It was already night time when they arrived in Sora no Kuni. Tsunade, Fugaku, Itachi, and with two Anbu was escorted to the meeting hall.
As soon as the Hoshikage showed up, they all bow their heads except for Tsunade who extended her hand as greeting. The Hoshikage took her hand acknowledging her gesture. They moved to their respective seats and began the discussion.
"Uchiha Sasuke is alive and currently held captive." The hoshikage started. Relief was evident in the faces of Fugaku and Itachi as soon as they heard the news. "However, the following crimes are charged against him—violation of treaty obligation, trespassing a country border, criminal threat, 51 counts of assault, and damage to property."
Fugaku released the breath he has been holding. No one was killed, they were lucky. There is a greater chance to win this negotiation.
"What are your demands Hoshikage?"
"Not so fast Hokage. Some of our men are in critical condition and you know what it means when a few of them die."
"No one will die tonight Hoshikage. I don't need to explain that to you, I suppose." For a moment both of them held each other's gaze. It is known to the shinobi world who Tsunade is, aside from being a Hokage, Tsunade is the best, most skilled medical ninja in the history.
"Very well. Azumi, come in."
"Yes, Hoshikage-sama."
"Lead the Lady Hokage to the Hospital."
"Yes, sir."
"There is no point to continue the negotiation tonight. Depending on the outcome, we will let you know of our demands."
——
For several days, Tsunade worked tirelessly to heal every single person that Sasuke has assaulted and because of her unmatched skill in medical ninjutsu, everyone has recovered from their injuries. Because of the positive outcome, the demands of Hoshikage are kept in the minimum and cleared Sasuke from all his criminal charges. He was released from prison and decided to see Sakura before anything else.
He walked in the corridor of the morgue. All he can hear is the sound of his echoing footsteps. In the end of the hall he can see Itachi standing behind the door of the room where her body lies.
"Sasuke..."
Sasuke ignored his brother and did not even spare him a glance. He walked past him, opened the door and shut it completely behind him. In the middle of the room there was a human size table covered with a white cloth. He clenched his teeth and silently approached it.
The room is cold and smelled like antiseptic. The only sound he can hear is the air coming out from the vent.
His hand is trembling when he reached the end of the white linen, removing a part of it so he can see her face. For a long time, he stared at her face. Slowly, he raise his hand to touch her cheek, the gesture he never did when she was still alive. The palm of his hand was met by her cold and stiff skin, a foreign feeling compared to the Sakura he always knew when she was alive. Always radiating warmth, joy, and comfort.
He never had the chance to admit it to her, but he always find her beautiful through the years they have been together. He run his thumb to touch her closed eyes. He always like the way her green eyes shine every time she sees him and the way she would look at him so adoringly. The same eyes that would always shed tears because of him. His thumb move downward to touch her lips. He remembered the way she smile, the sound of her voice, and her laughter—something he will never see and hear ever again.
Something he had always taken for granted. Yes, he had taken her for granted, knowing that she'll always be there because that was Sakura. He was so sure of her feelings and he knew that she will never leave his side. That's how it was always been.
However, it never came to him that she can be taken away—by death.
Slowly, he lifted her body and pulled her closer to his, embracing her for the first and last time.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I failed to protect you." silently whispering his words to her ear. Hot liquid filled his eyes, a foreign feeling that he never felt before. He buried his face on her shoulder and cried quietly. Sasuke felt a lot of emotions.
Resentment.
Sadness.
Guilt.
Regret.
He does not know how long he has been sobbing like that, when he raised his face, he hold her head steadily and kissed her slowly, the way he always imagine how he'd do it with her.
She has been dead for some time and he knows that the body he was holding is just an empty shell of the woman he always loved. Her lips is as cold as ice, chapped and dry against his. Regardless, Sasuke does not seem to care at the moment.
Through the kiss, he conveyed his feelings he suppressed for so long.
'I love you...'
His words that will remain unspoken forever.
Outside of the room, Itachi can hear the faint sounds of his brother crying. He clenched his jaw. The moment he first laid eyes on Sasuke, he swear to himself that he will do whatever it takes to protect Sasuke from anything but in that moment he realized that it was just a wishful thinking. The truth is, he cannot protect Sasuke from all the pain that is meant to come his way. This is the life of a shinobi. Their fate has already been decided from the day they were born. It's either they die fighting or witness their comrade die in the battlefield.
——————
Traveling from Sora no Kuni took 2 days to arrive to Konoha. As per the protocol, they went directly to the hospital for physical check up and for Sakura's body to be taken care of.
There he saw Kakashi, Naruto, Ino, Sai, and Sakura's parents waiting. By the look on their faces, they already know the news. Naruto's face went from sad to anger as soon as he saw Sasuke.
"You bastard!" He charge at Sasuke and grab him by the collar. Sasuke remained motionless. "How dare you show your face here?" He continued while yanking his collar. "Why did you let Sakura-chan die?!" Naruto landed a punch on his face and went flying in the opposite side of the room. Sasuke just accepted his anger with no intention of fighting back. He felt that he deserve it.
Kakashi and Itachi stepped between the two. Kakashi seize Naruto's hand when he attempted to assault Sasuke again while Itachi moved in front of Sasuke to protect him. "Stop it, Naruto." Kakashi said. "He lost her, too."
Sasuke remained seated where he landed from Naruto's punch until his ear catches the silent sobs of other people in the room.
Behind them Ino is quietly crying while being held by Sai beside them are Sakura's parent's who are also grieving the lost of their only child. When Sasuke saw Sakura's parents, he slowly approached and kneel before them. He lowered his head until his forehead can feel the cold floor of the hospital. Repeatedly bowing his head while apologizing.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
Those are the only words he can speak of even though he knew that no matter how many times he asked for their forgiveness, it will mean nothing. No amount of words can bring Sakura back.
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Days went on, Sasuke only stayed in his room and did not bother to go outside even during Sakura's wake. On the fifth day, Itachi knock on his door.
"Sasuke, today is Sakura's burial." He said behind closed door. Seating in his bed, Sasuke just stared blankly at the door but said nothing. "You need to pay your final respects."
He knew the truth but he refuse to acknowledge it. Paying his final respects would mean accepting her death and he is not prepared for it.
"Sasuke, are you sure you won't regret it?" Itachi continued. "Sakura would want you to be there." No answer was heard from his brother. He sighed and crouches down to get Sasuke's untouched food. For 5 days he did not eat anything. He knew that it will not kill Sasuke. Afterall, ninjas are trained for survival, including situations of days without food and water.
When he was about to go downstairs, Itachi heard his door swung open. "Sasuke..."
He paid no attention to his brother and went downstairs. Sasuke saw his mother crying in worry. Mikoto hurriedly approached him when she noticed his presence. "Sasuke. Thank goodness!" She gave him a hug and carefully tapped his back.
"Gomen, Kaa-san."
Mikoto just shook her head. "I understand, my son." She comforted Sasuke. Itachi can see the hesitation in Sasuke's face so he reassured him.
"Don't worry Sasuke, I will go with you."
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It has been a while since he saw familiar faces, his comrades, and friends. Usually, they will gather to catch up, have a few drinks, or celebrate a milestone. However, today is different. They are gathered to pay their final respects to a lost comrade.
He felt their gaze on him when he approached the place. Sasuke stopped walking midway. This signaled Itachi and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. They were all silent but the look on their faces were enough to speak the words they want to say. He knew those familiar look in their faces, the look which his father would often give him,
Disappointment.
Naruto stared at Sasuke and he immediately felt the guilt of blaming him for Sakura's death. His rival's cool and confident demeanor was nowhere to be found. The dark circle under his eyes shows that he hasn't been sleeping in the past days. His lips are chapped, which is a sign of dehydration. His facial complexion is unusually paler and he obviously lose too much weight. It is not hard to tell that he wasn't eating and drinking water.
The burial ceremony started and Sasuke just stood there quietly with his head down. Hours later, he was still standing in the front of her tomb even after the burial has ended, staring into nothingness. Due to emotional and physical stress, his body give in and he fell unconscious.
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The next thing he knew was he is already confined in the hospital. His eye twitched from the light coming from the window. Soft wind caressed his body, it is very soothing to the point that it's bothering him. He does not deserve this kind of comfort. He has no idea how long he had been in the hospital but he wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. This place is full of her memories—of the woman he failed to protect. His hand carelessly removed the intravenous injection in his left hand and walk towards the door.
Sasuke thought he already dealt with the greatest pain of her loss until he heard the conversation of the nurses just outside of his room.
"Uchiha Sasuke, isn't he Sakura-san's teammate?"
"Yes, he is and he has been unconscious for 3 days."
"Poor lad. He must've been very devastated."
"Well if that was me I will be very devastated too. I don't know how can I live knowing my wife was violated and killed."
His sharingan activated. 'Violated?' He yanked the door open and before the male nurse could react, Sasuke already grabbed him by the neck and pinned against the wall. Scared, the female nurse ran away screaming for help.
"What do you mean Sakura was violated?" His grip on the male nurse's neck tightened. "Speak or I will slit your throat open." A blinding lightning formed in his left hand followed by the chirping of a thousand birds.
Helpless, the male nurse said weakly, trembling under his grip "S-sakura-san was raped according to the autopsy." His grip on the nurse's neck loosened which made the nurse cough and gasped for air. Unable to contain his rage, Sasuke lunges his arm to the wall in front of him. He felt that if he did not release his anger he will lose his mind. The male nurse was so terrified he quickly scramble away from Sasuke. For days, he felt like an empty shell with no meaning, no purpose, no life. After learning what happened to Sakura, he felt the power surge inside him. It gave him a new purpose.
To kill.
A burning sensation overwhelm his eyes. Unable to handle the pain, he fall on his knees and brought his hands to his face.
Soon after, Itachi and Naruto showed up. Quickly, Itachi activated his sharingan and induced Sasuke to sleep.