After everything had settle and the war was over, Sasuke had been pardoned.

Tsunade had recently stepped down from her position of Hokage, and Kakashi had taken her place. There were qualms on what they should do about the rogue ninja, Uchiha Sasuke. Many people continued to see Sasuke as a rogue and deserved to serve jail time, or even be sentenced to death.

And those people had a point.

Sasuke had attacked the Hokage Summit, killed the elder, Danzo and had pretty much started this war. Not even counting all the people Sasuke had killed and all the destruction he had caused in his three years since he had actually left the village.

In fact, most of the village was calling for Sasuke's banishment. Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi were the exception.

Naruto didn't see a traitor who attacked him, and his teammates. He saw the sad, lonely boy that he watched from afar as a kid. He saw his biggest rival, and closest friend.

Kakashi didn't see a failed student. But he saw how much he had failed Sasuke. He gave Sasuke the tools that led to the death of so many. He thought that if he trained Sasuke in advanced style jutsus, such as chidori, Sasuke would feel more confident in defeating Itachi, thus making calming the storm of desire to kill. But, it did nothing. Kakashi had done nothing.

Sakura didn't see a man who tried to kill her a handful of times. She saw the man that she loved. And, it was empty, petty love. She knew she didn't know a damn thing about Sasuke, but she couldn't help but want him.

So the three converged to discuss the future of Uchiha Sasuke. The conversation was short. Sasuke would stay. Sasuke would need an escort anywhere he went. Sasuke would be required to check in periodically. Sasuke would not be allowed to train in any advanced jutsus.

Kakashi then brought Sasuke into his office to announce their decision. Upon hearing the conditions to Sasuke's stay, Naruto and Sakura half expected Sasuke to interrupt or argue. But, he sat quietly, head slightly down and nodded here and there.

These terms were nothing Sasuke would agree to, normally. But, he wanted to be here because this is what Itachi wanted for him. When Sasuke was bleeding out next to Naruto, a part of him wished he would just die. Then he would be with Itachi. He would finally be happy. He had completely given up. That's when Sakura had appeared and began to heal him. Sasuke wanted to protest, he wanted to cry and tell Sakura to stop. But, for some reason, he knew that Itachi didn't want him to die here. Itachi wanted nothing more than for Sasuke to live a normal life in the place that Itachi loved almost as much as Sasuke, Konoha.

So, he nodded and agreed to the loss of his freedom.

The first week into his conditions was awkward. The people of Konoha rejected Sasuke, which was something Sasuke was not use to. He was viewed as the last Uchiha. A poor boy with an awful brother. And everyone respected and pitied him. But, now… People ignored him, or were just plain rude to him. And Sasuke took it. He took their anger and rage with a blank face. No matter how harsh their words were, nothing compared to the horrible things they use to say about his brother.

The villagers hatred had shifted from Itachi to Sasuke. Sasuke wanted nothing more than to completely clear his brother's name. But, Naruto reminded him that that was not what Itachi would want. And Sasuke wanted to make Itachi happy. So he said nothing. The Uchiha name was successfully turned to mud.

Sakura had taken it upon herself to be Sasuke's escort. Whenever Sasuke wanted to leave his home, he was required to notify Sakura by bird, and she would come over and then he could leave. It was a massive pain. And because of this, Sasuke stayed at home a lot. For the first week, Sasuke left his home only three times. And every time it was awful. Sakura's obnoxious small talk and subtle flirting got old very fast. But, Sasuke was polite and would indulge in Sakura's small talk. And even when Sasuke stayed hidden away in his home, Sakura would visit, daily, and sit awkwardly on his couch and talk about anything that would pop into her head.

After a month of hiding out in his home, unless he absolutely had to leave, Sasuke began to get stir crazy. Every day was the same. He grew bored. Everyday Sakura would pester him, Naruto would check in on him, and some days he was forced to appear before Kakashi. He was annoyed with it. Thats when Sasuke realized that within his month of hiding from the village, he had gotten slow. He could tell that he wasn't as quick and talent as he had once been. For some reason this bothered him.

It was late fall when Naruto visited. Sasuke didn't even bothering answering the knock at his door. Whoever it was, was going to let themselves like they always did. After a moment, Naruto entered the living room, where Sasuke was seated on the floor, sipping tea.

"Hello, Sasuke." Naruto said mildly, taking a seat next to Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't look at Naruto, but nodded to acknowledge him. For a while, the two sat in silence. Naruto helped himself to some tea, and Sasuke appreciated Naruto's lack of talking. It was unusual though. After a moment, Naruto shifted uncomfortably.

"You seem off…" Naruto said suddenly.

Sasuke glared at Naruto.

"Off? Oh, like I haven't lost everyone who was important to me? Like the village doesn't hate me? Like I know I have slipped in my skills? How am I suppose to act, Naruto?" Sasuke snapped.

Naruto nodded.

"Itachi would be proud of you."

"Don't speak his name."

Naruto sipped his tea.

"Is there anything that I can do that would help you out of this funk?"

Sasuke shook his head. Nothing Naruto would approve of.

"Come on, Sasuke. There must be something?"

"Let me leave."

Naruto blinked.

"Leave? As in your home?"

Sasuke put down his cup and turned towards Naruto.

"I need to travel, I need to see this world that Itachi fought so hard to protect the village from. I need to understand…" Sasuke felt tears sting his eyes, but bit them back.

Naruto looked uncomfortable.

"You know the conditions of your stay…" Naruto began.

Sasuke abruptly turned away, glaring out his window, watching leaves fall from the oak tree just outside. Naruto looked at his old friend. They hadn't really spoken since the war ended. Sasuke hid in his home and whenever Naruto visited, he did most of the talking. He couldn't understand how Sasuke felt. But he knew it was painful. Sasuke looked as though he was on the verge of crying every single time he saw him. He knew that Sasuke took the scorn of the village as a punishment that he deserved. There was something about witnessing the once most popular man in the village, be feared and hated. Just like he had once been.

"I can talk to Kakashi."

Kakashi stood next to Sakura and Naruto as Sasuke appeared before them. They all had uneasy looks on their face, but it had been agreed that Sasuke would be allowed to travel for six months. If Sasuke did not return before six months were up, then the ANBU was allowed to track him down and kill him. Sasuke could hardly contain his excitement when Naruto visited him a few days later with the news. He packed a bag and was ready within an hour.

Sakura clutched her hands together, nervously biting her lip. She was afraid that Sasuke would run. That he would leave her again. She couldn't let that happen, but had no words to say to the man that she yearned for so.

Naruto was satisfied with letting Sasuke go. Sasuke's attitude improved drastically and he just wanted his friend's happiness. Plus, Sasuke's time away from the village would give Naruto time to convince the village to accept him.

Kakashi was apprehensive about letting Sasuke go. He knew that Sasuke was a flight risk, and there was a good chance that in six months, Sasuke would return to the village in a body bag. But, he knew how much it meant to both Naruto and Sasuke, and wanted to please them.

"Six months." Kakashi said firmly.

Sasuke nodded, turning away, giving a small wave as he started towards the village entrance.

Sakura stood there, trembling. He was leaving. He was actually leaving. After a moment, she bounded towards him, calling out his name.

"Sasuke-kun, please!" Sakura pleaded, wrapping her arms around his torso.

Sasuke stopped, letting Sakura bury her head into his chest and sob.

"Please… Take me with you!"

Sasuke couldn't help but roll his eyes. When would she learn that he didn't care for her. He would be perfectly happy if she dropped off the face of the Earth. In fact, he had wished that one of his attempts on her life had been successful. But, he felt as though Itachi would want him to be kind. To not shut her out. So he gently pulled her off of him and smiled.

"I'll be back."

She stared up at him with large, tear filled eyes and Sasuke saw his younger self, staring up at his brother with those same kind of eyes. Sasuke was taken aback and did the only thing he could think of, he poked her forehead. Sakura's eyes widened and a blush flooded her cheeks. Something that he was sure happened when Itachi did it to him. He felt flustered and pulled away quickly, leaving a blinking, blushing Sakura in his wake.