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Chapter 23

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The Aftermath

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I woke up at dawn and saw my mother sleeping on a small sofa across the bed where I was lying. Her mouth was left slightly open as she snored nimbly. A soft pinkish yellow light was casting shadows through the curtains of the window beside her.

I tried to move a little and felt the IV pinned on the top of my hand. My joints were aching a bit due to my prolonged stay on the bed.

It was not my bedroom. I was in a hospital room somewhere.

I felt a warm hand clutched mine lightly.

"Don't move too much." A sleepy voice said.

Sasori was there beside me, sitting on a chair next to my bed. He had terrible bags under his eyes. His red hair was messy.

"Hi." I murmured, trying to lean back in a more comfortable way as I blinked my eyes. I was wearing white clothes and I could feel the bandages underneath.

I saw a cup of water on the bedside table and drank it as if I had been thirsty for ages. There were fresh flowers in a vase there, too.

"Take it easy." Sasori said. He grabbed the empty cup away from my hand.

"How long have you been here? Where are we?" I asked. My voice sounded hoarse.

Sasori ran a hand over his face and massaged the back of his neck. "You've been asleep for a day. We're in the Sanno Hospital. You're dad just stepped out to get some coffee for a while."

I closed my eyes. I remembered what happened.

"Where's Sarutobi? What happened to the clinic and the school?" I spoke in a faint voice. I was still a little drowsy from my long slumber, but my mind was starting to raise.

"Don't strain yourself too much. You need to get more rest." Sasori said.

"I've rested enough. I don't feel much pain anymore." I said quietly, trying not to woke my mother up. "How long have you been here?"

"Sarutobi-sama's doing fine. His wound is healing well. He's in the other room and he was awake yesteday. He knows what happened. He came to see you last night and he wanted to get out of here and help with the guild. The doctors didn't let him but I think he'll be discharge later anyway." Sasori said. "I've only managed to visit last night. The other injured staff are also here. Some are in Seiwa Hospital."

I sighed and nodded. "I'm glad he's well and finally awake." I looked at the sleeping form of my mother. "How's mom and dad?"

It took Sasori a moment to respond, as if finding the best words to say. "Kakashi had spoken to them the next morning after the incident in the clinic... and after Konoha Academy burned down. You were already here when they'd gotten the news. Kakashi told them everything. He was here to meet them after he called."

I placed a hand on my forehead after hearing it. I knew it was going to be a stressful week. A lot of explanation would be demanded from me by my parents after this.

"Everything." I mouthed the word. "How did they take it?" The strain in my voice was there.

"Well... they were furious about the school. At first, at least." Sasori said as silent as he could. "They couldn't believe what he was saying at first. I'm not even sure it had sunk in their heads up to now. I thought your mother was going to slap Kakashi. They've calmed down now, though. They just needed to know if you were gonna be fine. We're all stressed, anyway."

"Kakashi told them everything? Even about the demi-humans?"

Sasori nodded. I did not speak for a moment and just contemplated. Knowing my parents, they might not let me go back to the school after this. And it was not like we still had a school to go to, anyhow.

"How're the others? Did the academy entirely burned down like you said?"

He played with his fingers for a moment. "And as for your school... well... it's destroyed. The place is burned down. I don't know what the management and the guild are planning. Everything is on a stand still."

"I need to get out of here today." I said, leaning forward and looking around the bed after hearing his responses.

"You can't just barge outta here."

"How're the others? How's Sasuke and Naruto?"

"They're fine. They were both confined here. I think they kept on sneaking off the hospital and were caught by Kakashi and Asuma. I have no idea if they're still in their rooms. I haven't seen them since the attack."

"Naruto didn't look too good the last time I saw him."

"Well, neither do you." Sasori muttered. "You were supposed to be in the guild base and look where you are now. You're in deep shit with your parents. I, on the other hand, will be going home for a moment to take a shower. Jiraiya-sama gave us a short break today to get some energy back. We'll catch up next time, okay. And stay put this time."

He dug his fingers on the scalp at the top of my head as if to make me listen to what he said before leaving.

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The damage done in Konoha Academy was all over the local news. There was no definite reason given in public as to why something like this struck the prestigious school. The only ones left were the destroyed foundations, structures and walls of some of the buildings. It was strictly off limits and they had scheduled a demolition crew to take it out completely.

The incident left a silent and disheartening air to many.

We were supposed to be on our last semester and everything was in a halt. I got the word from Kakashi that the guild was planning to transfer the students to Ame Institute for a while and classes would be resuming as immediate as the following week, as a temporary plan and operation.

For a moment, everything was in chaos. I was discharged from the hospital in a day and I spent the next day explaining, arguing, and apologizing to my parents. Sarutobi was well enough to back me up when I got home and he helped me defended our decisions and the Mortis unions to my parents' disputes. I embraced him when I saw him getting well again. He wanted to get back on his feet as soon as he could like the rest of us. He still moved slowly, but I could see he was a lot better than before. My parents did not want me to go back and he was the only one who was letting me. They wanted me to transfer to another school and it took me a great deal to convince them, to let me stay with the organization until I finish my degree.

It was ironic. I wanted to get away from that whirlwind academy before, but now I was the one insisting to stay.

I was not able to see my classmates except for Ino, whom I was able to meet on my way home one day. Everyone else was busy with the rebuilding, with the clearing of things, and with their families.

Sasori mentioned to me, in an irritated manner, that Sasuke had came in my hospital room one night and found him there. I knew they had another unpleasant encounter and he left without seeing me at all. I understood Sasuke's position and I did not plan to bother him anytime soon. I knew the guild and the organization needed him, especially with all the commotions going on. I heard he was also injured, but he was able to recover fast and did not really wanted to be stuck in a clinic anywhere. He barely stayed one night in the hospital. The nurse entered his room and just found him gone. I was not able to see him at all even if we were in the same place.

There were others who were in critical conditions, like some of the school staff including Ebisu and Shizune. Chouji was still left in the hospital a few days after I had gotten out. Some of the rogues were also killed during the incident and there was going to be a group funeral in the coming Sunday for those who died in service.

There were nearly fifty demi-human bodies found in the burned school, under the rubbles. There were two dozens found in the clinic where we were assaulted, and they found Kabuto's dead body along the search. They were also able to identify Kisame's scorched corpse in the wreckage, but they could not pinpoint Orochimaru's. Some of the corpses were burned so badly it was hard to identify who was who.

I had managed to go to the destroyed school after a couple of days. No class schedule for us still until everything was settled with Ame Institute. There were securities everywhere. The demolition had started and they were implanting dynamites around the remaining building columns to take down what were left.

Ino and I watched the crew from afar, under a tree across the street. The smell of burnt fragments still lingered the air.

"It's sad that we wouldn't see those old rooms now." Ino said gravely beside me as we watched a bulldozer scraped a pile of ruins. Asuma and Hayate's teams were there, looking after the demolition.

I stared at the scene. I could still remember the first time I walked in the academy. I could still remember how my normal days altered that year. Not all of them were happy memories, but they did leave marks inside me. I could still remember how I tried to adjust myself with the school's standards and with its students. That school was gone now.

We both volunteered to help the immediate start of recovery. Ino volunteered to assist the paperworks needed to merge Konoha and Ame Institute in the coming weeks as a temporary step to start again. We did not know how long would the two rival schools be joined together. Perhaps the guild would let Konoha Academy students stay there until the management finds a new place or establishment to transfer and grow again. I was one of the staff in charge of the gathering and shipping of the needed materials and equipment to Ame Institute. My task was to contact and check the equipment in different office stores and warehouses. It was our afternoon break and Ino and I met at a nearby cafe and thought of dropping by.

My parents did not actually approve of it but I still did it anyhow. I knew they needed some time to accept it. They could not talk me out of it and they did not show support. I just asked them to at least let me graduate in the same school since I had worked a long way to get there. What would come and happen after that was unsure and unknown.

My wounds were healing and the shallow cuts were drying up, leaving the deeper ones just a bit sore.

"The Interrogation Unit's been having a hard time dealing with the witnesses. Dad didn't even come home last night." Ino said worriedly.

"There's a lot of rumors about it in the internet. I think the others are not convince with what happened." I said.

"They couldn't track down all the witnesses. Many of them are demanding high prices just to shut up about what they saw." Ino grumbled.

"No word yet about Orochimaru?"

"They couldn't tell if he was one of the corpses. No traces of him outside, too. But I do think he's dead. He couldn't possibly get out of that inferno."

There was a moment of silence as we watched the perimeters.

"Do you think it'll work out with Ame Institute? I mean the students of Konoha and Ame are not exactly friendly with each other." Ino said.

"We have no choice. It'll work out somehow. As long as Sasuke and his gang won't cause too much trouble." I said. The fact that Sasori and I became friends was kind of a proof of that. "Besides, Ame Institute helped us when the school was attacked. The management of both sides are in good terms. The students probably just needs some bonding time to get used to each other."

"You know, I haven't seen our classmates lately. Even when I'm in the guild base. Hinata's away with her parents and Ten Ten's helping Kurenai-sensei with the retrieval of the lost school records. And that Sasuke seems to be too busy tracking down the demi-humans who had escaped and escorting the school head with Kakashi." said Ino.

Tsunade did not even stayed in a clinic or the hospital after the incident. She went straight to the guild base and was treated there while she sorted out the damages and the rescue operations.

I had no news about my other classmates either. Everybody was just too occupied with the work that had to be done to get back on track. This never happened before.

Ino turned to me with downcast eyes. "We'll be really busy for the rest of the week so I guess we won't be seeing each other until our first day in Ame Institute, huh? Sakura."

"Yeah. Glad to know you're okay, Ino." I said as she hugged me. "I'll see you soon."

"Well, I had a feeling you couldn't stay still, anyway. I knew you'd be sneaking out of the guild base during your penalty. I'm just glad you and Lee are in one piece and recovering."

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Searching for office equipment and talking to shipment truck drivers all day with two female rogues as my supervisors took most of my time. Instead of doing nothing because our classes were suspended, volunteer work kept me occupied. It was the same with the rest of the Konoha students. If there was something that I was really proud of about the school, it was the unity its people had in the difficult times and its strong will to help the society.

I get scolded whenever I come home by my mother. And so, to take my mind out of it all, I just wrote short fiction stories in my room during the night time. The stories were actually getting longer and I remembered the contest poster I saw in the comic bookstore the other week and decided to send an entry before the approaching deadline.

My school life and family life were both in jeopardy and I did not want to think about it much anymore. I had to remind myself that my goal was to graduate and get a job afterwards. I was still an applicant of the Mortis Organization and was not even an official rogue student, but it did not seem to matter for now.

I should even be receiving another penalty for abandoning the guild base to check on Sarutobi, but nobody bothered me about it. It was a small problem compared to what the guild and the organization were facing now.

I was walking back home one night after another tiring day checking the stocks. Spring was making its presence and the weather was warmer. The issue about the ruined school and the clinic were still in the tabloids. I was wearing a plain white shirt and faded pants as I carried a paper bag of food and drinks. I bought the items on the way home and was planning to give them to my parents to ease their bad moods even for a bit, and as a part of gratitude for taking care of me while I was in the hospital for a short while.

I was three houses away from our home when I found that recognizable figure in our neighborhood.

Standing outside our gate and under the lamp post was Sasuke. He was leaning his back against his parked motorbike. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, which sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, jeans and dark red sneakers. He was alone there on the street, waiting for me perhaps. He turned to me the moment he heard my footsteps.

He watched me approached him. His face not pulling a single smile or any sign of greeting.

"Hey." I spoke when I stopped a couple of feet away from him. "What're you doing here?"

"I heard you're alive." He said smugly.

"No. You're hallucinating." I said sarcastically.

His face did not show any sign of humor. I felt conscious.

"I see you've recovered fast. I heard you've fought with Orochimaru. Thought I wouldn't be seeing you anytime soon. I know you've been preoccupied with all that's going on." I observed his body, trying to see if there were still visible injuries. He concealed them well. "How's your wound? Ino said it's pretty bad. You shouldn't be overworking yourself."

"I'll manage. I think that snake bastard's dead. I almost got my ass burned."

I tried to fill in the awkward silence. "He had to be. I wanted to visit you in the hospital but you were gone instantly. I also wanted to thank your brother for helping us in the clinic. He saved our lives. We were outnumbered."

"I asked him to go there. He was on his way back to the guild base after a mission in Nagoya when the attack erupted in the academy." stated Sasuke.

"Oh…" Was what I could only say. He studied the expression of my face and I shifted the subject. "Is there anything I can help you with? It's getting late. You should go home and rest, Sasuke."

I could tell he wanted to say something to me. His face held that habitual guise whenever he's thinking about something else in his head. He was about to say something when our front door opened and the light from the house showered the front yard and upon us outside the gate. My mother's silhouette stood at the door.

"I thought I heard some noise outside, and I was right." My mom said, putting her hands on her hips after seeing Sasuke and me standing there as if we were caught doing something illegal. She was wearing her house dress and her short hair was pulled up behind her head. She ushered for us to come in. "Well, what're you two doing there? Come inside. It's already late and we've just finished dinner but we still have some left overs."

Sasuke looked at me and I shrugged. He looked hesitant for a bit, before following me inside after I pushed open the gate.

My grandfather was gone that night and my father was in the dining room, drinking his nightly coffee after dinner when we got inside. He was wearing a light blue blouse without his usual tie, which he wore everyday to the office. He saw Sasuke and stood up from his seat. He looked at him carefully. It was the first time he met him and it had been a long time since he last saw me with a boy.

"And who might you be?" My dad asked him.

"Good evening, Kizashi-sama. My name's Sasuke." He replied composedly, bowing lightly to show respect. "From the Uchiha clan."

I had no idea he knew my father's name or how he knew about it.

My father was not a tall man, and Sasuke looked towering beside him. My mother was even taller than him. She was always fond of Sasuke and would be sometimes overly welcoming, but she kept herself poised that night because of my dad's attendance. And they both expected him to be a part of the organization which they did not like me attending to.

"I know you. You're that magnate Fugaku's son, aren't you? I can see the similarities now." he said.

Sasuke nodded. My dad looked intimidated for a minute.

"So you must also be part of that abnormal and disputable organization Sakura's trying to join, are you? Well, I can tell you are." My father said bitterly, scanning him from head to foot. "One of your members tried to talk us into it and I just think it's too dangerous and abominable for students like yourselves. You're too young to do these things."

Sasuke did not say anything as we watched my father tiptoed and grabbed a bottle of sake from the cabinet. He lead Sasuke towards the terrace.

"Boy, since you're here, maybe you can give me a good explanation and clarity about your job and what that org of yours is really trying to pull. I couldn't get myself to understand how these things came about and why our society has fallen into this kind of—world. It just seemed so unnatural." My father grunted as he walked outside and sat in an Indian sit at the porch, facing our small yard. He waived his hand, asking Sasuke to sit down with him. "And you're going to do it over some bottles of sake. I'm not taking a 'No' for an answer."

Sasuke did not hesitate at all. He followed him outside and sat next to him, leaving me in the dining room with my mom without even looking back at us. It was as though he expected something like this would arise the minute he stepped in our house that night.

They started talking there at the veranda and I just watched them from the room. I knew my father was still frustrated about the whole idea of the demi-humans and he was still having a hard time taking it in. Maybe Sasuke could shed a better light about the situation. He needed to hear it from someone else's perspective.

My mother saw me watching the two males and she came to my side. "Don't worry, I won't be interrogating that boy and will just let your father do all that." She said beside me. She turned around to the stove. "Anyway, have you eaten dinner yet? We still have some hot noodles and rice balls left."

"That sounds great." I turned away from the porch.

Sasuke and my father stayed at the veranda for an hour. They talked about things like the economy, the Mortis unions, and what Sasuke was doing for the government, from what I could hear. They just sat there and drank sake like old buddies. It was obvious that my dad was trying to squeeze out more information from him and was trying to understand what the outlook was. There were times when they were both laughing and times when I could hear disagreements between them, followed by silence.

I was quite impressed of how collected Sasuke was despite my father's numerous inquiries. He appeared to be trying to keep his patience and be polite as he could. I wordlessly sat at the dining table and ate as I tried to listen to their small talk several feet away. My mom served them some rice balls some time during the night.

The minutes ticked by and my father was already kind of drunk when Sasuke bid farewell.

"You are one heck of a boy, Uchiha. I just hope you know what you're doing. I can understand where you're coming from and even if I won't let my daughter go back to that school, I don't think she'd listen, anyway." he said, his face had started to go red. He slapped Sasuke on the back in a friendly manner. Sasuke flinched a bit but tried to hide the sting from his face. I knew he was still recovering from his stab wound and my parents did not know anything about it. "I just wish you good luck. You'll be needing it. And I don't want you sneaking around with Sakura. You're welcome here and you don't have to hide, boy."

"Thank you. I can see where her… strength comes from. I should be going ahead." Sasuke said as he tried to keep a straight face. "Maybe next time I'd be the one bringing in the drinks."

"You take good care, now." My mother spoke.

My parents waved goodbye at him before disappearing from the door as I walked Sasuke across the front yard until outside the gate. We were back in the hushed street, just the two of us again. He looked tired and a little abashed from the abrupt encounter with my father. I knew it was not what he had in mind to be doing tonight nor was the reason why he came there. They finished a whole bottle of sake but he could still carry himself steadily.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." I said, a bit self-conscious myself as we stopped in front of his motorbike. It was already midnight and I knew he still had some things to do. For all I know, he must have come there to ask me for something and was not able to say it at all.

"Your mom makes good rice balls. And now I know where your weird hair came from." He grunted, his head held down in front of me.

"Yes, my dad and I have the same odd shades of hair." I chuckled. "They already know about the Mortis unions and what the government is trying to hide. They're still frustrated about it. If it's up to them, they wouldn't be letting me go back to the academy."

"Of course they won't. They've just found out about it." Sasuke spoke in his as-a-matter-of-fact tone. "Anyway, I've talked to your dad and gave the best info I could. I think I've convinced him a little bit to be more trusting with the org. It's just only a matter of time before they would start accepting it."

He said this with confidence. And I just had to keep my feet glued on the ground to keep from throwing myself all over him. The pathetic girl that I was.

"You really think so?"

"Uh-huh." He ruffled his hair as if to keep himself awake and alert.

"In any case, how're you doing? Everyone's been occupied and I didn't want to bother you these past few days." I shifted the subject before bidding him good night.

"Yeah. The org's lacking of recruits and got a lot of stuff to deal with. Those bastards sure knows how to create a good mess." Sasuke said.

I stared at his surly face for a moment, realizing slowly how I missed looking at him and being in his presence. During the assault, I did not know if I would be seeing his face again. There were still dark shadows under his eyes like the last time I saw him, but I didn't know how he could still look so damn good. He looked more threatening that way.

He noticed me staring at him and he fixed his eyes at mine. He appeared to know what was inside my head in a second.

"I never got to ask you what you came here for. Why are you really here, Sasuke?" I said, turning serious.

He gazed at my face for a moment, looking at my eyes and physique as if he had not seen me for a long time. He gave me that reserved look I always find magnetizing of him.

"Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing here either."

"I kind of thought you might be with Karin when you have found some spare time after work." I said out of the blue. It was just a random thought and I was a bit horrified it came out of my mouth.

He looked at me as if I was some kind of an idiot. "You're really thinking about that right now?"

"I mean… I just kind of thought you might be together." I uttered.

"No. She just asks for a bunch of rogue escorts sometimes. Her father's a second class commander of the guild."

"Oh, I see."

So that celebrity knew about the underworld and her feet seemed to be dug deeper in our lives than I expected. Her father must be one of the most influential officials in the guild for her to able to request for escorts. I knew she likes Sasuke a lot.

"She seems to have grown rather fond of you. I saw you in the news the other week." I teased.

"You really suck at jealousy." He muttered.

"That's only because I have feelings for you." I admitted. It caught him off guard and he went mute for a moment. "And, honestly, I think I kind of know why you've just turned up here again."

He stepped away from his motorbike and crossed the small gap between us. And then I found his arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace, burying his face against my neck. He did not say anything and just held me there against him, squeezing me in his embrace.

"Eh?"

"I just need to talk to someone." He mumbled on my neck, his mood suddenly altering sentimentally. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. He did not let go of his hold on me. I could feel his firm chest against mine. He closed his eyes. "I just need to speak with someone who's not in the goddamn guild or else I'm going to lose it."

I took in what he meant with those short words. I understood why he was acting that way. I placed a hand on his back, careful not to touch the wound Orochimaru struck him. He did not loosen his hold on me. I felt the weariness in his voice.

"You all right?"

"I just had to see you." He said, his voice being muffled against me. "They gave me a break tonight and I haven't been home for days. But I just had to see you…"

I ran my fingers through his soft dark hairs, getting him to relax a bit and ease the tension on his shoulders. I knew he was not at ease in his home either because of the pressure of his family. His job did not stop there.

"I'm here." I said to him. "I was worried about you but I understand your position. It's your work."

"I've been wanting to see you but I just couldn't leave the org like the others. I've been thinking if it was right to take you to that old commander. If it was the best thing. I knew you'd be fine after the attack. You're too annoying to get killed." He murmured. "It's just I've seen a lot of nasty scenes these days. I've been all around the country in a span of a few days and it's suffocating me like shit. I just need a breather. So I thought of seeing you tonight."

"I'm annoying but I'm grateful you took me to Sarutobi, Sasuke. And I'm glad you've showed up here."

By seeing me, he meant to be seeing me at the exact moment he thought about it. He rarely gives a call or an advanced notice. He just sprouts like a ninja.

"Do you know what was the only thought I had in my head when the school was falling down on us?" he whispered, holding me tighter as if I would be dissolving away. "I thought about you. And I just knew I had to come back. We're not yet through."

I turned his face with my fingers and kissed him. I tasted the tang of sake from his mouth as I kissed him deeper. He was exactly what I was to him. He did not have to explain further.

I'd never triggered the first move before and it turned him on. His hot tongue brushed passed my lips and weaved with mine as I felt his hand caressed my cheek. His other hand stroke down my back. There was fierceness in his kiss as he deepened it and I could feel his breathing growing heavier. He traced kisses on my chin and down my neck before pulling in my lips again. His hand went down my back, kneading my bottom.

"I want to take you with me so badly right now." He whispered deviously.

I leaned my forehead against his and stroke his warm cheek, smiling gingerly at him. His dark gray eyes and long eyelashes were mesmerizing to gaze at.

"I can't leave." I told him. He knew it, too. My parents would fling a bunch of frying pans at us if they would suddenly burst out of the front door at that minute.

He just frowned and did not argue. I skimmed my fingers through his spiky hair, his arms not letting go of me.

"I was in your stupid hospital room the other day and that redhead dingbat was there. He can't really keep himself away, can he." Sasuke mocked, his frown getting worse.

"You should get used to Sasori now. He just helped save Naruto. And we'll be in Ame Institute by next week." I kept on running my thumb on his soft, unblemished cheek.

"That seems to be the cherry on top of a perfect school year." Sasuke sneered.

Then, his phone started ringing from his back pocket again, reminding me of the last time we had met. He just groaned and did not bother to pick it up.

"That's my father." He exhaled. He gave me one final kiss, both his hands pressing both sides of my face, before letting me go. "I gotta go. Guess the old man's starting to miss me."

I nodded as I watched him walked back to his motorbike and ignited it. "You should. They're your family, you know."

Sasuke gave a scoffing sound as if trying not to listen to the last words I said. "By the way, some guys from the Interrogation Unit will be paying you a visit tomorrow. They're gathering info from those present during the attack. I heard about it from Kakashi this morning. He'll be calling you soon to give you a heads up."

"I was kinda expecting it. But thanks for telling me, anyway."

"Don't be late on Monday, nerd." He said in that arrogant way of his before moving off. The engine gave one purring roar and he made a U-turn on the street, yelling at me at the same time. "And stop talking to those perverted truck drivers at the shipping yard!"

He speeded away and faded in the night without so much as a proper 'Good night', as always.

I was used to his shifting moods and him calling me a nerd by now.

He was right about the Interrogation Unit's appearance at our doorstep the next day. Inoichi and Shikaku, Shikamaru's father, who also bears some scars on his face like Ibiki, came by to do some query about what happened to the clinic. Two other rogues were with them, who just stood by the door the whole time I was being questioned.

They did not mention any penalty on my side after the discussion. Their main intentions were to gather as much reports and details about the intrusion. Both my parents were out when they stopped by, and Sarutobi was the only one there with me. He did not interfere with the questioning and simply listened peaceably of what both sides had to say.

By Sunday that week, a private group funeral was held at the Zoshigaya Cemetery in Toshima, Tokyo. Six rogues died during the assault and the funeral had a hundred attendees. Media was prohibited and the securities were extremely strict. I accompanied Sarutobi to the grieving affair and a lot of the guild officials were jovial seeing him back on his active self. I kept myself on the sidelines and watched as the victims' families mourned and handed out flowers over the caskets.

I remembered Sasuke was affected by what happened to Chouji, who was still confined in the hospital. He and his friends visited him the other night and he was finally conscious and was asking for a pile of food.

It was a way of life. The pitfalls happen, and then things would patch up one by one. A step needs to be taken one at a time in order to move on. I knew the organization would be back on track in due time.

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(To be continued.)