A/N: Long time no see! Sorry for the lack of update for so long. This was my last semester at college and juggling 19 credit hours was rough. So yeah I've graduated! And I even have a job lined up already but I won't be starting it for several weeks. This means more time to pick up my fanfiction! ;) Expect more frequent updates. I apologize for any rusty writing. It's been awhile so I need to work on getting back in the groove of things.

Thank you those who reviewed my fanfic during my absence, sad that there wasn't any more to read. You guys were a big motivator to return to this story to begin writing more as soon as possible because I know what it's like to get really into a fanfic only to find that it hasn't been updated in awhile. So here's the next chapter after over 5 months!

Chapter 14

In the Dark

Sakura looked up at the Hokage's official office building as it loomed over her. She wanted to know why Sasuke was acting strange the evening before - to understand what was troubling him - and if he refused to share that with her she would have to go to the only one that would know - Naruto. The guard-nin did not trouble her from their hiding spots as she entered the building.

The receptionist behind the desk greeted her with a smile. "Hello, Mrs. Uchiha! Do you have an appointment with the Hokage?"

Sakura stood stiffly. "No I don't, but it's important."

The receptionist clucked her tongue in disappointment. "That's too bad. The Hokage is busy at the moment. Would you like to set an appointment for a later date?"

Sakura's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "No, I wouldn't."

"Then I'm sorry, Mrs. Uchiha, but then you cannot see the Hokage."

Sakura's jaw clenched. "My husband seems to have little issue with visiting him whenever he likes. As a fellow member of Team 7 then that right will extend to me."

"But-"

"If you disagree you're welcome to try and stop me," Sakura huffed as she walked through the doorway that led to Naruto's office. The receptionist wisely left her be.

Sakura climbed the familiar circular stairs before arriving at the office door. She remembered visiting this building often as Tsunade's apprentice but it had been awhile since she had last been there. Sakura then took in a deep breath, readying her courage.

You can do this, Sakura. Don't relent.

Before she opened the door she heard angry voices rising from behind the door. One was distinctly Naruto's, and the other she determined to be Shikamaru.

"Naruto, something else is going on that he's not telling us!" Shikamaru protested.

"Enough, Shikamaru!" Naruto silenced.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. Are they talking about Sasuke?

Without a second thought Sakura barged into the room. Naruto was sitting behind his desk and Shikamaru stood before him. The two of them turned their heads to her, eyes widened in shock at the sudden interruption.

"Sakura...?" Naruto said, confused.

"Who were you two just talking about right now?" Sakura questioned, her eyes fierce. "Is it Sasuke?"

Shikamaru spoke up first. "That is between the Hokage and his advisor."

"If it's about Sasuke, as his wife, I deserve to know too," Sakura argued. She then looked to Naruto expectantly.

Naruto hesitated, glancing away from Sakura's piercing gaze. "Shikamaru, if you could excuse us for a moment."

Shikamaru sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "How troublesome." With that he strolled out of the room and shut the door behind him.

Sakura and Naruto were now alone.

"...So?" Sakura spoke up first.

"It's as Shikamaru said. I can't tell you that, Sakura," Naruto replied with steely eyes. "But, past that, it's nice to see that you've actually come to visit me!" A sudden grin spread across Naruto's face. "Sounds like you're concerned for Sasuke though, huh? Is something the matter with him other than the usual?"

Sakura shifted on her feet, embarrassed. Perhaps she should not have jumped immediately to thinking the person they were talking about was Sasuke like some crazy person. "Yeah, and I was hoping as his best friend that you could help me."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Sasuke was acting strangely the other night. Did the two of you fight recently over something?" Sakura asked, regaining her determination.

"Don't we always fight? It's kinda hard to remember one fight from the other," Naruto chuckled, but Sakura sensed a strain in his voice.

"Yeah, but over the shinobi system?" Sakura implored.

Naruto's eyes widened momentarily. Naruto knew what she was talking about. "I... I dunno, Sakura! Maybe! I remember arguing over something dumb like that, yeah. Don't remember the details exactly. Didn't seem like that big of a deal to me."

He's lying.

Sakura sighed. "Do you remember anything about what he said? He was talking about it the other day but wouldn't explain anything to me. I thought... maybe if I could understand what was troubling him so much that I could help him out for once."

Naruto's blue eyes looked intently at her for a moment, in thought. "Even with him back on our side, some of his opinions haven't changed. He wants me to make big changes with my position and then gets angry when I won't budge." Naruto chuckled. "He's just idealistic like me and our different ideas cause us to butt heads. Plus he's an arrogant bastard, so he thinks he understands what I can or can't do as Hokage when he doesn't. Pretty much he's been going on about changing the whole shinobi system to prevent future abuses like in the past. It's as simple as that."

At least Sakura got that right, that Sasuke was upset about things that had happened in the past. "But... how do I help him?" Sakura's voice trembled slightly. "I honestly don't know. I feel so incompetent. How do I make him feel better about the things he can't change?"

Naruto stood up from his desk and walked over to Sakura, putting a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Hey! Sakura! It's okay, don't worry. Just be yourself, and Sasuke should be happy with that, right? Just use some of that Sakura charm that got him to marry you. I'm sure he'd like that."

'Sakura charm,' sure, she bitterly thought. The only thing Sasuke is remotely interested in is being outside of this village and Naruto.

"That's not going to change now he feels."

"No one can change that, Sakura. Sometimes you just have to be there to support the people you love even if you can't change how they feel. They can at least appreciate that."

"What if Sasuke won't let me help him?"

"Ha, we already know what that's like. You remember how hard it was to help Sasuke come back to the village. It takes an arm and a leg to get through to him sometimes. Hell, I did give up my old arm for that. But even if he sometimes doesn't appreciate it I'm still a big believer that you should still give your full support to them until they finally feel ready to accept it."

Sakura nodded glumly. So according to Naruto it would be nearly impossible to reach Sasuke. "What is Sasuke doing on these long missions? It seems like he doesn't want to stay around the village or he has something very important to him outside of it. And... I don't know. I've been wanting to know for the longest time but he's never been straight with me. Ever since we've gotten married he's been constantly gone and... and I miss him. Maybe if he's home more I could support him more."

Naruto's hand dropped from her shoulder. "I can't say, Sakura. It's classified. I'm sorry."

"Could you at least... maybe assign him on shorter missions every once awhile?" Sakura pleaded. "For me?"

"...I'll try," Naruto said, but Sakura could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

Sakura slowly nodded, knowing that he would not promise her that. "...Thank you," she still said. "I'm sorry for interrupting you. I'll leave now."

"Hey, you didn't bother me at all," Naruto assured. "Feel free to drop by anytime, Sakura."

Sakura gave a tight smile and left the room, roughly shutting door behind her. Not even Naruto was willing to fully share things about Sasuke, the one person she thought that would be open with her. She would remain in the dark. Forever maybe. Naruto has always had the strength and mental fortitude to always hold a torch for someone, no matter how unwilling. Sakura was not as strong.

When she paced around the corner before descending the stairs a hand grabbed her arm, halting her.

"Sakura," Shikamaru greeted, releasing her arm.

"What do you want, Shikamaru?" Sakura asked, impatient to leave so she could be alone.

"Knowing Naruto he didn't tell you anything of substance, am I right?" Shikamaru said, sounding irritated as usual.

Sakura flinched.

Shikamaru nodded. "Thought so. Look, I can tell you're suffering by being in the dark. I think it's important to reach out to some people to prevent resentment and thus prevent them from doing something dumb later on because of their feelings. I don't need more work to deal with."

"What are you saying?" Sakura said, guarded.

"I'm saying that, yes, we were talking about your husband before you barged in and I'd like ask you something about him."

Sakura's eyes lit up at the small scrap of information Shikamaru rewarded her. "Yes?"

Shikamaru glanced back and forth down the hallway, making sure that no one was near. "Has Sasuke said anything about his missions when he returns?"

"No, not at all. That's part of the reason I came to see Naruto. The only thing I know is that its 'for the benefit of Konoha'; nothing else."

"Figures. Anything else you've observed that stands out?"

"Sometimes he comes home injured and I heal him, but that's it. Injuries are to be expected for shinobi, but I'm curious as to what has been able to harm someone so impossibly strong," Sakura responded. "Why are you even asking me these questions?"

"Because something isn't matching up," Shikamaru said, hushed. "He's been acting odd about these trivial missions he insists to be assigned on and Naruto refuses to see a problem with that. Look, Sakura. Since you and Naruto see him the most I want you to keep an eye out on him for anything suspicious."

"Suspicious?" Sakura said, alarmed. "Are you implying Sasuke is going to betray Konoha again?"

"No. I just know that Sasuke has a rebellious streak in him so he might do something arrogant while operating under Konoha's name. While people in Konoha tolerate him not many other villages are willing to do the same. They'd be itching for an excuse to ignore Kakashi's pardon. This is supposed to be a time of peace so I don't want to have to deal with juggling straining relations between villages," Shikamaru sighed. "As his wife, I'm sure you wouldn't want him to do something stupid. Sometimes wives need to prevent their husbands from being idiots. So let me know if you see anything and I'll keep you somewhat in the loop."

Sakura's eyes softened, full of gratitude. "Thank you, Shikamaru. I will."

"Cool. See you around then." Shikamaru then strolled off, leaving her be.

As Sakura sorted through her clothing, picking what she would wear for dinner with Lee, she thought back to what both Naruto and Shikamaru told her. While they did not tell her everything she wanted to know she was able to identify snippets of information after analyzing their words once she calmed her distracting emotions. From what Shikamaru told her, Sasuke seemed to be the one calling the shots on what missions he goes on, not Naruto. That is very atypical for a Hokage. Is Naruto being a pushover to Sasuke perhaps? But why would Naruto let Sasuke do that? From what Sakura knew of Naruto, he lets no one bully him. Especially not Sasuke. What would cause Naruto to bend for Sasuke?

Shikamaru also implied that Sasuke was doing something odd on these missions. Perhaps he has been taking way too long to accomplish them for a shinobi of his caliber? That might be why every mission he's been consistently gone for long periods of time. Shikamaru thought that Sasuke would not defect again, but implied he might be pursing his own goals. These goals being...

Changing the shinobi system? Sakura guessed. That was the only clue Sasuke had ever given her. But how?

He was just one man. One powerful man, yes. But just one man with no clan influence nor political title. The only influence he would have would be through his strength or through his powerful connections - like Naruto. Naruto was unwilling to help him, so does that mean he will accomplish his goals solely through his own strength? Sasuke was never charismatic and the shinobi world at large still despises him despite his contributions to the war. So it seemed to Sakura that Sasuke could only accomplish this through force.

But...

Sakura was sure Sasuke did not want to cause more suffering than what had already happened during the war. He came back to Konoha because he saw what he did wrong and wanted to repent for it. Naruto had saved him from the darkness after all.

So, what was Sasuke doing? Or, is he even doing anything at all? Maybe it's just a case of wanderlust. Before he came back to the village he was as free as a bird in the open sky. Back in Konoha he is a caged bird needing permission to leave his own home. Since the Hidden Villages operate under a militaristic society no one is permitted to leave unless assigned on a mission. If shinobi could just come and go as they please defecting would be easier and enemy-nin could steal village secrets even easier. It was a safety precaution. Sakura did not mind personally, and she assumed many of her peers did not either. They are given their chance to explore the world through their missions, and this system is what she had always been used to. She imagined Sasuke, after being free to do what he liked for so many years, could have difficulty adjusting back to this system.

Yes, perhaps that was simply it. After all, one time he did cryptically tell her that 'there were many parts of the shinobi world he hadn't seen' when she had asked where he was going. Perhaps being nothing but a stranger was appealing to him rather than staying around a village that barely tolerates his existence.

Then, why bother with marrying me in the first place? Sakura wondered, her chest tightening.

He implied that marrying her was a first step to reintegrate into Konoha society, but is that really what he wanted if he was not making an effort to even stay around Konoha? He did not even want to use her to rebuild his clan, as he told her that his goals had changed. What was even the point of humoring her with those rare, placating kisses he gave her? His own amusement? To keep her from making things more difficult for him by protesting against his conscious isolation of her?

Feelings of dejection and anger swirled inside of her. If Sasuke was not even trying in their relationship, why should she even be trying? She was struggling, doing her best to understand Sasuke even if he did not want to help her. She had been asking questions and investigating solely because she wanted to become a better wife to him, but all he did - and everyone else - was push back. She could not take it anymore. What was the point if all she constantly did was fight to gain ground? She no longer wanted to be exhausted by all this fighting. She would prefer if this issue was a physical enemy she could fight rather than an internal one. At least punches were easier to land and the fight was much more straightforward.

Sasuke, I'm not going to let you shut me up with affection any longer, Sakura thought to herself, a fire burning inside of her. I'm not going to sit in silence while you continue to ignore me.

A/N: This was originally going to be a short scene but then it extended to a whole chapter. Oops! We'll get to see Lee again next chapter.