Transmission **REDACTED** Addendum
North Side the Wall, Tokyo Urban; Hidden Village: **REDACTED**
Subjects **REDACTED**
23:45 hrs; December **REDACTED**
It wasn't a normal occurrence Sasuke would come into her room in the middle of the night.
Well, technically speaking, that is; Sakura had multiple dreams of just such a moment occurring. Plenty of times, actually. Of course, though, they'd be under wholly "different" circumstances. Those long nights where, preferably after a nice long bath, she would see his dark shadow eclipse the moonlight shining in her room. His lithe figure sliding in silently, secretly, holding her with his gaze, till he pulls her into a hard - yet, oddly, soft - embrace. On those long, dark, quiet nights. Where all they had was each other, and maybe the promise of something more, Sakura would see Sasuke in her dreams.
He'd come for her, and she'd go to him.
Because she loved him, and deep down, fantasized he did so, too.
Despite whatever misgivings she had about her own reflection staring back from her bedroom mirror in the light of day, the girl who never looked to be as the woman she wanted or envisioned, all that didn't matter in Sakura's dreams. There, Sasuke would always come. He would always brush his warm breath across her neck, threaten to tease as he drew close towards her sensitive lips, let his fingers caress and make her feel the way she wanted to feel. In those dreams, Sakura looked the way she wanted - confident, strong, aggressive, and beautiful. The kind of woman Sasuke deserved.
Not the one who shivered nervously as he took off his shirt, bared his neck to her, and removed the bandages covering the harsh, venomous looking, tattoo.
"It's gotten worse from before," she tells him, fingers gently tracing the black, flame-like lines sprouting along his sternocleidomastoid. "Do you feel any more pain."
"Less than before, but still there, I suppose. The painkillers help." He replies.
Sakura goes over towards the first aid kit she keeps under her bed. The aloe treatment she'd been applying Sasuke these last two days was mixed with a small pain suppressant. A mixture of menthol, methyl salicylate, and eucalyptus oil. The waxy paste keeping it all together was her own concoction, something acquired mixing a bit of the volcanic clay found in the Fuji dirt and glue. It's not great, the smell is pungent to the point of making her eyes water, yet it soothes Sasuke; she can feel his tenseness lesson soon as she applies it to the area.
"There isn't much left of this stuff," Sakura reminds Sasuke, who only grunts in acknowledgement. "If the pain continues - if the mark spreads, I...well, can't really tell you to see a doctor here."
"No, no doctors; this is fine. With ROOT about, I can't afford anyone else to know. But, still...sorry, I guess. For bothering you with this again." The apology is awkward and unwieldy, much like the majority of their interactions between each since...
Well, everything that's transpired. Literal "frying pan, into the fryer" type of stuff, Sakura's head still spun.
Normalcy had become rare since the funeral. The loss of comrades like Hayate and Choji's father had left a deep scar on the village, a reminder of how closely knit their lives were. The Village felt smaller now, heavier, with grief hanging like a shroud. Sakura had spent nights consoling Ino, who visited her father whenever she could, though more often than not, she threw herself into her work. Stubborn as always, Ino refused to lean on anyone, choosing instead to mask her pain with determination—or perhaps hide from it altogether.
"I'm telling you the same thing I said to Shikamaru, Sakura." Ino says, chambering the next round into the rifle. "Thanks, but no thanks."
BANG*
The shot misses the target by a margin, causing Ino to curse and fidget with her sights once again.
"I know, I know - drop half a meter to your right, adjust for wind." Sakura tells her friend, spying through binoculars. "My parents wanted to let you know if there's anything you or your mom need..."
BANG*
"Damn it all! What I need is for you to call my target, Sakura." Ino snaps, again havinf a hard time bolting the next round; without any proper lube, the cold was causing the old Arisaka to sieze up.
"Very well, then - another quarter meter up, top left angle; the bullet's curving."
"Old rounds," Ino says dismissively.
"Or you're not concentrating."
Sakura wouldn't have put it past Ino if she fired the next shot at her. There past fights...have at times become overly competitive. Violent even, some would say. But let others say what they will, they didn't understand the two girls friendship. She knew what Ino needed, and it wasn't a shoulder to cry on.
That was yeaterday.
Today, she needed an outlet to unleash herself on.
That day the training grounds were quiet, with only a few of the Sendai guards keeping watch. The grass was hard and crunchy under their bellies with frost. Ino was actually the one to call on Sakura if she wanted to target shoot today. Sakura obliged, feeling her friend needed someone out in the cold with her. Away from the duties ROOT assigned her, away from the rigid protocol of attending every Intelligence Division meeting, and away from the prospect of potentially assuming her role as head of her clan far sooner than anticipated. It was a given one day this would be the case, but when they were kids that time always felt years away. Yet, how fast time can make a mockery of the inexperienced.
*BANG*
Bullseye.
"I'm not weak, Sakura." The sound of the round leaving the chamber makes an audible *chink* as it falls. Ino looks over towards Sakura, icy blue eyes wet, yet determined; Sakura saw that look any a time. First it was when she challenged Ino firsthand who'd win Sasuke's heart, then during their fist instance of sparring at the Academy. It was the hardest punch Sakura had ever felt, and knocked her out completely for a whole day. She gave as good as she got, though; Ino was, equally, sent unconscious after a vicious left hook.
Both recovered in the same hospital room, and woke up seeing their respective cheeks swollen purple, and wrapped gauze.
"I can do this, because I am strong, Sakura. I know I'm not as determined as you. Or as talented as Sasuke, smart like Shikamaru, or as stupid-lucky as Naruto. But Asuma told me once that I was tasked to never to lose to you, and I intend to uphold that bargain. I'm tired of crying for my dad. For Shikamaru's and Choji's, too. I'm gonna do my part," Ino chambers another round, takes aim, and fires in rapid succession two more shots at the target.
*BANG* *BANG*
They too are dead center.
That day Ino told her she wasn't going to be the one Sasuke rescues next time. That she'd be strong enough on her own to get out of a jam, whether or not it's going to cost her an arm, or a leg, or the most precious thing she ever prided in, her hair. Ino vowed if the Village was going to be at risk, then it was up to her do her part in protecting it. Not as simply a pretty flower that can be plucked from the garden, but a warrior who can be trusted to do her part. For her friends, for her father, and for The State.
Sakura, too, felt the same.
But...
She'd like to think when situations like this arose, she'd be smart enough to handle it; it was what she was training for - what The State staked their hopes on her. Preliminary evaluation reports on her coincided with what she sort of knew all along: of all prospective junior commissars, Sakura Haruno looked to be at the very top. She was intelligent to understand the stakes, strong enough to overcome them, and her psyche reports commended her zeal for Sapporo and The Noble One. Which was why when it came to security here for Konoha, though the blockade left a sour taste in many people's mouth, she understood it as a necessity.
Did she like the Sendai red banner locking down the Hidden Leaf?
Privately, no; but publicly she'd told everyone it was a sensible decision. Someone infiltrated their home, and enemies of Sapporo needed to be found and dealt with. Immediately. Area surrounding Konoha and the Fuji environs spanned over twelve-hundred kilometers in all directions. The Forest of Death, likewise, offered ample hiding spots for the culprits to hold up or take shelter. ROOT security and the Sendai infantry have searched the woodland, but with all the tunnels and hidden bunkers between there and here, running fear is whoever planned this very well could've escaped.
Or, more troubling, was still here among the villagers.
"Not so hard, Sakura," Sasuke winces.
Sakura immediately stutters out an apology, before a soft, green light emits from her fingertips. "S-Sorry, Sasuke-kun. I didn't mean it. I - It's just been...I haven't really had a lot of time relax myself."
"Hn," is his response.
He would never be so short with her in their dreams. There Sasuke was kinder, gentler; aloof still, but now his cold exterior hiding a deeper, more enchanting aspect to his character. Not a simmering acrimony which - granted - has become a LOT better over the years. There was a time Sakura would've been broken to pieces by one untoward comment he could make. And there were a lot of them in the beginning. "Weak", "useless", always telling her to get out of his way, that he'd no interest in her at all.
To be fair, he also said the same to Naruto, also.
But where Naruto ever took those barbs as challenges to prove wrong, was a time Sakura could be broken to pieces for the things Sasuke could and did say. The harshest for some reason, and the one which ever sticks out in her mind the most, is the one where they'd just find out they'd be on the same team together. Comrade-Kakashi Sensei introduced himself, and later they all took time getting to know one another. Sakura was so excited. Finally, she had the opportunity to get closer to the boy she and Ino staked their claims on when they were little.
At last, Sakura thought, she'd be able to give Sasuke the one-on-one treatment she always pictured they'd. To give the best impression of herself and show she wasn't like any of the other fangirls in their class...
That thought crashed and burned soon as Sasuke opened his mouth, however.
"You're annoying."
Those were the words he said to her not five minutes into their first meaningful interaction.
It utterly devastated her, crumbled her entire world about her. Left Sakura with a heart swelling with all types of doubts, fears, hurts she hadn't experienced since the first days of primary school. As little girls are want to be, obviously some pretty harsh things were said to her then. But nothing came close to her one and only telling her he'd want nothing to do with, equating her to nothing more than a pest that needed to be swatted away.
She couldn't tell you how long she'd been sitting on that bench - felt like years, honestly.
But thankfully, amazingly, what Sakura originally thought was going to be one of the worst days of her life, turned out all right in the end.
Because Sasuke-kun came back.
Complemented her even - said her forehead was so pretty that he wanted to... kiss it?
What?
Okay, that was a little weird. But, hey, who cares about particulars when Uchiha Sasuke - THE Uchiha Sasuke - was leaning in close to you. So close you could feel how warm he was, feel his breath on your face, take in his smell that reminded one of... spoilt milk? Hm, right. Well, that's not quite how Sakura imagined he'd be like, but whatever. Who cares. The most popular boy in the Academy was coming in to give her a KISS!
All she needed to do was lean in. Just lean in. Maybe another centimeter or so, till she can finally feel like the prettiest girl in all of Konoha, and her dream would finally come true.
But that, too, went up in flames: one gurgling stomach and an impromptu bathroom trip ruined everything. Sakura's and Sasuke's moment - THE moment - was seemingly put on hold, and since has yet to rekindle any of those same feelings. Sasuke never brought it up again, either - maybe because he was too shy, or too embarrassed. Makes Sakura blush a little thinking that might be it, and has stopped her from confronting him on it. But that's probably for the best. Life it seemed ever got in the way of what they had. What with Sakura training to be a commissar and doing a part-time role at Tree Leaf, Sasuke being a bona fide ANBU agent, Naruto; they just didn't have time to waste on childish fancies.
Not now, at least.
Perhaps, later. When the mood was perfect, Sakura bolder, and Sasuke's attention would be solely focused on her and not -
"Have you talked to Naruto lately?" Sasuke asks her pointedly
"Huh?" Naruto's name leaves Sasuke's lips effortlessly, and it's the last thing Sakura wanted right now. It causes her fingers to stumble, and the bright green light to falter a bit. "N-No, I haven't. Although, not for lack of him trying."
She says it like she was annoyed, but in fairness she didn't mind it; Naruto coming around to bug her when could made things feel somewhat normal.
After the attack, her responsibilities had become twofold - not only was she helping assist caring for the wounded, but ROOT Comrade Director Koshiro delegated her specifically to be the attending liaison for one of his captains set to secure Tree Leaf. Comrade-Commissar Terasoma. A veteran of the Nanking and Manchuria campaigns back in the war, his report went. However, of all the veterans Sakura treated over the years, this man seemed more...eccentric, to say the least.
At most, Sakura could say much.
Terasoma was the person Sakura thought she'd be charged with aiding. His uncouth and lascivious manner towards any nurse within a two-foot radius of him made Sakura's skin positively crawl. His almost obsessive knowledge towards hospitals and an almost astute knowledge concerning injuries and certain treatments; hearing this, Sakura supposed it would be all right to strike a conversation with him. About likeminded interests, perhaps. Was he a doctor during the war, she asks Comrade-Commissar innocently. He replied sardonically, "Doctor? Me? Fuck outta here!" Hospitals, apparently, just interested him. In a spiritual way, he explained: they were a place, he went, where the pain of heroes and common soldiers mingled as one; their shared experiences and stories bared between one another, as they all face against the one, constant commonality every warrior - irregardless of status or virtue - stands before in the end.
"Death", he tells this to her, with an almost preacher like admiration in his inflection. "Every man - and woman, faces death in time, my young comrade. And places such as this-" Terasoma spins his pointed finger about him "-are the temple which we are fortunate enough to witness their last moments. Of prayer, of pain, or at times victory."
"Victory?" She asks, teeth clattering as she froze in the blood freezer beneath Tree Leaf Hospital.
"Yes, indeed," Terasoma says, taking blood samples of underlined names from his extensive list. "At times, when a man - or woman, stares before the dark abyss, something pulls them out at the last moment. Once more they breath in a gulp of air, suck it down, and see the coming of a new day. At that instant whether they realize it or not, they've just done something many a warrior seldom achieve: Victory over death. And what do we call comrades-in-arms who survive against such odds?
Sakura didn't know how to answer it then, nor did she like dwelling on Terasoma's unsettling smile afterwards. The man asked her to forgive him, that a soldier who'd seen as much combat and blood on the killing fields was prone to such unbridled manners that might seem barbarous to one inexperienced as she. Sakura took it as a challenger, and steeled her resolve. She tells Terasome despite her inexperience, she was not foolish. Nor demurred at his peculiar habits.
"My father is a combat veteran, also." She reminds Comrade-Commissar. "I have seen what war can do to men - somewhat. I'm not afraid of it!"
Terasoma laughs, smiles, and tells her this is good to know; maybe when she's injured in the heart of battle, she too may be fortunate enough to face death and win.
Spending her days with Terasoma was an annoyingly taxing experience. To go along with minding the wounded and injured from the explosion, almost always Sakura would be drained by the time she got home. Her mother did enough to ease up on her daughter, and Kizashi did as much too with a dumb pun, and a sneak of some of his Okinawan sake kept under the kitchen floorboards; always away from Mebuki's attention, of course. But what really helped get her mind right, what really grounded her to the earth, were her teammates.
Comrade-Sensei Kakashi was still in tough shape - his vitals fluctuated almost every hour, his body for some reason fighting against the antibiotics treating his infections, but his team was still here. They were sticking by each other, in a way. Despite everything, Team 7 wasn't coming apart. Which is why she confronted Sasuke about telling Naruto what's going on with him.
"We should tell him what's going on with you. It's only fair, Sasuke-kun." She goes, kneading his trap. " Comrade-Sensei Kakashi already knows. You told me. You know Naruto cares about you a lot."
"Partly for that reason is why I don't want to tell him." Sasuke says, pressing in closer to Sakura's touch, pushing his weight onto her. "I need to stay focused, Sakura; Naruto will only get in my way. You saw how he was in the Forest of Death - once he gets like that, he's impossible."
"All he wanted to do was help; we can't blame him for trying to do what he can."
"What he could've done is nearly kill himself. It's not the first time, and won't be the last. How many missions have we done together where his wanting to play hero almost always gets him hurt. Badly. Remember Kazahana Castle, the Moryo incident? Sigh... I'm not gonna let Naruto be on my conscience because he's going to act before he thinks. About something even I don't have any answers for."
"I get wanting to protect him, but Naruto's not a kid anymore." She asks, applying pressure as she places another clean bandage over the markings; the tattoo almost seems to pulse under her touch, like it was generating its own type of feverish heat. Sakura tries not to mind it, and places another wrapping over just in case. "All those incidents you mentioned - yeah, he's reckless. But if anything, if the roles were reversed, you know Naruto wouldn't hesitate being upfront with us."
Sasuke snorts a little at that, amused. "Like he was with his smuggling?" His words cut deeper than his tone suggests, and Sakura falters, taken aback.
Her immediate instinct is to defend Naruto—No, that was different. She opens her mouth, but even in her mind, the reasoning feels fragile. Naruto's secrecy had been born of necessity, a desperate attempt to shield them all from Sapporo's wrath and the political fallout that would've consumed them. "He was only trying to—"
"Protect us?" Sasuke interrupts again, but this time, his voice is quieter, almost tender. He closes his eyes as if weary from the argument, from the weight of the mark, from everything. Reaching up, he places a hand over hers, halting her efforts. "It's okay, Sakura. You can stop now."
He pulls away from her, the sudden absence of his warmth making the space between them feel colder. As he rises, he grabs his black turtleneck, slipping it back on with practiced ease.
"Trust isn't the issue between us and Naruto," Sasuke says softly, his gaze drifting away, lost in a place Sakura can't follow. "We're trying to protect him too. Not just from himself, but from…" He trails off, his jaw tightening as if the rest of the sentence is caught in his throat.
The way his shoulders tense, the way his dark eyes narrow in thought—Sakura knows this isn't just about Naruto or the curse mark. It's something bigger, something tied to that day in the Forest of Death. Sasuke hasn't been the same since, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to reach him.
"Sasuke-kun," she whispers, her voice trembling with both concern and desperation. "What else do you know? Tell me."
Emboldened by the tension, Sakura hesitates for a fraction of a second before reaching out. Her hand, so small compared to his, brushes against his cheek, coaxing his gaze back to hers. For a moment, she expects him to pull away, but to her astonishment, he lets her. Her heart races—why is he letting me do this?
As their eyes meet, something flickers in Sasuke's expression, an almost imperceptible softness past his usual stoicism. A hint of a smile tugs at his lips, and for a fleeting moment, Sakura is reminded of that day back on the bench. The day she fell in love with the boy before this... "curse". Before all this pain he keeps to himself.
"You really are annoying," he says, though this time it is with a more the teasing lilt in his voice. It makes her breath catch in her throat, but before she can respond, Sasuke turns away. He heads off towards the open window, where the December breeze rushes in soon as he opens it. It carries the sharp chill of winter and the faint scents of woodsmoke and pine.
"Sasuke, wait," she calls after, darting forward. Her night shift billows lightly as she wraps her arms around him from behind, holding him close. Her cheek presses against the firm planes of his back, and for a moment, she feels his hesitation when his body tenses. "Do you promise?" she asks, voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, silence stretches for a beat longer than she likes, and Sakura fears maybe she went too far. He'll shrug her off, she thinks to herself. Retreat into himself like always. But then, his hand moves to rest lightly over hers.
"Yes," he says looking back at her, his voice carrying a faint tremor. "Everything will be fine. I told Asuma as much last night. I'm going to protect us. All of us. That's a promise I mean to keep."
He doesn't elaborate further, but Sakura doesn't need him to. She clings to his words, her heart swelling with a fragile hope.
"Good," she replies, her voice steady now. "I'll hold you to that."
The lingering feelings she had in her begin to roil up inside again. Feelings she would sometimes have on those lonely, solitary nights. Where all the world was just herself and a faint, distant memory of a dream she never wanted to forget. Sasuke was perfect as always, and she too would have the body she always imagined for herself. A body that could please him, and be fun to experiment with.
However, she didn't mind this, either; her small, stunted frame against his tall, lean body. It may not be what she envisioned, but at least this was real. And as the kunoichi of Konoha were ever taught by Comrade-Proctor Suzume: " love in our line of work is difficult, lust is a given, but never let the memory of tenderness leave you; we are after all human, and deserve to be warmed by general kindness every once and while".
But before the moment can settle, the world outside shatters. A deafening explosion rips the night, its fiery glow lighting up the distant village center. Both Sakura and Sasuke's heads snap toward the window, and their breaths hitch as they take in the sight. Again, the warmth of their shared moment is replaced by the cold reality of their lives.
"It's never quiet for long, is it?" Sasuke says, his expression hardening as he prepares to leap into the fray. Whatever softness he allowed himself vanishes. Replaced by the warrior she knows too well.
And just like that, life seemingly pulls them apart once more.