Sakura stood in the rounded hallway right outside of the Fifth Hokage's door 10 minutes prior to the requested meeting time. A few shinobi walked by as she stood there trying to look as non-chalant as possible, but she could tell there were a few stares and whispers back at her after the people passed her. It didn't bother Sakura at all, however. After all, the stares and whispers were probably more positive than negative - she was very well known for her work during the war as well as for being the student of the Hokage.
"Hey Sakura!" said the blonde shinobi as he approached her.
"Hi Naruto," she greeted him back. "Did you get much rest?"
"Sort of," he replied. "I was kind of hungry, too, so I made sure to get some Ichiraku ramen before going to my place. Hey, my place was kind of a mess as well. I don't remember leaving it that messy when I left."
Random, as usual, thought Sakura to herself as Naruto rambled on.
Just then the door opened. Both of the guest shinobi straightened up immediately and faced the entryway. Slowly, they walk-marched into the office. Tsunade was sitting at her desk, but looked a bit beat up. Her left arm was in a sling and she had a patch over her left eye. Below her chin and up to her cheekbone, she had a huge purplish-green bruise that appeared to be healing.
"M'Lady," said Sakura as she bowed her head just slightly to her mentor.
"Hey Granny...good to see you made it through!" said Naruto.
Tsunade just closed her visible eye and shook her head slightly from side-to-side.
"I can see that this experience hasn't changed you one bit, Naruto," said Tsunade.
Shizune silently stood behind and to the left of her mistress. Sakura could also hear a near-silent 'oink-oink' coming from somewhere on the other side of the desk.
"It is not often I receive orders from my own Leaf shinobi to appear in my office at an appointed time," said Lady Tsunade.
"Oh, we didn't mean for it to sound like an order -," said Sakura
"We are just in a super-big hurry and needed to talk to you and - ," said Naruto.
"And? What else?" asked Tsunade.
"Well, in our eyes, the two we trust the most are you...and, of course -," said Sakura.
"Two?" asked Tsunade.
Just then a white-haired, one-eyed, tall shinobi appeared outside one of the side windows and tapped lightly on the glass so someone from the inside would open the window.
"Kakashi-sensei!" said Naruto, speeding over to the window to throw it open allowing his old teacher to enter the room.
Sakura and Tsunade smiled at one another. Both knew that Kakashi had probably been keeping an eye on his former students ever since they arrived at the village and knew when his appearance would be called for.
"So...now that we are all here. What exactly is going on?" asked Tsunade.
Naruto looked at Sakura, hoping she would do most of the explaining. Sakura easily took the hint.
"Before I begin," started Sakura. "Have you heard what happened to end the war?"
"Tobi was defeated by Naruto, was he not?" answered Tsunade. "I gave the order to interrogate him when he was handed over to ANBU, but he died shortly thereafter. I was waiting for Naruto to return to Konoha to provide me with his full report. What I did hear came through several official channels though."
"Actually, I'm surprised you didn't come see Naruto in the field hospital that he was in after the battles died down...," said Sakura.
"I knew you were right there, Sakura. I had to get back to the village as quickly as possible so I trusted his care to you," answered Tsunade. "As much as you want me to be in 20 places at once, I'm afraid this village is still my top priority."
"Naruto, do you want to tell the Hokage about Tobi's final defeat?" asked Sakura.
"Well...I had help defeating Tobi," said Naruto. "To be perfectly honest, I couldn't have done it alone."
"Help? From who?" asked Tsunade.
"It was Sasuke," answered Naruto.
"Sasuke!" said the three elder shinobi in the room.
"How did I not hear anything about Sasuke?" asked Tsunade with a little anger in her voice.
"I was the one who found them both after the battle. Tobi was given to ANBU immediately, but I was the one who picked both Naruto and Sasuke up from the scene of the final battle and brought them in for medical care. I purposely hid his identity from everyone until Naruto and I could talk about what was going on. To be honest, I didn't even know whose side he was on or how the battle ended until Naruto told me what happened. I told ANBU the room needed to be guarded, but didn't exactly tell them who was in there," said Sakura.
"But he is back on our side now, Granny. We didn't ignore the safety of the Leaf. We talked to him and made sure he was back to being the old Sasuke before coming here," said Naruto.
"Do you agree, Sakura?" asked Kakashi.
"Yes, I do," she replied. "And he does want to come home."
"Troublesome...," said Tsunade. She knew it would be difficult to get him back into Konoha after all that he had done.
"Please Lady Tsunade, isn't there a way?" asked Naruto. "I know what he has done over the last six years, but you have to take into consideration how he was manipulated and why he made some of the decisions he did."
"Yes, for instance, he did confirm that Itachi was ordered to kill the Uchiha clan," added Sakura.
"So it was true," said Kakashi.
"Wait, who ordered what now?" asked Tsunade.
"There were four who knew about the order," said Sakura. "Danzo and the Lord Third as well as Homura and Koharu."
"Hmmm...," Tsunade let escape as she started to think.
"Itachi loved this village to the day he died!" Naruto replied desperately. "He was the one who ended Edo Tensei! He saved so many shinobi through his actions. His entire time as an Akatsuki was spent as a cover to help the Leaf!"
Again, the three older shinobi in the room looked at the jinchuriki with raised eyebrows.
"I wonder what else we are not in the know about," said Kakashi. "It seems the younger generation has begun to take over."
"As it should be," said Tsunade. "Naruto and Sakura, I want you to tell me everything that has happened. Start from the beginning and leave nothing out!"
It took about two hours, but soon enough, all the stories Naruto and Sakura had to tell were out for their mentors to hear. Tsunade collapsed back into her soft chair when the report was finally finished. She didn't question the stories at all...both she and Kakashi were present for some of what happened and she could easily fill in the pieces.
"So you say Sasuke wants to return to the Leaf," Tsunade finally said.
"Yes," said Naruto. "It has been Sakura and my dream to finally bring him home as well."
"Naruto - I'm not sure I...," started Tsunade.
"Granny! You can't say no...you just can't. Especially after hearing what he's been through," said Naruto. "And I want him back. I've saved this village at least twice now...and helped to end the war. I'm not asking for anything for what I've done except that I want Sasuke allowed back into the village."
Tsunade sighed. She knew she owed this teenager...this entire village did. She would have to figure out a way.
"He cannot come back without some sort of penalty," said Tsunade. "I don't know what it is, but there will need to be something."
"Understood," said Naruto and Sakura virtually at the same time.
"And what you've said about the two elders disturbs me. But the fact remains, even if they were aware of the Uchiha massacre, I'm not sure how much punishment I can give them. After all, the Third was also aware...," added Tsunade.
"He has already promised not to be a vigilante and go after them on his own. He knows that would mean he would be ousted from the village forever. But he will want an inquiry via official channels," said Sakura.
"That is his right," said Tsunade. "If that is so, I see no reason why he cannot be welcomed back to the village. However, to ease suspicions, I will need to assign a few folks to escort him in the beginning...just to make sure."
"I will do whatever I can!" said Sakura.
"He can stay with me," added Naruto.
"I'll help as well," said Kakashi. "After all, I want to see him back in Konoha as well."
"Then it is settled," said Tsunade. "You two may return to the field hospital in the Land of Lightning to retrieve Sasuke. Once you return to the Leaf village, you are to report to this office immediately, understand? "
"Yes, ma'am!" the two teammates said in unison.
"Dismissed!" she said loudly. Naruto and Sakura disappeared almost immediately.
"I'm surprised you were so forgiving," said Kakashi to his Hokage.
"What choice do I have?" she answered. "After what they told me, he deserves a second chance despite what he has done over the last six years. And I owe it to both of them to make every effort I can to make his return a successful one. I'm afraid most of the other residents of this village will not be as forgiving as I am."
"I believe your fear is valid," said Kakashi. "Only time will heal these wounds."
OlOlOlOlOlO
It was nearly two days later when the door to Sasuke's hospital room opened. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief when she immediately recognized the black spiky hair that lay on the pillow - his face facing away from the door.
He's still here, she thought to herself. She wanted to believe and act on everything he had told her, but based on her experience, there would always be a nagging doubt that he would keep his word.
"Hey Sasuke!" said a very loud Naruto as he entered the room.
"Shhhhh!" Sakura quieted him down. "He's sleeping."
Sakura guided Naruto out of the room and down the hall where there were a few chairs set-up for visitors. They had both hurried back to the field hospital as quickly as they could and sitting down was welcome for both of them.
"Sakura, you're back!" said one of the nurses as she walked by the pink-haired shinobi.
"Hi Rena...yeah, I'm back. It was only supposed to be a short trip back home anyway," said Sakura.
"That friend of yours will be happy that you've returned. He sure is a moody one," said Rena.
"Yeah, he gets that way sometimes," was all that Sakura could answer.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he missed you," said Rena.
"How is he doing anyway?" asked Sakura.
"He is still showing signs of mild exhaustion, but most of his outward injuries have been healed. He can be discharged tomorrow without issue," said Rena.
"Tomorrow?" asked Sakura.
"Well, if he's not discharged tomorrow, then he'll have to be medically transported tomorrow. We are done with the field hospital tomorrow afternoon," said Rena. That's when it is closing.
Oh, that's right. I almost forgot.
Sakura got up and gave her friend a hug. "I'll miss you," she said to Rena. "If you are ever in Konoha, be sure to look me up. We'll have to have dinner and catch up."
"And the same goes for you if you are ever in Kumogakure," replied Rena, for she happened to be a shinobi from the Land of Lightning.
"It's amazing how something as negative and hurtful as a war can still have its positive effects," said Sakura. "I am friends with so many others from all around the world now."
Another short squeeze and Rena started walking down the hallway again.
"Sakura," said another nurse from the other direction. "He's awake and is asking for you."
"C'mon Naruto. We need to go tell him what Tsunade agreed to," said Sakura. "I can only hope he's still willing to come."