Chapter1: Goodbye Konoha
A wind blew across Konoha, startling a pink-haired kunoichi from her thoughts.
"What are you thinking of, Sakura?"
"Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?"
"Well, since the dobe is out eating ramen again, and Kakashi-sensei is reading his books again, I figured I could spar with you. Besides, I want to see how you've improved."
"Ano… sure!" 'Why is Sasuke-kun paying attention to me? Has he changed?' Sakura asked herself.
"Let's go." Sasuke started walking to the Team7 training grounds followed by a slightly confused but intrigued Sakura.
'Where in Kami-sama's name is he?' Sakura was panting as she rested on a tree branch to find Sasuke. They had been sparring for two hours and Sakura had lost sight of him for the third time.
"Looking for me, Sakura?" his voice resounded from behind her, laced with disapproval, as he pushed her forward against the tree trunk. He was holding a kunai at her neck.
"Still weak."
Those words hurt Sakura more than any jutsu. They riled her and were the most hated words she knew, along with "annoying" and "big forehead". How dare he! Still weak, Still weak. The words kept echoing in her head as if they were mocking her. She'd had three years to work and get stronger. Yet he still called her weak. 'Konoha can do no more for me. I will leave tonight.'
That night, Sakura packed a bag full of food and other materials she would need for her trip. She cleaned her apartment knowing full well that a prominent layer of dust would be over every item when she returned. Before she left, she left a note for Tsunade, Naruto, and all her friends.
"Halt. You shouldn't be going out of the village at night. State your name and your business," the guard cried.
'Crap, I forgot about guards.' "It's Haruno Sakura. I've come to get some herbs for medicinal purposes that grow in the forest and can only be picked at night." What kind of lame excuse was that?! Sakura held her breath and prayed to any gods above that the guard wouldn't notice her blatantly obvious lie. It seems as though one of them decided to smile on her because this was decidedly not the sharpest shinobi in the squad.
"All right. You may pass." I can't believe he let us through! Baka. He's dumber than Naruto. 'Naruto's not dumb, just a bit dense at times.' MOST of the time. 'Whatever, Inner.' Sakura walked through the gates and did something the last person who made this decision did not. She glanced back at her old home and a ghost of a smile passed over her face. 'Good-bye, Konoha.'
