Because Sasuke was cooperative with the investigation, it took T&I two weeks to gather from him all the information they needed to fill in the gaps. A trial for his case was scheduled a week after his interrogations finished, in the meantime, he was moved to a holding facility outside of T&I headquarters.
Sakura went to check up on him the day before the trial. She was very nervous. For the past two weeks, she had been hung up on what Ino had told her… or rather, what she hadn't. She knew Sasuke's family died and pieced together that his brother had something to do with it. However, Sakura also knew just how much his family must have meant to him if he had gone so far to avenge them. She was curious, sure, but she did not want to pry or upset him by ripping up all wounds.
"Are you nervous about the hearing tomorrow?" Sakura asked in a quiet, uncertain voice as she soothed over his stump with glowing hands.
"No," he said. Then, after a few seconds' pause: "whatever happens, I'm fine with it."
Sakura knew what that meant. He was ready to die for his sins, should that be the verdict. She felt hot tears burn her eyes, but she wouldn't let him see them.
"Sakura…" Her name had never sounded so inviting, she had no choice but to look up at him through her slightly blurred vision. "I've done some… terrible things. Whatever they decide is more than fair."
It broke her heart that he was so fine with the idea of dying. She knew there were years of distance between them and that some of the unspeakable things he might have done, she couldn't even imagine, but still. As she gazed into his mismatched irises, the stoic expression on his handsome face, the way a few strands of his bangs fell into his eyes… She couldn't help but see the boy she had loved all these years, the one set on revenge and getting stronger, the boy who would jump in front of her if it meant protecting her from enemy ninja.
Her lips trembled as she directed her eyes back to what remained of his left arm and started bandaging it in fresh wraps. They remained silent for the rest of her visit. As Sakura stepped outside the door, she looked back at him.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the hearing."
He nodded.
–––
Sakura got called into emergency surgery at four in the morning and was stuck there until late evening. She was distraught that she couldn't be there for Sasuke for his trial but knew there was a life on the line, so she locked her thoughts concerning the dark-haired boy into the back of her mind as she concentrated on operating.
When she was finally finished, Sakura collapsed on the loveseat in the corner of her office. Outside her window, the vibrant oranges were giving way to the dark blue of the night sky. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door but before she'd had the chance to utter a word, it burst open, nearly falling off its hinges.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted boisterously. "Sakura-chan, guess what!"
Naruto's ambiance somehow gave Sakura a new-found energy. If he was so happy that could only mean one thing. Sasuke-kun will be okay.
"Kakashi-sensei says the teme is most likely going to be excused but the worst-case scenario is he'll have to serve a short sentence. Apparently, it pays off to be best friends with the most awesomest ninja and the student of the Rokudaime and being a war hero or something," he was talking so fast that Sakura could barely manage to process what he was saying.
Sakura embraced Naruto in a tight hug and started sobbing. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She had been so afraid that after finally, finally getting him back, they would take him away. The guilt of not being able to be there for him just added to the weight on her shoulders, and she had to let it all out or she would combust.
Naruto caressed soothing circles on her shaking shoulders. "It's okay, Sakura-chan. We're all going to be just fine, believe it!" Sakura chuckled through her tears at that.
"Yeah," she pulled away slowly and wiped her face. "Thanks, Naruto. I feel so bad for not being there… I was in surgery all day."
"I know, I came here a few hours ago after the hearing but they said you were in doing some emergency operation. But he knows you wouldn't miss something like this without good reason," he smiled at her reassuringly. "Anyway, you look exhausted, you should sleep. The verdict's gonna be announced in two days. Wanna come with me to the courthouse?"
"What is it with you and Sasuke always telling me to go to bed," Sakura sighed. "I'm a grown woman, I can very well determine on my own whether I need sleep or not!"
"S-sorry…" Naruto visibly shrunk, having been at the receiving end of Sakura's temper, he did anything he could to avoid it. "We're just worried about you, you care for so many people, someone needs to look out for you as well, you know?"
Her eyes softened. She supposed Naruto was right, she did have to look after a lot of people and sometimes did not have the time or energy to do so for herself. "Will you pick me up at my apartment? And then we can go to the courthouse together?" She changed the subject.
–––
After Naruto left, Sakura went to her desk to finish the never-ending paperwork. The letters were starting to blur together, and she started reading the patient file for the hundredth time, when a sharp knock caught her attention. "Yes?" She called.
"Ah, I was hoping to catch you hear, Sakura," Tsunade stepped in. "I need you to come with me."
"Is everything okay, shishou?" Sakura asked as she hurriedly followed her master out the door.
"Yes, everything is fine. More than fine, actually. I need to show you something. I think you will be more than pleased with what I've discovered," the blonde smirked.
Tsunade led Sakura to a small lab, where about fifty books and scrolls must have been scattered around, even more pieces of paper with rigorous notes on them were pinned to the wall, between the pages of some books and piling on two tables. Vials of different substances stood on one counter, while the other held an abundance of medical equipment. What really struck Sakura was a huge tank at the end of the room, it was filled with some sort of liquid and two small, white arms were floating in it. To say it was a bizarre sight would be an understatement.
"What's all this?" Sakura asked as she took shaky steps toward to tank to examine it further. "Are those a baby's arms?"
"No, I grew them myself," Tsunade announced proudly. Sakura snapped her eyes toward her. "From my grandfather's cells," Tsunade supplied. "I figured your idiotic teammates would need new ones. I've been doing research into prosthetics since we came back from the war. That's why I was so hasty passing down my duties to you and Kakashi. So I'd have time for this," she motioned to the tank.
Sakura's eyes glazed over with grateful tears. "Thank you, shishou. I can't wait to tell them."
"I hear the Uchiha brat will be released in a few days. Bring both him and Naruto here at their earliest convenience. Though, it will take a few months to perfect these, and I'm still adjusting a few factors. It's a work in progress, but it could be a huge breakthrough in the prosthetics field."
Sakura ended up staying for a few hours more, going over Tsunade's notes and discussing possible proceedings with the research. By the time she got home, it was well past midnight and she cursed herself. She had a morning shift the next day.
–––
"Hey, Naruto! Come in, I'll just be a second," Sakura ushered Naruto in her front door with her toothbrush in one hand. She had made sure to have the day off, since she missed Sasuke's hearing, she wanted to make sure she wouldn't miss the verdict or his possible release.
"Do you have any food in here?" Naruto headed towards her kitchen, not even waiting for an answer. Sakura just went into the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth, if Naruto was hungry, he could surely find something for himself in her cupboards. "This is the saddest kitchen I have ever seen!" He whined as Sakura emerged from the bathroom. "What do you even eat? There's no ramen, there's no cereal! There aren't even any veggies in your fridge! Do you ever eat?" He exclaimed.
"I've been so busy at the hospital, I've mostly been just eating there at the canteen, or grabbing takeout on the way home," she shrugged sheepishly.
"And you scold me for not getting the proper nutrients or whatever," Naruto grumbled as he slipped on his shoes.
"I'll make it up to you. How about a Team 7 lunch, on me, if they release Sasuke-kun today?" She locked the door and glanced at Naruto, whose eyes were possibly the brightest she'd ever seen them.
"Alright!" He pumped a fist in the air.
–––
"Sensei!" Sakura greeted Kakashi, who was leaning against the courthouse building, his beloved Icha Icha Paradise in hand. "It's unusual for you to be somewhere before us. Are we late?" She panicked.
"Thanks, Sakura. Feels good to know you have so much faith in me," he said flatly, but the mirth in his eyes betrayed him.
"Sorry, Hokage-sama," Sakura teased. "It's just rare is all I'm saying."
"Is the teme here yet?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, but he's in holding for now. We should head in, the session should start soon," Kakashi snapped his book shut and shoved it in his back pocket.
The courthouse was a nice building, Sakura thought, it had been built anew after Pain's attack on the village, so it was updated compared to the Hokage Tower. A huge staircase led up to reception, on both sides of it were hallways, lined with numerous doors, to the right, another staircase led up to more floors, while on the right stood a heavy double door, with a sign on it that read: Authorized Access Only.
"We're here for the verdict announcement on the Uchiha v. Konoha case," Kakashi said to one of the receptionists.
"Of course, Hokage-sama," bowed the young brunette. "Right this way, please," she emerged from behind the counter and led them to the staircase and to a tall, wooden door on the next floor. "The judge will be here shortly, please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable," the girl bowed again and left.
The council members were already seated at their assigned places, but no one else was in the room. Kakashi went and took his own seat next to them. Sakura and Naruto nervously looked at each other, and eventually settled down in the second row.
Sakura's knee kept bouncing with anxiety, while Naruto kept whipping his gaze around the room. He seemed tense, for some reason, and Sakura just couldn't figure out why. They were expecting good news, Naruto had told her so himself, so why did he seem so distressed all of a sudden?
The door opened behind the judge's podium, and a wrinkly old lady emerged. Her hair was dyed a bright purple color that matched her glasses, and her eyes looked stern. Sakura swallowed. Just as the judge took her seat, another door – one on the right side of the small room – opened and Sasuke was led in.
"Please rise for Judge Shou," the few people in the room stood and bowed.
"Please be seated," Judge Shou asked. "We're here today to announce the verdict regarding the trial of Uchiha Sasuke. Reviewing the evidence of his crimes – which include murder, manslaughter, assault of several degrees, theft, and breaking and entering –, his role in the ending of the war, and his future intentions which were revealed to the Torture and Interrogation Force, I was conflicted what to do. He was most cooperative during the investigation and interrogation, and the Rokudaime as well as Uzumaki vouch for him. The role of the Konoha council in his past should not be ignored either, as they are a crucial part of our present predicament. Because several eyewitnesses have stated that he played a critical role in reversing the Infinite Tsukuyomi, going as far as saying that it could not have been undone without him. Based on Uchiha's own statements and findings of T&I, he is no longer a threat to Konoha, or any other of the Allied Nations. Hereby, I announce that because of help in the war and ending the Infinite Tsukuyomi, I pardon his crimes."
Sakura snapped her hand to her mouth, a sob threatening to break through her lips. She had been looking at the back of Sasuke's head since he sat down. She saw his shoulders relax the tiniest of fractions. Naruto grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.
"However, to make sure of his loyalty to the village, he is forbidden to leave Konoha for six months, after which he may be reinstated as a full-fledged Leaf shinobi again, should the Rokudaime Hokage decide so. I also sentence him to 200 hours of community service, which he will spend rebuilding the village."
–––
Sakura and Naruto were sitting on a bench outside the courthouse, waiting for Sasuke and Kakashi. Naruto was listing all the types of ramen he was going to make Sakura buy for him, when she suddenly jumped to her feet.
Sakura's cheeks hurt from smiling and sported a blush that rivaled her hair. "Sasuke-kun…" she greeted.
"Teme! Good to see you out in the sun," Naruto slapped his hand on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Hn."
"Come on, Sakura is buying us all ramen!" He announced excitedly.
"Actually, Naruto," Kakashi interrupted. "Sasuke needs to go to the hospital to unseal his chakra."
"Well, can't Sakura-chan just do that right here?"
"He's right, Naruto. There's a protocol for this that I have to follow. I'll buy lunch afterward, okay? Let's meet at Ichiraku's in, let's say, an hour and a half?" Sakura smiled at Naruto apologetically.
"It's okay, I'll just accompany you to the hospital," Naruto shrugged. "It's not like I have anything better to do."
"As much as I'd love to have lunch with my favorite students, I'm afraid I have paperwork waiting for me at my desk. Raincheck?" Kakashi's eyes crinkled, and he disappeared in a puff of smoke before they could give him a response.
"That old perv, I bet he's just going to hide from Shizune-san and read that gross book of his," Sakura grumbled. "It's actually rather convenient that you're tagging along, Naruto. There's something I wanted to discuss with the both of you."
–––
"Haruno-san! I thought today was your day off," Anzu, a nurse, greeted Sakura in shock.
"Yeah, it is. I just dropped by, need to take care of some stuff quickly. Is Lady Tsunade in?" Sakura asked Anzu.
"Yeah, she's in the lab. Should I call for her?" Anzu asked.
"Oh, no, that's okay, I'll just head there after I'm finished. Thanks Anzu," Sakura smiled at her. Anzu looked at Sakura in astonishment as she headed down the hallway, with two handsome men in her tow.
–––
"Why were you asking for Baa-chan? Doesn't she run the place? Shouldn't she be here?" Naruto asked as he and Sasuke followed Sakura toward her office.
"Actually, no. I took over a couple weeks after the war. Tsunade-shishou has been working on some other stuff. It actually has something to do with what I wanna talk to you about," she unlocked her office. "But, first thing first. Sasuke-kun, please take a seat," Sakura motioned toward the examination table. She felt slightly awkward with Naruto lingering behind her.
"What?" the blond bellowed. "You got promoted and didn't even tell me? I'm hurt, I'm so seriously hurt!"
"Naruto," Sakura sighed. "Could you please wait outside? I really can't concentrate with you yelling behind me," she smiled at him sweetly. Well, that was part of the truth. Fuinjutsu was no joke, and if she did it wrong, she could seriously damage Sasuke's chakra network. But it was also that she hadn't seen Sasuke since she had checked up on him before his trial, which she promised to go to. And he hadn't even uttered a word to her since he'd been released, and she just felt so, so guilty about not going to the hearing, and things were weird anyway.
It looked like Naruto would protest, but he looked at his teammates and something mischievous shifted through his eyes. Oh, god, this is worse than him staying, Sakura thought.
"You got it," Naruto gave her a thumbs up and left. Sakura exhaled loudly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there at the trial hearing. I got called into a 14-hour surgery early in the morning," Sakura explained as she stepped in front of him. He just nodded, but didn't offer any other kind of response. Sakura worried that he was angry, but as she looked into his eyes, she saw no traces of fury within them. "Okay, so first I'll check your vitals, then I'll release the fuinjutsu," she said as her hands glowed green.
She skimmed over his chest, making sure his heartbeat was strong and healthy, as well as his lungs. When she was certain that everything was in order, she formed the hand signs and pressed a hand to his chest, just like she had a couple weeks ago. She felt Sasuke's chakra surge through him, and just when she thought everything was fine, he hissed all of a sudden and grasped his stump.
"Sasuke-kun, are you okay?" Sakura's hand flew to his residual limb, palms emitting soothing chakra. She continued to channel her chakra into his stump and as he's breathing evened out, she looked at his face. His sharingan was activated, a deep frown on his face as he stared back at her.
"Is everything alright?" Naruto burst in.
Sakura jumped back a fraction. "Yeah, it just seems like the sudden flow of chakra triggered some sort of pain in his stump," she said as she slowly withdrew her hands from Sasuke. He wasn't gripping his stump anymore, so she took that as a sign that the pain had subsided. His right eye was also back to its onyx color instead of the searing vermilion.
Sakura opened a cabinet next to the examination table and rummaged through the containers within. "Yeah, this should do it," she mumbled to herself. She grabbed a glass and filled it with some water, then crushed two pills into it. "Drink this, it should relieve any remaining pain you're feeling."
"Thanks," Sasuke took the glass, their fingers brushed and it felt like all the blood within her body rushed to her face. I need to stop acting like a crazed schoolgirl, damn it!
"So, Sakura-chan, what was it you wanted to talk to us about?" Naruto saved her from further embarrassment.
"Right," she straightened. "Tsunade-shishou has been working on developing some prosthetics. I know you've been having trouble doing simple things with your left hand, Naruto, and this way you won't need to summon a clone whenever you need two hands for something. Though, it will take at least a couple of more months until the arms are ready. Tsunade-shishou could tell you about them more. We can head to the lab right now, if you want to."
"Hell yeah! Let's go," and with that, Naruto was already out the door. A second later, his head poked back though. "Where exactly is this lab?" He scratched the back of his head.
–––
"Awesome!" Naruto shouted the same time Sasuke muttered a soft, but confident "no."
"What do you mean 'no'?" Naruto looked at him disbelievingly. Sakura just stood by silently as she studied Sasuke's reaction. "This is like the coolest thing ever!"
"I meant no," Sasuke replied helpfully.
"Look, Uchiha, obviously we are not going to force you into anything, but give your answer some time. Think it over," Tsunade said.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted. Naruto looked at him with fire burning in his eyes.
"Okay, well, thanks, shishou!" Sakura interrupted quickly, before Naruto could start a fight. "Let's go get some ramen, boys," she shoved their shoulders toward the exit, hoping the mention of Ichiraku's would distract Nartuo from Sasuke's rejection of the prosthetic. "Bye!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Many eyes snapped toward them as they exited the hospital. They were a sight to behold for sure. The village's strongest kunoichi, looking annoyed and the world's two strongest, one-armed shinobis, one of them sulking, the other nonchalant.
"Bye, Anzu! See you tomorrow!" Sakura waved.
–––
"Naruto-kun!" Ayame brightened up at the sight of their best customer and peeked back into the kitchen. "Otousan! Naruto-kun's here with his friends! Hi, what can I get you today?" she beamed at the brightly.
"I'll have one of everything," Naruto declared as Teuchi emerged from the kitchen.
"I'll have a shoyu ramen, with some boiled eggs and nori. Thanks, Ayame-chan," Sakura smiled.
Ayame's eyes drifted to Sasuke on Sakura's left. "Tonkotsu.'
"Alright, coming right up!"
"You're not really expecting Sakura to pay for all those bowls of ramen, dobe, do you?" Sasuke spoke up as they were waiting.
"What are you getting at, teme? She offered to pay! Plus, she is the new director of the hospital! I bet her paychecks are fat!" Naruto defended himself.
Sasuke scoffed. "It's okay, Sasuke-kun. I really did say today's lunch would be on me," she shrugged. "Knowing Naruto, I know what I was getting myself into."
"Hn."
"One shoyu and two tonkotsu ramens coming up!" Ayame chided as she balanced the bowls in her hands.
"Itadakimasu," Team 7 said in unison. Sakura grabbed three pair of chopsticks, first breaking one each for the boys sitting on either of her sides, then one for herself.
"So, teme, where are you going to be staying? Your old apartment building was destroyed during Pain's invasion, though, I guess most of the Uchiha compound remained untouched."
"Naruto," Sakura hissed at him.
"Kakashi is setting me up with a place," he replied.
"Oh, that's cool. I hope it's near my place!" Naruto chatted. "But wait, how are you going to pay for it? You can't go on missions and I don't think being an international criminal pays that well?"
"Oh, my god! Naruto!" Sakura looked at him with wide eyes. "How can you just say that! And what is it with you and other's people's finance's today?"
"What! I was just stating the obvious! I know my place is paid for until my 18th birthday, then I get the rest of my inheritance and I can do what I want with it. I'm just curious," he shrugged at Sakura, then glanced at Sasuke over her head. "So, dobe?"
"You're not the only one with an inheritance, idiot."
Sakura supposed that was true enough. Ino's words rang in her mind. Ask him about the truth about his family. All in due time, Sakura thought.
"Shit," Naruto growled as he dropped yet another bit of noodles. "I can't wait to get that damn arm."
"Do you want me to help?" Sakura offered. "I'm finished anyway."
"Yeah, thanks," Naruto accepted and handed her his chopsticks. "How come you're so good at eating with your right hand?" He questioned Sasuke.
"I could always eat with my right hand."
"Oh, so you're that ambi–… Ambide–, ambidi–…" Naruto scratched his head. "What's the word, Sakura-chan?"
"Ambidextrous," she supplied.
"Aa."
"That's not fair!" Naruto whined, noodles hanging from his lips.
"Naruto," Sakura lowered her voice. Naruto knew that was never a good sign. "Chew your damn food, swallow and then speak!" Sakura hissed.
Naruto gulped and frantically nodded his head, making sure to keep his mouth shut. She heard Sasuke scoff behind her.
"Hey, we should do something together!" Naruto said as Sakura finished feeding him.
"We just did," Sasuke retorted. "I have to see Kakashi," he stood up.
"Ah, man. That's such a lame excuse! What do you possibly need to discuss with him?"
"Naruto, he probably still doesn't know where he's going to live, they need to discuss his community service tasks and probably half a million other things," Sakura scolded him as she fished for money in her purse. "Thanks, Ayame, Teuchi. It was delicious as always."
"Okay, then we'll go with him," Naruto decided. Sakura could sense a storm brewing. They might have made up, but some unresolved tension still seemed to surface every now and again.
"I don't need a babysitter," Sasuke grunted. "I'll see you guys later."
"Come on, Naruto. Why don't you help me with my shopping? You did complain that my fridge was empty," Sakura offered. She needed to get some cleaning supplies as well, because her apartment's hygiene was going to rival Naruto's soon. With all that extra time spent at the hospital, she really didn't have much time to clean her home, or cook, or even sleep for that matter.
She glanced at Sasuke's form walking in the opposite direction, his stride confident, almost arrogant, as he held himself proudly.
"Alright, let's go!" Naruto grabbed her hand and started in the direction of the shops.
