Sakura put a hand over her eyes, sheltering them against the golden rays of morning sunlight. The beams pierced the veil of tall foliage in which she stood, causing the vibrant-green trees to cast long, beautiful shadows. The sensation of radiance felt pleasant on her skin; it was warm and refreshing, compared to the dusky forest center in which she'd spent the better part of two days healing and replenishing her chakra.

As she looked up into the sunrise, she couldn't help but express a smile. "Beautiful," she spoke quietly. The kunoichi continued to bathe in the light for several moments, resolved to savor one of life's many simple pleasures that was often fleeting for those involved in the deadly career of the shinobi.

The moment was eventually broken by a slight rustle of leaves that came from behind her. Sakura did not need to glance backwards to know who it was. It was standard ninja etiquette to purposefully make a small amount noise when approaching an ally from behind, lest they mistake one's movements for those of an enemy. In a world of superhuman physical feats and fantastic jutsu, the phrase 'friendly fire' could be incredibly relevant, and, especially in the case of the Hidden Leaf Village, quite literal.

"Yes, it is," Sasuke stated with that mechanical, measured tone of his. Sakura peered at his expression out of the corners of her eyes as he came parallel to her. Much to her dismay, the black-haired rogue ninja was just as expressionless as ever. If Sasuke had any kind of emotional reaction to the scene in front of him, he wasn't showing it.

The kunoichi found herself frowning. It depressed her to think that her companion was so apathetic that something as natural and pleasing as a sunrise had no effect on him. And if that was the case, Sakura wondered what other pleasures Sasuke was unable to partake in. Just how bleak and miserable was his existence, anyway?

Unraveling the dark depths of that question was somewhat an exercise in futility, Sakura knew. In many ways, the man she loved seemed to be a personification of the word 'enigma' itself. Still, she was determined to try. Although the last Uchiha's torment was likely self-inflicted, his actions were somewhat justified. Sakura could not even begin to imagine what it must be like for him…to be the last remaining member of his clan, to witness the murder of everyone close to him as a child, to endure the sheer loneliness and isolation, to be an exile from the only village that housed people who cared about him, to be a criminal who bore the weight of heinous past mistakes…it would drive any normal person mad. If anything, the world was lucky that Sasuke had come to his senses and decided to dedicate his life to absolution, instead of taking the easy way out.

No one would blame him if he…

Sakura did not let herself finish the thought.

And I doubt many would care, either.

The pink haired woman blinked away a small tear that began to form in her eye. As it slid down her cheek, she quickly turned, pretending to cough as she secretly wiped the moisture away.

I would care, Sasuke, Sakura thought solemnly, her heart throbbing.

Sasuke broke the silence, mercifully tearing her from the quiet contemplation. "We should head to the village, soon," he suggested.

Sakura turned to him and nodded, unable to speak.

Suddenly, Sasuke held out his only hand and formed a simple sign. There was a puff of smoke that immediately dissipated, revealing the male shinobi standing in the same position as before.

Sakura raised her eyebrows as she inspected the sign. "Were you trying to transform?" she asked incredulously.

Sasuke turned slowly, then glowered at her. "I didn't try," he corrected sharply.

Realization dawned on her as she took in Sasuke's image. Although he looked like much the same person as before, many of his key features were slightly different. The changes were not radical enough to have fooled someone who knew him well, such as herself, though she honestly wondered if that was simply because she had seen him perform the jutsu in the first place. If she hadn't, Sakura thought she might very well have mistaken Sasuke for someone who simply bore many coincidental resemblances to the las Uchiha.

Sasuke's long, ebony hair was a noticeable shade lighter, and although a thick lock still fell over his left eye, his overall hairstyle was noticeably different. His skin was a little darker, as if he had been tanned slightly. His clothes had taken on the modest, well-worn look of a lower class traveler instead of the dark cloak and shinobi gear he normally wore. His katana and other tools had no doubt entered the dimensional spaces accessed through the summoning glyphs stored in scrolls somewhere in his backpack. Sasuke's build was almost the same as well, though his muscles were slightly less defined, giving him the overall presence of a working-class man, and not a deadly shinobi.

Sakura put her hands on her hips and smirked, impressed. She thought she understood what he had been going for. If so, Sasuke had clearly succeeded at it.

"Wow, Sasuke. If I didn't know better, I might think you're just a look-alike," she complimented. "The only question is, why not look like someone else entirely?" she followed up with a quirk of her eyebrow.

Sasuke made a sound in his throat and looked away from her. After a long moment, he finally replied. "I'm sure you realize that an experienced shinobi can see through transformation jutsu," he began, his eyes scanning the environment around them as if to make sure they weren't being overheard. "Since those are exactly the kind of ninja after me, I've learned not to rely on obvious tricks like that."

Sakura nodded. His words made sense. "So why bother at all?"

Sasuke smirked to himself as if savoring his own genius. "What do you think would happen, Sakura, if someone perceived that a shinobi was using a transformation jutsu, but they outwardly appeared to be the notorious criminal Sasuke Uchiha?"

The kunoichi's eyes opened wide as it dawned on her. "They would assume you're a different shinobi entirely who wanted to look like Sasuke for some reason. After all, if Sasuke really wanted to hide, why would he make himself look like a slightly different version of himself? You're hiding in plain sight."

"Ja," Sasuke intoned. "There are still a few issues, though."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one," he began, "A clever opponent might wonder why anyone would choose to look like me, considering the bounties on my head, the grudges, and the allure of killing me for my eyes. Secondly, if they had done their research properly, they would know that Sasuke Uchiha is smart enough to pull off reverse psychology. And lastly, this method won't fool anyone with a Sharingan, Rinnegan, or Byakugan."

Sasuke looked at her. "Is anyone from the Leaf looking for me?"

"Just one," Sakura said glibly.

Sasuke almost chuckled. "Just so. Well, we don't have to worry about the last one, then."

Sakura nodded. "That's good. Anyway, should I do the same?"

Sasuke silently and stoically pondered the question. "It might be a good idea. I don't know how much of a name you've made for yourself since the war, but even so, you did fight alongside me during it. Someone could deduce my identity from deducing yours."

"Won't two shinobi attract more attention than one?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shrugged. "Perhaps. One is suspicious enough on their own, though. And even that assumes another shinobi is even around to see us, and that they'll also realize we are transformed. Besides, this town is known as a hot spring vacation destination for all sorts of people, including shinobi hailing from opposing villages. We won't necessarily stand out. It's probably normal for visiting ninja to use transformations, for obvious reasons."

Sakura nodded. "Makes sense. But what's our story? It kind of determines how I should appear."

"As much as I hate to admit it," Sasuke sighed with annoyance, "there is only one option." He swiveled to face Sakura once more. "We have to pose as a married couple," he drawled as if pained just to invite the mental image.

Sakura went pale, then smiled widely after wiping the shock from her face. "I must be dreaming. Or maybe you're not the real Sasuke after all. He would never suggest something like that."

Sasuke frowned, then dipped his chin downwards, his feelings unreadable. "It is practical," he grumbled.

Perhaps it was just Sakura's imagination and wishful thinking, but it sounded as if his sentiment was feigned, as if he had tried to cover a genuine reaction with his cold mask of logic. She brushed the thought away, though. It was best not to dwell on such fantasies.

"Whatever you say," the kunoichi could not resist mumbling skeptically. She had to admit, teasing the Uchiha was a small consolation prize.

She clasped her hands together, and there was another puff of smoke. When it cleared, Sakura appeared much differently: her pink hair had become darker and longer than his, cascading down her shoulders in a silky waterfall of organized locks. Her red dress, bandage wrappings, and shinobi leggings adorned with pouches became the clothes of an average rural housewife, stained with the grime and wear of cleaning and gardening. Her build changed as well, making her taller and bearing less of the lithe muscle gained from the profession of combat.

"What do you think?" Sakura asked, holding her open palms out as she spun her hips, twirling her long, simple skirt.

Sasuke did not immediately reply. He seemed to stare at her for an inordinate and uncharacteristic amount of time. Sakura stopped posing and took a step towards him. "Sasuke, are you ok?" she eventually asked, concern lacing her tone.

Sasuke's expression was blank and unemotive, yet intense; an aura that he maintained even as he blinked, shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, and looked sharply away. "It's ok," he blurted in a monotone. "That will work."

Sakura opened her mouth to protest his strange attitude and the lack of even a simple comment. Then she remembered that it was foolish to expect anything more than obsessive self-isolation and extreme avoidance of implied affection. This reality angered her as well; Sasuke angered her.

Still, as the kunoichi looked at him, she thought she saw the faint hue of a blush on his cheeks. She blinked, unsure if what she was seeing was real or just another one of her stupid fantasies. After several seconds of thinking, she decided to dismiss the observation. There was no way Sasuke had had the reaction she'd hoped for. Sakura knew better than to expect that.

I need to move on, she thought to herself. Sasuke will never feel that way about me.

Sakura's heart ached, and she found herself pondering if she should depart as soon as possible. The longer she spent with him, the more and more obvious it became that the man would never return her affections. Sure, it wasn't as if she viewed him with the starstruck doe eyes of her adolescence. She was fully grown and mature woman, now, and it was obvious that she no longer annoyed Sasuke in the same way or to the same degree.

No, the reason behind the other shinobi's scorn was not borne of annoyance. If anything, Sasuke seemed to like and respect her, or was at the very least indifferent. Rather, it seemed to be pathological aversion to any situation that involved something other than Sasuke being dour and isolated.

"I'll be Shun. I'm a construction worker," Sasuke offered, shaking Sakura from her reverie.

"Alright. My name is…Akane," Sakura replied, tapping her lips with a finger. "Shun's newly-wedded bride."

Sasuke shot her a sidelong look.

"It will be more believable if we're on our honeymoon, given our apparent ages."

What Sakura did not say was that she had an ulterior motive for suggesting this charade.

Sasuke nodded. "Let's go, then." Then he stepped out from behind the wall of trees and set off down the dirt road that led into the town.

Sakura trotted up beside him, smiling. She had to admit, the idea of pretending to be his bride intrigued her, and she looked forward to the deception. Even though they had only decided on staying for one night to help recover their strength and lay low, she felt excited.

What she did not look forward to, however, was the following morning. Sasuke's tone had implied he would ask her to leave, and Sakura honestly didn't know how she would deal with it. On one hand, she felt like staying with Sasuke was a good idea. Although he was monstrously powerful, he was only one man, after all. Being outnumbered, alone, and constantly hunted was not easy on the mind. The battle against the strange group of four ninja two days prior had proven that. Clearly, Sasuke was capable of making mistakes, and as long as he refused to unleash his full power, there was a very real possibility that he might be killed.

Sakura mentally reviewed everything she had seen so far. From what she could tell, Sasuke was constantly under attack. Everything about his habits, his methods, and his attitude practically screamed it. Sakura could only imagine what that was like, and she was certain she would not have been able to deal with the stress as well as he.

Then again, Sakura mused, he has practice with misery, doesn't he?

Hell, maybe that was the exactly the way he liked it. As much as she hated to entertain the thought, it was quite possible that the tragic events of Sasuke's life had rendered him unable to function like a normal person. With this possibility in mind, Sakura redoubled her efforts to solve the puzzle of whether or not she should leave. If the Uchiha was determined to be relentlessly asexual, aromantic, asocial, and (until recently), amoral, then what was it of her concern?

Oh, who was she kidding? Sakura knew there was no way she could give up on the man. Cursing her stubbornness, she briefly asked herself if there was some way she might be able to 'fix' him. She brushed the urge aside just as quickly: its was childish, immature, and worst of all…unrealistic.

"Sakura…" she heard Sasuke ask inquisitively.

She stopped, realizing that her hands were clenched in frustration. It would have been easy to mistake the gesture for nervousness.

"We should be wary of further attacks, but at this point, I think it isn't too much of a concern. This method of disguise works most of the time."

"Well, it won't work if you go around saying suspicious things like that," Sakura shot back teasingly.

Sasuke scoffed. "If anyone was watching us before, they would be following us now, in which case, they overheard everything and the plan won't work anyway. We'll either be immediately attacked when the moment is opportune, or not at all."

Sakura nodded. It was hard to deny his reasoning, yet she wished he was better at taking jokes.

The duo continued for several more minutes, making casual progress across the wide grassland stretched between multiple forests housing the village they sought. Before long they could see it up ahead, albeit as a vague blur several miles away.

Sakura scanned the environment as they walked, enjoying the gentle breeze and the way it rustled the brush, creating a calm, natural-sounding rhythm. It was strangely serene, even though the terrain was barren, save for the simple fields of dull grass and occasional mounds of dirt.

The kunoichi's worries began to melt away. She found herself forgetting the stressful, workaholic lifestyle she had found for herself at the Leaf Village. She told herself that it was the vacation to such a peaceful place far away from hospital duties and the responsibility of saving patient's lives.

But deep down, she knew that it was Sasuke's presence that calmed her. He was what she had needed, plain and simple. It was a hard truth to face, but one Sakura decided to embrace. Was there any use fighting destiny? In fighting one's true nature?

Subconsciously, her hand began to drift closer to Sasuke's. He must not have been paying attention, because she was able to wrap it around his.

However, the male shinobi broke the contact almost instantly, as if her touch had seared his skin. "What are you doing?" he asked with sheer disgust.

Sakura looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I just thought it would be more realistic if we, you know…" she tried to say.

Sasuke shook his head, a serious look on his face. "It's unnecessary. Please stop. There will be time for that later, in the village."

"Ok," Sakura acquiesced. His rejection had hurt her, even if it hadn't been surprising.

"At least answer my questions, then," she proposed. "I want to know more about what you've been up to all this time."

Sasuke seemed to mull over her suggestion. It was only when Sakura had given up on receiving a reply that he had finally decided to answer her. "Specifically?" he asked simply.

"Tell me about some of your battles," Sakura clarified. "If you're comfortable with it, that is. Are you really under attack this often?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yes. Even with various layers and methods of spreading disinformation, many people figure it out."

"How often?"

"It depends," Sasuke answered curtly. "Sometimes it's just a bunch of young, brash ninjas eager to prove themselves. Other times, it's desperate shinobi who claim they need my eyes for their 'righteous cause'. That type of stuff happens at least once a week, maybe more. It has become more tiring than you can imagine."

"And the other times?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shook his head. "I lack proof, but the others seem guided by an unseen intelligence. They're much less random…more coordinated; like those four. Those types have shown up every other month or so, like clockwork."

Sakura frowned, a chill racing down her spine. What the dark-haired shinobi had implied was a frightening to say the least. She had her doubts, though. It was quite possible that Sasuke was just being paranoid. On the other hand, the kunoichi found it difficult to ignore the surgical skill and efficiency displayed by the four ninja they had recently faced after re-uniting, a team they had barely managed to defeat.

"I suppose it's possible, Sasuke," Sakura found herself saying, deciding to reserve her judgement for the time being. She was there to evaluate Sasuke's condition on behalf of the Leaf just as much as she was there to satisfy the desires of her heart. "Anything else that comes to mind?"

"Those I have interrogated universally show signs of suppressed memory," Sasuke cryptically explained. "And that's not counting those who have committed suicide through secretive methods."

Sakura gasped in surprise. "Really?" she asked.

Sasuke nodded without making eye contact. "Yes, it's true," he explained. "Although it amounts to little more than intuition, technically."

Time passed as the female ninja mulled over everything she had just heard. The sun continued to blaze overhead, the wind playing its eerie song of dancing grass. The vast emptiness of the scene seemed to take on a new character entirely, emphasizing the emptiness and vulnerability of Sasuke's life on the run. Meanwhile, the comparatively dark forest behind them seemed to embody the looming danger of unknown enemies and the deep-rooted scars of the past.

"So, in other words," Sakura carefully began, "…you think someone may be targeting you. Someone who has the resources and skills to track your location, bribe or manipulate powerful shinobi into coming after you, and equipping them with the means to conceal their existence."

"It sounds like conspiracy when you put it that way," Sasuke quipped wryly. "Something Naruto would say."

Sakura chuckled slightly. "I guess so…still, it's worth investigating."

Sasuke shot her a glance. "Not exactly."

"What makes you say that?" a surprised Sakura asked.

"I have better things to do."

"Oh, do you now, Mr. Important?"

"Yes," Sasuke curtly stated, showing no reaction to her playful jibe. Then he was quiet for a long time, as if trying to decide whether or not to tell her.

"Were you going to tell me what that is, or just act all moody?" the kunoichi shot back.

"I'm investigating everything I can about Kaguya," Sasuke gave in. "Especially any information related to the Otsuki clan in general and their possible plans."

Sakura's mouth made an 'O' shape. Suddenly it all made sense. No wonder the Uchiha had been so secretive. Delving into unknowable and dangerous mysteries, such as those that pertained to the godlike clan of aliens known only as Otsuki, was undoubtedly dangerous business.

Sakura suddenly found herself thinking about the span of years since Sasuke had left the village for the second time. To her, the interval had been unbearable; she had missed him dearly and fallen into a deep depression. Yet the experience had at least been relatively safe and peaceful. Sasuke's time, on the other hand, must have been filled with countless near-fatal wounds, a grueling schedule of traveling, fighting and training, a complete lack of free time, and social isolation. Without a doubt, the man had probably worked even harder than Naruto, not to mention the fact that what he was doing was far more important for the world at large.

"Listen…" Sasuke suddenly blurted, his voice interrupting her thoughts, "…after today…don't stay with me. Don't follow me, just forget about me. It's safer that way. My path is not a pleasant one." As he spoke, the Uchiha stopped and gave the Haruno a serious look.

Sakura gulped. "But, Sasuke…" she began, "…if that's really true, then won't you need me?"

Sasuke looked away for a moment, then starred deeply into her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. This is my path; a path of redemption. I may die. Painfully. And if I do, then it would be justice."

To say that Sakura was paralyzed by the callousness of his words would have been a massive understatement. Her blood ran cold as if it had been turned to ice. Her heart pounded in her chest once more, and she felt moisture in her eyes. There were a thousand things she wanted to say to the Uchiha, swirling within her mind like a passionate hurricane of raw emotion. A thousand things Sakura wanted to explain to him, to make him understand what a self-righteous, selfish idiot he was being. Try as she might, however, the kunoichi could not make any of them leave her mouth. It was all she could do to silently fight the urge to cry while smashing something into a million pieces…preferably Sasuke himself. Her face became a forced mask of stoicism, though Sasuke's sigh indicated that some expression must have leaked from it.

"Someone's coming," the Uchiha deflected while rolling his eyes. "Act natural."

Sakura saw that he was correct. Two people had emerged from around a bend farther along the road. One was a beautiful woman in her twenties wearing a yukata, and the other was a plainly-dressed man carrying a stick. His attire was merely a transformation jutsu, while hers was not. Clearly, the male was a shinobi…although his reason for traveling with an ordinary citizen was anyone's guess…and no one's business.

"Oh Shun, you're hilarious!" Sakura blurted mirthfully while seizing Sasuke's hand in an iron-clad grip. She leaned her body against his with overly exaggerated infatuation as she laughed, her anger and hurt channeling itself into a catharsis of fantasy.

Sasuke flinched, clearly aggravated beyond measure. He didn't pull away from her, though; doing so would have meant shattering their carefully-crafted illusion. And much to his credit, the moody shinobi didn't push back against her vindictive death grip with hostility of his own, though the impulse was certainly tempting. Instead, he bore the misery with the same stoicism with which he had accepted the risks of his chosen path.

"You know that's why you love me," Sasuke managed, a forced smile appearing on his face. It looked authentic; almost creepy, in fact. Sakura would have found the whole situation amusing if she hadn't been so upset.

She joined in Sasuke's awkward smile as the other couple passed them with wary looks on their faces. Sakura briefly worried that their emotional outbursts may have blown their cover, but on second thought, she decided that making the other shinobi uncomfortable likely played in their favor.

The awkward moment eventually passed, and the duo stopped smiling. Sakura leaned away from the Uchiha, but did not let go of his hand.

"Let's continue like this," Sasuke said with a wince. "We're getting close, anyway."

"Yes, let's, Sasuke-kun," Saskura said with feigned cheerfulness, emphasizing the honorific.

Sasuke frowned, proving that the gesture had had the intended affect. The satisfaction eased Sakura's pain, though she couldn't help but feel guilty about it. Sasuke's closeness provided some small measure of comfort as well, though she was unable to fully enjoy that, either. A dark stormcloud of uncertainty had settled over her soul, muddling her myriad of feelings and complicating her thoughts.

Things had been easier back at the village. The pain of missing Sasuke had seemed unbearable at times, but the sting of rejection, she had recently learned, was far worse. When the kunoichi had been near him in the old days, she had always felt a glimmer of hope. Now Sakura was beginning to realize that that hope was merely a drug, a beautiful lie, an addiction numbing her to harsh reality. The more of it she received, the more she needed more. Sakura was smart enough to see that such a cycle could not be sustained. As bad as things were now, as they had been before, as even worse they would be in the near future, they would pale in comparison to the eventual, terrible crash if she didn't cut herself off soon.

What have I gotten myself into? Sakura asked herself for what felt like the hundredth time in the past few days.

"It would have been nice," the pink-haired woman mused stoically, slackening her grip to a much more reasonable strength.

At first, Sasuke did not respond. As time passed and the couple began to walk closer to the hot spring resort, she began to think he hasn't going to answer at all.

"What would have?" Sasuke ventured.

Sakura emphatically shook her head, looking down to cover her closeness to sobbing.

"I'm sorry," she heard Sasuke say to her side.

The comment seemed utterly surreal to her. "For what?" she half laughed at herself, half complained. I'm the one who keeps running back to you, Sakura thought, even though I know what's going to happen every time. Kami, I'm still a foolish little girl after all.

Silence.

Sakura didn't look up at Sasuke: she was sure that his gaze would have been emotionless and cold. Like everything else, trying to read or understand him was pointless. The Uchiha was most likely staring at her with a combination pity and contempt, anyway. The kunoichi desperately did not want to see that.

The walk was long; seemingly stretching on for an eternity as Sasuke refused to elaborate. It seemed his patience had finally worn thin.