"That's what he said," she explained, deciding against telling him that at the time she'd come from, Itachi had already been killed and there had been no sign of Sasuke either. Rumors were circulating about how he'd formed his own team and Sakura couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness thinking they'd been replaced.

"But there has to be a way to show him that we all want him to come home." Himura had said they would need patience and to show Sasuke that they were still friends, still useful to him. "I think we should try to treat him the same as before, as much as we can. Sasuke-kun won't change overnight, but maybe gradually he will."