Stream of past

What I've felt, What I've known

Sakura was sitting in her living room, reading the world's lamest romance novel. After the disaster that was the conversation with Sasuke, she needed a pick me up. She heard from the gossip around the village that the Uchiha had ran out of Konoha to confront his brother yesterday. Seeing how he wasn't hospitalized via Tsukuyomi like last time, she guessed it went well. On one hand, she was glad for him, that he supposedly managed to reconcile with his brother, even if only she knew it. On the other hand, she was furious with him for recklessly leaving the village, without even a plan most probably. Sage he was so stupid...

Seeing that she had been reading the same line for 10 minutes Sakura threw the book away with a sigh. Stupid fucking Uchiha, giving me headaches and making me worry. She swears, he and Naruto are gonna send her to an early grave. Sakura got up and made her way to the kitchen to get a drink. She would love some alcohol, but she wasn't about to stunt her growth with it. So for now, hot chocolate would have to do. Just as she was about to take a seat on the couch, a knock on her balcony door interrupted her. Looking to her right, she saw Sasuke. Sakura put her mug down on the coffee table and opened the door for him.

"Hi."

"Sakura...Hi. Can I come in?" asked Sasuke awkwardly.

"Um...sure." Sakura moved out of the way to let him enter before closing the door and activating her privacy seals. "Alright, I activated the privacy seals. Whatever you have to say, it'll remain between us."

"Right, thanks...I talked to my brother."

"And?"

"And...you were right. He confirmed everything you said." Sasuke told her everything he learned from Itachi. About the massacre, the coup, Shisui, the Mangekyō, the Akatsuki and his plan. He spoke to her about everything, not sparing any details.

"I see, so he wanted you kill him and take his eyes. Honestly, that has to be the most Uchiha thing I've ever heard." said Sakura with a huff.

Sasuke snorted. "Yeah...Sakura listen...I'm sorry about that night. You were only trying to help me and instead of thanking you I yelled at you. If you haven't told me, I would have never found out and probably continued on that path that led to my brother's death. So thank you, for everything. And I'm sorry."

Sakura sighed. "Sasuke you...really are an idiot. Damn right you should be sorry, you jackass! What were you thinking, running out of the village like that? Did you even have a plan? What if I was wrong? What if the information I was given was faulty, or planted by someone? Tell me, did you even think what you were going to do when you encountered your brother? What if he wasn't alone-"

"He wasn't alone actually, we talked a bit later-"

"That's even worse! What if his partner was aggressive? What if he killed you before you could have talked to Itachi?"

"My brother wouldn't have let that happen."

"But you didn't know that! There were so many thing that could have gone wrong, and yet you keep rushing headfirst into danger! Listen, I don't give a shit about you yelling at me. You can keep screaming at me, throw you best hate filled vitriol at me, sticks, stone, I don't care. You can even squeeze my neck between your pretty little Uchiha fingers, but if you ever, ever, dare leave the village like that again, then I WILL NEVER, EVER, FORGIVE YOU!" and with that Sakura fell down on her knees, taking in large breaths, after screaming her throat raw.

Sasuke stared at her in a state of shock. He didn't know how to react. No one had ever cared so much for him. She's not mad that I screamed at her, she's mad that I left...  Sasuke crouched down in front of Sakura, and brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "Sakura...thank you. And I'm sorry. I promise I'll be more careful in the future."

Sakura let out a laugh that sounded more like a sob. "That's good to hear. And I'm sorry too, for yelling. Still, if you ever feel like your emotions are overwhelming you again, you can come to me and I promise I'll always listen. If you feel like you're falling under, I'll be here to pull you out. And not just me. Naruto, Kakashi, I know both of them will be willing to listen. Heck, I'll even drag your brother by the scruff of his neck back to the village so you can talk to him. Just don't keep all of this in, alright Sasuke? And remember, Lady Katsuyu is a therapist, I can set you up, free of charge."

Sasuke snorted. "Yeah, I might take you up on that one, to be honest. Also, this goes both ways Sakura. I might not be the best with, feelings, bleh. But I'll listen, if you need me to. Don't think I didn't pay attention to what you were saying. For how long were you going to keep those feelings of worry hidden without talking?"

Sakura snorted. "Says the pot calling the kettle black. And of course I worry, how could I not with you and Naruto on my team. I swear you two are going to turn my hair grey before I'm twenty. Also, I am talking with Lady Katsuyu daily, so don't you dare get on my case about my mental health." and she pointed a finger at him with a pout. Realizing what was happening, both burst out laughing.

"You've changed." said Sakura wiping a tear from her eye. "I don't think academy Sasuke would have ever been worried about mental health of all things. It's a good thing."

Sasuke blinked. Now that he thought about it, he has changed. Back then the only thing on his mind was revenge, now though he was on semi-good terms with his brother and cared about his teammates. Sasuke smiled as he though about it. "Yeah well, how could I not? You and Naruto grew on me like weeds."

Sakura laughed and then clapped her hand. "Alright, now how about I go take a look at your wrist? Don't think I didn't notice Sasuke. What did you even do to get it like this? I swear-"

Sasuke sighed as he listened to Sakura scold him. Damn it, Itachi. This is all your fault.

...

Somewhere in the Akatsuki hideout, Itachi sneezed.

...

A while later, Naruto and Jiraiya returned to Konoha with Tsunade. The Slug Princess was basically instantly instated as Hokage. Everyone showed up in front of the Hokage Mansion, dressed in white shirts with a red 火 on the back. Since Hiruzen was dead, the one to start the ceremony was the Fire daimyō. After the ceremony, Konoha started the celebrations. Albeit, they were a bit more subdued, since they did just get invaded recently, but it was a lot of fun. Sakura enjoyed herself alongside her friends, running around the festival dressed in kimonos and yukatas. Playing games and eating stall food, just generally having a good time. Their collectively large group, composed of Ino, Shikamaru, Chōji, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Neji, Tenten, Lee, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura herself, all went together to the top of Hokage mountain, resting on Hashirama's relatively flat head to watch the fireworks.

Afterwards, at Lee's suggestion, they all took some camping supplies and moved to training ground 11 for a pseudo-camping trip. They roasted marshmallows over fire and told ghost stories. Somehow this evolved into telling stories about their missions and their experiences in the Chūnin Exam. Everyone laughed when Naruto told them he gave his paper blank. Afterwards they decided to play truth and dare and that evolved into them chasing each other for reasons Sakura could not remember. It ended with Neji pushing Sasuke in the lake inside the training ground and all of them going for a spontaneous swim. It was fun, all of them splashing water and trying to drown each other.

Even though in the end she was shivering and soaked to the bone, Sakura couldn't keep the grin off her face as she huddled for warmth with Hinata.