The Graduation

Sasuke scowled around the area as the cloud of sooty exhaust from the departing bus slowly cleared. The stench of diesel caused his nose to wrinkle in discomfort as the sound of the faulty engine of the bus died down as it moved farther on to its next destination.

In order to catch the cramped and smelly bus to make the four hour trip to the mountains, they had to get up at the crack of dawn. All so that they could spend twenty minutes praying for their fortunes in what Sakura declared a legitimate shrine.

Despite the fact that there was a local one two minutes from their neighborhood, when Sakura found out the Uchiha line had a temple built by their ancient ancestors, she was hell bent on coming here. So here Sasuke was, standing on the side of a dirt road with no cell service within an hours radius and not a single sound of city industry to distract him from that fact.

The chirping of birds filled the light air of the mountainous landscape. Golden rays of the sun shimmered through the surrounding forest, filtering through the leaves and turning them into a vibrant green as they cast a comfortable shade upon them. With the noisy bus gone, the high pitched buzzing of cicadas and the twittering of birds took over. Giving him a loud reminder of how far they were from the comforts of his urban streets that no amount of Haruno camping trips ever helped him adapt.

Sasuke's dark eyes stared up at the branches above and took in the details that nature had shaped. As he did, his mind wandered with every little worry he had tried to escape through sleep on the four hour bus ride it took to get to such a remote place. But now that he was awake, the fresh air unfortunately did wonders for his mind. Invigorating and stimulating it quickly to awaken from the groggy state he had blissfully been in just ten minutes earlier. And already he missed having his head rested on Sakura's shoulder, breathing in the subtle scent of the perfume he had gotten her for her birthday just a few months earlier.

The purpose of today's trip was to pray to their ancestors in hopes of good fortune for their upcoming exams and seek out the old shaman that oversaw the temple for guidance and counsel for their futures they were about to begin.

Three years ago when he, Sakura and Naruto made this pact, he thought it was stupid because he already knew his future. It was already set out before him the moment he took his first breath in this world. He was going to go to business school and Konoha University. Perhaps do a term or two abroad with an internship in one of the multiple industries his family's business ruled. Based on his performances he would be placed in one of the multiple divisions and positions available. Given the strong branch that he descended from in his family tree, it would be expected that he would excel and take said division in full control. Somewhere in those lines he would marry someone just as prestigious and advantageous and sire at least one child to continue the cycle of his family's prestige, honor, and success.

And back then, that was exactly what he wanted.

Now, he was not so certain…

"Oi, bastard! Hurry up!"

Sasuke was broken from his thoughts as he looked to the obnoxious source of the bellowing noise.

"Why do you look like you have a bamboo shoot up your butt?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the blonde that was already a quarter of the way up the long staired path that led up to the Naka shrine. Next to the blonde, poor Hinata was breathing heavily as she held onto her boyfriend's hand, dedicatedly keeping up with his exuberant and unlimited energy.

"Tch," Sasuke scoffed. "Like any amount of praying is going to save your useless ass from passing exams. Why would the Kami bother with such an usuratonkachi?"

"OI!" Naruto let out a protest and started marching down the stairs, only to be anchored down when he reached the end of his tether as his and Hinata's linked hands came to a stretch. Naruto looked down at Sasuke. "You're lucky your name got you automatically into University bastard, otherwise you would be on your knees begging to the gods that you get a score high enough for a second rate school!"

Sasuke stiffened at Naruto's words who was already turning around and marching back up the steps. It wasn't the insult itself that had him flinching. It was the lighting pang of guilt that struck at the mention of University.

"Hey," came a soft tone that came with a similar touch as Sakura grabbed his hand. His dark eyes pulled away from Naruto's bright orange jumper and locked eyes with her jewel irises as she stepped up to the platform step above him so they were at eye level. "Can you try not to antagonize him today? I don't want you two to get us kicked out because you end up in a brawl. You know it is okay for best friends to act like they like each other once in a while."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, we both won't get kicked out," Sasuke said dryly. "My family owns the place," he commented. "Only that useless idiot would get kicked out."

He couldn't help the dark smirk shine on his face, nor could he not appreciate the look of exasperation that appeared on Sakura's face. He would never vocalize it, but he found it adorable the way her cheeks would puff out and her nose would wrinkle just slightly.

"You're insufferable," she said, turning to march up the stairs towards the temple. But not once letting her hold on his hand loose.

"Blood type?"

"I am a B! Believe it!"

The elderly woman raised a peppered gray brow at Naruto's exuberant answer. "Why would I not believe you?"

Naruto opened his mouth then paused as if stumped on how to answer her. "Ummm…"

She snapped her fingers. "Forget it. Birthday?"

"October 10th! Believe it!"

The woman stared at the blonde boy again, then her eyes rolled up to the heavens more in exasperation than prayer as she began to recite a quick prayer.

After a grueling session of patience, the woman had finished with Naruto and quickly breezed through Hinata's readings. Following the soft spoken girl, the shrine maiden turned to the other pair that was sitting across from the table from her.

"And who are we?" she asked.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. Bornー"

"Oh I am more than aware of who you are," the woman interrupted. "Your mother comes here often to check on your path in life. Winding and ever changing yours is." She pulled out some ancient looking charts. "I don't know what you're expecting me to say as you have already made your decisions…" she looked up at him with a sharp eye. "Haven't you?" she said with a final tone. Then she looked at Sakura. "What is your name?"

Sakura straightened slightly. "Sakura Haruno. Born March 28th. Blood type O."

"Ah…So you are the little flower?" The woman said, a certain interest coming over her face as she began pulling out more of her old charts. "Ever the optimist that spreads like the pollen of your namesake. You will be given a challenge of hardship and heartache," Sakura shifted nervously at her words but paused when the woman looked at her. "Just stay vigilant and resilient, all will work out in the end," she assured. "A wilted flower can still be revived."

Sakura seemed to process for a moment then nodded. The shrine maiden then looked back at Sasuke.

"I now understand why your mother was so persistent in your matchings," she said, causing Sasuke to frown and Sakura to look down and blush. "You know she's been having me read them for ten years now. You're a rare breed to read Uchiha. You have a great life yet you have a predestination to sabotage your happiness." She shook her head in annoyance. "I just hope you get your head on straight before you completely squander everything. Just remember to come back."

It was quiet as everyone looked at Sasuke. The shrine maiden looked displeased, Nartuo looking confused, Hinata looking fretful, and Sakura…she looked disturbed and bothered.

Sasuke met her eyes briefly before letting out a scoff. "Tch," he said, standing up. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "My future is already set." He muttered looking in the direction of the others without meeting any of their eyes. "Come on. I don't want to waste the whole day here. Say your prayers and let's go."

Despite the open walls of the haiden, the heavy scent of the incense that they had lit filled Sasuke's nostrils each time he took in a long contemplative breath. He looked around at the others, the three of them all standing around the saisen box. Naruto looked like a spastic heathen as he gave his two bows, clapped, and bowed a final time. With his eyelids shut, his head moved around as if trying to get a kink out of his neck as he loudly muttered pleas under his breath. All the while, he crossed his fingers and danced around on his toes as he gave his prayers. For as desperate as he seemed, his prayer only lasted half a minute. But given it was Naruto, Sasuke was impressed it had even gotten that far before Naruto's eyes snapped open and he tossed his coin into the box. It ratted into the open slot of the wood which was drowned out by the loud ring of the bell at the entrance as Naruto made his way back outside.

As always Hinata was the opposite of her counterpart. She gracefully moved through her motions with hardly a sound before going still for a moment. When her prayer was finished she quietly shifted forward to slide her coin into the saisen box and elegantly glided to the bell where she tugged gently on the rope just enough for it to give out a gentle ring like that of a meditation chime.

By the time he looked across to Sakura on the other side of him, she was already quietly standing still. Her hands pressed firmly together as her head bowed slightly.

Sasuke took a moment to observe her before he forced himself to look away. His hands, having moved to his pockets instead of remaining at his chest, withdrew from their comfortable habitat as he opened his palm to stare down at the round coin that sat in the center of his palm. As he did, his thoughts which had been laying siege to his mind all day, broke through his mental barriers and invaded his mind wholly.

His father had just informed him the night before that after graduation, he was going to intern directly with Madara for the summer. And he would be working within the center corporation of the Uchiha empire each time he was on break from school.

School.

A school that he had still yet to tell anyone aside from Kakashi-sensei that he had yet to get accepted, let alone apply to. He was about to graduate from high school and had yet to set anything up to set his course for the future. But it was not even that fact that bothered him. It was him interning directly with Madara that had him uneased.

It was becoming official. Sasuke, not Itachi, was currently going to be apprenticing to take over the family business. Something Itachi would have been doing in a couple more years had he not had to defer from school due to being in the hospital. Instead, he was now across the seas in Sweden with their mother as they tried out an experimental treatment for his condition.

Before he had left, Itachi had assured Sasuke all would be well. But Sasuke was no longer a child. The past year had aged him far more than most his age. It was what happened when you came home to find your brother collapsed on the floor, when you spend days in the hospital donating samples to see if you are a match, and sitting on the staircase as you listen to your mother sob into her hands while your fathers eyes become bloodshot from his stoic worry. The past year had been hell and Sasuke had done well to hide the effects it was taking from his family and friends.

He knew this wasn't an optimistic doctor's visit. It was a desperate last resort because everything else had failed. And meanwhile, he was being trained as the back up plan for the company.

It was something Sasuke had always coveted about his brother. To be so highly thought of, that people invested and had high expectations of what the potential he could achieve, just like Itachi. Now, he resented anyone who remarked about the things he had yet and might not even do. He found himself only wanting his brother to get better and take over so he could become the forgotten son of Fugaku again.

So he had come up with his own plans, found other options. Ones that he did not need some temple worker to tell him what that path would lead him to. Because Sasuke no longer cared. He would continue to live in Itachi's shadow, even if Itachi wasn't there to cast one. He had not made any indefinite preparations just yet, but the shrine maiden had been right. He had already made his decision.

With that thought Sasuke flicked the coin into the saisen box. He heard the metallic ring as it hit against the metal grate before it slid through the gap. There was a hollow thud as the coin hit the bottom of the inside compartment which told him that his token had been received by the ancient Kami that his ancestors had worshiped.

He strode over to the bell and grabbed a hold of the short rope that hung from the clapper. Looking up across the small building, he saw Sakura still standing at the box. Her hands pressed together tightly. Peaking out of her right hand, Sasuke saw her coin tightly pinched between her thumb and finger as her head bowed slightly, still in prayer.

With her eyes tightly shut, Sakura chewed at her bottom lip. Once in a while she would release it to silently mutter a word or two of her lengthy prayer under her breath. Sasuke took in the deep lines of concentration furrowed on her forehead, giving the impression that she was already taking the exams at this very moment with how pinched and strained her expression was. But as her prayer continued to go on, her expression slowly softened and after a quiet word of thanks, her eyes cracked open and she daintily tossed the coin down into the well. She stood still for a moment with a soft smile on her face. When her eyes lifted, Sasuke was greeted with her emerald gaze and her smile grew slightly as a red tint shaded her cheeks.

It was at that moment that Sasuke knew what his prayer was.

He tugged down on the rope. The clapper of the bell struck against the shell with a striking clang. Give her understanding, he thought silently to himself, his eyes never leaving her as she came around the saisen box and approached him. He stepped back to allow her to take hold of the rope and pull down on it in her turn.

It rang out across the temple courtyard and Sasuke noticed just how quiet it was with Naruto gone and it being just the two of them in the vicinity. He realized his focused staring of her when he felt her fingers weave into his and she gave him a look full of close observation.

"Sasuke," she said, her tone not matching the high energy and anticipation she and Naruto had been giving off since first thing this morning. "You okay?" she asked, anxiety filling her voice. "You seem…off today?"

Only Sakura would be able to distinguish between his usual surliness that was the epitome of Sasuke, and the somberness that he had been feeling with each passing day that brought them closer to their graduation. But then again his whole year had seemed…off.

He took a long look at her with his onyx eyes. Then gave her a wane smile, doing everything he could to cover what he truly felt. So he did what any professional liar would do, told a half truth.

"Itachi," he said with a taciturn response.

Sakura's lips tightened then gave a small understanding nod. "Come on," she said soothingly, giving his hand a small tug as she began to lead him to the main gate of the shrine.

Sasuke stood before the ominous and worn looking building of the recruitment office. Three days ago he had made his decision on which path to take for his future. And now he was about to sign his name and make that commitment.

He had never considered the military until the career expo his school had hosted. They had sat down with their guidance counselor then went to the auditorium where a hundred kiosks had been set up all varying in every career path imaginable. Universities, trade schools, company recruiters, and many others stood at tables giving out free pens and pamphlets as they talked with teenagers. Each kiosk visited by a student had their anxiety of their futures rocket exponentially as their eyes were opened to the overwhelming options life had, with each option making it seem that what they chose to do immediately after graduation would dictate the rest of their lives success.

Sasuke walked through it boredly, stopping briefly here and there until he found himself at a corner booth. Behind it was a worn looking military officer who had obviously seen more active days in his time in service. His uniform stretching across his large belly acting as a testament to that. .

The man was busy talking with a student who Sasuke recognized as the military club president. So instead of asking questions, Sasuke looked around at the display. Looking at the various pictures posted all over the wall and letting his eyes glaze over the laptop screen that was playing a looped video of a recruiting campaign that had been filmed thirty years ago. After watching the second half and part of the first, he went on to grab one of the pamphlets about basic training that was laying on the table.

"Well, well, well," came a slithery voice. "I never thought I would sssee an Uchiha interested in such a division of work."

Sasuke turned away from the booth to face a feline of a man that had a gaze most unsettling. The man smiled widely, his eyes gleaming hungrily as he licked his lips.

"If you are truly interested in such a career," the man went on. "I think you might want to consider a slightly different path from one such as yourself. Sure there is honor in serving your country, but no one ever got rich from honor. If you really want to see action, earn glory, and do something truly worthy…" The snake of a man held out a card. "Come find me."

Sasuke had hardly a moment to take the extended card from the man's long fingers before Professor Serutobi approached the man and had him escorted out, saying something about violating a restraining order and having a record of misconduct with past students.

As the memory faded from his mind, Sasuke pulled the bent up card that had been given to him that day from his pocket. Even now the memory of the man who had approached him gave Sasuke the chills, and yet he still found himself standing outside the very building.

His eyes glazed over the printed letters of the card and symbol of the musical insignia that adorned the otherwise plain card:

Otogakure Special Operations

Founder: General Orochimaru

Sasuke had found a number of information and recruitment packets being sent to his house for the past several months since that day. Some even being sent to his private email which had slightly bothered him on how they even got his personal information. Then again, from what he had discovered from the website, it was a covert operations specialist cooperation. A private military they called themselves, defending the country from the shadows. Kakashi had warned him about it when he had asked.

But as graduation grew closer, life grew darker, and the shadows were calling his name. He was going to be fine, he needed this, needed a separate path from his brother. He had still yet to tell any of his friends because he already knew what they would say. He already knew they wouldn't understand why he needed to do this.

No one would.

With that thought, he put the card back into his pocket and made his way up the stairs, entering the building, prepared to sign in blood if required.

"...without further delay, please congratulate this year's graduating class of Konoha Senior Academy!"

The auditorium erupted into applause and shouted cheers of glee as Iruka concluded his faculty speech. A flurry of black hats dotted the sky that was visible through the large skylight roof of the building before the tossed caps were taken over by gravity and rained back down onto the officially graduated students. But as they cheered and hugged each other, the silk fabric falling upon them was ignored as they were caught up in the moment of achievement.

All except one.

It was as if everything slowed down for the raven haired young man who stood in the middle of the group, his hat still in his hand as he looked around, looking lost amongst the chaos.

Unlike the mass of cheering peers, he had been dreading this day. Dreading the moment when reality caught up to him and he had to go through with all the arrangements and plans he had made over the past couple of weeks. Despite the bright sunlight that was cascading through the window from outside, he felt as if there was an ominous dark cloud hanging over him.

A good conscience would say it was guilt hanging over him but Sasuke was a boy of denial.

And soon Sakura was running up to him, wrapping her hands around him and smiling brightly up at him, casting away the dark clouds and making him forget about everything momentarily. And he committed to doing that.

He was going to give her the best he could this day. He would make it seem as if everything was right with the world. Itachi wasn't sick. They were all going to be starting the same school in the fall. And he was not going to mess up possibly the best thing that he had going for him in his life at the moment. And for the day, as they went to Naruto's house where a large graduation party was being hosted, Sasuke believed himself. They ate, they laughed, they danced, and they dreamed.

He had gotten so comfortable with hiding and lying over the past year that he even managed to lie to himself for a few hours. But then the sun went down, everyone went home, and the shadows called out his name, summoning him to his commitments he made.

He wasn't sure how long he had been standing at his dresser, staring at the contents in the frame. But it was long enough to memorize the old picture flawlessly. It was a picture of himself, Sakura, and Naruto standing with Kakashi during their freshman year. Sakura stood at front, his face full of excitement while Sasuke pouted off to the side and Naruto glared at him from the other side. At this moment he could not even recall what had been the cause of their fight then and for some reason it bothered him. What else would he forget in the coming years?

He tipped the picture until it was laying face down, hiding the captured moment.

Walking across the room, he zipped the black duffle bag at the end of his bed before slinging it over his shoulder and quietly tiptoed out of his room and through his house, only making a small detour to lay a note on the counter top for his mother to find when she made her morning tea.

It was nearly three in the morning when Sasuke slipped out of the front door of his home. Dressed in dark jeans and a black hoodie, he began making his way down the now quiet and dark street as he pulled his hood over his head, blending him into the shadows until he passed beneath the yellow glow of the street lights.

The summer air was warm but still, which made the chirping crickets echo loudly from the grassy field of the park on the other side of the street. He had countless memories of dashing across that street to make sure he had first claim to the swing which now hung motionless at the moment. Then he passed by the house next to his, its windows dark as its inhabitants slept but it still held a welcoming aura. It was easy to say he had spent an equal amount of time within that house as he did his own while growing up.

His slow strides took him all the way down the paved street and through the next couple of blocks that made up the neighborhood. Just as he reached the main street that connected to the neighborhood. Making his way towards the stone bench that marked the bus stop, his steady pace came to a stop as his dark eyes caught sight of a figure standing there, waiting for him.

It was a mix of emotions that fluttered through his chest. But eventually they landed on the one that had been his more recent go to emotion.

Anger.

What the hell was she doing here!?

"It's the middle of the night, what are you hanging around here for?" Sasuke said, his tone unfeeling and dull but still holding a slight bite to it.

There was a short pause before she spoke quietly. "This is the only bus stop that runs this early in the morning."

A taxi cab drove down the otherwise empty road, casting them in a bright light and Sasuke could see her expression briefly before it turned down another road and they were left with only the dim and flickering street lights.

After a long pause with only the crickets hiding in the hedges to keep them from silence, Sasuke let out a, "hn." He then took a few more steps until he was standing in front of the covered structure of the bus stop.

He set his bag down at his feet and faced the empty street. "You should go back home."

"Kakashi sensei told me you enlisted with that man."

Sasuke remained silent. So much for speaking in confidence, he thought to himself.

"Why Sasuke?" she said, her question hardly a whisper. "What happened to KU and all the plans we made for this summer? Everything we talked about all year?" Sasuke again said nothing. And after a long pause, Sakura's voice broke through the night air, causing the crickets to cease their nightly song. "Why is it always silence with you now?" She said with frustration. "You didn't say a single thing-"

"Why should I have to tell you anything?"

From the corner of his eye he saw her physically flinch then she stilled.

"Seriously?" Sakura said, her tone holding a hardened attitude that she had developed over the years of dealing with Sasuke's attitude. But even still, there was an underlying hurt in the question and the moment Sasuke heard it, he found his hardened exterior slightly crack.

But it took more than a crack for Sasuke to give in. "You won't understand."

"You didn't even try to let me understand!" she defended taking a few steps so that she was standing in front of him. Her angry face glaring up at him and the unshed tears gleaming in the street light. "Besides, I don't have to understand you big jerk. But I do deserve to be told and given consideration to know you didn't just disappear without a word. Do I really mean that little to you?"

He looked down at his feet. This was not how this was supposed to go. This was not supposed to be happening at all. He had planned it this way because he had played this conversation out in his mind and could never find the right words. It always turned out horribly so he thought it would be easier this way. Every time he played it out in his head, he would yell, she would yell, he would get angry and hurt her and she would cry. Unfortunately he forgot that Sakura was far too perceptive for her own good and far too forgiving for him.

He looked to the side where she was standing. Arms crossed over her chest with a thin jacket pulled around her. Her hair was slightly tangled showing that she had most likely been sleeping just before coming here.

Silently he stretched out his hand and she walked up to him, taking his large one in her small one.

"What gave it away?" he asked quietly.

Sakura let out a huff, looking at the poster advertising the newest skin care product, then looked back at him. "You danced with me tonight."

He gave her a quizzical look.

"And you didn't put up a protest or make it a big deal," she added. "You were trying too hard to make things seem fine. Plus I saw the bus tickets in your room a couple days ago," she admitted. "I just thought you were taking your time to tell me…I didn't think you would go full asshole and try to leave without at least saying goodbye."

Sasuke hung his head. "Sorry," he muttered. "I thought it would be easier," he admitted, then turned his head to look back at her.

With wet tears shining in her eyes, she smiled knowingly up at him. "Come on Sasuke, you know I wouldn't make it easy for you. How else would I annoy you?"

He looked down at her and suddenly she let out a small squeak of surprise as he pulled her in tightly. His arms encircled around her as he pulled her in closely, bowing his head into the top of her head.

"Sakura," he said, pausing for a moment before he uttered his next words. "Thank you."

She was still for a moment before she slowly wrapped her own arms around him and Sasuke began to feel a warm wetness seeping into the front of his shirt where she buried her face into his chest.

"Sasuke please don't go."

Her muffled plea reached his ears and dug deep into his chest, causing his hands to clench in frustration.

"I have to. From this point on, new paths will start," he muttered, trying to hold onto the last shred of resolve he had.

"If you stay I promise I will do everything to make sure you never regret staying. I will make every day enjoyable, I will do everything to make you happy and erase this pain you are feeling. Just stay here…with me." She paused, then as her body began to tremble she spoke again. "I…I love you more than anything," she stammered. Admitting something neither of them had ever officially uttered in their relationship.

Sasuke pulled away slightly, forcing her to look down as he stared at her. She herself seemed surprised but the admission. The words felt so right yet so wrong in this moment. Sasuke's lips parted, unsure and untrusting of what was going to come out. But before he could say anything, the screeching wheels of the bus stopping had them both looking away from each other and looking at the portly old man who was looking expectantly at them from the driver's seat.

Sasuke looked back down at Sakura, his throat tightening when he saw the pleading look in her eyes. His hand came up to her neck and he bent down and gave her a gentle kiss. "One year," he said. "I signed up for one year. Then I promise I will be back. I will find you, I will join you. But I just need…"

A small tear escaped the corner of her eye as she gave him a brave nod, taking in a staggered breath. "I don't get it. But I hope you find what you need," she said.

Sasuke let out a breath but it was not a sigh of relief. Bending down he snatched up his bag and quickly boarded the bus. He took his seat in the very back, determinedly looking ahead and refusing to look out the window as the bus began to move away. But despite his conviction, just as the bus reached the end of the street and stopped at the light, Sasuke glanced back.

In the dim light of the bus stop he saw a lone figure slouched down onto the bench, shoulders shaking and face buried into her hands.

Something within him wrenched tightly.

As the bus began to move again and turn the corner, hiding the last glimpse of the girl he had just broken the heart of, Sasuke himself felt something break. And that dark cloud that had been hanging over him began to swirl and storm. And suddenly he had a feeling that even the brightest of lights was not going to be able to bring him back, because he had just broken the one light that had been giving him any guidance in a long while.

And that concludes our high school years. Yes I know this was not the sweet sugary goodness we want but I promise it will make future chapters sweeter. We will do a bit of a time jump next chapter by a couple of years.

Thank you all to those who checked in on my and wished me well. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. Life of course is just busy and I don't get to spend much time writing anymore. I've been trying to get back into it. Working a little here and there on each of my stories. Hoping to get something else up soon. Either this story or another. I was struggling with this chapter and can't say it turned out how I wanted but I just kept drawing a blank when I tried to get inspiration. Either way hope you enjoyed it!

Take care and be excellent!