A/N - Thanks for sticking with me, I know that last chapter may have been a little tough for some readers but I hope everybody can be happy that Orochimaru got what he deserved.

Warning: After everything I have put poor Sasuke through I think he needs a break, no lemons here

Disclaimer: Naruto consumes my thoughts and yet I own nothing of him

Sasuke walked calmly out of his room and down the hall. As he turned down the next hall and then the next he began to pick up his pace. By the time he reached the exit of the underground compound the pale boy was in a full run. He rushed through the last door and fell to the ground as the fresh, crisp night air hit him.

He climbed back to his feet and staggered forward until he could no longer see the entrance. He finally collapsed against a tree, bringing his knees to his chest and cradling his head in shaking hands. The raven-haired boy screwed his eyes shut and screamed, unable to control the emotions coursing through him any longer. Anger and joy, fear and courage, hate and passion – polar emotions were tearing at him. He managed to gather his wits long enough to take refuge in the canopy above him; confident he was safe for the night, he allowed exhaustion to take over.

Shifting beams of light gently caressed Sasuke's face; slowly, obsidian eyes fluttered open. He shifted against the tree and groaned as his tired muscles began to awaken. Sasuke stood and stretched, dried blood cracking over his pale skin. His mind was still reeling, unable to fully fathom everything that had taken place over the last 24 hours, let alone the last 5 months. He ran his hands through his hair and heaved a sigh. With an irritated expression, he began his trip back – first stop, a place to clean up.

Sasuke would have been satisfied with a stream, happy with a lake, but when he saw the glorious hot spring he was elated. He didn't even bother to remove his clothing before entering the water. Once fully submerged he stripped off his blood stained robe and pants. The pale boy sank into the steaming spring, willing his body to relax – but it would not.

He dunked his head, holding his breath until he thought his lungs might burst. He exhaled, bubbles swirling around his face. Sasuke resurfaced, shaking the water from his midnight hair. The pale boy leaned back, bracing himself against the rocky side of the spring. What is wrong with me? Sasuke pondered, staring up at the clear blue sky. He knew that color of blue, he used to see it everyday – but not in the sky. All he wanted was to be proud of what he had accomplished, but when he thought of all the things he had done – and the things that had been done to him – he just felt sick. He didn't want to return home like that, he wanted to walk into the Hokage's office with his chin held high and smug grin on his face.

Sasuke stared down at the clear water, watching as the ripples distorted the shapes beneath. He thought killing the snake bastard would close a chapter of his life, free him from the anchor that had nearly drown him. But now that it was done, he felt nothing – not happiness, not relief and certainly not closure. He looked over at his clothes, nearly dry on the rocks beside him, and decided it was time to move on.

Move on? Could he do such a thing? Was it possible to just leave it all behind – the anger and pain and doubt. What would it be like to live in the present? To simply strive to be content? Questions continued to pop into his mind as Sasuke dressed. He didn't really stop to try to answer any of the queries, but he found postulating these ideas eased his mind. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Sasuke was concerned about being happy – not about revenge or about proving himself or any other self-centered neuroses. He simply wondered if it was possible for Uchiha Sasuke to experience happiness.

"Anything is possible," he mused aloud as he began to walk.

It was dusk on the day Sasuke finally reached the gates of Konoha, but the dark clouds in the sky made the twilight seem eerily darker. What started as a few sprinkles quickly erupted into a downpour and despite the clearly annoyed look on his face, the weather did not hamper his mood. Sasuke was starting to feel better – finally experiencing that closure he had hoped would come from killing the man that had tortured him for so long. He felt, at long last, that his life belonged to him.

As the gate opened, Sasuke was not surprised to find Tsunade and two ANBU waiting on the other side. He stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the Hidden Leaf. Tsunade gave him a scrutinizing stare – black hair grown out from over 5 months of neglect, onyx eyes full of weakly disguised contempt, a slight but ever present smirk of self entitlement. He lifted his chin in a nod and Tsunade returned the gesture. She stepped back, allowing the raven-haired boy entrance, and they began to walk towards the Hokage tower.

Sasuke took stride next to her, he gave a brief sideways glance and in the most nonchalant tone he could muster asked, "Can I say hello to a few people before we begin debriefing?"

She pursed her lips in what seemed to be consideration of the question, but she was actually more interested in the implications – since when did Uchiha Sasuke care about anybody but himself? "Sorry Sasuke, but we need to get this taken care of promptly."

Sasuke nodded, it had been a long shot. Hell, he thought, I'll be lucky if I don't spend the next week in a cell. That was the last thing he needed, to be a prisoner – again. He was really not looking forward to this inquiry; the probing questions and doubting stares.

They made it just over halfway through the village when the commotion began. Sasuke had predicted this moment and smiled internally as it came to fruition. The group stopped, Tsunade turned to look behind them, listening to the indecipherable shouts emanating from the crowd. The incessant screaming became more and more clear and Tsunade turned to give the dark-haired boy a puzzled look. He turned and shrugged, trying to hide his embarrassment with a cool smirk.

The crowd parted as a blond blur passed through. In seconds the tanned boy slammed into Sasuke, screaming his name as if he hadn't heard it the other dozen times. His embrace was more than a little overzealous and Sasuke thought he might pop a lung. Blushing violently he patted Naruto on the back, unable to return the enthusiasm with so many eyes on him.

Naruto finally loosened his grip and retreated just far enough to look Sasuke in the eye. His bright, shimmering sapphire eyes stirred something deep inside the dark-haired boy and he struggled to maintain his composure. The slightest tweak of Naruto's eyebrows caused Sasuke to panic. Do NOT fucking kiss me asshole! The pale boy screamed in his head. Fearing the blond's inability to grasp the concept of public decency, he did the only thing he could – he wrapped his arms around the boy and returned a much gentler hug. Sasuke did not linger, though he wanted to, he pulled back and straightened his arms to give them appropriate space.

Sasuke took a step back from the blond, glanced over to Tsunade and turned on his heals. She returned his glance with her own bemused expression. They began to walk again, leaving Naruto to stand alone, grinning unabashedly.

Tsunade smirked, "Say hello to a 'few people'?" she raised her eyebrow as she turned to look at Sasuke, who was fighting a deepening blush.