This was a short story that just came to my head, and I had to get out on paper. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Maybe he did love her.
Maybe he loved her from the start. The way her green eyes sparkled whenever she saw him, the tinkle of her laugh, even her, in his opinion, beautiful bubble gum pink hair. Maybe he loved the way she said "Sasuke-kun" like he was special in some way, and how she seemed to always find something to smile about. Or maybe he just loved her.
But he couldn't tell her, or anyone else for that matter. He had to kill his brother first, and nothing would distract him from that goal. Not even the most gorgeous girl on the planet.
But it was hard to stop himself whenever he saw that beaming grin, always directed at him.
She wasn't making it any easier either, throwing herself at him like that. She was practically begging him to make her his. And it took all his willpower not to take her up on that.
She was the ultimate distraction, the one thing that kept him from getting the power required to kill his brother. So, really, it was for the best that he decided to leave the village to train.
And now she was standing in front of him, emerald eyes glistening, begging him not to go.
Why did she always make things so tough?!
He would end up leaving her tonight, he knew that. She might end up hating him. Maybe she'd want to kill him. Or maybe she'd just give up on him entirely. Find a nice boy to settle down with. Or, god forbid, move on to Naruto...
Just the thought made his stomach churn.
How could he say that he would be back, that he would always come back, as long as she was there? How could he tell her that she was the only one for him?
Then he realized that he couldn't.
She would never move on. She would hold herself down, waiting, waiting for him to return to her. She would lose focus on everything else, and never become the amazing, strong woman he knew she could, if he weren't taking over her thoughts.
So this really was best for the both of him.
He left her with "Thank you." He was grateful. Grateful she stood by his side this whole time, grateful to have attained her love, even though he was far from worthy.
But he knew when she woke up, she would remember those words, and not read the underlying meaning. She wouldn't hear the true words he had been trying to say, trying ever since he met her.
"Thank you... And I love you."