Hinata's memorial was a few days later, but Naruto was still gone. Sakura stood next to Sasuke in the front. She looked around the crowd of mourners. Most of the village was present. The tomb stone was draped with lavender wild flowers –which apparently was Hinata's favorite flower. Hinata's father stood at the center with Hanabi, who sobbed loudly into his sleeve.
"Naruto should've been here." Sakura whispered up to Sasuke. "It's not right. They should've waited for him to come back."
"I agree. But Naruto knew when he left that the memorial was going to happen." Sasuke replied. "He doesn't want a memorial. He wouldn't have come even if he was here."
Sakura wiped her eyes. Naruto was so steadfast in everything that he believed in. And he was certain that Hinata was not dead. She was not sure how they could help him. "We have to do something."
Sasuke said, "If he believes she's alive, then we believe she's alive. And we do what it takes to find her."
Sasuke moved some of Sakura's hair behind her ear tenderly. Sakura looked down, as he took her hand. She was not certain if it was the best idea to buy into Naruto's obsession with finding Hinata. But she said, "Ok."
"He needs us to carry some of his pain, so he can keep living on without her." Sasuke said, knowingly. "Let it change us… not him."
Sakura nodded again. Sasuke squeezed her hand. She was starting to think Sasuke might already be changing. He had never held her hand before. He had never touched her so affectionately. This moment was not about lust, and it was not about friendship. It was about caring, loving, and cherishing her.
That night when they made love, Sasuke allowed her to have some control. It was gentle and kind and something that their love making had never been before. And then when they were done and lying naked and wrapped in each other's arms, he told her everything she ever wanted to hear him say. Maybe not with the words that she imagined. But it was close enough.
"I'm going to go find Naruto tomorrow and bring him back. Then I plan to tell him that I'll take over searching for Hinata, so he can go back to working towards become Hokage." Sasuke said, as they lay facing each other in the bed. It was early morning now, and soft light from the rising sun was streaming in Sasuke's small window. "That means I'm going to have to leave Konohagakure again."
Sakura looked up at the ceiling. She felt an overwhelming sadness wash over her, but she knew that Sasuke had to go this time. And this time he was not leaving because he wanted to get away from her. This was also the first time he had ever voluntarily told her that he was leaving. He almost seemed to be asking her permission. She looked at him again, reaching her hand out and placing it on his face. "I know you have to do this."
"But this time, I want you to know without any doubt, that I'm coming back to you." He said, cautiously. Sakura could see in his eyes that the wall that he kept around his heart had come down in this moment. "I want you to know that no matter how many times I leave. No matter how long I'm gone, that I will always come back to you, Sakura."
Sasuke got up out of his bed. He left the bedroom for a few minutes and then returned holding something in his palm. He reached his hand out to Sakura.
Sakura took his hand and was pulled up out of the bed. He pushed her down, so she was seated at the edge of the bed then he sat down next to her. He opened his palm, revealing a small diamond ring. "It was my mother's ring. And it was my father's mother's ring before that. It probably would have gone to Itachi if he had lived. And I emptied some drawers in the other room… so you can move in here. Naruto has reestablished his clan. I need to reestab…"
"Yes. I'll marry you." Sakura said before this proposal got anymore awkward.
Sasuke kept going, however, not deterred. "I want to marry you when I get back with Naruto. Just you and me… before I leave again to search for Hinata."
"Ok." Sakura agreed. She had always dreamed of a large wedding. Like the one Shikamaru and Temari had. She would be in a white kimono with red trim, and Sasuke in his black jacket, in front of all of their friends and family …well her family. But, Sasuke might not show up if she tried to force a large wedding on him. And it would be a huge reminder of the fact that he had no family or clan anymore. So she agreed to elope. She just wanted to be his wife anyway.
He slipped the ring on her ring finger. "I'll ask Kakashi to preform the ceremony."
Sakura looked at Sasuke cautiously. "What about Naruto? Will he come?"
The question hung in the air. She could not imagine the two of them getting married without him there. He had been there from the beginning. The glue that kept them together. But would it be kind to ask him to be at their wedding, knowing he would feel obligated to say yes.
"I'll talk to Naruto once I find him." Sasuke said. "He won't feel forced to say yes to me. And if he feels he can be there, he'll come. Ask Ino and Sai to stand as witnesses, in case he can't come."