weak. And for two, you're going to die before me! Just wait till you get reincarnated, why don't you?"
His smile grew wider as his two children were arguing.
"Shut up, guys! Sasuke-sensei needs peace and quiet!"
He began to chuckle, his laughs beginning to pain his throat. He coughed, and blood slowly began to trickle down from the side of his mouth.
"Sasuke-sensei, don't worry! You'll make it!"
He closed his old onyx eyes, feeling the warmth of his children emit into his body. He felt his daughter's hand slowly squeeze his, and he gently squeezed back.
His daughter...
Haru.
She was so much like the old and the new Sakura. She was strong, she was naïve, she was caring and gentle.
His two sons...
Sanosuke.
The current Hokage, and the old village heartthrob. He was strong, but he was cold. He was just like Sasuke in so many ways.
Shinji.
One of the strongest and most feared ANBU captains, and Sanosuke's most trusted advisor. He was the old and new Naruto, being both hyperactive and a wee bit arrogant and rushed.
Shinji and Sanosuke?
Eternal rivals, forever battling for dominance in power. They were just like Naruto and Sasuke in their golden childhood. And he knew that they were brothers; a bond so strong that nothing could tear them apart.
...Haru and Sanosuke?
...Equals love. The Sasuke and Sakura couple that was never able to be.
"Oh, Sasuke-sensei..."
He listened intently as Haru whispered his name.
"...You'll...make it..."
He let another smile play on his lips. She knew as well as he did that his pulse was dying, and that it was nearly time for him to go. Her fragile hand grasped his, tears escaping through her gentle eyes.
"...Haru...don't cry...remember...what I told you...about crying?"
She began to sob, and buried her face in her 'father's' chest. He gently embraced her.
"Oh, Sasuke-sensei! You told me...that you hated to see me cry. But how can I keep them in, when you're dying?"
He let a toothy grin escape onto his lips, and he began to gently laugh. He felt his three children smile through their tears.
"I'll...watch over you, always."
He felt her nod, and he knew he was taking his last breaths.
And on his very last one, he felt light filter through his shut eyes, and he saw a hand outstretched, waiting for his to hold it. The light slowly faded, and he smiled when he saw the figure. He took the hand, and he saw the figure smile. He returned the smile, and before completely walking into the gates of eternal peace, he took one last look through his shut onyx eyes at his three children. And with one bittersweet loving fatherly glance, he turned around.
"You waited for me?"
A gentle whisper he has longed to hear once more.
"I don't have to wait any longer. I love you."
And now...she would know that he had always loved her.
...And he'd be able to show it.
"Oh...Sano-kun, Sasuke-sensei's gone!"
Gentle arms wrapped around her, trying to comfort her with his touch.
"Shh, Haru-chan. Don't cry. Sasuke-sensei wouldn't like it if he was looking up upon us now."
Her sobs began to die down, and she let a smile form on her rosy lips.
"Hai, Sano-kun. ...Mm, what's this?"
She looked over and saw a small folded paper clasped in her late sensei's hand. She gently reached over and brought the cold hand to hers, and took the folded paper.
"Ne, Haru-chan! You should open it! Maybe it's something important to Sasuke-sensei!"
"...Hai, Shinji-kun."
She unfolded the pieces of paper, and when she read the words, written in messy cursive, her heart stopped and new tears fell from her eyes.
Wait for me Sakura. I'm almost there.
Well, thank you for reading! I don't know if I'll make this into a oneshot collection or not, but whatever. xD