It's Just a String『ただのひも 』

「四 」

The second time Sasuke saw Sakura and  Naruto hugging each other was after he left his ex-teammates accompanied by two unfamiliar people with them. Probably his replacement and their new captain.

He watched as the vision from his summoning snake shows how Naruto cried silently and Sakura telling her blond-teammate that crying would not solve anything but she, herself was crying too.

She run towards Naruto and hug him at his back.

He suddenly remembers the time that Sakura hugged him from his back to prevent him from going berserk and killing the poor sound ninja who hurts his Pink-haired teammate.

Sasuke watched, Sakura and Naruto with his impassive eyes.

Orochimaru read Sasuke's face whom currently looking at the snake's envision. "Ara— Sasuke-kun, is there something that you are concerned of?"

"Hn. Nothing."

dismissing their topic, Sasuke dispelled the vision reflecting after them and turn his back at his snake-sannin mentor.

Smiling eerily, Orochimaru slowly licks his lips looking at the small crest of Uchiwa fan on his disciple's back.

You're action doesn't speaks so.

remembering how Sasuke had acted towards Sai's words of wisdom about Saukura's and Naruto's thoughts, how he firstly acknowledge his pink-haired girl teammate and how he had spared her from the electrocution of his attack earlier.

Orochimaru doesn't think so that it was only nothing.

Sasuke slips back in his slumber on their new hideout.
Acting like nothing happened.

The year went by like a falling leaf from a tree.

Sasuke succeeded  killing Orochimaru.
He then form a team with Suigetsu, Karin, Jūgo and name their newly formed team, Hebi.

He was on his way out to kill his brother Itachi by himself.
But he needed them to find his brother.

Rumors spread across the Kirigakure and flew to Konoha.

Sasuke defeated Orochimaru.

"Is he coming back?"

Konoha Eleven was on their way out to capture the Rogue ninja who rumored to be the one who killed a Snake sannin.

Even though Sakura's former Mentor have his masked on his face, she can feel he grimaced at what she says.

Right.

She then stretched her gloved palm and continue to leap from the chilly forest on their way to find Sasuke.

He killed Itachi.
His brother.
His family.

Days turned to Months into chasing Sasuke back.

But something twisted happens when he learned what is the real reason why Itachi had slaughtered the Uchiha clan, except for him himself, Sasuke.

He felt disgusted when he knew what is the lying secret of Konoha behind this Uchiha Massacre.

Team Hebi which gradually changed after he had known the disgusting Secret of Konoha. Their team branded in new name, Taka.

He will avenged his clan once again.
But this time, He will also avenged Itachi whom all this time has been fulfilling the role of being a Brother to him.

The moment he opened his eyes, Mangekyou Sharingan was swirling in his irises.

He was no longer the  naive Sasuke Uchiha .

He's now a sole survivor who's one goal is to kill everyone.

Not fully recovered from his fight from Itachi he was once again out. Finding the mastermind of this sickening-massacre.

Konoha is recovering from the attack of Pain.

Naruto win over Nagato.
He had change the way Nagato look at the world and bet his own life to the Kyūbi Jinchuriki.

This time Sakura had hugged him in front of villagers.
For the first time, she show her affection to him in front of a crowd. Naruto couldn't smile more and blushed from head to toe.

And Sasuke didn't get the chance to see this meticulous sight.

Because he and his teammate was on their way to kill the newly announced Sixth Hokage, Danzo.

He swear that he will kill that man mercilessly.

The news flew faster than it thoughts.
When Danzo ordered to kill the remaining Uchiha,
Sakura never really thought she would come to this point.

He had fallen.
He's no longer the Sasuke she had known back when they were Genin.

She can see the darkness in his eyes the first time they saw him at Orochimaru's Lair.
He was ready to kill them. She knows.

To kill or not? . .
She smiled bitterly.

That night, she let her weakness overcome her.
She cried all her heart out.

At that moment, she has decided.
That tomorrow, while Naruto is away.
She'll do it.

She'll protect Naruto.
Her friends.
She'll protect Konoha.

She knows she has no chance, but it's a do or die.

She'll choose to die in order to let Naruto achieve his dreams.

You're just one step ahead from your dream Naruto.
She whispered even though he's not with her.

—————————✿

I'M ALIVE!!!! YOUR AUTHOR IS STILL ALIVE AND KICKING ;-;

I'M SORRY FOR TAKING A BREAK FOR LONG YEARS