Shattered Pieces
Chapter 12 – Duties of the Heart
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
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Sakura's POV
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The past days of Sasuke's return have been uneventful. I always felt uneasy knowing that he had two ANBU squads watching his every move, knowing that he would never betray Konoha again. I was stuck with working shifts at the hospital, but the fact that I lived far away from Sasuke didn't help me either. To put it shortly, it was nearly forbidden to visit Sasuke, but I would find ways to make it. But right now, I'm still at the hospital, treating my patients like a good medic nin should.
"Oi! Sakura-chan!"
I inwardly smiled and turned to see my former teammate, Naruto, run up to me.
"Naruto? Where's Hinata?"
"Business with Hiashi-sama," He said, his face looking crestfallen.
I nodded in understanding and waiting for him to pursue his reason for finding me in the hospital.
"I heard Sasuke-teme is back," He said.
I looked at him and I smiled, turning my gaze to a flower vase sitting on a table next to me.
"Yes."
Naruto eyed me, and I sighed.
"He has done nothing wrong, Naruto."
"Sakura, how can you so easily accept him? He left you! Do you not remember that?" He asked, trying to keep his calm with me.
"I remember many times before telling you and everyone else that I did not care that he left me, but that I would keep waiting. And now I stopped waiting now that he's back. Naruto, I understand you can't accept him as easily as me, but you're not giving him...credit."
"He deserves no recognition."
"You unfairly judge him. You don't know about what happened while I was gone, Naruto!"
"Leave it, Sakura."
I turned around and found Sasuke behind me. My eyes grew wide and I saw Naruto glare daggers at him.
"Teme," Naruto said through clenched teeth.
"Dobe," Sasuke equally said.
I stayed quiet, knowing that they themselves would have to settle their grudges alone. I stood silent and waited for what both of them had to say.
"It's true I deserve nothing. But don't get on Sakura's case about it."
"At least you don't deny your low level, teme."
Inside I was inwardly blushing infinite shades of pink and red, but I forced myself to remain emotionless. Sasuke is caring for me? In front of Naruto of all people?
"Hn."
Naruto glared daggers at him, and looked at me. I could tell sense his disappointment behind his eyes, and I almost felt guilty. I knew that everyone cared and would never forget the pain Sasuke had caused me, and that Sasuke could not be so easily accepted, but none of them know of what had happened. Naruto shook his head, turned, and walked away.
"Give Hinata my regards," I told him, knowing where he was going.
He looked at me and smiled. I shot him a look that said 'Rant-to-Hinata-about-this-and-I'll-kill-you', and he just gave me his goofy grin.
"Bye Naruto."
He waved at me, and nodded to Sasuke. He then disappeared behind smoke, leaving nobody else in the hallways but Sasuke and me. I was taken aback about him giving Sasuke something as small as a nod; Naruto was growing to accept him, no matter how many times he denied that he would never forgive him.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke."
I turned to look at him, and gave him an apologetic smile. He gave me a look that told me he was puzzled, but his expression stayed emotionless and cold.
"You'll be going through that a lot. Especially from Naruto..."
He turned and began to walk away. He stopped before he left, and looked at me, giving me a small smile.
"It's fine."
He continued to walk through the hospital corridors, soon disappearing from my view. I smiled, and continued my duties as a medic nin.
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KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Hold on a second! I'm coming!" I yelled from behind my door, irritated that whoever came to me house was being obnoxious.
"SAKURA! OPEN UP THE DAMN DOOR!"
I sighed. That one and only irritated voice had to be Ino. She was one of my closest friends, but sometimes she was a bit too bossy. I opened the door and found her steaming, and I just shook my head.
"Why didn't you tell me Sasuke was back?" She asked, inviting herself inside and sitting herself down on my couch.
I sat down and remained silent for a few moments. I could feel her gaze on me, and turned to face her. I could sense her eyes pleading for an answer, and I smiled at her.
"Ino...please...don't be harsh on him," I said.
"Don't be harsh! Sakura, what he did to you was far worse! How can you even look at him after what he did?"
I sighed. Was this going to happen every time I see somebody? Just then, I heard another knock on my door, and walked up and opened it. I found Tenten and Hinata standing there, Tenten obviously irritated at me, and Hinata shooting me an 'I'm sorry' look. I invited them in and they sat themselves behind Ino. I knew what Tenten had to say.
"Before you yell at me, Tenten. Let me explain," I said.
Tenten gave me a nod to acknowledge that she was listening, and Ino waiting to hear what I was going to say.
"I know you two are frustrated with me and are angry with Sasuke..." I began.
"Angry doesn't begin to describe it," Ino muttered.
I let her comment slide, and continued.
"But please, you three don't know about what happened while I was gone. Before anyone interrupts me," I said, staring at Ino and Tenten, "I'll tell you why I was gone for so long."
They gave me looks of excitement and curiosity, and I took that as an acknowledgement to continue.
"Before I disappeared, Sasuke came to visit me. He was bloodied and was on the edge of life, his death nearing. I helped him and healed his wounds to the best of my abilities. Itachi was watching us from close by, and I was kidnapped by Itachi to lure Sasuke in. Unfortunately, it worked. Sasuke came soon, but his curse mark had gone, and Orochimaru was dead. The two got into a battle, and they fought. Sasuke killed Itachi. We stayed in the mountains where we both recovered our chakra and Sasuke's wounds were beginning to heal. Then, we made it back to Konoha, which leads us to the present," I said.
Ino and Tenten were angry from the start when I said that I helped Sasuke when he was injured, and they were ready to kill me when they heard about the whole thing. I looked at Hinata for help, and she gave me a small nod.
"Ino, Tenten. Please consider Sakura. I know both of you would do the same if Shikamaru or Neji-nii-san had done the same thing. Please put yourselves in her shoes," She said.
Ino and Tenten just stared at her like she was insane, and sighed. Hinata would not give up, and she continued to defend me.
"I know that if Naruto-kun had left me, and came back wounded and ready to die, I would have done all I could to keep him alive. You can't deny the duties of your heart. What Sakura did was follow her heart, and you can't blame one for following that," She said.
I looked at her, and she smiled at me. She was not angry with me; she had even come to my defense. She understands me...thank you Hinata. Ino and Tenten remained silent, unable to bring themselves to the realization that what Hinata had said was true. Then, it became a sob fest. Ino and Tenten began to cry, regardless of how rare that was for them. They told me they were sorry, and all I could do was comfort them.
"We're sorry, Sakura. Hinata's right...you can't deny your heart," they said.
I hugged them, comforting them to tell them it was okay.
"Don't worry," I said.
Hinata smiled, and we all got into a big group hug.
"Thank you, everyone, for understanding..." I said.
We all laughed, and my three closest friends left, content and determined to have everyone in Konoha see the same light about Sasuke.
Thank you all...
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Normal POV
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The battle to have the ninja and citizens of Konoha see the true Sasuke began. Ino had started with her clan and Shikamaru. Luckily for her, Shikamaru was too lazy to argue, and just agreed to not be angry with him. The Yamanaka clan, however, was not so easily moved. It took Ino's constant arguing and stubborn badgering until they too had realized that Sasuke was an important asset to the ninja in Konoha, and no longer held a grudge for him. Tenten had started with Neji. Her experience, however, was long.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Tenten? I won't accept the Uchiha just because you tell me to," Neji said.
Tenten looked at him, and she was disgusted with his attitude.
"You're just like him, you know that?" She hissed.
She was losing her cool with Neji. Neji just stared at her, and looked away.
"How am I like him? How am I like Uchiha?" He asked.
He needed to know.
"Both of you are a great asset to the ninja of Konoha. Both of you were like caged birds, before you both found something that set you free. Neji, please!" Tenten said, pleading for the forgiveness.
Neji just looked at her, unable to bring himself to say anything.
"Hn."
Tenten's eyes widened as she heard her companion's reply.
"Are you serious?" She asked him.
He looked at her through his pearl-lavender eyes, and smirked.
"Are you?" He asked.
She smiled.
"Of course."
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Hinata had a much harder job. She first had to start with Naruto. Naruto was worse than Neji, because Naruto had a friendship with Sasuke and Sakura. She realized that he was beginning to acknowledge Sasuke's presence and efforts.
"Hinata, Sasuke-teme is an idiot! He left Sakura! You can't expect me to forgive him! I'm not that kind of person!" Naruto yelled.
Hinata looked at Naruto and remained calm.
"Naruto-kun, if I told you the story of Sakura and Sasuke, would you forgive him? I know you're not that kind of person, Naruto-kun, but do you really understand Sasuke?"
Hinata pleaded him with her kind eyes, and he was forced to listen of the journey. Soon after, he was amazed, and he gave her his trademark smile.
"Let's go for ramen...who knew Sasuke-teme changed?"
Hinata looked at him and smiled.
"Hai, Naruto-kun! Let's go to Ichiraku," She said, her voice emitting an extreme bliss.
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And alas, over the time span of one year, Uchiha Sasuke became a renowned ninja. He had passed his chuunin exam with ease, and soon the ANBU were no longer watching him, rather he watching the ANBU. He became the captain, and Tsunade soon put her complete trust in him. He gained the trust of even the most prestigious clan, the Hyuuga clan, after the constant persuasion of his companions Hinata and Neji Hyuuga. He was once again himself.
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Time jump: 1 year. Rookie 9 are 20 years old, Team Gai 21. My apologies! Forgot to mention their ages at the beginning of the story. D:
Sakura's POV
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It took so long for everyone in Konoha to regain Sasuke's trust, but I was glad that it finally happened. I remember the long, hard year of everyone throwing him those nasty stares, but eventually, his fan club of helpless girls returned to do their annoying job. I noticed Sasuke slowly breaking out of his cold demeanor, and opening up to me more and more. He told me about when he was young, what he remembered about his mother and father, how he looked up to Itachi when he was young. It was amazing to hear his stories and about his childhood; it was perfect.
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It was a beautiful spring day, and I was sitting in the midst of the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The wind gently swayed them to dance with it, the air and skies becoming a flurry of pink and white. I looked out at Konoha, admiring its beauty during all of the seasons, but spring the most, where cherry blossoms danced in the air and the happiness of all the villagers sounding throughout the day. I turned my head and looked at Sasuke's apartment. Over the year, I began to sit here more and more, thinking about him. When I was still an annoying girl so many years ago, it was just a childhood crush. But that love blossomed, blossomed into a love that wasn't a mirage. It was real, and it was inevitable denying myself of that old feeling. I smiled, and thought about the life I was living, and thought about him. I loved having him in my life, whether as a friend or as a teammate. But as long as I was with him, I was fine. As long as I could see Sasuke every day of my life, I was content.
"Sakura, you take comfort in this place, don't you?" He asked.
I turned around, and looked up, to find him staring at me. I smiled at him, and returned the gesture. I motioned for him to sit down, and he did. Today was his day off, so he wasn't in his usual ANBU attire, nor was his mask hanging from his neck.
"Yes. I love this place, especially in the springtime."
He nodded, completely understanding me. We seemed to have a complete understanding between each other, whether there were words or no words involved.
"What are you doing here, Sasuke? Shouldn't you be spending your day off doing something more enjoying than this?"
I had to know, I needed to know. What did he think of me?
"Nothing's more enjoying for me than doing this," He casually replied.
"What do you mean?"
He turned to face me, and looked in me in the eyes. I continued to look into his onyx orbs, prying to find an answer. I looked at him confused, and he held my face in his hands. He was smiling at me. But why?
"Sakura, I..."
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Hope you liked the chapter! Just had to work on this before school started tomorrow! I'll try updating as soon as I can :D
Muwahaha! Don't you just love cliffhangers :D
