#laaaaate

It was just yesterday when things were normal, though not by her definition of normal. Her normal is hectic, tiring, and insane, especially these past few weeks wherein she tackled opening a new clinic on the nearly remote village west of Konoha, taking on few serious cases, and all sorts of never ending reports. But she’s used to that and she loves it. But no, that’s not the normal she was talking about. It’s the kind where she’s lying spread eagle, surrounded by medical books in futile attempts to read and do something remotely similar to her job. But on a two- week forced leave imposed to her by the hokage himself who was urged by her concerned co-workers, including that traitor Ino (she’ll get her back later she swears), she doesn’t have much to do as she was banned from stepping foot on the hospital unless necessary. They thought she worked too hard. Sigh.

She was bored so she’s here in the library instead. She gave up reading at home because alone with her thoughts, she can’t help but remember him. Even now, while choosing books, the library’s atmosphere can’t change her focus. Then she thought about the great war, of what transpired his decision to journey alone.

Then it clicked her. If she remembered correctly, somebody had told her that the Uchihas descended from Hagoromo’s son, Indra, and considering how the clan values their blood line, it would be possible for them to have a temple or a place where their history is kept. It might help give Sasuke a lead on what he was looking for. Feeling excited, she started working.

After five days of alternating between the library and the village’s information research center, she finally had an address. What do you know, who knew being bored can be productive? It took another two days for her proposal to process, another for the go signal by what she suspected was an equally bored hokage who gave her an impressed, amused, and suspicious look, and after two days of travel, here she was, seemingly stuck nowhere. If she was an Uchiha (she stupidly blushed at that thought), what would be her best defense for a sacred place? She looked around the fog covered forest one more time to see any hint of entrance and for some reason, she keeps looking at her north. Then she noticed it. The fog was thickest at that area. She was right. It was genjutsu. She never had time to celebrate her easy success on releasing it as the fog revealed a tall, pale, bearded old man. He was wearing a white high collared robe which she was sure has the clan crest at the back, and in typical wise old man fashion, held a wooden staff on his right. She didn’t dare look at his eyes.

“What brings you here in the middle of nowhere my child?”

I could say the same to you she thought. “I am sure you know I am looking for the Uchiha clan’s temple, Oji-san.”

“It has been centuries since we had proper visitors. Follow me child.”

Sakura decided to trust him for now and remained alert of her surroundings. They quietly walked through the woods and she can’t help but feel a bit ominous as she noticed the scratches and the shurikens and kunais stuck on the trees. She placed her hand near her bag of weapons just in case she really needs to fight.

“Do you know the history of the temple, child?”

“Yes. I have read that the temple was built by the first Uchihas to celebrate their clan and their ancestor, Indra Ootsutsuki. However it was said that the third generation received a prophecy from a passing by oracle known for his accurateness. It was said that the clan would face a downfall in the future and the terrified clan heads have agreed that the Uchihas must strengthen their bloodline and make it as pure as possible. If a member of the clan desires to marry outside the clan, the candidate must either be of good bloodline or they must pass the initiation on the temple, and only then would they be accepted.”

“That is right. The Uchihas are a proud clan. Even with the power they already hold, they still strived to get stronger. I am sure you noticed those marks on the trees. Those are evidences of how much people want to be a part of them at that time. Every candidate underwent three tests. First is their physical and fighting prowess, if their techniques or jutsus were worth passing on. Second is intelligence, and the third is the hardest and only few had passed that. Almost exactly like a shinobi exam.”

“It was. But what do you mean about proper visitors?”

“Ah. There are those who tried to force their way in the temple thinking it holds a secret to power.”

Sakura then started throwing multiple kunais in different directions.

“Just like these?”

“Just like those.”

She automatically went to defend the man and make a quick work of the intruders.

“Mind if I shake the ground a bit?”

“Go ahead.”

Done.

“Impressive, child.” She just smiled to that, but realized her mistake.

A quick sword attack came at her from nowhere which she fortunately had dodged. However, upon seeing the face of her attacker, she felt like her heart leapt out of her chest.

It was Sasuke.

Of course, she was surprised and happy to see that face, after all, she missed him terribly she felt like she was hallucinating. Well, of course she was, as she realized it was genjutsu after all. She accidentally looked at the man’s eyes.

“Here is your last test, child. The sharingan are eyes that reflects the heart. I have seen that the biggest decision you ever made in your life was to kill this Uchiha. Would you do it this time? Or would you choose to protect others even if it means killing him? Many of the candidates fail to be recognized when they realize the extent of the power of the sharingan. More than physical wounds, seeing one’s deepest fears come to life is more than enough to break a person’s heart and mind. Trust is broken.It is when love turns to hate which is even harder to cure. It is also a glimpse of what you would carry on your shoulders as an Uchiha. It is generations of dirtied hands in exchange of a pure, powerful bloodline. Would you be willing to accept it all child-”

Illusion Sasuke’s sword flew away as Sakura protected the man from their attacks.

“Oji-san. I do admit that it was the worst decision I’ve ever made. But I didn’t regret it at all. It is because I did it that I knew that we can’t save him. He needed a chance to save himself first. He needed to find himself again. And I am alive, doing things that I love, and that ultimately makes it one of my best ever decisions. I needed to trust him as well. He’s seeing the light finally and he started to do things for himself, and I am terribly happy for him. Whatever he did in the past and whatever he decides to do in the future, I’ll accept them all. He knows how much we love him and we are here if he ever gets lost again. I for one, will never hold back. I will never again try to kill him and myself. I’ve seen enough sad and angry tears to last a lifetime and all I’ll accept are happy ones. But I’ll make sure to break two or ten bones if necessary, just like this.” And released the genjutsu with a powerful punch. “No amount of powerful genjutsu can ever compare to the real thing. By the way he’s going right now, it’ll be ten years before he misbehave again. I’ll be ready that time.”

The old man happily laughed and led her to the temple. Indeed it contains carved pictures on walls, statues, scriptures, and a whole lot of other stuff. With the old man’s permission, she took pictures for the research center in exchange for their help. She felt like she learned a whole lot about Sasuke, and Uchihas in general, not only history wise. At the exit of the temple were carved names of couples who have been united there. She noticed a small carving written in another scripture.