Why? Chapter 8
"See ya, Cherry. I'll be back in a month, so don't spaz or get worried ok? You of all people should know how these things go…"
"Shut up! If you're going then go!"
"Fine! But I know you'll think of me."
"So what? GO!"
"Alright, but one more thing…" Genma hugged his little sister close, feeling her arms wrap around his back. He grinned and pulled back, taking the senbon from his mouth. He lightly kissed her forehead and looked down at her with guarded, dark eyes. "You watch yourself ok?" he whispered so only she would hear.
Sakura smiled sweetly and nodded, "Same to you," she said airily. "And come home safe."
Genma grinned, senbon back in his mouth. Then he was gone, leaving Sakura unsurprised and alone. 'Good luck' she thought wistfully, turning and heading over to the Hokage tower. She had been summoned earlier that day and weakly wondered why Tsunade-Sama would want to ask something of her.
"Shishou?" Sakura asked warily, walking into the quiet office. Tsunade's head was bowed, resting her arms on her desk, surrounded, as usual, by untouched paperwork. A bottle of sake was by her limp pale hand. "Anosaa? Shishou?" she asked carefully, a little louder.
When no response came, Sakura walked over to the desk and grabbed the sake bottle. "Shishou, Naruto drank all your sake," she said loudly, jumping back right away. Tsunade's head lurched up and she started screaming.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW he stole from me! That little brat! Let's see if he becomes Hokage once I'm done with him!"
"Tsunade-sama…" Sakura grinned, holding up the still full bottle. "Naruto didn't drink anything… you should know him by now."
Tsunade's face went from anger to complete rage, "YOU STOLE MY SAKE?"
"Nani? I just wanted you to wake up. You summoned me here, Tsunade."
"Oh," the blonde woman instantly cooled down. Then she held out her hand, palm up. Sakura sighed and handed back the Hokage her precious alcohol. Once it was safely in her hands, Tsunade set it on a drawer and locked it before turning to Sakura with a guarded expression. Sakura took the hint and stood in front of the desk formally, waiting for orders.
"Sakura, I'm sure you're aware of the Uchiha's punishment by now, yes?" the Hokage began, locking her fingers together, elbows on her desk and mouth hidden behind her hands. It was her signature pose when she was being completely serious and assigning an important mission.
"Hai. Three months house arrest, a year of hard labor, no missions, and an ANBU watchman," she relayed dutifully. But the moment Uchiha was muttered, she had lost ass interest and emotion. Tsunade noticed and took that into account for her decision.
"His three months house arrest doesn't start until next month. This is just so people can get an idea of what he will be doing and so he can get used to the life he will most likely be living here. His hard labor starts today, he's at the academy doing everything from cleaning to building," she stated, looking down from her laced fingers. She touched a sheet of paper lying before her and examined it for a moment.
Sakura had an idea as to where this was going and she didn't really like it. Though she waited obediently anyways. "I will be sending a Jounin to check on him every week. I have the scheduled rounds here. You are for this week, Sakura," Tsunade let her stern gaze fall upon her pink haired pupil. As expected, she didn't look surprised. Though that's what happens when you get a bright girl as a student for so long.
"Tsunade-sama, I will not be doing this often, will I?" she inquired. She really just wanted to spare herself the heart break of having to see him often. Thankfully, her Shishou shook her head. "It will be rotations between 10 Jounin. You included. I also have people I can trust to do this as well. Nara, Hyuuga, Aburame, Sai, Hatake, Yuhi, Shiranui, Mitarashi, and Morino," Tsunade explained.
When Sakura nodded her pink head, the blonde waved her off. "Check on him at the end of the week. Be sure to analyze everything. To his attitude, personality, house keeping, and anything and everything else. I can't have my decision to turn out to be a bad one," she dismissed her student.
"Hai, Hokage-sama," Sakura answered. Her eyes were dull and her shoulders tense as she exited the office. She walked down the stairs stiff and edgy, her mind reeling with her new assignment.
'Well,' she thought bitterly as she entered into the fresh summer air. 'Might as well get done what I can. I start my shift at the hospital again tomorrow.'
--
Sasuke was exhausted by the time he crawled into his new bed at the end of the day. He had spent the entire day doing all the repairs for the old Academy and cleaned every surface imaginable. He growled a curse as he laid there staring at the ceiling.
And that nagging feeling of being watched had not subsided at all. He knew it was the ANBU assigned to watch him but if he had known it would be this annoying and constant he would have…
What would he have done? There was nothing he could do. It was his fault he was in this situation and it was only day one. Was he actually expected to do this every day? The stares, the murmurs, pointed fingers hadn't really bothered him much but when it came from the children too he felt slightly annoyed. None of them should have even remembered him from so long ago.
'I suppose parents had a thing or two to say about me' he thought grimly. Not that he could blame them of course but it was still irritating.
Deciding to take a quick rinse before bed, Sasuke forced his sore back to pull him out of bed and to the shower. The hot water ran down his skin again, cleansing him of sweat and grime. He hated being dirty. Especially since living with Orochimaru, he just couldn't stand being filthy dirty for too long.
With Orochimaru in mind, Sasuke's onyx eyes narrowed and he frowned. Orochimaru was dead and gone. Same as Itachi. He had cried when his brother's dead blank eyes stared up at him. He had collapsed from exhaustion and passed out. But it had been done. Though once he had healed and awakened, he felt no different.
He wasn't satisfied like he thought he would have been. This was yet another maddening thought in this world that seemed bent on making him depressed. No matter. He would just do everything as he was told and leave it at that. He didn't want the old bonds that had tied him down. He didn't want friendships or for people to know him. No old fan girls or annoyances. He just wanted to be him.
Cold water started to spill over him and he shut the water off, towel drying his hair then wrapping his towel around his waist. Walking to his bedroom he traded the towel for a pair of boxers and crawled under the covers. Tonight marked the first night back in Konoha, the hated, miserable, annoying village hidden in the lousy leaves.
Sasuke was going to die from spending so much time here… he was sure of it.
--
Sakura was bleary eyed when she walked into the hospital the next day. She noted that today would be a fairly slow day. Only a few patients to check up on. Though she wished the day would be over already. She felt like she just wasn't getting enough sleep. Like she was developing a small case of insomnia. That scared her. Though she could think of ways to prevent that.
Walking into the first room of the day, she put on her best smile and grabbed the clipboard at the end of the elderly man's feet. "How is it feeling today, Gensou-San? Any better with the antibiotics?" she asked kindly. The man in the bed with disheveled grey hair and bags under his eyes looked at her with confused eyes. "Who are you?" he questioned. Sakura sighed knowing that this was going to be a long day.
--
Genma was traveling through the forests to the location of Sasuke's Hanare. He really felt reluctant to leave his kid sister behind while the Uchiha was back in Konoha though he had very little say in the matter. He just hoped that Sakura wouldn't have to see him too much during the course of the month that he would be gone.
He looked back to Raidou and his large scar on his left cheek. Did Raidou know about Sasuke as well? Probably. He was a Tokubetsu Jounin. In fact, Genma was sure that buy now a majority of Konoha would be whispering about the return of the last Uchiha. He wasn't too sure what to make of that. Not that it was a bad thing per say, just that if word got around, it might bother Sakura…
"Concentrate, Shiranui!" Izumo called up. Genma noticed just in time the chains and weapons that were coming at him with incredible speed. He immediately dropped to the ground and pulled out a kunai, holding it up in defense. His fighting stance was poised and ready, as was Izumo's and Raidou's.
"Konoha ninja, eh? Well, well, well, I wasn't expecting you to bother me ssso soon. I'll have to deal with you quickly," a voice drawled out, long and deliberate. Genma got shivers, eyes searching the entire area while clenching his teeth tightly around his senbon in frustration. He knew that voice. It scared him. He wasn't expecting this at all but he was going to have to do his best to keep them all safe.
'Sakura, I promise I will come home!' he thought furiously, dodging a fast slash from a sword.
--
On the first of August, a Saturday by convenience, Sasuke was to start his first day of house arrest. Even though he had only worked five days labor, he felt like it had been longer. Though today he was due for a visit with the Jounin sent to see how he was doing. Silently he wondered who it could be while he laid in his bed.
He turned onto his back and bent his arms behind his head, staring at the blank ceiling. It was white and grey like the rest of this dingy apartment. He would have preferred to stay in the Uchiha compound. With rooms and sights he was familiar with. But with his old house came old memories that he wasn't sure he wanted to remember.
He would have preferred it to this place but he supposed that with his home came the dusty, stuffy, unkempt home that aged quickly with years of neglect and abuse. Sasuke could imagine that if he cleaned it up and made the rotting smell go away it wouldn't be a bad place to live. Though it was a fairly big house for one man. Though he didn't mind the quiet or solitude, he just couldn't picture himself in that house anymore.
It had been too long and too much had happened. He didn't think he could handle it. Not just that he couldn't handle it but wouldn't he become an easy target? If citizens held a pained grudge against him or if other shinobi wanted to confront him wouldn't they think to go to his old Manor? The apartment was the safest place to be for the moment he rationalized.
The long expected knock came to his door and he muttered to himself while pulling a pair of sweat pants over his boxers, not bothering with a shirt. Trudging to the door, he opened it a few inches; just enough to peer out only to see a bright pink head and glaring emerald eyes. Reluctantly he opened his door to admit Sakura into his apartment.
"Hey," she muttered, taking off her shoes. She obviously had no missions or anything today because she was dressed as a civilian. A baggy grey t-shirt and a big pair of blue jeans. Her hair looked mussed and her eyes held bags under them, clear signs of sleep deprivation.
"Not sleeping?" he grunted, not caring as she snooped through his temporary home. She stopped to glance at him. "What would you care? Shouldn't you be more worried about me in your apartment?" she asked, rummaging through cupboards. She lifted herself and walked over to the bath room, checking in there as well. Sasuke could guess what she was looking for but said nothing as she continued her search.
Once satisfied with what she could see she sat at his kitchen tale and closed her eyes, seeming to take a few breaths to calm herself. The slowly she opened her eyes and glared at him. "How are you feeling?" she asked reluctantly. It sounded strange coming from her, seeing as how it was obvious she hated him and couldn't care less.
Sasuke smirked, "I'm fine." He decided he would make her job as hard as it could be for the time being. He didn't have to be nice to her and he knew she would put up with it. As he had guessed, she started looking more annoyed.
"Are you taking your imprisonment seriously or are you planning to escape any time soon?" Sakura had meant it as a half joke but Sasuke seemed to take it seriously. His brows knit together in a frown.
"Yes I'm taking it seriously. Though if I was plotting to run away or to destroy Konoha would I have told you?"
Sakura growled. She hated this. She was required to stay for one hour and analyze his behavior and write a report to send to Tsunade describing his attitude towards being locked up. She had only been here for ten minutes… this was going to be a long day.
"I'm required to stay for one hour to observe your behavior. Please pretend like I'm not even here," she spat, sulking at his table. Sasuke knew that the ANBU was already watching him but to have a Jounin come and stay for a period of time as well was slightly annoying. He could only guess what his day was going to be like.
"Tch." He would rather be outside training or finding ways to kill himself than spend time with Sakura. He uncrossed his arms and made his way back into the bedroom, lying down with his arms behind his head. A few seconds later he saw Sakura come around the corner and take a seat on the floor by the door.
Was she really supposed to watch him like that?
Sakura felt the silence stretch out awkwardly. She honestly didn't know what to do. She was tired and wanted to go back to bed. This was supposed to be her day off and yet here she was, sitting on Sasuke's bedroom floor, staring at his feet and trying to not feel out of place. There was a time when she would have given anything to be here now, staring at a half naked, chiseled Sasuke, lying right in front of her, tempting her to come lie next to him. But that time was long ago and that childish dream was long gone.
Now it was all she could do to not pummel the arrogant raven. She had had another nightmare last night. The same one as her dream in the bath last month. Mentally, the pink haired kunoichi blamed everything on Sasuke. She had every right to. She wanted to blame him for every wrong that ever happened in Konoha. Though her 13 year old hopeful heart wanted to forgive him and accept him back with open arms and the unconditional love she used to give.
Sakura realized, as her eyes roamed over Sasuke with disinterest, that though she hated him and wanted him to disappear again; she still felt that unconditional love. If she had not felt it she would not want to forgive him. It was remarkable really, to her own mind, that through every pain she has been in because of the last Uchiha, she was ready to abolish all of his crimes and love him.
"Like what you see?" his deep voice taunted her from the bed. Sakura glanced up to meet his dark eyes.
"Only thinking how ugly you look compared to the men here around Konoha," she retorted. She smirked inwardly at Sasuke's scowl.
"Look who's talking," he spat, propping himself up on his elbows to glare down at her.
"Oh my, it looks like I've touched on a soft spot. Little Emo Prince has a big ego huh?"
Sasuke went silent and stood up abruptly, hands clenched into fists. "Look here you, I'm only here because of you. If you hated me so much and wanted me to die why didn't you let me go? Why would you capture me despite your obvious disgust towards me?"
Sakura leapt to her feet. Though Sasuke was a noticeable few inches taller than Sakura, she seemed to over come the difference with the power in her furious jade eyes. "Because I had to. Because it was a mission. Because I had made a promise to those who matter to me that I would bring you back. And because I vowed to myself that I would find you and make you atone for your sins done to this village!" she yelled at him.
She turned and stalked from the room, slamming the apartment door as she left Sasuke in a stunned silence. Sakura could feel her eyes stinging with unshed tears and her throat had closed up painfully from unheard sobs. She stormed from his building and into the streets below, making her way to her home. It was an empty home, seeing as Genma was still on his month long mission, but it was a home away from Sasuke.
--
Genma panted as quietly as he could. He didn't know where Orochimaru could be hiding. And though it had been a few days since he had escaped with Raidou and Izumo, he was still quite cautious. It had happened too fast for it to be real. Orochimaru had struck without mercy. Izumo had been the first to go down with a long sword through his shoulder, dangerously close to his heart.
Raidou had lunged forward and threw shuriken and kunai so that Genma could get out of harms way. Once Genma had hidden away in the bushes, he had thrown a ring of shuriken around Orochimaru, running around to confuse him, giving Raidou a chance to grab Izumo and hide safely.
The only strange thing was, Orochimaru wasn't even supposed to be alive. Though that hardly surprised Genma. Orochimaru was dark and disgusting. If anyone could plan a vile way to come back to life, it was Orochimaru.
Raidou had made off with Izumo so Genma just had to find a way to evade this evil creature and escape. Then he would send word to Tsunade quickly. Genma jumped out from the bushes and set wires and exploding tags, effectively trapping the snake for the time being. Though Genma knew it wouldn't last for long so he had taken off the second Orochimaru was distracted.
Raidou had carried and unconscious Izumo and Genma had taken lead again, trying to get them all to safety as fast as possible. Though it was two days till Genma fully stopped and signaled it was ok to set up camp. Genma had walked around the clearing to be sure and cared for Izumo while Raidou set camp.
It wasn't long till they had a small blaze going and Raidou was scouting for things to help stop Izumo's shoulder wound from bleeding out. They were going to have to find a way to contact the Hokage and get Izumo immediate medical attention out here in the middle of enemy territory. This was a very difficult mission that had started out as one of the simplest.
--
Sasuke was now beyond the point of bored. A full week of not being able to leave his house was absolutely maddening. All week Sasuke had done nothing but clean his apartment spotless, exercise what he could in his living room, meditate, watching basic cable TV shows and sleep. How was he supposed to go on? This was to be three months of house arrest yet he sat here ready to tear his hair out after one week. Though as and Uchiha he would never openly admit to that.
A sharp rap at his door drew him out of his depressed trance and moved to the front door. Opening it only slightly, he peered out with dull black eyes.
"Are you going to let me in or just stare at me all day?" the Hyuuga asked. His pale eyes looked disinterested at the Uchiha while he walked into his home. "I was sent for today. I assume you know how it works," he wasted no time getting to the point. Neji never was one for beating around the bush.
"Aa," Sasuke muttered. He scratched the back of his head and looked to the ground. "You wouldn't have brought anything with you I assume," he asked sheepishly. Neji just glanced at him with a slight look of confusion.
"There is nothing to do around here," Sasuke offered his simple explanation. Neji smirked and leaned against the nearest wall. "Now is it just me or is the great, traitorous Uchiha Sasuke asking politely for help?" The Hyuuga was obviously having fun playing with this point of view. He watched amusedly as Sasuke bunched up his face in a frown and turned away.
"Never mind," he muttered, going to his room to lie down on his bed and sink slowly into madness.
--
