Chapter 43

                                    

                                          
The late afternoon sun bathed Konoha in a soft, golden light, and Ugetsu lay stretched out on the grass near the village outskirts, his arms behind his head as he drifted in and out of a light nap. Mochi, his little white kitten, was curled up at his side, her tiny purring a constant background hum. The peaceful quiet of the village surrounded him, a calm that felt so different from the usual noise and chaos he was used to.
A soft rustling in the grass didn't catch his attention at first, but it wasn't long before he felt a tickling sensation against his nose. His brow furrowed, and his hand lazily swatted at the air, but the tickling continued—persistent and playful.
Ugetsu blinked his eyes open, only to find Sakura standing above him, a mischievous grin on her face and a long leaf in her hand. She giggled as she wiggled the leaf at his nose again.
"Morning, sunshine," she teased, her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement.
Ugetsu groaned, sitting up and brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Sakura-chan.."he mumbled, still shaking off the remnants of sleep. "What's with the leaf?"
"I couldn't resist," Sakura replied, her laughter light and carefree. "You looked too peaceful just lying there. Besides, it's been quiet around here without Naruto. Someone has to keep things interesting."
At the mention of Naruto, Ugetsu's expression softened, and he gave a small smile. "Yeah... it's been strange, hasn't it? No loud shouting, no crazy pranks... It's almost too peaceful."
Sakura sat down beside him, resting her elbows on her knees as she sighed. "I didn't realize how much I'd miss him until he left. The village just doesn't feel the same without his energy."
Ugetsu nodded, watching Mochi bat lazily at a small flower in the grass. "Jiraiya is training him well, though. I bet when Naruto comes back, he'll be even stronger. He's always had that determination."
"That's true," Sakura agreed, a small smile forming on her lips as she thought about their boisterous teammate. "Naruto's always been the one to push forward, no matter what."
The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the calm, until Ugetsu's expression shifted. His tone softened, more serious now. "And... how have you been? With Sasuke gone and all?"
Sakura's face fell slightly at the mention of Sasuke, her gaze dropping to the grass in front of her. She fidgeted with the leaf in her hand, twirling it between her fingers. "It's been hard," she admitted, her voice quiet. "Every day I think about him, wonder where he is... what he's doing." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I just can't believe he's with Orochimaru now. It still doesn't feel real."
Ugetsu nodded, understanding the pain in her voice. He'd seen how deeply Sasuke's departure had affected Sakura. She had always been strong, but this—this was different. "I know it's tough," he said gently, "but Sasuke made his choice. All we can do is get stronger, keep moving forward. And maybe one day we'll bring him back."
Sakura's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "That's why I started training with Tsunade-sama. If I can't bring Sasuke back, then at least I'll be strong enough to protect the people I care about. Tsunade-sama's training has been intense, but... I feel like I'm finally growing, you know?"
Ugetsu smiled, proud of her resolve. "I'm glad to hear that. Tsunade's the best of the best. With her training, you're going to be unstoppable."
Sakura smiled, though her eyes were still tinged with sadness. "Thanks, Ugetsu. I know you've been working hard with Kakashi-sensei too. How's that been?"
Ugetsu hesitated for a moment, running a hand through his hair as he thought about his training. "It's... fine, I guess," he said slowly. "Kakashi-sensei's great, but..." He trailed off, looking up at the sky as if searching for the right words. "I don't think staying here is enough for me."
Sakura turned to him, concern flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Ugetsu sighed, glancing down at his hands. "I've been thinking... about leaving Konoha. Going back to the Hidden Mist."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "Leaving? But why? You're doing so well here."
"I know," Ugetsu said, his voice quiet but firm. "But I'm not going to grow the way I need to here. I need to find someone who can really teach me how to master water-based jutsu. Kakashi-sensei's been helpful, but it's not enough. I'm a Hozuki. There's more I need to learn about my clan's abilities... and I can't do that here."
Sakura was silent for a moment, her gaze searching his face. "Do you really think leaving is the answer?"
Ugetsu nodded slowly. "I do. There's someone in the Hidden Mist—Mei Terumi. She's a powerful shinobi, and she's skilled with water-style techniques. If I want to get stronger... I need to learn from someone like her."
Sakura looked at him, her expression a mixture of understanding and sadness. "I get it," she said finally, her voice soft. "You've always had that drive to push yourself further. Just... promise me you'll be careful, okay? Don't go disappearing like Sasuke."
Ugetsu gave her a reassuring smile, though there was a heaviness in his chest. "I won't. I'll keep in touch. But I have to do this, Sakura."
She nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I know. Just don't forget that you have people here who care about you, Ugetsu."
He smiled at her, his heart warming at her words. "I won't forget."