Good news: Updates might pop up on Sundays now moving forward since I'll be swapping it with Tuesday for my optional day off instead.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters depicted.


(S) Owed Redo

Sasuke clutches his fist tightly as he knocks on Kakashi's door, holding back his anger in order to not bang the door aggressively as he seethes inside after his brawl with Naruto. He's eager to be done with this meeting before he runs out of time.

When Kakashi opens the door he stomps past him and quickly takes a seat at his table ready to be scolded for what he thought was a good idea at the time.

Kakashi shakes his head as he closes the door and slowly walks over to him. He stands in front of Sasuke then takes a deep breath when he sees his heavily bruised and swollen face with cuts around his nose and jaw.

"I'd hate to see how the other guy looks," he says casually, already aware of his pupil's success rate in fights while he was in school.

However, Sasuke scoffs and bows his head slightly, ashamed that he didn't come out of this battle unscathed. He wanted to unleash hell onto Naruto but he was a better fighter than he had anticipated.

Suddenly, Kakashi's brows draw closer forming an intensely worrisome expression when he sees a tinge of blood starting to drip down as Sasuke sits with a sloped posture at the table. He quickly moves closer and lifts his head to do an inspection.

"Could you not feel that you're bleeding from your head?" he says as he walks off in a hurry.

Sasuke runs his hand through his hair and feels the flesh wound as well as small pieces of glass from the mug Naruto smashed into his head. He rubs the blood between his fingertips and Kakashi returns with a first aid kit and a cold compress to stop the bleeding on his scalp.

Kakashi inspects his hair for more fragments then applies pressure using the compress to stop the bleeding. After a few minutes, he gives Sasuke the compress to use on his head himself while he starts cleaning and dressing the cuts on his face.

Though he's appreciative of Kakashi's fatherly kindness Sasuke's heart becomes pained. It's extremely troubling that his deeply compassionate wife didn't even call to show any concern about whether or not he was ok.

Soon his eyes slowly droop shut as his gut twists in beset knots, he can't stop thinking that the love of his life might be tending to another man's injuries although she knows he's hurt too. The thought is pile driving its way through his mind and it makes rational thinking even more difficult as his heart continues to break into pieces.

He inhales deeply and Kakashi takes note of his body's heavy trembling. As he applies the adhesive bandage to his scalp he tells Sasuke to use the compress on his face to help get down the swelling.

Sasuke does as he's instructed meanwhile Kakashi grabs two glasses and a drink for the long conversation he's planning to have with him after his most recent meltdown.

He allows Sasuke to run through the series of events that have taken place since the last time they talked and as he does, his alarm gets raised when Sasuke brushes past something glaring. He becomes mindful of the dark circles under his eyes but allows him to finish.

Sasuke swallows the glass of liquor "I might have told her that I wouldn't let her get anything if we get divorced."

"Well you should have kept your mouth shut right?" Kakashi replies while pouring more liquor into Sasuke's glass.

He nods in agreement as he gives the now melted compress back to Kakashi who brings another for him to continue pressing on his face.

"I told you to endure, so why would you choose to embarrass yourself?" he asks sternly.

Sasuke feels abashed as he gets scolded and doesn't respond.

"You have to be very careful about how you conduct yourself, an attorney can easily use this fight to say your anger poses a risk to Hinata," he adds.

Sasuke's brow furrows, he could never bring himself to intentionally lay a finger on his wife and it's distressing to think that Hinata or anyone else could think that he would.

He slumps down in the chair and replies "I didn't think of that."

Kakashi responds quickly "It doesn't seem like you've been thinking much at all. Did you even consider how this would affect her? You know she doesn't approve of violence."

Sasuke mutters "I know…"

"But what should I have done? I saw him kissing my wife,"—he drops the compress— "He was kissing my Hina…"

He scoffs "And she looked so fucking comfortable, like him wrapping his lips around hers is nothing unusual. Then that piss haired parasite had the nerve to tell me that she isn't doing anything she doesn't want to… I couldn't stand him talking about her like that… So I lost it."

Sasuke grits his teeth "This guy is chatter boxing his way into her mind and filling it with crap. He's the one who convinced her to believe that I never loved her,"— he looks up at Kakashi with dull eyes— "Can you believe that shit? She doesn't think I ever loved her."

He grabs the icy compress and presses it hard onto his face "How fucking ridiculous."

With a fist clenched tightly he hisses, broiling with hate and anger again for Naruto's role in derailing his attempts to fix his marriage. Kakashi rubs his chin preparing to steer the conversation as he watches Sasuke attentively, he can see the rage building up within him but has to address the matter he brushed past earlier.

"Ok enough about him. Tell me, before this fight, how have you been handling Hinata leaving?"

Sasuke grabs the drink and guzzles it down as he thinks of his insomnia at night and his indolence at work.

He smacks his lips then replies calmly "Terribly."

Kakashi nods and doesn't refill Sasuke's glass ready to dive into his head.

"How long have you been getting flashes of that night?"

Sasuke sighs and doesn't respond. He's fixated on Naruto and Hinata and doesn't want the conversation to divert to something as useless as his nightmares.

"Has it been recent?" Kakashi presses.

Sasuke replies quickly "The same night she tried to explain about Kiba, ok?"

He tilts his glass for a refill but Kakashi links his hands and places his chin on them.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kakashi asks perplexed.

He doesn't answer and Kakashi pinches the bridge of his nose then runs his hand down.

"You know you can talk to me, it's the one with your parents correct?"

Sasuke leans back in the chair taking a minute to think of all the flashes he's been having. He looks at Kakashi's worried expression and sighs.

"At first… But then-"

He Inhales deeply then gulps, considering to keep it to himself.

"Go on," Kakashi urges.

Sasuke sighs softly "Then it was one with Itachi,"—he begins to breathe deeply as he recounts his nightmares— "I'm all alone, in the dark with their bodies in front of me and then I see him and, and…"

Kakashi sees Sasuke's eyes darting side to side quickly as he begins to hyperventilate and knocks on the table to drag him out of the scene.

"Breathe."

Sasuke sucks in a few small breaths of air until he begins to inhale smoothly and Kakashi tells him to continue.

"And I'm running to him, but he keeps moving away then he just vanishes… And I can't find my way out, I'm just left there in the dark… By myself."

Kakashi sighs and replies in a sensitive tone "I thought you dealt with this."

Sasuke rubs the nape of his neck trying to make the hairs stop standing.

He clears his throat "I thought so too, I haven't been triggered in years Kakashi… But now it's been coming back practically every night since she left, it feels like I'm going insane."

Sasuke's fearful expression turns into a scowl as his hands burn from his mind harking back to Hinata and Naruto kissing, he can't get them out of his mind.

He grits his teeth "I've gone through that darkness by myself for so many years, then she came and stood in my corner with me and it made it so much easier to deal with... But now, I'm being left alone in the dark again and she doesn't even care."

Kakashi sees the flame reigniting in Sasuke's eyes as his jaw clenches and again tries to calm his temper.

He replies quickly "You're not going crazy, it just sounds like Hinata isn't allowing her affection for you to cloud her judgment, which is good for you both."

"How the hell can this be good?" he replies loudly and bemused.

"Sasuke you thought she was abandoning you but you're the one who ended up straying from her. You took advantage of her loyalty don't you understand that?"

Sasuke glares at him and gets up in a huff, he doesn't want to talk anymore when all it does is rouse his regret.

Kakashi stays seated now having a better grip on the situation and watches Sasuke as he repeatedly rubs his face while pacing around. He can tell that Sasuke still hasn't let go of the overbearing fear and it's allowing his misery to drive his impulsiveness.

"You're spiraling just take a seat," he says calmly.

However, Sasuke can barely hear him over the thumping in his ear from his pounding heartbeat. He rests his fists on his forehead, breathing heavily as he considers returning to Rasenco to soothe the knotting in his gut that is telling him that his wife is there with Naruto.

The thought of Naruto touching her again makes him frustratingly irate but he's also disconsolate that she would choose to go to his side instead of check on her husband. As he approaches the door Kakashi runs over and grabs his arm.

"Let it go, let's just have a-"

"I'M LOSING HER!" Sasuke snaps powerfully with tears in the corners of his eyes.

He adds quietly "She's all I have, and she's slipping away from me… What else am I supposed to do?"

Kakashi holds his shoulder firmly "Just stop and think this over, I know it feels like the world is ending but this is your chance to put Hinata first, you can't afford to make any more mistakes."

Sasuke wipes his eyes "I can't take it, I can't endure anymore."

Kakashi gently pulls him backward "Do not give in to this fear again, stop letting these conflicting feelings lead you into making reckless decisions. We'll talk this through and I promise by the end you will feel at ease."

With the thought of losing his only family still lingering in his mind Sasuke's body shakes profusely, but he reluctantly decides to give Kakashi a listening ear one more time.

Kakashi steps to the side and gestures for him to take a seat.

He sits silently, a nervous mess, bowing his head and clearing his eyes to not look more pitiful than he already does and Kakashi sighs as he takes his seat knowing the resistance he'll face as he tries to address Sasuke's trauma upfront but will still encourage him to take action nonetheless.

"Why do you think this keeps coming back?"

Sasuke looks at him blankly, remaining silent as he continues to assume the worst at Rasenco and Kakashi pours him a drink.

"You've been suppressing this for too long which isn't the proper way to handle such a traumatic event." He adds.

He scoffs and then takes a sip already knowing what Kakashi is about to suggest. He didn't take the advice when he was in school and he isn't about to do it when he's an adult with a company to run.

"Don't bother," he replies as he grabs the glass.

"You need professional help," Kakashi says with insistence.

He retorts quickly "I don't."

"It's what's making you overthink about when the next shoe will drop and it isn't healthy." Kakashi counters

Sasuke's brows twist as he becomes more irritated "I've dealt with this more times than I can count, I know what I'm doing."

Kakashi gives him a disapproving look "Do you? You can't keep ignoring this and expect it to go away, it doesn't work like that. You've been very unfair to Hinata by not getting help, don't you see that?"

Sasuke rubs the back of his neck refusing to look at Kakashi and not wanting to count how many times he's pushed her away when he's been triggered.

He responds softly "She accepts it, she loves me regardless and she'll-"

Kakashi bangs the table interrupting him "And there's the problem… I'm very disappointed that you selfishly used her as a safety net to run away from this. Not because she knows of your past means that it excuses your behavior."

Sasuke balls up his fists and replies loudly "I'm not seeing a shrink! I'd rather gouge my eyes out."

Kakashi looks up at the ceiling and rubs his forehead thinking of how best to persuade him.

"You say you love her and you want to fight for her right?"

Sasuke looks at him confusedly "Of course more than anything."

Kakashi nods "Then don't you think you owe it to her to finally get help with this avoidant attachment? This problem is not her fault and I guarantee that this plays a major role in her not wanting to try this time."

He sighs and Kakashi imparts more knowledge to him.

"Don't you see how extreme this situation is? This isn't like the other times you've handled this on your own. You've cheated on her, so she won't be waiting for you to figure this out."

Sasuke's nose flares "But that's just it, she was waiting… And the night I went home she would have been there. That prick is the reason she's being like this."

Kakashi sighs in frustration "Ok let me make something clear, Naruto isn't the cause of your marriage breaking apart, you are."

Sasuke responds with a distant gaze "No she's never been this cold, she'd never give up because she believes in me, she knows me Kakashi, and she'd want to try if it wasn't for -"

"That's enough," Kakashi interrupts harshly.

"You need to accept the simple fact that Hinata isn't being taken away, she's leaving you and it's because of what you've done. He doesn't have a gun to her head and she's not a mindless possession." He chides adamantly.

"So stop deflecting because it will only stir contempt and you don't need that negative thinking. If you continue like this your actions will only alienate her further and I know that's not what you want," he adds.

Sasuke shuts his eyes and rubs his face, struggling inside to think that Hinata willingly wants to be with Naruto and isn't being coerced.

"What should I do?" he asks softly.

Kakashi replies placidly "I know you want to forget but you can't do this by yourself anymore. Trauma like this can never go away on its own."

Sasuke sighs "Then will you do it? I can't afford a leak right now. If my mental health goes into question it can initiate a vote, I can't be ousted from my own fucking company."

He responds calmly "I'm not a therapist. I can give you advice on your behavior but I can't help you process this trauma.

He leans forward "But I'll find someone who will ensure your confidentiality is their utmost priority."

Sasuke pulls his hands down his face and breathes deeply, he's skeptical that doing this will have any value if he can't actively fight for his wife. He finds it hard to believe that he'll even be able to open up to someone that he doesn't even know.

Kakashi adds "I know it's hard to face and even after therapy you'll still have days where you'll feel overburdened but you need to realize that you have friends around to lean on when that happens."

Sasuke scoffs and hisses something under his breath and Kakashi sighs.

"Don't push them away," he adds.

Sasuke nods but looks at Kakashi warily "Fine… but… I need her to help me, how can I convince her to come with me?"

Kakashi shakes his head "Please stop trying to drag Hinata into this when you're the one with the problem. She isn't obligated to try to help you figure it out anymore and you shouldn't guilt trip her into caring."

Sasuke voices stubbornly "But then she'll just be with him and slip away even more, she'll forget about me. I need her to keep remembering that we can make it and that I regret what I did, it was nothing but a mistake."

Kakashi replies sternly "I wouldn't recommend that you pester her anymore. You have to try to get well before attempting to reconcile because this constant need to latch on to her now will not work in your favor."

Sasuke bows feeling absolutely defeated and asks in a pitchy tone "What?"

Kakashi rubs his forehead knowing what he's about to say will tear Sasuke to pieces but he still doesn't understand how difficult this is about to get. He needs him to be realistic and prepared for the worse so he doesn't do this for the wrong reason and thus fall back into his old patterns when things don't immediately go his way.

"Tell me what exactly do you want to save, your marriage or your relationship with her?"

Sasuke's brows knot in bewilderment, unsure of how to answer his confusing question.

He continues "If it's the former I have some bad news for you."

Sasuke's heart starts racing and Kakashi waits to get his full attention, when he looks up at him nervously he continues.

"Your callous actions could have led to a pregnancy and deliberate or not, it sunk into Hinata's psyche. It compounded your betrayal in a way she never anticipated, therefore it's inconceivable for your marriage to snap back into place."

He adds calmly "You have to prepare your mind for the possibility that Hinata may choose to proceed with the divorce even if she knows you're trying to get well, and you'll just have to accept it."

Sasuke takes a deep breath "So, you're saying I should just give up?"

Kakashi responds firmly "Will you listen or not? I know this is a hard pill to swallow but, while you're dealing with your trauma Hinata may find the happiness you took away from her in someone else."

He sees Sasuke beginning to break down but he continues his harsh reality check.

"And that's ok Sasuke you can still build a good relationship, but if you realize that you can't give her that same joy as you could before, you will have to let her go. Love isn't selfish, you can't hold it against her."

The two sit in ominous silence for minutes as Sasuke's mind does mental gymnastics and he slowly shifts his gaze down to the table when his head starts throbbing. His body trembles and the world falls from beneath his feet as a result of his discernment.

He swallows as his throat dries and burns and Kakashi sighs when Sasuke brings his head up to look at him with tears upwelling in his eyes. He speaks slowly to control his breathing.

"Kakashi… You make it sound so easy… but I want her, I need her… I love her."

As he thinks about what he'll say next the tears trickle down from his saturating eyes.

"…And now you're telling me, that even if I do this… She still might slip away."

Kakashi replies softly "It's just a possibility, and if-"

"But I don't want that!" –he interrupts loudly, then softens his voice back to a hush— "I don't want to lose my wife I don't want that chance."

He adds with quivering lips and billowing nostrils "I need her beside me, forever… I don't need anyone else but her, so I don't want her to need anyone but me."

"I don't want her to think about a future with another man, I don't want her to ever stop thinking about me... "

"I don't want her to fall for anyone el-" —his voice breaks— "Only me… I want her to love only me, forever, until the day I die, and maybe still not move on even then… I want her heart to only love me, because mine will forever belong to only her."

Kakashi watches Sasuke silently as he takes quick breaths while his tears course down his face.

"I still need her to be my Hina"—he snivels hard—"But he calls her Blu…"

His brows knot sorrowfully and his lips tremble heavily "She wants to be his Blu."

His throat tightens and makes it difficult to speak as he realizes that it may already be too late. He slowly brings his head down, thinking of the improbability of them making it through this time.

"Dammit," he whimpers softly.

As he sees his tears falling on the table he covers his face with his hands pressing his painful bruises and crying into his palms unable to bear the onerous thought of Hinata happily moving on from him. As he chokes while trying to hold in his wails Kakashi gets up and walks over to him.

He pats him on the shoulder "I'll give you a moment, so let it all out,"

Soon after Kakashi leaves and Sasuke hears the door close he drops his hands and sobs while banging his fists on the table and clawing at his face.

His heart wreathes in pain as the never ending pounding in his chest becomes critical, as though the organ could pull from its restraints at any moment. Burdened by his own guilt, a sense of dread courses through his body from having to let her go and it's overwhelming.

He gets up from the chair and paces around, lugubriously trying to calm his restless heart but it was no use, his mind is being flooded with memories as well as doubts about their future and they all pour out in a heavy stream of doleful tears.

He continues trying to catch his breath then suddenly his balance wobbles making him have to lean against a wall. While unable to move his breathing worsens from the panic and he wails loudly into his hands, so loud Kakashi could hear him struggling from the other side of the house and hurries back over.

When he comes in, Kakashi hugs him from the side and Sasuke clutches his mentor with a wild and shaky grip pouring his tears onto his shirt as his gut undulates erratically.

He whimpers breathlessly "I-I don't want to let her go, I c-ca-," —he draws in a sharp breath to stop his choking— "I c-can't live without her."

"It will be alright," he replies patting his back.

Sasuke mutters painfully "Ka-Kakashi, it's h-ha-"

"I know it's hard, but just breathe I'm right here," he replies.

He can hear Sasuke's teeth clattering as he grips him firmly while he releases all the sadness in his heart. Sasuke tries to get a grip but his tears continue to flow freely unable to contain the anguish he feels.

Kakashi closes his eyes, it's difficult to watch the young man he took under his wing so many years ago still in so much pain but knows that he needs to approach this from a different angle to move forward.

After what felt like an hour Sasuke's breathing finally settles as his trembling lessens. Kakashi pats his back as he lets go and Sasuke rubs his now burning red corneas.

As Kakashi looks at him he sighs, his eyes are inflated and look almost painful to the touch, his lips are dry and chapped and his face is now lathered in streaks having been awash by millions of salty droplets.

He tells Sasuke to sit and brings him a box of tissues to blow his nose and clean his face.

When he regains some composure Kakashi continues their conversation.

"A lot of times the imagination can be worse than the truth, so don't overthink because it will only kill your drive. So use all your reserves to focus on bettering yourself, don't think too much about her leaving understand?"

He adds caringly "She doesn't owe you her forgiveness, and Sasuke you won't die because of that, you'll move on."

Sasuke wipes his eyes with the tissue as his forehead wrinkles and his lips quiver, unsure of that possibility for himself.

Kakashi pours him a stronger blend of liquor "I know it feels hopeless but what you've done has happened and no matter how hard you wish to take it back you can't, you can only make the best of your current situation. This isn't a race it's a process so be patient and give her time."

Sasuke nods slowly and sucks his lips hard after taking a sip then swallows the shot.

"Do you remember how you felt when you were falling in love with her? Were you clinging on to her like you are now?" Kakashi questions.

Sasuke's eyes stay fixed vacantly on his wedding band as he thinks "No, it was natural, I could feel everything when she was near me."

Kakashi nods "Then remind yourself of that feeling and use it as a guide while trying to get well. You brought her happiness before in a way only you know how and she'll appreciate any effort that she sees but she won't accept your words at face value."

Sasuke sighs he knows he can't win her over with a grand act because she prefers simplicity. He'll need to show her that he still cares but first he has to correct his mistake by letting her know that he's willing to give her the freedom to choose Naruto if that's what she wants.

Kakashi grips Sasuke's shoulder as he stares distantly.

"Remember you're not alone, you don't have to suffer in silence, and please don't be self-destructive you have to take care of yourself. So if it feels hard, reach out to me or talk to your friends I'm sure they'll want to help."

Sasuke sniffles into the tissue, as he considers how horribly he's treated Jugo and Suigetsu recently, he doesn't know if he can depend on them to be there for him after thoughtlessly pushing them away to hide his distressful weakness, not wanting to be thought of less than.

Kakashi adds "Let's take a walk and get some fresh air before Mei gets in. Then how about you stay for dinner."

Sasuke nods and finally answers as he gets up from the chair "Sure."

He stays at Kakashi's a little longer after having dinner with him and his wife and as the evening progresses Kakashi connects Sasuke with a therapist he's known personally and they arrange for their first few sessions as early as the following week.

By the time Sasuke leaves his mind is tranquil, though still worried that his marriage would end regardless he's now more positive about the effects getting help will have on his relationship with Hinata.

The following night

Sasuke walks around his property checking on Hinata's garden, his usual routine to ease his mind now that he's become an insomniac. The air is cold but he's filled with warming fervor internally as he carries out his inspection, her flowers have finally started blooming again and it fills him with alacrity to get through his therapy sessions next week.

He washes his hands then hops on the couch feeling refreshed about his new perspective and looks at her wedding ring that he's been keeping on his person. After watching tv for a few minutes a notification pops up about Hinata and he hesitates to check.

With sweaty palms, he reaches for the phone already feeling that something is wrong. Then while scrolling through his timeline Sasuke's mood flips on its head.

His eyes fill with tears but his breathing stays steady as he watches several shared videos of what looks like Hinata and Naruto on a casual night out. He looks on in anguish as he watches the glimmer he's been searching for on full display in her eyes when she laughs at whatever Naruto is saying.

She hasn't looked at him like that in almost two months.

Then as he continues to watch the video his eye catches something that makes him snap them shut.

His chest tightens as his fearful concern from yesterday comes to fruition. The distinct band aids on Naruto's face could have only come from her med kit since she can't get that type in this city.

"You really were with him," he says despondently as he rubs her face with his thumb.

He wipes his eyes as the tears start falling and closes the app not wanting to become too overwhelmed by negative thinking if he continues.

However he's bothered, he wants to interrupt their dinner, he wants to attack Naruto and he wants to drag his wife home so she can look at him that way, but he sighs as he's aware that none of that would do him any good.

He wants her to be happy and embarrassing her like that will only cause her more pain which he'll never allow himself to do again.

She's drifting away and it's agonizing to know that the one person who made him sick with love is now filling her heart with affection for someone else.

He places his head in his hands and exhales loudly. Seeing that they arrived in the same car Sasuke's imagination runs wild knowing that his wife's libido is attuned to his after years of intimacy together.

He can tell that she's feeling lascivious from the subtle looks she was giving off, it's the same look she would give him before asking for cookies when they're out in public.

The thought of Naruto having her all to himself is tormenting especially when she won't let him come close to her anymore. Sasuke's heart begins to feel unbearably heavy and he pulls the roots of his hair trying to rid the images from his mind.

Hinata is getting her revenge without even knowing.

While drowning in regret he wipes away countless tears in the dark as his heart pace becomes irregular. Though he accepts that this is happening because of his indiscretion he still struggles with the thought of having to forever live without her, and one day having to know that she has remarried and has children with someone else.

The thought is excruciating and he soon becomes desperate to numb the pain. As he glances over at his bar the first thing that pops into his mind is to drink himself to sleep.

With a glass at the ready he walks over and takes out a fresh bottle of liquor then Kakashi's words come back to his mind.

'Please don't be self-destructive.'

Sasuke sighs using all the strength he has within himself to put the bottle back, fighting the urge to swallow its content whole, and walks back to the couch. Immediately as he grabs his phone he calls Kakashi, who calmly talks him through the pain.

Minutes after ending the call Sasuke starts walking to the guest room still unable to sleep in what used to be their shared master. While walking past their points board he smiles softly as his mind fills with blissful memories of all their silly traditions.

Then the wound on his scalp itches dragging his consciousness back to reality and overpowers him with sadness and doubt about losing that happiness forever.

As he lays in bed he stares at the ceiling, unable to sleep as the memories continue to replay in his mind. When he inhales deeply trying to catch a whiff of her lavender scent that has still been lingering in the house a tear runs from his eyes into his hair and onto the pillow behind him, her soothing fragrance has now completely faded.

The tears pour out as he lays in silence, wanting to give anything to have her beside him. He places his arm over his eyes and tries to think of something to incite his anger but after his chat with Kakashi it now makes it difficult.

He begins to chant into the void repeatedly, begging for a miracle that she'll choose to come back to him. He's decided to endure for a chance to reach her heart before she serves him.


Friday

It's the end of the next week and Sasuke has already had two therapy sessions scraping the iceberg that is his haunting past. He's been keeping himself busy with work becoming more focused and approachable to his staff but now in solitude, flashes of memories bore into his mind.

It's one of those hard days that Kakashi mentioned as he tries to look over the documents on his computer.

As he begins to lose concentration he whispers "fuck,"

Then wipes his eyes which were now far too blurry to see the screen properly. Without the comfort of Hinata or trying to override his thoughts to repress the pain, he does as his therapist advises and moves away from his computer to quietly sob until the feeling subsides.

Just as he begins to calm down Jugo buzzes his extension and asks if he's free to run through some figures. He clears his throat and wipes his eyes then tells Jugo to come in when he's ready.

While leaning back in his chair Sasuke sighs, he still doesn't know how to make amends with his friends but knows it will help him move forward while correcting his mistakes.


Hope you enjoy the read!

Also, I hope this provides a good starting point to his arc, though I won't be going into the details of his therapy sessions.

Glad you all liked the fighting last chapter and I'm overjoyed that I got the effects right to give off the intensity I wanted.

As usual thanks for all the reviews/comments, favs etc they're all greatly appreciated. I really enjoyed reading over the recent feedback, and as for the theories, I'll just say I like where your head is at lol. My work schedule has been hectic with getting used to my new position, but from the strong enthusiasm I know how much some of you were looking forward to the split so I couldn't leave you hanging for too long.

Take care and happy reading till next time :D