It was strange, that after chasing after him for so long she had finally quelled the longing she had harbored for years. Eight years of her life had been wasted, thrown at his feet only to be scoffed at as he turned away. For half her life she had pressed on despite everything, abandoning all in hopes of earning a minute sliver of his heart.
But he had spurned everything.
Sakura didn't know why it had taken her so long to realize she was chasing a hallucination, but she had finally accepted the fundamental knowledge that every man should fear.
There is no fury like a woman scorned.
Too long she had been seeking to fulfill a dream, no, a dillusion. Blindly she had followed Sasuke everywhere, even considering joining Madara if only to win her former teammate's affection. Sasuke's only reply had been a sword aimed at her back. What man was worth such wasted devotion?
None, Sakura shook her head wildly, her hands trembling in anger. She had been like a foolish little girl, trailing after someone who couldn't look past his own ego. Let him have his power and revenge. Let him sneer at the next pretty girl and tell how little of his time she was worth. Sakura was done. She couldn't care less if he crawled through the mud on his hands and knees and begged for her forgiveness. She would never even look at him again if she could help it.
So why did Naruto have to make that simple concept the most difficult thing in the world?
"Sakura! Come on, it's Sasuke! He's back! Aren't you gonna come see him?"
Sakura's hands clenched in abhorence. Her go see Sasuke? How dare Naruto even suggest such a thing! It didn't matter that Sasuke had helped Naruto kill Madara and end the war. She wasn't fooled like the rest of the village.
How could everyone make such a fuss over Sasuke's 'heroic actions?' The Uchiha had been the cause of the deaths of so many people! It didn't seem fair. Naruto had fought his whole life for the praise of the village, yet Sasuke had gained it in only a moment. A chance act of 'redemption' had indeed brought about the deaths of Madara and Kabuto, but had Sasuke not been a cause of the war in the first place? How dare he strut through the village now as though none of the past had taken place! It was revolting, watching the villagers nod their heads in greeting as the Uchiha passed by, a host of females trailing after him like lovesick puppies.
Sakura turned away in disgust. Naruto might be fooled by Sasuke's seemingly repentant attitude, but she would never allow the Uchiha to overlook the hurt he had caused. It was as though Sasuke had taken a knife and over the years had repeatedly stabbed her in the heart, twisting the dagger a little deeper every time. Sakura would never allow herself to move past the agony of his callous words. If she had her way, the Uchiha would never be permitted to foget them.
"Hey, Sakura." Naruto had bounded over while Sakura mulled, and with a quick tug he hoisted her to her feet. "Didn't you hear me? Sasuke's back! He's staying this time, Sakura! No more revenge and no more running away!"
Sakura continued to stare over the blond's shoulder, deliberately ignoring the dark haired Uchiha who had approached. Naruto's face fell as Sakura gave no reaction.
"What's the matter, Sakura? Aren't you happy?"
"I'll see you later, Naruto," Sakura replied coldly as she pushed past him.
A hand suddenly snaked around and grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn around. Blank onyx eyes met her own.
"Sakura."
The voice was as cool as always, giving no hint of Sasuke's true intent. Sakura's enmity rekindled as she gazed into his emotionless gaze.
"Let go of my arm, Sasuke," she spat, her emerald eyes flashing in warning.
Naruto looked nervously between the two, not anticipating this sudden turn of events. "Sakura, what's going on?" he demanded. "Sasuke's back! Tsunade let him return to the village! Why are you so mad at him?"
A flicker of intrigue passed across Sasuke's face, the same question obviously running through his mind. Sakura matched his calm appearance with her own blazing fury.
"Some things just can't ever be the same, Naruto," Sakura tore Sasuke's grip away from her forearm. "I can only forgive a traitor so many times."
Sasuke's brow furrowed ever so slightly, but once again no other spark of feeling showed on his immaculate features. Detesting the very thought that she had once been attracted to such a perfect face, Sakura's hand moved of its own accord. A sharp crack echoed across the streets as the brand of a woman's hatred blazed across Sasuke's cheek. The Uchiha's eyes widened at the unexpected maneuver on Sakura's part. Shocked, yet abnormally satisfied at what she had done, Sakura rubbed her hand a moment before spinning on her heel and marching in the opposite direction. Naruto's calls sounded behind her, but Sakura ignored him. A thrill of triumph curdled inside her as she realized what she had done.
For the first time in her life, Sakura was truly free of Sasuke Uchiha.