The Big Bad Wolf

Summary: Obito survives the fourth shinobi war, and with Kakashi's help, is sent to live in the forest surrounding Konoha. He's a prisoner in his home, the property warded so that no one can enter or exit without the Hokage's explicit permission.

After two years, Kakashi can't ignore the fact that his old friend is wasting away in his home. Thankfully, though, he finds someone (reluctantly) willing to help bring him back to health.

Also, I know that his hair turns white, but I'm keeping it black here. Annnd there are cell phones in this au. I'm pretty sure those are the only major changes I'm making.

Obito Uchiha x Fem!Reader

Warnings: single mother reader, slowburn, angst, canon violence, depression, Uchiha bullshittery, mentions of abuse, alcohol usage, sexual themes

Part I

Word count: 1266

Note: New WIP because my brain can't focus. This is incredibly self-indulgent, because I am a slut for Obito. I will be back on my other WIP soon, I promise. This came to me after I read a fic on AO3, although I can't remember the name.

The Hokage’s tower was intimidating. It was your first time stepping foot anywhere near it in years, and you wondered if it had somehow risen in height. You adjusted your button up and slacks, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

You navigated the busy hallways swiftly, muscle memory kicking in when your brain wanted to give up. You found yourself in front of the door to the Hokage’s office in a flash, and knocked before you could psych yourself out.

“Come in,”

You opened the door and stepped through, eyes wandering around the room. It looked much the same as it had a few years ago and the familiarity eased some of your nerves. The man in front of you wasn’t necessarily an unfamiliar face, either, and his smile further calmed you.

“Y/n L/n, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you,”

You smiled politely at him from your spot near the door. “It has,”

He gestured you forward. “Come, sit,”

You settled yourself down in the chair across from him, and he folded his hands on the desk.

“Thank you for coming in today,”

“Thank you for having me, Lord Sixth,”

“Call me Kakashi,” He waved his hand.

You just managed to keep your disapproving look from fully forming on your face. “Yes, sir,”

He rolled his eyes playfully. It made you shift a bit uncomfortably. You had never been close to the man, and when you had known him, he had been much more serious. He seemed to sense your discomfort, and switched back to a more professional tone.

“So, you’re here for the personal assistant position, correct?”

You nodded.

“Before we continue, I would like to make you aware that this position is not as an assistant to me,”

You frowned, confused. Who would be so important that the Hokage himself would interview for them? Surely he was incredibly busy. It was clearly evident that the aftermath of the war was still weighing heavily on Konoha’s government, even two years later.

He continued, “A close friend of mine has been struggling, and I believe hiring him some help is the least I can do,”

You nodded, curiosity replacing the nerves that had lingered. He drummed his fingers on the desk, eyes cast aside in contemplation. After a moment of silence, he started again, “I suppose I should re-title the position,” His eyes slid to yours. “It’s more of a caretaker job,”

Now you were really confused. “What exactly would I be doing?”

“Cooking, housework, grocery shopping, etc,”

Your lips quirked up and you nodded. You would call yourself an expert in those things after the last two years you had had. “And what would the hours look like?”

“Monday through Friday, starting at 8:30am and ending when you finish your tasks. The position is salary,”

He was ticking off each of your boxes the more he spoke. But, after struggling to find a job that fit all your needs for the past six months, you were quick to hold back your excitement. You were tired of being disappointed when you either didn’t get it, or something just wouldn’t work.

“That sounds like a good deal to me,”

His eyes crinkled into his little half-moon smile. “I’m glad to hear it. I have to ask, what brings you here today?”

“My current job just isn’t a good fit, and I want something that feels more rewarding - like I’m making a difference… I wouldn’t be upset about a pay raise, either.” You half-shrugged.

Kakashi chuckled. “I hear you. What do you think qualifies you for this position? I know it’s a bit different than what I advertised, so don’t worry about taking a second to answer,”

You shook your head, a little smile on your lips. “I’m more qualified for this type of work than what you advertised, so I can answer easily.”

You straightened up in the chair. “Before the last six months, I was a stay at home mom. I handled every piece of housework, managed our finances, did the shopping for the three of us, and took care of my son. It’s almost second nature to me to manage a household now,”

Kakashi nodded. “I was wondering about the gap in your resume,”

You quirked a brow. “Are you telling me you didn’t do a thorough background check before bringing me in here?”

He smiled widely, a sparkle in his eye. “Now there’s the little chunin I remember,”

You smiled bashfully, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“No, I have extensive investigations performed for each person before they enter this office for an interview. I like to see who is honest with me when I ask questions, though,”

You ignored the urge to roll your eyes. “Well, based on mine, how much of a chance do you think I have to get this job?”

He hummed. “Pretty high, I’d say,”

You perked up.

He tapped a tinger to his chin. “Actually, since you caught me, I think it’s only fair to offer it to you, if you want it,”

You blinked in surprise. “Really?”

He nodded, his face sobering quite suddenly. “Although I can’t divulge why at the moment, you are my first choice out of all of the applicants.”

You looked at him in bewilderment, but held your questions in. His eyes flickered around the room. He scratched the back of his head, and brought the smile back to his face.

“Starting pay is seventy-five thousand a year, would that be sufficient?”

It took you a moment to respond. Your head was spinning with the possibilities that would open up to you with that kind of money. The foremost thought in your mind, though, was: I won’t have to struggle anymore.

You finally managed a nod. “More than,”

“Perfect, how soon can you start?”

“Uhh, Monday, probably,”

He started to say something else, but you accidentally interrupted him with your next question. “Who am I supposed to be taking care of?”

Kakashi met your gaze with intensity. He searched your eyes for a long moment, and you tried so very hard not to shrink into yourself. After an eternity, he let loose a heavy sigh. His reaction was making your nerves rise back up at full force.

“Your.. ward, for lack of a better term, is.. Obito Uchiha,”

Your jaw dropped and you stopped breathing, your mind going completely blank. When your thoughts finally filtered in again, your first coherent thought was: So that’s the catch?

Why would you be his first choice for a war criminal’s babysitter? Kami, what would your family say if they found out just who you were working with? Despite your negative internal dialogue, you couldn’t help but think about the money. It would do you so much good, even if you only worked the job for a year or two.

You scrubbed a hand over your face in a jerky movement. It wasn’t much of a debate. You would benefit far more by taking the job than denying it. A sudden thought popped up - something that you should have thought of right off the bat.

“What if he tries to hurt me?”

Kakashi frowned, but his eyes were understanding. “He won’t. I wouldn’t have created the position if I thought he would try something.”

You nodded slowly. It tracked. He didn’t fight at the frontlines during the Fourth Shinobu War to put his people in danger. You knew he was a good man.

“Okay,” you said quietly.

“Okay?”

“Okay,” It was hardly more confident than the first.

“Alright, let’s go over the details then,”

Part II

Illusions

(Yayyyy. Another one. It’s been a while, sorry. just wanna preface this by saying that like... I usually don’t really give a shit about Obito, but I figured this was a natural progression of the story and I kinda wanted to try and dive into Obito’s psyche a little so. here we go. tell me what you think. @ghostjellyfishheart here’s the next chapter lol. pls mind the tw’s)

TW and CW for: MAJOR UNREALITY, seriously stay safe, Obito is kinda spiraling a lot, grieving, struggling with morality, drinking, alcohol, less then stellar coping mechanisms of all kinds, don’t do this kids, child death, ghost child, dead kid, you don’t like... see her die but Rin is very much not alive, references to suicide, implied suicide, the uchiha massacre is its own warning, murder, its bad. its just. its just bad. did I mention unreality? a lot of that, death of a family member, obito is having a hard time with feelings, probably dis@ssociation, pretentious symbolism, scratch that, definitely dis@ssociation

Obito Uchiha is upset. 

And that is, frankly, ridiculous. Obito does not get upset. What does upset even mean? Is he sad? Mourning, perhaps? Or is he just worried? Either way, its borderline impossible. He shouldn’t be feeling anything. Obito doesn’t feel anything. Sure, he plays at it, when he’s Tobi. He feigns and pretends, he’s good at that. That is what he is, that is all he is. To Itachi, he is Madara. To Konan and Nagito, he is Obito. To everyone else, he is Tobi. Obito has taken on mask after mask after mask on in his life, both figuratively and literally. Sometimes he doesn't know where Obito ends and another begins. Obito does not feel anything, not for anyone that isn't Rin. Never for anyone that isn't Rin, and he left her behind a long time ago. And yet this boy, this child, has him reeling somehow. Has him… well, like before, the only word he can use is upset. He is rattled. And it has been so long, so long since he’s felt anything at all, that he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know how to fix it. He kept seeing Sasuke in his head, kept remembering memories from years ago when he thought about the kid being gone forever. He remembered the first few years Itachi brought Sasuke to the compound, he remembered spontaneously discovering his obsession with tomatoes by accident with Kisame (who would not stop laughing. He had just never seen anybody. Put an entire tomato in their mouth. And Sasuke did it like it was the most natural thing in the world! Kisame wouldn't shut up about it for at least a week). He remembered helping the boy train with his newly forged chokuto, he remembered the grim determination towards his family and how much it reminded Obito of himself, he remembered all of it. And none of that should have mattered, because it wasn't real. None of it was real, the next world would be. The next world with Rin and Kakashi and Minato-sensei still alive, a world without… without Sasuke. Or any of the other Akatsuki. And that was what he wanted. He was sure that was what he wanted. Only in his room could he show the weakness tightly coiled in his stomach. But there was a knock on his door and it made him straighten up, instantly putting the mask that he just took off back on his face. He walked to the door and opened it, only to find the older Uchiha brother staring back at him. Obito blinked. 

“Itachi-san. What are you… what are you doing here? I- uh… come in.” Obito and Itachi sat down at the small table in Obito’s room and stared at each other awkwardly. “So… how can I help you?” Obito tried to ask, unsure of whether to say it like Tobi or just let his guard down and talk like himself (whoever that was). Itachi cleared his throat. 

“You are the only person in this godforsaken place that has sake that's worth a damn,” Itachi explained calmly. He looked away. “It has… been a long week.” Obito could tell the truth in that statement just from his cousin’s voice. Itachi sounded exhausted, and the perpetual mask of indifference had begun to slip when his little brother went missing. The two of them looked at each other and came to an understanding. For the next few minutes, there was no talking. Obito grabbed some glasses and poured his strongest sake out for the both of them, and they drank in silence. They only actually picked up a conversation once they were both drunk enough for the awkwardness to melt away. 

“He’s likely not dead,” Obito commented bluntly. Itachi only sighed. 

“If he is, I have no idea what I'd do,” Itachi grumbled casually, like it was an ordinary thing to say. “Certainly wouldn't stick around here. Probably follow in Shisui’s footsteps.” Obito only nodded, knowing better than to pry on that particular bit of insight into Itachi’s life. They were silent for a few more minutes before Obito spoke again. 

“The massacre,” Obito started. “I was long gone by the time it happened. What… are you and Sasuke really the only survivors as the rumors say?” Itachi nodded, throwing back another glass. Obito thought about that bitterly, about his grandmother who wouldn't have been spared. Itachi sighed. 

“Right. I've never really talked about this with anyone, and Sasuke and I don't speak about it much. You know how sharingan awakening works, yes?” Obito nodded, mind involuntarily flashing to his own experience. 

“Well I made some genuine friends on my genin team. It was the first time I ever had any friends.” Obito closed his eyes and took another sip. Friends, sharingan awakening. Being crushed under a boulder with your crying teammates looming over you. Thinking, no, don't cry, it doesn't hurt. It really doesn't hurt. I can't feel anything, please don't cry. Watching a particular white haired individual (a traitor, that traitor) desperately try to save you. Losing a part of yourself, a part of yourself you didn't even know you had, and giving it to someone else. Forever living with that, knowing that your other eye is somewhere, because you can still feel it, but not knowing much else. The aching absence that grows from that. He opened his eyes again. “I watched them die, right in front of my eyes. That awakened my Sharingan, and when I went home, my father congratulated me. He congratulated me. It was a nightmare and he was proud. I don't know, that always stuck with me. But anyway,” Itachi paused to drink more sake as the room spun. “Sasuke’s eyes woke during the massacre. I didn't get there in time. He watched our parents die, managed to hide in the closet and keep quiet the whole time so they didn't find him. I got there in time to stop them from killing him, and realized his sharingan had awakened because of everything. I wasn't able to save anyone, but I was able to save him, and that's all that matters.”

“I understand,” Obito replied evenly. “I know what it's like to be too late.”

Itachi’s eyes slid over to him. “Yeah well… whatever. The Uchiha had been planning a coup for a while. Danzo, he gave me a choice. Either kill everyone myself and have Sasuke be spared to live happily in the village. Or, to let them kill everyone, Sasuke included. I didn't… I refused either option and tried to get there but I was too late. They killed everyone in one night, a bunch of Anbu who were deployed for the massacre. Like I said, Sasuke managed to hide. I knew that Danzo would be after us, so I grabbed Sasuke and we got the hell out of dodge. He didn't speak for months afterwards. Not a single word, other than screaming during his nightmares. It was probably a little selfish, but I… I missed him. There was no more ‘Itachi, look at the score I got at the academy!’ or ‘Itachi look, look I learned a new move!’ There was just… nothing. He was so vacant. If he's dead- if he’s dead after everything we’ve been through, I don't- I have no idea what I'll do. We have to find him, and we have to kill the people who took him away from us. We have to.” I know, he wanted to shout. I know, I feel the same way, but I don't know why! Itachi left not long after that, stumbled back to his room, and Obito fell asleep in his armchair. That night he had a dream, a dream of Rin. it had been years since he dreamed of her, usually they were memories and bits and pieces, but this was different. He opened his eyes in his dream to a dark plane filled with ink, darkness stretching in every direction. It was a frequent setting he found himself in, usually the dream would be about him sinking into the oily substance until he couldn't breath. But this time it was low enough to wade in, his feet touching the ground, whatever that was. In the middle of the expanse, there was a bone white skeleton of some creature he didn't recognize, and Rin. He staggered towards her, and she hugged him without a word. In dreams like this he was always covered in blood, the Obito from years past. But now he was just him, and he was maskless.

“Just what have you gotten yourself into now, Obito?” she asked, and it sounded just like her. It wasn't her, he was fairly sure of that, he was dreaming for god’s sake, but it sounded like her. It seemed like her, and that was enough. “It's okay to be worried about the kid,” she said, running fingers through his hair while he tried to calm his breathing. 

“It's not real,” he managed hoarsely. “None of it. Nothing in this world is real, I shouldn't feel anything. So why… Why do I…”

“Does it matter if it's real?” she asked. “It feels real. Maybe it is, Obito.”

“Obito is dead,” he whispered. “At least the one you knew- Obito doesn't exist anymore.” Rin only shook her head, looking past him at nothing at all and smiling sadly.

“I don't believe you,” she said evenly. “You're still Obito. No matter how many names you take or how many masks you wear, I know who you are. And I think you do too.”

“It's not real,” he tried again, weakly. 

“If it's not real, then why do you help Konan with the dishes? If it's not real, then why do you want to save Itachi’s brother so badly? Why do you make plans for Nagato’s dream in the supposed next world when you don't have to? Why do you stick around Deidara to make sure he doesn't get killed? Why do you help Sasori with his puppets? Why, Obito?”

“I can't be Obito,” he muttered quietly. “He’s dead. He died with you.”

“He is right here. He is sitting here with me. You're still you. You'll always be you.”

“B-But…. But Madara-”

“Madara is dead,” she said with finality, shaking her head. “Madara is a dead man now. You are the only thing that can bring him back, and you have a choice.”

“I've never had a choice.”

“You do now. Madara isn't here.”

“This is all just an illusion.” She smiled sadly. 

“I'm an illusion, Obito. Your world is not.”

His dream didn't fade out from there. One second he was sitting in a dark dreamscape with his dead friend, and the next he was in the Akatsuki lair, laying in an armchair, sitting up and gasping for breath. His back hurt and his neck was aching from the weird position he dozed off in, and Obito could already feel the nausea of an inevitable hangover coming on. Still, he sat up properly, stretching his neck and running a hand through his short hair. Itachi was probably passed out in his room or throwing up already, and Obito had a hunch that he’d be feeling the same way pretty soon. He looked down at the floor and forced his eyes to focus. He didn't have time for a drunken hallucination within a drunken hallucination. But when he turned his head, he felt himself recoil and raise his hands to his face. The orange plastic from the ground winked back at him. Obito had taken his mask off. And now it was cracked. 

Title: Rains of Konoha (Game of Thrones AU) Pairing: SasuSaku Characters: Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuuga Hinata, Hyuuga Hiashi Warning: Blood, Violence, Gore, Death (usual GOT stuff). Disclaimer: Naruto and Game of Thrones are not mine. Notes: Not proofread yet. Will edit this if I found the time.

— 

"Mother." Mikoto pauses from her knitting to look up at Sasuke who is walking toward her, a tired smile and weariness etched on his face. She stands up and pulls Sasuke into a hug when he finally reaches her. "I'm home," Sasuke says.

It was twenty years ago when Sasuke was born. She could have sworn it was only yesterday when her little boy still fit snugly into her arms, all pink and tiny and beautiful and an Uchiha in his own right. 

If she closes her eyes, she can still feel Fugaku standing by her side, cooing at the sleeping baby in her arms, and Itachi on the other side, trying to take a peek at the newest addition in their family. She can still feel her heart jumping up every now and then at sound of her youngest son's tiny whimpers, wanting to burst from so much love it cannot seem to contain.

Uchiha Mikoto smiles fondly at the memory, pulling away from Sasuke and checks to see if he was hurt. A feeling of pride slowly bubbles up in her heart as she gazed at her youngest son who commands a garrison of 20,000 men. Slowly, sadness and grief took over when she was reminded of how Fugaku and Itachi would have been proud too, had they been here to witness this. Once a tiny bundle of joy in her arms to a little boy running around the Uchiha compound to an honorable man now recognized by the people of Snow Country as the King in the North, well on his way to Hokage's Landing to avenge his father and brother's deaths in the hands of the Mad King, Danzō of House Shimura.

Sasuke stood tall and unflinching before her, the Uchiha crest emblazoned in his armor suit with pride. He was so far from the boy who used to cause ruckus around the castle back home with Itachi. Three years spent in war and grief hardened his soft edges.

Were once eyes that held innocence and only witnessed the never ending winters in Konoha, were now eyes that bleed red and had seen thousands of death and bloodshed in the battlefield. Were once hands that were soft and only offers comfort were now hands that were calloused, full of scars and have held bloodied swords that have slain thousands of enemies, have snapped hundreds of necks, and have caused pain. Mikoto can't help but blame herself for having Sasuke be forced to grow up and take charge of everything when he was only a boy of seventeen three years ago, for having to risk his life time and time again every time he goes away, for having to give up his dreams just to exact revenge from those who wronged their family. She should have persuaded him to stand back, she should never have let grief and sorrow transform him into someone she can't recognize anymore. She should have conceded defeat to King Danzō when she had the chance just so she could protect Sasuke and let him live the life he deserves. But she's only human, blinded by rage and loss that she can't see the lines between what's right and wrong anymore. And Sasuke is first and foremost an Uchiha. Love, grief, and despair course through their veins. Things that only retribution can heal.

—

She comes into their lives unexpectedly. Mikoto clings to Sasuke's arm as he walks her through the remains of the battlefield their house just won. Wounded men from both sides of the battle are all on the ground, their armor suits and faces covered in blood, their arms and legs full of bruises and deep cuts, their moans filling the place. Mikoto can't help her heart from aching. These men dirtied their hands in her name, these men were taken away from their families to fight her own war against Danzō, these men were forced to give up their lives under her orders. But as much as she feels guilty, it does not triumph the bigger weight in her heart that still bleeds, that still wants revenge against those who wronged her family in every way possible. For the three years of fighting her war with Danzō, the number of their losses could only be counted by her fingers. They are winning every battle and yet victory still tastes sour in her mouth. "We've killed thousands of Danzō's men for every hundreds of ours that were taken away," Lord Kabuto says to Sasuke and Mikoto. "We do not have a place for what's left of Danzo's men. We barely have enough food to feed ours." "We will not kill his soldiers, Lord Kabuto," Sasuke immediately replies, his eyes steeled with resolve and conviction. Lord Kabuto only looks at him for a moment before he nods. "Of course, Your Grace. We will find more place to hold these men." The sound of a deafening screech nearby interrupted their conversation. They turn to their far right and sees one soldier on the ground, all bloodied and screaming in pain while clutching at his legs, and two healers trying to hold him down. Sasuke lets go of his mother's hand and goes to the wounded man's direction, with Kabuto and Mikoto trailing behind him. "What's going on here?" Sasuke asks, his eyes fixed on one of the healer with pink hair and green eyes. "He needs to have his legs amputated before the infection spreads further in his body but he wouldn't let go of his legs," says the pink-haired healer in a tired voice. The man lets out another cry of pain and the healers only gives out exasperated sighs, still struggling to get him to calm down. "He's one of Danzō's men. You do not have any business treating one of our enemies," Kabuto says. The pink-haired healer turns to glare at Kabuto, "He's your enemy, not mine. And it is my business to treat everyone no matter whose side they're on." Sasuke kneels next to the medic and holds down the man as the medic proceeded to saw off his legs. Mikoto could only hide her wince at the sight and screams of the man while the medic looked indifferent, as if she had done this a thousand times. Perhaps she had, Mikoto thinks. "He was lucky that you're here," Sasuke says afterwards, helping the medic load the injured soldier into the cart at the back of the horse. The pink-haired woman stares back at him before climbing on top of the horse, "He was unlucky that you were."

—

"Our spies report that King Danzō will move north. It is our chance to attack them and put them at a disadvantage," Lady Kurenai says, gesturing at the map laid out in front of her. She stands at the other end of the long table while Sasuke and Mikoto were both seated at the other end. Lords and ladies of every major houses in the north were gathered in the Uchiha compound to plan for the next move against King Danzo. Sasuke has won almost every battle he's had with Danzō for the last three years, had managed to siege most of the mad king's strongholds, and they had the allegiance of almost all the houses of the Fire country. A few more battles to fight and once they reach Konoha, they will march to Hokage's Landing and Sasuke will finally get his hands on Danzō. "No, we need to focus more on Orochimaru's siege of Iwa. If we do that, the lords of Iwagakure will join our side," Maester Kakashi suggests. "To do either, we need to cross the river. The only crossing is at the twins," Lord Naruto says. "Your father's bannerman," Maester Kakashi says to Mikoto. "We do not have a problem with crossing the twins. The Hyuugas have already sworn an oath of allegiance to the north," Mikoto says with a frown, thinking of the huge price they'd have to pay for the Hyuuga's allegiance to House Uchiha. "So what's it going to be, Your Grace? Do we move against Orochimaru or King Danzō?" Lord Kabuto asks Sasuke. "We do not have enough men to split them into two and we'll surely lose both fights if we do," Maester Kakashi adds. Sasuke was about to say something when he was suddenly interrupted by a loud scoff. All heads that were focused on Sasuke and Sasuke himself turn their heads at the source of the sound. Mikoto was surprised to see that the noise came from a pink-haired woman seated next to Lord Naruto. The pink-haired medic from last week, Mikoto recognizes. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" the woman says as she stares Sasuke straight in the eyes. "Sakura-chan—" Lord Naruto interrupts the woman while looking at the table with an apologetic look on his face. While all the nobles looks rather offended at the interruption, Sasuke looks at her with surprise and amusement. He only raises his eyebrow at her. "The obvious move is to do both," the woman—Sakura answers. "As I'm sure you heard Lord Kakashi say, it would be unwise to split our men into two. We would only lose," Sasuke replies coldly. "I did not say you should split your men. Why do that when you could just be in two places at once?" She says. "I didn't know medics such as yourself believe in magic," Sasuke retorts. Sakura only rolls her eyes at him. "As Lady Kurenai mentioned earlier, you have planted spies in Danzō's camp to get an intel about their plans. Release Danzō's spies from prison. Feed him the wrong intel. Give him wrong numbers of your men, give him misleading information of your next move against Danzō and do the opposite." It would be a lie if Mikoto says she wasn't impressed. There was a long stretch of silence as everyone processed her suggestion. "Sakura-chan! That's brilliant!" Lord Naruto exclaims. "I would advise against it. It's a very risky move. Besides, why should we listen to a mere simpleton like you?" Lord Kabuto says. Before Sakura could reply, Lord Naruto lets out a forced laugh. "Forgive me, my lords, my ladies. This is Sakura from Sunagakure. She is a well known medic in our country and she is also one of my most trusted knights," he introduces. A few pleasantries were exchanged before everyone's eyes were back on Sasuke, waiting for his decision. Sasuke was silent for a few moments before he finally looks up and catches Sakura's eyes. "Very well. I will release Danzō's spy. I will tell him that our army will march to the north and fight Danzō's men. Then we will attack Orochimaru on Iwagakure instead," he says. As the meeting ends and everyone starts to file out of the room, Mikoto doesn't miss the way her son's gaze would follow the pink-haired woman. "Lady Sakura," he calls out before she could leave the room. "I'm not a lady," the woman replies, her gaze averted. "The way you speak and the way you act tells me you're high born." Sakura sizes him up for a moment before she gives out a disappointed sigh. "Ah, pity. Here I thought I was becoming a better liar," she conceded with defeat. "You're much better at amputations," Sasuke says wryly. Mikoto knew then, knew it with dread in the pit of her stomach. Somewhere in between the pink-haired medic's fierce gaze and the way her son stares back at the woman with curiosity is the beginning of something inevitable. Like a meteorite crashing onto the earth. She only hopes there will be no casualties involved when that happens.

—

Mikoto was lying in the cot of her tent, reading a scroll, when a guard suddenly barges in. "Lady Mikoto, forgive me for the intrusion. King Sasuke has finally come back from his battle in Iwa. He's in his tent right now," the guard says. Mikoto lets out a sigh of relief. Sasuke and his troops had been gone for almost a month. In the few weeks that Sasuke was at war, Mikoto constantly awaited his return with baited breath. She was filled with worry every day with the fear of her son dying in the battlefield. She doesn't know what would happen to her if the gods decide to take Sasuke away from her too. She would probably go insane. She immediately sets aside her scroll and let the guard escort her to her son's tent. "Don't be stubborn, Your Grace. If you don't let me heal you, you'd probably get infected," a woman's voice says. "I'm fine," Sasuke's replies in a gruff voice. Mikoto enters the tent and was greeted by a heavily wounded Sasuke seated in his chair and Sakura trying to heal him. His guards were standing at the side of the tent. Sakura presses his injured arm, covered with blood and lined with a deep and long cut. Sasuke winces in pain and growls at her. Sakura snorts, "Sure, you're fine." He only glares at her and she just raises her eyebrow in return as she continues to disinfect his wound. Despite the irritation, there was worry in her eyes that Mikoto is familiar with. "My son," Mikoto suddenly says with relief as she nears Sasuke. Sasuke turns his head to look at Mikoto and his gaze softens. "Mother, I'm here."

—

Since then, Sakura is always invited to the council meetings. She is a great strategist and a skilled medic. The lords won't admit it, but they are aware that Sakura is an asset. Sasuke and Sakura starts to spend more time together. Often just the two of them, sometimes with Naruto and Kakashi. Most of the time, Mikoto would find them at Lord Naruto's tent, playing shogi or reading books and scrolls together at the fields. Sakura is smart and likes to tell stories about her travels and Sasuke is only happy to listen. They would spar together which is a cause of confusion to Mikoto because Sakura looks so vicious in the battlefield but immediately turns gentle afterwards and heals Sasuke with the utmost care. She had never seen her son smile this much in years. Mikoto and Sasuke were walking about the grounds of Iwa one day when they were suddenly stopped by the sight of Sakura coming near them, looking tired and disheveled, her skin and clothes covered with dried blood. She and the other medics had been treating injured soldiers. She bows in front of them and walks up to Sasuke. "Your Grace, I heard you were going out of town with Lord Naruto. We are out of medical supplies. I wonder if you could procure some from the castle Maester for us." Sasuke only nods, "What do you need?" "Bandages, antiseptics, opiates, anesthesia. Oh and also some medicinal herbs, wormwood, mint, balm, and sage. And of course—" Sasuke shakes his head and cuts her off, "Why don't you come with me?" There was a look of surprise in Sakura's eyes and her gaze turns to Mikoto, not quite knowing what to say. "Son—" Mikoto interrupts them but Sasuke only pats his mother's hand resting on his arm. "It would be much better if you come so you can see what other supplies you might need," Sasuke says. Sakura smiles at him, causing Sasuke's cheeks to dust in pink. "And also it would be less troublesome for you to memorize," she chides. Sasuke looks away, his ears reddening and muttering under his breath to 'shut up'. Sakura only laughs.

—

Mikoto sees it. She sees the way Sasuke's eyes would flicker occasionally to Sakura. She sees the way he stiffens whenever his fingers brush with her's. She sees the smirk forming unconsciously on his lips whenever Sakura's being sarcastic and smart. She sees the longing in his gaze whenever Sakura leaves the room. The look of fondness in his eyes whenever Sakura says something funny. The sound of endearment in his tone whenever he calls her 'annoying'. She sees the way Sakura would blush whenever Sasuke compliments her. She sees the look of wonder in Sakura's eyes whenever Sasuke chuckles at her jokes. She sees the way the two would avert their gaze whenever they would accidentally touch. She can feel the cloud of intimacy surrounding the two of them even as she sees them from afar, walking together, talking and laughing.   Mikoto is not a fool not to know what this means. "Son, you are engaged to one of Lord Hyuuga's daughters. You have sworn a promise of alliance in exchange of his men and passage to the twin towers. It will not do us good if we double cross him," Mikoto warns him one day. Sasuke's face turns grim. "I know my duties and responsibilities, mother." Mikoto follows his line of sight and was not surprised to find that it was Sakura he was staring at again, standing across the field, and having a mock battle with Naruto. "I'm merely reminding you. It seems you have forgotten these past few months."

—

Mikoto was resting behind a tree, her eyes closed as she prays to the gods for the safety of her son. She was interrupted in her moment of peace by the sound of footsteps nearing her spot. "I heard you are to be married to one of Lord Hiashi's daughters. What is her name?" she hears Sakura's voice ask. Sasuke sighs. "I have no idea. We have never met. But I think her last name might be Hyuuga," he jokes. Sakura laughs, "Well, I wish you both happiness together then." "I'm not sure about happiness. But I can only hope to end this war and restore peace to the seven kingdoms." "You'd make a great king, Your Grace." Silence passed between them and Mikoto hears the rustle of their clothes as they settle to sit on the ground beside the lake. "My father—he was a great man. He would've been fit to be the king. He would always know what to do. He was honorable and compassionate. I can only hope to be half the man he is. But then again, every children are biased when it comes to their parents," Sasuke says quietly. "I'm sure that's not the case. From all the stories I've heard, I can see that the people really admired your father," Sakura replies. "I'm not surprised. Father always valued helping people than riches and glory." "What about you?" There was silence and the air was suddenly tense before Sasuke replies, "Do you think I'm fighting this war so people could write songs about me? So I could be the hero in the plays they perform? So I could have all of Danzo's gold?" "That is not what I meant-" "I want to go home. I want my men to go home to their families. I want to give my mother her long sought peace. But I cannot rest until I kill Danzo and get justice for my father and my brother," Sasuke says defensively. Mikoto's heart aches at this. They were silent for a moment before Sakura replies, "I'm sorry. That was tactless of me." "It's fine," Sasuke bites out, seeming to have calmed down. "I wish I could've met Lord Fugaku and Lord Itachi," Sakura says after a while. "They would have liked you," Sasuke says, his voice soft. Mikoto agrees silently.

"Of course they would have. I'm great. I'm funny. What's not to like?" Sakura brags to lighten the mood and Mikoto hears Sasuke scoff at her words. Mikoto bites back her chuckles. Another moment of silence reigns between them yet again, but this time the air is not thick with tension, only comfort. A moment that feels light. Like a feather falling to the ground. "I'm sure your father and your brother would have been proud of what you accomplished, Your Grace," Sakura says softly. There was a pause, then— "Sasuke." "What?" Sakura asks, sounding confused. "Call me Sasuke." "Is this a trap? If I call you by your name, suddenly the guards would come out behind the trees and decapitate me?" Sakura asks, laughing. Mikoto hears Sasuke scoff. "It's tiring being addressed as a king all the time. Even Naruto calls me 'You Grace'. I just want to be reminded of who I was before I am a king." There was such sadness in his tone that grips at Mikoto's heart. She didn't know her son was carrying such a heavy burden by himself. She always assumed he was the strong one between the two of them. It seems not to be the case. "Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke-kun," Sakura says.

—

Mikoto has taken to spending more time with Sakura. She finds it to be regretful because Sakura is so wonderful, kind, smart, and funny. It's no wonder her son is quick to fall in love with her. It's a shame because Mikoto wishes to find faults in this incredible woman to have a reason to hate her. "Like this?" Sakura asks, holding up her patchwork. The rose pattern she was trying to knit only looked like a big pink blob in the middle. Mikoto merely smiled and shook her head at her, "It's good to know there's still one thing you don't excel at." She learns Sakura came from an old wealthy house in another continent. Her father died in the battlefield. Her mother died of sickness that was incurable at that time. She was adopted by Tsunade Senju at the age of three, the famed matriarch and warrior of House Senju. At age thirteen, Lady Tsunade died and Sakura became an orphan again. She traveled around the seven kingdoms to become a better fighter and to gain more knowledge in medicine. Naruto came upon her a year ago when his father became ill and asked for her services. Since then, she stayed in Sunagakure and became one of Naruto's most trusted people. Mikoto thinks that for someone that who'd been deprived of love time and time again, Sakura had so much to give. "For a person who's accustomed to stitching human skin, it's quite ironic that I'm slacking off in stitching patterns on cloths," Sakura says. Mikoto laughs.

—

Sasuke and Sakura are in love. It's a secret everybody knows. Their love was subtle and silent, like a wallflower hanging on the sidelines but it's there nonetheless. It's evident with every inside jokes they share, the way Sasuke would always reprimand Sakura to refrain herself from working too much, the way the world seems to disappear whenever they're alone together, the way Sasuke always searches her eyes in the midst of crowds, the way their cheeks redden whenever their pinkies deliberately touch, the simmering heat between the two of them that never seems to cool down whenever they spar, the sound of familiarity in their voices whenever they call each other's name. Their love is not fireworks or sparks fly, and it's never explicit but every silent spectators can almost always spell it out whenever they'd walk closely together, can feel the slow burn in the air between them, can see the secret smiles they share whenever they think nobody's looking. Mikoto watches Sasuke and Sakura walking together from a distance, a thick cloud of intimacy surrounding them that she almost had to look away, feeling like she is prying into something that no one else is supposed to see. She can't explain the fear in the pits of her stomach as she looks at the oblivious lovers. She holds her breath, eyes filled in anxiousness as she waits for the other shoe to drop.

—

Lord Hiashi Hyuuga arranges for a feast to celebrate Sasuke and his daughter's engagement. He invites Sasuke to his castle so he could meet his bride to be. Mikoto watches Sasuke and Hinata sitting together and talking quietly. Hinata's doe eyes, dark hair, and pale skin matches Sasuke's. She is beautiful and looks as prim and proper that high born ladies are supposed to be. They'd make a wonderful couple, Mikoto thinks. They would learn to love each other eventually. Their bond may not be borne of passion and it may be boring, but it would grow stronger in time. After all, passion is only a luxury a few nobles could afford. Bloodlines and alliances come first. Or perhaps not. Lady Hinata Hyuuga, as what was expected of a noble, is reserved, graceful, and elegant. But all of that doesn't seem to matter to a man whose heart is bound to a particular someone, Mikoto thinks. A particular pink-haired someone. Mikoto doesn't have to follow Sasuke's line of sight to know that he is looking for Sakura, who is sitting beside her, giving out forced laughs at Naruto's jokes. Sakura gives out an exasperated sigh at Naruto who is now causing ruckus at the end of the table. She then gives out a tired smile at everyone in their table, stands up and curtsies. "My lords, my ladies, I'll just excuse myself for tonight. I am quite tired and I have a few errands to run for tomorrow. Good night," she says and with one last smile, walks away from them. Mikoto doesn't have to look at the exit to know that Sasuke is following Sakura. She ought to stop her son from this foolishness, but she'd give him this at least.

—

Mikoto wishes Sakura were an awful person so it would be easy to hate her. So it would be easy to justify what she would ask from Sakura. Sakura is so perfect, beautiful, intelligent, and brave. She was everything Mikoto wished for a daughter she never had. But she wanted to avenge her husband and her son more than anything. And without the Hyuuga's support, all of this would have been for naught. And most of all, Mikoto knows her son is too honorable to keep Sakura as his mistress. And Sakura is too headstrong and strong willed to accept more than what she deserves. Mikoto lays her hand on top of Sakura's and smiles sadly at her. "Sakura," she says. Sakura looks up from the book she was reading to Mikoto. She stares back at Mikoto, eyes filled with curiosity. "What do you think of Lady Hinata?" Mikoto says, swallowing the guilt rising up in her throat. "I think she'd make a wonderful queen next to Sasuke." She doesn't have to elaborate. She is telling Sakura to leave. Leave Sasuke so he could focus on his duties. So he could forget about his feelings for her. There was a flash of hurt in Sakura's eyes that was immediately replaced with understanding. She knows what she has to do.

—

Sakura leaves their camp the next day. Mikoto immediately regrets what she asked of Sakura the moment Sasuke barges into her tent, panic evident in his face and a letter clutched in his right hand. "What did you do, mother?" he asks angrily. Mikoto was too ashamed of what she did to reply. She only covers her face with her hands and breaks down. "Forgive me, my son. Forgive me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she cries. Sasuke only looks at her for a moment, trying to calm himself down before he kneels in front of her and tightly wraps his arms around her. He kisses the top her head and they stay like that for a long moment before he finally loosens his hold on her. He sighs tiredly and looks down. "Forgive me too, mother. I can't-" he heaves out another sigh before looking back up at her again. "I can't go on with this farce anymore. I can't marry Lady Hinata. We will just both be miserable in the long run. I- I love someone else," he says. Mikoto knows this, knows it like the back of her hand. Despite his cold front, Sasuke had always been a man of passion and honesty. His love runs deep, like a bottomless well. She knows losing Sakura would destroy him. But Mikoto still came between them because of her selfishness. She was still hurting. Still grieving Fugaku and Itachi's deaths that she ended up hurting Sasuke in the process. Sasuke, the only family she had left. Mikoto had been a warrior for so long that she forgot she was a mother first. "I have to go after Sakura." Mikoto nods and smiles weakly at her son. "Okay." Repercussions be damned. Sasuke's happiness will always come first before anything else. A few days later, Sasuke brings Sakura home. Mikoto hugs her and says sorry repeatedly before Sakura hugs her back and they both cry together for a long time that Sasuke had to separate them. Sasuke and Sakura weds soon after.

—

It was a short and secret affair officiated by Maester Kakashi. Only Mikoto and Naruto were invited as witnesses.

Sakura looks beautiful, dressed in a simple white dress, a crown of daises adorned in her pastel pink hair, paired with the blush on her cheeks and eyes full of love. Sasuke looks the handsome groom he is supposed to be, dressed in his armor suit, his hair in its usual spikes, and a peaceful look in his face that Mikoto hadn't seen in years. "I spent my whole life fighting wars. Healing wounds. Traveling across the continent. And being with you- being with you feels like finally coming home after a long day. I love you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura says, a radiant smile on her face. "I know," Sasuke replies, a smug look on his face. It was immediately replaced by a scowl as Sakura pinches his side. Sasuke looks down and heaves a sigh as he takes both of her hands in his. He looks up at Sakura again, seriousness etched on his face. "Avenging my father and my brother had always been the goal. I thought that was where it all ends. I never really had much thought of the future." Sasuke takes a deep beath and continues, "But then I met you and I started to hope. You reminded me that anger and pain isn't all there is in this world," he crouches down a little and rests his forehead against hers. "Thank you, Sakura." Sakura could barely hold back her tears as she continues her vows. "I am his and he is mine, from this day until the end of my days," she says as she binds the ribbon between her hands and Sasuke's. Sasuke takes her hand with such gentleness that makes Mikoto well up with tears. He smiles at Sakura, a smile everyone knows is meant only for her, and binds the ribbon between their hands as well. "She is mine and I am hers, from this day until the end of my days," he says, his eyes filled with contentment. Sakura is right; this is what coming home feels like. Kakashi could barely choke out his blessings for the two as he was also on the verge of tears. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." As Sasuke pulls Sakura by the waist and presses his lips tenderly against hers, the dam finally breaks. Mikoto cries, Naruto chokes on his sobs, and Kakashi spills endless tears. In the three years of being away from home and fighting endless battles, Mikoto finally finds peace. Maybe this is why they're fighting in the first place. For love, not revenge. For a future that's not so far away, and not of the past that can't be changed.

—

The marriage is made public a few months later, followed by the news that Sakura is with child. Lord Hiashi threatens to withdraw his men and forget about the alliance. He is beyond enraged as he rightfully should. Sasuke tried to come to his castle to have a talk with him but Lord Hiashi wouldn't see him. "I will marry Lady Hinata!" Naruto announces. "I'm sure Lord Hiashi would be okay with that. I'm from a noble family. I'm the hand of the king. And," Naruto smirks, "I'm not bad in the eyes." "Naruto, you don't have to do this—" Sasuke starts but Naruto cuts him off with a shake of his head. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm bound to marry someone for an alliance in the future anyway." Naruto sighs wistfully. "What you have with Sakura-chan- I'll probably never have that and I'd do anything to protect not just you guys but also your child's future. We need to win this war, Sasuke. We cannot afford to lose more men," Naruto says. Naruto was rarely ever serious but when he was, it's always for the things that count. He and Sasuke stare at each other for a long time before it was broken off as Sakura tackles Naruto into a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she says. It took many weeks and a lot of the Uchiha's strongholds and castles to appease Lord Hiashi before he finally agrees to have Naruto marry his daughter in Sasuke's staid. Mikoto can't help but worry. The fear she felt a long time ago only grew worse the moment Lord Hiashi sets up the date for the wedding and invites Sasuke and his whole family to the event. Sasuke holds her shaking hands and he smiles at her. It's something he does more often now, Mikoto can't help but notice. "Everything will be fine, mother. We're so close to winning the war. We can finally go back to Snow Country after all this and then you'll help me and Sakura raise our daughter," Sasuke says. Mikoto catches her breath and stops to stare at her son. "I'll have a granddaughter," she whispers tearfully. "I'm always surrounded by strong women in my life. I'm sure she'll grow up as brave and wonderful as you and Sakura," Sasuke says, pride evident in his tone. Mikoto laughs and squares her shoulders with a new resolve. Naruto will marry Hinata Hyuuga to strengthen their alliance to House Uchiha, then they will march to Hokage's Landing and hold Danzō against his crimes. Most importantly, they will finally go home.

—

A slow, melodious love song plays. Mikoto looks up to see the violinists situated at the top of the hall, their eyes closed as their hands dance along the strings of their instruments. The wedding is finally over and as Naruto and Hinata were taken to their private chambers to spend their wedding night, a feast were held for the guests in the great hall of the Hyuuga castle to also celebrate. Mikoto smiles as she watches Sasuke and Sakura stand up to join the few others on the dancefloor. The two holds each other, their eyes locked against each other's, and starts to sway to the music. She muses while gazing at the two who are so wrapped up in each other's arms that the world around them seems to disappear in plain sight. It must be wonderful, to be held by someone you're in love with, someone you'd defy all the rules for, someone that your heart chose. Mikoto didn't have that. While she loved Fugaku with all her heart, their love story wasn't really that interesting. Like all nobles, their marriage was arranged and the first time they saw each other was at their own wedding. But they learned to love each other eventually and Mikoto thinks it still counts. "Ah, young love. How wonderful it must be," Lord Kabuto says. Mikoto's smile vanishes from her face and snaps her head to the side to see the man sitting languidly beside her. There's something in his tone and the grimness of his face that makes Mikoto want to grab her son and her daughter-in-law and hide them in her pockets. Lord Kabuto grabs his wine goblet from their table and takes a sip from it. As he raises his hand, his long wide sleeves fall back to reveal iron cufflinks beneath. Mikoto didn't have to guess to know that he's wearing an armor suit underneath his expensive robes. A feeling of something familiar grips Mikoto. The unsettling feeling of knowing you're about to hear a bad news. A huge weight dropping into the pits of her stomach. Armor suits are only worn when people are about to go to battle, not when celebrating a wedding. Lord Kabuto slants his eyes at her and a small smirk forms in his lips. Despite the warmth in the hall, the cold still manages to seep through Mikoto's skin and bones. There was a bang and she turns to the exit and saw Lord Hyuuga's guards locking the doors.  She looks up at the high table to see Lord Hyuuga staring at her, a look of triumph in his face as he continues to eat his food. The music changes at the same time, to the tune with one that Mikoto is familiar with. Rains of Konoha. An old song about how the once famous House Sarutobi were wiped out. They rebelled against Danzo Shimura's ancestors. Lord Asuma Sarutobi lead an army to attack and kill every ANBU they saw, hoping to march down in Konoha and claim the throne from the Shimuras. To restore their dominance, the Shimuras marched to House Sarutobi's castle and killed every one of the Sarutobis. Even the little ones and their mothers were not spared of the tragedy that befall their house. It was said that the decapitated head of Lord Asuma Sarutobi were hung outside the Hokage's Landing to remind the people not to betray the throne. It was a story told to scare every kid in the seven kingdoms long ago. It was a song sung every time the Shimuras win a battle. A song not heard for decades of peace. It's in this moment that Mikoto knows they lost. They have won their many battles, but they lost the war. The knots in the pits of Mikoto's stomach twists as she stands up and accidentally knocks over Lord Kabuto's goblet. There was a loud noise as the goblet clatters down, a splash of red spreading on the floor. There was a beat and then— "King Sasuke!" Mikoto hears Maester Kakashi says. Everything happened so fast; Mikoto looks at the dance floor where Sasuke and Sakura now stood with their backs together and surrounded by their enemies. Kakashi was on the floor, a huge slash in chest and his blood spilling and already staining the marble floors. Mikoto grips at her chest and screams. She sees a blur of silver and hears the unsheathing of a sword and the fight commences. Mikoto suddenly turns to Kabuto and grabs a knife tucked in her ankle and swings it at him. The knife grazes at his left cheek and his head turns to the side, an annoyed expression in his face. He turns back to look at her, his face now cold and devoid of emotions. He nods at something or someone behind her, and before Mikoto knew it, some of the guards were now restraining her. The sounds of music rose to a crescendo and Mikoto's senses blur. She cannot fathom what's happening, can only hear muffled sounds of swords swinging and shouts of anger and despair that comes from her own voice, can only see flashes of Sasuke and Sakura fighting off Lord Hyuuga's men. Mikoto thrashes from the guards' grip, but she was no match to the strength of four men holding her down. "Have mercy on us!" Mikoto shouts desperately, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her gaze follows Kabuto, making his way into the dancefloor to face Sasuke. Sasuke and Sakura stood together, their chests heaving, fury and confusion in their eyes, the sword in their hands stained with blood, and the enemies that surrounded them a few moments ago now lie on the floor with Kakashi. Mikoto can't see anything but red. Can't feel anything but numbness and cold. The blood in her lips tastes like metal, the smell of decay and defeat permeating the air is suffocating her. "Traitor," Sasuke hisses, his eyes burning red and he almost lunges at Kabuto if it weren't for the arrows piercing through his shoulders and thighs coming from the soldiers situated at the top of the hall. He falls down on his knees and Sakura is quick to attack Kabuto. But not quick enough to evade the knife he throws at her direction, directly stabbing its way through her stomach. Sakura falls to her knees, shock evident in her face, and tears automatically falling from her eyes. The red of her blood a stark contrast to the white of her dress. Kabuto wasted no time in getting near Sakura, finishing the job and slashing her throat, blood squirting from neck and continuously falling down her form as she falls down and until there were only minute traces of white left in her dress. And there was her lifeless form on the floor, her hands clutching at her stomach, her eyes still open wide with shock, her body filled with red. Mikoto cannot hear her own scream against the cries of anguish that escapes Sasuke's lips. And for a moment, Mikoto wishes Sasuke had been killed first, so she wouldn't have to hear his cries, his screams of agony as he crouches down next to the body of his beloved. She wishes they killed Sasuke first so he wouldn't have to experience the pain that comes with losing his child, the love of his life, and the promise of a future where no suffering can reach them. The guards releases their hold on her and she lets out a strangled noise as she kneels before Lord Hiashi, who only looked at her with bored eyes as he sipped on his wine. "Enough, Lord Hiashi. You have already taken enough. Please, please, let my son go. He is the only Uchiha left. Take me as prisoner. Kill me instead. Please spare Sasuke and I promise you we will forget about this," she cries, desperation laced in every syllables of the words she uttered. Lord Hiashi only snorts, "Do you take me for a fool, Lady Mikoto?" "Sasuke! Go and save yourself! I beg you!" Mikoto screams, tears streaming down her face as she turns to look at Sasuke pleadingly who is still on the floor, several arrows pierced in his body, and still holding the lifeless form of his wife in his arms. Sasuke only kisses Sakura's forehead before he finally lets go of her. The look on Sasuke's face, the life had been snuffed out of his eyes, is like a knife twisting at Mikoto's heart, making it bleed over and over again. How could the gods let this happen to their family? How could the gods be so cruel to them? Sasuke stands up, drops his bloodied sword on the floor and faces Kabuto with lifeless eyes. "Kill me." Kabuto only grins maniacally as he unsheathes his sword, "King Danzō sends his regards." He swiftly runs the blade through Sasuke's chest. Blood immediately spills everywhere, from his chest, from his mouth, and from every parts of his body that's been stabbed. It didn't matter that there's a sword in his chest, Sasuke wasn't dying. He'd been dead the moment Sakura's lifeless body fell to the floor. "Mother," were Sasuke's last words as he searches Mikoto's eyes, apology and anguish written on his face as he falls down the floor next to the body of his wife.   Mikoto screams, scrambling to crawl next to Sasuke's lifeless form and cradling him. She closes his eyes and she can feel everyone staring at her pathetic form. She whispers her prayers to the gods to bring his son to somewhere peaceful and safe. She lets the tears fall off until there were none, until there was only hollowness in her heart. She suddenly laughs, thinking of how funny and cruel it was that she was the first and last person to hold Sasuke in her arms. Maybe all of this was just a joke and she will wake up tomorrow in the Uchiha compound, where she'd find Fugaku sleeping soundly next to her, and Sasuke and Itachi giving their servants headache as they cause mischief in the great hall. Her laughs grew louder, yes this is just a nightmare, an awful joke. She can hear Lord Hyuuga saying something along the lines of 'going crazy'. Mikoto sees a knife on the floor next to her and she stops laughing, the tears starting to form in her eyes once more as reality dawns on her. She tired of crying.

She only stares at the lifeless form of her son and doesn't give herself another moment to feel, another minute to mourn, another second to think. She grabs the knife and positions it against her throat. The music stops.

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Sixty-Two: Dropped Off ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Madara ] [ SasuHina, vulgarity] [ Verse: Of Monsters and Men ] [ AO3 Link ]

“Ugh, that movie totally bombed. I can’t believe I wasted money on a ticket…”

“Really? I didn’t think it was that bad. I mean, at least it was something to watch…?”

“No way, it’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back! Let alone the price of admission!”

Trailing behind as her friends bicker, Hinata keeps her opinions to herself. This lot tends to be rather...set in their ways when it comes to matters like this. So she typically just smiles and nods.

At least they thought to invite her.

Doing just that as one looks back to confirm their bias, Hinata can’t then help a glance to the other side of the street.

...it’s empty.

That’s strange...she could have swore she saw -

“C’mon, Hinata! Get in - we’ll drop you off by your dorm, okay?”

“O-oh! Right.” Finagling her way into a rear seat, Hinata mostly zones out as the ‘discussion’ about the film continues. In truth, all she can think about is a good night’s sleep. Maybe give Sasuke a quick text to let him know she made it back okay...not that she told him she was leaving in the first place. She just...didn’t want to deal with him lecturing her about safety. Again. After all, she did as asked: she didn’t go alone. That was all he’d cautioned: stick with a group, especially after dark.

“Okay, here we are! See you in class Monday!”

“Mhm!” Opening the passenger door as they pull up alongside the entrance to her dorm’s parking lot, Hinata turns and gives a wave as they drive off. The bright entrance to the multistoried building is like a lighthouse for her little exhausted ship of a body. Ugh...no more late movie nights. At least she doesn’t have class tomorrow…

Digging out her phone, she starts walking as she pulls up her conversation with Sasuke. It’s been a few days since he’s checked on her...a little weird, but also a little refreshing. He’s been so paranoid lately…

Eyes on her screen and senses dulled with exhaustion, she doesn’t notice the near-silent engine behind her, or the featherlight footsteps. It’s not until an arm locks like an iron bar around her middle that she gasps as a rag covers her mouth. In breathe the chemicals that quickly begin to befuddle her mind. Hands reaching to try and tear the limb away, her phone drops to the asphalt, kicked in her struggle under a nearby car.

It only takes a few seconds. In a blink, she’s in the mystery vehicle, which pulls away from the promise of safety that is her dorm.

Blocks away, having been up since sundown, Sasuke finishes a shower after his typical evening workout. Towel dragging down his face, he glances to a clock. It’s not too late yet...maybe he’ll give Hinata a quick text, see if she’s awake. That is, after he waters the plant she gave him. At least he hasn’t killed it yet.

When he pulls up her message history, he’s surprised to find a new notification. Seems she beat him to the punch.

But the message within sharply furrows his brow.

Heyfdg

...what the hell? Did someone grab her phone and hit a few unintended keys before sending that? Sent fifteen minutes ago...surely by now she’d send an apology text and an explanation.

Something in his gut clenches with a nauseous knowing.

Throwing on a fresh outfit, he skips the elevator and instead quickly climbs down the railings of the apartment building stairwell. In a matter of seconds, he goes from the tenth floor to the ground. He also forgoes his car, eyes flashing red as he shifts and lets buried biology go to work.

Too fast to be seen, he cuts through the city nightlife to the campus his witchy companion attends. Shifting to a fully human guise before moving to the door, he glances through the glass in an attempt to spot her...then glances up to the proper window on the third floor. Slipping into shadows, he simply leaps from sill to sill, gripping their edges with sturdy fingers before peering through her panes.

Empty. Everything in order.

...what is going on?

Dropping back to the lawn, he takes out his phone and gives her a call. It rings and rings, but...no answer. Her little message plays, and he mutters, “Hyūga, you better have a damn good explanation for this.” Shifting again, he takes a slow walk around the grass and parking lot near her building. By now, he’s more than familiar with her scent, heightened senses letting him pick up far more than your typical human nose. Not quite Kakashi’s werewolf levels, but..good enough.

When he finds a trace, he’s standing near where cars can pull in and out of the lot. Taking  a deep breath, he tries to guess the time passed based on its strength. Half an hour, maybe? One last time, he pulls out his phone, redialing her number.

...then he hears it.

It would be nearly impossible to pick up for anyone else, but shifted, he hears the subtle vibrations of metal against asphalt. Looking around, he narrows it down, crouching behind a car.

There. It’s her phone. Screen cracked, it was clearly dropped.

Panic quickly bubbles up in his gut. Why did she drop her phone? Why didn’t she pick it up? Where the hell is she?!

Cutting the call, he instead tries his brother. “...aniki, I -”

“Sasuke, you need to get here now. I was just about to call you.”

Oh shit. Oh fuck. “...did he find her?”

“Yes. He’s on his way - she was just brought in.”

“Where?”

“North headquarters.”

“...I’ll be there soon.” With a press of his thumb, the call ends.

For a moment, he stands stock still. Eyes wide and expression bordering on manic, his chest shakes with trembling breath.

He knew this would happen...he knew...and he didn’t protect her. While he realizes he couldn’t just derail her entire life to keep her safe...he started all of this when he saved her life. And it escalated when she saved his.

...and now she’s in danger far greater than a random Nightwalker attack.

Before he can stop it, his grip on both phones shatters them into crumpled metal and broken glass. He’s full of a myriad of emotions. Anger, disappointment...and fear.

In a blink, he flickers from view. Even for a vampire, he pushes the limits of his body to reach maximum speed. Any moment he taries might be her last.

Hinata...wait for me…!

I’m sorry…

Skidding to a stop outside the imposing manor that Madara claims for his main base of operations, Sasuke struggles to catch his breath. That’s strange...he doesn’t see the typical anthill of activity - increased security - that comes with a visit from their patriarch. Red eyes squinted under furrowed brows, he jogs up to the front door. Time to find Itachi and figure out what the hell is going on.

But as he reaches for the handle, it opens from within.

And Sasuke’s heart stops.

Looking down at him with an almost bored expression, Madara manages a hint of a smirk. “Well now...I was beginning to wonder when you would join us, my boy. Come...we have much to discuss. And there’s someone who’s been dying for you to arrive.”

Temper ignoring any trace of reason he might have managed, Sasuke frenzies on the spot. All control lost as deep-rooted instinct overtakes him, he makes to launch forward, nails sharpened and fangs bared.

But iron-like arms pin his own behind him, holding him back like a rabid dog on a leash.

“Keep your head, Sasuke.”

Like a punch to the gut, his brother’s voice cuts through his mental fog. Completely unphased, Madara simply stares with his same expression, not a hair out of place - he didn’t even flinch.

“...aniki…!”

“Remember your place.”

At Itachi’s words, he gives in to the inevitable dizziness and fatigue that come from losing a frenzied state, head bowing and shoulders wilting in his brother’s grip.

“...now, if we’re all ready to be civilized,” Madara then drawls, “we’ll be far more at leisure to speak comfortably inside. You’ve always had that spark of temper, Sasuke...I know it well. Therefore, I will overlook this little fit. You must learn to think before you act. Being rash will cost you.”

Still limp, Sasuke staggers a bit as Itachi slowly releases him. Catching his eye as he lifts his head, Itachi gives a look that - in any other eyes - would be a blank yet stern glance to mind his manners.

But Sasuke knows his brother better than anyone. He can read between those lines. Patience, he says silently. It’s not yet time.

Gritting his jaw, he gives just as hidden an agreement. Itachi is right. They’ve come this far...they can’t let anything get in their way. So, he squares his shoulders and makes to follow.

They better pray they didn’t give her a single scratch...or I will be spilling blood tonight.

                                                            .oOo.

     :3c Whoops, my hand slipped, and now we have angst.      So this is honestly my favorite series in the series, lol - I might have to revamp it once the year long challenge is over, and make it a proper fic. Cuz I enjoy this way too much!      Seems Sasuke's finally been outplayed - Madara's gotten his hands on the little witchy woman. What does he want with her? Well...I guess we'll have to wait and see!      And also, a small note: as some of you might remember, the Nightwalker universe is my own original twist on monster characters, complete with its own world and lore. And the frenzy state Sasuke slipped into when Madara not-too-subtly made his threat? That was a big deal. Frenzy is a Nightwalker's last resort when in danger, angry, etc. It's a reversion to the most basic of instincts: a major power buff, but at the cost of their conscious mind. So the fact that even just a hint of Hinata being hurt flung him all the way into being frenzied is a big deal. Think Naruto going bijū mode against Pein, but straight to all nine tails in an instant. And he didn't even SEE her hurt - he doesn't even know if she is. BUT, he knows Madara is big trouble, and his mind snapped straight to a frenzy against one of - if not THE - most powerful Nightwalker in Japan.      Jussayin' :3c      Aaanyway, it's late, and I'm v tired, so...time for sleep! Thanks so much for reading n_n

GENJUTSU | A SasuSaku FanFic (One Shot)

For Day 28 (Mirage) of SasuSaku Month 2019. :)

Rating: T

Summary:  Sasuke didn't know, however, that Sakura's resilience to genjutsu has become a whole lot better in the past few years.

(A sequel-ish to "Cave Encounter" but could be a stand-alone short story)

———

"You seem quite unlike you in the past few days, Sasuke," Suigetsu remarked while they were strolling somewhere on the outskirts of Hidden Cloud. As usual, though, he received no response from the avenger who formed their current team. But it didn't mean Sasuke didn't hear him. It's been a week after Sasuke's sudden encounter with his former kunoichi teammate, yet he's still infuriated with himself with how he couldn't seem to shove the memory of that night away from his mind. Whenever the thought lingered, he felt as if an uninvited weakness was creeping into him again, and he hated it. Sure, he acknowledged that a part of him cherished the feeling of his lips on hers; but for the most part, he regretted kissing her. It was due to the undeniable fact that its impact was lasting, contrary to what he believed that it was some sort of a closure – the last scene of a complicated play that would never have another sequel. The feeling he had after leaving Sakura in that cave was uncanny. He's been alone for majority of his life, but the moment he was embraced by the midnight breeze after leaving that cave without turning back to get another glimpse of a familiar hair with carnation hue, he seemed to have felt more alone than ever. And it made him more crestfallen, but for the most part, confused. Sakura shouldn't have any immense impact on him, right? Because she was nothing but a mere teammate that he used to be with...yes, just a teammate. However, time and time again, he fails in fully convincing himself with that. Shutting his eyes, he shook his head to himself, as if the mere movement would push away the resurfacing loneliness from the recesses of his mind.

"You're more sulky than ever." Suigetsu scoffed and tried to get his attention once more. "Ah, I think I know! Maybe you should get a girlfriend!" "Girlfriend?!" The only woman in Team Hebi retorted. "Sasuke-kun is not getting a girlfriend!" Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Sure. Who are you in his life again?" He snickered before making sure that he's liquified as Karin threw a jab on his head. "Sasuke-kun! I hate him! Can you hear the way he's speaking to me?" Karin whined. Suigetsu simply smirked at Karin, knowing how her words would not even make the avenger flinch. And true enough, Sasuke just continued skipping from a tree branch to another ahead of them, not even bothering to get involved with the conversation. "Tch. Karin, you're hopeless." He snorted. "Why you—!" Karin tried to hit him once more. "Sasuke-kun, he's doing it again!" "Shut up, Karin." And those were the very first words of Sasuke Uchiha that day. The redhead pouted at that, glaring intensely at Suigetsu. For her, he's always the one to be blamed. However, truth be told, she has observed the same thing that Suigetsu noted about Sasuke – how he's been more detached than he usually was – and it was starting to worry her. Somehow, she concluded it had something to do with one of the nights he left them to spend the night by himself. And it stressed her out that she couldn't even figure out what happened. More than that, she didn't know how to make Sasuke feel better, let alone make him notice her in a positive light. She used to believe that she somehow had a little chance on their team leader, but with his current case, her chances seemed to have gone from zero to negative something. It irked her to the core, though right now, all she wanted was for him to at least be okay. Jugo was just observing the commotion. And while Suigetsu and Karin returned to their usual bickering, he quickened his pace and fell in step with the Uchiha. "Sasuke, are you okay?" Sasuke clenched his jaw. It was the nth time that he heard that question within the week. He didn't know what he detested more between having to deal with Team 7 or Team Hebi, because for some reason that he couldn't understand, everyone just seemed to want to meddle in his life. But then, a sudden thought entered his mind – Sakura was with him in Team 7, and he realized just now that she's not as annoying; hence, he already knew the better option between the two. He heaved a sigh. The struggle of putting the pink-haired kunoichi at the back of his head remained, but of course, he's not gonna reveal that to anyone. "I'm fine. Focus on the task ahead." Jugo sighed in resignation. And as directed, they proceeded with getting more information about Itachi's whereabouts.

Sasuke used to think that being able to kill Itachi to avenge his clan would make him feel satisfied, complete, and finally, happy. But to his surprise, it only made him feel worse, or rather, he couldn't even feel anything at all anymore. Knowing that Itachi had loved him up to the very end left him perplexed, and for the most part, empty. An old statement from Kakashi while he had Sasuke tied to a tree suddenly rang a bell: "Trust me. For those who follow the path of revenge, it never ends well. You'll only tear yourself apart. And even if you succeed, what will you have then? Nothing. Emptiness." And as much as Sasuke disliked to admit it, his former sensei was right. He could experience first-hand the truth of it now, because the void that's been in his heart ever since he was a kid only became more hollow now that his lifelong goal to kill Itachi had been achieved, and a backstory about his true reason for slaughtering their clan was revealed. He clenched his fists – knuckles becoming white and nails causing blood to ooze from his palm – as he threw his feet on the side of the bed where he was led to rest. For now, he was erratic, finding it hard to be certain on what to believe in or what to do next. The empty space in his heart better be filled right now, or else, he might go insane. Yet, he had no idea how exactly that void would be filled. Until he remembered the feeling of someone's soft lips against his. Months ago, the memory of that kiss tormented him on the inside. It made him realize what he's lacking. It made him crave something that he knows he doesn't deserve. But now, he realized that the warmth and tenderness associated with the presence of a certain pink-haired girl was the only thing that could turn the table of his life around after all. For it was only her who could fill his lonely existence with the emotion called love. It was funny, actually – Love? – just thinking about it, it's been so long since he last recalled what that word meant. And now that his brother, who actually loved him all this time in his own sacrificial way, was already gone, the fact that Sakura was the only one who could make him feel that again made him want to see her. But how? He sighed and shut his tired eyes as he made an exit from his current hideout with Team Hebi. He wasn't supposed to get out of his bed yet according to Karin, but it didn't matter. The physical damage from his battle with Itachi was nothing compared to the emotional damage that's been lingering inside him ever since, and growing even more at the moment. Glancing at the surroundings, he recognized by instinct that Konoha wasn't too far from their current location. And for a fraction of a second, it was as if a light bulb appeared right above Sasuke's bandaged head. Perhaps a little taste of solace wouldn't mean that he's weak. A firm resolve then developed inside him. There's no point denying it anymore, he needed her presence, so he'd do something about it. Besides, Team Hebi wouldn't notice his temporary absence if he immediately returned before they wake up by dawn. And so he took off. He never thought he'd be back any time soon, or perhaps, at all. Yet there he was, roaming around his home village stealthily in the middle of the night. Karin was right, though; his body still hasn't recuperated from his regretful battle with his brother, that's why it was quite a struggle for him to discreetly go around in search for the house of a certain carnation-haired girl. But then, he felt it, found it, faster than he thought he would and closer than he had imagined. There, resting under the roof he was standing on, was the familiar aura of her chakra, sweet and inviting as he had remembered. He may not be a sensory type but he realized just now that he'll always recognize that presence anywhere. With that, for the first time in the past few hours, he felt somewhat relieved. Sasuke, hoping that he'd find her room immediately, gently landed on one of the tree branches by a window. And much to his favor, it was the exact window of Sakura's room. Sharingan activated, he scanned the room and found her sleeping form faced towards him. His eyes softened at the sight. Is this what being home feels like? He has forgotten it already. Even so, he wasn't quite satisfied with just seeing her from afar. Soon enough, he found himself inside her room gently passing through her surprisingly unlocked window. His heart clenched at how she's finally so near, yet still so far from him. Is this what she has been feeling towards him the whole time? Like he's there at an arm's length but he still cannot be in her grasp no matter how much she tried to reach out to him?

He now understood – it hurts. "Sasuke...kun." He suddenly froze, making him direct his red eyes on her face. Thankfully, though, she was merely stirring in her sleep. But Sasuke was astonished with this: She was dreaming of him? It's been three years since he left, and how many months since their last encounter, but she was still dreaming about him? Knowing that fact gave him an unfamiliar warm feeling on his chest. How could someone whom he has basically pushed away all this time still dream about him, or perhaps even long for him? He probably would never understand. "...S-sasuke-kun. I..." When he heard her sweet voice murmuring his name again, he then decided to do something that might sound selfish as he remembered what he was really there for – he trapped Sakura in a genjutsu and then slowly made his way beside her, with her back towards him on the bed. His arms gently wrapped around her still form in a smooth motion while he played with her mind, filling it with images of all the times that he had rejected her, and putting much emphasis on that night that he turned his back on her and the village. Then right there, with Sakura's body enclosed in his, he could finally barely feel the emptiness that has been corrupting his system earlier. Even though he was sure that the feeling would be fleeting, he wanted to make it count, before his mind wreaks havoc about Itachi's death once again. He wanted so bad to do just that – to at least embrace her – and have another comforting memory to grasp onto amidst all the inner turmoil enslaving him in the past few hours. He knew he was being unfair to Sakura as he deliberately messed with her head, though. But he only did that so as to not risk waking her up and making her feel like it is completely safe for her to be with him. If anything, he wanted to protect her from himself, still. Just like that night that he left, wherein he refused to let her join him on his course to revenge because he knew that the longer she's with him, the quicker her innocence would be tainted by the darkness surrounding him. Even though he did not acknowledge it, he cared enough to know that she didn't deserve any of that. He sighed as he felt her quiver in her sleep, so sure that it was due to his genjutsu. He then just tightened his hold on her while he allowed her warmth to touch not only his body but also the depths of his heart. It was almost the same feeling he had when he was with her in that cave months ago, only back then, their lips were dancing together. And so, he savored his few moments of consolation and buried his face in her hair. Oh, how he wished he could have such a lasting peace. But he knew fate wasn't done messing with his life yet, for after this, he still needed to decide on what to do after his brother's death and resolve the mysteries behind his clan’s downfall. As the scent of her hair filled his nostrils, he allowed himself to wonder – Will he ever have a life as serene as this? A life wherein he could finally open up his heart to accept and to give tenderness fully? One thing's for sure, however, he's still too broken to have such a life. And if he decided to blend his life with Sakura's now, he would only break her more than he has been already doing. Maybe one day I'll come back to you. But... "Sakura..." He began softly, and then gently mumbled a few words to the sleeping girl in his arms. Hastily, he soon jumped out of the window without looking back, and then released Sakura from his genjutsu. Sasuke didn't know, however, that Sakura's resilience to genjutsu has become a whole lot better in the past few years. It's not like all those things that Sasuke had replayed in her head had not haunted her in the past years, so she knows exactly how those memories could affect her. Yet, with what she experienced tonight, she knew there was something else – or rather, someone else – meddling in her sleep. That's when she slowly gained consciousness and felt strong arms hugging her from behind. With the images running inside her head, she immediately knew it was Sasuke's doing. And she could painfully discern why he was making it appear like he's the bad guy all over again. She winced every once in a while, torn between breaking free from the jutsu and letting Sasuke take over her mind as he wrapped her body with his. She apparently chose the latter, while feeling distressed with the fact that just like their last encounter in a cave, Sasuke was still struggling about whether he would continue detaching himself from everything just so he could focus on his revenge, or start allowing himself to be reconnected with even just her. But she was glad that at least, tonight, Sasuke allowed himself a bit of diversion from his goal. It probably wasn't even an hour when she felt Sasuke begin to move away from her while the genjutsu in her head intensified. It was during that time that he heard him softly say her name, and afterwards — "I wish I could love you now." And then the genjutsu was dispelled. Panting, she fully woke up with a jolt and whirled her head from left to right, feeling a pang of disappointment when she realized that Sasuke had already left. But then, she suddenly felt a flicker of his chakra, and for a fraction of a second, she felt that something was wrong. With her experience in the hospital, she knows it how a person's chakra could determine a person's health, so she rushed towards the window and brashly slid it open. There, still standing on a branch across her window, was the man who had enveloped her in his arms just a few moments ago. Although she was overwhelmed that she was able to catch him before he went away, she didn't fail to notice the bandage on his forehead and the way he seemed to be leaning on a tree for a bit of support. "Sasuke-kun!" Sasuke became rigid, suddenly pausing from approaching the next tree branch away from Sakura's place. With his back towards her, he clenched his jaw at the realization that he was caught in a place he shouldn't be in. Had he been reckless? Or was it his current condition that led to him not being able to cast the genjutsu in its full capacity? "Sasuke-kun, please don't leave!" He heaved a sigh, reluctantly tipping his head over his shoulder and said, "You're awake." "Yes," Sakura replied softly. "I was aware that it was a genjutsu and not just one of my usual dreams." That's when Sasuke remembered words that fell from his lips a few years back: "Sakura, you must have noticed it first, right? Your analytical ability and genjutsu know-how is the most improved on our team." He was stunned. Even in her sleep, really? She gazed at him when he didn't respond, still panting, dazed with how her night has turned out. "I don't mind about what you did. But please, don't leave yet." "I have no business here anymo–" "Yes, but I have!" She blurted out. Sasuke turned to face her this time, brows furrowed as he stared at her quizzically. She lowered her head. "I mean...just let me heal you." There was sincerity to her statement that Sasuke couldn't deny. It wasn't even to take advantage of his presence or anything, but it was brought about by her pure indescribable concern for him. Yet again, he clenched his jaw. Karin could give his wounds a temporary relief, but Sakura could surely give him a total cure with effects that are even beyond physical. How could he not give in to that? "As a medic, I don't think I could take it seeing you go with such a condition. So, please..." Her jade orbs settled on his charcoal ones under the moonlit sky. And for a second, she wasn't sure if it was just the little lighting or she really saw softness on the surface of those beautiful dark eyes. "Just let me heal you and then you can go, Sasuke-kun. I'm not going to force you to stay in the village, if you don't want to." Sasuke averted her gaze. There seemed to be a gravitational pull from her eyes that he couldn't seem to avoid. "Fine,” he soon agreed with a low voice. Besides, being back to his perfect health would mean that he could immediately proceed with his next tasks. Sakura sighed in relief. When Sasuke approached her window, she moved a little to give way for the rogue nin to hop inside. "You better make it quick." "Okay." Sakura cleared her throat and then instructed, "Kindly sit still on the bed." Sasuke couldn't help but feel in awe with the new abilities of his former teammate. He was right when he first saw her again, everything in her screamed progress, and his heart astonishingly fluttered with the privilege of experiencing the result of such growth firsthand. Staring at every movement of Sakura's glowing hands, he felt a soothing sensation when her chakra made its way into his body, mending every damaged tissue, rejuvenating every swollen muscle, and closing every bleeding wound. He was too caught up with observing the healing process that he almost didn't hear Sakura's soft voice. "Were you serious with what you said?" Sasuke's head snapped up and his eyes fixated on Sakura's face. Her gaze, however, was focused on his arm that she was checking up for other muscle strains. But he didn't fail to catch the crimson shade on her cheeks despite the subtle lighting of the moon through the window. For a second, he thought about her hanging question. And when he realized what she was talking about, he quickly glanced away. "Just finish what you're doing." "Well, if...if you really meant that, it would make me very...happy." Sasuke simply stared at her again, with his face blank and his mind wondering, can a simple love really make one person happy? "I can wait, Sasuke-kun, still. But honestly, even if...even if you don't love me back, whatever would make you happy, I'll support that. As long as you'll be okay. As long as...you'll be out of the darkness you're now in." Sakura frowned, her hand automatically clutching her chest as if the external act could calm the internal ache there. More than anything else, it pains her that Sasuke had to go through all the things that life has been throwing at him since he was a child. She knew she couldn't do anything to take all his burdens away, but she could only hope that he'll be finally out of the darkness he's currently trapped in. "And if...if I can't be with you here yet, then I'll just keep on loving you from afar." She paused and faintly chuckled. "That's what I've been doing all this time, anyway." Then she gazed at him, her bright jade orbs trying to see through those deep obsidian ones. For some reason, she knew that deep down, there's still hope for him. She'll never lose her faith in that, so she had to assure him about it too. "I'll be waiting for you, Sasuke-kun. We’ll all be waiting. Always." With conflicting feelings, Sasuke couldn't find the words to say. It was like the night that he left all over again, wherein every single word that Sakura released from her lips made an impact on him without her knowing. At first, he wanted so bad to tell Sakura to stop...to just stop wasting her time and feelings for someone as horrendously messed up as him. Yet, he couldn't deny that there's this small and growing part in him that desired so bad to experience just that – having someone to wait for him...having someone to love him like the family he used to have. Sasuke's expression softened then. Everything that Sakura voluntarily did and said in the past few minutes has given him a tinge of the happiness that he could possibly have once all of the chaos in his life is finally over. All he wanted was to see her tonight – for the last time, like he always thought – but surprisingly, he gained so much more. Moments later, his hand seemed to have moved on its own, or so he believed, to caress Sakura’s cheek. His eyes trailed on every feature of her face, finally accepting the fact that this girl would always make her way into his heart no matter how many times he shuts it to her. Sakura closed her eyes at the touch as she savored the rare gentleness that the Uchiha avenger was showing her right now. A tad of dismay crept into her heart then, for when Sasuke leaves tonight, she doesn’t know when she would experience this again, or if she would experience this with him again at all. Her heart skipped a beat, however, when Sasuke’s lips suddenly collided with hers. She didn’t expect him at all to kiss her for the second time. Unlike last time, though, the movements of Sasuke’s lips were now gentle, almost hesitant, but seemingly yearning as if he had missed kissing her since that time they’ve encountered each other in a cave. Her heart raced at the thought. Did he miss this as much as she had missed it? Did he replay their first kiss in his head just like the many times she had reminisced it? Sasuke became slightly agitated when he couldn’t feel Sakura responding. And so, he gently tugged her lower lip, moved his hand at the back of her neck, and deliberately pulled her closer. When she got the memo and finally led her lips to move in sync with his, he couldn’t help but smile in the kiss. In the past eight years that he was dominated by grief and hatred, he had never felt this...at peace. And even though he wanted it to last a little bit longer, he knew that he still had to leave, and merely hold on to the spark of hope that even if his life is currently filled with confusion and pain, there’s an assurance in this – Sakura’s love is one that he could rely on. "Thank you...Sakura,” he then breathed once their lips’ reunion was over, leaving them both dazed as their distance remained close. Sakura simply smiled at him, heart still galloping at the sudden turn of events. But she knew it was already goodbye. In a swift movement then, Sasuke was once again on the other side of the window, finally taking his leave, and now adamant to figuring out the path he would now take after Itachi's death. This time, he took a few moments to look back, keeping etched in his mind the words and the kiss of the only woman who has been filling his heart with love over and over again.

The next morning, Karin, Jugo, and Suigetsu were in for a surprise. “Sasuke seemed to be okay now, don’t you think?” Jugo addressed while the three of them strolled behind Sasuke towards who knows where. “And I’ve never seen him recover so quickly like this. Didn’t he get a lot of attacks from his brother?” “Yeah. I couldn’t sense him feeling as distressed as he was yesterday either.” Karin mused. “Oh, and his healing? Of course, he bit me yesterday, duh?!” She concluded, much to Suigetsu’s irritation. “We all know that your healing ability doesn’t work that fast, not for such an intense condition as Sasuke’s after that fight, at least.” The water ninja retorted. “So don’t put the credit on yourself, Karin.” “It’s early in the morning, Suigetsu! You better not start with me!” “Tch. I still don’t believe it’s because of you.” He dodged Karin’s whack around his head. “But really though, maybe he got sick of us checking up on him so he’s pretending and tricking us through a genjutsu?” Jugo shrugged. “As long as it’s not one of his mind-wrecking genjutsus, then I guess this one’s fine.” Catching their conversation behind him, Sasuke couldn’t help but just smirk to himself. ————

© December 2018 AriannJS

————

For some reason, I kinda struggled in writing this. It apparently took me a while, and this had been unexpectedly long, but I hope I still did well! I tweaked some stuff from the canon just like the timeline and Sasuke’s resolve immediately after his battle with Itachi just to fit in this plot into the Narutoverse. I’ve always wondered how Sasuke was dealing with the grief and emptiness inside him, so this flowed from that concept. Anyway, let me know your thoughts! :)

Like what I do? Please consider supporting me on ko-fi as I continue to write fictions and make song covers! A cup of coffee would be a big encouragement and help because I’m planning to go to Japan this November! :)

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Tea and coffee – A Kakashi office one-shot

Words: 1k Relationship: Kakashi x fem!reader

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Passing through the big, sliding entrance doors you hurried into the building, the click-clack of your heels prominent although you made them sound like scared mouse-steps. It still made you a little embarrassed to have the glassy entrance open only for yourself while you stepped onto the beige tiles of the huge foyer, even after concluding the same procedure every day for the past month. The tower of the new workplace lingered like a beast right in the centre of the city and devoured each of its workers every morning like a glutton. The man working in the adjacent department halted his morning chat with the manager to flash you a cocky smile as you walked by, annoyed gaze sternly fixed forward to ignore him.

Every day, you came here thinking that you didn´t fit in between all those men who tried to look painfully casual while wearing a suit and who had majored in business and then took on a boring office job. And yet, every day you came back to wait for the 30 minute break at one thirty to see him, waited for a head of fluffy, light hair and his lazy bedroom eyes and laid-back attitude that seemed to get flustered by absolutely nothing. An earthquake could probably break out and swallow half of the city but the man would calmly save everyone´s day. Ever since you had started for the company, the two of you had unfortunately not become very close, but still you couldn´t stop your heart from throbbing whenever he entered the same room. More times than not, you would get off a few minutes too early in hopes of finding him in the break room to sit near him and exchange a few sentences. His reputation was good and bad in equal shares, followed by a particular trait to be enslaved by coffee... …Keeping that in mind, you had developed an only mildly-worrying habit of going to the coffee machine every half an hour, sometimes even forgetting to make yourself something to drink.

Today seemed to be your lucky day, because when you entered the break room there he was, sitting in a corner of the room and eating a sandwich. Kakashi. Your heart made a jump. A lot of woman seemed to favour him, actually. It wasn´t strange, considering the man´s looks and position. Yet you were bothered by the fact that no one really knew something personal about him. He visibly stood out between your co-workers, yet outside of work Kakashi wasn´t seen at all no matter how desperately you had tried to get his address. Luckily, no one had ever seen a partner of his or a girlfriend, so you concluded that Kakashi had to be single. It came quite in handy for your carefully thought-through plan.

Taking a deep breath, you strode forward with two coffees in hand and approached a newspaper-reading Kakashi. “Care to join me?”

Even though he took the offer, your later confession was met with rejection. Of course, you had imagined nothing else. Kakashi should really know you better than that. You came prepared. Would you have graduated without your sheer amount of intractability and passion? Would you have even gotten the job here when you would´ve stopped applying just because you got rejected the first time? This man should better gear up.

It took a lot of time, effort, coffee errands and willpower, but a few months afterwards you confessed to the man of your dreams anew.

…

“I´m gonna make tea.” Right when you wanted to stand up and go to the kitchen, strong arms pulled your form back into bed. “No… stay.” Kakashi´s sleepy voice made you smile, even more his cute bedhead and the fact that he refused to open his eyes and acknowledge that it was time to get up and be an adult. With a chuckle you surrendered, slipping back into his embrace and letting the man pull you tightly against his chest. Kakashi let out a content hum and lazily kissed your forehead.

“Baby, you know we have to get up.” – “Four minutes.”

After five you decided to kiss your boyfriend awake, starting out with small pecks that turned longer and passionate until the man suddenly rolled over. Even though his solid, broad frame was heavy, Kakashi paid much attention not to crush you underneath his body as his lips met yours with a sudden spark of hunger. With a smirk, you gently pushed him back and locked eyes with a now confused and sleepy man. “Since you´re awake now, we can get up.” Kakashi groaned. “Is this pay back?” Maybe it was, but you feared that you´d never get to work that day if you gave in. And Kakashi was very, very hard to resist.

 No one had thought you´d be the one to melt his ice. It came to everyone´s surprise when the two of you had announced your relationship. You could only laugh about that now and about your former struggle. You had come to know Kakashi better than anyone else. Even though it had come to a surprise that Kakashi was clingier than you´d imagined and that he indeed was working harder than it seemed like. Yet the man had also learned things about you, for example that you didn´t like coffee that much and favoured tea, that you looked unbelievably cute in the morning… A new trait of his was never keeping his hands off your body when you were around. Either he was absentmindedly stroking your hair, protectively holding your waist or your hand or giving you a passionate, long-drawn-out kiss before and after lunch break.

It was a Thursday evening when the both of you decided to drive out of the city to have a picnic in a blanket in a corn field as dinner. “Thank you for not giving up, back then.” The words came unexpected, yet they made you genuinely smile. “Of course not. I knew you needed me.”

Blurred Lines - part viii (end)

Blurred Lines MadaSaku Rated T

part i      part ii      part iii      part iv      part v    part vi    part vii

part viii

The discharge of a gun was still ringing in Sakura's ears as she awoke from her dream sluggishly. She could still see the gun pointed at her, still see the trigger being pulled in her half-asleep, half-awake state but she was aware that it was nothing more than a nightmare conjured by her own mind, and she took a deep breath as she attempted to rub the remnants of her dream away.

Eventually she became more conscious of her surroundings and with careful movements, she pulled herself into a sitting position as she clicked on her bedside lamp. It brightened and chased away the natural darkness of the night, but she closed her eyes again and pursed her lips together as the familiar ache in her hip returned. It throbbed and pulsed in time with her heartbeat and she rested a gentle hand over the wound as she took even, measured breaths.

As soon as the worst of it passed, Sakura relaxed as she gazed about her room, noting that much hadn't changed in her weeks spent in the hospital. Her clothes were still draped over the empty armchair next to her bathroom door and a stack of work documents and old mail remained piled on her dresser, the drawer with her shirts still half-opened.

It felt like nothing had changed and yet things would never be the same again. Her earlier conversation with Kakashi threatened to play over in her mind for the umpteenth time, but she pushed it down as her gaze fell to her fingers as they played with the mysterious crimson blanket that had appeared her first night in the hospital.

No one had been able to provide her with an explanation of where it had come from. Naruto had left her room for a few hours only to return to find it tucked around her as she recovered from her earlier surgery. She had her suspicions of who the owner was, but she didn't ask; she knew she couldn't ask. And so, Sakura had kept it with her her entire stay, using it as her source of strength and comfort when the pain and stress felt overwhelming. Even now, it helped soothe her restless mind as she hugged it to her, her eyes closed as she breathed in the lingering traces of spice and laundry detergent.

As she opened her eyes again, she could feel her exhaustion returning but rather than slip back down into bed, she pushed the covers back before she reached for the crutches next to her bed. Her dream had left her thirsty and though she should have asked Naruto to bring her a glass of water before he went home for the night, it had been the last thing on her mind as she hustled him out the door, just wanting one night to be alone. She took it as a sign to be kinder to her partner.

With some grimacing, Sakura clambered to her feet, her oversized t-shirt and low-riding, loose-fitted shorts hiding the bandages and fading bruises around her waist. She was just fitting the cushions comfortably under her arms when she vaguely heard the front door close before quiet footsteps sounded in the entryway. She rolled her eyes half-heartedly as a smile played about her lips. "Naruto, I told you I'm fine. You can spend the night at home toni-."

The words died on her lips as she exited her bedroom and turned on the light to find not the cheerful blond standing in her living area, but someone older with darker hair and even darker eyes. The mere sight of him caused a myriad of emotions to swirl beneath her breastbone. She could still remember the way he kissed her as his lips moved desperately against hers, attempting to give and take everything as their seconds together ticked away. He had left her unwillingly, his brow pinched together in worry and fear, as she was left alone to her fate.

Now he stood before her silently, his gaze observant but his expression indecipherable. It was a moment before either of them spoke. 

"Madara. I thought I might be seeing you soon," she said softly.

His fathomless, black eyes swept over her, lingering longest on her crutches and her hidden injury, before he returned his piercing gaze to hers. "I apologize for coming so late. I hope I did not wake you."

She shook her head before she maneuvered further into the living area, her crutches clicking softly in the quiet. "No, you didn't. I was already up," she murmured. Then her expression turned curious. "How exactly did you get in?"

The corner of his mouth twitched before his collected expression returned. "With much practice."

She arched her brow at him but allowed him to get away with his vague answer as she turned towards the kitchen and carefully made her way to the cupboard before she glanced back at him. "I was just getting some water. Can I get you anything?"

Madara shook his head. "I am all right, thank you. You should not strain yourself."

"I'm fine," she said offhandedly. She ensured her crutches were tucked safely under her arms before she reached up to open the cabinet. However, before she could grasp a glass, Madara was at her side pulling her hand down. She turned to him, her expression confused. "What are you-?"

"Allow me," he murmured as he reached above her head to retrieve a cup.

She watched in surprise as he silently closed the cupboard and moved to the fridge to fill her glass with the filtered container inside before he returned to her side and handed it to her. Her fingers brushed against his as she silently accepted it from him, still somewhat stunned. "Thanks," she murmured. Her heart began to beat a little faster as she caught a whiff of that familiar cologne.

But then it was gone as Madara stepped away from her, an unusual expression upon his face. It was gone before she could identify it.

Silence slipped between them as she sipped from her glass and observed him. Just as he always was, he was adorning a three-piece suit that did wonders to his complexion and she couldn't help but take a moment to admire his handsome face. He didn't appear to have changed much in the few weeks that had passed since she had last seen him. At least until she took a closer look.

There were age lines around his eyes that she didn't remember seeing before and a slight darkness underneath as if he had been too occupied to sleep properly. The difference was barely noticeable, but after having seen him appear so immaculate for so long, she found the change surprising.

However, it didn't make Madara's gaze any less piercing and she felt herself shift uncomfortably as he studied her just a little too sharply, just a little too closely. They both knew the conversation was still to be had, but neither really seemed to know where to start.

Eventually Madara broke the quiet. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well," she replied, relieved that he had taken it upon himself to speak first. She set her glass on the counter before she returned her attention to him. "It was a long couple of weeks in the hospital but I'm glad to finally be home."

"I am pleased that you are recovering so well," he said honestly. Then he paused briefly. "Mikoto was concerned that the bullet might have hit an ovary. Are you-did it..?"

Sakura wasn't used to seeing Madara stutter. She found it strangely adorable – a word she thought she'd ever use to describe the man – and she bit her lip to keep her smile from widening before she answered, "No, the bullet missed all major organs and arteries."

If it had, she would have bled out in that room, but she found it best not to tell him that. However, she had not escaped completely unscathed and she felt her mood briefly drop before she forced another smile upon her face. "I can still have babies that will be just as stubborn as me if I want."

Her light teasing caused Madara to in turn smirk, but it faded the longer he studied her. That same expression was on his face, just as unnamable as before. "I should have never left you on that floor," he finally murmured quietly.

So that's what this was about. He was guilty for leaving her, guilty for being unable to be there for her. She understood where he was coming from, but she held no grudges against him. "You did exactly what you had to do. If you had stayed, you would have been killed or captured. Leaving me behind was your only option."

However, Madara's expression only hardened. "I abandoned you," he said sharply.

But his anger wasn't directed at her; it was at himself, and her heart reached out to him. She could feel the internal struggle he was waging within himself and after a moment, she tucked her crutches under her arms before she carefully maneuvered over to him. She stopped once she was in front of him, not quite touching but the desire was there. "The most important thing to me is that you're here now. I'm glad you came."

"I should have come sooner."

"But you did, didn't you," Sakura challenged softly. Madara met her gaze evenly and even without his answer, she knew her suspicions had been correct. However, he seemed unwilling to admit to his act of kindness and so she pressed, "My first night in the hospital you were there. I woke up the next morning with another blanket. I know it belongs to you." It smelled just like him.

To her surprise, he didn't immediately deny it. Instead he sighed softly out his nose before he finally reached out to her, his fingers brushing gently through her hair in a feather-light caress. "I had to see for myself that you were okay." His words were nearly whispered.

The soft emotion coloring his tone made her heart swell and begin to beat a little faster in her chest, and she pursed her lips together to keep her grin from showing. "You didn't have to risk yourself," she chastised lightly. Then she leaned into his touch. "But I'm glad you were there."

His collected expression was slowly beginning to fade the longer they spoke, and Sakura felt her body warm as she recognized that half-smile, half-smirk she had come to miss. The gentle brush of his thumb along her jaw wasn't helping matters either. "Is that not what someone does when they care for another? Take foolish risks?"

Her heart pounded harder at his confession, but she heard the double meaning of his words and she cocked a brow at him. "If you're telling me that what I did was stupid, I'm going to throw my crutches at you. You would have been killed had I not gotten you out of the way."

"That is likely," he agreed, his smirk widening. "However, do not do it again."

She laughed. "Believe me, you won't have to worry about that."

Madara's brows pinched together and his thumb stopped its soft caress as he stared at her, his expression both inquisitive and serious. "What does that mean?"

Immediately her easy mood vanished as she realized what she had just let slip. The earlier conversation she had held with Kakashi returned to the forefront of her mind, and she dropped her gaze as she opened her mouth only to quickly close it once more. She didn't even know if she could voice it out loud without becoming emotional.

"What happened?" Madara asked.

His tone had shifted, becoming firmer as he recognized her silent distress, and with a gentle nudge, he urged her chin back up. She could feel the tears clogging the back of her throat and she cleared it lightly before she met his gaze again. "I am no longer a field agent."

"You quit?"

"I wish it were that simple," she murmured dejectedly. "I told you the bullet missed anything vital, but it still did some...substantial damage. The surgeons had to repair a lot of muscle in my hip."

Silence met her words as Madara processed the information, but he was an intelligent man and it didn't take him long to understand. "You lost mobility."

"I won't know how extensive it is until I heal more but it is unlikely I'll ever be able to pass my agency's physical again."

The weight of his gaze became too much and Sakura ducked her head once more as she fidgeted with the handholds of her crutches. The same sensation of loss twinged beneath her breastbone, causing her chest to ache but she merely took a deep breath to push the feeling away. She had already mourned. There was no reason for her to continue to do so.

"I should have never put you in this position," Madara finally said.

"It's not your fault."

She met his gaze to see his self-directed anger had returned, but there was also a note of confusion. "You're not angry at me?"

"What would be the point?" Sakura shrugged. "I was angry at you for months. I blamed you for everything just to shield myself from what I really felt for you, and it didn't do me any good. I don't want to be angry anymore. I'm done being angry."

She found herself unable to meet his piercing gaze as she finished, her confession left hanging in the air. Her stomach was doing uncomfortable things and she felt herself warm in embarrassment as she diverted her gaze back downwards. However, Madara wasn't allowing her to shy away from him. She felt his knuckles brush softly against her cheek before her jaw was cupped as he urged her to look at him. His eyes were hypnotizing. "You are much stronger than I have ever given you credit for."

And before Sakura could answer, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. His mouth moved against hers softer than she was expecting but it only caused her to melt into his touch further as he cupped the back of her neck. She could feel the strength and power in his fingers, and at one point, she would have feared being this close to this man, but now she only welcomed his touch as she kissed him back.

Releasing her grasp on her crutches, Sakura clutched his suit and leaned into him until her chest was pressed fully against his. His familiar scent was intoxicating as it wrapped around her but neither of them seemed in any hurry to deepen or speed up their actions as their mouths moved together.

In the back of her mind, she knew what she was doing was wrong on more levels than she could count. She could blame their first kiss on the heat of the moment, the unknowing if she was going to live or die, but here in her apartment there were no excuses and it surprised her to find that she didn't particularly care to find one either. She was only concerned with his mouth and his hands, and how she never wanted them to stop.

It was stunning how vastly different this kiss was from their last. Before their lips had moved together in a frenzied exchange to convey all the emotions they didn't have time to express as the fear and panic grew nearly overwhelming; but now, they took their time as if the world had stopped, leaving them to become acquainted in ways they hadn't yet been able to.

Sakura had always thought their first real kiss would be a fight for dominance, a fight for control, but it was much more languid and relaxed than that. Madara took his time tasting her, exploring and discovering her; and the lack of utter arrogance he normally displayed drew her in, physically and emotionally.

She was the first to run her tongue along the seam of his lips. Madara responded immediately by sweeping his into her mouth, his fingers tightening at the nape of her neck as he took control. A soft sigh of pleasure sounded in the back of her throat and she pressed herself more fully against him, urging him on as he groaned deep in his chest.

But it wasn't enough. She wanted more. She wanted all of him and she shifted her weight only to go as still as a statue as pain ripped through her body. Pulling away from him, Sakura pressed her face into his collarbone and trapped the breath in her chest to keep from releasing a pained cry as her fingers tightened until her knuckles turned white.

The initial pain faded as quickly as it had come, but her side continued to throb for some moments until it eventually dulled to a manageable ache. She released her long-held breath before she finally lifted her head and blinked her eyes open. Madara was studying her closely, his expression tense.

"I'm fine," she murmured after she found her voice again.

His fingers tightened where they still gripped her hair. "Stop saying that. You are not fine."

His tone was firm but not unkind, and she stared at him curiously as she pondered where his sudden upset had come from. It took her some time but eventually she stilled as she realized those had been her exact words after she had been shot. Turning her gaze downwards, she smoothed out the wrinkles she had created as she searched for her words. "I'm sorry. You're right, I'm not fine. But I will be."

Her gaze returned to his as she felt his fingers relax again. "Do not lie to me again," he murmured.

Sakura could hear the unsaid please and she closed her eyes as he leaned in to place a soft kiss to her forehead. It was the closest she had ever heard him come to begging.

Eventually Madara pulled away before he bent down to retrieve her crutch from where it had fallen to the floor while they had been preoccupied. The other one had come to rest against the counter and Sakura reached for it and settled it under her arm before she accepted Madara's help. His hands stayed close to her as she made herself comfortable and her chest warmed as she realized he was content to stay near her.

"What will happen now?" he eventually asked.

Now that their excitement had wound down, Sakura could feel her exhaustion returning and she took a deep breath to stifle her yawn before replying, "Now I recover, regain my strength and figure it out as I go. I doubt the agency will let me go. As it turns out my supervisor is aware of our contact."

"He knows?" Madara asked abruptly. "How?"

There was concern in his gaze and for the first time, she recognized it wasn't for himself, but rather for her. She did her best to suppress her smile. "You used your tie to stem my bleeding," she replied simply. "He knows you exist; he just doesn't know specifically who you are. So I told him that you were the one that had been providing me with all my information."

"Are you in trouble?"

She smirked softly. "No. On the contrary, he wants me to put in for a transfer to the team's intelligence operations unit. Now that he's aware that I have an informant who is able to give us consistently reliable information, he doesn't want to lose that. Or me," she added.

"So you will stay a federal agent then."

"Yes," she said slowly. She didn't have to ask to know what he was implying. "Madara, I…" she started, "I care for you. Even though everything I stand for tells me I shouldn't, I do. But I cannot and I will not give up my career for you. I-."

"Sakura," he interjected, interrupting her ramble before she could really start. There was the start of a smirk playing in the corner of his mouth like he knew it too. "I would never expect you to and therefore, I will never ask you. I simply request that perhaps we can continue to see one another on a less…political basis."

Her surprise lasted a moment before it was replaced with a smile. She could feel her emotions breaking out into butterflies in her stomach but she didn't let it show how much his request affected her as she cocked an amused brow at him, "Like you would listen if I said no," she teased. "But yes, I would like that."

Madara shot her that familiar half-smirk, half-smile that made her heart beat just a little harder. "Perhaps you do know me too well," he retorted playfully.

"Perhaps," she repeated as her smile slowly faded. "But there is one thing you haven't told me." He cocked his head curiously, silently telling her to continue. "Why were you meeting with the Senju?"

He was quiet for a long moment. So long in fact she started to believe he wouldn't tell her until he sighed softly, "That is a long story; too long for us to go into detail tonight."

"But you will tell me, won't you?"

"Yes."

Sakura pursed her lips together, not entirely happy with his answer, but she let the matter go as a wide yawn pressed out her mouth, reminding the pair exactly how late the hour was. She tried to play it off by covering her mouth but it was obvious she was exhausted as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"I should take my leave," Madara eventually said. "I have already overstayed my welcome."

"You are always welcome here."

The words were out before she could register what she had said and she felt herself begin to warm in embarrassment. However, Madara merely smiled before he cupped her jaw and bent down to place a quick, chaste kiss to her lips. "I have something for you," he murmured against her mouth.

He pressed something into her palm and curiously she pulled back to glance down. Her brow arched to find it was a cell phone. "What is...?"

"There is only one number programmed," he said quietly. "If you ever need me, do not hesitate. Ever."

Sakura opened her mouth but her words escaped her and she closed her fingers around the device before she leaned into him, conveying without words everything she couldn't say. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, drawing her in close but carefully, and they stayed that way for some time before he eventually drew back, his hand returning to her face as though he couldn't yet bring himself to end their contact. "You should go rest-."

"Would you mind staying?" Sakura asked suddenly. His brow arched in surprise, but she didn't shy away from his dark gaze even as she fidgeted. "Just for a little while longer."

With their close proximity, she didn't miss the way his eyes seemed to soften as he watched her. The hand cupping her jaw became a little firmer as his thumb brushed across her lower lip where she had taken to biting it nervously but she released it upon his touch as he smiled at her.

"I will stay as long as you wish."

She got the impression he wasn't just referring to tonight and with a soft smile, she pulled away from him as she led the way back towards her bedroom, wanting nothing more than to curl up with him in bed. He would be staying for a long time to come.

end

Headcanons that don't really fit anywhere:

- The crimson blanket is Madara's favorite but he lets her keep it because he knows she adores it.

- Sakura develops a permanent limp but it's Madara's biggest turn on.

- Sakura eventually officially meets Mikoto and Shisui, and learns that Sasuke has made his way back to his family but they never actually ever meet again.

Approaching Sun (8)

Author's Note: Decided to give up on homework for more important things…like Naruto (more specifically, SasuSaku). After that whole stunt that SP pulled in the last episode of Boruto, I feel like I need to defend Sasuke's character. For those of you who've read Sasuke Shinden, and especially Gaiden, Im assuming you probably feel the same way that I do. I mean, come on. Sasuke is not the type of person (post-redemption journey) to say "You’re too soft" about killing children! I mean he literally SAVED LIVES in Sasuke Shinden. He most certainly wouldn’t have tried to kill clone-Shin at this point in his life. Come on SP, you're contradicting yourselves. Anyone else worried about what might be done with Sasuke's character in the future Boruto series? *cringe*

On a more positive note, can I just get a hoop and a holler for that awesome family photo this week?!

Also, I'm doing my best to stick to character in this story, so in regards to Sakura, I personally think at this point, she would definitely be showing signs of frustration. Especially since she has been waiting for a longgggg time and Sasuke is being… well-Sasuke-y, as always. I want to portray her bubbly "all-about Sasuke" attitude but can we give this girl some credit? She's more than that and her character has come a long way! She has had to deal with his crap for far too long (and that's not getting them anywhere). Just be patient with me as I get the feel for her character.

P.S. About the "kun" honorific: I'm not that familiar with it. So I'll be excluding it. If it makes Sakura more like herself for her to use "kun," then by all means, imagine it.

Pairing: SasuSaku

Summary: After 2 years, Sasuke returns to the village where friends anxiously await him. Still troubled by the mysteries of Kaguya and his personal guilt, Sasuke is split between friends and his journey. One specific pink-haired individual has perhaps waited for him with far more dedication than anyone else. Troubled by rising casualties and international dependence on her abilities, Sakura is torn between her love for Sasuke and her duty to her village.

(Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) (Chapter 3) (Chapter 4) (Chapter 5) (Chapter 6) (Chapter 7) 

 Chapter 8: “Beginnings and Ends”

 Sakura found herself staring at a scene she wasn’t quite ready for. She had surpassed Fumio in their flight after he told her the details of the situation. One of Sakura's newly admitted mental health patients, a young child named Emiko, whose parents had been recent victims of Chino's chakra human bombs, had just jumped off the top floor of the hospital wing.

When Sakura finally made it to the south side of the hospital, she immediately spotted a group of medical ninja huddled in the street before her, surrounding the child's body. At Sakura's sudden appearance, a tear-streaked Ino called out to her from the crowd.

"Sakura!" she cried frantically as Sakura approached them.

In Sakura's panic, she rushed forward and the group parted for her, revealing the gruesome reality before her. The small child lay sprawled on her back, a pale figure in the dark. Emiko's arm was twisted horrendously at her side, having taken the brunt of the child's fall. Shizune was kneeling beside the girl, fingers covered in blood as she held the child's head in her lap.

Never had Sakura witnessed something so horrifying as this: a child, younger than most in her clinic, who had felt that life was not worth living and so flung herself from the top story of the medical wing.

Sakura knelt next to the child and Shizune backed away.

"She's gone," Shizune whispered, looking away from Sakura's eyes. "I'm so sorry."

Looking down into Emiko's face, Sakura saw that the child stared blankly up at the sky. There was nothing in them. Blood pooled beneath Emiko's head and Sakura placed her hands on either side of the child's sticky wet temples. Instantly, green chakra pulsed from her palms into Emiko's head. Ever since Fumio had relayed the details to Sakura, she had already been planning the steps she would take to heal the girl but Sakura gasped as she realized the true state of the child's brain and tears instantly sprung forward to her eyes.

"What was she doing in the medical wing?!" the Kunoichi finally burst, lashing out at her staff. "She was supposed to have been in her room!" No one could look her in the eyes as she searched desperately for answers.

"Sensei," Kirai, her medical pupil spoke up. "It's my fault. I called the majority of the staff away from the mental health section to help assist with the hospital patients. It was in the middle of the night and I didn’t think-- Without you, we've been--"

Sakura looked away from her, tears pouring freely down her cheeks. Memories of the child plagued her conscience. With no family and no other relatives, Sakura had admitted Emiko fully into the mental health clinic. Due to the child's extreme condition, Sakura recommended her for 24-hour care. She was only 6 and Sakura believed that she would have a promising recovery with the help from the clinic. Unfortunately, due to the increase of patients and lack of staff, Sakura had been unable to be with her.

Damn it. Kirai was right. If only she had been here. If only she had been able to manage her patients better. If only she would have gone with her gut and came in yesterday, despite Kakashi's wishes. If only she hadn't been so distracted with Sasuke and her feelings for him. None of this would have happened. It was all her fault.

She concentrated her chakra more fiercely into the child's skull, willing the damage to be undone. Sakura's former strength still hadn’t quite fully returned and after a few minutes, her breath grew ragged and sweat began to bead on her forehead. To her expectations, the brain wasn’t responding, and as Sakura tried to hope, she knew it was too late. The damage was irreversible, even for her medical ninjutsu. The child had just been too small, and the fall too great. Sakura was merely trying to revive what was already dead.

Sakura's thoughts jumped to the woman who had used the One's Own Life Reincarnation Jutsu to revive Gaara, whom had died by the hands of the Akatsuki. They had taken the tailed-beast that had resided inside of him; the cost was Gaara's life. Chiyo had been able to bring him back with this jutsu.

Sakura wished desperately to be in mastery of that jutsu. If she were, would she be able to save this child? Could she be so selfless? Sakura wanted the answer to be yes.

Ino came up beside her, kneeling. "Sakura. There's nothing you can do."

"I'm sorry," Sakura whispered as she lifted the child to her, holding and rocking the little girl in her arms, whispering her name. "I'm sorry I wasn’t there for you. You'll get to see Mama and Papa soon."

After a while, all Sakura could feel was numbness. She couldn’t feel Ino prying her fingers off Emiko's clothing or her arms being untangled from the little girl's body. Sakura watched as Emiko's lifeless body was carried into the hospital. The circle of people was a blur around her and the kunoichi didn’t move when one of them reached out to grab her. Sakura could barely register the voices around her.

"We need to get her inside. She might be going into psychogenic shock."

"She's our top medical ninja. Something like this wouldn’t affect her that much; she's seen far worse."

"Her chakra reserves are low, you idiot!"

Despite the voices, Sakura sat on the ground, willing herself to move. To get up and face the situation like the strong kunoichi she knew that she could be. She was responsible for this, after all. Her fault. Her fault. Her fault.

But before she could rise, her arms were wrapped over the necks of two ninja and she let them help her inside.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Let's get this over with, Sasuke Uchiha thought as he approached the village gates at sunrise. Kakashi wasn't there, of course. He had specifically told him to meet him at the entrance "bright and early" today.

"Liar," he muttered under his breath, leaning against the gate's "あ" symbol in annoyance.

He had blatantly ignored the gate-keepers who seemed very tired after their long shift. Their interest had spiked when they saw the Uchiha, but after passing them in silence, the ninja resumed their laidback positions. Sasuke could empathize with their exhaustion. With last night's events, Sasuke had found it difficult to find sleep again.

After Sakura had left, he had immediately placed the key she had given him on the table. Like hell he would stay in her apartment for the remainder of his visit. What did she expect? For him to accept and they awkwardly bump into each other for a few more nights, struggling to make conversation, and ignore the fact that he was leaving?

Tossing throughout the remainder of the night, he had kept sneaking glances at the silver object on the table. In the morning, just before he left, he had grabbed the key from the table, unsure of what to do with it. What if was her only key? He couldn’t just leave it on the table. He had thought about leaving it under the mat on the porch--but there wasn’t one.

Now, as he pulled it from his pocket, the Uchiha couldn’t help but stare at it in frustration, as if it were an unwelcome burden. Why did Sakura want to do this to herself? She knew the truth, so why did she insist that he stay? He wouldn’t—couldn’t do that to her. Besides, what would that mean for them? If he crossed that boundary, how would she ever move on?

He rubbed the key’s surface absently, then hurriedly stashed it in his cloak's interior pocket when he sensed a familiar presence land beside him.

"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi greeted. "I'm afraid that I got--"

"Save it," the Uchiha interrupted him, his lip almost tilting at the corner. Sasuke had almost forgotten what it was like to wait around on this man. Even though it annoyed him to no end, a warm nostalgia came with his former sensei's excuses.

Kakashi sighed, "Just as impatient as you’ve always been." Sasuke noticed the smile that this man was failing to conceal behind his black mask. Sasuke supposed Kakashi was remembering a better time, too.

After a minute of silence, Kakashi finally said, "Our guests should be here anytime. I'm afraid our friend Yamato won’t be joining us. However, I believe you'll recognize their escort who agreed to meet up with him."

Sasuke looked over at the white-haired ninja beside him, unamused with this guessing game. The only ninja he had any desire to see pass through this gate was that annoying, spikey haired, idiot. Maybe if he would hurry, then Sasuke wouldn’t have to face this awkward situation he was currently finding himself in. Naruto was sure taking his time.

With the sunrise, a light pink-yellow hue began to illuminate the trees, outlining a group of people as they made their way to the entrance.

Sasuke sighed. Well, here we go.

As they got closer, Sasuke heard a loud voice at the head of the crowd.

"Forward! We are almost there! The village gates are just yards away!”

This loud figure soon came into view and Sasuke resisted the urge to sigh again when he recognized the thick-eyebrowed, tights-wearing ninja who happened to be jogging in place. Not only was Rock Lee doing squats every few feet, but he had several children wrapped around his arms and legs who were giggling and grinning as they bounced around with his movements. One child had two fists full of Lee's hair as he rode atop Lee's shoulders, and Sasuke could faintly hear the child repeating Lee's orders.

"Forward people" the child yelled, "To the gates."

After him, came the rest of the group. In sharp contrast to Lee's energy, the crowd that followed him practically sagged in exhaustion. Sasuke couldn’t help but smirk when he noticed the angry glares the ninja were giving Lee. Knowing Lee, he had probably turned the travel into a form of "Youth" building expedition.

Some of the angry countenances disappeared completely when the people noticed the gates. Lee seemed to spot the two of them waiting.

"Ah, Lord Hokage! As you can see, the mission has been successful, sir!" he shouted, forming a salute with his childbearing right arm. The dangling youngster giggled as the ninja snapped his hand to his forehead. The other child on his shoulders copied Lee's salute.

"Sasuke?!" Lee rose his thick eyebrows, lowering his hand again. "Is that really you? You were the last person I was expecting to see today."

As Sasuke raised his hand in a half-interested attempt at acknowledgement, he picked up the low murmuring in the crowd. He couldn’t help but pick out his name among the talk. Some of the children detached themselves from Lee and ran up to the Uchiha, yanking on his cloak and saying, "Sasuke! Sasuke!"

Suddenly, he realized that the faces in the crowd wore smiles. Almost everyone either waved or yelled out his name.

Kakashi suddenly elbowed him, grumbling, "You're outshining the Hokage."

"Get used to it," the Uchiha retorted, detaching a child from his leg and holding her away from him at a safe distance as she giggled manically.

"I’m sorry about that," a young woman said as she came up to him, removing the child from his hands. "The children have all heard the stories about how you saved us from the arena."

A burly ninja, a man Sasuke barely recognized from his fight with him in the arena, suddenly clapped him on the back, saying "Yes, The Great Sasuke Uchiha and his Sharingan! They've been dying to meet you."

"We are very grateful," another ninja said to him as they all began to circle him, offering their thanks and bows. Sasuke found this sudden attention both shocking and undeserved. Feeling a little suffocated, the Uchiha looked over at Kakashi, who was smiling like a dumb idiot at him, crossing his arms as he laughed. Lee was also grinning at him. Neither of them were trying to help him out.

One by one, the crowd broke away as their sights landed on the Hokage. Parents began to chastise their rambunctious children, telling them to act presentable in the presence of the Hokage. Sasuke couldn’t help but smile as one father grabbed his child by the shirt as he swung fists back at him, whispering "Straighten up! We don’t want the Hokage to know you're a little demon."

Kakashi laughed at this and offered the crowd a welcoming smile.

"Welcome to Konohagakure, everyone. I'm sure Lee has told you all about us and the village. And by the sudden frowns I see, I assume he has also run some of you into the grown." Lee looked proud despite everyone's glares of judgement towards him.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck again, awkwardly. "Sorry about that."

Looking closely at the ninja, Sasuke could see fatigue etched in the lines of their faces. It seemed that they hadn't quite caught a break since their release from their previous owners. Some of them still carried injuries in the form of sprained arms, bruises, and burns from their fight with Sasuke, to which he felt guilt knot up in his stomach. He wished now that there had been a better way to secure their freedom.

It seemed Kakashi realized this himself, for he spoke up, "Well, I suppose a village tour will have to wait. Let's get you guys some rest. For those of you who have injuries, I want you to come with me to Konoha's hospital. Lee, I want you to escort the rest to their lodgings, and please go easy on them."

"Yes sir!" Lee saluted once again, turning to march in the direction of their quarters. Sasuke watched the little boy from earlier clamber back onto Lee's shoulders and begin to yell, "Forward!"

After the group split, mostly men remained. Sasuke found it difficult to look them in the face even though they all looked on the Uchiha with admiration.

"Right then," Kakashi said, turning and walking through the gates. Swinging his cloak, Sasuke walked hurriedly to catch up to his former sensei in order to avoid conversation with these ninja.

Sasuke was trying to come up with an excuse to split. He didn’t quite care to go to the Hospital and face Sakura after their conversation last night. Also, he didn’t particularly want to see the look on her face when she found out that Sasuke had caused all of these injuries. For some reason, he didn’t want her to know it was him.

"Look, Kakashi. I better--" Sasuke began, but was cut short when a ninja landed in front of them. Sasuke recognized the spikey pony-tailed ninja and frowned when Shikamaru rushed up to Kakashi's other side, speaking to the Hokage in a low voice.

Sasuke was about to take advantage of the situation and just leave altogether, but found himself rooted to the spot when he heard Sakura's name in Shikamaru's hushed speech. Without realizing what he was doing, Sasuke strained to hear the conversation.

"Why haven't I been told about this sooner?" Kakashi asked him in annoyance.

"I couldn’t find you. This was the last place I looked. I only just learned about it myself," Shikamaru exclaimed.

"Where is she? Is she okay?" Kakashi asked, slowing his pace.

"Ino says she's keeping an eye on her," Shikamaru replied.

Kakashi reached up and grabbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Damn it."

Sasuke's frown deepened when Kakashi suddenly turned to the group that followed him, presenting them with a sudden excuse. "My apologies. It seems we won't be going to the Hospital, after all. If you guys don’t mind, Sasuke will escort you to the lodgings along with the rest of your group. I'll personally accompany a medical ninja to see to your injuries in your rooms."

In sharp contrast to Sasuke's current feelings, the group seemed relieved to be going straight to their shelter.

"What the hell, Kakashi," Sasuke hissed at the Hokage. "What is going on?"

"Sorry Sasuke," his sensei replied. "I need to see someone right now."

Sasuke wanted nothing more than to grab him by the cloak and demand answers. What the hell were he and Shikamaru talking about? Did it have to do with Sakura's sudden leave last night? Did something bad happen to her? Before he could get these answers, Kakashi and Shikamaru were gone and Sasuke was left with a group who stared at him expectantly.

Sasuke and SASUSAKU.

Okay, I just saw this and I’ll humor you. I’ll even make a whole post for you.

@homez18

1)      Whether  Kishimoto said he was good or bad at writing romance is pretty irrelevant here as sasusaku related material made it into 44 of his 72 volumes. And actually, he never said he is bad at writing romance, he said he felt uncomfortable seeing characters he ‘grew’ kiss (Hinata and Naruto) and that he does not understand the hearts of women so he had to consult his editor and wife to write certain SS scenes, which in itself is effort spent. He never said ‘Idk how they got together’ he said he wrote the story with them in the back of his mind wondering how he would make them end up together and just decided to go with the flow.  This is coming from the man who also said in the second board meeting with the Naruto staff that they were end game since their conception as character #5 and #6 respectively, a rival and a heroine added to the story and he thought of making a love triangle thing happen but was like no I probably could not pull that off. So, there goes that argument.

2)      I will mention part 2 ss if you want me to, friend. But, saying SS does not make sense to the character (who I am assuming is sasuke?) and trying to erase part 1 is pretty???? Because a lot of part 2 was focused on getting the Sasuke they loved in part 1 back..a happier more emotionally stable one though.

3)      Part 1 SS is very important because it is the time during the run of the series that featured the most  positive emotional growth and development for sasuke, and a huge part of it was linked to sakura. We start off with this irritable, socially reclusive boy who’s first thought in the series is ‘more people will just drag me down’, and we later learn the reason of this behavior is trauma and survivors guilt which often leads to isolation, repression and irritability. This is not me trying to add psychology to his character arc, all of this is out right shown multiple times on spaced out occasions which reinforces that these are reoccurring thoughts. His fixation on his ‘revenge plot’ was aided by the fact that he was an introverted shy boy (this does not equal wants to be left alone considering he regularly sought acknowledgment) pre massacre and a full blown out isolated mess afterwards. Being alone only allowed him to obsess over revenge further, which no matter how you look at it is not healthy and it was never shown in the series to be healthy.

But anyways, I digress. A lot of him growing positively linked to Sakura. Some of his biggest part 1 moments include fighting orochimaru, awakening his seal and suppressing it (the cursed seal is arguably one  of  the biggest progressions of his character in part 1 as it leads to him being manipulated into leaving the village) and his fight with gara (again, arguably the moment he showed how much he grew as a character with team 7)

4)      Don’t forget. The Curse of Hatred (憎しみの呪い, Nikushimi no Noroi) was an ideal common to the Uchiha Clan, the Uchiha are people greatly devoted to love and friendship, yet they tend to conceal their more affectionate traits. When the object of their affection is lost, an Uchiha’s love can instantaneously turn into hatred, leaving them more inclined to do anything and everything in their power to achieve their goals and show their own superiority, regardless of the consequences and repercussions of their actions. The despair of these experiences cause a manifestation of unique chakra within an Uchiha’s brain, impacting the optic nerves and creating the sharingan. This also requires extremely painful experiences, which cause the user to delve into darkness that utterly consumes them.

I won’t bring this up

                        Because this also happens

What I am trying to say is early part one gave a very good set up for who sasuke really is as a person, genuinely pretty empathetic and pure hearted which is easily backed up by the fact that when he was a kid (kishi regularly uses childhood to explain a psyche of a character) despite his inferiority complex growing due to his brother, he was still more concerned with the relationship between his dad and his brother going sour than his own feelings of neglect.

Even so, it was still obvious that he needed to go through some positive development.

The first time we are introduced to Sasuke’s stance in the entire series as an avenger is through his first interactions with sakura, which were literally given romantic context from volume 1 and mentioned again over the entire series and highlighted nearing the finale in volume 70, so yeah pretty relevant.

His isolation and irritability generally made him seem off standoffish but even with that, he took his time out to explain his stance in the story which is a pretty fuckin big deal considering this opening up is something suigetsu complains about in part 2 and jugo struggles to understand him because of. Naruto has to physically pull it out of him, kakashi got it when sasuke was in a very emotionally volatile state and sakura got it with a hug.

Cut to the first mission and his ties with naruto and sakura are established , the rival friend and the girl with the crush he feels some sort of protective affection for.

Moments like these (that make grown ass men cry but get antis panties in a knot) are funny bc when you say that he is comfortable with her touch already someone has to say he just woke up, but homeboy had a bunch of senbon sticking into him like a hedgehog and he still took a moment to call naruto a moron and say he did not want to die before accomplishing revenge.

 So, until this day the person he is most physically comfortable with sakura and we all know how he feels about physical touch haha

After said mission, a very sweet and important scene happens and it highlights a shift in character for sasuke. It’s also the scene my avid sasuke hater friend says ‘the only time that dick did anything nice’. Where after he has a lil salty moment with a naruto who was acting particularly bratty that day gives Sakura the ‘instead of minding me why don’t you practice a jutsu? To be frank with you, your abilities are even less than naruto’s.’ which if after the guy readily jumped in front an attack to protect her you think he is going out of his way to be a dick then that is a pretty faulty assumption. He was being frank, it is what it is. Was it needed to make sakura realize her ass needs to grow up? Yes. Could it have been worded better? Also, yes. Which is why the next scene happens where Sasuke grows more in tune with her and is able to tell she is feeling down. Him being aware of and caring about her personal feelings is a huge step forward  for his character and is pretty much the only time this type of behavior exists from him.

He is being nice, says a huge compliment and look at his little smile, he is satisfied that she is happy. A huge step forward from ‘I don’t care for bonds bc I have revenge!!11!!’

The fight vs rock lee happens and sasuke grows a little more and team 7 has a scene furthering their bonds (added romantic context on sakuras part ofc)

During the chuunin exams ofc they face orochimaru and sasuke over comes something shown right in the beginning of the land of the waves arc : an intense paralyzing fear of strong  opponents with an intense blood lust dating back to the day of the massacre.

 He sees Sakura shaking and his sharingan activates, showing he is worried about her and as they are about to get attacked he forces himself to move (ugoke!) and stabs himself to go get her. Cute moment showing he cares. A lot.

And yet again a huge character moment, when she calls him out on being a coward and for his hypocrisy towards naruto, insulting him frequently yet in the same position naruto was once in and in his mind he immediately flashes  back to the reason he always believed he needed to live : his ‘moral burden’ of killing itachi and for the first time refuses to live tied by the ‘rules’ itachi made for him and over comes that fear and fights. She talk no jutsued sasuke lol

And ofc he gets bitten and seeks physical comfort from her. he initiated that contact with her meaning her presence is comforting to him, a big deal in a moment of such intense agony.

And then the iconic hug scene, where his survivor guilt is shown in his nightmares and his intense feelings of hating himself for not being able to protect him family causing his curse mark to act up and when he wakes up to see sakura hurt, the mark and by extension sasuke under it’s influence heating him up go out of control. (but even then when she expresses worry over him he takes time out to explain his major stance in the entire story yet again, even if I abandon myself to evil on my path I must obtain power)

‘Sakura, iie! omae o kizutsuke ta no wa doidsu da?’

‘Sakura, tell me! Which of them hurt you?’ chosen in the databook by kishi and readers as one of the best scenes because it shows ‘she is now a person he wants to protect and how angry he would get at himself if he could not do it’

Again quoting the databook, Sakuras heart thinking of sasuke devours the wicked power.

And even after this is over homeboy watches over her getting her hair cut, is like ?? at Naruto when he asks about her hair instead of her beat up face. After this, they really became much closer and more in sync, even working together and show casing that they can strategize together.

His resolve of avenging his families death doesn’t magically disappear however and he is still focused on getting stronger hence the little conversation they have, where sakura is worried about him in pain and starts crying, sasuke sees this and is disturbed so he yet again explains his stance in the story to her but funnily enough singles her out (ikura omae demo) as a very special person and says he won’t forgive even her if she takes that away from him. Inside the fight he is sustained by his wet dream (joke)  and the cheer he got from the annoying orange and is able to suppress the curse once again thinking about (his crying fetish) her tears.

And then god damn, they are on a roll here bc the fight with gara happens and sakura jumps in to protect him from a lethal blow and if what happened previously wasn’t enough of an emphasized thing, the love in sakuras eyes #triggers  gara.

And Sasuke gives his little speech telling naruto to save her and essentially that he is about to go off on a suicide mission and knows it’ll probably end here but he is ready to do it because he is not willing to see another precious person to him die right in front of him again. Mind you, this is after he shows again the intensity of his survivor guilt straight up saying the only reason he was ‘allowed to live’ was to carry the moral burden of avenging his clan but at this moment in time the pain of losing someone that precious to him is enough to make him consciously decide he is willing to die and leave all of that behind. This is the biggest difference between this and those scenes in the land of waves arc. Back then, it was show casing his empathy and kindness, my body moves on it’s own and even though I could die and not accomplish my goals which I really want to I cant just let a comrade die in front of me, where as now it’s I know I probably won’t come out of this but then pain of dying and not accomplishing my goals seem less than seeing another person I care so much about die right in front me. Seeing this, naruto realizes the importance of caring and fighting for the people you love and fights gara, teaching him the same values. Important scene overall to the story.

After seeing  naruto go up to par with gara and ‘realizing how helpless’ he was in that fight he was pretty jealous due to feelings of inferiority to naruto, and that jealousy was  partly fueled and thrown in our face twice by seeing sakura smile gently at naruto. Romantic or not, he is jealous of her smiling at naruto, that is undeniable.

And then itachi happens, and that reawakens his intense resolve. It doesn’t help the fact that orochimaru sought him out while extremely emotionally vulnerable. Ofc his petty ass attitude in the hospital scenes was fueled by his feelings of inferiority thrown in his face by the one person he really did not want that from, the same person who made him feel inferior as a child. And again to add heat to the burn, he remembers the smile and the plate thing happens.I see a lot of anti sasuke people talking about his scene pretending that when i say inferiority complex while talking about sasuke i mean something stemming from lack of acknowledgment from his dad, from being weaker than itachi and not able to protect his family, for having itachi be like i am here for naruto idc about you after everything. Not, oh man naruto seems better than me :/ gotta start shit :/

Oh right the hug when he wakes up. Again, people claim he was tired and traumatized, which he was, But the look he gave her for caring about him so much was very tender and it did not go unnoticed to nardo.

He ofc gets manipulated by the sound 4 and we are shown how emotionally attached he is to team 7

And the confession scene happens where sakura just desperately gives him promise after promise of making him happy and it isn’t just because she wants him there but also she doesn’t want to see her loved one torment and hurt himself over revenge, but it is more than revenge to sasuke it’s a moral burden, (he has a right to want to avenge his family from their murderer from a moral stand point) and that is what he kept trying to communicate to both her and kakashi. He doesn’t allow her to come because just as we saw with team taka, he isn’t willing to let anyone shoulder what he believes to be his personal pain and burden, specially not someone so special. And when she cries over him leaving and the fact that she believed for a second that he doesn’t care and forgot all of their meaningful interactions he turns around and says annoying, but with a smile this time.

That thank you meant a lot, man. It was not just a thank you for saying I love you.

Sasuke fights naruto to obtain the mangekyo by killing his best friend but then realizes last moment that he being manipulated by his brother and snaps out of it, refusing to kill such a close person.

Sasuke’s encounter with team 7 early part was pretty significant in developing naruto and sakuras friendship as 2 comrades who share the pain of their dear friend gone from their lives, but it also explains sasukes psychological point of view. After having his resolved awakened to a point of obsession again and realizing that there was a time in his life where he cared about other people to the point of giving up that goal, he decides to cut off his bonds with them.

The ‘attack’ on naruto was again for the mangekyo, and sakuras ass would have come out unscathed if she didn’t go all ‘gotta stop this hoe he out here hurting my pals’  but he was hurting her pals and stabbing people ofc she wouldn’t be like yas baby go. He pulls out his sword in defense but yamato ends up getting stabbed, my poor wood boy.

Sasuke takes down orochimaru because in  his constructed moral everything that relates to itachi is bad and senseless killing and torturing( at that time) registered in his head as an itachi thing, which only made his already strong moral code tingle with a strong feeling of ‘im going to take you down you sick son of a bitch, and ill make a bible reference while I am at it’

The lil hawk takes flight and assembles Taka, showing again, a strong moral sense when he says he isn’t going to take anyone by force and he even sets orochimarus captives free. Sasuke is shown to care for Takas safety on multiple occasions but it’s the biggest insult his character receives when people look at him with fan goggles to monopolize him as if he is a cold hearted sadist who only cares for a few people when he is a very selfless, empathetic person. On a personal level though, he did not know their last names, nor did he ask about their history as captives (except for jugo..for obv reasons) so I would not exactly call that emotional investment. But I do think something was there, like they were a hella good team in combat. However,they noticed him going ‘dark’ and never tried to help or stop him so I cant call it a friendship, but I can’t deny it was a team.

After the fight with itachi he is again very emotionally vulnerable and obito hops on his dick to manipulate him, and it works significantly well because sasuke ends up seeing the ENTIRE leaf village as responsible for killing his family after they discriminated against them, and while that might be a wrong train of thought since most people in Konoha are innocent (ten tens worst crime is how little screen time that cutie has), in his now much more jaded, cynical mind it makes a whole lot of sense since it now seems like konoha killed them for their personal benefit and are dancing on their uchiha graves by pretending it never happened and that they never placed the burden of an entire world war on his brothers shoulders.  Everyone is guilty. Everyone is laughing at their deaths. I am a little unstable. I am also a victim. Not to say he isn’t held accountable for his actions because he is a victim but a lot of his character arc and decisions make sense and tie in with his suffering …people going ‘bad’ because of their victimhood is not a new concept you see it with bullies all the time and that is why its important to grasp the situation by the balls and end the circumstance that creates such victims. He also awakens his mangekyo sharingan, meaning he is slowly stepping further into the curse of hatred.

They go to retrieve bee and its shown that he has yet to lose all logical moral reasoning because he still cares for takas safety even though he has declared to crush the leaf, meaning he hates only the leaf atm..all of his concentrated itachi hatred redirected. But he falls a little morally when he captures innocent ass bee and attacks the cloud. That shit was uncalled for, but he was trying to further his plans. I mean suna attacked konoha and its all good in the hood so we could chill. But it wasn’t right.

Ofc however during the bee arc sasuke uses his power that is obtainable through an emotionally driven doujutsu by having an image of team 7 on his mind as he was made to remember when he sees people showing genuine care about him. No matter how far he slipped, seven was always there. Right there, in part 2. The only time sasuke remembers team  7 in a positive light (otherwise he just wants to kill naruto because he stands in the way of his plans) includes sakura and kakashi. You cant argue he doesn’t care cause???

In the 5 kage summit arc a new falling rapidly into the curse of hatred sasuke makes the leap in logic that if his brother who he saw as a good person now, and Konoha which he previously thought to be good could kill on multiple occasions then killing is no longer an off the table option anymore and he warns those samurai before doing the doodly do. He is a bit out of character here, but his change in mind set made him 180. Its an interesting shift in character for a kid whos empathy and moral high ground kept him on the fence of killing in a series where a teacher tells 12 year old kids to come at him with the intent if killing. He seeks out danzo and this is where his motives and pain come into full display  ‘sono migiude teni ireru tameni nanin no uchiha o teni kaketa?’ ‘how many uchihas did you take down in order to get that right arm’

His driving force for his emotions and suffering are lost bonds and a moral burden he still sees himself accountable for.

Ofc this fight features his full descend into the darknes when he stabs Karin and generally looks beyond mentally unstable, this is where his character even though distorted before, goes through a gross distortion where he seems maniacal and just not there. This is bc as an uchiha, the more emotional pain he feels the more hatred he feels ,and the more he uses magic eye level 2.0, the more he loses himself.

Sakura somewhere out there doesn’t know the truth about itachi so sasuke is just acting like a dick wad and attacking innocent villages to her, and to avoid anyone getting hurt, physically or emotionally she burdens herself with killing him in order to save him from going darker. ‘oh but she gave up on him!!111!!!’ like, kakashi did the same thing for obito and at this point her logical order isn’t flawed. Sasuke was by definition an S ranked internationally wanted criminal attacking villages and peace meetings, falling rapidly into a darkness that his past self wouldn’t approve of  and he was getting hunted by every hoe in every country who wanted his ass dead. At least sakura (who again, did not know his reasons and you cant blame her for not knowing) did it to protect the empathetic boy who wouldn’t do something as senseless as attack an innocent man and aid a terrorist organization and to protect naruto emotionally and physically from akatsuki as well as ensure no one gets hurt from him as he is strong. In no way is it her way of being selfish, considering the language she used insinuated she was willing to die right there and then with him. The mission was a complete failure from the start bc hoe can’t kill him and if you truly think she could, I pray for you to find the light.

She shows up ofc and homeboy is suspicious right away, like I know u well enough what u plotting yo?? He knows from the get go shes out here for murder and he goes behind her and almost chidoris her. The factors that go into play here are 1) curse of hatred. 2) she is out for murder, he knows it and turns the table. It’s a low moment for him but that’s the whole purpose behind the scene. The fact that he went behind in the first attack of The Day ™ even though he probably knew he could take her down if he wanted to showed that he still isn’t able to attack face first. That’s not me romanticizing that scene bc ew, but it’s the truth. The look on his face is also not that of the most stable person. Second attack is purely in self defense and he has fallen to the point where he could do it from the front. Naruto shows up and his face shows he knows he done fucked up.

Naruto declares that you are my friend ™ (aaah ano hi no yume..) after sasuke yet again shows how far hes fallen due to the curse, pain and obitos brain washing by some good ol’ evil laughter, shouting he will turn peoples laughter into ‘screams and moans’ (how..awful sounding..to have sasuke make you scream and moan..jokejoke) and sasuke is like fuck u shit how dare u CARE about me ? Stop. And again naruto declares he will stop him and help him to which sasuke pulls an I-listen-to-my chemical romance and bring me the horizon- you don’t understand me!! And although affected by naruto still calling him a friend after all of this, he ends up getting also annoyed by Naruto trying to stop him and leaves thinking give me magic eye level 3.0 I want to kill Missy Elliot in her orange jump suit bc she thinks she will stop me by being my friend. How do I feel about what Naruto said to him that day? Personally, I think he missed the moral perspective of sasuke going crazy (he knew the truth) but he was coming from the right place. They all were. They just wanted him to stop suffering, all of them willed to die with him.

And thus begins their cute chase. Will Naruto fight sasuke first and save him? OR will sasuke kill him first so his ninja jesus light doesn’t stop his plans? Are they going to die together? So much to think about.

Sasuke gets his much deserved confrontation with itachi during the war and this is the healthiest time for them. Itachi no longer sheltered sasuke in a way that was poisonous for the both of them and sasuke asked the questions he deserved answers for. He got them, and an I love you all wrapped with a bow of existential crisis because after the fight with Kabuto, he sees his brother still doing his best for the leaf, still believing kabuto -an evil hoe- could change for the better. And he asks why such a ‘perfect’ person as itachi would still associate with shit like this and itachi is like dude I think you missed the part where I killed your family, tortured and manipulated you. I am not perfect, and neither is the dark world we live in but let me tell you some solid advice  that correlates with the star hax of the arc, the beautiful jutsu that makes no sense : Izanami. The past may be shitty, and we could either run around in an infinite loop suffering because of it, or we could chose to break free, accept what happened and change the future instead of doting on the past. Sasuke is like k cool man I get u but what next? ur jesus talk no jutsu ability is impressive but now I am questioning everything. What do I change? What is right and wrong? What is a village? What is a shinobi? I may not know now, but when I become supreme lord of everything, ill know then haha.

To answer these questions he goes to the One Who Knoweth All, the master of snakes-voldermort with a nose, and revives the kage who basically tell him yeah dude listen our history was fucked, apparently now is fucked, conflict always arises in every age and time its like madara said- you can never look into someones gut.But like maybe the new young generation can deal with it?? deal with ur own fucked up economy, suzan. He also finds out more about why the uchiha were so feared (madara, sharingan, tobirama the little shit, a sticky messy situation kishimoto why are u like this)and Donald trump (tobirama) tells him ur bad bc u love too much tf is wrong with u and sasuke was like fix ur fucking face tattoo u discriminatory bitch. Sasuke comes to the conclusion that he is now a renewed konoha fanboy ‘I wont let this village or my brother go to waste!11!’ because he realizes yeah man history is fucked and I want to change that so no other kid ends up in a situation like mine, full of pain, anger and blind hate.

Shows up on the battlefield, (Sakura, ka? ) and engages in some eye sex with sakura while ignoring others and declares yoyo idc bout what u think of me losers, imma be president. And naruto was like um imma let u finish but im gonna be the greatest hokage of ALL TIME (about that…anyways) . and ensues some team 7 and some naruto and sasuke being the iconic duo they are. It is important remember however, sasuke was at the moment in process of truly cutting all bonds, ensuring he is hated and fully immersing himself into the shadows. Although he is the first to react when sakura is attacked, warns her and kakashi multiple times so they don’t get hurt, saves them from infinite tsukiyomi and double checks on them in the Kaguya dimension, he pretends that like uh idc whatever I don’t care u guys cant even do much, I saved naruto because without him the world would end and u were just there so I saved you

to which naruto calls bullshit and sasuke is like ‘ur ruining my reputation as a heartless bitch’ ah brings back memories..of sasuke pretending to be a heartless bitch.

But like, he could not let her hit the floor so I am sure her hitting lava was a no-no. That moment happens, it was nice. Thank u, for that, kishimoto. And he even says ‘okagede todoita’ ‘thanks to you, I reached’ , nice moment.

After kaguya is over, they even exchange smiles. But nah, sakura, still in tune with sasuke as ever was right not to trust him 100% bc he pulls a IM GOING TO BE SUPREME WORLD LEADER, START A REVOLUTION, KILL THE 5 KAGES AND CAST THE WORLD INTO A NEW FUTURE. I fully support sasuke wanting to change the world that caused people like him, itachi, naruto, nagato, madara, obito, neji etc etc so much pain. I fully support revolution. I don’t want him to kill the 5 kages, but they really aren’t innocent so I understand where he is coming from. Him wanting to put the entire weight of hatred on himself is pretty selfless. It pains me (and naruto) seeing him say he is alone and willing and ready to bear hatred. All of that is valid but see :

dictator

noun

1.    a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

Synonyms:

Autocrat, monocrat, absolute ruler

How a dictatorship works : Dictatorship is a form of government  where a country or a group of countries is ruled by one person or political entity, and exercised through various mechanisms to ensure that the entity’s power remains strong

A dictatorship is a type of Authoritarianism, in which politicians regulate nearly every aspect of the public and private behavior of citizens. Dictatorship and totalitarianism societies generally employ political propaganda to decrease the influence of proponents of alternative governing systems.

Examples of dictators :

·         Adolf Hitler ,dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and Benito Mussolini ,dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943.

·         Julius Caesar, dictator of Rome.

·         Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1953.

Sasukes plans :

So, while I do support him wanting change, I don’t think his method was right. Not for the world and not for him and the only person who could communicate that to a boy who is at his core is just lonely, is a boy who was equally lonely but learned the value of comradeship, unity and love. He saw it’s ability to bring about great, good change and he believed he wanted that to continue and not sasukes self destructive autocratic plans.

Anyways, sakura begs him not to slip any further, says that she knows he is in pain but she doesn’t want him suffering any longer but she cant fight him physically like naruto, neither can she convince him to stay even though she loves him so much, however she tries one last time again, hoping maybe his hoe ass will agree that unity is better than separation and sasuke is affected as hell. He shakes, showing once again he is the boy who cares about the people he loves too much.

Gave her a look that would have looked like this without the rinnegan, because he does not want to be alone and anyone who says that is a jackass

She is an annoyance because for a faltering second, she can still after all this time, in part 2 weaken his resolve.

He shows her the genjutsu of him killing her to seal the deal and ensure she hates him, but I doubt he would have ever been able to physically harm her after his head cleared up a bit. A bit.

Kakashi scolds him saying she doesn’t deserve this when all she did was try to help you. literal Japanese translation, Sasuke says ‘ are you suggesting I enjoy ‘renai’’ quite literally ‘romantic love’ in Japanese. He acknowledged the romantic context of their relationship himself. Then he goes on, and I translate literally again ‘I have no reason to love her and she has no reason to love me’, and kakashi calls bullshit by basically stating sasuke, love is not something you have to look for a reason for. The thing you do need excuses and reasons to fill your life with though, is hatred. She is not trying to make you ‘her thing’, she wants to help you no matter how much bad you’ve done her because she loves you so much it makes her suffer. AND IMMEDIATELY he flashes back to the purest love he knows, the love that he never sat down and tried to reason with, the love that caused him suffering. His love for his family. ‘perhaps those are ties to a failed past’..and goes on to kill Naruto bc he is the last friend who will stand in his way.

Hagoromo basically confirms ss will happen when it shots to sakuras face saying ‘love turned to hate’ then kakashi asks ‘so like sasuke is a lost cause?’ hagoromo says ‘not at all I hope naruto and sasuke break the cycle of hate’ then it pans to sasuke saying ‘I hope  hate turns to love’ and since this is a shonen, ofc it did.

Naruto and sasukes fight communicates all of their feelings and experiences and no matter how stubbornly sasuke insists on being alone, naruto is like no bitch I know what that’s like and I refuse to let my brother (from another mother) go through that eternally. And boom bada bim, it took an arm but he got free from the curse of hatred, and they broke the cycle. Sasuke then goes on to say how he always admired naruto to a point where it gave him an inferiority complex, just like itachi. He had a strong will and a power source unknown to sasuke. But one thing he finally fucking learned, is wait yeah man when we were on the same time and you became my comrade I felt your pain too. I saw you guys as my family- fuck right shit the sharing of pain and enduring it together until it comes to pass. That is what I learned from team 7, that is where your source of power comes from and you know what I accept that you learned it a lot earlier than I did. It’s my loss. Naruto is like if ur hoe ass don’t stop with this emo shit ill beat u up again bc YOURE MY FRIEND AAAH and sasuke finally god damn gets what naruto meant by that and the realization that the love he starved for all his life was right there waiting for him to accept it was so earth shattering to him that he cried. Blood connected, pain shared, bond reformed and sasuke wanted to start over. Which is why when he realizes what was meant by sakura loves you so much that seeing you suffer makes her suffer was she loves you unconditionally he fucking asked for that beautiful bond again. After all this mess, there is a reason he apologized only to her. She couldn’t do much for him because she isn’t as strong as he is, but her love was pure and selfless and all she ever wanted for him was happiness and he apologizes for not getting that earlier, for his mistreatment in the war, for the land of iron, for ‘everything up until now’.

We don’t know what happened in the blank period, but all we know is they spent some time together. And he is about to go on a redemption journey, again his own moral

burden but this time it’s to start fresh and check some kaguya traces that worry him. Sakura is all like k but can I come, and he tells her frankly girl no ur too pure for what I did, lemme deal with this first. ‘Mata condo na’ is different from itachis ‘mata condo da’, theyre both delaying something, but the difference with na is that is is definite promise of something inevitable. The forehead poke means the world to sasuke, both the negatives and the positives that came with it and he let it’s legacy carry on but in a positive light. This is a promise of a better tomorrow together, where I am ready and think I am in a position where I completely understand the world without being manipulated or full of hate.(he was so easily manipulated when because he was always kept away from the truth so he had no footing to base thing off) that happens, I’ll be back for you, and that is inevitable. I want this, but on amicable, better terms. And fuck, that happens. Sasuke learned the answer to his question by the end of the series and the final blow of logic was thanks to naruto- a ninja is one who endures until things come to pass. The sharing of pain can be applied to greater things.

He would have to endure a little longer before his redemption comes to pass.By shinden sasuke walks around the best human being, helping people, doing a talk no jutsu, worrying about Konoha but he isn’t sure if he shows up there it would be completely safe from people after him or if everyone is ready to welcome him back and at the end of the novel he receives a letter from naruto that’s like sup yo come back homie I miss ur emo ass also sakura was like ooh hes protecting the village from the outside like a police officer!!11! And sasuke flashes back to his dreams when he was younger and says ‘I guess I should head home’, basically this bitch came back for sakura, and sakuras hiden concludes with him showing up home after he took down the people on the outside of root to come save her (lol but his wife is not a weak woman) and seeing her saying ‘I am home, Sakura.’ ‘Welcome home, Sasuke-kun.’

They travel together probably fucking under stars and shit, got married, had a baby and raised her until Naruto became hokage and sasuke took up a mission only he could do bc he has rinnegan. Obviously this fucking hurt him and he was miserable about it considering he finally gets a family and hes walking his baby girl with his wife one day and the next fate is like ok but if the world ends in 2 minutes and they both like die along with the rest of planet earth haha sasuke I like to shit on ur life. But as he and sakura said it he took up the mission for the future to remain bright and because sakura and sarada are very precious to him. Sakura wasn’t allowed to give out any potentially dangerous information as this mission was top secret so she would avoid questions but still gave her daughter the basic run down ‘vv important he loves u k that’s all I can say’ and she was in general a great mother, shown to be caring, reveal what she could and take care of her sick baby. Sasukes mistake was even though he was doing it for his family, he failed to realize that his daughter still wanted him there. That is why he apologized and told sakura that this mess is not on her.The baby mama drama happens and sakura is like leave it to the child of the man who wanted to be ninja hitler to think she has a different mom bc she wears glasses and jump to 30 conclusions about her dad and I’s relationship, which I’d like to mention gaiden has no ss marriage issues. Sakura and Sasukes bond lives, their feelings are connected, their thoughts and feelings reach each other, they both greatly love and respect each other.. gaiden was about saradas adventure in whys my dad such a jerk and holy shit is this woman my mom land. As it goes on she sees her parents interact, sees the love and respect, the depth of the bond between them and is shown smiling, touched by that. She gets her verification of love and the importance of the mission and why it was done by the end of gaiden, and she even gets a forehead poke (try and make it negative but it gave her tears of joy) and a hug. + a cute ass family photo that she stares at and thinks how her family shares a true link of love. He tries his best to spend time with his family despite such an important mission waiting for him and he promises more if he can. I will defend papa-suke until I fuckin die bc from what we are shown he is a deeply caring dad who actually makes sure his child is happy. And if you are pressed about him leaving without kissing her sakura herself says an expression that means he Is teasing me by making me wait, and like sasuke is a reserved ass boy who grew up very traditionally Japanese, he isn’t about to make out with her on public. He does leave however with a smirk on his face (lil shit is happy he saw his wife and teased her) and a bento (not just a boxed lunch..its made with love by someone very special to you –sarada my bb) in his hand. By boruto he comes in time for the chuunin exams and the light novel literally says sakura has been gleaming and glossing since he came back, a Japanese expression for having lots of sex so the wait was worth it. Boruto defeats Momoshiki in 2 minutes like the op bitch he is and hallelujah sasuke is back with his family and everyone is smiling and happy and loved up. Sasuke looks over his child and student with a gentle smile that he only shows sakura (light novel written by kishi), they stand with each other just watching over their baby girl how cute.

Sasukes character is complex but if you sit down and try to understand him before running your mouth, he is easy to understand. Kishimoto does not owe you shit, he worked hard, he put his work forward and that is it. criticize his work or the dude but don’t pretend to understand a character you misinterpreted better than the author. Sakura was always relevant. This is a little SS input into the character of sasuke. If you need anything else i own most of the series (even tho i got lazy to keep taking pictures lol) and i am pretty fluent in japanese, so come to me if you need anything else. Bye.

I think my thing with age gap is that, if the two people had a close relationship when one of them was a kid and the other one wasn't....I struggle with that. Just the idea of Kakshi watching her slowly grow into a woman and then one day realizing he is attracted to her after a certain point, I cannot. I'm convinced a part of him would always see her as a child to him. If it's AU where they meet as adults I don't mind though. Their hair color compliments somehow...

You know, it’s totally ok that it squicks you! It’s completely alright if you want to say “I only like KakaSaku in AUs where they meet as adults” (or in AUs where they’re the same age).

Personally, I actually like the appeal of “whoa I thought our relationship was X but now suddenly I want it to be Y” in ships, that’s a major theme in my OTPs across many fandoms. For one thing, that’s built-in drama. Person A wants the relationship to change, but Person B isn’t sure, and then Person B suddenly realizes it but Person A has gone away, Person B you must chase Person A down! EXCITEMENT. Also: external opposition? Taboo?? I MUST HIDE MY FEELINGS AND PINE SECRETLY FOR LO, MY LOVE CAN NEVER BE??? 😍😍😍

Specifically with Kakashi and Sakura, a big reason why I ship them is that while genin Sakura certainly does intend to respect and obey him and view him as an authority figure (because she’s a Good Girl), right from the get-go she doesn’t really. Inner Sakura (her true feelings) laughs at Naruto’s prank, and she’s appalled at his lateness and trolling. The entire time she’s a genin, I’m convinced that Kakashi never truly registered her potential. The most frequently cited example of this, because it really is appalling, is when Sakura mastered tree walking the first try–#1, Kakashi merely uses her accomplishment to ridicule and shame the boys, turning them against Sakura (teamwork, Kakashi??? hello???); #2, her “reward” is to sit on the bridge with Tazuna while Kakashi trains the boys without her. Nice. And during the time skip, it’s fairly obvious that Kakashi and Sakura didn’t interact–otherwise Kakashi wouldn’t have been so completely gobsmacked at her unleashing the Fifth’s strength. He wasn’t merely surprised, he was stunned.

The inference that he thought Sakura completely incapable of learning Tsunade’s techniques so fast is inescapable. He knew she was training with Tsunade, so Sakura using Tsunade’s technique shouldn’t have shocked him so much, right? Yet it did. Because he completely discounted Sakura’s ability.

That’s slow to change as well. Even though Sakura’s fight against Sasori was far more successful than Kakashi and Naruto’s against Itachi and Deidara, even though Sakura is spending every moment of her free time researching and begs him in the hospital to help find a way to improve, does Kakashi bother to come up with a training regimen for Sakura? Nope. He and Yamato train Naruto alone, and they get Asuma involved as well.

Now, to a huge extent, to me, this is just a symptom of what should have been an overarching problem in the series: short-term thinking. It is completely natural that short-term thinking would be ubiquitous in a society undergoing constant warfare and violence. But short-term thinking causes problems, and when those problems are attacked with more short-term thinking, things can turn to shit so fucking quickly. Each of Kakashi’s decisions to prioritize Naruto and Sasuke so exclusively make sense through a short-term focus. His decision to teach Sasuke the chidori to fight Gaara makes sense through a short-term focus. It’s only when you step back and look at the pattern that you realize how fucked up these decisions are.

So when does Kakashi start to realize how wrong he’s been? In my opinion, it all comes home to him during the Five Kage Conference and his fight with Sasuke–a fight that prominently features the chidori that Kakashi is responsible for choosing to teach Sasuke. Kakashi says right out in this arc that he was a bad teacher. He is correct.

It’s the Fourth War when I see him really changing his view towards Sakura, and realizing just how much this wonderful, amazing, strong kunoichi isn’t the Sakura he thought he knew. But there’s a snag. She’s still all hung up on the guy  who literally everybody treated as more important than her safety from day one! Oops!

DAT CHEEK BRUSH THO.

And we haven’t even gotten into all the things that Sakura doesn’t know about Kakashi! So yeah the stage is set for amazing things, potentially, but this is Naruto so we don’t get nice things. But who cares, really? I mean, fuck, I ship all the canon ships except SS, so just take it from me: you do not want your Naruto ship to be canon. My God! You want Kishimoto writing your OTP?! You want Studio Pierrot writing it?!?! I ship NaruHina and I’ll never be the same. Don’t do that to them. Keep them in fandom, where they’re safe from the shitstorm that is the rest of post-699 Naruto.

*coughs* I seem to have run off the rails, anon, sorry about that. Onto your last point.

I am convinced that a not insignficant portion of Sakura’s shippability is her colour scheme. You wouldn’t think pink hair and green eyes would blend so well, but for some reason it really does? She just looks good with everyone!