GOD. This is so late, and I'm so sorry! So I'm just going to keep this short and just say that I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 3

From what Sakura could see outside her window, it was just past noon, and she already counted the number of tiles on the ceiling six times. She groaned, turning on her side, and faced the wall, the boredom seeming to increase with every passing day. But, she reminded herself bitterly, it was only a matter of time until her boredom ceased—until she ceased. She shook her head. And as Sakura began tracing circles on the wall with her index finger, feeling the roughness of the bricks against her fingertips, her thoughts drifted back to that morning only five months earlier.

Sometimes, when she'd replay what happened, she'd wonder why she didn't just run away with him. Things would have been so much easier—she'd be free; she'd be free, and she'd be with him. But there was no use in wondering about the "what if's." It was too late for that. And despite everything, Sakura had no regrets, satisfied with the mere knowledge that somewhere, Sasuke was safe, was alive.

However, as she continued to think about what was to become of her in the upcoming days, Sakura's heart began to beat faster, her traced circles becoming more frantic, her breathing becoming more labored, almost to the point of hyperventilation. She wanted to slap herself. From the beginning, Sakura already knew what the outcome of her trial would be; she had been prepared for months. She knew that the moment she allowed Sasuke to escape that she would be the one to take his place. And she was okay with that, she really was. But no matter how many times she'd told herself it would be just like falling asleep, her fears always managed to find its way into her mind when she least expected it

She sighed and pulled the covers of her thin blanket over her, wondering what Sasuke was up to at that moment, hoping that the weather was nice wherever he was. She wondered if he already found a place to live permanently, or if he was still searching; either way, it must have been difficult. At least the war was over. His life could be peaceful now. Maybe he would find Team Taka again. She smiled. Even if she was officially out of the running, they could be his new family, the family she knew he needed. Her smile faded. She wondered if Sasuke heard the news. She wondered if he'd mourn her death.

Sakura shut her eyes tightly and curled into a ball, breathing in the hot air trapped under her blanket, letting herself pretend. And once again, she was five; she was invisible, protected by the blanket that transformed into an impenetrable shield. Nothing could see her. Nothing could harm her. Because she wasn't Sakura anymore. Sakura didn't exist. Hidden.

Gone.

"You have a visitor."

Sakura opened her eyes, the clanging of the guard's keys against the metal bars reverberating in her ears, groggy. She was still under her covers; she didn't even realize she fell asleep. Sitting up, she glanced outside her window—it was raining now—and nodded at the guard. Warily, he stuck the key in the lock and entered her cell, taking out something from his back pocket. She rolled her eyes.

"Really?" Sakura said jokingly, holding her arms out to the guard, "We're still doing the handcuffs?"

However, he averted his gaze as he secured the metal handcuffs around her wrists. "I'm sorry, Sakura-san," he said softly, embarrassed. "It's protocol."

She sighed. "Yeah, I know."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, the guard led Sakura to the visitation room in silence. He seemed uncomfortable, stiff, she noticed, more so than usual. He could barely even look at her. But then again, not many people could after she was officially sentenced to death row. Whether it was from shame or embarrassment, she could never tell. But she couldn't blame them.

The guard stopped in front of the room, hesitating to open the door. There was an odd expression on his face, as if he wanted to say something to her. He took a breath and opened his mouth a few times, but there were no words, just sighs. Sakura tilted her head and gave him a small smile, silently urging him to go on. However, the guard shook his head, forgetting the idea entirely, and turned the doorknob, motioning for Sakura to enter.

The room was empty except for two chairs, one of them occupied by Naruto. Sakura smiled and sat in the seat front of him, hearing dull click as the guard locked the door. However, Naruto's face remained expressionless, his eyes going straight to her wrists.

"I hate how you have to wear those things around me," he said.

Sakura glanced at the handcuffs, suddenly having the urge to hide them, feeling self-conscious. "I know, Naruto," she said, forcing a weak smile, "but what can we do?" Using her shoulder to motion towards the door, Sakura rolled her eyes and lifted her hands in an effort to make air quotes. "It's 'protocol.'"

However, her attempt at humor with Naruto worked just as well as it did with the guard; he didn't even crack a smile. Instead, he crossed his arms and stared at the floor, biting the inside of his cheek before saying under his breath, "No, it's stupid. That's what it is." He looked up. "You should hear what some of the villagers are saying, Sakura-chan. I can't take it anymore. It's like they've forgotten who you are. It's like they've forgotten everything you've done for the village. They're treating you like—like you're just some kind of criminal."

Beat.

"Naruto, technically, I am," she said gently, earnestly—because it was true, "A criminal, I mean."

"Don't say that!" Naruto yelled furiously, making Sakura flinch. He stood up from his chair, knocking it over in the process, the sound loud, jarring—reminding Sakura of broken glass and spilled food trays, "Don't you dare fucking say that!"

"Hey, what going on here?" the guard demanded as he peeked his head inside. "Is everything okay?"

Naruto turned him, fists clenched, his aura dangerous. "Oh yeah," he said sarcastically, "Everything's just great. Why wouldn't everything be fucking great? There's nothing like seeing your best friend in handcuffs. Especially when she didn't even do—"

"Naruto, don't," Sakura said warningly, stopping him before he could finish his sentence, knowing what he was about to say. She turned to the guard and showed him her wrists. "Everything's fine. See? They're still on, nothing to worry about. Just ignore us." She gave him a small smile. "And, um, thanks. For being concerned."

Naruto scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

An awkward silence filled the room as the guard glanced at Sakura, as if unsure of what to make of the situation, choosing to ignore the blonde's glare and relock the door. But even with the guard gone Naruto's mood only seemed to worsen. Grabbing a fistful of hair in frustration, he walked to one side of the room as Sakura watched in silence. He took a few deep breaths, his forehead against the wall, as if it could cool the flare in his temper. It didn't.

"God!"

He slammed his fist against the wall. "Madara was a criminal," he said, gritting through his teeth. "Obito was a criminal." He slammed his fist again. And again. And again. He took another breath, flattening his palm against the wall, seemingly calming down. "But you're not, Sakura-chan. You're not, and we both know it. You don't deserve this. You don't—" Naruto's voice cracked, revealing his anger as nothing more than a cover for the incredible sadness he felt. "You can't— " His voice shook as he slid down the wall and onto his knees. "I can't. I can't let you do this."

Immediately, Sakura ran to him and knelt down, trying to hold in the tears. She had to be strong, she told herself. She had to be brave. For Naruto. For Sasuke-kun. Taking one of Naruto's hands in both of hers, Sakura laid her head on his shoulder—the best comfort she could offer him. "Please don't cry, Naruto," she said gently, squeezing his hand. "I'm okay. Really, I am. It's going to be over soon. I'm not afraid."

Naruto wiped his eyes with his other hand and turned to her, scrutinized her, the realization hitting him hard.

She's lying.

He shook his head; he wasn't going to tell her he knew. "But, Sakura-chan, I don't think I can do it. I don't think I can hold it in anymore. I need to tell someone. Please," he begged, feeling Sakura tense, his thumb tracing the cool metal around her wrists. "You don't know what it's like. To know the truth and not be able to say anything, it's not fair. It's just—not fair."

Sakura closed her eyes and sighed. "I know it's not," she said, her heart aching, "but you can't. You need to keep this a secret. Even if the villagers believe you, it won't matter. The elders will find a way to get to you, too. So please, just let me do this."

"But—"

"Naruto, this is all I'm asking for. Just promise me you won't say anything, not yet." She tried to smile, but the corners of her mouth twitched, wanting to frown. And this time, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. "This is the last promise you'll have to make me, I swear."

She had to hold her breath so she wouldn't start sobbing, forcing herself to smile as more tears streamed down her face, her grip tightening around Naruto's hand. However, he gently pulled his hand free and wrapped his arms around her shaking body, rubbing her back as he whispered comforting words into her ear. "Okay, Sakura-chan, I promise," he said quietly, shutting his eyes tightly so he wouldn't start crying again. "A promise of a lifetime."

For the rest of his visit, Naruto and Sakura remained on the floor in silence. And even after their eyes were dry and their tears spent, he continued to hold her in his arms—because after spending five months in a prison cell with limited physical contact, she needed comfort; because soon he'd be the only member of Team Seven left in the village, and he needed comfort. Because. Just because.

And when the guard opened the door to tell Naruto that his time was up, he froze. They didn't even hear him enter, too lost in their thoughts and worries to notice. He almost didn't have the heart to break them up, toying with the idea of giving them an extra half-hour or so. But he knew he couldn't do that; he knew his duty. And luckily, this time, there was no anger in Naruto's expression when he told him he had to leave, only solemnity as he watched him take Sakura from the visitation room. The guard sighed again. Sometimes he really hated this job.

"Um, excuse me?"

He blinked. "What?"

Sakura raised her brow and lifted her hands. "I think you're forgetting something," she said, the corners of her mouth turning upward into a weak smile.

Embarrassed, the guard quickly reentered her cell and found the keys to the handcuffs, feeling the blood rush to his face as he apologized, making Sakura laugh. And when he finally removed the restraints, her smile grew wider as she massaged her wrists in relief and thanked him. However, before he could exit the cell, he stopped. "Sakura-san?"

"Yes?"

He swallowed. He was going to say it this time. He had to. "I just want to say that," he began slowly, "despite the trial and everything that has happened since then, it has been an honor, uh, being your guard." He straightened his back and turned around. "Konoha is going to be losing one of the greatest kunoichi it's ever seen. And," he paused to clear his throat, "I'm going to miss you."

Sakura's eyes widened, not quite knowing what to say. It was the most he'd ever said to her at one time. And though he wasn't her only guard, he was the only one who ever returned her kindness, who ever looked at her like a person and not another inmate. And she was grateful. Yet, she didn't even know his name. "Thank you, uh—"

He finally smiled. "Call me Shin," he said, "Just Shin."

She nodded. "Thank you, Shin."

Nodding, Shin walked outside the cell; however, just before he could shut the door and walk away, Sakura said, "Oh, and Shin? Call me Sakura." She returned the smile. "Just Sakura."

Naruto didn't want to do anything. He'd been walking through the streets of Konoha aimlessly—pointlessly—for hours, passing his apartment a multitude of times, refusing to enter, refusing to be stationary. Restless. But one can only wander for so long, and after finding himself outside his home for the umpteenth time, he decided that he had enough for one day.

His hand on the doorknob, Naruto hesitated and looked at the sky. It was dark now, the moon slowly rising towards the center of the sky. He sighed. Another day gone. Another day wasted. It's going to be over soon, she told him. He shook his head; he was tired of thinking about it. Slowly, he entered his apartment, closing the door behind him, the moon's rays both illuminating and casting shadows within his apartment.

He took a breath.

"All right," he said evenly, his hand reaching for a kunai, bracing himself for an attack, "who's there?"

The second he reached is apartment Naruto knew something was off. He felt it. Someone was inside his apartment. There was a slight movement in the corner of the room, catching his attention. There you are. He jumped towards the light switch and gasped.

"Sasuke! What are you doing here?" Naruto exclaimed, dropping his kunai, forgetting to pick it up, fully remarking Sasuke's appearance. "You—You look like hell!"

And he really did; Naruto didn't have to tell him twice. But Sasuke didn't just look like hell, he felt like it, too. It had stopped raining long ago, and yet, he was still dripping, fighting the urge to shiver. There were dark circles under his eyes; he hadn't slept in days, blinking relentlessly as if it could chase his fatigue away. He took a step towards Naruto and stumbled, his muscles still aching from running—sprinting—all the way from Iwa; because he refused to stop; because he knew he was running out of time. "Naruto—" he rasped.

"Okay, you need to sit down," Naruto said, steadying him by the arm and pulling a chair.

But Sasuke refused, pulling away from Naruto and using his table for support. "Sakura," he said, not knowing where to start, not sure if wanted to know the answer, "she's not—I'm not—?" He closed his eyes and took a breath, eyebrows furrowed. He couldn't even say it. Too late.

Naruto smiled weakly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "No," he said, "she's still alive." His eyes looked toward the ground, his voice lowering. "I just saw her actually."

Sasuke nodded; though, he didn't allow himself to relax, not yet. "How—How is she?"

"She's," Naruto hesitated, wondering if he should lie, deciding against it, "doing the best she can."

"When's her—"

"Two days."

Relief flooded Sasuke like a wave as he let out a sigh of relief, finally taking the seat Naruto offered. He placed his head in his hands. "Good." He looked up. "Perfect."

There was something in his expression—calm, calculating—something that made Naruto anxious, no, excited.He eyed him suspiciously, unable to stop the smile from forming on his lips. "Sasuke, what are you thinking?"

All right, that's Chapter 3! Kind of emotional, and yeah! So, I think the next chapter will be the last, unless there's an epilogue. Anyway, I'm leaving for vacation in the next couple of days, so the next update for this may take a while because I need to update "Different" once I get back!

Thank you!

And as always, read and review!

GhostofYou