Sasuke stepped out onto the stoned road leading out of the Hidden Leaf Village. He sighed wearily, though his body didn't show he was distressed. Forcing his stiff limbs to move, Sasuke walked out of the village.
Yet before he did, he met Sakura.
"What are you doing?" he asked her. Sakura bowed her head.
"This is the only road out of the village. So I'm keeping watch…"
"Go to bed."
Sasuke walked past her, his pack weighing down his shoulders. Silently, tears began to run down Sakura's face.
"Why do you always have to keep to yourself?" she asked. "Why can't you just…let me in?" Sasuke turned his head slightly to her.
"Your business is yours, and mine is mine. Stay out of it." Sakura sighed.
"I know you hate me. You've always acted like it. In fact, it was right here…the first time we were alone…do you remember?"
"Being scolded by your folks doesn't even compare!"
"Wha-? Sasuke?! What's gotten into you?"
"You make me sick!"
Sakura looked expectantly at Sasuke, but he remained silent.
"No, I don't remember that."
Sakura gasped, hurt. Then she smiled slightly and glanced at the ground. "Heh, well…it…it was a long time ago." Sakura looked up again at Sasuke. "But don't you see? It was just the beginning!" Sasuke looked a bit more interested at his teammate.
"Of you and me…Naruto…and Kakashi-sensei." Sakura smiled. "No one could call it easy, that's for sure. But, when you think about it, in the end…"
Sasuke looked expectantly at Sakura.
"It was fun."
Sasuke growled. His eyes turned intense. "I knew it." Sakura looked up at him, surprised. "I can never be like you people. Sure, we worked together on some things…but in the end, it was just a futile effort."
Sasuke turned around and continued down the road. "We each have the same path. They just lead in a different direction, that's all."
Sakura suddenly looked desperate. "I'm so in love with you I can't stand it! Sasuke!!"
Sasuke stopped walking again. Tears poured down Sakura's trembling face. "You can't leave me! If you stay here with me, we'll have fun! Every day! I'll make certain of it!"
Sakura sniffled a bit before continuing. "Even if you have to take revenge…can't you take me with you? I mean, I could help you…" The pink-haired kunoichi wiped away some of her tears. "…I mean, I could manage it…somehow. Please, Sasuke…"
Sasuke paused a moment before turning around and smirking at Sakura.
"You make me sick."
Sakura gasped. Then she became angry. "Don't you leave me, Sasuke! Take one more step, and I'll scream, and-"
Suddenly, Sasuke teleported behind her.
"Sakura…thank you."
With a quick thump on a pressure point, Sakura collapsed coldly on a nearby park bench.
Sas…uke…
