Chapter 34 Sakura

It was January 15, over 3 months ago, the shinobi world was at war. A brutal battle that felt like it lasted for eternity but, it was only 3 days. So much had changed over the last few months, a mass funeral was held a few days after the war for those who perished. Lady Tsunade announced her retirement and Kakashi was announced as the successor. His inauguration was planned to happen in August. Naruto was a hero not only in the Hidden leaf but all over. Everyone knew his name and revered him. Not long ago he was a monster, feared and hated by the village. Although he was famous now, he still held onto his goofy self. That made everything feel normal for her.

Sakura Haruno stood at the entrance gates of Konoha, she watched the clouds move overhead. It had been a light winter so far, but snow was forecasted for the next few days. Even now a cold wind whipped her hair around her. A shiver ran through her, but she stayed put and waited,

How much longer? She wondered, checking her watch. It was 1:45. She paced a bit before checking her watch again. 1:46.

The guards at the gates watched in fear as the pink-haired woman seemed to grow even more impatient as the minutes ticked by. She continually checked her watch every few seconds, and after the hundredth time, she did it she let out an irritated yell. They all looked away knowing a pissed Sakura was a dangerous one. Taking in a few calming breaths she tried to relax.

A few weeks ago, she received a letter,

Sakura Meet me at the Konoha village gates at 2:00. Hibiki

The memory of that night plagued her. She had Sasuke so close, yet he was beyond her reach. The girl who took him away, the girl who told her to never speak of the event. Questions circled in her head for weeks until the war began, it provided a distraction, and only now that she had received this letter did those memories come flooding back. What had made her trust that girl? In the moment it felt like the right thing to do but who was she? Was it really ok that she let Sasuke go? What would have happened if she took Sasuke back with her then? When Naruto had awoken later in the hospital, his memories were fuzzy. He remembered seeing Sasuke and followed him into a building… after that everything went dark. Sakura told him that he was in a fire and that he must have hallucinated Sasuke.

Luckily Naruto believed me. Sakura thought. She hates lying to him, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. Why? What made her so confident in her choice to do as Hibiki told her?

As Sakura thought about everything over and over her head began to ache. She focused forward, scanning the area for any sign of her. Her watch read 1:59.

In the distance a small figure approached the gates, as it grew closer, she could see the figure had a cloak with the hood pulled over their head. Sakura watched intently as the figure moved closer, a staff extended before it, sweeping the ground in front of them as they walked.

Just some blind person… Sakura sighed.

She looked around for any other sign of life. Where could Hibiki be? Was this a trick? Was she stupid to have come out here? Right now, all she wanted was to talk to Hibiki, to find out who she was and why she helped Sasuke. She was in the dark when it came to Sasuke, this girl could help bring her closer to the light. Sakura turned around with disappointment flooding her when she was tapped on the shoulder.

"Yes?" She answered turning back to the figure.

The figure pulled their hood off to show the girl she met months ago.

"Hibiki?" She asked surprised.

"Hi, you must be Sakura." She sighed in relief, "I'm glad I don't have to go searching for you."

Sakura looked over the girl, she looked just like the one she had met, but her eyes were different. "Hibiki… your blind, did the fire cause it?" She wondered.

Hibiki smiled, "No I was born blind."

"Wait, In the fire, you could obviously see though."

"It's a long story, but can we go sit somewhere quiet, that walk was exhausting." Hibiki asked, clearly avoiding the question.

"Sure…" Sakura agreed. Might be better if we were alone anyway. She thought.

Hibiki reached out and after a moment of searching she took Sakura's waiting arm and the two wandered off into the village.

The guards at the gate watched them leave, a blind girl wasn't much of a threat, and she knew Sakura, plus Sakura was already in a bad mood so the guards let it pass. They didn't want the gate to be destroyed.

Hibiki stuck close to Sakura as she led them through town, the bustling streets were packed tight. Wanting to be alone with her Sakura lead Hibiki past the busy streets and up some stairs to a park that overlooked the village. Few people were around, only a small playground nearby had some children playing in it, and a jogger running past every so often, but it was as quiet as they could get. Sakura took them to a lonely park bench.

Hibiki sat and sighed, she took off her cloak and the backpack that hid underneath it, setting them both down beside her.

Sakura stared at her, comparing her memories to the person in front of her. She seemed to have grown a bit since they had met, her eyes looked empty and unfocused. Her hair was pushed back from her face by a headband. It had grown some too.

The two sat in silence for a while, neither knowing how to start the conversation.

"So, your blind?" Sakura asked. Feeling a bit rude to say it but she had to break the ice somehow.

"Yeah, I was born blind." she answered.

"That night you could see though. Your eyes look so unfocused now but that night they were… I don't know… there?" Sakura asked, explaining herself as best she could.

"That was a special case," Hibiki frowned.

"So why are you here... I mean not that you're a bother but why come now?"

"Well I'm actually here to see Sasuke." Hibiki admitted.

"Oh. He's in prison." Sakura informed her.

"I know."

"He usually isn't allowed, visitors. I'm not even allowed to see him." Sakura frowned.

"I understand that, but I do need to see him. There's a lot we need to talk about." She explained.

"Oh. I don't think I can help you." Sakura rejected her.

They sat for some time, the sky began to darken, and the streetlights came on. Flakes began to flicker down from the thick clouds above.

"Sorry you came all this way for nothing." Sakura sighed, she stood about to leave when a gloved hand stopped her.

"I'm sorry, this isn't easy for me to say these things outside of my small circle. I don't know you so I can't tell you anything but there is so much that you probably need to know." Hibiki explained.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

Hibiki hesitated and looked confused and sad. She was having an internal battle with herself. Sakura took Hibiki's hand.

"It's getting late, let me take you to a hotel and I'll come back in the morning." She compromised.

"Alright."

The streets had cleared some as the snow began to fall and everyone retreated to their warm homes. A few blocks from her house was a small inn, Sakura took Hibiki here, dropping her off. Hibiki waved goodbye before entering. Sakura stood there, somewhat frozen in place. This girl, she was a stranger and she had the balls to ask for such a big favor. Sakura barely got to see Sasuke in jail why should she be allowed to? She slapped her cheeks with her hands,

Get it together, there's no need to be so mean. She told herself. With her cheeks red and stinging and the temperature dropping further by the minute, Sakura dragged herself away from the front of the hotel and towards home.

Inside her house was warm, the scent of dinner wafted from the kitchen. Sakura took off her shoes and jacket walking further into the warmth.

"I'm home!" Sakura announced as she walked into the kitchen. Inside her mother stood over the stove making stir fry.

"It smells great mom." she sighed.

"It's almost done, can you set the table?" her mom asked. Sakura nodded and did as she was told. Over dinner her parents shared their long days at work, Sakura barely paid attention, eating her food rather quickly before excusing herself and going to bed.

What now? She wondered as she fell asleep.

The next day Sakura woke up to a winter wonderland. The fresh snow covered Konoha, no tracks were left in it yet, giving it a ghostly feeling. Reluctantly she got ready and left to pick Hibiki up. Would she be able to learn anything today?

At the hotel Hibiki stood by the entrance waiting, they grabbed some breakfast before wandering back to the park they had visited the previous night.

Again, silence filled the air between them. There was a huge barrier between them that Sakura didn't know how to break down. If it were real, she could just punch it, but something told Sakura that hitting Hibiki wasn't going to solve their problem.

Hibiki took off her gloves and felt her palm, mindlessly making patterns on it with her finger. Testing her sensitivity.

"How are your hands?" Sakura asked seeing them.

"Good thanks to you. I can still mostly feel, the palm isn't like it used to be but…" She trailed off.

"Can I see?"

"Sure." Hibiki agreed allowing Sakura to study her hand. She ran her figures over the course skin. They looked like they hurt,

"I never thanked you for being there." Sakura said. "If you weren't there, I don't know what I would have done. An impossible choice between my loyal friend and the boy I love." She softly smiled.

"I was just there for Sasuke, if you didn't come, I would have just left Naruto behind." Hibiki admitted.

"Still, they are both safe."

"Yeah good thing too, without Naruto the whole world would have ended." Hibiki jokes.

Sakura smiled. "Why couldn't I take Sasuke with us? Why couldn't both of you come with us?" She finally asked. They sat for a minute as Hibiki chose her words.

"I can't say everything, but Sasuke wasn't meant to go back with you, I guess you can say he was destined to face off with Itachi. Well actually I'm unsure what would have happened, but in the moment, I knew one thing, I needed to save my friend." Hibiki explained.

"That doesn't answer why you took him with you." Sakura frowned.

"No, it doesn't. Just know that Sasuke facing off with Itachi was very important," Hibiki tried again.

"I don't understand why you can't tell me anything." Sakura said, her voice growing more intense.

"Look," Hibiki sighed, "I'm a lot like Sasuke, we share a similar burden. This burden, my burden is a very sensitive situation, no one can know." She paused in thought, "Well, some of those who do know, I trust on a very deep level. They will never betray me. There are many who do know and want to do horrible things to this world and can and will use me to do them. I don't want to be a pawn anymore Sakura. I'm tired of being used. I'm tired of living scared and tucked away. Living life like I don't belong in it. So, I want to be a part of the world again, but I need to talk to Sasuke first before I can begin to be more than a pawn. Please Sakura I need your help," she begged.

Sakura looked at Hibiki's hands again, that night she could have run away, but she chose to take that bar in her hands. She may not like Naruto, but she was so much like him, unwilling to give up. Right now, she seemed lost, and almost like she wants to run and hide. But the fact that Hibiki wants to change, reminded Sakura of herself. Sakura squeezed her hands.

"Ok. I'll get us in."