Second Thoughts
He wanted so desperately for that night to be over. He wanted the sun to appear at that very moment and break through the darkness, clearing his mind. But he knew that was impossible. How could he feel this way? He was Sasuke Uchiha, after all.
The wind blew softly, making the dry September leaves rustle and crack as they bounced along the concrete path. The full moon was visible even through the trees, giving off a golden glow. Suddenly, the genin stopped, not even ten feet from the village exit. He breathed in the autumn air and exhaled slowly, looking up at the gold orb in the dark sky.
"Do I really want to leave, or am I just telling myself that for my own satisfaction? How could I leave the only home I have ever known and my best friends? Most of all, how can I leave…her?"
Sasuke saw the photo of Team 7 that he kept in his room before he left the village:
Naruto Uzumaki, who rivaled every aspect of the proud Uchiha. His looks, his personality, others' opinions, even his voice was opposite. And yet, they were the best of friends, although treating each other as enemies.
Kakashi Hatake, his sensei who's personality matched his own, but who's outlook on life differed greatly. Kakashi's calm, cool, and collect attitude often annoyed all three of the teens, yet his determination to protect and teach them was unmatched. He knew that both himself and the widely known jounin had lost people who were precious to them, but he secretly envied the fact that his sensei could just let it go.
Finally, Sakura Haruno. Sasuke thought that if Naruto's features rivaled his, he was sadly, poorly mistaken. Sakura was his polar opposite if nothing else. Her bubble gum pink hair would be somewhat of an abnormality and look completely ridiculous if not for her light skin and emerald eyes. Although she was intelligent beyond belief, she wasn't the best of fighters and Sasuke often found himself jumping in front of her to block attacks. While he showed no interest in any of the obsessed fan girls who lived in the village, deep down, he felt the need to keep her out of harm's way and be there for her no matter what.
When they were children, all of the girls in the academy, partially including Sakura, loved him and screamed his name whenever they saw him. He acted aloof, even through this torture, refusing to give them the time of day. When they gathered merely feet away from him, he gave them a disapproving look and walked away. Sasuke only vaguely remembered one time when Sakura was in the group, however. Normally, she would come up to him alone and attempt to start a conversation. As the years went by, they began talking on a daily basis and quickly became friends. When they found out that they had been assigned to the same team, they were overjoyed, but told no one.
Standing there, fully aware that he was about to betray his home, his neighbors, and his lifelong friends, Sasuke couldn't have cared less. Only one person was more important than power in his eyes. Finally, on that night, the night when he would take the next step towards his dream of avenging his clan, he realized that he had what he truly wanted all along. A friend. Someone precious that he could protect from the fate of his family. At last, he perceived his love for Sakura and acknowledged the fact that leaving her would be the worst mistake of his life.
A sparkling tear ran down his cheek and fell to the ground. He turned around and looked back at the village he held so dear. A smirk formed slowly on Sasuke's face and he began walking back to his house. He was immensely thankful for his second thoughts and for once, he was truly happy.