Love In The Blood Prison | Sasunaru/Narusasu

The plan

After everything has settled, I help everyone so that Mui and Ryūzetsu can be buried next to each other. I then tie Ryūzetsu's bandana around her gravestone and vow to treasure the life she selflessly returned to me. I do what she believed and be a guiding light by protecting the things people cherish.

I have to protect Sasuke and the village. I made the mistake of letting go easily. 

I can't afford to make the same mistake again.

"So..." Sakura appears next to me as we walk away from the prison, "what was up with you two back there?" 

"What do you mean?" I ask absentmindedly, thinking of something to conquer Danzō with when we return. 

"You and Sasuke." She says, pointing behind her at Sasuke talking to the Hokage. "I never expected either of you to care about someone to that degree. I haven't seen him in years so I was just wondering since it's strange to see you accept affection like that."

I shift my attention to her, grinning wearily. "Sasuke thinks of me as home and as someone he wants to stay close with." I shrug. "I think of him in the same perspective, dattebayo." 

"What about everything you told us before?"

"I lied." I put my hands behind my hand, looking up at the sky. "I just didn't want you all to know that the person I wanted to be with was the person you all expected to be with also." 

"I don't think of him the same way I did before, Naruto," Sakura says. "I was infatuated with him, yes, but I grew up and found love in myself and the world. Sasuke deserves to be with you, like how you deserve to be with Sasuke. I'm not against anything, nor will I try to be, because the way Sasuke looks at you assures me that he'll be happy from now on."

I look down at her soft expression and smile. "Thank you, Sakura." 

She smiles then sighs. "That being said," she looks down, "what are you going to do about Danzō? He'll figure out a way to get rid of Sasuke again, you know?"

"I may not have a clue what to do about him, but," I take my hands from behind my head and clench one of them into a fist, "I'll do whatever I can to keep Sasuke happy." 

"Danzō fooled all of us." She mutters, looking up at me. "I thought he was a genuinely good person, but... he admitted to the coup d'etat and framing you. We knew you were innocent but to hear someone we trusted to say something like that... we were beyond angry." 

"He plans to commence his despotism plan and I think I have a wild guess what he'll do." 

"What?" 

"He'll take the village apart, starting with the strongest defense then he'll gradually work his way down to the weakest. He thinks I'm the pawn that is strong enough to fight so I have to be smart and stay out of his radar for now. Sasuke will have to do the same since he's still known for the genocide."

"Speaking of that plan, Naruto," Sakura frowns, "I think he already started." 

"Why?" 

"A bunch of our shinobi was found dead and Kakashi-sensei is beginning to behave weirdly. Ever since he brought in the Akatsuki members, he hasn't acted as he would normally. I think Danzō is already slowly trying to dominate the Fire Nation, and, in my opinion of everything, he has been insinuating his plan from the very beginning. Starting with you."

"I don't understand..." 

"I shouldn't be the one to tell you a hypothesis for a serious situation like this, but, as your friend, Naruto, I can't allow you to take any more casualties. I have to say what I believe, even if it'll be useful in this ordeal that Danzō started selfishly."