Behind The Veil

Chapter 20

Sakura sighed heavily as she plopped down onto the sturdy branch. It's been a week since she's told Sasuke the news and today was his last day of freedom. She should at least go say goodbye, right? 

She let out a small growl and leaned slightly so she could pull the Kunai out of her pouch. It was the one thing Sasuke ever gave her, yet when she looked at it she felt angry. She couldn't exactly pinpoint why she was mad about it. 

Sakura pushed the tip of the blade into her forefinger, accepting the slight pain that comes with the action. The Kunai was black with a small Uchiha Crest carved into the bottom. This could be considered a gift, but it wasn't wanted. Over the week she already nearly returned it four times, always backing out of it at last minute.

 "Sakura-chan", Someone called from below her. She looked over her dangling feet to see Ino. Their relationship had been strained over the last few months but everyone is slowly accepting her back into their lifes, and for that she was eternally grateful. 

It's all thanks to Naruto and his kind heart. Always forgiving no matter what. She was envinous of that, It was always hard for her to overlook betrayel, yet he did it so easily. 

"What is it?" Her voice was loud, clear. 

"Naruto sent me to come get you", she yelled out, her long blonde hair swayed behind her. 

Sakura sighed, she can't deny Naruto, "I'll be down in a moment." She gave the Kunai one more lookover before shoving it back into her pouch and jumping swiftly to the ground. 

***

The air is heavy, yet it doesn't stop Naruto from calling out. Everyone of importance is here, and the some. There's a lump forming in his throat and he struggles to swollow it down. He hated him, yet couldn't stop himself. He wanted nothing to do with the traitor but at the same time didn't want him to go. 

How is that possible? 

"Sasuke," He finally manages to get out. All eyes turn to him, and he doesn't like their gaze. He hates the way they look at him, "I'm sorry about this." He means it on some level. 

His former friend turns to him with a sneer on his face, "Shut up Dobe." 

His throat constricts, he used the nickname. That had to have some type of meaning, right? Naruto felt sorry for Sasuke, hated himself for the fact that he couldn't rescue him from the storm of hatred dwelling inside of him. 

But he did not regret doing this. Allowing the hokage to punish him for his actions. He couldn't allow Sasuke to get away with the wrongs he has done, and in four years time, perhaps Sasuke will understand why he was forced to do this. 

Maybe his storm will end. 

"Don't tell me what to do Teme", A smile plays on Naruto's lips, they were using these pitiful insults, how fitting of the occasion. Naruto stiffled a laugh. 

'This isn't the time', he reminded himself.

He glanced around the crowd, familiar faces showered him at every side, unfamilair faces wiggled their way inbetween, yet Sakura was not here. Why? It was almost time for Sasuke to go away. Almost time for him to serve his time in Isolation. Does she not plan to say goodbye? 

"She will be here." The voice rang through his head and he took comfort in the familiar sound. His demon had been silent lately, "She loves the boy, she'll have to say goodbye." 

"I suppose so"  He says outloud, not paying anymind to the questioning glances from his peers, they should get used to the random outbursts from him. He was alone with just him and Kurama and fell into the habit of talking outloud instead of in his mind. 

It was out of his control. 

Tsunade's voice rambled on, explaining the reasoning for Sasuke's punishment, but Naruto didn't focus on that. His gaze raked over the people, once, twince. Still no Sakura. 

He frowned, he'd asked Ino to go get her hours ago, where is her mind? 

Suddenly a bob of messy pink hair arrives, pushing her way through the crowd. She heaves for breath but doesn't say or word or spare so much of a glance towards Sasuke. Her hands are on her knees as her chest rises and falls rapidly, she gives me a stiff nod before making her way by my side. 

Hinata's bodys stiffens as she approaches and Naruto gives her a comforting squeeze on the hand. She should know by now Sakura isn't a threat to their relationship. Naruto was blind to Hinata before, but now she is all he sees, the only girl he could ever care for. 

"And with this goodbye, Sasuke Uchiha will spend the next four years in total Isolatation. His communication with others will be stript away. His only contact with any other living thing will be the three daily meal deliveries where there will be no words, no glances, nothing exchanged. Is this clear?"  Tsunade said clearly as she looked down on the young Uchiha. 

He merely nodded, rattling his chains. 

"Speak boy." She yells out. 

"It is clear", his voice is reluctant. 

Sakura gasps slighlty as two guards drags him away. When Naruto turns around a frown takes place on his face, Sakura is fighting back the tears, but it is clear her will is breaking and the tears will break free soon.

She didn't say goodbye, but her prescence here alone should be enough for Sasuke, if he cared. Naruto bit his tongue as he watched the girl he chased so clumisly break into a million peices before him. There was nothing he could do about this, she fell for someone who was damaged, and was damaged in return. He gave her shoulder an awkward pat before walking away, dragging Hinata in tow. 

***

Sakura stared at her ceiling, this day might as well be marked as her worst. She couldn't bring herself to look at him, let alone bite out the words to bid him farewell. She twirled his Kunai in her pale hands. This small little object was the only thing left of him, of course, besides the many memories she tucked away in her mind. 

She was slighlty glad she didn't return it. He could never know how much it means to her. 

She watched as the tip dug into her flesh, just a little more pressure and crimson would stain the metal. She didn't urge it any furter, just simply let it fall, clattering to the floor with a thud.

A silent tear crept down her face,as she lowered herself onto her bed. She made it once thinking he was dead, and she could do it again. But what happens in four years? What happens when he is released and exiled from the leaf? What lies will she have to feed herself then to keep herself from following him away?

Would she want to follow him then? To throw her life here away, her near perfect life? She was a medical Ninja. A powerful one at that, and she could be a somebody in this village. Yet she sat here pondering whether or not she would throw it all away for the Uchiha. 

She told herself she wouldn't. That she wouldn't give him that much control over her. But deep down in her heart she knew she would do it in a blink of an eye, and she wouldn't care about the collatoral. 

She silently scolded herself of her stupidity as she let herself slip into a dreamless sleep.  

____

The end! Thank you for reading:) there is an epilouge and i'm now gonna be working on revising this story then i'm gonna start the sequel!  It'll be Sasuke and Sakura's story lmfao look forward to it.