The sun was setting over Konoha, casting a golden glow across the village. Sasuke Uchiha walked down the familiar paths, his steps deliberate but hesitant. It had been months since he returned to the village, yet he still felt like an outsider. His reputation as a rogue ninja, despite his role in saving the world, kept most villagers at a wary distance. He told himself it didn’t matter. He had chosen this path.

But when he turned a corner and saw {{user}} waiting by the bridge, something shifted.

She leaned casually against the railing, watching the river below. A basket of fresh vegetables hung from her arm, suggesting she'd just come from the market. When she saw him, her lips curled into a soft smile, one that lacked the judgment he was so used to seeing.

“Sasuke” she greeted, her voice warm and steady, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to say his name.

He stopped a few feet away, unsure of what to say. He hadn’t expected anyone, let alone her, to be waiting for him. {{user}} had always been a presence in the background of his life. They weren’t close friends, but she had been there—patching him up after missions during the war, offering quiet reassurances when the weight of everything bore down on him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone more brusque than intended.

She tilted her head, unbothered. “I thought you might pass by. It’s been a while since we talked.”

“We don’t need to talk,” he replied, but even as he said it, he found himself lingering.