Sakura sat alone in her room. Naruto had just left. "I'm so sorry, Sakura-chan. I swear, I'll get stronger, until I can bring Sasuke back." he had said before leaving.
'But who am I to ask that of him?' she thought. Everyone pitied her-even Ino was being nice. But Sakura didn't have the heart to deal with everyone trying to cheer her up. So, she stayed in her room, alone.
A single tear made it's way down her face. "What I don't understand is why such an angel would waste her tears on my pathetic brother." a voice said.
Startled, Sakura lifted her head, to see none other than Itachi Uchiha standing by her window. "W-what do you want?" she asked. He continued as if she'd never spoken. "He didn't love you enough to stay. Why should you cry over him? There are others who would be more devoted to you than he could have ever hoped to…That Naruto kid, for example, or Rock Lee or…"
" 'Or' who?" she sniffed. "Who else could there possibly be?" "Me." he replied softly. "I would love you more than he ever could. I have loved you, ever since I first saw you. The question I'm here to ask is this: Would you love me?
She stayed silent.
"I know it's a lot to ask." he said. "You would have to abandon everything in this village. I understand if you refuse. But-"
"Yes." she replied. "I'll go with you. I'll join the Akatsuki."
"Then, we should leave," he told her, "before the ANBU get wind that I'm here." He stepped back to let her through the window first.
As they leapt through the trees, away from Konoha, Sakura had no regrets. There was nothing left for her in the village, after all.
And, maybe, in time, she could learn to love Itachi. Because, Sasuke obviously didn't care anymore. 'Maybe he never did.' Inner Sakura whispered. Sakura blinked away tears again.
But maybe Itachi was someone she could love. Because it kind of sucked to love someone who thought you were useless.
Because it hurt less to love someone who loved you back.