Sasusaku: The Road Back To You

First Letter Blues

♡✧❀❃⋆ 𝓢𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓻𝓪'𝓼 𝓟𝓞𝓥 ⋆❃❀✧♡

I stood in front of Orochimaru a few days later as he gave me the limitations on what I could and couldn't write back home.

Despite this, I was ecstatic.

I was going to be able to write back home once a week! And I would be allowed to read any letters from home as long as they didn't contain any sensitive information.

Of course, I wasn't allowed to talk about Orochimaru, his base, Kabuto's research, or Sasuke's training, among other things. But that was okay, I had much more important things to tell them.

I was less okay with the information that my letters, the ones both sent and received, would be scoured over with a fine-tooth comb for any hidden messages, or crucial information. The letters from home would be read by them before I would ever see them.

It wasn't so much that I was going to use any secret codes (even if I wanted to, I didn't have any). It was just the fact that not even my personal letters to and from home were really mine.

Just another luxury taken from me.

Only a year. You can do this. It's for Naruto, Kakashi, Lady Tsunade. This is for Ino, Hinata, Lady Shizune, Lee. My parents, even if they don't share the same sentiment.

This is for my home.

I repeated the last line a lot this past week, having to frequently remind myself why I was here. I figured I would be chanting it so constantly here that it would eventually lose its meaning.

I couldn't let that happen.

As soon as Orochimaru excused me, I dashed down to the shared room, which was currently empty, and grabbed paper and a pen. I sat on the edge of the bed and began to write.

Dear Friends,

I have good news!

Orochimaru has permitted me to write back home once a week! As long as I don't give away any sensitive information, we are allowed to write to one another throughout my stay here. We won't be completely separated from each other. This makes me very happy!

It feels like forever since I last saw you guys, and it's only been a week. I can't imagine how long a year is going to feel. I can't believe how much I'm missing you! Naruto, don't eat too much ramen while I'm gone, or you'll go broke without me there to pay, hehe. Kakashi Sensei, teach Naruto some cool new jutsu while I'm away, so that when I get back, he can show me all about them! The more he knows, the better off he'll be against the Akatsuki.

Oh, and Sai, don't call people ugly. Except for me. That's my nickname only, got it?

There are so many things I wish I could tell you guys, but I've been forbidden from sharing it. I will say that... Shishou, since coming here, I have discovered a great deal of disturbing things- things that even if I could tell you, I wouldn't. Being here, even just for this short week, has opened my eyes to many horrors, and I'm sure there are more to come. I promise you when I come back I will be a better medic nin, and I refuse to abuse this position. I will take what you've taught me and use it to help more people than ever.

Besides that, Naruto, Kakashi Sensei. Sasuke is different. Of course, we knew he would be, but he has changed so much I don't even recognize him half of the time.

But please don't give up on him just yet. Sometimes, when he lets his guard down, I catch a glimpse of the real Sasuke there, hidden underneath the heartless being he pretends to be. I have faith that he's not completely lost. Naruto, long ago you made me a promise. Now I make the same promise to you. I will save him. I'll bring him back. I'll do whatever it takes, but I'm not leaving this hideout without him.