"Sasuke, you understand why we can't do it, right?"
"Whaa? But come on Granny! You can't do that to—"
"Naruto." Sakura hushed the blond boy with a smack to his arm.
They waited for Sasuke's reply…
Team 7 all aligned in front of the Hokage's desk, silent and unmoving.
Tsunade spoke up first.
"Sasuke, as long ago as it was—and I am sorry for your loss—the Uchiha massacre had left you to be the only member of your clan, leaving the district practically empty. And when you left the village, the Uchiha district was pretty much left as unused space to the village." She slid an old map of the village at the end of her desk for the rest of Team 7 to see. "The Hidden Leaf Village has grown quite a bit since then. It would be a waste to rebuild this district back for your clan." She circled the district with her finger. "This space should be used for the public and smaller or non-clan associated communities."
It was Kakashi who spoke next from the group. "Are you sure about this? This is a—"
"Stop questioning me Kakashi!" Tsunade scrunched up her nose. "You're still not taking my job for a few more months! Stop treating me like some crazy old woman who can't make decisions!"
"But Baa-chan, you—"
"Naruto! Shut up!" Sakura clamped Naruto's mouth shut with her own hand, wrapping her other arm over Naruto's shoulder, standing on her tippy-toes.
Did Sakura ever mention how tall Naruto had suddenly become? Cause he'd gotten taller. Taller, but still annoying and disruptive as ever.
But it was too late for Sakura's attempts. They could already see the veins popping out from the Hokage's head.
"Look! I won't explain this again, so listen!"
Sakura froze, and both her and Naruto pushed away from each other before standing still. Sakura could feel everyone else's gaze on them—Tsunade, Shizune, and even Sasuke and Kakashi.
The girl couldn't stop cringing. Why did she even butt-in like that?
God, she was such a child.
Once when it seemed quiet enough, Tsunade sighed. "Again, I'm sorry it had to come this Sasuke, but we have to consider the village." She pulled out a scroll from the corner of her desk before rolling it out. "Many people have sacrificed a lot during the war—many of them still without a home and now without families. The reconstruction of this village is crucial to these people." She pointed to the scroll, the newest map of the village. "I can only offer you an eighth of the district for your home, but we are working on expanding the village within the year. Kakashi can give you the rest of the land then—"
"No need." Sasuke cut her off. "I'm fine with just the one-eighth portion. I don't want the rest."
The other team members suddenly turned at his response.
"Sasuke, are you really okay with that?" Kakashi was the only one to ask.
The Uchiha nodded.
"Sasuke." Naruto moved closer to his friend, grabbing him from the shoulder. "You don't mean that, right? I mean, that's your home—the last memory of your family!"
Sasuke shrugged Naruto's hand off his shoulder. "I'd rather give that land to the village than save it for the dead. Besides, I don't deserve any of that land. And I don't want to continue the Uchiha clan on the idea that they're entitled to anything. I wouldn't need a plot of land that big anyway. I have no need for it."
Sakura's lips trembled. She wanted to speak up. Sasuke deserved everything that was the Uchiha district. He was entitled to it. His family and ancestors worked hard to build that community—Curse of Hatred be damned.
She didn't know the right words to say to Sasuke though.
But Naruto spoke up anyway. "Sasuke, you've helped this village enough just by saving it. If you're not going to take back all the land, then we'll do it for you." The blond looked over to Kakashi and back behind him to Sakura. The kunoichi nodded her head when she met his eyes. "And don't worry about the future of the Uchiha clan cause that's a long way from now." Naruto pulled out a shameless grin. "Besides Teme, you should be more worried about finding a girl for that now that you have to compete with this hero." Naruto chuckled loudly to himself before Sasuke pulled him by the shirt, ready to punch him.
Sakura turned her head, unable to look at the two bickering boys. Their pity fighting was honestly giving her a migraine, but they wouldn't stop.
At this rate, Sakura wouldn't be surprised if her two teammates started the next Shinobi War over something stupid Naruto said. Hopefully, she wouldn't be forced to take sides.
"Wait! Sasuke, I'm sorry, I didn't really mean it! Sakura-chan's the only girl for me, I swear!" Naruto shriveled in the Uchiha's grasp when his anger did not go away. Sakura felt a bit irritated herself, being dragged into the conversation.
All of sudden, though, Naruto froze with wide eyes, and his face eased from his previous features. His back straightened almost immediately. And after reading his genuine expression, Sasuke released to jinchuuriki.
Naruto was quiet… awkwardly quiet. Everyone was caught off guard by his sudden shift in weird behavior.
Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit frightened too. This wasn't like Naruto at all.
"Naruto, everything alright?" Tsunade asked from her desk.
"I-I…" Naruto stumbled on his words, holding a confused expression before suddenly facing the door that led outside the Hokage's office. He turned to Sasuke and then to Sakura. "Do you guys feel that? Sakura, you feel that, right?"
Sakura turned to Sasuke, but he didn't acknowledge her. Instead, his eyes lingered to the door, just like Naruto.
"Naruto, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't feel anything." Sakura said, a bit concerned.
Was there just a draft or something?
No, that wasn't it. "Naruto, what are you talking about? There's nothing." Sasuke turned to Naruto, skeptical.
But Naruto suddenly rushed to the door. "I have to go guys! Sorry."
Everyone yelled at him to come back, but the boy left the room in nearly a flash.
Sakura barely followed him. She nearly rushed passed the door before—
"Sakura, wait." It was Tsunade. The kunoichi turned to her mentor. "I still need you here." The women turned to Sasuke then. "Sasuke, go make sure the idiot is okay. You and Kakashi are dismissed."
Sasuke gave a simple nod before rushing out of the room to catch up with his teammate.
Kakashi, though, didn't make a move from where he stood. He didn't seem like he wanted to leave.
"Kakashi?" Tsunade interlaced her fingers together, before tilting her head over to him.
"I want to hear your plans for the village's mandatory evaluation," Kakashi said to her.
The Hokage sighed. "Give me a break Kakashi. I'm not gonna retire for three more months and here you are reminding me about taking my job." She smiled at him. "You can hear it, but I'm sure you know where this conversation will go." Tsunade turned to Sakura.
"U-umm…" Sakura froze.
"Sakura, we've been stuck on whether or not we should open up a second psychiatric ward in the hospital. You know that Shizune and I are for the evaluation, but most of the village is half-and-half on the idea of sharing their trauma. Some of the village clan officials don't feel comfortable about this plan—"
"And you want one of us to give you the final 'okay' that will actually push this project forward." Kakashi didn't even sugarcoat it.
The Hokage scoffed at Kakashi, turning her head to him. "I'm just surprised that you all haven't agreed to , Sakura, and Naruto don't approve of this proposal, but you all must know what this village just came back from."
Sakura did know what the village was going through. They just came back from a war. Their village was destroyed as well, and though Konohagakure was in the process of rebuilding, Sakura knew nothing would be the same. Everything was different now.
But that didn't mean that no one could adapt to it.
"I don't know Shishou-sama, but Naruto and I thought that it would be best to leave people be—let them heal on their own. I mean, the two of us invited all our friends to dinner a few days ago and they all had a fun time. We honestly think that a little peace is what the village needs."
No one spoke after Sakura. She assumed that they were all taking in the information she said. The silence left though was awkward and long. Sakura's attention turned to the floor as she began toying with her fingers.
"Alright then," Tsunade cleared her throat. "I know there's no point changing your minds. You two are more stubborn than I'd like, but I will accept your decision nonetheless. You're both dismissed." The Hokage scooted closer to her desk and returned her attention back to her work.
"I'll lead them out," Shizune said.
Sakura and Kakashi both gave a slight bow and Tsunade waved them off. Shizune held the door open and followed them out of the room.
Sakura let out a sigh.
"Long day, huh?" Kakashi asked.
"More like a long week," Sakura laughed. "That whole meeting was too hard to handle. And I don't know what Sasuke's thinking about not claiming the Uchiha district."
"Really? I thought you were more worried about Tsunade's proposal."
Sakura turned to him. "I am! But not that much."
"Aah." Kakashi nodded.
Shizune continued to walk behind them.
When they reached the outside of the hokage tower, Sakura and Kakashi gave a quick goodbye before they parted separate ways.
"Actually Sakura, can I talk to you?" Shizune asked the kunoichi.
Sakura turned back slowly. "Umm, sure. What do you want to talk about?"
"I actually want you to reconsider your decision for the psychiatric evaluations, cause I really think we're hurting people without it." Shizune said. She straightened her sleeves.
"I don't understand," Sakura crossed her brows. "Tsunade-shishou was alright with my decision. Why are you trying to change my mind?"
Shizune stepped closer to the girl and grabbed her arm. It caught Sakura by surprise.
"I know that she values your opinion because you and Kakashi are both close friends to her and you've helped save the world from Kaguya, but that doesn't give you two the right to deny the rest of the village some mental help."
Sakura couldn't stop her mouth from dropping in shock. Was this really happening? Shizune never acted like this before.
"Shizune, I'm sorry but Konoha has been in wars before. Tsunade was in the Third Shinobi war, and they never proposed mandatory psychiatric evaluations then. This village has been through worse." Sakura moved her arm away from Shizune's grip.
"You don't understand Sakura. Do you know what it's like to be in the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Sakura paused. She couldn't answer that question.
"It's suppose to be the perfect dream. I know."
"No you don't!"
Sakura was startled, and so was Shizune herself. There was a brief moment of silence before Shizune let out a sigh. She turned her back to the pink-haired girl. "Tsunade never told me her dream, so I snuck into her journals."
"Shizune, you can't—"
"She didn't write anything about her dream, but she left a passage about Nawaki," Shizune said.
Sakura didn't speak.
Tsunade-shishou was writing about her younger brother?
"She wrote about how Nawaki would have grown up to act just like Naruto is now. I can only imagine what her dream had been. I'm sure if Nawaki was there, Dan and Jiraiya were in it too." Shizune turned back to Sakura, her face heated in red. "Oh please Sakura. Kami didn't want us to live two lifetimes, but that's what we did." Her eyes were watering. "I can remember my whole life in the Infinite Tsukuyomi. I remember my childhood and the moment I died from old age, and I'm sure Tsunade remembers it too," Shizune said as tears trickled down her cheeks. "I hear her crying when she thinks no one's around. She just crumbles the instant she's alone."
"Shizune." Sakura grabbed Shizune's hands.
"Sakura, you don't understand," Shizune said, squeezing the tears out from her eyes, "Lady Tsunade needs this proposal to go through, because she's too stubborn to ask for help by herself. She can't take being vulnerable again. But if there's a mandatory psychiatric evaluation for everyone, she can partake in trauma care just like everyone else. She won't feel weak for seeking help if it's required from everyone, and neither will anyone else."
Sakura was shocked. She never had seen Shizune go off like that. But now it made sense. At least why Tsunade won't let go of this proposal. The Hokage wanted an outlet without sticking out like a sore thumb for everyone to see.
And Shizune was right. Though Sakura did know the effects of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, she never experienced it herself. She didn't know the traumas caused from the infinite realities.
But Sakura and the rest of Rookie 9 seemed fine, and they lived their realities in Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Sakura knitted her brows together.
The trauma must be different for everyone based on their dreams. Everyone was unique to one another.
"You're right Shizune," Sakura nodded to her distressed friend. "I'll meet up with her later tonight and tell her that I've changed my mind. But right now I just need to find Naruto and Sasuke."
Shizune didn't argue, lifting her red face. "I'm so glad I convinced you to reconsider Sakura. Thank you." Shizune hugged the girl before her tightly, and Sakura returned the hug. It was all she could do.
Shizune sounded so desperate. Sakura wasn't even sure if Shizune was convincing Sakura to help Tsunade. It sounded like she wanted the help herself.
Sakura hugged her tighter before letting Shizune go. "I'll see you later then, neh?"
"Of course. I'll be with Lady Tsunade until then."
Sakura let Shizune return back to the hokage tower, and Sakura made to the main road.
The village was more lively than usual in the main market. The street was crowded and the smell of hot foods, shifting through the air. Sakura could hear construction in the distance from the outer parts of Konoha.
How was she going to find Naruto and Sasuke in this mess? She never thought that they would dash out of the Hokage's office like the way they did. Where did they go? Sakura couldn't even feel their chakra signature.
Damn. Sakura should have spoken to them sooner. It wasn't her fault though. She woke up to Kakashi tapping on her bedroom window, informing her just then about the last minute meeting with the Hokage.
The kunoichi continued to passed the shops and restaurants. The day was still bright out, and it still seemed early enough for everyone to go out for breakfast.
She could check if Naruto and Sasuke were at Ichiraku's, since Naruto usually would eat from there. And if Sasuke did track him down after Naruto's sudden leave, he would be there too.
Hopefully, she could finally tell the two of them about her sudden visions of Madara, or whatever they were, along with everything else going on with her chakra and pass outs.
Honestly though, she should have told Naruto and Sasuke before, that way, she wouldn't have ended up in this scavenger hunt for them. If only Naruto didn't run out and leave the meeting like that!
Sakura stopped in her tracks.
Come to think about it, what made Naruto act so weird like that all of a sudden? He seemed a bit shock about something he didn't really explain before he rushed out of the hokage's office the way he did.
Did he see Madara too? No. That wouldn't make sense. If he did see Madara, he would have said so clearly. And she would have seen him too.
Maybe he just wanted to skip the rest of the meeting.
Sakura scowled.
That would explain much.
When Sakura arrived to the ramen shop, she didn't have to look hard to realize Naruto and Sasuke weren't there. Unfortunately, the fact that they weren't there just made her search all the more difficult. She was practically back to step one.
Just where could they be?
Maybe Naruto and Sasuke could wait. If they were going to disappear out of the blue, then it'd be best of she just waited for them to come to her. Maybe she should just go back to Tsunade and give her support for the proposal. That would be—
Sakura suddenly stopped her thoughts when someone caught her vision. A little girl in an alley right across from Ichiraku's. The alley was dark, but the sun was still out. Sakura could see the girl combing through her long pastel pink hair, looking around the alley. Her forehead protector was still tied around her forehead.
"Hey!"
The little genin turned to Sakura's direction from the alley.
Sakura stepped forward, pushing past a couple entering the restaurant.
But the little girl bolted, turning past a corner.
"Wait!" Sakura rushed into the alley, following the younger version of herself. But the girl didn't stop, instead, turning around another corner.
Ha! Sakura knew that corner was a dead end. The genin would be trapped with nowhere to run, and maybe then Sakura could get some answers.
Sakura turned the corner into the dead end, but instead of finding the little girl at the end of alley, Sakura looked up to find the pink-haired genin running up the wall.
Damn, Sakura forgot about her perfect chakra control. She never realized how young she was when she mastered it.
The kunoichi rushed the end of the alley, just about ready to run up wall. But Sakura couldn't get one foot up the wall before falling flat on her back.
Her head buzzed with the sudden impact.
No… Her chakra was… Not again.
Sakura quickly pulled herself up and ran out of the alley. When she made it back into the market street, she rushed around the shops and stalls, passing the people along her way.
Crap! Sakura can't lose this girl! Not like this when she had so many questions unanswered.
The pink-haired kunoichi turned to a more crowded street, watching the roofs of the passing buildings for any sign of the little girl. She passed several more buildings but nothing. Sakura nearly thought she lost her younger self before she caught the little girl landing onto the street from a roof further ahead.
Sakura pushed herself faster. "Wait!" She nearly stumbled into a group of people.
No. No, no, no. Sakura had to stop this girl.
How did she come here? And why? Why did the girl come to Sakura now? And why is she coming to her in the form of a child? Did her childhood represent some significance that Sakura was seeing her preteen self? Sakura couldn't remember any important events that happened then. Her most prominent memories included Sasuke getting the curse seal from Orochimaru, and the fight Naruto and Sasuke had on the roof before Kakashi-sensei broke them up. She could remember all the crying she did in those two moments.
She could remember all the tears she had the night Sasuke left…
But those memories weren't directly related to her. And chasing the girl now, Sakura could see the genin's long hair fly through the air behind her. Those memories that Sakura guessed weren't related. Her hair was short in those memories, but the girl before her still had her long, beautiful hair.
No, this girl was representing something before all the chaos that befell Team 7. This Sakura was possibly before Team 7, but Sakura couldn't tell for sure.
"W-wait! L-little girl!" The medic nin nearly bit her tongue before yelling again. "Sakura!" The kunoichi zig-zagged through the crowds, with a lump in her throat.
Calling out her own name, it felt so weird. Sakura hesitated before yelling out for herself again.
But the girl didn't stop.
Sakura groaned. "Someone grab that little girl!" But barely anyone registered them. By the time many of the crowd turned to Sakura with wide eyes, the two girls had already passed them.
She was so close.
Soon enough, the two ran passed the remodeled parts of the village and into an incomplete construction zone. The white concrete was just about placed and dried between the many foundations for homes and other buildings.
"Dammit! Stop following me idiot! That's exactly what he wants!"
Sakura nearly stopped in her tracks.
"Who? Madara? Just stop so you can tell me!" Sakura could feel the fire in her stomach. She was at her limit.
They stumbled into a park, probably a new addition to the village. The grass was green and the trees were full with leaves. Sakura could see some stone benches and picnic tables. This park was likely not open to the public until the construction within the area was finished.
The little girl though ran up the stairs of a highlighted path to a sitting area. Sakura followed her over to it.
And luckily for her, the patio upon the hill left a dead end. The small area decorated with a large centerpiece of flowers and a few benches. Fences surrounded the sitting area, and with Sakura blocking the main entrance, the little runaway had nowhere to go.
Sakura grabbed the little girl by the wrist after she nearly dashed for the fence.
Kami, was nothing going to stop her?
"Hey! Who are you, and why do you look like me?" Sakura tugged the girl until she finally got her attention.
The girl whipped her head to her, panting from the lack of air. "Are you seriously asking me that? I am you, stupid!"
Sakura was taken aback. Did she just say that? Gosh, Sakura never remembered being so rude.
Sakura continued to question the small genin. "I have so many things to ask you. Why were you running away from me? Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"Baka, I am trying to help you," the girl said as she continued to pull her wrist from Sakura's grasp.
Sakura scoffed. "Help me? By trying to run away? Yeah, real nice."
The little girl only became more frantic. "Sakura, please." She started thrashing in the kunoichi's grip. "Get away from me before Madara comes for us. Or he'll get you too!"
"What? Madara?" Sakura tightened her grip on the girl. "So that night with you and him? That was real?"
The young genin didn't answer her, but instead started nearly sobbing. "Sakura don't you see?! This is exactly what he wants! You're playing this out exactly the way he wants."
Sakura grit her teeth together. "Enough is enough! Stop with the charades!" Sakura had nearly lost all patience. "Just tell me already!"
"No! Let me go! You have to leave!"
"No! I have to—"
"Sakura?"
Sakura turned, finding Ino at the top of the concrete stairs that lead to the sitting area. Her face was red, and her eyelashes were wet and stuck together.
"Ino."
The blonde stepped closer. "Sakura, what are you doing here?"
"I—I…" the feeling in her hand disappeared. Sakura turned to find herself all alone, all traces of the little girl gone. "I was just…" She mumbled that last bit before turning to Ino and changing the subject. "Ino, why are you crying?" Sakura didn't even pay attention to the tears until she noticed how red her friend's face was.
"Oh, it's nothing… No worries." Ino wiped off the wet trails on her cheeks with the pads of her fingers.
"No, no." Sakura grabbed Ino by the hands, pulling the two of them to a wooden bench, getting a perfect view of the flower garden in the middle of the sitting area. All thoughts of the little pinkette forgotten as Sakura, comforted her friend. "It's okay Ino. What happened? You can tell me. Did someone hurt you?"
Ino shook her head, keeping her eyes shut. "Sakura please. If I hear more about this, I might just bawl my eyes out."
Sakura shushed her dear friend, pulling her warm, damp hands closer to her lap. "You've said enough Ino. Y—you can cry on me."
And suddenly Sakura found herself wrapping her arms around her dear friend whom could no longer hold back her loud sobs. The blonde haired kunoichi hooked her arms around Sakura as she buried her head in the crook of her friends shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Ino," Sakura said, squeezing the girl tight into her chest. Sakura felt the fabric of her shirt heat up and dampen from the heat and tears. Ino's sobs would not stop.
"He—he," she tried to say. Her chest was jerking from the uncontrollable sobbing. She was radiating heat off of herself like the sun. "I miss him so much."
Sakura pulled her friend by the shoulders, pulling her to arms length. "What? I don't—"
"My dad Sakura!" Ino yelled out, crumbling into her own arms. "My dad is gone. And I can't live one more second without him!"
The pinkette was shocked, water filling her eyes.
"Don't say that Ino… Please…"
She scooted closer to the crying woman, and Ino laid her forehead on Sakura's thigh, near her knee. "I lied Sakura! I lied to you about my reality." She could barely get it out between sobs.
"Your reality? Infinite Tsukuyomi?" Sakura tried to get a clear view of Ino's tear stained face.
Ino suddenly went silent, holding back her cries with nothing more than small sniffs and breaths while Sakura combed her blonde hair back through her fingers. It was all Sakura could do at that moment, admire her long hair and wait for her dear friend.
"I didn't lie about my dream," Ino said, raising her head slowly back up to meet Sakura's eyes. "Sai was there—and Sasuke. They were bickering over me like I said they did. But—" She began sobbing again. "But my dad was there too Sakura! He was there right behind my back, feeling so proud of me!" She wrapped Sakura in her embrace. "I was so happy just listening to him then, but I can't stop thinking about him. I can't believe he's gone from my life!"
Sakura wrapped her fingers around Ino's waist, squeezing it as tightly as she could. Hearing her dear friend sob so harshly, the pink-haired woman couldn't deny the blurriness of her own eyes. If something happened to her own otousan, Sakura knew she wouldn't have been the same. She would have been worse than Ino was now.
"Ino, why didn't you tell me this before? You were putting up a brave face only to hide this. Why didn't you just come to me before Ino? I didn't realize that you were still grieving over your dad."
"How could I have gone to you?" She wiped her tears. "You're so busy enjoying yourself, I didn't want to burden you," Ino said, face puffy and red.
Sakura tilted her head, her lips slightly parted. "Enjoying myself?" Was Ino trying to accuse her of something. "What do you mean?"
Ino didn't reply. She seemed to not have noticed the double-sided meaning behind her own words as she rested her head to Sakura's shoulder. "I see my otousan all the time Sakura. I'm not sure if it's just my kekkei genkai playing tricks on me, or if I'm just not ready to let him go yet Sakura. I see him all the time, especially during the day. We have full-on conversations before I find him gone from my eyes or just realize he's dead. I even made breakfast for him while he was reading in the kitchen once." Ino stared at the flowers and flower bushes before them. "Just the other day he was scolding me for leaving the flower shop in such a mess. I swept up all the petals on the floor before he disappeared again."
The girls didn't speak after that. Ino's tears had dried, but her face was still recovering from the redness. "I wish I had it like you Sakura."
Sakura turned her head to the girl resting on her shoulder. "Me? There's nothing special about me though."
The blonde kunoichi held their hands tighter. "I don't know Sakura, but it seems like everything's going perfectly for you. Sasuke's back, and you've mastered Tsunade-sama's Byakugou seal. You're team is perfectly intact and you're all legendary heroes now." Ino lifted her head from Sakura's shoulder. "Everything's going perfect for you. Honestly Sakura I think this war benefited no one but you."
Sakura stared at her blonde friend, surprised at the claims she was making.
"W-What" Sakura had to hear it again. "The war did me good? Ino, what are you saying?"
"Well," Ino shrugged, her face finally clearing of its redness, "it's not like you lost anything Sakura. And a lot of people lost a lot from the war."
A sudden wave of disgust washed over Sakura, the chill running down her body till her fingers ached. "Ino? Are you serious?" The pink-haired sannin pulled herself away from her friend, face wide in awe. She stood up from the bench and turned back to Ino. "Sasuke and Naruto lost their arms. And I lost Chiyo, Neji—"
"We all lost Neji Sakura," Ino said, raising her head in her slouched sitting position, "and you know that Hinata and Tenten feel that burden more. Lee too!"
Sakura bit her tongue.
It was true. Sakura knew that Neji and herself weren't the closest of friends. At least not compared to Hinata and his team. But they were still friends nonetheless. To think that Ino accused her of not feeling for his death.
Just what kind of person did Ino think her to be?
"I get it." Sakura nodded in an irritated manner. "Me and Neji weren't the greatest friends. His death didn't impact me enough like Hinata and Tenten. But don't think that I don't spend everyday thinking about what this war has done to me. What it's done to Sasuke and Naruto—"
"Exactly!" Ino stood up from the bench, facing Sakura equally. "They lost their arms! They lost their families! They lost everything!" She clenched her teeth. "You didn't lose anything!"
Both girls stood up, facing each other in a silent lockdown. Blood was rushing their ears as unexpected anger boiled in their chests. In that moment of silence and rage, Sakura felt a physical breathlessness even when she barely said a word. Speechless, and yet at the same time, wanting to scream out against all the ridiculous things being said.
"We went into the Fourth Shinobi war prepared to sacrifice our lives and everything else in this world, but that doesn't mean that the war took everything from us." Sakura stepped back from her friend. "And just because you can't see it, doesn't prove that I didn't lose anything also." She suddenly pointed her finger up, pressing it against the purple diamond on her head. "I used the Byakugou no jutsu though battle. I used that chakra to power Obito and open another teleportal to another dimension. Another dimension! You know that shortens my life expectancy."
The blonde crossed her shoulders obviously unimpressed. "Really billboard brow? Is that what you think?" Ino said, tilting her weight to one hip. "Obito opened the door to the other dimensions. You just supplied him with the chakra."
Sakura bit her lip. Ino was really getting on her nerves now. But why was she getting so hostile now? All out of nowhere. It really chipped at Sakura's mind.
"And let's be honest Sakura, the Byakugou Seal's effect to shorten your life expectancy is only from self rapid cell regeneration, not by activation or chakra transfer. And you barely ended that war with a scratch, so there was no cell regeneration."
Sakura screamed. "Argh! Ino what is wrong with you? Are you serious right now?!" A pipe had burst within the pinkette's mind. She raised her hands close to her head, fingers curled like claws, tense from boiling rage. "Why am I even defending myself? If it wasn't for me, Sasuke wouldn't have been saved, and he and Naruto would have never been able to seal away Kaguya. We would be dead by now! Is that really what you're asking for cause—"
"Yes!" Ino shuttered.
Sakura froze.
What?
Sakura stepped back, watching her friend's face go red once again. The sudden sounds of panting and sobs escaped Ino's lips. Her knees buckled to her own weight, and she fell to her knees on the concrete floor.
"Ino!" Sakura said, rushing down to the other kunoichi, kneeling in front of her.
But the girl didn't speak, her eyes lost within space as salty water filled them. "I—I just want to be with my dad one more time."
Sakura's fingers started trembling. "Oh kami." Tight, heavy knots started wrapping her chest. "Ino." the small balls of tears began rolling down her cheeks, "I—I'm so sorry." She pulled Ino in, wrapping her arms around her, and letting the girl rest her head on her shoulder.
"I'm so jealous of you, Sakura." Ino didn't cry, but the tears kept cascading down her face.
Sakura held her for awhile, but it wasn't long before she started calling out for her friend: "Ino?... Ino?"
The blonde girl didn't reply.
Sakura carefully pulled Ino away from the embrace. What should she do now?
Ino was slumped in her sitting position. Sakura tried to get her attention by Ino didn't want to look up.
Oh god… Ino. If this was really how she was feeling, why didn't Ino tell Sakura before?
"We have to take you home." Sakura decided, pulling Ino to a stand. The girl wobbled on her feet, the energy to stand suddenly gone. "Here," Sakura said, supporting Ino by the waist while she let Ino hold her hand for support.
They began walking down the stairs from the patioed area, slow and cautiously. Ino seemed to drag along, as though a heavy veil was cast over her, depression surrounding her poor girl while the veil's weight continuously pulled the girl down.
"Does your mother know about this?" Sakura looked at her friend, but Ino gave no answer.
Sakura bit her lip. It seemed as though Ino had been bottling herself from everyone. Did Shikamaru know Ino's current state? Choji? Unlikely if Sakura didn't know herself.
God… Sakura was a complete fool. Of course Inoichi's dead would have caused Ino some serious trauma—he was her dad. Sakura should have been more observant. She should have constantly checked on Ino. But Sakura didn't once do it. Ino seemed so fine after the funeral, Sakura thought that there was nothing to worry about. But she was completely wrong.
What kind a friend was she?
Sakura barely reached the end of the concrete stairs with Ino, intent on turning the corner, but someone else reached it first.
"Ahh!" Sakura screamed when Naruto nearly colliding into the girls. He tumbled backwards to the ground, startled, and even Ino lifted her head from the jumpscare, momentarily freed from her sudden depression.
"Sakura-chan! Ino!" Naruto scrambled back up to a stand. He looked at the girls, and his attention turned to Ino, sulking with a red face. "What's wrong?"
Sakura was about to reply, but was caught off guard once again when another voice spoke first.
"Oi Dobe! Why are you stopping?" Sasuke turned the corner, but stopped fast enough when he spotted the two girls at the edge of the stairs. He took a step next to Naruto. "Sakura."
At her name, the girl held her breath, though only for a second. But it honestly felt like forever. "S-Sasuke-kun." She stuttered just a bit, as she supported Ino down the last steps. She tried to get close to them, as close as she could in her slow pace. "What are you two doing here?"
"Sakura! You won't believe it! We—ack!" Naruto clutched his stomach, after Sasuke swung his fist into it.
"The idiot was chasing after a cat. He said it looked like someone," Sasuke said in a nonchalant tone.
A cat? Sakura turned her attention from Sasuke to Naruto, finding him rubbing his stomach from the previous impact. "You found a cat that looks like someone?" Sakura took Ino's arm before wrapping it over her shoulders. "Who did the cat look like?"
"Uhh," Naruto froze with , before he pulled out two fingers from each hand, like bunny ears, and moved them to his forehead. "Bushy-brows!" He suddenly leaned in too close to Sakura, obviously trying to irritate her.
And it worked. Sakura scowled, nearly seconds away from punching the blond boy into the sky.
"Sakura, you should have seen it! This cat looked so cool! Yeah! It seriously looked like it had the biggest eyebrows, you should have seen it!"
"That's why he left the meeting all of a sudden." Sakura and Naruto stopped and turned to the onyx haired man behind them. "He sensed the cat's natural energy inside the hokage tower, and ran after it."
"What?" Sakura hissed at the boy. "Naruto! You can't get distracted like that anymore! Idiot! We talked about this. You have responsibilities now." Sakura wished she could smack him for his childish behavior, but only instead adjusted her hold on Ino's waist.
Ino…
"Baka! Get away from me! I have to take Ino home." She rushed passed Naruto. And that's also when Naruto remembered seeing the sunken-hearted girl.
"Wait! Sakura, what's wrong with Ino?"
But Sakura didn't answer Naruto, only walking around him as quickly as her legs could go, attempting to make up the fact that she had forgot Ino once again.
And here she was telling Naruto not to get distracted when she was distracted herself. What a hypocrite she was…
The urge to smack some sense into her face was too tempting.
Too preoccupied in her thoughts, Sakura abruptly stopped when Sasuke stepped to the side, blocking her from the pass.
Not a moment's hesitation when she flipped her head up, eye to eye to the man.
His eyes were already locked to hers when she connected their gazes together, but Sakura didn't back down from his stare. The intimidation he was unconsciously oozing out from his crossed brows and mild scowl—or the frightening sight of his Rinnegan for that matter—didn't shake Sakura at all. Not even a bit.
The pink-haired girl matched his features, knitting her brows, together and a slightly irritated pout.
There was once a time where Sakura could never have concocted the courage to meet Sasuke's eyes. At least not like the way they were doing now. Spilling energy and emotions just from looking at one expression. The girl could remember back at the academy how she barely stared at Sasuke. Fully into his eyes, like you would at your equal. There was one in particular that she could remember, they weren't even genins, just starting the academy. And during their lunch, when Sasuke did actually catch her staring at him, she broke the connection that instant, bashfully ashamed that he had caught her watching him so brazenly.
Sometimes Sakura wondered what could have happened if she had actually held her stare and replied to his own stare with a smile instead. Would they have befriended one another then? When Sasuke's heart wasn't torn apart after witnessing the scarring night that changed him forever?
Sakura's heart clenched deeply.
She was too caught up in fantasies back then, consumed by the lust of Sasuke's beauty and cool persona.
But that wasn't her now.
"Sorry Sasuke-kun." Sakura stepped to the side, but she didn't get far when he lifted his arm. She turned her face towards him again, being blocked the second time. "I have to go—"
"Let us help you," Sasuke said softly. Sakura nearly thought she didn't hear anything if he didn't speak again. "Sakura. Tell me what's wrong."
Sakura stood, and Sasuke slowly lowered his arm, giving her the option to reject his offer. But the girl didn't move over. Insead, she gave a small nod, turning her head back. "Naruto, can you come help carry Ino with me?"
At his call, Naruto stepped forward. "Yeah."
Heyyo!
Sorry for the late chapter… It's been more than a year and I haven't really had much time to focus on this. Not to mention the lack of reviews and encouragement. That said, I've always had this in the back of my mind, and I intend on finishing this story! Whatever it takes. I'm also in the process of going back as editing some grammar and missing scene breaks, so I encourage everyone to go back and read this story from the beginning if you've had some confusion with the changing scenes!
By the way, I was thinking about moving this story on Tumblr or AO3 too! Would anyone be interested in that? Please let me know.
And please leave a review! What was your favorite scene from this chapter? It makes my day when I see your comments.
Until next time!
Another Way~