Through the Darkness To You (Sasuke x Reader)

Kakashi had already dug two graves earlier that afternoon — one for Zabuza, one for Haku. He didn't ask for help. He just did it quietly, like he'd done it before. Like he was used to burying people who never got proper goodbyes.

We stood by in silence as the wind blew across the empty bridge. There was no ceremony, no long speeches. Just stillness and a quiet ache that none of us wanted to admit out loud.

After that, we went back to Tazuna's house for one last night. Dinner was quiet, even Naruto wasn't his usual loud self. He tried joking a little, but his voice lacked that usual spark. Sakura barely said a word, and Sasuke — well, Sasuke was Sasuke. Cold, calm, unreadable.

I finished eating early and excused myself. My body was tired, but my mind was restless.

I laid down, tried to close my eyes, but I couldn't stop thinking. My thoughts were loud, jumping from one place to another. So I slipped outside, needing fresh air to

The sky was quiet, littered with stars. The wind was soft and cool, brushing against my skin like a whisper. It was the kind of night that made you think too much.

I sat on the porch, hugging my knees and staring into the dark, trying to breathe out the chaos in my head. The day had ended, but the heaviness hadn't lifted.

The others had gone to sleep. But me? No matter how tired I was, I couldn't shut my brain off.

Everything was different now.

Not just because of the mission.

But because of him.

Sasuke.

The memory of him throwing himself in front of me — protecting me without hesitation — had been replaying in my head over and over again.

The boy who never smiled, who barely spoke, who acted like nothing and no one mattered. He wasn't supposed to care.

So why did he do it?

Why did he throw himself between me and death like I was worth protecting?

And why had it messed me up so bad?

I'd been feeling weird ever since. A strange flutter in my chest I didn't know what to do with. It wasn't normal. It wasn't me.

...Right?

The porch creaked.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Sasuke walked over, hands in his pockets, that same unreadable expression on his face. He stopped beside me.

"You always stay up this late?" he asked, voice quiet.

"Only when I can't shut my brain off," I said, not looking at him.

He sat down next to me—closer than usual, but not too close. Just enough to make the space between us feel warmer than it should.

"You're thinking too much," he said.

I glanced at him. "Is that your professional opinion?"

"Hn."

I huffed a soft laugh. "Classic."

Silence fell between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was heavy, thoughtful. The kind of quiet that said everything without needing words.

"I never thanked you," I said finally. "Back at the bridge."

"You already did," he replied flatly.

"Well, I'm saying it again."

He didn't answer.