Then
Orochimaru summons them to share intel two days after Sakura begins brewing the medicine she found with Karin.
On that day, she thickly swallows, leaving her mouth dry along with her nerves on the line. Since Sasuke was hospitalized, his restlessness has only grown more intense in every passing moment. He is not one to stay bedridden (unless he is unconscious and unaware of his state).
They are in his room, him on his bed, her working by his side, preparing the needle that would transfer the liquid from its small container to Sasuke's veins.
The small talk she makes fails to distract him. He thinks about the mysterious medicine Sakura came up with and how she found it. He tries to imagine the countless times that Itachi had to take it when he was alive. If their condition is the same, then Sasuke can deduce that one of the last things his older brother did before he killed him was inject that same substance in his system so that the physical symptoms did not get in the way of their final battle.
Sasuke has been thinking a lot about his family lately. Being stuck in bed, standing up only when he needs to clean himself or go to the bathroom, has given him additional time to ponder on the subjects that have haunted him in the past. He can never run away from it, it seems. Even if he has to leave the village for two years, to redeem himself, and find answers to most of the doubts that have plagued his mind. It all brings him back to the Uchiha clan and its past -even finding Indra has to deal with it.
He never noticed if Itachi had needle marks in his arm; his brother always wore long sleeves. There are so many things that are left unanswered when it comes to him, such as if he ever missed their mother's cooking, if he had a favourite place to meditate, if he ever had a lover. Sasuke pictures his arm filled with small bruises, signs that he is under the same treatment. Itachi may have had the same questions about him; whether it is the food, the place or the lover.
His eyes travel towards Sakura, who is fully immersed in her work. Her hair is once again tied up in a ponytail, but some wild hairs have escaped and frame her face, complimenting her features. She is still around, even after the last couple of times she's checked up on him and he has lashed out on her. She patiently waits, like always, understanding of his restlessness and his need to take it out on someone.
Even with the worst comments, she always leaves him with a gentle squeeze on his hand, and the amount of guilt that weighs on his chest only grows with the cold emptiness of the room.
Sasuke knows that things have changed between them. He can trace it back to his last fight with Naruto, when he first apologized. His relationship with Sakura is constantly shifting, and fate seems to be pulling them closer now that he has this condition.
Things have changed for a while, though he is not ready to form the words in his mind. The way he looks at Sakura is how he looks at the world, with a new set of eyes that aren't filled with loneliness and revenge. He has to owe his peacefulness to her, in part. Even in the coldest nights during his travels, he would mentally travel back to Konoha to ensure that she was under a warm shelter before he fell asleep under the stars.
"Okay," Sakura says with the same patient voice she's been using in the past couple days. She moves away from the old table, holding a needle in her right hand. "Are you ready?"
He merely nods.
What's been happening between them caught him unaware. Sasuke would never let anyone else see him in such a vulnerable state, and Sakura is probably the only person -woman- he sees himself sharing those types of moments. There is no denial that he has fantasized before. After all, spending two years alone on the road leaves his mind open to many possibilities.
She molds in his body exactly how he imagined that she would. She tastes better than he thought. The shivers she sends down his spine every time she is near were unpredictable, and he wonders how much more her touch has to offer.
His eyes are buried on the seal in the middle of her forehead when she inserts the needle in his arm, right where it bends. She has her thumb putting pressure on the small wound afterwards to stop it from bleeding. Soon she cleans it with alcohol and covers it with a cotton.
Sasuke can feel the difference almost immediately. Whatever Sakura administered him works fast. The chronic discomfort in his chest swells down, his windpipe opens up, and there is no trace that another coughing attack will come any sooner. He takes deep breaths, evaluating the extent of his physical abilities before he crumbles down again. Yet it doesn't happen, for Sakura's work prevents the malignant chakra from affecting his body.
He stares at the pile of blood-stained towels in the corner of the room. It's been a while since he's breathed without feeling anxious that he may need to reach out for one of them to clean up the mess that normally comes.
"How do you feel, Sasuke-kun?" she asks, placing a soft hand on top of his. "Do you still have a hard time breathing?"
"No."
She looks over her notes, adding details here and there. Coming up with the right ingredients to prevent the coughing attacks had not been difficult, though the preparation method was as meticulous as some of the strongest antidotes Sakura has ever made. It does not matter, she tells herself, Sasuke does not have the physical symptoms anymore and that is a step in the right direction.
"I will have to inject this every morning and night. It isn't a direct cure for what you have, but it will help you get through the day and to sleep properly."
He only nods once after she is done explaining. Her hand is still on his, and he does not move.
That is when Karin opens the door.
She takes a moment to observe the two old teammates before speaking. "Orochimaru wants to see you."
And is gone before Sakura can answer back. She purses her lips, closes her notebook and prepares to take the IV out of Sasuke's wrist. With care, the needle that provides him with the right nutrients comes out of his skin, the trace of a small bruise left behind. He tries to stand up by himself, but Sakura stops his movements before his feet can hit the cold floor.
"It's better if I help you," she explains, linking her arm around his torso.
Sakura lifts him up from his bed, and Sasuke merely grunts. It's a stab in his ego; the once all powerful Uchiha Sasuke is too weak to get up on his own. His bare feet become numb when they touch the cold floor, but he does not protest in need of shoes. No, he is still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he can breathe properly to worry about other things.
She leads him towards the door, her hand slowly moving away from his body to help him stabilize on his own. Sasuke has not walked with his normal strength in about a week, and at first his legs feel weak but he soon finds the right balance to move. Sakura holds on to the end of his left sleeve, seemingly too worried to let go of him in case he falls. The dark corridors in the hideout are of no help, but Sasuke knows them like the palm of his hand. He can still remember how the intricate tunnels are carved, even after years of being away from Orochimaru's hideouts.
They take slow steps, more because of Sakura's preoccupation than his. He slowly separates Sakura's hand from his sleeve. It is almost as if he was cured, but he knows that it is too soon to fantasize on such wishful thinking.
They reach the same room where Orochimaru received them all those days ago. He sits on his throne, his right elbow resting on the armchair and his chin on his knuckles. His black hair is tied in a low ponytail, and he is dressed with his signature white and purple robe. Karin stands on his left side, arms crossed and looking at the opposite wall.
Orochimaru does not acknowledge their arrival with words, but sends them an observant gaze with a slight curl on the sides of his lips until they reach him. Sakura stands beside her old teammate, thinking of how many times he's done this in the past when he lived with the snake Sannin.
"Sasuke-kun, how great to see you on your feet again," Orochimaru begins. "Sakura-san must be taking great care of you."
Neither of them respond to that comment. She feels Sasuke's restlessness. He wants the Sannin to get to the point as much as she does. This mission is taking longer than expected.
The older man continues. "Karin has been following the rumours of the strange chakra we talked about since the incident in the moon." Ah, so that's what she was doing. "And she can confirm that what the residents of the last place she visited claim are true."
Orochimaru gestures for his subordinate to continue the explanation. Karin lets out a long breath, rolls her eyes, and settles them between Sasuke and Sakura, not looking at either of them. Sakura understands how unwilling she must have felt at completing this task, to help the man who almost killed her all those years ago. To still hold feelings for him and to see him with a woman that isn't herself. Sakura would feel the same way if she was standing in Karin's place and Karin was the one to be helping Sasuke.
She makes a footnote in her mind to help Karin move to Konoha, where she does not have to complete missions for Orochimaru and can roam freely among all the countries.
"The chakra signature I followed is old. Ancient, I'd say," the redhead explains, adjusting her glasses. "I stayed around for three days, and every day it kept getting stronger. The villagers began talking about this rumour of an ancient god roaming in their lands after a meteorite fell close to the farming fields. I followed the path they said where the spirit lives, near the border with Fire.
"I was given descriptions on how he looked like and by what I read in some of the scrolls we hold here to have a better idea of what to look for. He wasn't entirely solid when I spotted him, but the physical description is accurate and the chakra signature fits in place all too well to be mistaken. He felt strong, ancient, something that once was probably more powerful than your or Naruto's chakra. It was him." She paused to take a deep breath. "The roaming spirit, which seems to be gradually turning more human as time passes, is in fact Ōtsutsuki Indra."
At this last statement, Sasuke's knuckles went white. So it's true, then. The reason why he has this strange condition is real, becoming a part of the physical world while he is withering away.
Sasuke opens his mouth for the first time, "Where did you say that he was found?"
Karin finally locked her eyes on his. She purses her lips, finding the right words before speaking, "Where you and your brother last fought."
The Sharingan on his right eye wheels, adrenaline pumps into his veins.
Sasuke turns around and heads to the corridor, ready to pick up his things and go to that place.
But before he can get any further, his breathing hitches and he clutches his chest in protest. He feels his knees touch the cold ground, his toes numb. He hears a loud feminine shriek, and then everything goes black.
Now
"You need to evaluate your decisions before trying that, Uchiha Sasuke."
His Sharingan deactivates at the sound of that voice. He is not fully aware of what is happening around him, for the room is spinning. He feels Naruto's hands on his shoulders, trying to hold him up, and hears his voice.
"Who are you!? How did you get in here!?"
Sasuke may have his eyes glued to the ground, but he can tell that Naruto has activated his Sage mode. His best friend continues screaming towards the unknown voice, making it even more difficult for him to recover.
"Naruto-," the voice begins before being interrupted.
"How do you know my name and Sasuke's? Who the hell are you?" Naruto yells menacingly. "If you get any closer I won't hold back, dammit."
In the midst of commotion, Sasuke finds enough strength to stand up by himself. He holds his head with one hand, the room slowly turning back to normal. Now, though, it is Naruto the one causing a whirlwind. He finds the blond yelling and pointing at an obscured tall figure, his Sage mode effectively activated.
He can make out the outline of this strange tall figure. Based on the tone of voice, he can recognize that it is a man. A man taller than both of them, with imposing square shoulders, a long robe, and spiky dark hair. When he comes closer, Naruto and Sasuke are startled.
"I know your name because you are me and I am you," he confesses.
The strange man has dark hair that stands up in every direction. His forehead is wrapped in a white cloth, with two thick strands framing the sides of his face. His square jaw and black rimmed dark eyes are exactly like the ones Sasuke saw in his own ancestor. His clear coloured robe features the same six tomoe that the Sage of the Six Paths has, and he carries a staff on his right hand.
Sasuke immediately knows who has joined them.
Naruto, on the other hand, "That doesn't make any sense. Just tell us who you are!"
The man closes his eyes, inhales and exhales deeply. "My own reincarnation has similar traits to how I used to be when I was that age."
"Reincarnation-?"
"Naruto," Sasuke tries to intervene.
"Sasuke, he's Asura."
"I know." Sasuke wants to roll his eyes, but his spinning head prevents him from doing any sort of circular movement.
Ōtsutsuki Asura comes closer to the two shinobi and stands in front of them. His chakra feels like Indra's; ancient, powerful, concealing most of its true strength from others. He is taller than Naruto and him, almost like a deity from a forgotten time who once roamed his territory with omnipresent authority.
"As I said, you must think twice before you confront my older brother."
Sasuke's grip on his sword tightens. Asura is in front of them, made of flesh and blood. He looks towards Naruto, whose own power does not seem to diminish in the presence of his ancestor like Sasuke's does with Indra. It agitates him even more to think that his best friend is unaffected while he cannot even activate his Sharingan without feeling the consequences.
"Where did you come from?" Sasuke demands.
"The same place where my brother stayed for many centuries," Asura points up to the ceiling. "I left some of my chakra in this world too, to watch over him."
The moon. He stayed in the moon, along with Indra. Sasuke remembers the information that Karin shared when he and Sakura where at Orochimaru's hideout, right before she was ripped away from his hands and this whole ordeal started.
Asura examines their fighting stance by scanning his eyes from their feet up to their heads. He then bangs the bottom of his staff on the ground and suddenly appears behind Sasuke and Naruto, preventing them from reading the scriptures written on the stone. Asura crosses his legs and takes a seat on the ground, his staff resting on his knees. This scene reminds Sasuke of his conversation with the Sage of the Six Paths years ago, when he was given the power to defeat Kaguya along with Naruto.
Asura places his hands on the two ends of his staff and settles his eyes on the two teammates. "There are many things that you need to know before facing my brother. He will not show mercy, especially to his own reincarnation," he emphasizes.
Sasuke narrows his eyes. He has already experienced hostility from Indra, acknowledging that their connection makes the Ōtsutsuki stronger while he weakens. If Indra knows about Sakura, about what she means to him, then he has probably taken her hostage to corner him and take his full power. That theory has been circling in his mind for days now, yet he cannot find the main reasoning behind it. Why would Indra want to come back to life? His chakra has been waiting for centuries to come back to Earth, yet he has not voiced his objectives.
Naruto steals the words from him. "Why did Indra take Sakura-chan? And why are you back?"
"Like I said, a part of my chakra was concealed in the moon along with my older brother's. My brother was in one of the meteorites that collided into Earth when Ōtsutsuki Toneri wanted to destroy it. I followed soon after, keeping my chakra concealed. Until then, we've watched our reincarnations live their lives, me keeping an eye on my brother and he waiting until it was the right moment to return."
"Return to what?" It is Sasuke's turn to ask.
Asura pauses, as if he was gathering his words. His thoughts are interrupted when Sasuke brings up a new question. "Why isn't Naruto affected by your presence?"
His eyes connect with Asura's. "Because my ancestry line is not cursed like the Uchiha." Sasuke frowns. "The Curse of Hatred and Will of Fire are two philosophies that come from my brother and I. They have divided us for centuries. My ideology is widely known and registered, yet the true story behind my older brother's legacy was lost with time."
"Sasuke, I really don't know what the hell he's talking about 'ttebayo," Naruto scratches the back of his head in confusion. Sasuke remains silent, knowing that the information Asura is about to share will be vital in answering why Indra decided to come back.
"During our stay in the moon, my brother's chakra worked in creating a side dimension. A utopia, if we use modern terms, where there are no wars and he can lead the life he wanted."
"That sounds a lot like the Infinite Tsukuyomi," Naruto comments. His Sage mode is still activated, yet Sasuke cannot perceive any danger from Asura. His chakra is not dark like Indra's.
"Our ideas manifest along with a repeat of history. There will always be future attempts to execute the same plan, so long as humans do not learn from past mistakes."
That must be where the portal leads to, Sasuke concludes. When he saw Indra take Sakura and leave through an opening that appeared out of nowhere, he felt like he had been in a similar situation before. It felt like Kaguya's different dimensions. It would make sense if Indra had inherited that ability from his grandmother, seeing as he was the naturally talented sibling.
"This dimension you talk about," Sasuke begins, "is that where they are?"
Asura gives a curt nod, confirming his suspicions. "That is right."
"Why did Indra take her?" Naruto asks again. He is starting to become inpatient, not entirely helping Sasuke for he has felt restless since his arrival in Konoha.
"Because she is the reason behind the legend of the Curse of Hatred."
Sasuke's eyes are wide open in shock. That cannot be right. Sakura is a kunoichi with no ancient lineage like his or Naruto's. She is strong and intelligent, yes, and she is home. But it is impossible for her to be related to the Uchiha. She is his home. Unless-
"I understand why you need to rescue her, and I will assist you in opening the portal. However, before we embark on this, you must listen to the legend behind Indra's life."
Then
Sasuke wakes up to the beeping sound of a heart rate monitor. He is back in his room, lying on his old bed, with the IV attached to his wrist. Sakura is beside him, a deja vu to the scene earlier that day. She injects a needle into his arm, calming down the discomfort without even noticing that he is wide awake. He can notice the slight trembling in her hands, the dysfunctional way that she moves her limbs around the room and how she brings her hands up to her face several times to wipe something away.
He sits up and tears the IV out of his wrist. Determined, he tries to get out of his bed. He feels two strong hands rest on his shoulders, preventing any further move.
"You can't. You're still too weak, Sasuke-kun," Sakura insists.
That is when he notices the bitter trails running from her eyes and down her cheeks. He sees the desperation behind them, too.
"Sasuke-kun!" she protests when he shoves her hands away and gets up from the mattress.
His feet hit the cold ground once again, and he struggles to find the right balance, holding on to the wall while making his way to where his weapons rest. He senses Sakura moving behind him, muttering annoying words that dig into his impatience. He wishes that she could just stop and let him conclude this mission once and for all, dammit!
"It turns out that the remedy is still not perfect. I need to tweak it before we can leave this place," she tries to reason.
Sasuke does not bother listening. He is too occupied thinking of how long it would take him to get to the Uchiha hideout. If he takes a large batch of those injections along with him and administers one every time he feels the symptoms returning, then he would be capable of facing Indra without a problem. His fighting skills are still up to par, in spite of the recent interruption he's had in his training due to this condition.
He begins to gather his belongings, tuning out the annoying voice that follows him around. He picks up his sword, his kunai pouch, and everything he can hold with his right hand.
This is almost the same as when he fought Itachi. Even though his brother was in a sickened state, Sasuke still struggled defeating him. It angers Sasuke how he is now the one with physical limitations and who has to face a powerful opponent. Fate must be truly laughing at his face.
He cannot stay in this hideout for much longer, or Indra will only get stronger and he will get weaker.
"Are you even listening to me!?" her voice finds his consciousness when her hands push him.
He snaps out of his thoughts and glares at his old teammate. She sends him a similar look, her lips tightened into a white line.
"Don't you fucking dare go out there," she threatens with a tone that's never been directed at him before.
Sasuke does not answer. He simply continues preparing to leave.
"Sasuke-kun, say something!" she grabs a hold of what's left of his dominant arm but he shoves her away.
Sakura stumbles and falls on the floor, at first frozen in her place without realizing what has happened. When Sasuke finds her there, shock flashes on his face. She snaps back to reality and gets up, sending daggers at him with her eyes.
"Why don't you see that I'm here to help you!?" she yells. "You request for me to come on this mission with you, and now you think that I don't have the right to know what the fuck is going on after I've helped you all along!? I'm the leader here!"
Sakura is fuming.
"Sakura-"
"Do you think it's wise to face Indra out of all people in your state? Kami, Sasuke-kun, you can't even use your Sharingan without suffering the consequences. You're in no condition to continue this mission."
She is crying at this point. This sight is all too familiar to Sasuke. He's seen her shed tears for him enough times in the past. But like always, he cannot back down from his goals. Not now that his life might be on the line for something greater than whatever Sakura can fix, even though she has mended so many of his past wounds.
But now, Sasuke cannot deal with an overtly emotional Sakura. Even if it clenches and twists his heart until it hurts so much that he wants to tear it out of his chest.
"I need to go," he states, pushing all emotions away. She is making him feel too much.
And that should have been the end of their argument. He has his grey cloak on, he turns on his heels, and walks towards the door. However, his movements are constricted. His intentions are once again stalled by a pair of arms locking him in place from behind. Only that now he is nineteen years old, has killed more people than he can count, and is on the verge of losing his life to a stronger force.
Only that now she is a lot older too, significantly stronger and smarter, and definitely more determined and confident in her abilities.
And that things are not the same between them anymore.
Sasuke feels her face bury between his shoulder blades, her shoulders tremble on his back while her arms tighten their hold on his. He hears the sobs, the hitched breathing. Then slowly, the warmth on his back takes a few steps back until a sole hand is the only thing holding on to his grey, worn-out cloak. He twists his head back, and finds a blushing, tear-stained Sakura tightening her grip on his cloak with one hand while the other runs through her hair.
She looks so vulnerable, so innocent.
"Please," she sobs. "Don't leave. Please, don't leave me again."
This is the same Sakura who has patiently looked after him for all those years in spite of his constant refusal, the one who has healed him countless times, the one who this morning was carefully crafting a method for him to overcome his symptoms, the one who just a few seconds ago was yelling her heart out to reason with him.
The one who has stuck by his side throughout all of this mission even if he tries to push her away, the one who has confessed to him so many times that he is not alone in this world -he's always had her, he just didn't have the right eyes to clearly see it.
His body faces her, her head pointing to the floor, her shoulders still trembling. The hand that stopped him from leaving is now clenched at her side, so tight that it shakes.
Sasuke does not know where he gets the urge to lift his hand and place it in the back of her head. It must be the pent up frustration, the sight of a broken Sakura because of him, that strange sensation she sends in every direction within his body. He takes slow steps, until he rests her head on his chest, his heartbeat right by her ear. He closes his eyes in an attempt to clear his mind from the confusion caused by Sakura's very own existence.
He has accepted that he needs her around. Now, he has to attend to the fact that she has always needed him around too.
"Sasuke-kun..." she mutters softly, her sobs diminishing.
Sakura looks up from his chest, her bright bright green eyes radiating with some tears that threaten to escape. He basks in her face, in how small she feels against him. His eyes trail slowly from her soft pink lips, across her slightly blushed cheeks, her nose, to her own eyes and finally to the seal in her forehead. The proof of how strong she really is, even if she still breaks down like this. She's the most human out of their team, after all, and she has always worn her heart on her sleeve.
The words start to form in his mind. He cannot say them yet, knowing that in the end he would have to contradict himself. Instead, he opts to follow the direction he tends to choose whenever it comes to Sakura, and kisses the seal on her forehead. He gently places his lips over her skin, keeping them there for a lengthened moment, until they trail down the side of her face. He then plants a soft kiss on her left eye, following his instincts. He has never been one to show affection, but this disheartened Sakura makes him want to try displaying a fraction of what she usually does for him.
She stands in place, quiet, with her arms at her sides, accepting every action Sasuke takes. He travels down to her cheek, following the moist line left by her bitter tears. It does not make sense that after all those years of reconciliation he still makes her cry. It's all his fault for being too scared to let her in more than he is comfortable with.
He is complicated and she knows it. She waits patiently, eternally, and he doesn't deserve it.
When he reaches her mouth, Sasuke tries to be as soft and gentle as he can. He is still not confident enough to know if he is doing it properly, but he attempts to plant his lips on her mouth without too much force. Somehow, the rest of his body has attracted to hers, attaching chest with chest, bumping knees with knees.
Sakura suddenly breaks the kiss. He feels her breath against his lips, growing his hunger to taste her once again.
"You've already walked out of my life too many times."
He is ready to say that next time will be the last. Yes, this mission includes her as the leader, but this is a personal matter and he has to take care of it himself. Maybe he should have asked Naruto before getting his mind set on Sakura. Maybe he should stop wrapping his body in that same cloak of darkness that followed him for most of his life.
Sasuke is about to say something, do anything that will convince Sakura that things have actually changed and that he needs to live up to his decisions.
But then he feels a sharp pain on his shoulder. His eyes widen when they notice that Sakura's left arm is holding something against his skin. They travel from her elbow to her forearm, and then to the tiny artifact she is holding in her hand. Her hand takes out the needle and drops it on the floor. It joins her right hand in cupping his jawline, and she presses her lips on him for a brief moment.
Everything blurs around him. The last thing he registers is a pair of bright, tear rimmed green eyes, and her apologetic voice.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. I can't let you leave."
The anesthesia travels across Sasuke's veins. His eyes close, and he is left unconscious.
Now
"Sakura."
She feels a hand gently tug on her shoulder. Her eyes open slowly, adjusting to the orange light coming in her bedroom from the sunset outside. Sakura is still wearing the same clothes she arrived in, and she still has not found the energy to want to remove them and wash herself.
She hears Indra's voice and feels the dent he creates when he sits down on her bed. "You are now well rested. Please, sit up and listen to what I have to say."
Sakura obediently uncovers herself from her bed sheets and takes a seat beside Indra. Her attention is fully immersed in him and in what he is about to explain.
Hi everyone! Thank you for your support and understanding. KoG is one of the last chaptered fanfics I will ever write, and I want to be happy with every upload I make.
I'm also working on a NaruHina long one shot because why not xD yay for free time.
See you around!
MSM