The Uzumaki Heir

Chapter 4: Team Seven: There and Back Again

Warning: hardcore scene. Comment what should be done.

Just finished watching Shiki anime:( shit, it's so good. I really don't know how to deal with post-anime depression, so I'm learning their songs on the piano.

Title is inspired from The Hobbit/There and Back Again

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Hokage's Headquarters

In his era, he had established a principle that Shinobi weren't merely tools. He had faced one too many battles in his lifetime: from Haku to Hidan to Reincarnated souls...and even after he stepped down the Hokage seat, his teachings were passed on: not all killers were demons; not all demons were forsaken. But there were factors that affected people deeply: love, loyalty and purpose. Shinobi were an important coexistence—Ninja, Kunoichi—they were people and they lived significant lives. No one deserved to be judged or be treated a lesser human being just because they were different, or they chose different paths. As long as there was an intent to protect, as Itachi, anyone would go far to reach that ambition.

Kakashi sighed. Why did he let him leave?

The Rokudaime Hokage looked at the picture of Team Seven on his table, hopelessly staring at a 'family' he thought he could fix.

Now

The picture of Team Seven still stood on the Nandaime Hokage's desk.

So much for teamwork.

All that's left of the four-men-team was him and Sakura—always. Whenever Sasuke wasn't around, Kakashi always kept a cold distance; he was there but he was never there. He was occupying himself too much with work and politics, perhaps to keep his mind off that Sasuke once again had disappeared, and he let him. Did he do it for the good of Konohagakure? For Sakura or Naruto, who were prone to alcohol that time?

He did it for Sasuke. Because he went too soft. Because he had probably missed the damned Uchiha, who made a choice that wasn't for himself, for the first time. Naruto assumed his sensei always put the blame on him, even if he didn't say a word. Kakashi was the oldest; he must have felt responsible for not being able to stop Orochimaru from the beginning.

Naruto looked at his bandaged arm. He fiddled, moved and tested it. Both had an enigmatic story: the right arm was torn, and the other was used (accidently) to pull Madara's black heart. It was like yesterday those things happened...as usual, time was unfair.

If you want to save others, best save yourself—those were Naruto's words of good bye...before he never saw his best friend again. Sasuke was hesitant to get his arm patched. If it weren't for Sakura, he would've left disabled. It's not like everyone's got the chance to go back to their usual being; Gai couldn't.

Naruto might have regretted letting him get away. It's not the first time he disappointed Sakura. Well, he didn't know if he would agree on Sakura traveling with him, either, but if she were happier, that could've been a solution. If he had been Hokage at that time, Sasuke could leave under the condition that he should at least take someone with him. Naruto had seen Sasuke's capabilities in all mode, and he distrusted his promise for peace. Wherever an Uchiha goes, seems to follow.

How could Kakashi let Sasuke do a reckless thing??

How could he have let that bastard go away?

Unless....

...marriage was under Kakashi's terms?

Only a Feudal Lord or a person with the rank of a Kage can announce two people as husband-and-wife. Kakashi did the honor. It was a private ceremony in the Naka Shrine. It was one of the most historic events in Konoha, for this was unknown to any other country; they just assumed that Sakura was the lone Uchiha's live-in partner. And there she was, living in the Manor. And she did a pretty good job of keeping the floors shiny, and let alone the roses bloom red as blood in the backyard. Somewhere in the past, a friendly neighborhood lived here—before everything was thrown into the graves, or buried in horrific rumors—a family lived here; Sasuke's family. Now she was part of that.