That night, I decided what I needed to do. After the fight with him, four ninja attacked me; they all had the curse mark, only, they were different kinds. They told me that if I wanted power like them, then I would have to come to Orochimaru's place.
As I packed my backpack, I saw the picture on my dresser, the picture of team 7. I picked it up and remembered all the training and missions we suffered through together. I slowly lowered the picture back onto the dress, and then laid it so I couldn't see it anymore. I left.
It was late at night and no one was out, I was walking down the path to the village's gate. I had just started to begin to see it when I heard rustling in the bushes to my left. I stopped for about a second, then I continued on. Sakura came out of the bushes. Great, just what I need right now. She looked at me, then at my destination.
"You shouldn't be out this late. You need to go and get to bed." I said, stopping.
"Sasuke," she whispered. I started walking again. "This is the only road out of the village."
I walked past her, she was crying.
"Why won't you talk to me? Why don't you tell me anything?"
Stopping again, frustrated by her words. "Why should I tell you anything? This doesn't concern you." I couldn't face her.
"Sasuke, why? Why are you doing this?" she begged.
I tensed. "This is my path. I am an avenger. Where I go, you or anyone else can't follow. You have chosen your path, now I am choosing mine." Was I trying to convince her or myself?
"Do you remember that day, when we first became a team? You taught me that solitude was painful."
"I don't remember," I said simply. Of course I remembered; I couldn't let her know, though. She had to think I didn't care-I had to think I didn't care.
She became flustered. "Oh, well, that makes sense, that was such a long time agao," she stopped, waiting for a response. I didn't give her one.
"I have friends and I have family, but with you gone, to me that is the same as being alone. Please, stay here with me. I promise that if you stay, I'll make every day happier, every day will be more fun. I promise, I'll even help you with your revenge if you want."
I could tell by her voice that she was shaking. I honestly considered her offer, it sounded nice, easy. I came so close, and then-
"If you can't stay, then please take me with you!" Sakura took a step forward; she was clutching her hands together in front of her heart. "Sasule...I love you so much! So please don't go!" She was closer now, I could feel it.
I steeled myself against, said the one thing I knew that would shut her up. I turned halfway around so she could see that I wasn't wearing my headband.
"You really are annoying." I smirked as her eyes grew wide with sorrow. I turned around immediately and started to walk away.
She ran forward. "If you go, I'll scream."
Focusing all my chakra, I teleported so that I was behind her.
"Sakura."
She sucked in a breath, not know what I was going to do next scared her a little. "Thank you." The breath she had been holding was released in a gasp.
At that moment, I punched her in the stomach, knocking her out.
I had meant that thank you. It was a thank you for all those times we had together in team 7, all of us: Kakashi, her, even Naruto. Since being in team 7, I had felt happier than I ever had since that night.
"Sa-suke," I heard he breath out as she lost consciousness.
Gently, I picked her up and placed her on the nearby bench. I glanced at her briefly and then took off. I wanted to tell her the reason I was leaving, but I couldn't.
The reason was that if I stayed, there was no way I could kill Itachi. This was the only way to gain enough power to defeat him. If I never killed him, he could come back and attack my comrades. I couldn't let that happen, I didn't want any more comrades to fall. I couldn't go through that again. That is why I had to leave for Orochimaru's, so I could protect those I held dear to me.