Author Notes: All right, to anybody who might read this just know that this is my first story so if it suck's really bad then don't hesitate to let me know!

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine blah blah blah…

On with the story!

Routine

At this point he was frustrated to say the least. It wasn't like he didn't notice that Naruto was improving, but he never thought that he would live to see the day when the idiot would catch up to him. He was shocked to that the ramen lover had actually taken down Gaara while he just laid there on a tree branch unable to move. It really wounded his pride that Naruto had saved himself along with Sakura, and even defeated Gaara!

He was so angry that he couldn't see straight for what seemed like forever. It wasn't even Naruto who he was mad at….he really just loathed himself at the moment. He was better than this; he was strong! This was the moment he knew deep down in his cold, empty heart that he could no longer stay in Konoha.

As of lately truth be told, he was thinking maybe, just maybe he could stay here with Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura and they could all get stronger together. He now knew that this was impossible seeing as how he wasn't even strong enough to defeat one enemy, let alone his brother. Another thought that wouldn't leave him alone was the fact that he wasn't able to save Sakura; sure he had caught her before she had fallen to her death but that wasn't good enough. He was always the one to save her from danger; it was like his duty or routine perhaps. What really fazed him was after the battle when she thanked him for saving her and he had to break it to her that it wasn't he who saved her, but the knucklehead known as Naruto.

For god's sake Sakura actually protected him thus time, she could've died for his sake, after pondering this thought he knew that her love for him was genuine. He recalled after he explained to her that it was Naruto who saved her she said "Naruto huh?" and then looked directly at the spot where Naruto and Kakashi were standing and then a sweet nostalgic smile graced her pale face. At that moment he had to look away and as he did so, a frown settled across his handsome face. Now he was utterly terrified because he realized his bonds were becoming too strong.

He looked up to Kakashi like the father he never had, he saw Naruto as a brother who was his best friend, heck he had gotten used to Sakura's affection. And now that she was focusing her attention on his only rival he was jealous. He hadn't felt like this since he was younger when Itachi got all the praise from his parents. But now he wasn't the best and he could see that even Sakura his #1 fan, knew this too.

Correction, this was the moment he knew deep down in his cold, empty heart he couldn't stay in Konoha.

Fin