A/N: Hey everyone! Long time no see!

Sorry this has taken so long. I've had a lot of things pop up that made writing especially difficult. The good news was that this little vignette, if you will, popped into my mind two days ago while I was having hammering out what I could of the next chapter (happy to report it's about sixty percent complete!)

I figured it would be nice to see what's going on back home and how the boys have taken to Sakura being gone. I feel like it will also be a good way to explore other people's pov further into the story.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into Konoha. And if things keep pouring out of me the way they currently are, hopefully the newest chapter will be completed and out soon!

xx LCF

Convergence

Interlude: Konoha

"Dammit!" came a snarl that was punctuated by a fist slamming onto a table. "Why won't they let us see him?!" a scraggly blonde demanded of the silver-haired man that sat before him.

Kakashi let out a sigh that belied his own distress over the situation. Seven weeks. It'd been seven weeks since Obito flung Sakura through his portal and only six weeks and six days since the end of the war. Now the newly appointed Rokudaime had the unfortunate task of telling his former pupils that there was currently no way for them to speak with Madara's pawn in regards to Sakura. The council had come down hard on Kakashi the moment he was elected into office, and while the old coots were a lot easier to deal with without Danzou, they still managed to shoot down every request he'd made to interrogate Obito in order to extract Sakura's whereabouts.

The fact that he had the heroes of the war breathing down his neck, watching his every move, expecting answers—expecting him to not to fail them in the way so many of the previous Hokages had—put an immense weight on his shoulders that Kakashi didn't want to give credence.

"He's a prisoner of war, Naruto." Kakashi tiredly explained for the sixth time in a row. "And all requests I've made to see him have been overruled by the council."

"Fuck the council," Naruto snarled. "We need to talk to him so he can tell us how to get Sakura-chan back!"

"Hn."

Grey eyes looked towards the lone Uchiha in quiet consideration. Ever since his and Naruto's final face-off—one that had left them half-dead and unconscious in the hospital for the better part of two weeks—Sasuke had been compliant in all that had been asked of him. He'd allowed himself to be incarcerated with his chakra sealed, stood trial before the other kage with no excuses for his actions, and was ultimately granted asylum after a rather fervent speech given by Naruto. It also helped that he was half of the main driving force that took down Madara. War heroes usually got pardons, after all.

But ultimately the main reason Sasuke was granted reprieve from his wrongdoing was because he hadn't asked for any of it.

The Uchiha heir had taken all his punishments in stride. He didn't stand up for himself or try to rationalize his actions. Nor had he asked for some kind of asylum throughout the entire grueling process of his incarceration and trial. Sasuke knew what he'd done, and knew that he had things to atone for. But what Kakashi also knew was that the years he'd spent wallowing in that poisonous pool of anger and hatred had left him quite tired; and when it was all said and done, the only thing Sasuke really had to fall back on was Team Seven—his family.

A family that was once again fractured, but one that was ultimately not going to remain that way. Not if those two had anything to say about it. Because as bullheaded as Naruto was when it came to his loved ones, Sasuke could be just as headstrong—perhaps even more so considering he'd already dealt with that kind of crippling loss once in his life.

No, Kakashi mused quietly. I don't think you two will be able to sit this out much longer. Naruto, Sasuke, I know it's hard, but give me some more time.

"I'm sorry boys, but my hands are tied—"

Tanned fists slammed down onto his desk with enough force to make it creak ominously. Kakashi looked nonplussed at his furious former student, though there was a hint of remorse in the air.

"Forget this then." Naruto snarled as he whipped around. He left the Hokage's office without another word, slamming the door shut on his way out. The force was enough to drop several pictures of the former Hokages from the wall.

Kakashi let out a tired sigh as grey eyes looked towards Sasuke who remained rooted to the spot. His dark eyes bore into his impassively, hands buried deep in his pockets, but Kakashi could see the tension in the muscles in his forearm. It didn't take a genius to figure that Sasuke's hands were balled into tight fists. Though he wasn't quite as vocal as Naruto was, he was just as angry.

Perhaps even more so.

"Is there something you'd like to add?" Kakashi prompted, suddenly feeling ten years older than he was.

"You know he'll stop at nothing until he gets her back." The last Uchiha said.

Kakashi nodded. "I know."

"And neither will I."

He was gone with a surge of chakra before Kakashi could reply. The Rokudaime merely sighed for the umpteenth time that day as he sat back on his chair wearily. Half-lidded eyes fell onto one of the two framed pictures that took residence on his desk. The faces of his twelve-year-old students smiled and scowled back at him in kind. Despite the boys' anger, he couldn't help the soft smile that curved his hidden lips.

"I know." He whispered into the air.

Uzumaki Naruto was pissed.

After the shitty meeting with Kakashi-sensei, he'd gone to the first training ground where they'd taken the stupid bell test and proceeded to punch the lights out of the wooden post that he'd been tied to. The familiar flare of chakra that fluctuated to reveal Sasuke's sudden appearance didn't make him waver in the slightest.

The pair didn't say anything for a while. Sasuke merely stood a few feet back and off to the side while Naruto continued to punch the post. It wasn't until he'd punched his knuckles raw that Naruto decided to finally let off and allow Kurama's chakra heal the broken skin. The jinchuuriki watched the skin on his knuckles regenerate itself. The burning sensation only served to remind him of his missing teammate some more. Because while Sakura would have cuffed him for 'acting like a total moron' with one hand, her other would be glowing green with the soothing healing chakra to put him back together.

And that was just who she was. His best friend, who didn't put up well with his goofiness, but also having his back as much as he had hers...

"We have to get Sakura-chan back, no matter what." Naruto proclaimed as he shoved his hands in his pockets rather forcefully once they were done healing.

"We will."

The blond turned to regard his best friend.

"She's out there somewhere, Teme. Alone and possibly still hurt, and we're here doing nothing!"

"Remember what that Tsunade woman said." Sasuke reminded him. "She says that her slug can still feel her even if she can't do a reverse summons."

Naruto let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I know. It just sucks because she should be here with us. Running around the village, training, helping baa-chan out at the hospital." The blond looked at Sasuke from the corner of his eye. "Spending time with you, with Team Seven."

Save for a slight tensing in his jaw, Sasuke gave no other outward indication of having heard what the blond had said. But Naruto knew better. He waited until Sasuke exhaled and turned to face him.

"I don't think she'd be so keen to spend time together once we get her back." He noted. "Not after I nearly killed her. And you."

"How many times do I have to tell you that she'll forgive you for that? It's not like you hold it against her when she tried to kill you." Naruto pointed out. "It's not like I held it against you, and you've tried killing me at least a half-dozen more times than you did her!"

Sasuke frowned severely. "The difference between the two is that she stopped. She couldn't go through with it, and I… I was deranged. You saw how I was. I was out for Konoha blood and if it hadn't been for you and Kakashi's interference, I would have killed her without second thought. And I'm pretty sure if I had, you wouldn't have made your little speech about friendship. You'd have gone after me and I would have relished in the fight, and worst case scenario is I would have killed you or we'd have both died. And where would Team Seven be then?"

Naruto let out a sigh. He was so not in the mood to argue about this. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Sakura-chan would forgive Sasuke if she hadn't already. It was just a matter of getting his idiotic best friend to see that. And he had to see it, because Naruto was pretty sure the only thing keeping Sasuke in Konoha and not out there on his stupid 'quest for redemption' was the fact that Sakura was lost in whatever dimension Obito chucked her into.

No, in the time leading up to Sakura's retrieval Naruto would have to do his absolute best to be able to get Sasuke to stay somehow. The blond was pulled from his mulling when Sasuke let out a defeated sigh. Naruto looked at him curiously, waiting for his friend to open his eyes that were pinched closed in irritation. When they finally looked back at him, the jinchuuriki saw a familiar flash of determination that mirrored his own.

"We'll figure it out. Break out Obito and drag him off and beat it out of him if it comes to that."

Naruto shook his head. "We can't. As much as I hate to say it, you're on thin ice already. We're lucky old man Raikage backed down the way he did—he's been out for your blood since the summit. And the kage won't overlook this even if I vouch for you again, and I'll be damned if I went through all this bullshit of getting you home only to have you executed for helping me break out a prisoner and beating the shit out of him for some answers."

Sasuke gave a droll snort. "As if I'd be your sidekick, dobe."

"Whatever," Naruto waved off. "I figure we can give Kakashi a little more time. But I swear if he doesn't get his ass in gear soon then I won't care to get permission—we'll go after Obito and find Sakura-chan ourselves."

"Hn."