Sakura awoke slowly to a sound in the other room. Wha…? Where is...?
She was foggy at first, but then it came to her...everything at once...Sasuke returning to the village after his mission, the meeting with the Hokage, him running away because of what was said, and then him needing space away from her. She had been so worried about what was going through his head that it came as a relief when she had found him home and in bed. Sakura practically passed out once she felt Sasuke in bed with her. The stress and worry had suddenly been lifted and her body and mind must have shut down as soon as she the tension was released.
But today was a new day…
"Sasuke?" she said aloud, quite loudly. She suddenly realized that he wasn't with her anymore.
No one answered.
"Sasuke!?" she shouted louder.
He stuck his head in the doorway. "What?" he asked. "What are you shouting for?"
Sakura let her head drop as she sat there. He was still here...and now he seemed so….normal. Then she noticed he was dressed to go out.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I have a meeting...a pretty important one," he answered.
"What is - ?" Sakura started but she was immediately cut-off.
"I really have to go. I was just about the door when you just called me," he said. "See you later on." He left the doorway. The next thing she heard was "Bye!" Then the front door fell shut with a light thump. He was gone.
What on earth is going on?
OlOlOlOlOlOlO
Sasuke wasn't going to be late to this meeting. It might actually bring him even more closure to his past and he looked forward to not having quite as many loose ends from his past life interrupting his present one. After all, one reason for the misunderstanding yesterday was the fact that Suigetsu and Juugo were involved. Although it looked like things were going to work out after all, he wanted to make sure his friends were taken care of and that no further misunderstandings happened in the future.
I sure am glad she found me yesterday. Sometimes it takes a different perspective to really understand the situation, he thought to himself. He thought back to yesterday as he walked to where this morning's meeting was scheduled to take place.
Flashback - begin
He had just left Sakura in the Forest of Death. He knew that she meant well, and his love for her wasn't in question, but sometimes she could just be...irritating. There were times when he needed to think things through and her input just didn't help. In fact, it hurt the situation more than anything else simply because he could feel the exasperation setting in. She distracted him from thinking about what he really wanted to and he found it..."annoying," he said aloud as he thought. He loved her, but there were times when she was annoying...and he told her about it frequently when they were younger. He loved her, but just like any couple, there were times they were bound to be at odds.
But that wasn't the point right now...he looked up to see where his legs had taken him while he was preoccupied with what had happened earlier repeating itself over and over in his mind.
He looked up and was surprised. For a few seconds he was taken aback as he looked at his surroundings. Then he eased into a smile and took a seat near the stone slab under which his brother was buried, thanks to him and the Hokage.
"Hi Itachi," he muttered. Sasuke wasn't sure why he was here - whether it was a subconscious need to talk to his brother, or even perhaps Itachi, from the next world knew what Sasuke was going through and called him here to figure it out.
"I know I've visited you from time to time since you arrived here, but something has come up that I need your help with," said Sasuke lowly. He wasn't sure what exactly he was expecting. A reply?…most likely not. He decided to continue.
"You gave up so much for the village and, just before you died, you showed me the cost of the path that you took. I pledged soon after that that I would not take for granted the life of a Leaf shiniobi and vowed to return to Konoha to serve it once again. I would also cherish my friends more and maybe even find the love of my life and settle down…maybe even start to repopulate the clan. I was able to pursue all this because of the gift you gave me...that you gave all of us. I..."
He paused for a few seconds.
"Those elders that ordered you to destroy our clan? They are finally dead. I'm not sorry that they're dead, but because I was there when it happened, I am suspected of having something to do with killing them. They hired two of my old friends to kidnap two barely-genin shinobi from the village. It turns out my friends had no idea who these two elders were and once I appeared, they listened to me and the matter was settled. They showed us who the people were who sent us on the mission and it turned out it was the very same elders who ordered you, an Uchiha, to eradicate your clan back in the day. I put the elders under a genjutsu, but I wasn't fast enough. They were old and frail and weren't going to run; instead they had already injected themselves with some sort of poison. I reported it all to the Hokage, but I was questioned. I was doubted. They knew I hated those two and it apparent they still don't trust me. I wonder if I will ever be trusted, even after doing every single thing they asked of me when I returned..."
"It's not completely a trust issue," said a voice from behind him. Sasuke whisked his head around to see who was invading his privacy. "Well, it is and it isn't, but I wouldn't take it too personally. You should know better than to let words affect you this much."
"Lady Tsunade," greeted Sasuke. "How did you know..?"
"There were very few places I would have expected you to have gone once you stormed out of my office. Of course, ANBU was keeping an eye on you the entire time," the Hokage explained.
"ANBU has been tailing me?!" he repeated, somewhat upset.
"Not because you are a threat...because I knew I would want to talk to you after you left our earlier meeting," she explained. "I didn't want this situation to...degrade into something we both don't want. There are plenty of people who don't want you to storm out of the village again."
"Can you tell me 'why' then? Why was I questioned? If any other shinobi had been in my shoes, you would have...," Sasuke started.
Tsunade cut him off. "Don't start telling me what I would have done or not done. You don't know and you aren't the Hokage. You have never walked in my shoes. I am the very definition of cautious nowadays...I have to be. I've got too many people counting on me to let even the littlest things slip by me."
"Sorry," said Sasuke, a little more in control of his emotions.
"It's alright," Tsunade said a little more calmly.
"Sasuke, let me speak frankly. You have done a tremendous job since you returned to the village. You have been almost perfect in every decision you've made and every action you've taken. You've saved our precious Koshosuru twins multiple times now. You have supported Naruto with your friendship...and saved his life at the end of the war. You have shown the other nations that Uchiha is, once again, an admirable name...you are someone to be treasured and trusted and not feared as you once were."
Sasuke listened intently to Tsunade's acknowledgement of his efforts over the last year.
"But," started the Hokage. "You have a bad history, Sasuke."
Sasuke cringed. He had a feeling he knew what was going to be said.
"You were a pretty bad guy for quite a few years there. You killed Danzo, you attacked our Five Kage Summit and even took the Raikage's right arm. You joined Akatsuki and attacked Killer Bee when you attempted to kidnap him. And, not to mention, you have attacked many Leaf shinobi multiple times over those years. I'm not saying this outweighs the good, but trust is a hard thing to win back. It takes time. I do trust you Sasuke, but when I'm suddenly confronted with elders dying while under your genjutsu while two of your comrades from back then stood by your side, I'm sorry, but I don't think even the most trusting of people wouldn't think twice about questioning you."
"But I...I didn't...," started Sasuke. He didn't get very far.
"Yes, I heard your confession to Itachi. I just happened to already be here when you explained it all to him. I now choose to put this incident behind us. You will not have to be put on any restrictions or surveillance after all," said Tsunade. "However, you need to understand what I'm tasked with here. In the future, if something like this happens, don't take offense. If you are truly innocent, it will be brought to light in the long run. It is my duty to protect the village, and if I have to do something like take you off duty to do it, then that is what I'm going to do."
"Hai," said Sasuke. "I think I understand a bit more now."
"Good," said Tsunade. "Now that we have that straightened out, I need you do meet me tomorrow morning."
"Meet you?" Sasuke questioned.
"This isn't completely over yet...there is something else you and I need to address," said Tsunade.
Flashback - end
Sasuke walked up to the ominous building on the far side of the village. He could see that the Hokage was standing there alone near the entranceway.
"I thought you'd have at least one other shinobi with you," noted Sasuke, implying the Hokage shouldn't be walking around the village alone.
"You don't think I can handle myself in a threatening situation?" she jokingly asked.
Sasuke thought for a bit. "Yeah, you are probably right. Anyone who attacked you would be out of their mind. There are few shinobi in this world who could serious take on one of the legendary Sannin."
"Let's go in," Tsunade said and she turned and opened the door.
"Lady Hokage, w-what are you doing here?" asked the shinobi on-guard. "We weren't expecting you."
"Is Ibiki around?" asked Tsunade. "Did I catch him on his shift?"
"Hai, M'Lady," said the guard.
"Please give this to him then," she said handing a scroll to the guard, "...and show us to a room where we'll wait for his reply."
"Hai," said the guard who then bowed. He ducked into an area behind the desk, presumably where other shinobi who were working there were currently mulling about. He reappeared without the scroll and said, "Right this way."
Sasuke recognized he room right away. He and Naruto had also briefly waited in this room once before though it had been quite a few months ago.
In only two minutes time, the door swung open and hit the wall with a slam. "What is the meaning of this?" shouted an obviously irritated Ibiki.
"Calm yourself," said Tsunade.
Ibiki looked to see that Sasuke was also in the room. He was even more naturally suspicious than Tsunade was. Ibiki hesitated.
"Sasuke, do you mind if Ibiki and I discuss this in the hallway, or will you be offended if I don't include you?" asked Tsunade.
"No, do what you need to," answered Sasuke. He knew she would get farther with Ibiki without him there. Tsunade had told Sasuke yesterday what she had in mind and he had already decided that he would follow the Hokage's lead on this one. It was, after all, her idea and her ultimate decision.
Tsunade and Ibiki left the room. Sasuke could hear them talking in the hallway and, except for a few brief outbursts, couldn't make out exactly what they were saying.
The door to the room opened again. The last thing Tsunade said was, "I'm the Hokage and this is an order," before she came back in and joined him once again, seated at the table. Ibiki stomped away.
"So what's going on?" asked Sasuke.
"It's happening right now," Tsunade mentioned. "But you already know the ones who have been here for a while aren't being kept right here in this building."
"Yeah, there is some sort of connection underground isn't there? I've only ever been here once before," noted Sasuke.
"It's going to take time to get them assembled," said Tsunade. "There aren't that many, so they'll probably just be brought here."
"Yeah," agreed Sasuke with a slight smile on his face. He was actually quite eager to get going on his next assignment from the Hokage: the transition and acclimation of the homeless shinobi.