The whirring of lab machinery always brought forth Sakura's memories of a post-war Konoha. The images that flooded her brain ushered along a feeling of sadness accompanied by the smell of soot from her destroyed homeland. But among the debris, there was also something else—a sort of hope and relief that washed away the melancholia.
For Sakura, the consolation she felt lied in the presence of a certain raven-haired teammate in the village and the feeling of wholeness that a reunited Team 7 brought her. And so despite the solemn atmosphere that the lab reminded her of, she was overcome by the warmth of a long-awaited reunion, both immediately after the war and now with Sasuke back in the village.
"Sakura," a chastising, stern voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Sorry," She muttered quickly in reply. Straightening, Sakura immediately attended to her master's call by inching closer to the screen.
Tsunade regarded her with a frown before continuing. "As I was saying, the preliminary results of my analysis suggest that the contents of the poison don't match anything we have in our inventory."
"That's what I thought. I've never seen anything like it," Sakura agreed.
The former Hokage nodded, pinching her chin in thought. "Prior to the war, the nations were at odds and resources were kept highly secretive. Of course, that's changed in the recent years but—"
"Are you saying that the poison could be from another village?" The pinkette cut in before smiling apologetically. Fortunately, it seemed Tsunade was too preoccupied to be bothered with the interruption.
"Potentially. The alliance has made it more common for us to share knowledge across villages but it's possible that someone wants to keep a poison of this caliber a secret."
Both master and student were silent for several beats, lost in thought as their heads swirled with ideas of what to do next. Finding the origins of this poison could bring them closer to whoever was behind the reformation of Root and, in turn, could help them defeat its growing forces before it's too late.
"Shisou," Sakura said when the idea came to her. "When I was in the Sand Village to heal Kankuro, I had the chance to see how vast their greenhouse was. I think going there would be the only way we could find a lead."
"That's a good idea. I think Suna is our best bet and you know I don't make losing bets."
Sakura chuckled nervously at Tsunade's quip. It seemed her master never quite learned to face the truth about her seemingly life-long losing streak.
"I'll go report what we found to Kakashi-sensei then and send in a mission request."
"Sounds good," Tsnuade nodded dismissively before turning her attention back to a test tube of clear liquid.
Sakura bowed and began to take her leave just as the blonde, older woman brought the test tube up to the ceiling light, inspecting it carefully as she twisted and turned the substance in its container. It was when the kunoichi began to turn away that the woman placed the vial down with a sigh.
"Sakura, before you leave…" Tsunade trailed off, her expression stern
"Yes, Shisou?"
Their eyes met, the blonde woman studying her student carefully with squinted eyes.
"That Uchiha boy," she paused, "Is he kind to you?"
Sakura stopped short, feet frozen in place at the sound of his name coming from her master's lips. It was no secret that Sasuke was never Tsunade's favorite. It probably wasn't even too farfetched to say that the woman openly disliked him. But it wasn't the obvious skepticism in Tsunade's voice that brought the young kunoichi to a halt. Rather, it was the question itself.
Before being consumed by hatred and revenge, Sasuke had always been kind in his own way: feeding the stray cats that always seemed to find their way to him and protecting his teammates at the detriment of his own safety. Even after the war when negative sentiments against the Uchiha name were at an all time high, he seemed to never allow spite to marr the way he interacted with the villagers. So the answer to Tsnuade's question was easy—on the surface at least.
It was what the question implied that brought an uncomfortable feeling to Sakura's chest and made a lump grow in her throat. There was no shadow of a doubt that Sasuke was kind to her, but whether that kindness meant anything beyond a platonic camaraderie was a mystery she was terrified to solve.
It felt like a lifetime had passed before Sakura found the strength to speak. Swallowing nervously, she responded, "Yes, shisou. Sasuke is very kind."
The older woman studied her carefully. Whatever she was searching for in Sakura's expression, she couldn't be sure.
"I see," Tsunade finally replied, her tone dismissive as she turned her attention back to the various lab equipment before her.
With a deep bow, Sakura retreated from the room, her heart practically beating past her ribcage. Her mind swirled with a myriad of questions as she navigated the winding halls of the Konoha hospital and made her way towards Kakashi's office. It wasn't until the dry autumn air bit her cheeks that she finally released the breath she was holding.
To her, Sasuke was an enigma—someone she understood and yet never felt like she truly knew. The inner workings of his mind were something Sakura had avoided facing during the past week that he had spent in her apartment, afraid that if she thought too deeply about what it meant for their relationship, the image she had so carefully crafted for their future would shatter.
Sakura would be lying if she said their interactions lately didn't seem rather…domestic. Cooking together, doing laundry, greeting each other each morning and night, it almost felt like they were—dare she way—a couple. But there was a nagging voice at the back of her mind, taunting her and criticizing her for even allowing herself to think that way when so much more was at stake as Root continued to operate undeterred.
But there was an undeniable change from the way they used to be. She could feel it in the way he leaned into her touch during their healing sessions, sense how his chakra sparked as his eyes raked across her body during the nights they spent sitting side by side on the sofa, and hear the softness in his voice when he greeted her with a hesitant "I'm home" each time he returned.
She sighed, willing her heart rate to slow. Wherever their relationship—or lack thereof—was headed, she couldn't preoccupy herself with that now. As much as it hurt, she had to admit that the future was out of her hands. Her feelings have always been made clear to him and now it was a matter of whether he would be ready to accept them. She had waited for him for over a decade. What was another year, or two, or even three?
Before Sakura's mind could disappear into another thick fog of introspection, a bellowing voice shouting her name jerked her violently away. Off in the distance, an orange-clad figure came racing into her field of vision and in a split second, Naruto, whiskers and all, was standing right in front of her.
"Naruto! You're back!" She greeted, a smile forming immediately.
He beamed, pointing a thumb to his chest. "In the flesh!"
Just as Sakura began to speak in an attempt to ask where he was headed now, a voice shouted from behind the pair.
"Big brother Naruto! Where did you go?" The voice, likely belonging to a child, Sakura deduced, carried loudly from the direction she saw Naruto come from just a second ago.
Naruto, cursing under his breath, took off running towards the child, leaving Sakura once again alone and confused. It was minutes later that he returned with two young children and an elderly woman in tow.
"That's Sakura! She was the one who told us where to find you," explained the blond as the group drew closer to where the medic stood.
It dawned on her then who they were. Sachie had told her so many stories during sleepless nights at the Root Headquarters. Sakura could still recall her voice and sad smile as she recounted memories of her younger siblings and grandmother during a time before the war, how things were seemingly peaceful in their little village. The young girl often spoke of how her youngest brother was loud and boisterous while the older one was solemn and reserved, much like Souta. Seeing them now, Sakura had to agree.
A small boy, no older than five, rode on Naruto's shoulders. A grin spread across his face as Naruto leaned to one side, tipping his tiny form from where he was perched. Beside their grandmother was another little boy, probably a year or two older than the youngest. His youthful face was filled with concern as he clutched onto his grandmother's arm and gently guided her shuffling frame along.
For the second time today, Sakura found it difficult to speak. This image, it was something Sachie should have been here to see. After all the time she spent worrying sick about her family, Sachie deserved to hear the musical laughter coming from her youngest sibling. She deserved to be here and start a new life with a united family. And yet Sakura was standing alone, an ache in her chest, watching as the family approached.
"Whoa your hair is weird," observed the youngest, still perched on Naruto's shoulders when they finally stopped in front of her.
"Hey, watch it," Naruto warned playfully.
Sakura chuckled, feeling a small weight lift from her body. "You're right. It is weird, isn't it?" She laughed as she ran fingers through a lock of pink hair.
It seemed like the boy had more to say but one stern look from his grandmother caused his lips to clamp shut. Despite that, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that told Sakura she hadn't seen the last of his antics. He was just as Sachie described, Sakura thought to herself.
"Ms. Haruno," a frail hand suddenly gripped Sakura's. Despite the grandmother's weak physique, her grip was surprisingly tight, almost turning Sakura's skin red where they touched.
"Thank you for saving us," the elderly woman continued.
Sakura bowed respectfully. "Please, just call me Sakura. And I couldn't have done it alone. Sachie—" her voice trembled just slightly "—and Souta were very brave and they stopped at nothing to see you all reunited."
When Sakura lifted her head, she could see the woman nod as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "I didn't think I would live to see Souta and Sachie again."
The medic felt her heart drop, realizing then that the family was yet to know the truth. But knowing that it was not her place to break the news to them when Souta was absent, she bit her lip and faked a grin.
"I won't keep you here any longer then. I'm sure Souta is anxious to see you," she replied, giving the older woman's hands a gentle squeeze.
"Yep, that's where we're headed," Naruto interjected. "Why don't you come with us, Sakura?"
"I have some business to attend to right now," Sakura turned to face the grandmother again, "but I can come by and drop off some of Konoha's best cuisines for you all to try later."
"Finally! I'm starving," the youngest announced.
Sakura giggled and stood on her toes to ruffle his hair—hair that was an identical shade of brown to his sister, she observed quietly.
"Don't worry, we have tons of good food waiting for you." She crouched until she was eye-level with the older child and added, "And you too."
The quiet boy nodded, inching closer to his grandmother as he shied away from the pink-haired ninja. Sensing his hesitation at her presence, she gave a soft smile before backing away. It was no surprise to her that he was wary of strangers. At his age, he likely could clearly recall the night they were held captive by Root as his older siblings were taken away. And scars like those were, unfortunately, the most stubborn to fade.
With a final exchange, Naruto led the family away and towards the apartment that Kakashi had set up for them. Sakura watched silently at their retreating backs, trying her best not to picture the sadness that would mar their expressions when only Souta was there to greet them. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head in an attempt to will the guilt away. And while she succeeded in finding the strength to continue on her path to the Hokage's office, there was a heaviness that settled on her shoulders, a constant reminder of where she had failed.
Sighing, Sakura climbed the steps of the Hokage's office, her footfalls thumping dully against the stone. When she reached Kakashi's door, she could make out the faint sound of muffled voices behind the thick wood and knocked to make her presence known.
"Sakura, come in," Kakashi called past the door after sensing her chakra signature.
When Sakura entered, she expected to be greeted with her former teacher's signature invisible smiles hidden beneath his mask. But to her surprise, his expression remained stern and the air in the office solemn. When she met the gazes of the other two figures in the room, her heart sank when their expressions mirrored the same tense energy.
"Hey Sakura, it's been a while," the other man greeted, his demeanor relaxing just slightly.
"It has. It's nice to see you back, Shikamaru," Sakura peered to his side and added with a smile, "You too, Temari."
They exchanged short pleasantries before turning their attention back to Kakashi who remained seated at his desk, arms crossed in thought. As Sakura settled into her space in front of the Hokage, her anxiety heightened. Kakashi's unchanging, grave expression was not lost on her.
The gray-haired man uncrossed his arms and leaned his elbows on the table's surface as he began, "It's good you're here, Sakura. I think it's important that you hear Shikamaru's report."
"Right," Shikamru nodded, acknowledging Kakashi's signal that he should speak. "Over the past several months, Suna and its surrounding villages have been seeing a large number of mysterious disappearances. The Kazekage suspected a civilian criminal organization but we think it might be something more than that, especially after we received your request to retrieve that family."
Sakura met Kakashi's gaze, confirming that she had permission to report the intel she gathered from Root. When she was sure that she had the Hokage's approval, she spoke.
"I think the disappearances are connected to Root."
Shikamaru's eyes widened, "Root?"
"Yes, I have personally witnessed the reformation of Root. I don't know how long they have been operating or how widespread they have become, but I do know that they're planning something big and they are close to getting enough manpower to do it."
"Do you have any ideas what they might be planning?" Temari questioned, brows furrowing.
Sakura shook her head. "I have no clue. I just know that they're building an army and it's growing quickly."
"There's more," Kakashi interjected. "We have evidence that Root has successfully recruited several high ranking Jonin from Konoha. I suspect they could have done the same with other villages."
Sakura studied Shikamaru's expression carefully as Kakashi spoke, watching his jaw tighten with frustration when Kakashi listed the names of the comrades who had betrayed them. The dark-haired Jonin listened quietly as Kakashi continued recounting what Sakura found during her mission. As the story unfolded, she could feel tension hang heavily in the atmosphere.
"I'll have Kankuro do a thorough investigation of our Shinobi forces immediately," Temari announced, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
"Yes, I think that's a good idea," agreed Kakashi. "And I know it goes without saying but please keep this information as confidential as possible. We have to operate carefully from this point onwards if we want to remain ahead of Root."
Shikamaru sighed, "What a drag." He paused before looking up at the Hokage. "Do you have a plan?"
"I'm afraid not. Although that may change." Kakashi then turned to address Sakura, "I assume you're here to report additional findings, Sakura?"
"Yes, that's right. I—"
A sharp knock at the door caused all four ninja to whip their heads around. It was rare that Shinobi could be caught off guard like this but once Kakashi called for whomever it was to enter, it was clear why his presence was difficult to detect.
Sasuke strode in, his steps completely silent as he finally stopped beside Sakura. She gulped nervously as he did so and fiddled with the hem of her clothing, something that wasn't lost on Kakashi judging by the gentle wrinkle of his eyes as they upturned in a teasing smile. However, the light air quickly settled again as Kakashi's frown returned and he spoke.
"Ah, Sasuke, I'm glad you made it. I think it's best that you're here for this conversation too." The Sixth Hokage stated just before motioning for Sakura to continue.
"This morning, Lady Tsunade and I were able to examine the contents of the poison that I extracted from a Root member. Unfortunately, it doesn't match anything in our database. But I think that if we're able to trace the origins of the poison, then we can get closer to identifying whoever is behind this new Root."
"I believe Suna's poison center may be able to help with that," Temari added.
"Right," Sakura nodded at the blonde woman before turning her attention ahead to meet Kakashi's gaze. "That's why I came here actually. I would like to put in a formal mission request to travel to Suna."
"I'll have to reach out to the Kazekage before assigning you but, for now, you have my approval, Sakura."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"Sasuke, why don't you accompany her?"
Shocked by her teacher's suggestion, Sakura piped up much louder than she meant to. "No, that's okay! I can handle things on my own!"
"I'll go," Sasuke stated simply, his eyes still looking straight ahead and signature frown unchanging.
"You really don't have to, Sasuke," she added.
Sakura tried her best to hide it, but a part of her was overjoyed at the thought of them embarking on a mission together. Just three years ago, she had offered just the same only to be turned down. Back then, she understood his reasons but ever since, she had held onto the hope that he would return one day and accept her offer. However, her hopes deflated when he spoke next.
"Root came after me first. It only makes sense for me to go."
"That settles it then," Kakashi clapped his hands together. "Shikamaru, Temari, thoughts?"
"We'll be heading back to the Sand to continue our investigation into the disappearances and report what we found here to Gaara," Temari replied. "As soon as we get the formal approval, we can head out as a group."
Nodding, Shikamaru added, "I also think it's best that we travel together. If they're capable of capturing Sasuke, we won't be able to take them on alone. Besides, I think it would make the villagers more comfortable."
The implication of Shikamaru's statement didn't go unnoticed by the five ninja in the room. While tension between Konoha and Suna had essentially been eradicated due to Sakura's and Naruto's role in saving Gaara and Kankuro, the civilians were still wary of the Uchiha clan. Even after all the years that have passed since the war, the consequences have yet to be forgotten.
From the corner of her eye, Sakura peered at Sasuke in an attempt to gauge his reaction. And while his usual cool manner was still intact, she could see the slight tension in his jaw where he clenched his teeth in frustration. She wanted to reach out to him, tell him that in time the Uchiha name will be restored, but she kept her silence. Sakura knew better now than to overstep the boundaries he had clearly drawn.
"Sakura, what's the status on Sasuke's seal?" Kakashi asked, causing Sakura to train her gaze ahead and away from her brooding teammate.
"During our last healing session, I could sense that his chakra system had been restored to normal. I have advised Sasuke to take things easy and I plan to have another session today to make sure that things haven't changed since."
"Good. Let's make sure he's healed before you head out of the village." Kakashi answered before turning back to the mountain of paperwork situated on his desk.
Taking it as a sign of dismissal, the four ninja took their leave. They walked in silence down the steps leading to the Hokage tower. It wasn't until the very last step that Shikamaru finally spoke.
"Sakura, I take it Ino knows?"
Sakura nodded, "Sadly, yes."
"I see. I guess it couldn't be helped," Shikamaru trailed off.
With some final words about checking in with each other once their mission was approved, Shikamaru and Temari headed off in search of a place to eat, leaving Sakura and Sasuke to watch their retreating backs. Sakura smiled as she observed them, taking note of the way they seemed to move closer to each other as the distance between them and the Hokage's office grew. It was when their figures began to disappear that she saw it. Shikamaru and Temari were holding hands.
"Finally!" Sakura exclaimed, clasping her hands together in front of her chest excitedly.
Sasuke regarded her curiously, an eyebrow raised as if beckoning her to explain her reaction.
Taking his cue, she began. "We've been waiting for Shikamaru to make a move and it looks like they're finally dating. I can't wait to tell Ino the—"
Sakura realized her mistake as soon as the sound of her best friend's name escaped her lips. She clamped her lips shut and averted her gaze, unsure of what to say next.
"Are you okay?"
She spun to look at Sasuke, mouth slightly ajar. Even after all this time, it always took her by surprise when he expressed concern towards her. Not because it was completely out of character for him to do so, but because she could hardly believe that after everything they went through, he was actually here, in front of her, asking about her wellbeing as if there was never a time during which they had been enemies.
"I'm fine," she smiled.
Sasuke nodded, though he didn't seem convinced. However, sensing her avoidance of the subject, he instead asked, "Where are you headed now?"
"I'm going to pick up some food for Souta and his family. I figured trying out some of Konoha's famous dishes would be a nice welcome."
"I see. I'll come with you."
"Huh? Really?" Her eyes widened incredulously.
Sasuke didn't respond and only continued walking in the direction of the marketplace, beckoning to her to follow once he realized she was still frozen in place.
Shaking out of her stupor, Sakura raced to catch up to his long strides. She studied him carefully as they walked side-by-side, desperate to understand his intentions. But true to his usual manner, Sasuke's expression remained stoic, and he stared straight ahead as they continued on their path.
Five stops later, Sakura had gathered a multitude of to-go containers filled with Konoha's most popular cuisines. From ramen to takoyaki, she was sure to buy as much as her arms could carry. Maybe a part of her felt like this was one way she could make it up to Souta and Sachie, she couldn't be sure. But at least for now, the thrill of bringing the food to the little boys she meant earlier was enough to temporarily lift her spirits.
"Don't worry, I got it." Sakura reassured when she noticed Sasuke eyeing the bags she had in her arms as they strolled towards Souta's apartment. "Besides, you should rest."
Scoffing, he answered "I'm fine. You said so yourself when Kakashi asked earlier."
"I know, but we can't be too sure. Especially when we barely know anything about the type of seal they used."
When he didn't respond, she looked over to find him pressing his lips in a tight line. Sasuke had been like this since they left Kakashi's office and a part of her wondered if it was due to Shikamaru's comment about the villagers. She watched silently, waiting for him to mull over his thoughts. When he made no indication to speak, she turned her attention back towards the path ahead of her, knowing that it would benefit no one if she pushed his boundaries again.
"This is it," Sakura announced as they arrived at the apartment building.
The home Kakashi had set up for Souta was modestly sized and the door to their home was slightly elevated with several short steps leading to the entrance. It was situated towards the East side of the village, where infrastructure was newly rebuilt after the destruction that the war left behind. Sakura climbed the steps, taking note that Sasuke didn't do the same. Instead, he lingered behind and leaned against the building's wall, signaling to her that he didn't plan to follow.
She took a deep breath and knocked. Her keen sense of hearing told her it wouldn't be long before the door was answered as the quick footfalls drew closer to where she stood. Just as she anticipated, Souta appeared before her, his expression changing from confusion to something unreadable as he took in the bags she held in her arms.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice much harsher than she expected.
"I brought some food for you and your family. Think of it as a welcome present."
Sakura held the bags towards him, but he made no move to retrieve them. Instead, Souta looked past her, scowl deepening as he located Sasuke.
"What's he doing here?"
"Look, Souta, Sasuke isn't a danger to you or anyone in this village."
Souta scoffed, "Try saying that to the families of everyone who died in the war that his clan caused."
Sakura could feel her blood boil as she shot the boy a venomous glare. But before she could respond, a voice calling from inside interrupted her.
"Souta, sweetheart, who is that at the door?" The grandmother asked as she shuffled to look past her grandson. When her eyes rested on Sakura, the older woman beamed. "Sakura! It's wonderful to see you again."
Just like earlier in the day, the elderly woman grasped Sakura's hands in her vice grip, causing the kunoichi to almost drop the bags balancing precariously on her arms.
"Hello, I hope you like your home," Sakura smiled politely. "I brought some food as a gift to welcome you to Konoha."
"Splendid! Please, come on in," The woman tugged Sakura past the door before she could protest. "And tell the gentleman waiting outside to come in too, Souta."
"Grandmother, I don't think that's a good idea." Souta answered, looking bewildered.
However, his grandmother left no room for arguments, declaring with finality. "Go get him, Souta."
Sakura's eyes widened as she watched Souta obey wordlessly. She was left in awe at how easily he followed his grandmother's instructions, so unlike the argumentative boy she met at Root's Headquarters.
"You'll have to forgive us, Sakura, but we just had a large lunch. If we knew you'd be coming over so soon, we would have waited for you."
"No, don't worry at all!" Sakura reassured as she set the bags on the kitchen counter and began packing each box into the fridge. "Besides, I can't stay long."
"I see. Are you going to find the ones who took Souta and Sachie?" The grandmother asked as she handed Sakura another to go box to put away, her tone darkening.
"Yes. I won't rest until I do."
The old woman nodded, "Thank you. My family and I owe you our lives."
Not knowing what else to say, she only nodded in return before busying herself with the task at hand. As the pair continued to pack the food away in silence, a disgruntled Souta soon arrived at the door with an equally displeased Uchiha following at a distance behind him.
Looking satisfied that her grandson obliged to her request, Souta's grandmother began preparing a pot of tea as she shouted for the two younger boys to come greet their guests. Sakura snuck a glance at Sasuke when she finally finished stacking the boxes of food in the fridge and smiled sheepishly when he shot her an accusatory glare.
A loud exclamation of, "Weird hair lady!" was quickly followed by a rumble of tiny steps running across the thin wooden floors.
"Kota! Where are your manners?"
"But grandma, she said I could call her that!" The youngest sibling whined in protest.
"I don't think she did," came the voice of the older boy as he emerged slowly behind his brother.
The two boys began to argue back and forth, with the youngest insisting that Sakura preferred the nickname while the older boy repeated his previous statement in an increasingly annoyed tone.
"Kota, Keitaro, enough. Go sit down at the table." Souta commanded when he finally had enough of the bickering.
Almost immediately, the younger boys stopped short and obeyed. Sakura couldn't help but giggle at the situation, finding that a gentle warmth began to spread across her chest. It was almost comical to see Souta this way based on the warrior she met all that time ago. He seemed kinder, more loving, more like the brother Sachie had described.
"That lovely boy—Naruto, was it?—told us that you two helped save the twins," the grandmother addressed Sasuke and Sakura as she ushered them to the table before placing a piping hot teapot at the center. "I'm sorry there isn't much I can do to show my gratitude, but this tea here is made from leaves that can only be cultivated in my home village. I hope it's to your taste."
She poured the steaming liquid into each of the cups that Souta had previously placed before them. As the steam rose, Sakura inhaled deeply, taking in the earthy aroma. It was a scent that was familiar yet completely unrecognizable at the same time and a sip sent a strange sensation down her spine.
"This tea is lovely," she sighed as she gently placed her cup back on the table's surface.
"These tea leaves are sacred to my people," the older woman elaborated as she, too, took careful sips. "We pride ourselves in being able to extract its medicinal properties."
Sakura's ears perked up, "Medicinal? What is this tea used for?"
"All sorts of ailments. Headaches, pains, stomachaches. You name it, and this tea can cure it." The grandmother answered, smiling brightly with pride.
"How strange, I've never heard of something like this before. How do you cultivate the leaves?"
"I'm sorry, my dear Sakura, but it's a secret that has been kept by my people for centuries, and the Hirayama people are extremely protective of it."
"Ah, I see." Sakura smiled reassuringly, worried that disappointment was apparent in her expression. She also quietly took note of the clan's name, Hirayama. "Well I appreciate you sharing this with us!"
"Of course, I can give you some leaves to take home. It'll be especially useful for some of the situations you Shinobi get into" The elderly woman said as she shuffled to her feet and headed to the kitchen before returning with a small fabric pouch.
Handing the pouch to Sakura, the woman began a spew of instructions. From the temperature of the water needed to steep the tea to the amount of time, Sakura tried her best to retain it all, stopping to ask questions when the information seemed too complex.
As they continued conversing softly amongst themselves while consuming the tea, Sakura mulled over the beauty of the scenery before her. Souta's usual icy exterior seemed to melt away, revealing the presence of a gentle young boy, whose hope was not yet lost. Even Sasuke, in his quiet way, seemed to exude an air of comfort as his earlier reservations about entering the home dissipated with each sip of warm liquid.
It was after a long pause in conversation that the grandmother finally spoke up, voice soft. "I just wish Sachie was here right now."
A coil tightened in Sakura's gut as she echoed the sentiment with a hum. However, just as she began to open her mouth to speak, Souta's foot rammed painfully against hers. Her eyes shot up to meet him only to find that he averted his gaze. But the tension in his posture was undeniable.
Looking towards Sasuke, she could tell that he also noticed the change in atmosphere. He sent a questioning look her way to which she responded by an equally puzzled expression. Their joint confusion only grew when Souta spoke next.
"Me too, but I'm sure she'll be able to visit soon. I'll send her a message to say you all have made it here safely first thing in the morning."
"I can't wait to show Big Sis my new room!" Kota added, arms held in the air as if to demonstrate the size of his room. "And I want to take her to the taiyaki stand that Big Bro Naruto took us to!"
Souta ruffled his sibling's hair and laughed, sounding so forced that it seemed painful. "Soon, Kota."
It took almost all of Sakura's willpower to stop her jaw from dropping to the floor. Beside her, she could tell by Sasuke's rigid posture that he was doing the same. A storm of questions beat around her mind, each one leaving her even more clueless than the last.
Sakura had witnessed Sachie's death firsthand, held her lifeless body in her arms, and felt the chakra dissipate between her fingers. Sachie was dead. That fact was undeniable. And yet, here Souta was, promising his family that his sister would return home soon. Sakura was left utterly speechless.
With each empty promise that Souta made to his family as the afternoon drew on, Sakura felt her heart drop further. She wasn't sure if it was the blatant lies that Souta was telling that made her heart rate rise or the guilt that his words wouldn't be lies if not for her. But no matter the cause, it was almost too much for her to take.
A tap on the side of her thigh pulled her from the fog that her brain was slowly becoming lost in. When she looked up, she found Sasuke studying her, his expression filled with a gentle concern. It was a look that caused an ache in her chest and left her breathless. And just like that, everything definitely became too much.
Sakura quickly excused herself, citing being late for some meeting. Without waiting for a reply, she rushed from the table, much to the bewilderment of those around her. She pulled her sandals on and pulled the door open. Calling an apology behind her with a promise to return at a later time, Sakura threw herself outside and into the late afternoon air.
Before she could even pause to take a breath, a hand curled around her upper arm and tugged. Sakura didn't need to see to know that touch, but she whirled around anyway to come face-to-face with Sasuke.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Sakura interjected, cutting him off as soon as his lips parted to speak. "I just needed some fresh air."
He didn't look convinced, grip tightening where his fingers have yet to release their hold on her. They stood wordless for several beats until his touch burned too hot for her to bear. Against her own wishes, she twisted out of his grasp with more force than she intended. With her arm now freed, Sakura looked away, pretending like she didn't see the pained expression that flashed across Sasuke's face.
"What's wrong with you?" Souta called, his footfalls descending rapidly down the porch steps and coming to halt right in front of the pair.
"What's wrong with me?" Sakura repeated incredulously. "I should be the one asking you that! You can't seriously think you can hide the truth from your family forever!"
She marched up to him, voice rising with every step as her blood boiled. She knew her anger was misdirected, born out of her own guilt and spilling on to the nearest person, but she couldn't stop herself. Her words cut like knives, Sakura knew it, but even when grief crossed Souta's gaze, she couldn't hold back.
"Do you really think this is best for them? To think that Sachie is off doing whatever it is you told them when she's actually dead—"
Sakura's words dissolved on her tongue as Souta's fist gripped the collar of her shirt, pulling her hair painfully where strands of pink were caught in the fabric. Ignoring Souta, she raised her arm to block Sasuke's defensive attack, quicker than any civilian's eye could track. Souta, himself, seemed bewildered when he blinked to find the Uchiha's fist inches away from his face, stopped only by Sakura's chakra-lined arm.
Mere seconds flew by before Sasuke understood and backed away. She slowly lowered her arm but kept guard, sensing in her periphery that Sasuke was glowering at the boy who held her by the collar of her shirt.
"Souta, listen to me." She tried to reason. "They'll find out sooner or later and it'll hurt just the same. Why are you delaying the inevitable? Doesn't Sachie deserve a proper burial? A proper mourning?"
"You get no say in what's best for my family," Souta hissed.
"I know I don't and I know that after everything, I have no right to interfere. But please, try to see where I'm coming from."
Souta was quiet but his glare did not waver. His grip on her clothes trembled but he held steady. When it was clear he couldn't respond, Sakura continued.
"I'm going to go back for her. I'll bring her back so we can finally put her to rest."
"Don't you dare," Souta growled, releasing his grip on Sakura and shoving her back with a surprising amount of force; however, not enough to knock the kunoichi to her feet.
"Souta—"
"Stop," He warned, his voice dangerously low and full of venom. "Don't ever interfere with my family again. I don't care who you are or what you did to help us. Your relationship with my family ends here."
Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off again before words were able to form.
"You've meddled enough with my family. Leave us alone."
With those final words, Souta spun on his heels and stomped up the steps. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving behind a tense silence as Sakura stared at the space in which he once stood. Her breaths came out ragged and a deep sorrow threatened to overtake her body. In an attempt to keep it at bay, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists before taking off at lightning speed into the forest.
Sasuke followed the pink and red figure closely, easily tracking her now that his Sharingan was activated. He expertly navigated the tree branches, keeping tight on her heels as she wove in between the leaves.
"Sakura! Stop!" He called after her, but it was clear she had no intentions of doing so.
Although Sasuke had always been faster than Sakura, making up for where he fell behind her in strength, he chose to only follow for now. He hoped that soon, she would exhaust herself and stop on her own. But after following her for several more minutes, he realized the situation was getting out of hand. He wasn't quite sure what—or who—she was running from. Either way, there was an ache in his chest that screamed at him to stop her.
Sasuke sped up until they were running alongside each other, hopping from branch to branch. Looking to his side, he could see the irritation in her tear-filled eyes as she watched him slow down beside her. With all their years of training together, he knew she was at her limit.
"Sakura, slow down. You're going to hurt yourself," he pleaded, but to no avail.
She continued to push her legs to run, far faster than he knew was comfortable for her. He kept his pace steady, running beside her and keeping guard. At this speed, one misstep could send her spiraling towards the ground.
As a last ditch effort, Sasuke dropped a kunai to the grass, wrapped his lone arm around her waist, and activated his Rinnegan. In a flash, they were transported to the ground as the kunai took their place and embedded itself in the bark of a nearby tree. Sakura squirmed in his grip but his hold tightened. It was only when a chakra-lined elbow pushed into his ribs that he was forced to release her.
"Please, Sasuke, just leave me alone." She begged as she turned to face him.
Sasuke shook his head, "Not when you're like this."
Groaning in frustration, Sakura channeled a fistful of chakra and rammed it into a nearby tree, uprooting it immediately. The evergreen crashed around them, spewing dirt and loose leaves as the force of its fall disturbed the ground below. Sasuke stood still and expressionless, watching as his former teammate took several deep breaths.
"What do you want from me?" Sakura asked when the dust around them finally settled.
His expressionless face still unchanging, he responded with a shrug, "Whatever you want."
"Don't be so cryptic," Sakura breathed, seemingly exasperated. "I don't get what you mean when you talk like that."
"What I mean is if you want to talk, I'll listen. If you're angry, I'll take it. If you want to fight, I'll fight you."
She studied him carefully, eyes narrowed as her fists clenched and unclenched with uncertainty. Sasuke returned her suspicious glower, silently allowing her time to mull over his words. It felt like an eternity later that she sighed and answered.
"I don't feel like talking."
In the blink of an eye, Sakura launched herself at him, the speed of her run kicking up a dust storm in her wake. He readied himself, flipping backwards and up to a tree branch as soon as her fist met the ground. A loud crack sounded throughout the dense forest as a crater formed in the soil, uprooting the tree Sasuke was perched on. He kicked himself off the branch, landing steady on his feet and a safe distance away from the destruction Sakura left behind.
She wasted no time in making her next move as she charged in his direction. He didn't need his visual prowess to tell him that her fists wielded an insurmountable amount of power and that one failed dodged meant he was a goner.
As always, speed was Sasuke's advantage. He leapt from where he stood and launched into a run as he circled her. Electricity crackled in his fingertips as he aimed towards her back, something he had to try not to think too deeply about. Just as he reached her, Sakura whirled around and ducked before grasping his ankle.
The chidori dissipated as Sasuke used his only arm to regain his balance. He twisted, using a palm on the ground as leverage, and pushed himself back to a standing position. When he faced Sakura again, she had already escaped to the other end of the clearing, fists readied at her sides for another attack. Neither of them allowed the other a second to breathe and immediately launched into the offensive once again.
Hours passed and the sun set behind the horizon when the sparring pair finally began to slow, their chakra reserves running almost empty. Sasuke channeled chakra to his fist again, satisfied that his body seemed more willing to do so. There was still a block somewhere, something he made a mental note to report to Sakura later, but he was almost back to normal. He could feel it.
They charged each other again, fist meeting fist. The force of their attacks propelled them each backwards, leaving a crater several feet in diameter in between them. Breathing heavily, they pushed themselves to their feet and sized each other up across the clearing. It was clear that there would be no victor, but Sasuke and Sakura were both too stubborn to stop.
They charged each other again, meeting in the middle of the crater they had created. This time, their moves were visibly weaker as their bodies met with a loud crash. The duo crumpled to the ground and Sasuke wasted no time in pinning Sakura's arms behind her back, using a leg to help hold her down where his lone hand was unable to reach.
But it was clear at this point that Sakura had the advantage. He could tell by how easily she wiggled out of his grip that her chakra reserves were far from empty while his were quickly running out. She spun and pushed him onto his back. Straddling his torso, she pinned his arm above his head with one hand and held a kunai against his throat with the other. When the dust and dirt from their struggle finally cleared, it revealed a sight that had Sasuke gasping for breath.
Sakura's rose-colored locks were wild, sticking to her cheeks and forehead with sweat like ivy vines on a stone wall. A smirk decorated her pink lips as her sharp, green eyes bore into his. Their bodies were so close, Sasuke could feel her rapid pulse through the thin layers of clothes between them. Her heavy breaths fanned across his cheeks, leaving him utterly breathless.
Bathed in moonlight, her skin seemed to shimmer. And perhaps it was a trick of the light or maybe Sasuke wasn't as healed from the effects of his seal as he thought, but he swore that she was drawing closer and closer, until their faces were mere inches apart.
"Sasuke…" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
But Sasuke was at a loss for words, staring at her with his lips slightly parted. Something inside him screamed at him to move but something else held him frozen in place. There was an immeasurable amount of things he could do in this moment and yet nothing was right. It felt like he was searching for answers amongst a constellation of stars that were identical in every way. He was lost, confused, wishing desperately that the next stone he turned held the answers he sought.
And yet, no matter how much he struggled, there was no clear answer. All he knew was that almost every part of him wanted to run. But for a second, for the briefest glimpse of a moment, he wanted to stay.
A/N
Hello and happy Valentine's day for those who celebrate! As always, I'm so sorry for the delay in updates. With getting covid and having the academic semester starting, thing have just been so hectic. I promise I won't give up on this story even though my updates may not be as regular as I hoped. However, I'm hoping that once things settle down after this month, I'll be able to get back on track.
Anyways thank you to all of you who have been sticking with me through all this. And if you're a new reader, welcome! I hope you all enjoyed this extra long chapter!
P.S. extra points to you if you can guess which anime I made a reference to in this chapter!