With Hashirama finishing his story of his battle with Madara, he wasn't sure how Madara had survived, because he was sure he had killed him. Although he regretted killing Madara, his friend of so many years, he did it for the sake of the village. Hashirama asked Sasuke if he would accept his ideals or continue embracing Madara's view of the world.
As the words hung in the air, the weight of history settled heavily on everyone present. Sakura could feel the tension in Sasuke's grip; it was a mix of defiance and conflict. He was surrounded by the ghosts of the past, yet his future remained uncertain, like a blank canvas waiting for the brushstrokes of destiny.
Seeing it was a lot to take in, Sasuke took a deep breath and excused himself. He needed at least five minutes to himself to decide what direction he wanted to take. As he stepped away from the flickering campfires, the weight of his family's legacy pressed heavily on his shoulders. The quiet of the shrine contrasted sharply with the chaos of his tumultuous thoughts.
Sakura watched him go, her heart gnawing at her with worry. "Sasuke..." she murmured softly, wishing she could ease his mind. Despite the tension of the moment, she understood that this was a necessary process for him.
"You are, Haruno... Sakura Haruno, right?" Hiruzen asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped the shrine in the wake of Sasuke's departure.
"Hello, Third Hokage..." Sakura greeted him awkwardly while playing with a lock of hair, feeling an odd mixture of awe and anxiety in the presence of the legendary leader.
"Uhm, you are Naruto's father, right?" Sakura asked nervously, eager to steer the conversation away from Sasuke's heavy burden and onto safer ground, even if it meant addressing the legendary figures from history.
Minato smiled warmly, an air of gentle authority surrounding him. "Yes, that's right. I am Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, though many simply know me as the Yellow Flash." His eyes twinkled with pride as he spoke of his son, a twinkle that mirrored the respect he had for their sacrifices.
"Sakura..." Hiruzen called out to her, "W-why are you here? I can understand why Sasuke is here, but why are you here with Orochimaru?"
"I-I left the village as well and joined Sasuke and Orochimaru," she explained, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach.
"A bold choice to associate with those who have sought power outside the village, especially with an Uchiha," Tobirama muttered, skepticism lacing his voice.
Sakura met Tobirama's gaze with quiet defiance."Maybe you should look beyond the surface. I get that you don't like the Uchiha Clan because of your history and the death of your family, but that doesn't mean you should treat every Uchiha like they were all responsible. Sasuke had nothing to do with what happened years ago."
"You made a comment about how the Uchiha had been annihilated because they planned a coup. I agree it wasn't maybe a right move to plan a coup, but it doesn't mean everyone deserves to die! Sasuke had nothing to do with the coup! Children that were also his age, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other people who knew nothing about the coup didn't deserve to die!"
As the echoes of Sakura's bold words filled the shrine, a heavy silence hung in the air, laden with the weight of history and emotion. The four Hokages exchanged glances, the tension palpable as they absorbed her passionate plea.
"Sasuke was the exception to the hate you are talking about! Sasuke was a bright, happy child, until the Leaf elders turned his lights off! Maybe he would eventually turn into one of them—just maybe—and maybe not. No one knows how someone will turn out to be. A kid of an evil parent could turn out like him, or maybe not. How would they know? Maybe he will if people treat him just because he is that person's kid and not for who he is. If he has someone by his side or not. It always has been 'if'!"
Hiruzen's stoic expression softened slightly as he considered Sakura's words. The weight of her conviction struck a chord deep within the hearts of those present. It was rare for anyone to challenge the legacies of such storied shinobi, especially in the presence of multiple Hokages.
"What if you are wrong? What if Sasuke would destroy the village right now?" Tobirama said, his voice thin but sharp as a blade, weighing heavily with historical caution. His furrowed brows reflected decades of hard-earned wisdom, and he regarded Sakura with a mix of respect and skepticism.
"I can't guarantee that he won't," Sakura countered defiantly, her emerald eyes burning brightly with determination. "But for now, he listened. I explained it to Sasuke. Tried to reason with him that the village didn't do anything. The village doesn't deserve it, just like how the whole Uchiha clan didn't deserve it. He'll just stoop to the same level as the elders he hates."
"What if he wanted the elders dead?" Tobirama asked, his tone sharper now. "You'll side with a murderer?"
"I'll stand by his side," Sakura declared boldly, "which I did when he killed Danzo. Hell, I even took part in the fight."
"Danzo?" Hiruzen interjected, his brow furrowing with concern. "What did he do?"
"Thinking Sasuke had no protection and fearing he might know the truth, he branded Sasuke a missing-nin as soon as he claimed the Sixth Hokage title because Tsunade was in a coma, which he did not create but did help to go to that extent because he refused to send his people when Pain from the Akatsuki attacked the Village to capture Naruto! How is that for the sake of the village?" Sakura took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her emotions packing into her words.
"Another thing about the Uchiha Clan's downfall that you don't know, Second Hokage, is that Itachi's best friend, Shisui, tried to stop the group that was planning the coup with his Genjutsu. He wanted to manipulate them to protect the village instead of the coup, but Danzo got in the way! He wanted to do it his way and stole one of Shisui's Sharingan!"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed, embers of guilt flickering in his ancient eyes as he turned to face Sakura directly. "You speak of things I wish I could change—"
"Yet! You didn't do anything, Third Hokage! You didn't do anything against Danzo! You think he did it for the sake of the village? So far, almost every bad thing that happened to the village was his fault!" Sakura interjected fervently, her voice rising above the mounting tension. The outrage in her heart made her words sharper, like a kunai aimed at the very foundation of their perceptions.
"Danzo took Shisui's Sharingan for himself! With the help of this bastard next to me, he implanted, what, 10 Sharingan on his arm!" Sakura pointed to Orochimaru, her eyes blazing as the weight of her revelations filled the shrine with an air thick with accusation.
The four Hokages exchanged glances again, and the atmosphere crackled with an intensity that made everyone feel both uneasy and unsettled.
"He just wanted the Uchiha powers for himself! It wouldn't surprise me if he also wanted to control the Nine-Tails with his Sharingan!" Sakura continued.
"Orochimaru told me everything! Danzo basically helped with the creation of Pain, who did heavy damage against the Leaf! Danzo used Kabuto to become a spy for the Leaf, but after a while just disregarded him and wanted him dead! In the end, he became Orochimaru's closest aide and, worse, he had joined this war and killed many shinobi with the forbidden jutsu that YOU created, Second Hokage!" Her voice reverberated through the shrine, carrying the weight of her emotions and laying bare the tangled web of betrayal and responsibility that connected them all.
Tobirama remained silent, his brow furrowed, processing the truth of her words. He had not anticipated the depth of her insights, nor the reminder of the deep-rooted issues that had plagued the village for generations.
"So, back to your question, Second Hokage, you called Sasuke a murderer? Because of the elders, a whole clan with women, men, elders, and even children are dead, and you want to call Sasuke a murderer for killing Danzo? That's pathetic, and my answer is yes! I'll stay by his side, no matter what!" Sakura declared as she straightened her posture.
"Why?" Tobirama challenged, eyes narrowed. "Why would you throw your life away for someone who has committed violence, even if it is against someone like Danzo?"
"Because I love him," she declared, the words spilling from her lips with a fervent intensity that caught even her by surprise. The room fell into a stunned silence, the implications of her admission hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
Orochimaru and Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly, while Minato and Hashirama exchanged glances, both surprised yet considering the strength of Sakura's feelings. Karin crossed her arms, appearing more conflicted than ever as she leaned back against the wall, observing the unfolding drama. Tobirama, however, remained skeptical, a frown etched deeply on his brow.
Seeing there was nothing left to say, Sakura slowly turned around to check on Sasuke, who had heard everything. As Sakura turned, her heart raced, the grip of fear knotting her stomach as she recalled the potent emotions that had just spilled forth. The weight of her confession hung heavily in the shrine. Quickly leaving the shrine, upstairs, she noticed Sasuke's back was facing her as he was busy looking up at the sky.
"Sasuke..." she whispered, hesitant, and got closer to him. He remained silent for a moment longer, his hunched shoulders betraying the cyclone of emotions that must be tearing through him. Finally, he turned to face her, his dark eyes piercing yet soft with understanding. Sasuke took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
"Sasuke...I-" Sakura tried to say something but was interrupted by a sudden force pushing her backwards. His lips crashed onto hers in a wave of unexpected intensity. Sakura's breath hitched in her throat as her heart raced, an electric thrill coursing through her veins. Every moment of uncertainty, every sleepless night of worry—all dissipated in that one profound connection.
Sasuke crashing into Sakura wasn't hard, but because it was sudden, Sakura stumbled and almost fell, but a grip around her waist held her steady. With his arm, he pulled her closer to his chest.
His other hand reached up, cradling her face. For that fleeting second, the world outside—the looming shadows of the past, the burdens of their choices, and the uncertainties of the future—faded away. It was only the two of them, suspended in a cocoon of raw emotion and unspoken truths. As the kiss deepened, it felt both new and familiar; a culmination of their shared struggles and countless moments that led them to this point.
Panic started to rise when she heard footsteps coming from the stairs behind her. She wanted to push Sasuke lightly away, but his grip around her waist tightened, anchoring her in place. She felt the heat of his body against hers, every nerve ending tingling as she hesitated. How could she possibly think of breaking this moment?
"Yo, Sasuke," Suigetsu called out as he walked up the stairs, "The others are waiting—"
Suigetsu got cut off when he saw Sasuke walking quickly past him without making eye contact. A few steps further, he stopped in his tracks to inform Suigetsu that he had made his decision.
"Sakura..." he called out to her, but he didn't turn around, and neither did Sakura. Suigetsu looked back and forth between the two, whose backs were facing him on both sides,"I'm joining the war. You still want to stay by my side?"
'Did I interrupt something?' Suigetsu thought, noticing how neither of them was looking at him and both refused to look at each other as well.
Sakura took a deep breath as she processed his words, feeling a swell of conflicting emotions. The kiss lingered in her mind like a bubble ready to burst; joy, fear, concern—all swirling in an intricate dance within her heart.
"Of course, Sasuke. How can you even ask that?" she answered as she looked up at the sky, smiling.
"Oh yeah...I heard everything," Sasuke confessed. The weight of vulnerability in his statement drew a gasp from Suigetsu, who marveled at the realization that Sakura's confession had not gone unnoticed.
"You heard everything?" Sakura's voice trembled slightly with a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration. She felt her cheeks heat up, a cascade of crimson flushing across her face.
"Yeah," he responded, his tone steady, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Not just the part about Danzo... the other part too."
"Oh, god," Sakura muttered under her breath, her heart racing faster with each passing second. The acknowledgment hung heavily in the air between them, and her mind raced with the implications. With nothing further to say, Sasuke proceeded on his way back to the Four Hokages.
"Did I interrupt something, Sakura?" Suigetsu asked teasingly as soon as Sasuke wasn't near them anymore. She forced herself to look at Suigetsu, who stood smirking, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.
"Uh, no...not at all," she stammered, feeling the crimson flush creep into her cheeks."We were just having a discussion about... decisions."
Suigetsu's grin widened. "Decisions, huh? It looked more like a passionate moment to me. But hey, whatever floats your boat!"
"Shut up, Suigetsu," she snapped, a half-hearted attempt at scolding him that fell flat under the weight of her own embarrassment.
Hearing excitement coming from the shrine, Sakura could guess that Sasuke had declared his final answer to the Hokages. Orochimaru, honoring his word, had given the Hokages their freedom to do as they pleased.
"Uhm...you do know we will fight against THE Madara Uchiha?" Suigetsu asked nervously, his tone suddenly more serious.
"And because you kindly interrupted me and Sasuke... uh, our conversation, you are joining us, RIGHT?" Sakura demanded with a fake smile, crossing her arms in mock irritation.
"U-uhm... w-wait, Sakura. I didn-" Suigetsu nervously tried to protest but was cut off when everyone started walking out of the shrine, one by one.
"I'm sorry I've let you down, Sakura. I'm sorry that I've let a lot of people down," Hiruzen apologized sombrely as everyone walked toward the exit of the shrine.
Sakura felt a bittersweet pang in her heart. She turned to Hiruzen, her expression softening. "I'm sorry about my outburst. It doesn't mean I regret it, but I should have done it differently, I guess...and, Lord Third Hokage, you can't carry all that guilt on your own."
"In the end, Danzo was the one who made those decisions. We all have our regrets," she said, her voice steady, echoing the lessons she had come to accept through her own trials.
Hiruzen regarded her with a gentle smile, a flicker of the warmth he had always provided to his village. "Thank you, Sakura. Your words bring comfort."
"You have inherited the Will of Fire, no doubt," Hashirama said warmly as he stepped forward, his deep-set eyes sparkling with admiration. "Just because you left the village doesn't mean you don't have it. In the end, you sacrificed your life at the village to join Orochimaru to protect your friend from going down a darker path."
"I didn't do much, though..." Sakura looked down at the ground, feeling a little self-conscious at the praise coming from the First Hokage himself.
"Do not dismiss the power of courage, young Haruno,"Hashirama continued, his voice almost like a gentle breeze,"Telling my story, hoping to save your friend, wasn't a bluff, but I wouldn't have succeeded if it weren't for you. He was already halfway there, and it was thanks to you."
"He didn't kill his brother, did he?" Tobirama now joined the conversation, his voice still edged with skepticism but softened slightly by curiosity, "They way he was talking about his brother, it sounded almost like he was still alive."
"No, he didn't," Sakura replied, meeting Tobirama's gaze with unwavering resolve. "I was able to convince Itachi to tell Sasuke the truth instead of running away and continuing to lie. Itachi was the one who stopped the forbidden jutsu. We faked his death, but I'm not sure what will happen after the war."
"Even after everything, he helped with the war," Minato interjected, his gaze steady.
"Where is he now?" Hiruzen asked.
"Uhm...somewhere resting. I asked him to back off for now, because he had already done so much and joining the war was not really an option for him. People still think that he is the enemy who betrayed the village and joined the Akatsuki. People might misunderstand and attack him," Sakura answered, her voice heavy with the weight of her worries,
"He deserves peace, especially after everything. Just like Sasuke does."
"Since Danzo worked under me, I feel like I should be the one who has to correct his mistakes, and I know my brother and my fellow Hokage would also agree with it," Tobirama started. "After we win this war, there is something you could do for Itachi."
"What is it?" Sakura asked curiously.
"What's going on?" Sasuke wondered as he finally walked out of the shrine and saw Sakura having a private conversation with the Hokages. Before he could join in on the conversation, as soon as Sakura nodded to an agreement, the Hokage prepared to make their way to the main battlefield.
Hashirama could barely contain his excitement upon seeing the village again. He directed his fellow Hokage to their respective faces on the Hokage Rock. Hashirama expressed his curiosity about what his old friend had been up to, Tobirama declared that this time he would stop Madara for good, Hiruzen noted that he had not been to war in so long but vowed to give his all this time, and Minato in particular was delighted that he was finally meeting his son.
"Madara has joined the main battlefield as well," Jugo announced after hearing the news from his birds, drawing the attention of the group. "He was fighting against the Kages, and they lost."
"I think for now we need to split up," Orochimaru suggested. "Sasuke and Jugo, why don't you join the main battlefield, while Karin, Suigetsu, Sakura, and I head over there to see if we can help any of the Kages."
"No," Sasuke replied immediately. "Sakura will come with me. She needs to stay by my side."
Sakura's heart raced at Sasuke's declaration. The weight of his statement hung in the air, electrifying her with both excitement and trepidation.
"What? Sasuke, are you sure?" she stammered, glancing from him to Orochimaru, who was looking bemused, and then to the others in their group. "What about the Kages? What if they need our help?"
"Karin can heal them. I'm sure she can handle that," Sasuke replied, his tone firm.
"O-of course I can handle it! Anything for you, Sasuke-kun!" Karin replied happily as she reluctantly rubbed against Sasuke.
Sakura's gaze flickered between Karin's enthusiastic response and Sasuke's uncomfortable gaze on Karin. She felt a sting of disappointment, but she quickly masked her emotions, knowing that this was not the moment for jealousy. The war was at hand, and their priorities had to be in the right place.
"Are you sure, Sasuke? I mean... I can help with both," she offered, searching for reassurance in his dark, intense gaze. "I want to help everyone."
Sasuke quickly backed away from Karin and stepped closer to Sakura, his voice low and steady. "You're stronger than you think, Sakura. You worry too much. I need you with me on the battlefield."
A mixture of warmth and dread coursed through her. Did he really need her there, or was it more a sentiment of wanting someone he trusted at his side? The unspoken bond they shared had pulled them through so much.
"Sasuke... I—"
"Trust me," he cut in, his voice cutting through her uncertainty like a blade. "We'll have each other's backs. Together, we'll fight. You know I won't let anything happen to you."
Sakura felt a smile tugging at her lips. There was that familiar spark of hope and courage igniting within her, reminding her just how far they'd both come. She took a deep breath, nodding to him in understanding. "Okay. I trust you."
With that affirmation echoing in the air, Sasuke turned to the rest of Team Taka. "Jugo, you're with me. We'll take the forefront. You've got your sage abilities to help out."
"I won't let you down," Jugo nodded firmly, determination in his eyes.
"Let's go!" Sasuke shouted.
~To Be Continued~
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Next chapter; March 27 2025