Well seeing as MOST of you really wanted a happy ending, I decided I couldn't bring myself to write an epilogue. That would reveal the sad ending! Looking back at my original plan, it would have been quite harsh. However if I get enough people asking me for it anyway, I will consider writing the alternative ending.
Thank you very much to every single reviewer and reader, you make me very happy and I'm glad you've read it all the way to the end; 'cos this is what you're about to read! The end!
The first thing that came to Uchiha Sasuke when he wandered out of The Hokage's office, was not something far from guilt.
Crap, I've let them down.
And he had. As he found himself facing Kakashi and Naruto he felt the guilt eat away at his soul, his stomach was an endless pit of sorrow. His sorrow, like his years of grief started to turn to anger. Plain anger, not aimed at anyone but himself and the unfortunate situation he was in. Sasuke's anger started throbbing at the neck where his seal was placed, at any moment it would expel along with his fury. He had to somehow express his strong emotions in some other way.
"How did it go Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, his face serious.
Sasuke answered him my slapping his hands across his mouth whilst a gagging motion rippled throughout his body, and with a high pitched whimper he turned on his heels and ran to the nearest restroom.
There was a brief hush.
Naruto burst out laughing, despite the situation. "What the hell was that?!"
Kakashi too seemed amused. "That was Sasuke... just about to throw up his guilt."
Sasuke's head snapped up as he heard the restroom door swing open.
They gazed at each other silently. And then Naruto formed a wide smile, laughing down at him. The chuckling echoed off the walls. Sasuke frowned.
"What?" He growled.
"You. Are such. An idiot!" He gasped between laughs. Sasuke winced as Naruto's laughter reached a howling climax. He collapsed on the ground, his sides splitting.
"Naruto-" Sasuke's insult was interrupted by Naruto's further whoops of laughter. He sighed angrily, but then went suddenly quiet.
Naruto's outburst was starting to die down, and he shuffled across the floor leaning against the tiled wall next to Sasuke who had his face in his hands. Naruto's face dropped as he noticed his shoulders were shaking.
"Sasuke?"
No answer.
"Ah!" Naruto suddenly felt embarrassed; perhaps laughing in the face of his traumatized friend hadn't been the most comforting thing to do.
But then a smile slowly crept on to his face again as it dawned on him; Sasuke wasn't crying or cursing. He was laughing.
Laughing!
Not out right convulsing like Naruto had but he was snorting into his hands and that was enough for him.
"Sasuke you…"
"You're right. You are absolutely right." He spluttered before snickering again.
"Yeah well, with good reason." Naruto said, before joining Sasuke with his laughter and home truths. "I heard the Hokage screaming at you! We all did! We all thought, jeez! He's really done it now!"
Sasuke laughed loudly at that before agreeing, "Yeah! She thought I was pathetic! I thought she was gonna hit me!"
At the thought of Sasuke being slapped around the face by the Hokage, they leaned forward guffawing. They both exhaled loudly in unison before becoming silent once again.
"I don't think I can ever move past this you know." Sasuke said quietly.
"Move past what?"
Sasuke sighed. "Everything." He sighed. "This is all wrong."
Naruto leant back against the wall, considering his friends now outspoken fears.
"Well…" he advised slowly, "you could just keep trying until you get it right. I'll be here, making sure."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows, when Naruto stared back at him sincerely he sighed again.
"I'd like that." He whispered, nodding his head.
At that moment, the door swung open and Kakashi walked in. He observed his two students sitting together on the grubby bathroom floor. They looked back with their familiar faces; Naruto's face full of sheer determination, and Sasuke's neutral expression. However something was also different. Naruto's eyes showed slightly more maturity, and Sasuke's features were a little less cold than before.
A small smile formed behind his mask; perhaps this was the start of finding a happy medium between the two. Acceptance, spurred by guilt could cause them to put aside their differences.
That was if Tsunade let that second chance happen.
Kakashi nudged Naruto with his foot.
"Go outside. Sakura will probably be showing up soon."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Tcha, you don't have to make up pathetic excuses sir."
Kakashi gave him a harsh tap on the head as he stood up, making Naruto stumble a bit. Despite that Sasuke still heard him chuckling before the door slammed shut. Kakashi lent back against the wall, his little orange book the centre of his attention.
A minute passed.
Two minutes.
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably. He then said quietly, "I'm sorry I hurt you."
Kakashi bowed his head. "You are forgiven."
And that was it.
It hadn't been dramatic, or sappy. After everything the two had gone through since he had been brought back, after everything it only took that quiet, even sentence to bring their troubles to an end.
Our troubles, Sasuke thought. Not Itachi's.
More time passed as they stood there, but both knew Sasuke was on edge.
"Do you think-" He suddenly spoke up before cutting himself off.
Kakashi put away the book.
"What is it?"
Sasuke shook his head, his shoulders were hunched.
"Come on, you can't honestly go all shy now." He waited patiently.
Sasuke look down, fidgeting with his hands. Then he grew deathly still.
"Do you think I would have turned out okay if I'd had you as an older brother?" His voice sounded so lost, and the very impossible thought of having his life lived a different way caused Sasuke's face to scrunch up in pain.
Kakashi's straight face softened. But before he had a chance to answer Sasuke spoke once again, his voice returning to its usual tone.
"Don't answer that." He said quickly.
"I wouldn't have anyway. I'd never do that to you." Kakashi answered honestly.
Sasuke laughed darkly. "Thank god!"
Kakashi stood up straight.
"It's time." He held out a hand. Sasuke glanced up at him and silently took his hand.
Guilt is a strange thing. It's an intuition that tells a person they have sinned. It also shows a person that they know from right and wrong, whether they choose to do good or not.
Sasuke walked along the hallway, the footsteps of Kakashi and the anbu at his side echoed over his own, but he could hear himself loud and clearly. This time he was going to make good.
Guilt can consist in many people, whether they are truly responsible or not, guilt will form in someone who cares, and witnesses the unfortunate events of hurt.
As he reached the double doors that behind them held his fate, Naruto and Sakura stood there. He couldn't stop whether he wanted to or not, but their serious, strong faces gave him the realization that he did want to carry on.
Guilt may not exist in everyone, guilt hurts. It can be seen as a sign of weakness, but it depends on if someone chooses to show it or not.
"Uchiha Sasuke," Tsunade began. Many elders of the council stood behind her. "You have purposefully ignored the village's laws on leaving the village. You have claimed that your leaving was based on personal intentions, despite the fact that you were heading for an enemy of this village."
Guilt leads to hurt, and hurt leads to guilt. It is a part of life. Whether someone chooses to get over it or not, simply presents who are the strongest people.
"After discussing and considering many factors, we have come to the decision on whether you can be trusted, and whether you are guilty of being an intended threat to the village."
And the weakest, though they may run, will have a long way to go before they can atone.
"We find that Uchiha Sasuke is…"
Sakura gripped Naruto's hand, as he stared bravely on.
Kakashi unknowingly held his breath.
Sasuke closed his eyes. He knew how he felt and he knew the conclusion.
"Not guilty."
The End.
If you've read to the end I'd appreciate a review :)
Thanks again for reading,
LittleLommy
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