Perhaps his promise of "see you soon" will really come true , perhaps it's almost time, Sakura thinks as she remembers the back of his silhouette. After ignoring all the plea to save his face he came back the moment he learned she was kidnapped by kido. Perhaps just a bit longer and he'll be ready. But is she ready? To face the truth? What if Sasuke doesn't want her? Sakura came to realise that she no longer cared . She just wanted him to be happy. Whether with her or someone else, she just want him to find the peace he has been looking for so long.
It's been almost a year since she got a letter from him. That only said - "Congratulations". Did it make her that happy to guess that he might have wanted to congratulate Naruto as a couple with Sakura like any other couple present that day? But that was all she got. It's been a year and Sakura has finally realized all she could hope for is Sasuke to be safe and sound. Perhaps Konoha will never be a home to him after everything it has done to him. So that's how the days will go by, without Sasuke and Sakura has come to term with 's been too long to cry over it.
Sasuke got a letter. Judging by the handwriting it's obviously the dobe's. The only thing that caught his attention was Naruto mentioning Sakura talking about him being like a police force .
"A police force huh?"
He has been in this soul searching journey for 2 years. He wanted to return sometimes. But to where? Where exactly is his home? Sasuke was afraid of being intimate. Was afraid he might loose the one he loved again. But with the police force bringing back a memory of Itachi, he realised he was no longer scared of getting involved. It was worth giving it a shot. He might not have a place to call home but he might find someone to be his home. And he'll protect that home.
With that thought in mind Sasuke walked towards the direction of the hidden leaf. Carefully keeping his chakra Hidden Sasuke walked towards the village gate. The gate keepers weren't exactly happy to see him. Nobody would - he thought. He has terrorised people way too much to expect all of them would ever forgive him. Though his redemption journey has taught him that not everyone saw him as some kind of monster. Some people just like Naruto saw how lost he was back then and how much he changed over time .
Naruto probably sensed him even with his chakra being concealed. So why isn't he here yet? Sasuke thought he's probably on a mission outside or something. Might be the current Hokage getting him all ready to take over in a few years. He scowled with the thought of Naruto an idiot taking the role of leadership but in a moment realized nobody else would be better for the job. Naruto had always had the ability to make people trust him , to lead them to a better life or to change them for the better.
Sakura wasn't there either . As expected , him concealing his chakra worked out fine. But he felt somehow lonely? With no one welcoming him home. Why was he here again? The question ring an alarm bell in his ear. It's suspicious. He himself concluded Konoha would never be his home. But there he was, standing before the gates. He entered the village ignoring the glares of the gatekeepers. They can go kill themselves for all he cares. And then it came- a strong emotion he hasn't known that existed within him- he felt lonely that no one was there to welcome him.