Author's Note: For jammaster goat
Naruto wouldn't look at her. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I'm so sorry. I couldn't," and it was here that his voice shook, though before it hadn't wavered. "I couldn't-"
He still wasn't looking at her, but that was alright. Sakura didn't particularly want to look at Naruto at that moment either. She didn't think she could. Her eyes were riveted elsewhere.
Even in death, Sasuke was beautiful, his face made up of delicate lines and carefully sculpted edges. He had always looked older than he was and that had remained true through his adolescence, his features far more mature than they should have been. A stranger gazing at the Uchiha's corpse would have seen the body of a young man easily into his twenties, would never have guessed that they were looking upon a boy just weeks past his sixteenth birthday. His face hadn't lost any of its intensity, even now, his brow still furrowed and his mouth still curled in a scowl.
Sasuke had found no peace in death. Sakura wasn't surprised. Being murdered by the boy he had once called his best friend- and it was murder, no matter the specifics of the battle- having his insides torn out bare-handed by a former comrade, was not a peaceful way to die.
Beside her, Naruto was still staring at the ground. "Sakura-chan..."
Sakura felt her hands clench. "You broke your promise to me, Naruto."
Naruto flinched. Sakura ignored it. "You told me that that you save Sasuke. You promised me. Is this your idea of what it means to save someone?"
"Orochimaru had already gotten to him, Sakura-chan. Sasuke..." and it was now that Naruto finally looked at her. His eyes were red, though the chakra of the Nine-Tails demon no longer ran through him. "Sasuke's been dead a long time.
"You're right. I failed you. All I could do for you was avenge his death. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. But there," his voice cracked, "there wasn't anything left."
Sakura closed her eyes. She didn't want to listen to Naruto anymore, but he continued talking regardless, his voice now rift was desperation. "Sakura-chan... I know you hate me, right now. But... I just hope that one day you can forgive me."
Sakura didn't reply.