My god, okay, so as some may know, I have a tumblr where I write prompts for basically who ever wants them. So this fic is just a collection of them all, okay?

I know I said I'd do that with 'The Return Arc' but i've totally decided against that now (it'll be a proper fic) so sorry about that~ So yep, here ya go!

Closure

Summary: Finally, after all these years, Sasuke gets at least a little of what he needs.

Prompt: Holding Hands (for Sasusaku month)

His time back in the village had been nothing short of turbulent so far. Despite helping Konoha and the alliance to victory on the battlefield, it seemed that his tolerance of the village itself went no further than wanting to protect something that his late brother loved so dearly.

Therefore Sasuke's return was still very much a mystery to most.

It was clear from the moment he stepped through the gates that everything was not going to just fall back in place like so many people naively wished for. For as soon as he had taken a few mere steps within the confines of Konoha, anbu were already stationed at his sides and hauling him off so places unknown - though the dank, unspoken of floors within interrogation would have been a good guess.

Those few fleeting moments where Naruto and Sakura could look at Sasuke, the village finally acting as his back drop again, the image burned into their memory, had to eventually last them a long 18 months.

Sasuke's incarceration was to be expected - even the duration wasnt a shock, but the old members of Team 7 couldnt deny that they had been childishly wishing for some sort of lenience considering his part in the War.

Though, apparently the number and severity of his crimes far outweighed one moment of heroism in the Councils eyes. And so they waited for a year and a half, unable to visit, counting down the days until his release.

However, once again, it seemed that their expectations of his return into society were much too rose-tinted as it seemed that as quickly as Sasuke had taken his first few steps of freedom, he had disappeared just as quickly - returning to the old compound that was near destroyed and not really emerging for anything.

At first, Naruto had wanted to chase him, pound at his door at every waking hour, trying to get him to come out, to wander the village again, but Sakura had stopped him, convinced him that, he probably just needs some time, Naruto, we should give him that. And the blonde had been placated.

But when a week became two, and two weeks bordered on a few months, Sakura stopped holding Naruto back and she found herself hovering anxiously behind him as the boy hammered at the wooden door, calling out familiar nicknames from their childhood - annoyance barely masked behind that bubbly personality.

They didnt know that the chain of events that were soon to follow to be the unraveling of Team 7. They didnt count on Sasuke nearly wrenching the door off its hinges, eyes murderous and demanding that they leave.

Of course, Naruto had never backed down to anything when concerning Sasuke and if it wasnt for the vicious nature of the words they were throwing at each other, Sakura would have felt it was almost sweetly nostalgic.

"We a not a team. Stop living in your childish fantasies-"

"Sasuke-"

"Stop chasing a foolish dream and leave,"

After that and the dust had somewhat settled, even Naruto hadnt tried again, and it was either his ego or his heart that was hurt by that day but which ever it was, it pushed him into a strange sort of determined sulk - one that even neither Sakura nor ramen could break him from.

Eventually, they finally drifted. Two years after Sasuke's initial return, no longer was it Team 7, nor was simply Naruto and Sakura.

No, the medic found herself more immersed in the hospital than ever before, taking over the Hokage's role in the establishment as Naruto was taken under Tsunade's wing, needing her full attention as she began prepping and grooming him for the job he had waited so long for.

Then one day, Naruto burst into her office - the first Sakura had seen of him in weeks and with a wide, almost disbelieving smile, promising that he knew how to make things right again, he knew how to set the records straight and that Baa-chan agreed, dattebayo!

And as he filled her in, a watery kind of smile broke over Sakura's face, and she swore she had never loved her mentor more.

.

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It was mystery as to how they convinced him to be there. It was completely beyond her - not to say she wasnt grateful.

After all, all of this, was for his sake.

They were in the memorial grounds, standing in front of the marble tablet which held the names of so many shinobi who once honourably served Konoha. In front of the stone stood Tsunade, about to fulfill one of her final acts as Hokage, Naruto standing by her side, looking the most serious Sakura had ever seen him.

As she stood to the side and glanced the crowds, it seemed like the entirety of Konoha shinobi and kunoichi were sitting there, row by row - the majority somewhat confused by why they had been summoned. The nins had been asked to bring their family, which the majority had done and the civilians that weren't there would no doubt be informed of the information they were about to be told.

Tearing her gaze from the nameless rows of people, Sakura's eyes settled on the boy sitting one seat in from the end - his expression cold and closed off.

She wondered if he knew what was about to happen. No, of course he didnt, why would he?

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I asked you here today," Tsunade's voice boomed over the quiet of the crowds, "I'm sure you all know that this will be one of my last appearances as Hokage,"

A smirk graced her lips for a moment and Sakura was sure she was thinking, thank kami-sama for that, before the smirk faded and she continued, expression being the mask of professionalism.

"…You may also notice the absence of the elders,"

This was it.

Sakura took in a short breath, suddenly anxious for what was to come.

The mention of the elders had peaked Sasuke's interest, that much Sakura could tell. She saw his darkened eyes raise ever so slightly, his posture stiffen almost imperceptibly.

And as Tsunade continued, explaining exactly why the elders were no-where to be seen, why they didnt deserve to be held with such respect anymore, Sakura kept her eyes on Sasuke and her presence close.

Watching the emotions conflict on his usually stoic expression had her slipping into the seat beside him, silently, and keeping her eyes away from him - knowing he probably wouldnt take well to her staring at him during such a moment.

"…-which brings us to Uchiha Itachi,"

Sakura wasnt sure if Sasuke was even breathing anymore, and when she stole a glance sideways at him, her heart clenched so painfully at the sight, that she found her fingers inching towards his, finger tips barely brushing against the side of his hand as it rested atop his leg.

The small, feather-light touch seemed to break him from whatever reverie he was in and suddenly his bangs were hiding his expression from her - but his hands were trembling and as much as he tried, Sasuke couldnt hide that from her.

"You knew about this," His voice sounded out suddenly, expression still hidden - though once again, Sakura couldnt ignore the meekness to his tone, despite how much he tried to cover it with his usual indifference.

For a moment, she Sakura couldnt tell whether he was angry or simply stating a fact.

"Hai," She said softly, quietly, "Me and Naruto…we've been trying to plan it for weeks." The girl's gaze flickered to Naruto who caught her gaze momentarily before returning to the boy beside her, "We…we wanted to do something,"

After some time apart from him, it had become obvious that Sasuke's bitterness and hatred for the village stemmed from the deceit and betrayal which had surrounded his brother, and not the actual village nor its inhabitants. Hearing the full story, detail for detail, for a good while, neither Sakura nor Naruto could blame him for his feelings - and thus this fueled their plan.

The girl received no reply to her small explanation but its not like she expected one. Instead, she was content with sitting here with him, shoulder to shoulder, watching over him carefully.

"…-I think you'll all agree, that his name deserves to be carved here just as much as any other shinobi who served this village," The Hokage's voice echoed over the eerie silence of the memorial grounds.

The low, agreeing murmur of the stunned shinobi around them sounded out and Sasuke's head hung a little lower, hand closing into a tight fist on his lap. It was at this moment that Sakura's gaze softened with sympathy and her hand slowly crept over his, working to relax his fist and fingers somehow weaving their way between his own.

He didnt respond, his hand simply laying limp under hers but once again, its not as if she expected any sort of positive reaction - if anything, there was a part of her that was pleasantly surprised that he hadnt wrenched his hand away from her.

"Sasuke-kun," She murmured softly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze of encouragement, "Look,"

Slowly complying, he raised his head, watching as someone began to carve his brother's name ceremoniously into the hard marble - the dull scraping of the tool meeting the stone being the only sound that echoed in the air for a few moments.

His fingers twitched under hers but watery green eyes didnt leave his face as it contorted in something that she could only describe as a deep kind or sorrow.

Shaking his head once, and only once, he lowered his eyes again, expression becoming hidden from her.

"-…So go home and explain to everyone you know, let them know what really happened, set the records straight… Uchiha Itachi was a hero and not who you thought he was," Tsunade spoke almost sternly, her amber eyes scanning the crowds before her voice softened considerably, flickering towards the lone Uchiha sitting in the crowds for a split second, "Is that clear?"

Once again, an agreeing murmur of 'Hai!' rippled through the crowds surrounding them.

A shuddering sort of sigh left Sasuke's lips at that point before his fingers hesitantly closed around Sakura's. She almost didnt pick up on it, but there was a small twitch of his fingers under hers before a quiet, wavering, "Thank you," was left in the air between them.

Sakura didnt reply verbally, but simply brushed her thumb over his skin and squeezed his hand a little tighter.

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