They stood there for quite some time. Sakura was crying into Sasuke's shoulder, and while Sasuke didn't exactly return her embrace, he didn't pull away either. It seemed like Sakura was going through the five stages of grief – well three of the five anyway – in some mixed-up order.
For her, depression came first. She mourned the many, many losses of the boy she'd loved for so long. She cried for him and his family and the normalcy of a life that was stolen from him. Then came anger. As she realized what the judge had meant at the trial about Konoha's involvement in Sasuke's ill fate. The council members…
"I know at least seventeen different ways we can kill them and no one would ever know it was us– or that they didn't die of natural causes. How old are they anyway? A hundred? Who needs to live that long? Certainly not those scumbags! Who can just order the slaughter of so many children? How can anyone just sit by and let it happen?" Now Sasuke was holding her. Or holding her back. As Sakura pieced together everything, she grew angrier and angrier. He was starting to fear she was going to crush the cemetery into nothing but dust.
"Sakura," he said lowly into her ear. "Thank you."
And so came acceptance to Sakura. Sasuke had forgiven them. Or given up on getting revenge, no matter much those old geezers deserved it. He appreciated her anger, the fire burning within her. Born out of her love for him, a love so deep that she would dare assassinate the council members of the village she loved and swore loyalty to. She would respect his decision. Whether he would want to end those disgusting, treacherous monsters or not. Because it was his decision, ultimately.
"Sasuke-kun… I hope you know, whatever you decide, I'll be there for you," she whispered. If she were to speak any louder, her voice threatened to break. "Also, I will petition for the election of new council members. I cannot in good conscience let them have a say in the matters of the village. How dare they!" Sasuke's arm tightened around her shoulders again. She wasn't sure if it was another way of saying thanks or holding her back from blowing up with anger. It didn't matter. She felt heat spreading all over her body, cocooning her in a kind of comfort she'd seldom experienced before.
–––
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura burst into the Hokage's office, without a knock. Shikamaru was currently discussing something with Kakashi when both men snapped startled gazes to the raging kunoichi.
"Sakura-san!" Shizune stumbled in after her. "Hokage-sama," she heaved. "Is in a meeting right now."
"It's quite alright, Shizune," Kakashi said. "I always have time for my favorite student."
"That's just because you'll do anything to blow off doing work," Sakura was quick to retort. "But anyway, I need to speak with you. Privately."
"Troublesome…" Shikamaru muttered, but he turned to leave the office without any reluctance at all. What a bunch of lazy asses that work here, Sakura thought.
Shizune opened her mouth to protest, but Sakura looked at her, and all fight left the older woman's eyes. She pursed her lips in a tight line and nodded.
"To what do I owe this sudden, but nonetheless welcome, visit?" Kakashi smiled at her behind this mask.
She didn't smile back. Her face was set in stone, and as she remembered just why she was here, her eyes hardened. "I need you to tell me how I can file an official petition to have the council members removed, and new ones elected."
"So, he's told you," Kakashi stated.
"So, he has. Now, what's the procedure? Is there some official form I have to fill out? Or do I just write a lengthy letter detailing how disgusting they are?" Then, a thought occurred to her, a malicious smile forming on her lips. "Actually, I bet I could make them resign from their duties of their own free will."
"I don't think it's considered free will if you intimidate them into doing it," Kakashi countered. "I'll file the petition. You just need to get some signatures. If there are enough, the clan heads and officials of the village will be summoned and a trial will be held."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
–––
Sakura had the whole hospital staff sign the petition, many vendors at the market, her peers from the academy, her parents, and everyone in their building. She challenged Ino that she couldn't get the whole of her clan to sign it, and of course they all did because if there was one thing the blonde wouldn't back down from was a challenge from Sakura. Ino signed it with a heavy hand. She was slowly taking over her late father's duties as clan head.
Sakura placed a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "He is so proud of you. You're everything anyone could want in a daughter."
"Thank you," Ino whispered and squeezed Sakura's hand.
Sakura had Hinata pursue her father for a meeting.
"Hyuuga-sama," Sakura bowed as she entered the man's study. The wall behind his desk was lined with ceiling-high bookshelves, no doubt containing very valuable information, based on the chakra seals protecting them. "I have come here to pursue your support of a petition to have the council members removed from their position."
"And why would a child, such as yourself, want that?" He stared at her, gaze strict.
"I have no doubt that, to some extent, you have knowledge of the many wrongdoings they have committed against the village. Idly sitting by as innocent women and children were slaughtered. Their plotting to have Lady Tsunade removed and replaced by Danzo, I'm sure you are well aware of."
"It's about that Uchiha, isn't it?" Hizashi asked. Sakura knew at that moment that he knew some of what had happened.
"What would you do if it were your clan? Your family?"
He signed the petition.
–––
"You knew and didn't tell me?" Sakura yelled at Naruto. "Why would you keep me in the dark?" Kakashi, she could understand keeping things from her. His fondness of Team 7 often clouded his view of them, many times he still saw those three, twelve-year-old brats in front of him, instead of the formidable group that defeated a literal goddess. Besides, the man used to be an ANBU, he was trained to keep secrets.
"I– I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I really am," Naruto stuttered. "It's just… how do you tell someone something like this, you know? Like do I just walk up to you and be like 'Hey, so guess what really happened to Sasuke's family!'?"
Sakura quieted and plopped down on the couch defeatedly. She knew her anger was unwarranted. She wasn't even angry at Naruto. She was just angry.
"And it's the teme's story to tell anyway. But he told you," he sat down next to her on the couch and wrapped his only arm around her.
"I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you. I'm just still trying to process this whole situation. No wonder he used to be angry all the time. I'm so furious whenever I think about it and I didn't even know his family…"
"Yeah, I get it. Believe me, I do," they sat in silence for a long time. Naruto with his arm around her and Sakura with her head on his shoulder. "So, where do I sign?"
–––
A knock sounded on the window of Sakura's office. She looked up in confusion to see one Uchiha Sasuke perched on the window sill.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Sakura opened the window.
"Naruto and I had a spar," he winced as he jumped unto the floor. "The dobe got me good. Can you take a look?"
"You know, there is a reception desk and a bunch of nurses and doctors on call who can take care of you," she crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side.
"I know," he said. She smiled.
"Take a seat," she motioned to the examination table. "Where does it hurt?"
"My ribs."
"Okay, um, please take off your shirt," she said, heat rushing to her cheeks. Get it together. You've healed hundreds of men, seen many bodies in several states, dressed and undressed. You're a professional for goodness sake!
He lifted his shirt, and struggled with it for a second, still learning how to manage everything with just one hand.
"How's your arm, by the way?" She tried to distract herself from the way his pecks tensed and untensed with movement.
"I don't know, is it still considered an arm?"
A smile spread to her lips. She laid her eyes upon the forming bruise on his left side. She laced her hands with chakra and got to work. Three of his ribs were completely shattered, and one was broken.
"You could have pierced your lung with this," she scolded him as she carefully mended the broken bones. "You guys need to hold back a bit. You don't even have both arms and you're still gonna end up killing each other."
"A real opponent won't hold back just because I have one arm," he said simply.
"Yeah, well keep it up and I will be the last real opponent you face," she looked up at his eyes from his side. He was already looking at her and a small smirk danced across his lips. This asshole is finding this funny!
"Okay, Doctor Haruno."
"Asshole…" she mumbled.
Sasuke observed her office as she finished healing his ribs and the surrounding muscles. He noted two books on her desk. Post-Traumatic Stress in Children. Psychology – How a Child's Mind Works.
"Okay, you can put on your shirt," she pulled her hand away and took a step back. She nervously pocketed her hands as she drifted her gaze away from his half-naked form.
He went to her desk and picked up one of the books. Most of the pages were dog-eared and notes were sticking out from it, making the already thick tome even thicker.
"Some light reading?"
"I, uh… Many children were left orphaned… after the war… They are currently housed in our children's ward but…" she was nervous to admit this to him. The thought occurred to her after he had revealed the story of his clan to her. She thought so much about his and Naruto's upbringing. The trauma they had both suffered that went untreated. All these children who are suffering the same fate of having lost loving parents, siblings. "I want to open up a children's clinic. So, we can help them process the trauma of losing their parents…" Because I don't want them to suffer the way you and Naruto had to. She didn't say it, but she knew he understood.
He considered her for a long moment, not saying anything. They just stood there for a long, long while. Eventually, he put the book back and took a step closer to her. Her breath hitched as he raised his hand. He poked her in the forehead and the next second he was gone. Sakura stood in the middle of her office, frozen, with a bruising blush on her face.
–––
"Hey, Forehead. What are you still doing here?" Ino popped her head into Sakura's office. "Please don't tell me you're still working! Your shift ended four hours ago!" The blonde exclaimed.
"I'm not working… Just, um… I'm just doing some research, okay? It's for fun," Sakura nodded, convincing herself more so than Ino.
"Research? Fun? Have you suffered some sort of brain damage during the war? You know what's fun? Grabbing dinner with your best friend. Who, lucky for you, just so happens to be free for the night. You're very welcome."
"Ino…" Sakura sighed, but as she looked at her best friend, hands on hips, a hopeful look in her eyes, she nodded. "Okay, let's go."
Sakura organized the files and notes on her desk, the confidential ones she locked away in a cabinet, the others she just shoved in various drawers. She shrugged off her lab coat and put it on the back of her chair.
"You're not wearing that, though, are you?" Ino so lovingly questioned.
Sakura glanced down at her creased red long-sleeve, her black skirt, and black tights. Sure, they weren't the prettiest of clothes, but they were more than fine for work.
"Ino, I am not going home to change," she stated.
"Gosh, fine! But We'll grab some takeout then and go to your place. I am not showing my face in public with that nest on your head!"
Sakura exhaled loudly and put on her coat and scarf. "Alright."
The girls walked down the main street and browsed the diners offering takeout. Ino settled for some Takoyaki, while Sakura bought both Takoyaki and okonomiyaki, since she had not had time to eat lunch, and she was very much starving.
"So, what is it you're researching so passionately?" Ino asked as they took the stairs up to her apartment.
"I've been looking into children's mental health. We can't house the orphans at the children's ward forever, and I've been thinking that I want to open up a children's clinic. To help them cope with post-traumatic stress from the war and losing their parents and all that. But I need to put together a banger proposal if I want it to get approved.," Sakura explained. "There's not much emphasis on the mental health of shinobi, and I think we've all seen what that can lead to… Anyway, I just don't want the children to suffer."
"Like Sasuke and Naruto did?" Ino supplied.
"I mean, yeah," Sakura shrugged. "I don't think I would've thought of it if I didn't see their experiences firsthand," she admitted.
"How can I help?" Ino asked. She was a war orphan after all. It didn't matter if you lost a parent to battle at seventeen or at seven, it hurt all the same.
They settled at Sakura's dining table and started discussing her research so far. Many of the medical texts that Sasuke provided her with proved to be useful. As the masters of genjutsu, the Uchiha had a very good understanding of the mind. With Ino's help, whose clan specialized in mind-reading, her research could go twice as fast.
"Well, I'm having a double shift tomorrow," Sakura said. "But I have the afternoon off the day after that. Does that work for you?" She asked as she started putting the dishes in the sink.
"Yeah. So, let's meet at my place and we'll raid my father's library?" She grinned.
"Sounds good," Sakura said. She didn't want to point out that it was technically her library now.
Sakura and Ino spent their free time the following weeks doing thorough research and putting together the proposal. Whenever Sakura wasn't at the hospital, she was at the library in the Hokage Tower, or in the Yamanaka library, or asking Sasuke to take her to the secret Uchiha library. Sasuke didn't protest, but he did give her suspicious looks. He had a feeling it had to do with the clinic she wanted to set up, but she didn't say and he didn't pry.
–––
It was one late afternoon that Sakura had just spread out on the loveseat of her office, when Naruto barged in, Sasuke in tow.
"Sakura-chan! Kakashi wants us to go to his office immediately," he grabbed her hand, not even giving her a minute to wrap her head around the situation.
"Naruto! Stop dragging me around! I just got out of an eight-hour surgery, let me catch my breath will you!" She pulled her arm out of his hand with such force that Naruto stumbled.
"It's about the petition," he whispered loudly.
"Okay, let's go!"
–––
"Well, if it isn't my favorite team," Kakashi greeted them. "Sakura, you have some blood on your neck."
Sakura's face turned as red as blood itself. "I just got out of surgery," she mumbled as she cast her eyes down at her shoes.
"So, what's gonna happen to those geezers?" Naruto asked impatiently.
"The petition has been accepted. They will be replaced. Their crimes will remain a secret to the public, however. I'm sorry."
"So, let me get this straight," Sakura breathed, trying to calm herself. "Their positions will be taken from them, they will not be prosecuted and will be given a cushy pension that they will live off for the rest of their miserable lives?" She did not succeed at calming herself. She was getting more and more worked up by the second. "Not only that but that pension will be paid from our hard-earned money? And the public won't even know the disgusting shit they've done? That's not even a slap on the wrist! That's a pat on the back!"
"Sakura, I'm sorry," Kakashi said. "This is all I could do."
Sakura stormed out the door, furious. Rage was enveloping every cell within her body. They are going to get away with it. She headed for the roof. Who knows how many other lives they've ruined and they are going to get away with it. She raced toward the training grounds. Who knows how many lives they've taken? How many children they've left orphaned? She landed on the training ground so forcefully that the ground shook and tiny cracks formed around her feet. They are going to get away with it and live the rest of their lives in a peaceful comfort they did not deserve! Sakura slammed her fist into the ground, and it split beneath her hand, a gaping hole that could swallow at least three dozen men.
"Sakura," Sasuke called from behind her.
"How are you so indifferent about all this! Why are you not angry!" She turned toward him. "Show some emotion, goddamnit!" She punched his shoulder and she heard a crack. "Oh, my god! I am so, so, so sorry, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke just stood there, face still void of emotion, not even a flinch, but she knew it must have hurt. She just broke his damn shoulder. She started healing it immediately.
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
"Of course, I'm angry," he said lowly. "But I can't let it take over. We've all seen where that leads."
She looked at his eyes with tears in her own. "I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said automatically, then snapped her mouth shut, giving him an embarrassed smile.
"Annoying," he rolled his eyes. Her smile grew ever-so-slightly.
"Does your shoulder feel okay? Can you move it?" She stepped back a bit.
Sasuke drew a few circular motions with his shoulder and nodded. "Aa."
"Good. That's good," they stood in somewhat awkward silence for a while.
"Thank you," he said finally.
"For what?"
"For caring."
