Wow yikes! It glitched so badly the first time I posted this. Well it's been updated now.
I couldn't really find the muse to right this all out in narrative format so I'm posting the summarized events and ending now. Maybe I'll want to finish this one day but who knows if that'll be years from now. I figured it would be better to put this up for those who stuck by it. Thanks for reading!
Extended flashback arc:
Flashback to their high school and middle school days.
This will happen when Sakura devises a way for Itachi to use his eyes for good. She suggests unlocking Sasuke's mind. It might collapse his brain, but it might save him. As it stands, he's a walking and talking shell of himself anyway, so what's the harm in taking the risk?
The flashback begins with Itachi and Sasuke's problems with one another. Sasuke thinks his brother is just as bad as the people who murdered their parents because he was able to kill those people without a second thought. He fears Itachi for the power that he possesses and the cruelty he is capable of.
Itachi assigns Kakashi to watch over Sasuke since they don't get along anymore.
Kakashi becomes a caretaker for both Sasuke and Naruto. He also teaches them many things, including how to trust one another and other people. Not much is done to try and repair Sasuke's relationship with Itachi seeing as it's not his place necessarily to do so.
When they're in middle school, Naruto gets a crush on a little pink haired girl and invites her to play at Sasuke's house. Sasuke is angry at first, but Kakashi thinks it's good to make more friends. He takes the little girl under his wing too.
The trio play together the whole summer that year. Kakashi takes them on several different excursions, including camping, the beach, and assigns them a scavenger hunt. They always have to work as a team for these games. He sees them beginning to trust each other by the end of the summer.
They return to school and finish middle school.
Sakura debates going to an all-girls high school that specializes in the sciences, but then decides against it in favor of going to a local public school with Naruto and Sasuke. Kakashi asks if she's positive this is a good idea, but then she explains that being with those two is a privilege. She can educate herself well enough anywhere and she'll succeed. Kakashi finds her confidence endearing and says she has certainly made the right choice.
In their second year of high school, Sakura and Sasuke finally start dating. This occurs after Sasuke is forced to start meeting with Itachi at least once a month. When this happens, Sasuke requests that Sakura come with him because he doesn't want to face Itachi alone.
She says Naruto could go with him, but then Sasuke says he has important things he needs to tell Itachi and "that idiot wouldn't understand."
Sakura agrees and waits outside of the building while they meet. Itachi emerges first and briskly but gently thanks her for loving his little brother. She's flustered but has no time to recover as Sasuke exits and takes her hand, leading her away.
They walk into a park and he still refuses to turn around but clutches her hand. He says Uchiha men can be hard to live with and talk to. Sakura says she knows.
He says they are strong willed and stubborn and often can't express their feelings. Sakura again says she knows.
He then says they treasure their important people more than anyone else though.
Sakura is quiet, surprised by the admission.
Sasuke tells her she is one such important person. And then finally turns around and is beet red. He says she needs to understand already.
Sakura asks if he wants to be with her. He merely nods.
She asks if it's romantically. He glares and doesn't respond.
She hugs him and asks if that's okay. He hugs her back tightly, a slight tremor in his voice when he exhales. Other than that, he only says "Thank you, Sakura."
They remain very close, but of course, break up after he proposes. They part ways.
Post-flashback arc:
When Sasuke surfaces from the unlocked memories, tears are streaming down his face. He doesn't know what to do with all of this knowledge.
He apologizes to them but wants more than anything to see Sakura. Itachi allows it and takes Sasuke to their room.
Sakura is reading a book quietly and is startled to see him. When she processes his facial expression though, she stumbles to her feet and rushes to hug him. He clutches onto her tightly.
Sasuke says he cannot stay the night though. It's safer for them to remain apart. The wires in his brain are still crossed even if he has his memories back. He is struggling to fight the conditioning that tells him to choke the life out of Sakura, while attempting to cling to the feelings of love that are overwhelming him.
Itachi returns and Sakura quietly goes to bed, still struggling to understand what has happened.
What happens to Orochimaru?
Orochimaru is eventually caught, exposed, and imprisoned.
Essentially, they go around manually blowing up the bases. It's a covert operation that the police are handling and they're only going after the links in Japan where they have jurisdiction.
They manage to dig up the experiments one by one as Sasuke is regaining his ability to think and feel. He's able to remember the contents of laboratories and other things. His conditioning makes it hard to speak, but he describes in as much detail as possible and shows on maps where he thinks the approximate locations of places are.
Aftermath
Sasuke says it's still not safe for Sakura to be alone with him. He never knows when he'll snap and lose control. He suggests they end their relationship.
Sakura says healing isn't done in isolation. They don't have to pursue their romantic relationship anymore, but she doesn't want them to fade from each other's lives. There's too much between them.
Sasuke is too weak to say no. He agrees and moves back into the estate.
Naruto and Sakura reclaim their shared apartment. Sasuke is only finding out now that they've been living together. He becomes instantly displeased.
Naruto says it's nothing. They just didn't have Sasuke around and they were the only ones left.
Sasuke doesn't respond and goes to meditate. He spends most days in meditation now. It's the best way to come face to face with his own thoughts and conditioning.
A year of this behavior passes. Sakura is willing to be patient even as Naruto moves out to live with Hinata and Ino gets engaged and seemingly everyone is settling down.
Ino and Tsunade are both unhappy with Sakura's willingness to sit around to pick up the pieces of a broken man. They say she'll waste away her life on him. It's his battle to fight and she cannot rush him. They believe being an emotional support doesn't have to be romantic and that they even agreed before. Sakura affirms that they are no longer romantically involved, but…
Tsunade decides that Sakura needs a push and introduces her to a young doctor looking to date. Sakura cannot say no since it seems harmless enough and Tsunade is practically forcing her hand.
Sakura also hasn't seen Sasuke in a few months since he seemingly ventured off for more intensive meditation in the mountains. Itachi had to inform her of this. Sakura begins to come to the revelation that perhaps they really are not going to recover from this.
She goes out with the doctor and although distracted, it could still be considered a lovely time. Sakura reluctantly agrees to another date on Sunday because he asks her if she'll help him buy a present for his younger sister's birthday.
They go shopping in the city. Sakura finds it surprisingly fun and less stressful than the first date. They part ways before dinner, but with a promise to catch dinner the following Wednesday after their work shifts.
Sakura finds herself somewhat happy for the attention and decides that it's okay to keep going as it is because the doctor also seems rather casual for the time being.
They date for 6 months before Sakura hears that Sasuke has returned from his extended stay in the mountains. Naruto is the one to tell her, and he also remarks that perhaps she doesn't care anymore since she's getting pretty serious with this doctor.
Sakura says she'll always care about Sasuke's well-being, but she's beginning to learn that perhaps he doesn't need her love in the same way anymore.
Naruto says she's lying to herself. And so is Sasuke.
He goes to meet Sasuke after dropping Sakura off at her apartment. Sasuke is just finishing a shower and steps out to see Naruto in his room.
Naruto says Sasuke has been gone a while. Sasuke shrugs. Naruto says Sakura has been seeing another man. Sasuke tenses, but otherwise only says that they are no longer involved, so what does it matter.
Naruto says the guy is a doctor and he's nice and he treats her well. Sasuke says he's glad she's finally chosen a man that doesn't make her cry.
Naruto gets angry. He demands to know if Sasuke is done with her for good. She sacrificed so much to help him in the past, and now he won't even fight for her.
Sasuke snaps that he doesn't deserve any of it. Sakura is better off with someone...normal. He won't intrude.
Naruto says maybe he'll regret his words when Sakura is walking down the aisle with that man and forgets all about Sasuke.
Sasuke is too surprised and only manages to ask if they're getting married.
Naruto shrugs. Says the guy is quite serious. He'll probably pop the question by their 1 year anniversary.
Sasuke shakes his head and once again affirms that they're better off apart.
At 10 months, the doctor pops the question. Sakura is blindsided. He says they're mature individuals with careers and that they're stable enough to consider settling down. He says he'd like to have children young when they still have the energy to take them places.
Sakura is stunned and says she needs time to think.
He asks if it's about her ex. Sakura hesitates and that's enough of an answer.
Sakura goes to the Uchiha Estate and only finds Itachi. The man is surprised but invites her in. She tells him about the proposal and asks what she should do. Itachi remarks that that is a quick engagement but is also quite expected considering their places in life.
She asks how Sasuke is doing. Itachi says that he'll be returning from a short trip this evening and Sakura is free to wait around for him.
She asks if it's worth it. Itachi says that speaking to an old friend is always worth the time.
Sakura feels embarrassed but then agrees to wait around. Itachi says he has work back at the office and will be heading out.
Sasuke returns shortly before midnight and is stunned to see Sakura sitting outside of his room, the cherry blossom tree in his garden already in full bloom. He had avoided her for so long and had forgotten how easily she could steal his breath away.
He asks her what she's doing here so late. She tosses him the small ring box. He catches it and opens it quietly. She asks him what she should do. He doesn't answer.
Sakura says she thinks it's too soon, but that she also has little desire to go looking for yet another relationship in the future. Wouldn't marrying him just be getting to the inevitable conclusion quicker?
Sasuke doesn't want to have this conversation at all. He doesn't want to discuss her future with another man, even if he thinks it's the smartest choice. It's different when she's looking him in the eyes, unafraid of the torment he could cause her without even blinking.
He returns the ring box. Sakura flinches at its weight. She asks if this is really how they'll end things. She says she could wait lifetime after lifetime for Sasuke. She would do so if that's what he asked of her.
Sasuke thinks that he would do the same. He has no plans to find someone else. He tries to say that she should marry that man, but the words die in his throat.
He tries again, but they refuse to come.
Sakura watches him struggle for another five minutes before tucking the ring box into her purse and standing. She says she's going to refuse the proposal.
Sasuke manages to blurt out "Why?"
She says his silences speak volumes to her. She knows his emotions like the back of her hand. Sakura smiles and says it's okay if he's not ready to be with her. She doesn't want anyone else but him, even if that means waiting another lifetime.
Sasuke stops her, eyes pleading. She just shakes her head and says they've always gone at their own pace. This time is no different. He can take all the time he needs to heal.
Two months later, Sakura finds Sasuke waiting in front of her apartment door. He says he's going on a trip and asks if she'll come with him.
Sakura asks if he feels ready.
He asks if she trusts him.
Sakura confirms that she does. He nods and says he feels ready.