Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Sasuke Uchiha who was consumed with thoughts of the nights earlier occurrences, the task he had blindly accepted, the anger of the villagers but most of all the pain and fury of Sakura.
"I had to go! I had to avenge my family!" Sasuke thought as he paced, unaware of the approaching ninja "I had no choice, my family needed to be avenged! Right?" Sasuke gazed up at the sky, this was the first time since the chunnin exams he had questioned he need for revenge "I did what I had to do, she wouldn't understand" he muttered out loud before a deafening roar met his ears.
"SASUKE!!"
Instantly moving into a defensive position, Sasuke's mind was racing "ambush?" he barely turned his head in time to see a great orange blur race right into him, fist colliding with his jaw sending him flying.
"You left to get stronger; you come back unable to block a simple punch" Sasuke raised his head from the ground to see his attacker in disbelief, the voice only to familiar in his ears "this can't be the same Sasuke Uchiha!"
"You stayed to continue to be weak; yet here you are the number one knuckle head ninja in all your power" Sasuke rose from the ground dusting himself off " this can't be the same Naruto" Sasuke met his gaze with a smirk "been taking care of my forehead protector for me? I figure I'll be needing it now" just as quickly as the words left his mouth Sasuke felt himself been pulled into a bone crushing hug.
The ground was cold and damp with morning dew. But few inside and outside the village slept, especially not Sakura Haruno who was pacing near the Akimichi compound.
Seething yet sad.
Fierce yet fragile.
Convinced yet uncertain.
"It's not fair! Why did you have to come back now? I was finally getting somewhere?" Sakura ranted inwardly "Why did you have to come back?! Why are you so selfish?" yelling at nothing specific.
"Troublesome woman, well you see, now's about the time Choji and I like to get in some early morning training before breakfast" Shikamaru's voice snapped Sakura out of her rant. "But then I don't think you were actually asking me, as training doesn't seem that selfish" Sakura smile apologetically at the genius Nara heir.
"Oh sorry Shika, I was just thinking out loud" Sakura sat down and looked away expression down cast.
"What a drag! Now you probably want to talk bout it" Shikamaru stated joining her on ground.
"There's nothing to talk about, plus you have training to do"
"Troublesome, just like a woman not to say what she really thinks. But chances are" Shikamaru paused as he lay down on his back to gaze up at the clouds "that you were thinking bout Sasuke" Shikamaru took a sideways glance at Sakura then continued "Do you still- do you still love him?" Sakura's eyes grew wide in surprise then looked to the floor again.
"I don't know" she lay down next to Shikamaru, her splayed hair creating a contrast against the natural colours of earth and flora. "I don't really think I was really ever in love with him, but –" Sakura's voice trailed off and Shikamaru sat back up and stare down into her eyes.
"Give it time, I know it hurts but this time, don't try go through it alone, it's always harder that way" Shikamaru looked away
"You went through it alone…You still love her don't you, I know I miss her" Sakura place a hand on Shikamaru's arm "I won't go through my pain alone if you won't" the with a half smile Sakura rose up from the ground holding her arm out stretch to Shikamaru "So what do you say shall we go get Choji and start some training?"
Sasuke and Naruto sat leaning against trees, Sasuke had managed to escape the fearful hug and began listening to Naruto rant about everything that had happened to him and the village, Sasuke listened and laughed along.
"So I down in this little village on this mission, and Pervy Sage walks into this bar and immediately comes running out of there being chased by the old hag with no teeth and a broo-" Sasuke cut Naruto off mid-sentence
"I'm sorry" his words seemingly surreal in Naruto's ears, it was like the birds and insects themselves had stopped to listen as the silence grew over the brief pause "I'm sorry for what I did to you and I-I-I'm sorry" Sasuke looked to the ground smiling regretfully "I just-"
"Sasuke"
"I know it might be too little too late but I am" he paused and looked up at Naruto and exhaled "sorry"
as if it were a point to how much Naruto had grown he did not rant on about how the word sorry was little in comparison to how much pain and suffering everyone Naruto loved had gone through because of Sasuke's selfish acts, or even that he understood and forgave him he simply nodded and whispered "I know"
That's all for today readers the next chapter should be slightly more exciting as Sasuke learns of his first mission. Please R&R as I do like to know what you like and don't like about this story so far, even what you think the missions should be as I have 2 already planned but only one is unchangeable for the plot line.
Until later
Jenai
