~Bulletproof~ SasuSaku Mafia Story

Chapter 41 ~ White Horse

Days blended together before Sakura's eyes. Life in Konoha remained slow and uneventful. She spent her days working on the Akatsuki case, not knowing why. She called Juugo once to see if he wanted a report, but he said to only call this number for emergencies and hung up. It left her dumbfounded, but she kept working for her own sanity.

Life found its course and re-established patterns in her life; Ino started taking classes again while Sakura waited for any sort of answer from the police department. Everybody except Naruto looked at her with questioning eyes, like they knew something was up. However, they could not find holes in Sakura's carefully crafted stories. That's all they were - stories.

Shikamaru remained relentless.

"This is an insane thought, Shikamaru. No judge will ever agree to this." Tsunade didn't even look up from her paperwork as he stood before her in the office.

"Inspector Senju, we are running out of options here. We soon have to give a formal decision on whether or not Sakura is cleared of all mafia affiliation allegations. You know we can not clear her without confirmation."

"Her stories check out, Shikamaru."

"But she doesn't! I know it, you know it, we all know it! You believe that she was roaming around the mansion, visiting their strip clubs, playing games with them, shopping, spending their money all while having no involvement in their business? This is not who Sakura is! You know she'd never work on projects without full knowledge of the details!"

"This is all speculation."

"Don't tell me I'm wrong, Tsunade."

She put down her pen and looked up at the increasingly agitated detective before her.

"I agree that she was in an...unusual hostage situation. However, our suspicion will remain suspicion without proof. And if it comes to a decision, I will clear her."

"And if you're wrong? If she's loyal to him? You'll risk endangering everyone she comes in contact with!"

"And what do you suggest? Your idea sounds extremely problematic and borderline illegal! You want me to tap her devices?"

"At the very least! If I were you, I'd trail her, or insert cameras. What if she spends every night calling the fucking Uchihas and reports about Konoha's affairs?!" He raised his voice for the first time. Tsunade closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"We cleared Hinata. It will look bad if we don't clear Sakura."

"Hinata spent a few days there! Sakura was there for months. I'm telling you, something stings there."

"Look, the most I will agree to is a singular agent trailing her only when she leaves home. Make it discrete. I can not justify any other measure to a judge."

Shikamaru scoffed, but agreed. Something was better than nothing.

Sakura thought about Obito a lot, which always led to thinking about Hinata. She couldn't let her get away, no way. It was her mess, her shortcoming, her gullible empathy that resulted in his death.

She didn't use to believe in revenge, but now, nothing sounded better than revenge. She glanced at her bedside table with the pistol on top of it. No, it was a bad idea. Hinata was probably heavily protected.

*That bitch probably requested personal guards in case of another Uchiha attack, and that idiot Naruto is wrapped around her finger... I can't get to her.*

She slammed her fist on her kitchen counter. Would she have to live with the guilt for the rest of her life?

Sakura felt momentarily disturbed at her mere consideration of committing murder. How could she even think of killing Hinata? She was not a killer. But, Hinata was. She was a killer, who killed out of spite, frustration, ego. She didn't have to shoot anyone, she was about to be rescued and probably protected for life. Did she deserve to live while Tobi lay dead?