From the Ashes
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"It takes two to speak the truth—one to speak and another to hear."
―Henry David Thoreau
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Chapter 2
Obligation
In all honesty, she thought the last time she would ever see Sasuke would be on a battlefield, ready to kill one another. So, when she saw him sitting in the chair with his expressionless face toward her, it was enough to make her falter in her step.
"Am I done here?" Sakura asked Ibiki as she quickly recomposed herself.
He nodded. Sakura turned on her heels and sauntered out of the room. She quickly made her way to the Tsunade's office in the Hokage's building. She gave a knock on the door, waiting for an answer.
"Come in," Tsunade said from inside. Sakura stepped in.
"Why didn't you tell me Sasuke was here?" Sakura asked her mentor, clearly annoyed but nonetheless keeping her cool.
"It would be easier for you if you went to see him for yourself," was her simple reply.
"I still had the right to know," Sakura countered stubbornly.
"Sakura," Shizune—who Sakura just realized was currently present—said trying to alleviate the tension in the room. "Lady Tsunade was trying to do what was best for y—."
"No, Shizune." Tsunade sighed. Tsunade turned to Sakura "You're probably right. Maybe, I should have told you," Tsunade continued. "But even if I did, what would you have done? I was unsure how you'd react, so I stayed on the safe side."
Sakura got angrier looking at her mentor's composed position. "How did you get him?" She was, in all honesty, completely perplexed on how they had come to detain Sasuke.
"He was found near a small town within the Land of Fire and when he was approached, he didn't put up a fight. However, Sasuke was alone. They didn't find his other teammates there, but it doesn't matter, Sasuke was top priority. "
This took Sakura somewhat by surprise. Sasuke didn't put up a fight? Was it because he knew he couldn't win? Did he have a low amount of Chakra? Could it be that he wanted to come back? It could be a possibility. After the Allied Shinobi Forces were victorious, he just disappeared, leaving behind no traces. Maybe he came to his senses. All these questions lingered in Sakura's mind before Tsunade's voice brought her back to reality.
"There is nothing left for me to tell you," Tsunade said. "You're dismissed."
"How long will he be held for?" Sakura questioned not yet moving.
"It's undetermined. It could be a week, a month, a year, a decade, or life. It really all depends on his behavior because we haven't had trouble with him for the past six years, and plus, he assisted us in winning the war." Tsunade's expression softened. "Sakura, I'm trying my best to make Sasuke's punishment as light as possible, but the village elders are constantly persisting me in to executing him." Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "I'm doing all I can," she finished.
"I understand," Sakura said. She gave a slight bow and left the room. She now felt guilty from not seeing the situation from Tsunade's standpoint. She was, in fact, doing the best she can, trying her hardest to stand opposed to the elders' decision.
Sakura walked outside and she stared blankly in front of her.
Sasuke was back.
It still hadn't sunk. Whether she should be happy, angry, sad, or annoyed, she didn't know. Sakura wondered if any others knew about his return other than her. Her mind wandered to Naruto and pondered over how he would take this news. She was ripped from her thoughts by a familiar voice calling her name.
"Sakura!" She saw Ino walking toward her briskly.
Sakura walked in her direction and met her halfway. Ino immediately pulled her into an embrace.
"How was your mission?" She said releasing her hug.
"It was fine. Nothing special. Were you going to see Tsunade?"
"No, not really. I was actually on my way to Shikamaru's, but then, I saw you."
This came as no surprise to Sakura. Ino and Shikamaru had been dating for years now. She still couldn't help but wonder what a person like Ino saw in Shikamaru. He was a genius, obviously. He could do wonders in the battlefield, and this held true during the recent world war. But, she doubted this was the main reason why Ino liked him. Sakura believed it was his carefree demeanor.
"Walk with me?" Ino asked.
"Okay." Sakura agreed as she and Ino started their stroll to the Shikamaru's house.
Children were frolicking in the streets, laughing and giggling. Sakura observed them playing things from hopscotch to tag. One of the kids that was engaged in a heated game with his friends, accidentally bumped into Sakura.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Sakura!" The child said apologetically as Sakura turned to face him.
"Oh, its no problem," Sakura responded with a light smile, sinking down to his level and giving the child a light pat on the head. The child beamed a smile at her and and ran back to go play with his friends. After she stood back up she felt a soft nudge at her side. She turned to face Ino.
"You're so good with kids, Sakura. I envy you," Ino praised as they began walking down the road again. Ino constantly told her this. Sakura could only guess the reason of children's fondness with her. Maybe it was all the time she used to spend at the hospital, having to associate with them at times.
"Maybe if things go smooth with Shikamaru's, you two could have your own kids," Sakura suggested playfully with an eyebrow raised and giving a sly smirk.
Ino could only laugh at Sakura's expression, causing Sakura let out a soft laugh as well. Ino always had this effect on Sakura. Someone that could always make her smile and laugh no matter what mood she was in. She loved Ino for that.
However, after their laughter receded, her mind wandered to Sasuke. She wondered wondered if Ino knew about his return. She probably didn't.
"Ino," Sakura began turning her head to Ino.
"Yeah?"
"Sasuke's back." There was a wave a silence that hit after that. Sakura looked at Ino and saw her face of pure shock.
"Oh," was all she could muster.
"He's being held prisoner," Sakura continued.
"How—I mean...why did he come back?" Ino asked utterly confused.
"I'm not completely sure. Though, Tsunade said that he was captured outside a small town, without a fight."
"So, he came back willingly?"
"Maybe." Sakura mused aloud. If Sasuke came back willingly that would mean he might want to stay and things could go back to the way they were before.
No.
Things would never go back to the way before. Too much happened in the years he was absent.
The two of them turned a few corners and eventually arrived at the doorstep of Shikamaru's apartment. Before Ino could knock on the door, Sakura tapped her on the shoulder causing Ino to turn around.
"I'll be taking my leave, Ino. Have fun," Sakura said as she hugged her best friend.
Sakura walked away before giving one last wave to her Ino and continued on her way. She reached the place where Team 7 became an actual team: the Third Training Ground. After walking into the clearance, she was mesmerized by the beauty of this day. The leaves on the trees were rustling in the light wind while the water softly lapped the shore of the pond. She walked over to one of the wooden posts and sat down, leaning on it. Hearing the sound of feet approach her, she turned her head to face the blonde ninja.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouted running up to her.
Sakura turned to face him and searched for his dark-haired partner.
"Where's Hinata?" Sakura asked.
"She had business to take care of with her dad," Naruto answered as he went to sit next to Sakura.
"Did she specify?"
"No, not really," Naruto said closing his eyes. He took in a deep breath and opened his eyes, wearing a cheeky grin.
"What?" Sakura asked.
"What do you plan on doing today?" He questioned, still wearing his smile.
"I don't know. I really don't have anything planned at the moment," Sakura replied. Naruto's face brightened.
"We should spar!" He exclaimed, enthusiastically.
"I'm not really in the mood for a spar," Sakura stated.
"Aww, but Sakura," Naruto complained, placing his hands behind his head.
"Sorry, Naruto. I would rather not do anything today. I have a lot on my mind," She said. This was true. No doubt about it. But Sakura knew he would press the subject however. So she waited for Naruto's reply.
"Like?" he persisted. And there it was.
Should she tell him? Of course, she should. He had a right to know, and in all truth, Naruto was probably going to figure out anyway. So, she sighed. "Sasuke's back, Naruto."
She couldn't exactly place the emotion that displayed on Naruto's face. Confusion? Joy? Sorrow? It was hard to tell, but she knew shock was one of them.
"Is this a joke?" He asked. There was anger in his voice, which Sakura didn't expect.
"No," Sakura replied. "I wouldn't joke about that," She said sincerely, turning her head to face Naruto.
Naruto pushed himself the ground. Sakura, knowing where he was about to go, copied his movements and followed Naruto as he started to run and jump through the trees at a blinding pace. In less than a minute with Naruto's blinding speed, Sakura eventually found herself observing a heated discussion between Naruto and Tsunade.
"Is it true? That Sasuke's back?" Naruto shouted. He sounded a lot like her when she was first revealed with the discovery, except angrier, of course.
"Yes, Naruto. He's back," Tsunade calmly responded.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Naruto asked getting more furious by the second.
"Because, I didn't know how you would react?" It was the same thing Tsunade said to Sakura just earlier that day. "Even so, I knew you were eventually going to find out. You could say I wanted to have as much peace and quiet as possible," she said rubbing her temples, probably from the growing headache.
Sakura watched her friend and mentor continue to argue back and forth with one another. Her eyes drifted over to Shizune standing next to Tsunade's desk. Shizune scratched her head and gave her a smile that said something like: I not to sure what to do. How about you?. Sakura, however, knew exactly what to do. She walked over to the blonde ninja and hit him in the back of the head with her fist.
"Ow!" Naruto started to rub his head with one of his hands.
"Get over it, Naruto," Sakura said, annoyed.
"So, Sasuke's back after all, huh?"
The four of them turned their attention to the man that was now perched on Tsunade's open window sill, reading his book as if nothing in the world mattered at the moment.
"Kakashi, when did you get there?" Naruto asked, still massaging his head.
"About a minute ago." Kakashi said as he placed his book in his pouch and climbed out of the window onto the floor. He leaned his lower half on Tsunade's desk, and Sakura saw the scowl that appeared on Tsunade's face and couldn't help but giggle under breath.
"But yes," Tsunade spoke, reverting the conversation back to the main topic. "He is being held in the interrogation center."
"What? Why?" Naruto asked with all his loudness returning.
"Because, Naruto, he is an S-rank missing nin," Tsunade responded in a matter-of-fact fashion.
"When is he being released?" Naruto questioned.
"Like I told Sakura earlier, it all depends on his behavior." Tsunade said resting back in her chair.
Naruto swiftly turned around and abruptly marched out of Tsunade's office. Tsunade looked at Kakashi. He let out a sigh, knowing exactly what that look meant.
"I'm sure he'll cool down, but I'll still go talk to him," Kakashi said. He opened the door and followed after Naruto. About a second went by and another person walked through the door and bowed to Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade," the man started. "Ibiki requires the assistance of a medic."
Tsunade turned toward Sakura.
"Understood," Sakura mumbled. Sakura followed the man out of Tsunade's office and on to the streets of Konoha. Sakura followed him back to the Interrogation Headquarters where she was sure Ibiki would be waiting for her. She knocked on the door, and after being let in by Ibiki, the man that brought her slightly bowed to him and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Ibiki didn't falter in his step, however, and she was once again ushered into the putrid, dimly-lit passage. She and Ibiki made their way to the door to Sasuke's interrogation chamber, and Ibiki walked inside, being followed by Sakura. The two people surrounding Sasuke set their tools down and backed away from raven-haired man.
Sasuke was strapped by the ankles and wrists, on the stone slab located near the middle of the room only in his shorts. She could see the sweat and fresh cuts shining on him and the bruises splayed across his body; his chest rose and fell, trying to take in needed air. He looked exhausted.
He turned his head toward her.
"Here to heal me, so they can torture me some more?" He wryly asked.
The first thing he said to her in years.
Sakura didn't respond, though. She slowly approached Sasuke and focused the chakra to her hands until they glowed with a faint green color. She hovered her hands over Sasuke's body and slowly closed up the wounds and clearing the bruises from his torso with not even a scar. She could see Sasuke's breathing return to normal and after the job was finished, she backed up and turned to Ibiki.
"Why are you torturing him?" She asked dully.
"We want answers," Ibiki replied walking over to Sasuke. "Sasuke," he started. "Why did you come back to Konoha? If you refuse to answer, then we will be forced to torture you until you do."
No answer.
Ibiki let out a heavy sigh and continued, "Sasuke, what would you say, if I tortured Ms. Haruno in your place?" Sasuke looked at Sakura and scoffed.
"I'd call you crazy," was his answer.
Ibiki seemed to think greatly over this response and rested his bottom on the stone slab where Sasuke was laying. Ibiki looked at Sakura, who was rooted to the spot, and let out an excess of air. "What was your reason for being within Konoha's jurisdiction?" Ibiki asked, turning to face him.
Still no answer.
"Would I be safe to assume that coming here was on your own free will," Ibiki added.
He answered this time. " You'd be right. My brother's wish was for me to start over and go back to Konoha," Sasuke said impassively.
"So, an obligation, huh?" Ibiki said to himself. "Makes sense." Ibiki motioned for the two men standing on the other side of Sasuke to remove the straps around his wrists and ankles. After completing that small task, Ibiki dismissed the two men. Sasuke sat up and instinctively rubbed wrists. He let his feet make contact with the concrete floor, and he focused at Sakura. She didn't move but only stared back at Sasuke, wondering what was going on his head.
Ibiki got up and grabbed Sasuke's arm forcing him to his feet and pushed him back in the cell. Sasuke took his shirt that was on his cot and slipped it on.
"Sakura, let's go," Ibiki said walking around Sakura and out the door.
Sakura looked at Sasuke's form and then walked out the room.
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Things are still developing and the story will start to progress in about another chapter or two.
Tell me what you think in the beautiful section called reviews.