Sakura held Sasuke for a few moments, still crouching against the tree in the Forest of Death. Soon enough the embrace had eased and Sakura looked at the man she loved desperate for some sort of sign of what exactly he was thinking.
"Sasuke?" she questioned quietly. She didn't like this at all. His expression had gone from anger to simply blank. She couldn't read him at all and that frightened her. It was as if...as if that Sasuke from when he spent years away from Konoha had returned. She hadn't seen this Sasuke for a very long time and she had hoped she would never see him again.
Sasuke stood up letting Sakura fall away to the side. He started to walk away from her.
"Sasuke, where are you...?"
"I...I just need some time right now," he said to her. And with that, he walked away from her farther into the trees.
Sakura's world seemingly came crashing down in just the last hour. One hour ago everything had been fine. Sasuke and she were a couple...soon to be cohabitating in the new Uchiha compound at his invitation. He had worked so hard to get back into everyone's good graces and if he did decide to be rash...to strike out in some way...he would most likely be throwing everything he had worked for away.
But then again, by thinking this way, she too was losing faith just as the Hokage and, to a lesser extent, Neji, had done earlier. By even thinking he might betray her or the village again she was committing the very sin he found so offensive. It was a no win situation. There was nothing she could do.
She sat there alone for a few moments pondering the situation and all the possible things that might happen next. It didn't take long for her to despair and she finally decided what her next should be. Going after Sasuke was not the best choice. He wanted to be alone and think about some things for himself. Being where she wasn't welcome might annoy him enough to push in him the opposite direction than she intended. However, she knew that this was something she didn't need to go through alone. That would be her next step...to seek out her friends and teammates and get some much needed support.
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She walked back to the village wondering who she should seek out first.
"Forehead?" questioned the beautiful blonde shinobi who was walking down the street, away from the Hokage tower.
Sakura looked up at her friend. She was still emotional and it showed. "Oh...hi Ino," she managed to eek out.
"Is everything alright?" said Ino, obviously concerned for her friend. "You ran out of the Hokage's office so fast. Where's Sasuke?"
"I-I don't know for sure. Somewhere in the Forest of Death," she answered. "I followed him there."
"The Forest of Death?" questioned Ino. "That's a bit extreme, isn't it?"
"Well, do you blame him?" Sakura asked. "His loyalty and ability to act as a Konoha shinobi was just questioned, wasn't it? After all he has been through, don't you think that was the worst thing he could have heard?"
"I personally think he made it seem a little worse than it really was," noted Ino.
"You can't be serious," said Sakura.
"...and you seem to be a little sensitive, too," said Ino.
Sakura stopped dead at that last comment. She took in a deep breath and let back out. Perhaps she was being a tad bit sensitive.
"Let's go get something to eat. How about some ramen?" Ino asked.
"Um, sure," said Sakura. "I am a bit hungry. It's been a while since I ate anything."
"And that's probably making you a bit on edge as well. Let's go talk it out at Ichiraku," said Ino.
"Alright," answered Sakura.
The two friends walked towards Naruto's favorite ramen stand and talked along the way as well as once they got there. Ino broke down what she had seen and heard at the meeting earlier that day as well as what the outcome of the mission had been. This was all in an attempt to get Sakura to start thinking more logical and less with emotions.
"Now, let's get this all straight," said Ino. "The elders who had left the Leaf after getting harassed for what they did to Itachi, basically killed themselves when confronted with the fact that they were caught trying to kidnap Kanja and Sumato."
"That's what happened, right?" said Sakura. "You were there, I wasn't."
"Well, that's what I saw," said Ino. "Sasuke had them in a genjutsu because after their bodyguards were defeated, they made no effort to run away...but I'm sure he wanted to make sure they stayed put. Somehow...probably before the genjutsu, they injected themselves with a highly concentrated poison or cardiac effector of some sort."
"You guys saw the small syringes after they died, right?" asked Sakura.
"Yeah," agreed Ino. "Bottom line was, the twins were saved and successfully brought back to the Leaf."
"Right," said Sakura.
"So the issues really started when the report was given to Lady Hokage. It seemed to Sasuke that she doubted him," said Ino.
Sakura thought about what had happened at that meeting earlier in the day.
"Put yourself into Lady Tsunade's shoes. What do you see?" asked Ino.
"Sasuke Uchiha returning with several shinobi from inside and outside of Konoha," said Sakura. "The kidnapping victims alive and well. Two dead elders. Two strange shinobi who were once trying to destroy Konoha standing next to Sasuke as friends."
"I suppose that's true," said Ino. "But the twins supported Sasuke, and there was evidence that the elders took their own lives..."
"Yes, but Sasuke just happened to have them in his genjutsu when they actually died. And you know how powerful an Uchiha's genjutsu can be," said Sakura.
"She didn't come right out and blame him, did she? She just questioned him," said Ino. "And all that on top of the fact that two shinobi who he obviously considered to be comrades and who fought alongside him when he was our enemy, and who had just kidnapped the twins, were standing in that office as well."
"Yes, but - ," started Sakura.
"Think about what happened, Sakura. Did she throw Sasuke in prison? Did she arrest him, or have him detained in anyway? Did she even send anyone after him when he bolted from the office?" asked Ino.
"No," answered Sakura.
"I still think you two are making too much out of this. It's her duty, Sakura. She isn't allowed to overlook even the smallest detail. She is obviously trusting him as much as she can," explained Ino.
"Trusting who?" said a new voice to the conversation.
"Good evening Sakura. Ino," said a second voice.
It was Naruto and Iruka-sensei just coming to the ramen stand. Naruto had obviously already heard the last bit that Sakura and Ino were discussing. Both men took seats next to the ladies at the counter. They ordered and waited for their food to be made.
Suddenly there was utter silence. Sakura looked uncomfortable saying much else about the topic of Sasuke and Ino wasn't going to force her into it. Naruto could tell something wasn't being said due to his presence. Iruka was the only one just happily waiting to eat his dinner.
Finally Naruto broke the ice. "Sakura, er - what was it you were talking about when we first got here. You seem a little flushed. Is everything ok?"
"Silly, there's nothing to worry about," said Sakura with a fake smile, which earned her an elbow from Ino from the opposite side.
"Ow!" she yelled. "What?"
"You should tell him," said Ino. "He's a member of Team 7, too."
"What is this about Team 7?" said Kakashi-sensei just then entering the ramen stand.
Sakura smacked her forehead in frustration. "I'm worried about Sasuke...again," she stated in frustration.
Sakura dived into the story of everything that happened with the mission and after they returned to the Leaf and had a meeting with the Hokage. Once the story was finished, Kakashi rolled his one visible eye.
"Not again," he mumbled. "If he does anything rash, I'm going to..."
"He won't, Kakashi-sensei. We won't let him," said Naruto.
"Oh yeah?" said Sakura. "How are you going to stop him? I'm glad Ino calmed me down and gave me a few things to think about but Sasuke isn't exactly known for his patience and lack of reaction."
"You can say that again," said Naruto.
"You don't even know if this is even a problem," interjected Iruka.
"What?" said Sakura turning sharply to listen to this new voice to the conversation.
"I get what you're saying. Why we should have faith that Sasuke is once again a good shinobi and why we shouldn't question him...or perhaps, he really is emotionally vulnerable and potentially unstable based on his past history and how he's acted before. But the thing is, no matter what you might think, everything already said here is pure conjecture. He could be gone already...or, he could make his way back to the village as if nothing happened. Don't get yourselves too worked up until you know what he's thinking," explained Iruka.
"Good point," agreed Kakashi. "Let's just wait and see for now. He has grown up quite a bit from those old days and I would highly doubt he would act out his frustration in the same way."
"But Kakashi-sensei...," said Naruto.
"Now, now, Naruto. You've got to get past this as well. The three of you keep repeating yourselves...saying that you understand why Tsunade has some doubts, but also that since it is her duty to look after the village, she has no room for complete trust in an ex-renegade like Sasuke."
"She pretty much said just what you just did, sensei," agreed Ino.
"Right. If you all really, really think that he is no longer the rogue shinobi he was before the war, then you must trust that he will not be so easily swayed again and everything will be just fine," said Iruka.
"Yes," said Ino.
"You're right, sensei," agreed Sakura.
"But...," started Naruto.
"But?" repeated Kakashi.
"Naruto, you also want to become Hokage, right? Isn't that your dream?" asked Iruka, seeing a teachable moment.
"Hai," Naruto answered.
"Wouldn't you keep an eye on any risk, no matter how insignificant or small to keep this village safe? You will need to weigh all factors against decisions and observations you will make as the leader of so many people. The village's safety and well-being will become your top priority, even more so than your own friends and comrades," said Iruka.
"Actually, it is more like the entire village becomes your own family," said Kakashi. "...and it is your duty to spot and keep tabs on all the potential threats."
"Ok, I get it now," said Naruto. "The Hokage should look at this situation and fully analyze each and every detail with as little emotion as possible, especially the ones that cannot be 100% proven. It is the Hokage's duty to protect the village above all else."
"Exactly," said Iruka.
"Nicely put," said Kakashi.
Silence set in again. The ramen in front of Ino and Sakura had long ago been eaten. Naruto was too busy talking to eat his fill, so he picked up his chopsticks and began slurping away again.
Sakura stood up and paid the bill for herself and Ino.
"So what's the next step, Forehead?" Ino asked.
"I'm just going to head home. I'm still worried about him, but I need to have faith that he will return and everything will return to how it was once again. He will come home tonight," said Sakura. "I have to keep thinking that."
"See you tomorrow," said Naruto in-between slurps.
Sakura dropped Ino off in front of her family's flower shop and thanked her for being her sounding board for the day. Ino insisted that next time it would be Sakura's turn to support her, especially if it involved a man that she was dating. Sakura readily agreed with a laugh.
She turned to continue walking to her own place. She couldn't help worrying and thinking about the situation even as she tried to convince herself to be strong and that everything that had already been said by the others was absolutely true.
Slowly she ascended the stairs. She walked around the corner to her tiny apartment and opened the door. It was quiet inside. Too quiet. Normally, both her and Sasuke would be home and they would be talking to one another about their respective days. However, on this particular evening, it was dark and nothing could be seen or heard.
Sakura made for the bathroom where she could take a shower and get ready for bed. It had been a very long and stressful day. She hadn't been this emotionally taxed since Sasuke had returned.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was definitely tired. It was time to get some sleep...hopefully.
Sakura made her way to the bed. As she slid between the blankets, she immediately noted that she wasn't alone in the bed. She examined the breathing body and quickly came to the conclusion that it was none other than Sasuke in bed with her, already asleep.
She squirmed her way up to his back and wrapped her arm around his waist from behind. He was warm. He felt really, really good to her. She had no idea what had happened between when he left her earlier in the Forest of Death and now, but she was happy he was here. She let a smile pass across her lips as she let herself drift off to sleep. It looked like things were going to be ok after all.