Disclaimer: i do not own Naruto are any of its characters, just the plot. And the OC's.
Title: Bearing an Hourglass
Author:fourthfireshadow
Language:English Form:Multi-Chaptered Genre:Romance/Adventue Rating:T Warning:swearing and lemons(later chapters)
Pairing: Sakura Haruno/Sasuke Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki/Minato Namikaze
Summary: What would you do if you found out you are one of the only two people exclusively chosen to trade your existing time line for another one to fix past mistakes, so that the entire fate of the ninja word effectively lies on your shoulders in just a single minute? That's what Sakura and Sasuke have to figure out.
Dedicated to: the VOTE, ruby2360 , Silvanon of the Orchard, Hektols, Guest, Darth Lelouch, Reignashii , the-clumsy-one , Maelynae, .Didi , sasusaku212 , sakurafan, inu pink15, Jelly-Me, Unknown, FunkyFunkyStyle, Analelle ,LiveInColor15 ,miss147peach12 ,Nyght elf ,Mystery Day Dreamer, StarKiss666 , Lucia Tsukiyomi-hime, Xoxo, Guest, dancingxxstar120, samuraisword1289, xxsakuratreexx, littlepocky , sereneskydragonslayer—for all your wonderful, awesome, fantastical reviews!
Note—this is an extra long chapter for, obviously being the last chapter going to be posted in 2013. The next one'll be in 2014! Still a bit surreal to think about for me! But anyway, the poll is closed. Thank you for everone who voted, i'm truly grateful and the result is in this chapter, so enjoy!
And also, Merry belated Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
Bearing an Hourglass
by fourthfireshadow
Chapter 5-A Timeline change
The curriculum of the academy was certainly more vigorous than what's used in the future, that was for sure. These sort of algebraic equations and socio-political situations were only taught in her last year, if Sakura recalled correctly. That too, right at the end. And here, these mind numbing problems and solutions were being taught to a bunch of nine year olds. Even those dreaded Kunoichi classes had started up in the academy's second year, as opposed to the fourth year, as in the future.
If she really thought about it, Sakura knew why this was being done—teaching so much portion in such less time—even if she didn't support it. Everyone knew war was looming; there was no hiding the solemn air that had passed over the village in the last few months. While it wasn't at a level to warrant any emergency alarm of any kind, it did bring the situation at hand to everyone's forefront thoughts. Even children as young as her age—while not fully aware, were perceptive to pick up on the moods and the atmosphere around them; they were training to be shinobi after all.
It was the plan of the superiors of the village, she was sure, to finish off the education of the ninja-in-training as soon as possible so that the village would acquire the maximum number of academy graduated shinobi and kunioichi's as soon as possible to be moulded for war; perfect weapons to defend the village. The younger the graduated shinobi, the more they could be moulded to fit their warped sense of perfect shinobi.
Maybe Mito-sama's rants on this topic had gotten to her. Turned out, she'd never liked Homura and Koharu either; said they'd be the bane of all the Hokage's to come—Mito could never know how utterly true that statement was. This had made Sakura wonder how those two had survived for that long if everyone around them never really liked them at all?
Still, however loony the crazy old lady had sounded when making those awfully long rants, Sakura couldn't deny those speeches had hidden wisps of truth in them. It seemed all the teachers were practically dumping six years worth of knowledge on the nine year olds and sending them off on their merry way to the path of a shinobi, unaware of how dangerous and different it would be.
Sakura's original academy graduation had taken place when she was twelve. Her academy graduation in this timeline was taking place when she was nine. Practically ten, seeing that she'd turn ten in a month and seven days.
That is to say, the test was today.
That was why the redhead next to her was probably either going to explode from nervousness or fly off from her seat in impatience. Many of the students in her own batch had already been demoted or detained as they hadn't passed the test. She knew this would happen, seeing as most of the students were so young—not all of them could be geniuses or prodigies or have hidden power. Also, there were already kids who were of older ages in her own classes. This way, only the best of the best would graduate to genin status.
The glinting metallic plate with Konoha's symbol inscribed attached to the standard navy blue band sitting proudly on Sakura's pink head, practically taunting Kushina probably didn't help either. She could feel Kushina's glower on her hitai-ate and smiled with her eyes closed and touched the cool metal, "Staring at my hitai-ate like that is not gonna help, you know."
"Can I at least touch it?" Kushina asked, pouting.
"Hmm...No," Sakura smirked at Kushina's sudden crestfallen face, "you'll get your own anyway in a few minutes."
"Can you at least tell me the criteria?! Don't be so mean, Sakura-chan! We're sisters! Sisters help sisters, ttebane!" Kushina said, her eyebrows furrowing in petty anger and annoyance, her arms crossing.
"But where's the fun in that? It's the surprise that's the best." Sakura smiled impishly.
"B-but what if it's something really really hard for me, like, like fighting a dragon o-or killing sensei?! Is that what it is?! Did you kill someone? I really hate being one of the last people to be called. I mean, even Minato and grumpy got theirs." Kushina's voice decibel rose higher and higher before looking intently at the pinkette and sulking.
Sakura let out a surprised laugh at that, "Fight a dragon? And kill? Seriously?" she asked, raised a sceptic eyebrow and looking at the redhead concernedly, "...are you becoming more stupid? I though I put a stop to that." She muttered under her breath.
"I'm standing right here, y'know. I'm just trying to show you how annoying it is not to know! And if I have to exaggerate, then i wil—"
"Kushina Uzumaki, you're up next!"
Kushina made a noise at the back of her throat—like a rat squeak—head turning to Sakura with a nervous expression on her face. Sakura wanted to laugh but somehow kept it in, instead showing her a thumbs up, "Good luck!"
She shook her head at the tenseness the redhead's shoulders before cupping her mouth with both hands and shouting out, "Remember! Use Kage Bunshin of you can't form the basic ones! Don't mess up! If you do, no ramen for a whole week!"
But she wasn't worried, at all. If her determination and persistence is anything like that of her future son's—which it obviously is, since that's where he got it from—she's not going to leave that exam room without a forehead protector in her hands, even if she has to resort to kicking and screaming.
She'll be fine.
.
.
.
The week after graduation seemed like summer had come early. Kids of all ages released from the academy were free to roam the streets and childish laughter and shouts of fun were heard throughout the village as the sun shone down from the clear, crisp sky on Konoha, illuminating every hidden nook and cranny of the village with light.
If he was any other boy, he would've smiled at the warmth he felt on his face and the pleasant noises all around him. But he was Sasuke Uchiha, and he never smiled randomly on the streets like some common happy-go-lucky people. No, a smile would only appear outwards if the reason was significant. For now, the smiling could be done internally, he mused.
But then, he felt his lips twitch and one side turning up involuntarily at the sound of girlish laughter from his side. Sayu always did that to him, he recalled, making him smile even the slightest whenever she laughed or did something cute or just came into a room. Sasuke didn't know if having such strong affections for a girl he found out was his imouto only two to three years ago was healthy or not. He just knew that this girl was one of his most precious people now, and anyone would die before thinking of harming a single hair on her head.
He wondered if he channelled his own sibling relationship and neglect and took extra time not to do the same to Sayu. He paused, then shrugged. Sasuke already knew he had a lot of unresolved anger issues from his childhood.
Sasuke swung his arm holding her small one high, making her propel forward and squeal delightedly. It was so easy to make her happy, he thought softly. Their house was currently empty, seeing as their mother had gone to run some errands and their father had to go attend some meeting with the Uchiha Council.
While their family may not be on the top tier of the Uchiha hierarchy, it was made compulsory that all Uchiha heads of every household in the compound was to attend most of the Council meetings, save for a few highly sensitive ones only a select few people are allowed to go to. These meetings were a monthly, or sometimes on a weekly basis. Otou-san's always dreaded them, saying they were a waste of energy and time, which never failed to amuse Sasuke.
He marvelled on how the meeting between him and his original father, Uchiha Fugaku would've gone about, remembering how strict and prideful he was about those meetings. It was times like these Sasuke appreciated having a father so laidback. While it was new, it was refreshing not having to follow any rules and traditions he'd previously, childishly thought were part of every Uchiha's upbringing.
They finally reached the flat where Minato lived. He had agreed to keep Sasuke company babysitting Sayu. Going to his apartment, he rang the doorbell twice. After only a few seconds, the sound of faint rustling and footsteps could be heard before the cheap plastic door opened and a middle-aged woman peered out. When she saw the guests, she smiled warmly before beckoning them inside.
"Ohayo Sasuke-kun, Sayu-chan." The woman greeted with a smile. She had light blonde hair that was unruly and went past her shoulders and large dark blue eyes. Anyone who looked at her would instantly know she's Minato's mother. It was clear where Minato had gotten his looks from.
"Ohayo Akira-san. Sorry for dropping in on you like this but I came to pick Minato up." Sasuke said, nodding his head respectfully and removed his shoes before entering, making sure Sayu did the same.
"No need to apologize for that, Sasuke-kun!" she laughed, moving to the kitchen and out of sight, "you're always so formal with me. There's no need for that either."
Sasuke shrugged, but didn't say anything; he couldn't help how he was formal he was with elders. It was how he was brought up. His eyes narrowed playfully when Sayu giggled.
"What? You think I'm formal too?" Sasuke asked, a smirk on his lips.
Sayu snickered, "Well..."
"See? Sayu-chan agrees with me," Akira said with a smile before placing a tin in front of them on the table, "help yourself, sweetie. It's cookies."
Sayu's eyes lightened as she hurriedly grabbed the metal tin and tore off the lid. She was about to grab the cookies inside when she felt a painful poke on her forehead. Blinking rapidly as she rubbed her forehead, she pouted at her brother before looking at Akira sheepishly, "...Arigatou Gozaimasu, Akira-san!"
The lady grinned in response, motioning to the tin in a go-ahead motion. While she may be a kid, Sayu knew all the motions for permission granted and permission denied; that was definitely permission granted. So, with a look with her tongue poked out to her older brother, she happily dug in to the contents of the tin.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the sign of rebellion. She was going to be a tough one to look after once she gets older, of that he was sure of.
"Oh—hey! Sorry I'm a bit late, I kinda slept in." Minato offered as explanation, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, making the blond mess even more unruly.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Let's just go." He said, standing up and raising an eyebrow at the stash of chocolate chip cookies in his imouto's hands. She just shrugged back cutely, her grin all chocolaty. He sighed; he wasn't even going to bother.
"Okaa-san! I'm leaving. I'll be back in an hour or two!" Minato called out, grabbing his favourite hoodie from the coat rack and shrugging it on, before pulling open the door, Sasuke and Sayu following.
.
.
.
"So, who do you think your team mates'll be?"
Both boys were sitting on the grass in the Konoha playground; the blond haired boy was lying on his back with his hands behind his head, his eyes as blue as the sky he was staring at. He was picture of relaxation, of a boy without a care in the world, all light.
The boy sitting next to him was upright, keeping an eye on his sister who was laughing and running around with other toddlers her age. When Minato broke the silence, Sasuke's eyes glanced to the blond for a second before shrugging lightly.
"Can't say. They balance the teams—the strong with the weak." He said, matter-of-fact.
"I think that's a wrong way to look at it," Minato argued lightly, his brows furrowing, "I think we should look at it like the advanced helping the less-advanced." He said as his eyes turned thoughtful, "but everyone'll be thinking about it. Who their teammates are gonna be."
Sasuke snorted. "Don't turn philosophical on me so early, Minato." But he couldn't deny he was also wondering who his teammates would be—the people he'd learn to trust to watch his back in this timeline. However, he also knew not to expect anyone. That he learnt from his first team reveal—he would've never thought he'd be paired with Naruto and Sakura at all. Even if it all turned out for the better, in the end. Or the beginning, since the end wasn't something he particularly wanted to think about.
"Just, don't expect anyone. That way, you won't be too surprised or too disappointed."
"I guess...but it'd be nice to have at least one familiar face in the team. or you, Kushina or Sakura. It'd make things easier, I guess." Minato said half-heartedly, rolling to his front to look at Sasuke.
"What would make things easier?" Sasuke asked after a beat, looking curiously at the blond. Minato sighed and rolled to his back again, staring up at the endless blue sky, thinking of an appropriate answer. A hawk was soaring the sky, its majestic presence attracting attention right away. An almost wistful smile touched his lips.
"...to face the real world."
.
.
.
"Let me start by saying Congratulations on becoming genin of Konoha, Sakura, Kushina," Mito said with a small proud smile on her face as she gazed at both her apprentices with fondness apparent in her eyes, "now you are truly ninja of Konohagakure. There is no higher honour than to protect and cherish your village, even if this village is your adopted home. I hope you both know that."
Sakura nodded respectfully from her place with a small smile with just a hint of satisfaction on the other side of the coffee table while Kushina grinned smugly, "Of course we know that, baa-chan! And there wasn't even a doubt we'll pass, you know that!"
Mito's eyebrow ticked, "be more respectful, gaki!" she cleared her throat before taking a sip of her chamomile tea. Sakura could never get over how graceful and regal this woman was. She even held her tea cup with her pinky held out and everything. However, she soon grew wary of the frown on her face and the seriousness she was channelizing through her time-weary grey eyes.
"As I was saying," Mito continued, "There is a matter of importance i have to discuss with hte both of you. It is not common knowledge, what i am about to depart, and it is not knowledge normal nine year olds should know about, but unfortunately, in your case it's different." She sighed, the regret plain in that one forceful exhale.
"I first have to ask you both something; Are you aware what a bijuu is?" she asked, her hardened eyes boring into both of theirs.
A confused frown took its place on Kushina's face before it transformed into an annoyed one, though she didn't notice the sudden stiffness in her sister.
"Oh, baa-chan, are you gonna talk history again? Cuz' we just passed an' we don't wanna be—"
"Just answer the question!" Mito snapped, eyes flashing before closing her eyes tightly and pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. Kushina immediately silenced, her a gaze a bit fearful; Mito had never snapped at any one of them like that before—shouted, yelled, screamed maybe but never snapped. Usually she had a perilous control over her temper, however, now even Kushina realized something was seriously bothering the lady she had come to regard as her family—almost like an annoying nagging grandmother.
"N-no, I haven't."
Sakura kept quiet, not trusting her voice one bit not to betray her thoughts. She kept her face as impassive as possible, trying to meet Mito's eyes and not flinch away from her curious stare. She did not want to lie; however she did not want to impart the truth either. It was true— No normal nine year old would know about a bijuu in this time; it would just bring about fuss she did not want to deal with right now.
Nevertheless, she felt the icy tendrils of dread trail over her spine at the realization setting in like the weight of the whole world. She could connect the dots now, she knew where this was going to go. Though right then, when she threw a furtive glance in the redhead's direction and saw the blind trust and faith and life in those oceanic eyes, all Sakura could think was not now; not so soon.
Mito exhaled loudly," I thought as much," she set the delicate cup on the table between them as she began her tale, "Bijuu...are titanic behemoths that are differentiated by the number of tails they have in our world. These tails range from one to nine. These beasts are living forms of chakra. They are demonic monsters that possess vast chakra, immense physical might and unbelievable destructive power.
Jinchuuriki, on the other hand, are the humans in which these beasts of charka are sealed."
Sakura could feel the uncomfortable lump lodge in her throat as she bit her lip. While she knew this was how Bijuu were commonly perceived, it was hard for to think so negatively about the entity since the nine tailed fox was undeniably a massive help to their side during the war. In fact, she would go so far as to say that without the fox's power, their side would've lost in the first few hours.
"Uzushiogakure are well known all around the world for many things, but there are three things that stand out from the rest; the main thing is their fuuinjutsu, the second being their longevity. The third..."
Kushina leaned forward, not knowing how such terrible beasts was connected to her destructed old home, but eager to find out, "...and the third?"
"Not many people are aware, as this was not common knowledge," Mito began, her voice uncharacteristically soft as she gazed at them, "but as they were skilled in Sealing techniques, one of them took it upon herself to seal one of the demons within them. And not just any of the Bijuu, but the kyuubi itself."
Kushina gasped while Sakura felt her hands clenching on their own, "What?! Who?"
Mito's gaze was even as she answered. "Me."
Kushina's eyes widened as she fought to process what she said, however she found that, frustratingly, her brain was slow on that task as she couldn't seem to stop looking at Mito with wide eyes, uncomprehending the fact that a beast was currently sealed inside of the seemingly frail looking woman, the woman who was her mentor, the only other person connecting her to Uzu. "Y-you're—"
"Yes. I am the current jinchuuriki for the kyuubi." Mito stated with her eyes closed, and it felt like the statement echoed in the now silent room. When her eyes flickered open, they fell on the pinkette who remained quiet the whole time she had been talking. The girl's face was impressively kept impassive, but Mito had spent her whole lifetime with shinobi who tried to suppress their emotions, most much more experienced than this tiny slip of a girl, so she knew exactly where to look. The slight tenseness in her jaw, the tightening at the corner of her eyes and the pursed lips were dead giveaways to the emotions the girl was feeling.
Interestingly, she did not portray shock nor surprise, but more of dread...
"Why…why are you telling us all this?" Sakura finally said in a hushed tone, her eyes raised yet not quite meeting Mito's own.
"...I'm getting old, my body's weakening, " Mito rasped with a rueful, bitter smile, looking down at her withered hands and rubbed them gently, "in a short span of time, I will not be a suitable host for the kyuubi anymore. My time is almost up…"
Sakura felt her eyes narrow while Kushina's widened. Of course both of them could see how worn and weary Mito was, especially recently. While Sakura was aware that she would not be able to remain for much longer, Kushina loved to believe in denial. This woman was family, the only blood relative left of hers save for her sister. She was like a safety blanket for her, a person she could come to when she came home. And now these words…
"People with Uzumaki blood in them are generally more suited to become a jinchuuriki, seeing as they have a special sort of chakra that will allow them to subdue the beast more easily. This makes them—"
"I'm sorry, but are you…asking one of us to become the…next jinchuuriki?" Sakura asked through gritted teeth, her bangs covering her eyes, her fists clenched tightly enough to break skin.
She didn't even know why she was so angry, so furious that her vision was going red. Sakura knew this was what it was leading up to, she knew this was why they were called up here from when Mito started her explanation on bijuu's, she had known Kushina was the previous jinchuuriki, she knew they both had Uzumaki blood in them now, she knew…
And yet…
"…I am deeply regretful…but yes."
...she was still comprehending it.
There was only silence as both the Uzumaki siblings repeated the affirmation in their minds. Kushina's heart stopped, her face frighteningly draining of all colour. This was something she could've never expected in all her life. Some of it still didn't even make sense to her. She had come here, expecting to be congragulated on making genin, and now...Kyuubi, bijuu, jinchuuriki, sealed inside—these were all components of a horror story. She knew though, that her life would forever be changed from this point.
"And which one of us…is supposed to be the next jinchuuriki…?"
Somehow, above all the white noise and the bussing that was filling her head, tuning out the mental upheaval that was surely about to happen soon, Kushina somehow found the unemotional, cold voice of her normally pacifistic twin sister to be more frightening than everything else. In that moment, it was all becoming real to Kushina. Terrifyingly real.
She could feel her heart trying to claw its way out her chest, she could feel the single bead of perspiration running down the side of her face, making red strands cling to her face. She could feel the sting behind her eyes and the lump lodged in her throat. She could feel her eyes widening slowly as her hands clenched the fabric of her top. She was only feeling now…nothing else. Mito's eyes clearly showcased the regret and the guilt.
Kushina knew whatever would slip past Mito's lips, would alter her life in some way or another.
.
.
.
She was running.
She didn't care that she was bumping into some people along the way, seeing as she was running so recklessly, not at all like how she usually does. But right now, all Sakura wanted to do was get away. However running did not stop her mind from replaying what had just transpired.
It was her.
It was her.
She was chosen to be the next jinchuuriki by Mito. She was the one chosen to be the jailer of the Kyuubi no yoko, the vessel of the nine-tailed fox. Her. Sakura had found the idea utterly laughable, but the laughter wasn't humour filled, no, it was full of bitterness. She was sure she sounded insane, with the lunacy lining her laughter. Sakura didn't even want to think about how much that scarred Kushina, who was already hysterical.
Aside from that and staring at the calm first lady with wide eyes, she did not have anything to say. She couldn't seem to push any words out form her lips, even though she was screaming words in her mind.
So she fled, like the coward she was starting to believe she was.
Sakura didn't register the harsh winds stinging her face, or the pressure building up behind her eyes, turning them glassy and making her vision hazy and blurry. In fact, she took relief in the fact that she was feeling something, and not shutting away her emotions like what real cowards do. With a bitter smile, she realized belatedly that was what Sasuke always did; hide behind a façade and shut away emotions. Should she be glad she wasn't turning into him? But then again, he always tried to face his problems head first most of the time, even if his thinking process was royally screwed up then. So, did that make her worse then? To run away?
Her eyes widened when she felt arms restraining her from running any further, hands gripping her shoulders tightly, bordering on painful. Sakura didn't think and only reacted when she broke the hold with slight difficulty and flipped the person over in a practised move. The person did not react with surprise and instead landed with a grace only a ninja could possess.
Taking in laboured breaths from her impromptu run, her eyes narrowed to look at her attacker before they widened and she fought the urge to laugh wryly at the irony. Sasuke stood in front of her with a calm face only he could master. He was giving her a look that simply demanded her to explain what the problem was, though the look was slightly dull in the intimidation due to his small age.
Hazily, she took notice of the slight furrow in his eyebrows and the glint in his dark eyes. Concern.
That in itself was enough for her to snap through her haze, but not enough to break her hold on the anger simmering inside her. What right did he have to interrupt her like that, like she owed him some explanation or the other? She owed him nothing.
Dimly, she was glad of the anger his presence was bringing forth. It distracted her from the confusion and the warring emotions clashing inside her. However, she also felt another emotion coming up at his presence—relief. The relief was like a cooling balm to her anger. She literally couldn't make up her mind if she was happy to see this boy or not.
However, she knew that if there was one person who'd know what she was talking about, it'd be him. He was the person who she'd known all her life, through good and bad, light and evil. Maybe telling him would help her prioritize. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to quell the tears threatening to escape.
But then again, he never tells her anything, never told her anything; why should she tell him anything? She was all for equality and she hated double standards. There was still a thick invisible barrier between them both, one they hadn't overcome yet, and knew they wouldn't overcome unless someone took the first step to do so. So she kept quiet, knowing it was stubborn move on her part but unable to do anything else.
When Sasuke raised an impatient eyebrow, Sakura snapped, "What?"
"Why were you running?"
"None of your business." Sakura curtly replied back, looking somewhere else and evading his searching eyes.
"Of course it's my business. Anything that affects you…will automatically be, which is annoying…but true." Sasuke said, his eyebrows furrowing even more, as if he couldn't understand why she wasn't understanding.
"Why? We never tell each other anything, never have, never will—"
"It's different now." He interrupted coolly, ignoring her perturbed expression.
"...Why? Why is it different, Sasuke?"
"Because we're…" Sasuke said, hesitating and finished lamely, "…partners in this situation."
"That never affected your decision before when we were teammates," Sakura said cruelly, "you know, when you tried to kill me." Immediately after the words slipped out of her mouth, she regretted saying them, but she couldn't take them back. And however painful it was to admit, she knew these thoughts had been truly festering in her mind for a long time now. But still, he didn't deserve the things in the past to be thrown back in his face, not now.
Sasuke's eyes widened minutely at that and took a step back as if he was physically struck. But then, anger sprouted from within as he glared darkly at the rosette and his lips formed an acidic scowl, "I thought we'd moved past that, but obviously not. It's so like you to live in the past, Sakura."
Sakura let out a humourless laugh at his words, "Me? Living in the past?! Spoken like a true hypocrite, Sasuke! After all, it's not like you've never replayed your past again and again until you let it rule over your life; but wait!" she widened her eyes mockingly and held her hands to her cheeks, "You did!"
"I'm not the only hypocrite in this clearing right now," Sasuke snarled, "seeing as you've also tried to kill me. Actually, you were the one who tried to kill me first. So don't go preaching about how I'm the one who tried to kill you first when it was you who had a kunai to my back."
"Why are you only remembering that one time?! If we're going to reminisce about our bloody past, then why not start from the very first thing you screwed up? But then we'd have to go way back, won't we? Right from the moment your mind set on revenge." Sakura said, her lips set on a fierce frown and her fist clenched tightly.
"Those are pretty harsh words coming from the girl who was ready to abandon her friends, family and everything she ever knew for a boy who had his mind set for revenge, as you eloquently put it." He sneered, a hint of red now apparent behind his dark eyes. He was getting furious, and anger was not something he wanted to deal with—he didn't know if he's be able to control himself.
"At least I had good intentions behind it. And I wasn't the one who killed anyone and everyone in my way," Sakura yelled, though Sasuke detected the slight tremble in her voice, "I only wanted to stop you from becoming more of a monster than you already were!"
"That doesn't justify anything, Sa-ku-ra," he taunted, a cruel smirk on his face though his eyes gave away his anger and some other emotion she couldn't place, "you are just as bad, if not worse. At least I had no real ties to the village, except for maybe team seven, but you were ready to leave everything behind. And for who? For the boy you tried to kill years later. Tried, but couldn't," he paused, before a sinister look passed over his dark features—making Sakura painfully remember the Sasuke in the land of Iron, the one that was slowly but surely going insane— "because you were weak. And you will always remain weak."
"Shut up! I am not weak! I don't deserve that, least of all from you!" Sakura finally snapped, her eyes radiating pain, "The only reason I tried was because...I couldn't bear to watch you become more of a murderer than you already were!...because I loved you then! I couldn't…bear to watch…you and…Naruto…" she couldn't continue anymore when the tears she had been trying to suppress for so long eventually burst forth and a sob broke free, wracking her body. She sat down on the grassy grounds, her hands fisting the grass in both hands as droplets of tears ran down the bridge of her nose and splattered on the ground.
He was…so so cruel, knowing just what to say to make her break. She had always regretted her decision to kill Sasuke. It was a rash and impulsive decision on her part, so unlike her, but knowing how much pain it was putting on Naruto and on her, she had decided to take matters on to her own hands. But in the end, she couldn't do anything.
She could only hold the kunai in her wildly shaking hand and stare at the large Uchiha symbol, remembering old times and past memories. But he was also to blame, she knew. Because while she could never do it, at that moment, he would've done it easily, without remorse. He could've killed her. And he wouldn't have even cared then.
The dark, blank, unseeing eyes and the maniacal laughter still gives her nightmares.
Though what surprised her, even through the tears, was how much the last bit stung—being called weak by him of all people. It was...
"I'm sorry."
Her eyes widened at the soft apology, thought the tears didn't stop. If the clearing hadn't been so quiet and serene, she was positive she would've missed it. But she did, and she heard the regret and grief and guilt and sincerity in those two softly whispered words. She stiffened when she felt him slowly sitting beside her, close enough to feel his shoulders touching hers. He was also tense, she noted.
She only realised then that he had never, ever apologised to her about the past. Even in all the time they had spent together in this time-line. This was a first.
"I am…sorry…about the way I was. About the way I acted. I am genuinely sorry about trying to kill both you and…Naruto. Though you'd probably think of me a monster when I say that I don't truly…regret anything leading up to that moment," Sasuke said, his eyes staring into space, as if reliving memories, "except maybe leaving, and maybe not taking the time to understand the whole…situation. But then I wouldn't be the person I am today."
"…maybe you would've been happier." Sakura quietly interrupts, her eyes not leaving his face, fascinated at how much he was saying.
Sasuke reply was just as quiet. "…maybe."
It was quiet for a few moments, both of them sitting close and staring seemingly into nothing. It was Sakura who broke the silence, the tears drying on her face, leaving tear tracks visible on her face for the world to see.
"I'm going to be the next jinchuuriki for the kyuubi."
She did not look at him, rather opting for staring straight into nothingness. Though she could feel him stiffening and could sense his deep stare on her. Still, he kept quiet.
"Mito is the current one. I'd already known this, since Naruto had told me before. But I never thought of a situation where I would be chosen to be the next... In the original timeline, Kushina was the next in line to become the jinchuuriki after Mito, but I guess since now I'm here, everything's changed, or starting to…" she explained quietly. She knew the process, the technicalities of this transfer and sealing, but she still felt like she was floating outside her body and listening to herself explain all this so rationally and calmly. It was like an out-of-body experience.
Her eyes snapped shut. "…I don't even know why I'm so shocked, actually. I mean, I knew there was a possibility for this to happen, but having it thrust upon you is a whole different experience…" she whispered into the breeze, not knowing why, "…I wonder if Naruto felt even worse than this when he finally found out the real reason why everyone…" she then paused, before letting out a dry chuckle, "of course, he must've felt infinitely worse, seeing as he never even had a choice in the first place. Kami…"
The first tear dropped. The second one followed, making a shiny trail on her face and her eyes bright. "I should…should be glad it was me…and not Kushina, but I still feel scared. I'm not like Naruto, not at all. I can't make a bijuu become friends with me, it's only something Naruto can accomplish. I should be glad, though, that Kushina's spared…but for some reason...What's wrong with me?"
A few seconds passed by.
"…I can't say anything that'll make this situation better," Sasuke finally said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, " and I'm not sure if there's anything I can say to make you feel better."
His head was tilted up to the sky, his eyes never straying from the heavens. "…But I can promise you that you'll never have to feel like you have to go through this alone, that I'll never give up on you…," he paused for a moment, his dark eyes meeting her light ones fleetingly, "…because you've never given up on me."
"I'd almost given up on you." Sakura pointed out.
"But you didn't." he countered, his lips turning up at one corner briefly, in dark amusement.
A hint of a smile touched her dry lips at that. "No. I didn't."
So, the two time-travellers sat side by side for the first time in their whole lives, content to just be.
"...The Sound base was actually very lonely...I'd always known Orochimaru had been after my body the whole time, but i was simply trying to extract all the possible power I could get before..."
Sakura's lips turned up in a genuine smile as she listened to Sasuke speak about his life. This was the first time he had ever voluntarily given glimpses to the dark journey he went through. And she couldn't help but think he knew exactly what to say to make her feel better and just...forget.
Even if for a few minutes.
.
.
.