8
A/N: So it's been awhile since we've met, my readers. Try to contain your joy…haha, just kidding. Sorry it's been so long. I've been ever so busy with school and haven't had time to do anything, especially right before Spring Break, when all teachers decide to give ridiculous amounts of projects and homework assignments. So please forgive me for my lag. I hope this chapter brightens your day.
Disclaimer: And I still don't own Naruto. Seriously…that last chapter… wtf?
Redemption
Chapter Seven- Stress
Sasuke threw the last stick into the pile and performed the katon no jutsu to get a fire started. Sakura knelt in front of the fire and rubbed her hands together and looked up at Neji, across the fire, who was sitting emotionlessly. Sakura continued to watch him brood over the fire as Sasuke sat next to her and closed his eyes. Ayato was already asleep.
"Neji."
He looked up, and the fire reflected in his eyes. Sakura bit her lip. "It'll be alright. Hinata is fine. She won't do anything reckless."
Neji laughed humorlessly. "She wanted to come with us. She is in no position to be chasing after Naruto in this condition, and yet she says things like 'I'd die for him'." Neji grimaced and looked at the ground.
Sakura looked at Sasuke for support. He opened his eyes and gave her a blank stare. Of course. What was she thinking? Sasuke didn't care.
"Yes, but she also knows that dying now won't help Naruto at all and that she is unable to fight in this state. She won't do anything."
Neji frowned. "Maybe." He remained silently thoughtful for a few moments. "Hinata has never acted this way before. I just don't understand it."
Sakura smiled. "Neji, she's in love."
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably and promptly lied down, closing his eyes again. Sakura frowned at him. He's avoiding this conversation, she thought. She looked at Neji again, who was completely oblivious to the tension on the other side of the campfire.
Sai walked back from the woods. "Why are you even talking about this?" he asked.
Sakura ignored his question. "Anything suspicious?"
"No."
Neji stood up. "I'll do first shift then. Who's up for second?"
"I'll do it," Sakura volunteered. "Sasuke next, and then Sai."
They were two days away now, and Sakura was beginning to get anxious. "How close are we?" she asked Ayato, trying not to seem nervous or repetitive. He opened his mouth to respond, but Sasuke beat him to it.
"Sakura, stop asking. We'll be there the day after tomorrow. If you need to look at the map, just ask."
Sakura glared at him, and Sasuke returned the gesture before softening up. He sighed. Everyone had come to a halt. Sasuke put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you're worried about Naruto, but he'll be fine. We'll get there in two days and get him back. Just…relax a little bit. It won't do anyone any good if you're all high strung like this."
Sakura stared at him the whole time, wanting to still be angry with him, but having a hard time doing so. She knew he was right.
She took a step closer to him. "We have to bring him back," she whispered.
Sasuke nodded. "We will."
That night and the following day were just as tense. Finally the night before the last day of travel came, and Sasuke lit another fire, as was the custom, and everyone went to sleep except for him. He was first on night duty, and he sat against a nearby tree. Sakura lay curled in a ball beside him.
"Sasuke," she whispered when everyone was asleep for sure.
"You're not asleep? Sakura, you're next on duty."
She grimaced and sat up. "I can't sleep," she responded guiltily.
"Hn." She continued to sit, watching him. "What is it," he finally asked, exasperated.
"I'm just concerned…"
"Sakura, if I've told you once, I'll tell you again. Naruto will be fine," he said, interrupting her.
"That's not the only thing," she said softly. Sasuke stiffened, and snuck a quick glance at her. She was playing with her hands and blushing ever so slightly. Great. That's just great.
"Sakura," he said, hesitating.
"No, let me." Sasuke looked at her and sighed. He looked away and nodded. Sakura watched him as she thought of a way to begin.
"Your probation ends soon. They'll have you come to another hearing and see if there has been any improvement. If they decide that you are better, there is a chance they may let you go, and just restrict you from becoming a jounin for a while." She paused for a few moments, and then continued. "Even so, there are still many people in the village that, to put it nicely, hate your guts. Lots of businesses like restaurants won't let you in, and I don't know how the other ninja will treat you. The only place I can think that you could stay would be in the old Uchiha manor, which I personally think would be unhealthy for you…"
She glanced at his face for a reaction and found none. "As for me, I honestly can't understand why I still care about you, but I do. I thought when you left that I would die from sadness, but slowly I began to feel better, like I could move on."
Sasuke grimaced.
"I went on a few dates with some guys, but nothing ever became of that. Even so, I thought I was over you. And then, you came back, and with you came all of my feelings." Sakura sighed and looked at him. "Sasuke, the fact is that I still love you. I want…I want you to stay in my apartment when we get back. I don't think anyone will rent you a room."
Sasuke heaved a heavy sigh. "Even if I did…what's to say that they will stop renting to you because of me?"
"Because, I am an important member of society. I am a well respected doctor and pupil of Tsunade and have a good reputation among the villagers. Although they may challenge my judgment, they will respect it."
"Sakura…you don't even know how I feel," he said.
Sakura bit her lip again. "It doesn't matter."
Sasuke clenched his teeth and looked at her fiercely. "Yes it does, Sakura!"
"Keep your voice down," she whispered as Neji stirred.
"Don't avoid this," he responded, now whispering. She looked him in the eye.
"You're right, I don't know how you feel. But I do know how I feel, and I don't want you moping in that old manor, all alone and hated. Not when you have friends."
Sasuke looked away angrily. "Have you even thought this through?" he hissed. "From your calculations, I'd have to live in your apartment for the rest of my life."
Sakura blushed. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," she said. He frowned and looked at her again. At least the reasoning she gave wasn't just based on her fangirlish feelings.
"—Sakura…" he began.
"Maybe we shouldn't be having this conversation now," she said suddenly, interrupting. "Tomorrow is a big day, so why don't you go to sleep. I'll take watch."
Sasuke frowned again. He hardly ever spoke to her, and when he finally had something to say, she just had to cut him off, didn't she.
"No," he said. "This conversation is not over." Sakura began to look away awkwardly but he caught her face gently with his hand and turned it back so that his eyes were on level with hers.
"I have to be fully clear with you," he said, making her blush once more. "When we first met, I thought you were completely useless," he said.
Sakura's eyebrows dipped in annoyance. "Very romantic, Sasuke."
He smirked slightly and his hand dropped to his side. "When I left Konoha, I thought that you had improved greatly and that you could do better after I was gone." He ran a hand through his hair. "When I came back…I never thought you'd be so independent. I'm impressed, Sakura."
She looked away and hoped the darkness would hide the flush that rose in her cheeks. "Thanks," she muttered.
"And like you've said, you've become a respectable, reasonably high class, citizen in Konoha. After all that work, I don't want to bring you down by living with you."
Sakura narrowed her eyes and returned her gaze to Sasuke. "Bullshit," she said. "That is the stupidest reason ever. Besides, what ever happened to the Uchiha pride? You better come up with something better than that to get me to agree."
"Sakura," he said, realizing that this was about to become a lecture.
"I mean, really, I can't believe that you'd actually—"
"Sakura," he repeated with growing annoyance.
"—think that I'd buy into such—"
Fine, that was enough of this conversation. He leaned forward, cupped a hand behind her head, and kissed her all in one swift motion. He felt the heat rising on her cheeks and finally let go, pulling away quickly. Sakura looked at the ground and coughed awkwardly.
"Well…okay, I guess that settles it."
He sighed. "We'll see how the sentencing goes."
She looked at him and smiled brightly. "Don't worry, Sasuke. It'll work out."
He raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you become such an optimist?"
She laughed. "I think it's about time for my shift now."
"Way to not get any sleep. Fine, I'll see you in the morning then."
She nodded and he moved close to the campfire to sleep. Sakura sighed and thought about Naruto. How were they supposed to save him? It would be yet another long night.
"We should get there around sundown," Ayato said confidently. "We should all do our best to get there as quickly as possible. It'll be a long day."
Everyone nodded and prepared for the last stretch of the journey. The rest of the day was a blur of trees and wildlife. They didn't take many breaks in an attempt to reach Naruto as soon as they could. Everyone was tired and Sakura became increasingly restless.
She thought about Naruto and what sort of condition he'd be in when they arrived. Suddenly, Ayato stopped. Sakura landed inches behind him.
"We're here," he said. They peered past the trees and saw that a clearing was just ahead. At the end of the clearing was a giant rock that must have stretched miles. Straight ahead was an opening dug into the rock.
"A cave," Neji said. Ayato nodded.
"That's right. Naruto is in there with Pain and the rest of Akatsuki.
"This is it," Sakura said.
A/N: The end approaches! This story should be finished in the next couple of chapters, depending on how I plan to end it.
I'd like to get a vote… and I hope you've been reading the manga. Clearly, I started this story before some key plotlines were introduced in the manga, but I can still sort of work them into this story. That is up to you, my amazing reader.
Would you like me to (a) work the whole Nagato/Naruto ending into the story or (b) make up a completely new ending?
Personally, I like (a) better. Anyway, please review!!!
