3. THE UNCERTAINITY THE FUTURE HOLDS AND THE CHANGES WE BEAR IN THE MEANTIME
The guards could see a person appearing from the trees.
The cloaked person viewed the buildings appearing within her sight. She landed on the grass from the tree. Her backpack was filled with necessities which included parchments, potions, herbs that she had purchased the day before.
She walked towards the gate that guarded the western part of the city and was making her way towards the gate but a voice stopped her.
"Miss, the checking's right here" called out a guard.
She noticed two guards sitting in a small office near the gate, and some others standing in a corner.
"Hey" said she with a pause. "Mind saying your name?" The guard rushed through his words and continued his search for some documents in a cupboard. She muttered her name.
He searched the pages of the documents looking for her name, and started to read it when he had found the information. "You are a citizen of this nation, but" he stopped his words as the person thrust a piece of note to him. The guard was puzzled but after a while of examination, she was let free.
The old oak door was being knocked. The person entered the room. Her face and torso was covered with a cloak. She was tall, and her hair was cut litter more than her shoulders. She seated herself facing the Hokage. She let the hood fall on her back as she revealed her face.
"You've arrived earlier than I thought" said the Hokage as she examined the person before her. "Well, I'm full of surprises" said the person carelessly as she viewed some birds near the window. "The Village council has been convinced on your case" replied the Hokage with thoughtfulness. "I get it".
The Hokage discussed a few important things with her before letting her out. "Take care of yourself and, welcome back" said Tsunade. "Sakura' Tsunade stopped to think over her words and added"you've changed." Sakura looked at Tsunade and remarked "Haven't we all?"
Sasuke Uchiha woke up in a room filled with candle lights. The last thing he remembered was that of noises and chaos outside his room. It was before he was drugged by some guards and he was very drained and weak to tackle them. Looking around he was sure, he was not in the underground base. The air did not smell of must or dirt. He tried getting up from the bed but couldn't and realized that he wouldn't be able to continue with the same fragile health and mind for a long time.
The door opened and a person walked towards the Uchiha. She was a very old woman. "Son, I guess your name is Sasuke Uchiha" she remarked sternly. He did not reply. "You are an Uchiha for sure. Your attitude fits the description." replied the lady. She wrote a number in the paper that was stuck on the wall beside the bed. "What is this place?" his voice was weak but commanding. The woman answered back. "You'll find out soon" She shut the door as she exited the room.
"Did you see those ninjas being brought to Konoha?" asked Niko to the shopkeeper. "No, but I've heard about them." said Miyoko. The shopkeeper was Niko's gossiping friend. "The rumor is that it is a kind of a rehabilitation program" replied Niko. "Are you kidding? "asked Miyoko as she packed some tomatoes for a customer. Their talks soon shifted to an upcoming tea exhibition.
Sakura heard the conversation as she bought a water bottle. She started walking away from the shop. Nobody had noticed her. She walked towards a building that looked much more like a flat. Sakura knocked the door and waited for an answer.
A tall guy with blonde hair opened the door. He continued to stare at Sakura for some time before bursting out. "Where were you all these years?"
"That's no way to welcome your friend" replied Sakura sarcastically in a smooth tone as she entered his flat. "Oh my god, Sakura. You are back" "Of course, I am' she said bluntly , " I'm not a hologram or your hallucination" she said waving her hand in front of Naruto's face to snap him out of his dreamy look.
"Where were you?" asked Naruto. "Well , all I can say you is I was safe and at a place where I belonged" she paused looking at him and continued " You're packing?" "I hope you heard about some stupid program the council has made" "What's it about?" "I don't know. I asked Tsunade, but she refused to tell me" "Where are the others?" questioned Sakura. "You mean, Neji, Ino, Shikamaru ("The others"). They've left Konoha according to their orders to go to the other Nations," and added "But Hinata is coming with me, her orders are same as mine." "Where are you headed to?" "Sand". He replied in a quick tone. "I guess you'll have fun with Gaara" "I hope his orders are to stay in Sand, he was removed from his post as a Hokage, after the war" "But ", she was stopped. "I know it doesn't make sense, the Council of nation is behind it"
"Your flat looks really tidy" said Sakura looking around and added "which it usually lacks."
Naruto was packing the last of his things which he thought could be put up for a sale. He looked at Sakura and she understood it was time for him to leave. She hugged him.
"Sakura, I've lot to ask you" said Naruto with an uncertainty. "Don't bother about what happened to me when I was gone" Sakura said with a serious look, but said with a lightness"Guess what, my order is to stay in Konoha. I hope you are jealous" Naruto bid his farewell to Sakura. He had no idea how long his stay was to be in sand. He like the others did not like the idea but had no other choice but to follow it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I KNOW THAT WAS A LATE UPDATE. I WAS BUSY(I'M KIDDING, I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE FANFIC)
