Different

He’s returned…?”1

“Traitor…”2

“…Disgrace.”3

As Sasuke and Sakura walked down the streets of Konoha, many people glared at the raven haired man in abhorrence. Some people were muttering hateful things, none too pleased that Sasuke Uchiha, traitor to Konoha, had returned.4

*bunny* hell, why didn’t they just stick him with his katana; it’d be less painful.5

Glowering at nothing in particular, Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets and bowed his head; his bangs hiding his face from view. Tsunade had allowed him to be released from the hospital since he seemed to be healed just fine (He obviously didn’t tell them everything.).6

However, it was Tsunade’s orders that Sakura escort Sasuke back to the Uchiha district.7

“Just ignore them.”8

Resisting the urge to look back up at said pink haired medic, Sasuke ignored her instead. Sakura sighed quietly and rolled her eyes. She really should have seen this one coming.9

Being the optimistic one, Sakura smiled at him and continued, “Just because they’re bitter about this whole thing, it doesn’t give them the right to act so disgusting. Sooner or later, people are just going to have to get over it.”10

Briefly, Sasuke looked up at Sakura. She was now looking up at the clear, blue sky, still smiling. In all honesty, he couldn’t believe it. She was defending him.11

Again.12

“I don’t need your reassurance. I’m not weak,”13

Her head up high, not looking at him, Sakura kept walking, waiting for him to finish the one sentence that always left her more miserable than she already was.14

“Like you.”15

Sakura didn’t mean to, but she stopped walking. She stood in front of Sasuke, not looking back at him. For a flickering instant, she remembered a night long ago, where they stood just like this. Only back then… it was Sasuke’s back she saw. Back then, he was walking away from her.16

And suddenly, Sakura felt… angry.17

Without thinking, Sakura began to slowly walk. She didn’t glance back at Sasuke, not once. Her anger slowly grew, bubbling up inside her. She had been angry before, but never like this. This time, it was different.18

Because this time, she was walking away from him.19

And all Sasuke did was stand there and stare. He watched her walk away from him, not even telling him where she was going. He supposed that he deserved the silent treatment for what he had just said, but… Sakura was walking away instead.20

‘How does it feel… Sasuke?’ 21

XXX22

For the next few days, Sakura was in quite a mood. She was always walking around with her head down, her hair hiding her face. She also snapped at people a lot… and Tsunade noticed. She was planning on talking to Sakura about it, but something happened that changed everything. One night, Tsunade received horrible news. And it concerned Sakura more than anyone.23

‘No… Not Sakura. Why? Oh God… I have to tell her right now.’ 24

Tsunade left her office for the night, and searched all around town for Sakura. Finally, she spotted her pink haired pupil at an empty training ground, resting under a tree. She had been training hard.25

Sakura’s hair was disheveled, and she had smudges of dirt on her clothes and skin. The ground around her was uneven; as if it had been stomped on by a giant. Or bombarded with chakra-powered punches.26

Tsunade closed her eyes and steeled herself before calling out. “Sakura!”27

Sakura glanced over to her side and saw the Hokage approaching her. She jumped up and bowed respectfully, but Tsunade waved away the gesture.28

“Sakura, I have to talk to you.”29

Sakura frowned. “Lady Tsunade, if it’s about the way I’ve been behaving lately, I am really sorry, but-“30

“Sakura,” Tsunade interrupted, “It’s not about that.”31

Sakura looked at her, confused. “Well, what is it, Lady Tsunade?”32

Tsunade frowned and took a deep breath. This was going to be extremely hard…33

“Sakura… I have bad news.”34

Sakura’s emerald eyes widened in worry. “Oh my God, what is it? Oh- is it about Naruto? Did something happen during his mission?”35

Tsunade slowly shook her head no and continued. “It’s not Naruto. Sakura… something did happen on a mission though. It was on the mission your parents were on.” As Sakura let out an audible gasp, Tsunade closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. The leaves of the tree behind them rustled, barely audible in the night.36

“Sakura… I’m sorry. They were ambushed and… they didn’t survive.” Tsunade whispered.37

Tsunade opened her eyes and looked at Sakura. She was stiff, her eyes wide and glistening with tears that had yet to be shed. Her hands were clenched at her side, knuckles turning white.38

Slowly, Sakura opened her mouth and whispered, “No…”39

“NO!!!”40

Sakura cried out as she fell to her knees, her tears now sliding down her face quickly. Sakura drew her fist back and pounded the ground with it once… twice… three times. As her hand began to bleed, Sakura sat back and drew her knees up to her chest. Wrapping her arms around them, Sakura bowed her head and sobbed louder.41

“No… God, no…”42

Tsunade slowly kneeled down beside the girl she thought of as a daughter. ‘Why did this have to happen to her of all people? She doesn’t deserve this… not after all she’s been through.’ Tsunade bit her lip once more as tears began to stream down her cheeks as well. Slowly, Tsunade hugged Sakura and began to whisper, “It’ll be okay… don’t cry. It’ll be okay…”43

Sakura just kept sobbing heavily, not even hearing the words of comfort Tsunade was trying to offer her. ‘Mom… Dad. Why? Why did this have to happen?! WHY?!’ 44

Tsunade shivered and looked skyward, tears still streaming down her face. For a moment, she stared at the tree looming above them, hardly paying attention to what she was seeing. Then, she realized what she had been staring at up in the tree. Still attempting to soothe Sakura, Tsunade whispered the words of comfort and nothing else.45