Chapter Text
It’s safe to say they were all taken aback when they caught sight of Sakura’s Sharingan.
As far as anyone knew, including herself, there was only one who bore the Sharingan. The rest were massacred long ago.
That known fact has now been disproven as Sakura’s eyes glow red at the sight of her dear friend, Yugao’s, body lying face down in a puddle of her blood.
Sakura, along with Naruto and two others were dispatched to deal with a disturbance just outside the village gates. When they arrived, they found no enemies in sight. The only sight that greeted them was the corpse of one of their own.
Not realizing she had activated her Sharingan, she ran towards Yugao, in hopes that she could save her. The others remained in place, staring at one another to confirm they weren't seeing things.
Slowly, Naruto walks to where Sakura is attempting to heal a long-gone Yugao. He places a hand on her shoulders. Sakura looks back at him, her Sharingan remaining in place. He flinches slightly from the shock of seeing it up close.
“Sakura… Your eyes..” He drew out.
“This isn’t the time, Naruto! I have to-” She cuts herself off as her eyes turn back to the body below her. This time, with clearer eyes. Eyes that realize it’s too late.
Her arms drop to her sides, eyes fixed on her body.
She only knew Yugao briefly, but regardless of the little time they’d spent together, they understood one another in a way that her childhood friends couldn't. Both of them were acquainted with the pain of losing their love, and later being forced onto opposing sides. Sakura liked to think they’d developed a bond over it, maybe not as strong as her other bonds, but filled with more understanding.
Maybe it’s because she sees her as an older version of herself that Sakura feels a wave of pain flood her. If this is how Yugao’s life ended, would she be sentenced to the same fate?
“Sakura, that’s not what I meant.” His hand squeezes her shoulder, urging her to face him once more. She obliges, confused about what was so important about her eyes that he was ignoring the dead body in front of him.
He frowns, “You.. have the Sharingan.”
-
Sakura sat in the hospital bed, Tsunade shining a flashlight in her eyes, scanning them thoroughly. Behind her stood Kakashi and Naruto.
Once Naruto informed her of her current eye situation, they rushed to find Lady Tsunade, who then brought her to the hospital for further examination. Naruto went to fetch Kakashi from his office.
Tsunade switches the flashlight off, tucking it back into her pocket and crossing her arms.
“Well, there's no doubt about it. You definitely wield the Sharingan.” She stated. “I can't find any explanation for this occurrence besides the fact that you possess the gene needed to carry it.”
“But, my parents don't come from the Uchiha clan, It’s not possible.” Sakura reasons.
Tsunade gives her pupil a look of pity, saddened by what she is about to say.
“Sakura.. Are you certain of your... Bloodline?” She asks.
Sakura is taken aback by the question. Certainly, Lady Tsunade couldn't be implying she was adopted. They would’ve told her… wouldn't they?
“I- ” She starts, only to stop short when she realizes the truth of the matter, “I don't know…”
Naruto, in a more confident voice, speaks up, “Hey, There’s no way Sakura’s adopted! It just doesn't make any sense! Right, Sakura?” He turns to her.
She stays silent.
Despite her strained relationship with her parents, she loved them dearly. But looking back, if she wasn't biologically theirs, could it be why they treated her cruelly? If she truly is adopted, then certain pieces would start connecting and making sense.
Abruptly, Sakura stands and excuses herself from the room. Her eyes filled with determination. Her sudden departure caused a deafening silence to fall between the three of them. Kakashi lets out a sigh and places a hand on Naruto’s shoulder.
“Even after all these years, you still fail to read the room, huh?” He shakes his head.
“Huh? Just what is that supposed to mean?!” Naruto grumbles at his sensei.
“Sakura’s silence meant there could be some truth to what Lady Tsunade was implying.”
-
On her way home, Sakura’s mind went through every encounter she’s had with her parents, hyperanalyzing their behavior, and picking apart the words they’ve spoken to her. She tries to make sense of it all, aware that the only way she’ll receive any answers is to ask them directly. Which is what she’s planning to do. She only hopes she’ll get a straight answer from them, with the proof evident on her face.
She reaches her house and walks up the stairs. She stands in front of the door for a moment, preparing herself for what's to come. Turning the knob, she opens the door, not bothering to take off her shoes as she storms into the living room. As expected, her parents are sitting on the couch.
Her mother spares her a single glance before turning away, “Sakura, go take off your shoes.”
This only angers her. Her mother can't even be bothered to pretend to be glad to see her, and her father won't even acknowledge her presence.
“Am I adopted?” She decides to get straight to the point.
Apparently, a question gained more attention from them than their daughter ever had as they looked at her with wide eyes.
“W-what?! Where did that crazy idea come from?!” Her mother snapped.
Her father places a hand on her mother's back in an attempt to soothe her.
“Sakura, how could you say a thing to your parents?” He scolds her.
Her fists clench at the blatant lies coming from her parents. She’s nineteen, she expects an honest response when posed such a question. This time, when her Sharingan activates, she can sense it, unlike the moment she awakened it just a few hours ago.
The display of her Sharingan causes her parents to gasp.
“Because of this!” She points at her eyes.
Her mother moves her hand that covers her mouth down to her lap, intertwining both her hands, unable to look Sakura in the face.
“You're not adopted.”
Sakura is about to snap when her mother speaks again.
“I am your mother, but.. Your father..” She trails out.
Sakura didn't need to hear the rest to know what she was telling her. She moves her eyes towards her father, he keeps his focus on comforting her mother. Sakura can't help the tears that begin to form at his lack of concern for her. It was like they were only ashamed they were caught, rather than being confronted by the fact she wasn't biologically his.
“Who was my father?” Sakura spits out.
“Really, Sakura, he was a piece of shit. You wouldn't have wanted him as your father anyway.”
“So, you don't even know his name?” The tears start pouring down her face.
Her mom lets out a scoff. “He’s dead. What does it matter?”
Sakura was left utterly speechless at the remark.
“As always, you are unbelievable.” She turned to take her leave, and unsurprisingly, they didn't stop her.
She slams the door behind her, keeping her eyes on the ground as her legs take her to nowhere in particular. All she knows is she doesn't think she can ever go back to that house.
Being out of sight from peering eyes, she lets her feelings overwhelm her as the tears stream down her face.
‘He’s dead. What does it matter?’
The sentence repeats itself over and over. Sakura stops abruptly as she reaches a hill and drops herself to the ground, knees giving out.
Whoever her father was, he couldn't have been worse than the one she had.
Sakura wills her Sharingan to clear, but it remains plastered despite her efforts, only adding to her frustration.
She hears the rustling of grass from behind her, whipping her head around to face the intruder, only to find a face she hasn't laid eyes on for some time. Sadness was etched into his features as his gaze landed on her Sharingan.
The eyes that only brought about pain, glowing red in the dead of night, on the face of the woman who was nothing but a warm light.
Sasuke took a few steps closer to Sakura, lowering himself to the ground alongside her, eyes fixed on tear-stricken ones. They remained like that for a brief moment, no words exchanged between them.
“Just focus on me.” He says without breaking eye contact.
She doesn't question him and follows his instructions. She feels her Sharingan retreat as she remains fixated on him. On his eyes, down to his nose, lingering on his lips. The sight of her jade-green eyes returning to her face causes his eyes to soften at the familiarity.
“That's it.” He rewards her with a rare smile.
Sakura leans forward and slides her hands around him in a gentle embrace, “Thank you…”
He hesitates slightly, unsure if he’s deserving enough for such a gesture from her, before laying a hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer.
He didn't respond. He let the silence stretch on, giving her a moment to allow herself to be vulnerable. To let her know she could be vulnerable with him.
And it was then he had made up his mind.
-
“You’re staying in the village?!” Naruto burst out.
The whole of team seven was gathered in the Hokage's office, facing their sensei, who was now the Sixth Hokage.
Sasuke had made up his mind about staying in the village to help Sakura, but he needed to consult the Hokage on the decision to ensure it was alright. He was a former criminal, after all. Sasuke did not doubt in his mind that his stay would cause discourse among the people of the village. If that remained the case, he’d just have to find a way to train Sakura from outside the village gates.
“That’s what I just said,” Sasuke responds to his loud teammate with closed eyes.
He notices Sakura’s silence and glances at her to find her head down, but he can make out a shade of pink on her cheeks. He fights the smirk that threatens to form and turns back to Kakashi.
“Hm. I see.” He leans back in his chair, “You want to know if that’s alright?”
Sasuke nods.
Kakashi leans forward once more and smiles at him, “Well, I don't see why not.”
“Really, Kakashi-sensei?!” Sakura speaks for the first time, the others startled by the suddenness of it, as well as the excitement tied to her voice.
She registers her sudden outburst and clears her throat, a flush forming on her face, “I mean, that's nice.”
Naruto leans in closer towards her, a mischievous spark in his eyes, “Heh, I bet you’re the happiest one of all, right Sakura?”
Sakura clenches her fists, face twisted in rage as she slowly turns her head to Naruto.
“Wanna say that one more time?”
Quickly, he backs up and frantically apologizes. Sasuke shakes his head at the antics of his two teammates.
“Just like that? Are you sure?” He questions.
Sasuke doubts such a decision could be made as quickly as that, and knowing his sensei, he probably based it on his feelings about the matter rather than taking other variables into account.
“Sasuke, whether you realize it or not, this village is your home. The people of the Leaf will never warm up to you until they see your remorse and change.” He explains.
His home? Sasuke wasn't sure he could ever think of the village as a home. He might've let go of his hatred towards it but the sins of the village, as well as the pain it’s inflicted remain. Remains in the tombstones of his loved ones, in the ruins of the Uchiha compound, in the eyes he possesses.
He isn't sure he’s found a place to call home, or ever will.
Sasuke, unable to disclose his thoughts, lets out a sigh before agreeing.
“You have a point.”
Kakashi claps his hands together, granting them his signature close-eyed smile, “Great! Well then, until we can set up your living arrangements you’ll have to stay with one of us for the night.”
From beside him, he hears Sakura let out a yelp. He doesn't need to turn to know her face is once again filled with a pink tint. Obviously, he would stay with Naruto, but the thought of sleeping at Sakura’s place flooded his mind all the less. He may not seem it but he’s aware of the things that go on when a man and woman find themselves alone in an apartment. Add to the fact that he isn’t immune to Sakura’s beauty as much as he might want himself to seem, let's just say it wasn't a great idea to stay with her.
“I'll stay with Naruto then.” He announces
Naruto moves from his position next to Sakura over to Sasuke and throws his arm around his shoulder. “You missed me that much, huh?”
Sasuke doesn't care to dignify him with a response, ignoring him altogether.
Their sensei laughs at the sight, “I guess that’s that. I'm sure you and Sakura can work out your schedule on your own?”
“Of course, sensei,” Sakura confirms.
“Hey, why don't you come over and just do it there? It’d be just like old times!” Suggests their blond-haired friend.
Sakura smiles at him, “That would be great!”
-
Sakura and Sasuke sit at the table in Naruto's new apartment. Apparently, being a war hero pays well.
Naruto comes back with three cups of steaming hot noodles. While not exactly their preferred choice of food, they aren't complaining. He places them on the table and takes his seat next to Sakura. Sasuke focuses on the seating arrangement a bit too much for his liking.
Seeing the playfulness between the two, the side of Sakura that's never been directed at him, causes a familiar jealousy to spark towards Naruto. This jealousy is different from when they were children.
No, there was nothing childish about it at all.
He can't deny that during their genin days, he took a liking to Sakura, at least, more than any girls who’d confess their love to him. He never cared to focus on it though, too fixated on getting stronger. But there were moments where he’d feel that same spark of jealousy when others praised her beauty.
Now, being more grown up and mature, those childish feelings have evolved into something more.
“Sasuke?” Sakura says, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Hm?”
“I was asking if tomorrow at eight in the morning was okay?” She repeats.
“Yeah, that’s good with me,” He says casually.
She smiles at him and his previous feelings of jealousy melt away as she rewards him with a smile he’s come to dream about seeing again.
When did he become so soft?