[RL back in Konoha]

[fanthe_flames]

Konoha. The familiar sight of the training grounds brought a pang to his heart as he stepped into the village, brushing his hand across one of the wooden posts that was set up for projectile training.

He looked in the direction of the main village, a half smile on his lips as he waited for Sakura to arrive.

Comments

[healinurninjaz]

Sakura froze as she entered the training grounds, finding the need to hold onto the tree beside her to keep her legs from buckling beneath her. She remained there for some time, watching him. Was he still the Sasuke she knew? He seemed so different, but so much more receptive to the camaraderie that she and Naruto offered.

"Sasuke-kun..." She finally spoke up, taking a few more steps toward him. He had certainly changed, and Neji's insistent comments remained with her. Was it a natural change? Had he actually grown as a person, or was this community forcing it on him?

[fanthe_flames]

He'd realized that someone was there for a while now, but he let Sakura speak first, before turning slowly to face her.

"Sakura," he acknowledged, with a hesitant smile, unsure of exactly how welcome he was here, despite her resolution that he was.

[healinurninjaz]

"Y-you're back..." She fumbled over her words, eyes wide. Hearing his voice, civil, not accusing, or hateful, made it that much harder for her to believe that this was really him.

Sakura, however, didn't seem to care that it was so unlike him. She merely ran up and hugged him around the neck, hiding the tears that were stinging her eyes.

Ninjas were supposed to be strong, and not cry, but she just couldn't find a way to validate this as something real.

[fanthe_flames]

He started at the hug, but returned it, brows furrowed at the tears that were wetting his shoulder.

"Stop crying," he said, gently, running a hand soothingly up and down her back. "I'm back in Konoha, aren't I?"