A silhouette emerged from the shadows of a bloody background. Dead bodies scattered around the area. It was nonetheless a bloody battle. It may even comprise many ninjas just to tackle him down. But amidst their number, he still emerged victoriously among them.
In truth, he didn't even care if he won over many weaklings there. What satisfied him most is the battle between him and his mentor. It was an achievement for him.
He can still remember the way he insulted him.
His insulting curses on him.
Lastly, his pleads. It was music to his ears.
To hear him plead was like watching a comedy show to him.
Besides, he never intended to do this to them. He really doesn't. It's just that, he came to realize that he has nothing to do with them anymore. That's how he thinks about it.
Flashback:
"Why… are… you doing this, Sasuke-kun?" His pleads rang on his ears as he swipe the blood of the said snake sannin off his katana.
"Shut up." He retorted as he stepped closer to the bastard who is currently leaning on the wall for support.
He lifted his katana and swiped it towards the helpless sannin.
Who would think that his death could be this easy? He thought as he turned his back and headed towards the exit of the dimly lighted room.
Pathetic weaklings of Konoha had a hard time silencing that bastard that only took me half-hour. Tch, pathetic weaklings. He thought.
End of Flashback.
He won't admit it but, the oto-nins had a good job injuring him big time. He has broken ribs; probably even his internal organs were affected. His chakra was well drained by those 'weaklings' as he insults them.
Based on his condition right now, he might even die in the midst of his journey to nowhere in particular. He's not even in the right condition to hunt something for food. Even if he is raised as an assassin-nin, he knew that he should tend his injuries and wounds first before doing anything strenuous. So, for a while, he stopped and rested under a big tree in the forest he is currently in.
--+--+--
"Alright, I called you four to continue your retrieval operation for Uchiha Sasuke." She said nonchalantly as if the topic wasn't a serious matter.
"But, Tsunade-baa-chan, why isn't Sakura here, and why is this bastard here?" Naruto inquired the Hokage seated across him. Indeed, Sakura wasn't there but Sasuke's replacement, Sai, was there. Kakashi and Yamato were there, too.
"She can't make it. She has many hospital works and besides you'll be leaving tomorrow. She has a surgery to attend tomorrow." She answered quickly. In truth, she wants to look at Sakura's condition and try to find any cure she could bring. But, how should she give a cure to it when only a few data is available? So, she decided to let Sakura pass this opportunity. Besides, she is sure that Sasuke will be brought back this time.
"Tsunade-sama, I hope I don't sound rude but, what made you think that this time we can bring back the traitor of Konoha? What if Orochi--"
"He can't. He's already dead." Tsunade interrupted Sai from his queries, probably because of the joy that she felt when the ANBUs told her of the news.
"So, it was Sasuke who killed the Snake Sannin and his ninjas?" Kakashi half-stated as he asked the Godaime.
"Uh-huh… And because of that battle, Sasuke practically gave himself back to Konoha. He knew from the very start that killing all Sound-nins plus Orochimaru will result to this. So, let's give him what he wanted." Tsunade stated happily as if her statement is proven and bible-truth.
"Uh..baa-chan… what if he didn't really thought about it that way. Besides, it will be a big blow to his humongous ego." Naruto said while nodding his head.
"Naruto, Sasuke might be a bastard but he is not a dumb-ass like you." Sai stated as-a-matter-of-factly.
"What did you say, you foul-mouthed bastard!"
"Nothing. I just said you ARE an idiot, and now, a deaf dumb-ass baka."
"Bastard!"
"Baka"
And they continued to call each other names until Tsunade almost threw three bottles of XXL size sake. But then, she realized it was too precious to waste for two airheads.
--+--+--
It was still dark when they arrived at the gates of Konoha. They were ready to depart when Kakashi told them to halt."You can come out now…" Kakashi said, pertaining to someone hiding in the bushes nearby. Naruto gasped as the person came out.
"Sorry… I thought I can follow you guys without any of you feeling me. I guess I shouldn't underestimated you…Sorry!" the person said as she stuck her tongue out playfully at them. Her usual way of charming them.
"Don't do that again, Sakura. You know you aren't allowed to come with us." Yamato interrupted but she doesn't seem to care. It seemed as if she will go with them no matter what.
"Whatever Tsunade-shishou told you isn't true. Well, maybe if it's about training, then it's true. Anyway, this mission is highly prohibited anyway." She said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"What made you say such thing, ugly hag?" Sai insulted.
"Well, it has been officially declared four years ago that every mission should have at least one medic-nin. And obviously, you don't have one. So, I'm here to save your butt from punishment and suspension, foul-mouthed idiotic bastard!"
Sai was about to reply something but was cut off by Yamato. "Cut the crap, Sai and Sakura. If we all want to retrieve Sasuke before he recovers, we better get moving. Sakura, better think of a feasible excuse after this mission to the Godaime."
Sakura grinned as she answered, "Hai!"
--+--+--
He felt as if his head was hammered by millions of masons. Ah…my head… it hurts like hell. When will this shitty pain end! His mind screamed as the pain continues to sting not only in his head, but also in his whole body.
Well, he should really feel those agonizing pains now. He didn't bandaged himself nor tend his cuts. He just sat under the shade of a tree to rest his tired body for God-knows-how-long.
His mind is starting to doze off when he sensed familiar chakras about 12 meters south of where he currently is now. He recognized one immense chakra, the other three were strong, but not as strong as the first one. And wait, there's another one. He assumed that the remaining chakra source was a medic-nin or something.
When he started to realize who the team was, it was already too late for him. Though from the very beginning, it already was. He can't move his drained body and if ever he tried to do so, he might end up falling to the ground.
Naruto and his company stopped at what they saw.
A bloody beat Sasuke, resting his body in the bark of a tree. From Sakura's assessment, his body won't last long. Naruto was about to approach him when Kakashi stopped him by blocking his way with an arm gesture. Sakura continued to walk towards him. She knew that he'd be seeing him.
Flashback:
She is now seated in the place where it all began… and ended. This is where she confessed her puppy love as well as her first ever, true love. But, this is also where he broke her fragile heart. This is where it all happened. In this dirty bench.
Her thoughts continue run around one person. Him. He is all she could ever think now. Why? Because he is the last one of her dreams. The remaining part of her life that remained untouched after four years.
Selfish as it may sound, but my only wish before I die and leave this world is to see him. Oh Kami-sama, just a mere glance of him and you may take my poor soul to wherever you want. She mentally pleaded as tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.
End of Flashback.
I remember asking Kami-sama about seeing Sasuke-kun, but not in this state! She mentally yelled as she walked towards him. It was like the nearer she came to him, the deeper the cuts in her heart does. She just can't bare to see him like this. She knows that the emotions she had forgotten are now coming back to her as if it never disappeared. Well, it never did anyway. It just rested.
"Are you here to mock me? To laugh at me? Then, this is your chance to do such things at me. But if you're planning on dragging me back to Konoha, then that's bull." He stated. Whoa, I didn/t know that this first conversation after many years will produce 34 words! Normally, it would take a week for him to say such many words. She thought subconsciously.
Naruto heard what he had said. It made his blood boil to the Uchiha in his front.
"Don't be so stubborn now, teme! Look at yourself! You're bloody and injured; you might not even lift a finger in your current state! So shut up and let us drag you back home!" Naruto yelled, obviously mad at his best friend/rival, if Sasuke continues to see it that way.
"He's right, Sasuke-kun. You might even get complications if you continue to insist--"Sakura was cut off by Sasuke as he slapped her hand away from him.
"Sasuke-kun… You don't have to prove us that you're strong, if that's what you're thinking." Sakura said calmly. She couldn't take this anymore. If he's not persuaded by my words, I swear I'll let my anger drain on him. Besides, it was all his fault. I'd rather tend him with wounds that came from me instead of wounds from other people or worst, his rabid fangirls.
"Fight me, if you all wanted me back."
"Fine. If that's what you want, Sasuke-teme." Naruto answered, obviously, he was just waiting for him to say those words. It was like an unspoken proper 'welcoming remarks' for both of them. Hello, Naruto's victory is as bright as a sunny day.
Inside, Sakura is starting to tremble in fear. Honestly, she didn't wished for any of these fighting to happen. All she wished were for her to see and bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Though she knew Naruto would win, Sasuke's condition will worsen if he still continued this bullshit. Crap, she knew that he might even die as well!
What should she do now? She knew no one would listen to her. All she could do now is to stand and wait for Sasuke to fall helplessly to the ground. And once again, after four years, the former weakling of Team 7, the one who did nothing but cry for help, seemed to be signing in again.