He remembered sitting in that office. Watching as a group of people, who he could easily slaughter, debated his very existence.
The voluptuous blonde Hokage was red-faced and swearing, demanding those winkle ridden sacks of bones they called elders show her the respect she deserved as their leader.
Another blonde sat next to him, his own cerulean eyes glaring at the group in front of him. His long blonde hair framing his older, handsome face in a way that made him aware of how much Naruto now resembled his revealed father; the fourth Hokage.
Behind him sat a passive jonin, staring at his book with nothing but indifference in his one visible eye. To why Kakashi had bothered to come was beyond his understanding, he had once had a deep bond with his sensei, but that had been a century ago; or so it seemed.
And the last, the one presence that both excited and confused him stood off to the side.
To say that his female team mate had merely 'grown' was an understatement that deserved the highest punishment. Sakura had not only grown, she had absolutely blossomed; in the true nature of the very flower she was named for.
Her long hair was not the dark pink he had assumed it was. It was incredibly light, a silver-rose colour that looked oh so innocent. It shone in the light of the sun that poured through the window she was standing at.
He didn't understand the expression that adorned her beautiful features. It was one of anxiousness, of unbridled fury, and the deepest sorrow.
Her elfin features looked wrong twisted in such a terrible way. Her plump lip was held by her pear white teeth, the soft flesh looked tender; as she had been biting it for some time.
Her cheeks were flushed with anxiety, giving her pale skin a flash of colour that looked as if her cheeks had been kissed with petals.
Her eyes, the eyes that no longer held unwavering adoration for him, startled him. The shone in their depths, they hid everything from him. And yet he could read her so easily. But those emeralds, those deep green, suffocating eyes were so tragic to him, his heart clenched in his otherwise uncaring chest.
He stared at her, unabashed.
The body leaning against the windowsill was not the same one he knew 6 years ago, she hadn't grown in height per-say, but her body; to him resembled that of a goddess.
Her petite shoulders held her regal head delicately, the curve of her collar bones gave way to a blemish free chest, and her breasts had swelled, pushing against the fabric of her red mid-waist top. Her arms were slender, the muscle beneath her iridescent skin moved fluidly as she shifted. They rested in front of her torso, one hand resting on the other forearm. It gave him full view of the curves that followed after her developed chest.
Her waist was tiny, emphasized by her small top. Her skin there was not flawless, it was marred by scars; everyone he found tantalizing in its own way. Her hips flowed out from her waist in a delectable way, those hips were perfect to him; they told of her womanhood, of her ability to bear sons.
Those long legs held his attention for a bit longer, strong and sure… and yet they looked like legs he had seen on a dancer, not ones of a kunoichi. He kept marvelling at her perfection, at each scar, at each flaw… They told stories of the horrors her body had seen, had prevented, had endured; all for the sake of the people discussing his mortality.
Her eyes met his suddenly, and narrowed in suspicion. He dare not look away from her, he was here, he was back in Konoha; ready to make good for his sins.
When he reached the gates, his blonde team mate had embraced him; stopping ANBU from killing him on site. Kakashi had patted his head in an uncharacteristic gesture, mumbling about Naruto finally being happy.
But Sakura, sweet Sakura… She had stood there.
They had felt his chakra from an hour away, he made it a point to stay calm and make his chakra remorseful.
Her eyes had never wavered, just stared at him coldly. It wasn't as if he had expected her to run into his arms like Naruto had. But he had at least expected her to say something to her.
And he remembered all the times he had called her weak, useless, crybaby… All the times he had aimed to kill when they met in the past 6 years. He had never been able to go through with the slaughter of such a beautiful creature.
And then when she walked forward, and healed his cuts without a word… He had thought that maybe this was her way … But she walked away, leaving him dumbstruck.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" Tsunade's voice barked, bringing him to attention.
He turned his gaze to the elder kunoichi, only to be met with a resounding smack across his face.
"You are not sentenced to death you arrogant brat. But you are stripped of your chakra for the next six months, and you are to be monitored at all times by one of team 7. Also, you are expected to accompany me out to address the village of Konoha as I explain your return. Itachi already went through these 6 months ago; your brother awaits your return in the Uchiha compound."
When he had learned the treacherous betrayal of his clan, of the brainwashing the children of his generation had undergone… When he had learned of his innocence, he had finally forgiven his brother. The Uchiha clan had been full of evil minds; using the magakenyo sharingan to turn mere babes into killers… how Sasuke had escaped such tragedy was a complete mystery to everyone.
"Now, please excuse yourselves. I assume you all have a lot of catching up to do, ne?" The Hokage winked at them.
Catching up was another word for what had happened next…