Sakura was out of breath by the time she got to the door. Gratefully, shizune was coming out of the office just in time.

"shizune!" she called "I have to see lady tsunade i-"

"sakura...I'm going to stop you right there. No questions regarding sasuke Uchiha are to be asked. I will tell that he is in Konoha and when lady fifth is ready she will tell you what's going on, as well as Naruto. I-"

"AAAAARRGGHHHGGHHHH!"

A blood curling scream was heard and Shizue stood in front of the door. Sakura knew that scream.

"…Shizune...please.."

"I'm sorry sakura...I'm under lady fifth's orders. No one is to enter. If it helps...Kakashi sensei and yamato sensei are in the room."

Sakura felt a boiling rage. She couldn't take it anymore. She drove past shizune, felt something sharp prick her neck but pushed past the numbness and the pain and burst through the room.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, her whole body felt on fire and then suddenly went numb. Of course, the shizune's numbing dart.

Her eyes however took in the sight. kneeling before inochi and ino yamanaka was sasuke. His hair had grown all the way to his waist and his skin was tan, like he had been working in the sun. Kakashi sensei and yamato held him by the shoulders as he sweated. Around the room were the various heads of main clans in the leaf. Alongside them were the council members.

"sakura!" tsunadae scolded in agitation.

Sakura felt her body being lifted up, but she still couldn't move.

"shizune take care of her and make sure no one else enters! No one!" tsuande ordered as she looked at her apprentice with cold eyes.

Shizune did as told and sakura was taken out.

"he came willingly...sakura." she heard someone whisper in her ear.

Sakura recognized it as shikamaru.

He came willingly. Willingly. Did he come for her?

Tsunade looked at a sweat covered sasuke, an exhausted inochi and ino and impatient council.

"take five."

Inochi and ino step back while sasuke's eyes closed.

"...your mind…it's on lock down sasuke. Why? What are you hiding?" inochi asked

"…I've given you everything you need yamanaka. All the hideouts, members everything…now your just being noisy. I have nothing else to give. I told you I traveled to various parts of the world. I met the daimyo of the land of snow. I did a simple mission for her that concerns the rebels and yes, I did have a companion but it was only because the daimyo assigned that person too me. Once the mission was over, we went our separate ways. that's it. I traveled for a while and then came back here. What in the world could you possibly want to know? What more do you want? I'm offering you my services for one to two years max. hell, I'll even be an informant from time to time but let's be honest keeping me in the village is not in your best interest. I've made too many enemies and they will eventually come after me…so why bring more trouble? Its not like I've given the village a good rep."

Inochi looked back at tsuande. The kid had a point. Why bring more trouble upon themselves?

Tsunade however looked at the council.

"well? You all saw it. you got what you wanted. Now what? You know my answer. Let's vote. One finger for Uchiha sasuke stays in the village for one to two years or becomes an outside informant. Two fingers say's we lock him back up and then execute him."

As fingers began to go up, something amazing happened.

It was a tie. And a tie meant that it was lady fifth's call.

"a tie huh. Alright, here's what we'll do. Sasuke Uchiha…I sentence you to one to two years of probation. That means you serve the leaf in any compacity and do whatever we ask. After that if you have proven yourself. Ill assign you to be an informant, checking in with the hokage every month. Three anbu guards shall be watching at all times. An apartment will-

"…i want to live in the Uchiha district." Sasuke said interrupting her.

"I'm sorry?" she said not liking being interrupted.

"for the time that I reside in Konoha ...I wish to reside in the Uchiha district…whatever remains of it any way. "

"..their nothing there…you wouldn't have any shelter." Tsunade told him

"I've lived in worst circumstances…I'll be fine."

Tsuande looked at the man before her.

"fine, as you wish. Alright. This meeting is over. Everyone is dismissed, except you hiashi. We need to speak."

The room was now silent as it was just the two of them.

"..you know I have to call off the search right?"

Hiashi nodded.

"I'm going to be honest. I don't believe hinata is dead. The reason why is because she left a resignation letter and her headband. She gave paperwork but I did not approve of it. but because hinata is not a threat I will not have her killed and I won't put her in the bingo book, she will just remain missing. And if she were ever to return, she will be punished accordingly."

"very well, lady fifth. Hanabi is the new clan head but we have also put neji in charge of the branch family. He and hanabi will co-lead…togather." Hiashi told her

Tsunade's eyes went wide. Hanabi and neji co leading…that was...shocking. it seems that hinata leaving had done some good.

"very well hiashi. You are dismissed."

With that said the man disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Tsunade sighed. She had a lot of work to get done.

Sasuke laid on the bare ground where his childhood home once stood. The leaf was almost finished being restored to its former glory.

It didn't matter to him. right now, nothing mattered to him…. except for one woman. That one person other than Naruto that could make the ache go away.

Sasuke closed his eyes and activated the seal. He could feel her emotions and right now…she was restless. Just like he was.

He had to grin. They had to be patient but in the meantime, he summoned goruda.

It was time to write.

"lady tora are you sure about this?" tomoya asked

"hai, I am sure…we have to show that we are strong and can be trusted and yet show that we will not be walked over like a door mat." Hinata told tomoya.

She looked over aki. She was slim, quiet and yet faster than the three tigers in front of her. She had a very hard time readjusting to being around humans but akira being the leader ordered her to come. He was hard on his clan but hinata understood. They were the only ones left…

Hinata and the foursome of tigers approached the tsuchikage building. Of course, the guards surrounded them.

"...lady tora. We have been expecting you." They said

"Hai."

The guards nodded and she followed.

Onoki sweated bullets as he filled out his remaining paperwork. His estranged son was due to arrive sometime today but also lady tora of the tora clan.

They had made a deal. She and her people would provide selective services to his people as long as their location and who they were, stayed a secret. Onoki would not look for or come upon their premises. If he needed help, he would simply send a summons scroll. However, her people would visit the hospitals to help out when needed. And if anyone ever did visit them, they had to have an escort from the clan specifically. Hinata would not allow history to repeat itself.

A knock on his door had him jump, making his guards laugh.

"enter."

The door opened and lady tora gracefully walked in. Beside her were four white tigers with glowing violet eyes.

"...lord onoki."