Der Untergang der Sonne   von RedRidingHoodie
================================================================================
                         Kapitel 7: Drowning Sun (EN)
                         ----------------------------


Lately, Naruto’s letters had gotten scarcer, so his heart was fluttering when
he heard the screaching of the bird approaching him.
When Sasuke first left Konoha after being released from prison, he didn’t hear
from anyone in months. He didn’t have a goal for the first time in his life,
and so he spun free for a while. He just kept pushing forward and forward with
nowhere to go.
He headed for the cave in which he and Itachi had fought Kabuto. Where they said
their final goodbyes. He went to the destroyed former Uchiha hideout in which
they’d fought each other. The rubble was still like an open wound in the flesh
of the landscape, but ever so slowly, nature reclaimed it. Small trees grew in
the ashes his Kirin created and coy animals hid away when they heard his steps
echo between the once mighty halls. 
Until he ended up at the beach where he bemoaned Itachi’s death fort he first
time after learning the whole truth about his brother, family and village.
Once again the sun drowned in shades of orange and gold in the deep blue, and
once again he found himself unable to hold back his tears.
He watched the light die, night after night, and watched it return, morning
after morning. Every day he told himself he’d leave the next morning, but then
he didn’t. And where was he supposed to go, after all?

That was where the hawk found him, just when the sun was about to set another
time. 
He left his arm to catch the bird. Immediately Sasuke regognized it as a bird
from Konoha from the red string and capsule attached to it’s legs. To get the
message, he had to put the animal to the ground which she didn’t appreciate.
She screeched, but then let him remove the message from her leg. 
First, he had thought it was another message from Kakashi. He regularly received
mission requests from the Hokage and chose to accept or not based on his own
accords. But he recognized the handwriting quickly.
„Illegible … It’s Naruto,“ he sighed as he unfolded the two papers.
„Sasuke,
it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to write you. How have you been?! I was
super busy – that’s why it took so long, hehe. 
Anyways, Kakashi told me about how you dealt with those exploding humans. I knew
you’d handle it – but of course, I would’ve don it wayyyyyy faster than
you, believe it.
You may not be back in the village right now, but you’re still protecting it!
I talked to Sakura and she said you’re like a one man police force. In that
way, we’re working together again as a team, right?
Sasuke … Us being a team, together with Sakura and Kakashi, won’t ever
change. But some things have changed back home that I can’t tell you in a
letter. So I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon!
Move your ass home. Everyone misses you!
Naruto“
Sasuke felt his expression melt under the memories of him and his brother.
He’d told Itachi how he wanted to join the police force, before life decides
to give him another path. But maybe, that path lead to same destination, after
many twists and turns and thorny , dark thickets he had to pass. 
Maybe the sun was rising again on a new morning for his life.
„It’s been a while. Maybe … I’ll go home,“ he decided as he spoke the
words.
His feet seemed to have known his plans before him, because they stepped forward
in new conviction, setting sights on Konoha.

Destination: Home
Konoha’s city walls were looming over him, higher even than he remembered.
They melted into the grey of the winter sky, only to spew out five shinobi when
Sasuke was about to enter the village. Almost the same had happened when he
crossed the borders of the land of fire, so he just stood and waited for their
assesment.
They used gadgets to communicate with their collegues in the Hokage office to
inform Kakashi of Sasuke’s arrival and confirm his identity. All this took
longer than he thought was neccessary. It reminded him of why he didn’t come
often. But then his hand brushed the worn out letter in his pocket and he knew
why he was making an exception today.
He was on his way to the Hokage tower when he heard a familiar voice calling out
to him. „Sasuke? It’s been so long! I didn’t know you were coming
home.“
He ignored the subtle accusation in her voice. „Sakura.“
She blusehd and played with a strand of pink hair. It was longer than she had it
last time they spoke. However, his confusion about her reaction to his
acknowledgement of her presence was the same as back then.
He had been grateful for all she did for him - still was. She however seemed fo
read more into his simple "Thank you" judging by her flushed face and starry
eyes. He didn't know what to do, so in a knee jerk reaction, he did what Itachi
had done to him countless times in similar situations: He poked her forehead.
The same words Itachi used to say even fell from his lips without him conciously
choosing them: "Maybe next time."
To Sasuke, it was the lie Itachi had told him to protect his feelings. To make
Sasuke stop interfering with things that had nothing to do with him at that time
and that Itachi didn't want to have anything to do with Sasuke, ever.
It meant a certain familarity. But it also meant a barrier that he and Itachi
had only been able to break down in their final moments together. And in that
moment, the gesture between them had changed as Itachi pulled Sasuke closer and
put their foreheads together.
Sakura knew none of this - why should she?
And yet, she had blushed, like Sasuke had as a little boy that did not know of
the world and his big brother's lies. She blushed like when they were 13 and
Sasuke nodded in acknowledgement of her cheerful greetings.
He didn’t want to be cruel to her anymore, not just because Naruto asked him
to. He was grateful for everything she did for him and remorseful of her
suffering on his behalf. But just like when they were kids, he hadn't known why
she did it or what to do about it.
So he turned and left.
He set his foot forward, but this time, she followed him. „Are you headed to
Kakashi?“ she asked on their way. He nodded, which she took as an invitation
to chitchat about their former Sensei’s abilities as Hokage. She seemed
content with him, like most people. But Sasuke wasn’t.
Kakashi had done nothing to clear Itachi’s name or the Uchiha’s reputation.
He didn’t clarify what the council and the third Hokage had done. The the old
council members were still in positions of power, the age in which students
graduated the academy to become active Shinobi hadn’t been adapted despite the
peaceful period of the last two years.
Nothing had changed in Konoha, so nothing drew Sasuke closer to his birth
place.
Well, almost nothing, he corrected when they passed a huge graffity of Naruto
that covered the whole side of a house. Naruto leapt forward, Rasengan in his
hand in a pose that Sasuke knew all too well, the trademark orange clothing
included. Only the red scarf he wore was strange to Sasuke, but he took it as
creative liberty of the artist.
Sakura had folded her hands behind her back and followed Sasuke’s gaze.
„Unbelievable that that’s our little troublemaker, right,“ she mused, a
fond smile on her face.
He smiled in the same fashion. „Hn.“
The rest of the way to the Hokage tower was filled with stories about the
shennanigans Naruto had been up to as a child. Sakura remembered how he painted
the Hokage stone faces, the ridiculous Genin registration picture he insisted on
using, how he cut his hand to make a blood oath just to get scared of his own
wound and how they tried to see Kakashi’s face. She ended with how Naruto
insulted anyone and anything during the chunin exams on sight.
At the mention of that time, Sakura went silent, so Sasuke offered a story of
Naruto taking everything he did as a provocation. One time, Sasuke would want to
walk next to Naruto in peace, but the blonde made a challenge out of it so they
all but raced to their destination. The same with their battle of who would be
able to eat more or how they stayed up half night to learn how to climb a tree.
When he finished, he caught Sakura looking at him strangely, but then she just
smiled and turned her face. At this point, they had reached the Hokage
building.
She lowered her gaze and shiftet her weight from one foot to the other. „I
could … Come along, if you want to …?“
Sasuke looked at her for a moment, before turning away. „If you have business
with the Hokage, you should meet him.“
That’s how they ended up in front of Kakashi’s desk together. Their former
teacher looked from one tot he other, visibly pleased by the sight. Sasuke
didn’t understand why.
It reminded him of that time right before his final fight with Naruto.
He had put Sakura in a brutal genjutsu in which he pierced her chest. While it
wasn’t real, the pain and after effect certainly were. Everyone who had been
victim of such occular powers could proof this. Even Kakashi, himself skilled in
genjutsu, had been bedridden for a week after Itachi’s attack years ago.
Today, Sasuke regretted putting Sakura through that. After all, Kakashi had been
right. She did think she loved him, for whatever reason, and she tried to save
him almost as much as Naruto had.
But what he replied to Kakashi still held true. He had no reason to love her or
be loved by her. And he had to diasgree on his former sensei’s idea about how
one didn’t need a reason to love someone, just to hate them.
People grew to love others for various reasons: Time spent together, shared
trauma, mutual care, trust, fun, lust, equal ambitions or views of life, family
bonds.
And while he might have shared some of those things with Sakura when they were
young, that was long ago. Childhood memories weren’t a valid reason to love
someone in Sasuke’s eyes. Not in the way Sakura wanted, anyways.
And they didn’t have a single conversation after he’d left the village. When
they met again in Orochimaru’s hideout, he only talked to Naruto. When she
seeked him out on that bridge, they exchanged nothing but lies. It had once
again been Naruto he talked earnestly to. After that, he joined Konoha to fight
in the great ninja war and all Sakura and him said to each other were tactical
assesments. Even that was very limited as in his eyes, Naruto and him were the
ones that would save the world. It always had been that way. Naruto and him
against the rest of the world.
Even after that, Sakura came for Naruto and him and cried over their spilled
blood. Maybe for the first time, she pushed back against Sasuke a little. He
realised all he did took a toll on her. More than he thought possible,
considering the limited contents of their friendship. So he apologized.
He spent most of the following year in hospitals or prison respectively. Sakura
assisted Tunade with his and Naruto’s recovery, so naturally he saw her more
often. She’d often visit when Naruto was off to some treatment, and Sasuke let
her peel her apples and chat along.
His thoughts were far away, but he was stuck in Konoha – even more so when he
was imprisoned and his eye prowress sealed away.
As if he were a weapon of mass destruction that could go off at any moment. As
if he had no reason for his desire for revolution in Konoha and the whole
shinobi world.
It became clearer by the day that nothing significant would change. The walls
closed in on Sasuke with the realisation of his utter failure.
His only hope remained Naruto. He’d change the shinobi system. He was the only
one who understood Sasuke.
For that to happen, he had to study, Naruto told Sasuke on his rare visits. He
was too busy to come often. Sasuke understood and he helped as best as he could
by explaining complicated tactical maneuvers and budget calculations again and
again. The aspect Naruto didn’t need help with was strategical teambuilding
and foreign affeirs. He knew every shinobi in the land of fire and the other
nations after being connected tot hem through nature chakra. He balanced their
stregths and weaknesses with ease while always considering personal aspects.
Yet, he had much to learn.
Sasuke understood, he told himself every time Naruto’s step faded into the
darkness, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Sakura came to visit him often. She was planning to open a mental health clinic
during that time, she told him. It was more work than she had anticipated, but
she loved it. She didn’t need much imput on Sasuke’s part to talk about it
for hours.
Kakashi had granted her special visitation rights, the Hokage had informed
Sasuke. He sounded expectant, but Sasuke just nodded. His former mentor was the
third person to visit him irregularly. Other than that, he was left to himself
and his thoughts and the ever moving walls.
He had decided to leave Konoha early on in his arrest.
He needed to see the world Naruto wanted to protect so desperately – with
Sasuke by his side. While Sasuke had traveled alot in the past, he never had the
chance to enjoy it. There was always something to do, somehwere tob e, no time
to simply exist.
In his confinement, he was forced to do exactly that. After endless weeks of
restlessness, he finally felt the constant stream of electricity that had pushed
him forward for all those years leave his body. He would be free to move on his
own accord, a steady flow, like a summer river. 
When the time of his departure had arrived, he was confronted by Sakura and
Kakashi. Their teacher’s eyes had been expectant, much like they were in the
present time when Sakura and Sasuke entered his office.
„I’m suprised you’ve returned, Sasuke,“ Kakashi said after Sakura had
finished her slightly rambliy account of how she’d run into Sasuke.
People talk more when they lie, he thought, maybe their meeting wasn’t a
coincident after all. Then the Hokage’s voice demanded his attention. „Is
there a particular reason for your visit?“
Kakashi’s eyes shifted to Sakura who blushed deeply. Sasuke got annoyed at
this, as it set her up for dissappointment, but he took a breath and stayed
calm.
„Naruto has something he wants to discuss.“
Kakashi’s smile grew softer. „I see, then. He’ll be happy to see you –
just like we are. Right, Sakura?“
„R-right!“ she quickly saluted, a faint blush on her cheeks.
„Do you need a place to stay while you’re here?“
„I’ll manage.“ There were tons of wandering shinobi, especially after the
nations had formed their alliance. He’d find an inn, like all oft hem.
But first, he’d go follow that tinkling warm sensation that had been getting
stronger ever since he entered the city falls. He knew he’d find a pot of gold
at the end.
„Do you need anything else?“
„No, you’re dismissed. And … Sasuke?“ When Sasuke looked at Kakashi
again, he smiled brightly. „Welcome home.“
„Hn,“ he made and left fort he one person that tied him to this place as his
‚home‘.
He heard her steps when he left the Hokage building. Sakura showed up behind
him. She caught up to him and crossed her arms behind her back, scuffed her foot
on the floor, to which she directed her gaze.
„So, if you don’t know where you’ll stay …“
„Where’s Naruto?“
She was perplexed for a moment, but he didn’t feel like repeating that he’d
manage to find a place. Also her aid would shorten his search, despite Sasuke
being able to track Naruto down on his own.
„Ah … Oh, he’s probably at the library at this time. Should I …“
„Thank you, Sakura,“ he said and vanished. Before disappearing, he saw her
blush and shy smile and frustration welled up in him. Which words of his would
not make her blush and get that dreamy look in her eyes that made him uneasy?
He couldn’t have been clearer on his standpoint about his feelings for her,
having told her multiple times she was annoying after she confessed. While he
wished he would’ve been less cruel back then, he stood by what he said. And he
thought she would know him enough to realize that he was straight forward with
these things.
Then again she seemed happy when he thanked her or greeted her by name. Even
though he had abandoned and ditched her and had been cold to her many times, she
had dedicated her love to him. She tried to be the spring sunshine in his dark
life. Didn’t he owe her that little at least after all the pain he had put her
through?
Guilt was a bitter dish, he knew it all to well.

Temporary Tsukoyomi
He had been in thoughts so he was suprised when someone bumped into him. The
woman tumbled but when he reached to catch her, she had already made an elegant
spin and now stood next to him.
„I’m sorry … Oh! Is that you, Sasuke? We didn’t know you would come.“
Her smile grew soft. „Naruto will be so happy.“
Sasuke scanned her vaguely familiar face and finally produced a name.
„Hinata,“ he greeted.
„I take it you’re looking for Naruto?“ Nodding, he noticed her stutter was
almost gone, despite her soft voice. „He’s studying here, but … It could
be hard to get to him.“
Confused, Sasuke followed her pointing finger and realised what had made her
stumble. There was a big crowd of men and women in front of the library doors.
Some had posters and fans with the Uzumaki crest or Naruto’s name written on
them. Sasuke was suprised before he let out an amused: „Hn.“
Naruto had become a true celebrity.
„You could wait at this appartment …?“, Hinata suggested. „I’d take
you, but I have an appointment.“
„I’ll manage.“
„Oh … I see. See you soon, then, Sasuke.“
Her smile was gentle so he nodded in agreement before she turned and left. In
the past, he didn’t know what to make of her. She was fearful, lacked
self-esteem, was always checking other’s reaction and seemed to have no
opinion of her own. But Hinata had changed, he saw that even from afar during
the ninja war. She revealed a power inside with which she was looking out for
Naruto with protective eyes and supported him.
He looked at the building, activated his Rinnegan and had passed the crowd in
seconds. A loud screech greeted him, followed by a harsh "Sh!" that could only
originate from a librarian.
When he had collected himself, he understood the scream. Teleporting to places
he could not see was always a bit unprecise. This thime, this had led to him
manifesting standing right on top of Naruto's lap.
"Bastard, what the fuck? You'll give me a heart attack"
Sasuke met furious blue eyes and pouting lips. He climbed off Naruto rather
fast. "I had to bypass your fanclub."
"SO NOW IT'S MY FAULT?!"
"SH!"
„Sh,“ Sasuke repeated calmly and chuckled as he watched Naruto repress the
urge to yell at him again.
„What are you doing here, anyways, bastard?“ Naruto finally asked when he
had calmed down.
„I could ask you the same.“
„Hokage studies,“ he waved off, pointing at history, finance and battle
strategy books surrounding him. Naruto pouted but from experience Sasuke knew
that it was next to impossible to make Naruto do anything he didn’t want to.
So he must have decided to become a honor student by himself. Sasuke felt pride
welling up inside him.
„Anyways, you didn’t say you would come!“
„Did I have to?“
„No, but … Sakura would’ve been happy to know.“
„I met her before I came here.“
„Oh … Oh, yeah, of course. That’s good!“ Something seemed off about
Naruto’s smile and Sasuke was inclined to tell him about his uneasiness
regarding Sakura. But then again, Naruto probably wouldn’t understand. He
learned to like almost everyone, even for the slightest resemblance to himself
he could find.
Sasuke had no such patience, nor the intent of developing it. And while he meant
no harm to Sakura, he could not relate to her on any level.
„I came because of your letter,“ Sasuke finally admitted, his heart speeding
just a little. „You wanted to talk to me about something.“
Naruto let out a little ‚Heh‘ and looked away. "So you do read the letters
… Sakura and I weren’t sure since you barely reply and all.“
„Hn.“
Truth be told, he often didn’t know what to reply. He pondered over Naruto’s
words for days, thinking of the faces Naruto would’ve made while writing,
smiling about his little misshaps, being proud of his archievements and sad for
his losses. And yet he was rarely able to form a sentence that wouldn’t feel
awkward as he wrote it down. So a week passed, then two, until it was too late
to reply, anyways. And the next letter was bound to come soon.
Until it didn’t come so soon anymore, and Sasuke felt the distance between
them heavier than ever. But he couldn’t blame Naruto and he couldn’t write
more now, so they spiralled away from each other, until this very moment in the
library.
Looking into Naruto's eyes was like someone had pulled a cover off a mirror.
Sasuke saw himself for the first time in forever. He wanted to touch that other
part of himself that Naruto reflected back at him, wanted to reassure them both
that they had not, would not, could not loose any part of each other and
themselves. He wanted to come home, truly, but who was he to seek that comfort
in the man he had hurt so much? Who was he to ask for a home when he had no
intention of staying?
So he looked away, cutting himself on the widening cracks of the mirror.
Hurt bled from Naruto’s little chuckle. He rubbed the back of his neck when
Sasuke looked at him again. „It’s okay. We’ve known you long enough
…“
As always, Sasuke was impressed by how easily Naruto could pretend he was fine,
no matter what. He cursed the village that tought him that. It made Sasuke
re-evaluate his decision about Konoha. While Naruto had cut out the festering,
maggot ritten flesh of Sasuke’s hatred which had eaten him alive, Sasuke
certainly did not forgive anyone involved in the genocide of his clan, in
Itachi’s villanization or Naruto’s treatmen.
Them walking free was one of many grudges Sasuke held against Kakashi as a
Hokage. He didn’t care about political reasons, he wanted their rotting heads
on sticks.
Would Naruto not have been such a puppy of the state, Sasuke would’ve taken
things into his own hands.
„Anyways, tonight’s the Rinne festival. Wanna go?“
Sasuke blinked at the sudden change of topic. „Didn’t you want to talk to
me?“
Naruto started to collect his books. „We can do that there, right?“ he asked
without looking up.
Sasuke sensed something like guilt in him but couldn’t figure out why Naruto
would feel that. „I guess?“
„Great!“ Naruto beamed.
One final „Sh!“ accompanied the arrival of the previously invisible
librarian. Apparently they had a 3-strikes-rule which Naruto had broken, so they
weaved Sasuke and Naruto to the exit.
Sasuke headed for the front door, but Naruto grabbed his wrist. „Let’s use
the backdoor.“
Remembering the fans in front of the library, Sasuke agreed. They snuck out, but
some of the fans had suspected this and were waiting for Naruto. Left no other
choice, Sasuke and Naruto fled. Naturally, Ichiraku Ramen was Naruto’s hideout
of choice. They got take away. A wise choice, because when they just payed, they
heard the fanclub approaching fast.
Sasuke had enough, grabbed Narutos arm and transported them to Narutos
appartment. Not being used to traveingl like this, Naruto stumbled. Sasuke
grabbed him harder so he wouldn’t fall, but let go immediately after he
steadied himself.
„You could’ve warned me!“ Narut whined but it couldn’t be too bad
because he placed their meals on the table and bussied himself setting up. He
hummed and urged Sasuke to sit and cluttered and whistled until he finally came
to sit across of Sasuke. His upper body softly swayed front to back, contentment
beaming in all direction. Sasuke melted just a little at the sight.
To reasemble himself, he asked what the festival was about. Naruto got all
excited while he talked about the winter holiday of Konoha. First, it was a time
for praying for the deceased, the Rinne Festival has since evolved into a
holiday where friends and loved ones exchange gifts. He wasn’t sure if it was
celebrated in the other lands.
It was probably the reason Naruto’s fan were so out of it. Everyone wanted to
go there with Naruto who hoped they would calm down now that he had a date set.
After they were done eating, they cleaned up and showered. Naruto lend Sasuke a
simple dark blue shirt with big white dots, black pants and open sandals. Naruto
himself took forever in the bedroom. When he finally emerged, he wore a grey
Yukata with swirls on it and rolled up sleeves.
„Isn’t it too messy?“ he asked, pulling on the Obi. „I usually don’t
put it on myself.“
Sakura or Kakashi sure were thrilled to dress him like a toddler, Sasuke
thought. Maybe to distract himself. „No … You look fine.“ More than that,
acutally, but his words made Naruto smile nonetheless.
They left into the chilly autumn night. The festival was held on a free space
underneath the Hokage monument. The area was full of booths with food and games,
the air between them illuminated by lampions and laughter.
Sasuke and Naruto payed their visit to the memorial of the fallen shinobi during
the wars before they joined the masses. They played booth games like fishing and
can tossing before they got a bunch of snacks from the booths. They shared the
food on a bench near the center of the festival. Their laughter and banter
became white mist in the cold night.
„You wanted to talkt o me.“ Sasuke turned to Naruto. Even in the unsteady
light he could see Naruto blush. His heart raced, but he kept quiet. Maybe he
would finally hear another answer to his question of just what he was to Naruto.
Something else than friends, something more.
„I’m getting married.“
The mirror finally broke, atomized into glittering dust that revealed Naruto’s
back turned to Sasuke, smiling at an undefined figure next to him. But … Was
she really that undefined?
„Hinata?“
Naruto spun around. „How’d you know?!“
„A hunch. She was at the library,“ Sasuke shrugged.
Naruto smiled his soft derpy smile and rubbed the back of his head. „She helps
me study a lot. Wouldn’t get anywhere without her, really.“
Sasuke doubted that but he kept quiet again. Naruto took that as an opportunity
to tell him how they’d gotten together. They had been closer friends for a
while when the whole thing on the moon happened – of course Sasuke knew about
that. Kakashi and Naruto had informed him in letters about the details.
During that mission, Naruto realized he had feelings for Hinata. Obviously that
clutz would confess on a mission to rescue his girl’s sister and
unsuprisingly, he got rejected. He paused, seemingly expecting Sasuke to mock
him, but Sasuke said nothing, so he continued. After the threat was banned, she
accepted his feelings.
They had been dating for about a year now.
„So …“ Sasuke began after a while of being quiet. „When’s the big
day?“
Naruto fidgeted his fingers, a habit Sasuke vaguely remembered the
soon-to-be-bride posessing. „Next summer, if everything goes well.“
„What should go wrong?“
„Kakashi said it’ll be a lot of planning with all the high profile
guests.“ Naruto paused before looking at Sasuke. „Or my best man could not
be there.“
The shards of their mirror bore into Sasuke’s heart. Already he yearned for
solitude, to lick his wounds. The peacful beach at sunset had lost its appeal
though. Nothing but a cliche and the sand got stuck everywhere. He would have to
find a new place to sit with his new grief.
„Not a good idea. I’ll draw unwanted attention. And people don’t want me
there.“
„But I do!“ Naruto looked dissappointed but not suprised. Still, he
wouldn’t give up so easily and grabbed Sasukes hand. He had fire in his eyes,
but it dwindeled fast. His grasp on Sasuke’s hand got gentler. „I need you
there. Please, Sasuke.“
Sasuke was about to give in but then shook his head. He wanted Naruto’s
happiness, more than anything. But seeing him start a new life, seeing the proof
of how Naruto moved on from whatever intense, childish, earth altering thing
they had was not something Sasuke had in him. Not when Naruto was what he had
been alive for over the last two years, maybe even longer.
Naruto shot up to glare down at Sasuke. „Fine, be an asshole. I don’t know
why I expected anything else, honestly.“
Sasuke wished he could flee into anger, too, but he was just numb. Defeated once
again by the man in front of him, and not even on purpose this time. „You know
me.“
„I do. I just thought you could make an exception for me, but you couldn’t
even congratulate me.“
Sasuke’s whole body was heavy when he got up. He put his hand on Naruto’s
shoulder and looked into his eyes. The anger melted out of them, making room for
uncertainty.
„I could ask Kakashi and …“
Sasuke squeezed his shoulder and their eyes met. He didn’t explain but Naruto
nodded instinctively. Their picture was distorted, but they still could see each
other in the broken glass all around them.
Slowly, Sasuke pulled back. „I should leave.“
„Already? I thought you’d stay the night.“
The disappointment in Naruto’s voice was tempting, but Sasuke would have to
learn to resist. „I’ll be back.“
At that moment Sasuke didn’t know it would be almost two years until they
would meet again.

Congratulations
It was early summer. The cherry blossoms around the exclusive wedding venue were
in full bloom, framing the cheerful crowd and several pictures Sakura had taken
with her friends.
When her and Ino had grabbed a drink, Sai joined them. Soon after the two of
them descendet into their private little universe. Long ago, Ino had told Sakura
that she liked Sai. Way later, the both of them had fought a shinobi that could
control minds. That incident made it clear that Ino's feelings were mutual. So
Sakura hadn’t been suprised to learn that the both of them would attend the
wedding together. Now they were holding hands, exchanging shy smiles.
Temari gave off a similar picture. She stood next to Shikamaru as they talked to
his old teammates. And obviously, the glowing bride and her dashing husband.
They made a good pair, Naruto and Hinata. Sakura was happy for them.
And yet she couldn’t escape the jealousy that had hunted her ever since Naruto
had told her about their engagement.
She had met Naruto and Hinata a few days after Sasuke’s last visit. She was
still chewing on the fact that he had left without saying goodbye. But he
must’ve gotten an important mission from Kakashi. Naruto thought so, too.
Then he changed the subject and became a blushy stuttering mess before he
managed to blurt out the news.
Sakura had been stunned for a moment, then quickly produced a smile to
congratulate them. She asked all the questions: about how Naruto had proposed,
about a ring, her parent’s opinion, the date, the dress.
And yet all she could really think of was what about me.
When would be her time to put on a beautiful dress, when would her special
someone smile down on her gently, when would she change the sigil on her back to
match the one she loved?
She had her family and friends but the loneliness swept over her sometimes as
she watched everyone find love while she was always just waiting. Maybe she
should start dating, she thought – right when a shadow fell over her.
She spotted a falkon and raised her arm for it to land on. Her body tensed as
she undid the note on the bird’s leg. For someone to send a note here today it
had to be urgent. Maybe something had happened at the construction site oft he
children’s mental health hospital she was supervising.
But when she opened it, the note just read: „Congratulations.“
For a moment, Sakura was confused by the minimalistic card. She turned it to
find a signature, but nothing. Then she looked up at the haw circling above her
and it dawned upon her.
„Sasuke,“ she whispered with a soft smile as her cheeks darkened.
Her thoughts followed the circle of the hawk, spinning around themselfs. Why
would he send the note to her instead oft he young couple if not to congratulate
bride and groom together with Sakura – as couples did. He had always been
quiet, leaving her to interpret his words and actions. Maybe she had read
something wrong and he thought of them as a couple already. Maybe … The poke
to her forehead! That had to be it. Surely, it held significance to him as it
did to her. She remembered how he said her forehead made him want to kiss it
when they were younger. And he said „Thank you“ and „Maybe next time“.
For a quiet, reserved boy such as Sasuke, that basically was a marriage
proposal, now that she thought about it.
Her heart pounded in her chest to which she held the note.
It was her treasure. She didn’t want to give it up. But then, what good was
this insignia of Sasuke’s feelings if she didn’t use it as intended. To
congratulate as a couple, she had to congratulate.
So Sakura downed her drink and approached Naruto and his bride. Both smiled at
her as if nothing Sakura could say could even touch them in their happiness. She
cleared her throat.
„I know we’ve already given you presents but I have another small thing,“
she declared, handing over the note.
Naruto and Hinata looked suprised but Naruto unfolded the paper. The bliss
melted from his face as he mouthed each kanji.
„It’s from Sasuke and me, so … Congratulations from both of us!“ Sakura
said cheerfully.
„You and Sasuke … Talked?“ Naruto sounded beaten. He had tried to keep up
his happy face leading up to the wedding, but Sakura knew Sasuke’s radio
silence ate at him just as much as on her. Maybe more.
„Acutally, we decided to meet up somewhere around Konoha.“
She didn’t know why she said that. She just decided that she would follow
Sasuke who had to be somewhere close to the village to send the letter. She had
fought many stubborn enemies, and just like their defenses, she would break
Sasuke’s refusal down.
After all, they had come so far. From „You’re annoying“ to „Thank you“
and „Maybe next time“. And Sakura decided that next time would be now.
„Oh, for a mission?“ Hinata asked politely and Sakura blushed.
„Not exactly“, she giggled.
„Oh!“ Hinata’s smile was genuine. „I’m so happy for both of you. When
will you be leaving?“
Her nervousness acted up but she couldn’t back out now. She spotted Kakashi
amongst the other Kage and made a decision. „Now, actually.“
Sasuke wouldn’t stick around the village much longer, she had to be quick. She
said her goodbyes to the suprised couple and approached her former master. He
was suprised, too, when she told him the same as Naruto and Hinata, buth then he
smiled.
She gently implied that it would be nice to suprise Sasuke on the road instead
of waiting until their meeting spot. Finally, Kakashi caught up and summoned
Paccun to help her track Sasuke down.
The ninja hound watched Sakura as she hurried her utensils into a bagpack.
„Didn’t you say you planned on leaving tonight?“
She shot him a sugary smile. „You know women. Always late …“
Minutes later, they were on the road. They were stopped a couple of times by the
security around the city wall. It really had been ramped up for the wedding. But
most people recognized her and waved her through. With the mention of
Kakashi’s name and his summon by her side, nobody tried to stop her.
It wasn’t long before Paccun had sniffed out Sasuke. They tailed him for a
while until finnally, they appeared in front of him. If he was suprised, he
didn’t show it.
„Sakura,“ he greeted. Her name, spoken by his deep voice, send her heart on
a run.
„Sasuke,“ was all she could offer.
„What are you doing here?“ His eyes searched the area as if they were
looking for someone else to emerge from the dark woods.
Sakura steadied herself. „I want to come with you.“
Sasuke’s eyes hadn’t found what they were looking for, so they returned to
her face. „I see,“ he said and surrounded her to keep walking.
He didn’t tell her off and that was as much of an invitation as she’d ever
gotten out of him, so she followed suit. Sakura heard a complaint about impolite
females but spared Paccun no second glance. Then she heard the puff of a
dissappearing summon.
Finally, she was alone with Sasuke.
Belladonna (Tollkirsche)
True to his character, he said nothing. Probably he was shy after inviting her
like that, Sakura thought. So she filled the silence with chatter about the
wedding, missions, their old friends.
Sasuke barely listened but didn’t have the strength to ward her off. Not
today.
After a while they ended up in a small village. Usually Sasuke camped outside
but tonight, his feet led him to a pub. Sakura followed suit and took the seat
next to his. When he ordered, she got the same. A hinge of annoyance scratched
on the walls of his sorrow but couldn’t take them down enough for Sasuke to
react. He just sat and drank in silence. From the way she shifted and glanced at
him, he knew that Sakura took it as insightful silence or something. The only
thing he wanted to see was the bottom of his glass, so he downed another one.
And another one and another one, in hopes to find the happiness some people
seemed to expect from alcohol. But he just felt like he was drowning faster.
„What’s happiness, anyways,“ he thought. He didn’t notice he said it out
loud.
Sakura flinched at the sudden words and stared at Sasuke. She had never thought
about it. She just thought she’d be happy once she was with Sasuke. That was
why she couldn’t acknowledge how out of place she felt next to him. She was
happy or she would be soon. She was just nervous, that had to be it.
Playing with her glass she said: „Naruto and Hinata seem happy. Marriage makes
people happy.“
She knew that wasn’t it but she couldn’t give up her dream. She’d gotten
so far – from „You’re annoying“ to him letting her join his travels. She
had to keep punching that wall around him until it gave in. After all, a
girl’s feelings couldn’t change and a woman had to be strong in order to
survive, right?
And Sasuke was still so handsome with his alcohol flushed cheeks and sad eyes
and soft deep voice that had mentioned Naruto so many times ever since he had
started talking.
She wanted to take the sadness from his eyes. Just like the last time she saw
him last winter during the rinne festival. He hadn’t looked sad then, rather
… Hopefull.
Sasuke thought she might be right about marriage. Sakura looked happy when she
was with him, she always had. He didn’t understand why but maybe that didn’t
matter.
Maybe Kakashi had been right. She loved Sasuke, no matter what he did and for
seemingly no reason. Didn’t he owe her more than an apology for her pain? More
than a constant „next time“ that they both knew would never come? Didn’t
he owe her like Konoha owed him for his pain? How could he demand reparations
while he didn’t do the same for the ones he’d hurt?
So he allowed her to almost carry him out of the bar and the village. When they
found themselfs on some tree tops he allowed her to come closer as they looked
into the starry night.
She kept talking about the beauty oft he moon to fill the silence. Maybe that
was what he needed. Because with the silence came the thoughts and the regret
and the grief. He was so, so tired of griefing.
The alcohol couldn’t keep it at bay. Maybe Sakura could.
When she caught him half mindedly starring at her, she blushed and her eyes
sparkled brightly in the dim moonlight. She was pretty, wasn’t she. And he
owed her. So he gave to her.
The poke against her forehead didn’t represent lies and distance like it had
with Itachi, he told himself. It meant something new for them, and by her shy
smile he could tell that she’d already come up with what she wanted it to
mean.
She looked at him expectantly. Hadn’t that been enough? Well, he might as well
give her more. Everything. After all, what did he have left to lose?
So he leaned in and kissed her with alcohol heavy lips. And she took what he
gave until he truly had nothing left, unknowing of what she would give him in
return.

Lunar eclipse
Silence weighed heavier when someone was there to share it, Sasuke thought as he
and his wife approached the Hokage office. She had insisted on coming with him,
so they’d given Sarada to Hinata. She was pregnant with her second child and
didn’t attend meetings anymore if they didn’t directly impact her clan. Even
then, her sister often took over for her.
Her plump body reminded Sasuke of what Sakura had looked like when she tracked
him down for the second time a few years ago. That time, he was annoyed when she
appeared in front of him.
„What are you doing here?“ He had send her back home when she’d gotten
sick after traveling together for a while. Now she was here again, uninvited.
She flinched and the ninja hound that had guided her to Sasuke had looked at her
concerned. But then she steadied herself and pulled back the long cloak of her
ninja uniform, revealing a pregnant body.
„I wanted to find you before you came a father, Sasuke.“ 
From that moment, his world had shifted.
He wanted to take her back to Konoha for the birth but it was too late. Their
only chance was Orochimaru’s laboratory, as much as it irked Sasuke to bring a
child – his child – anywhere close to that location. But Karin was there and
savely delivered the first Uchiha child in over a decade. His heiress.
„Sarada,“ he said when he first held her, and Sakura agreed to the name.
Almost in trance he followed her back to Konoha. While their child was perfectly
healthy, Sakura got uncomfortable in her hospital bed when her parents announced
a visit. Sasuke got more and more irritated until he made her spill what
bothered her. 
She had told everyone that they’d gotten married when she found out about the
pregnancy. He was shocked, but couldn’t embarass his child’s mother by
spreading the truth. From that point on, she was known as his wife.
They lived with her parents for a while until Sakura put a newspaper with
appartments for sale in front of Sasuke. He replied by putting the key to their
new home in front of her a month later. Money wasn’t an issue.
So they moved in together and for a while, he took short term missions to
provide for Sakura and Sarada and still be with his daughter. She was what
filled the silence in their appartment, both with her laughter and babbling and
as the one topic her parents could talk about.

A few month after their move, Sasuke was supposed to take care of the baby alone
for the first time. Sakura and Hinata wanted to go out together to chat, so
naturally, Naruto and his first son came over to the Uchiha’s so the babies
could play. Not that the infants could play a lot.
They hadn’t been alone for a long time and Sasuke felt awkward at first, but
seeing Naruto interact so naturally with both children made him relax quickly.
At some point, Naruto said that they could be proud of what they made. Sasuke
couldn’t help but smile and agree. Indeed, Sarada was the best thing that he
had createdin his existance.
The time for the guests to leave came when the kids fell asleep. Naruto offered
to tidy up while Sasuke brought Sarada to bed. It was at that moment that he
noticed the Uchiha crest on the back of her rompers. Fondness, grief, hope,
loss, pride and all kinds of undefined emotions swelled up, build a whirlpool
inside him. He reached for the child as if she were an anchor.
And he sobbed his unjust fate into her tiny shoulder that would never have to
carry the burdens he had to. Not if he could buy it off of her with his own
blood.
He curled up around her, cradling her to his chest with his one arm while
surrounding them with the susannoo. He would shield her from anything. No harm
would come her way, not after he had already cursed her with a dead nameand
himself as a father.
Any sense of time was lost to him when he felt the touch of a warm chakra that
automatically opened his protective barrier. He was still pressing Sarada
against him when he looked up and saw Naruto kneeling beside him. He stroked
Sasuke's forehead, an understanding smile on his lips.
"Sarada's onesie is all wet. Should we change it?"
At that moment, Sasuke would not have given his daughter to anyone, but when
Naruto held out his arms to her, he let him hold her without hesitation.
He sat up, his shield by now collapsed in on itself, and was about to get up.
Instead, he fell against Naruto's chest. His hand clung to his shirt, his
forehead leaning against his shoulder. And Naruto held him, for he had two arms
strong enough to hold the baby and Sasuke gently. 
Why couldn't this be their home. Why hadn't he been able to give Sarada Naruto's
name, a bright name, the name of a hero.
Naruto's hand gently stroked through his hair. "It's creepy, isn't it? Being
responsible for them. Much creepier than fighting any bad guys or monsters," he
laughed before pausing thoughtfully. "But we protect them, and everyone else.
That's the peace we fought for, right?"
Well, it was Naruto's peace that Sasuke was tasting small, forbidden morsels of.
But he decided that he would make it Sarada's peace as well.

Soon after that Sakura started wearing the crest, too.
Sasuke felt a lot about that, as well, but he just turned and left for his next
mission to ensure the peace like he had made up his mind to do. And the next
mission, and the next, always longer and more dangerous than the one before. 
Naruto, who had been announced Hokage in the meantime, didn’t like this. But
he couldn’t argue with Sasuke’s argument: Who else would do it? Surely not
Naruto himself. He was needed in the village, both as the head oft he shinobi
and a father and husband.
When Sasuke said that at one of their meetings in the middle of nowhere, Naruto
rebutted that Sasuke was part of a family too. At first, Sasukes wishfull
thinking made him believe Naruto meant his own family. But then he remembered
his child and her mother.
„You should see them more often. Sakura is lonely, allthough she’s smiling
through it, and Sarada’s starting to ask about you,“ became Naruto’s
standard speech at the end of their meetings.
„Maybe next time,“ Sasuke would reply and vanish into the night.

Tonight, they wouldn’t be alone. Aside of Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto, Sai, Ino
and Shikamaru were in the Hokage office. Their faces were serious as they talked
about signs that might be linked to the devine tree and Kaguya. They didn’t
know much and had to investigate, Ino said in her function as head oft he Konoha
intelligence department.
A they kept talking, Sasuke felt concerned eyes on him, first blue, then green.
They knew before Shikamaru turned to Sasuke.
„I’ll investigate,“ Sasuke said before the advisor could even ask.
Shikamaru nodded, but Naruto approached to clutch Sasuke’s arm.
„I’ll go with you,“ he said firmly. The fire in his eyes that had
seemingly become so weak rose up. A familiarity deemed lost long ago seemed to
spark between them. 
Sasuke brushed Naruto’s hand of his shoulders anyways. „You will do no such
thing. You are needed here, Lord Seventh.“
Naruto fell into himself. Sasuke felt a morbid surge of victory but promplty
composed himself. „I’m the only one who can investigate,“ he said more
gently, adressing only his friend.
Sakura took his hand and looked at him pleadingly. He decided to leave the same
night and he wouldn’t return for nearly a decade.

Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)