Sorry about the delay in posting, I have been very busy.
Chapter 2: Strong Girl
Sakura walked in silence along with Kiba, Sai, Lee and Akamaru. Naruto's words were still echoing in her mind. "I cannot stand people who lie to themselves!" Naruto had told her.
Naruto has always been a person so fair and honest. I feel horrible for lying to him that way. I just wanted to rid him of the burden of the promise... Sai had told me he loved me, but I guess that was not true after all... In fact, it makes me relieved... Naruto deserves someone better than me, someone who truly loves him and that doesn't lie to him. He deserves Hinata. Sakura mentally sighed. I sound as if I could really stay with him... I'll kill Sasuke-kun today.
The girl forced herself not to let her feelings show to the others. No tears would fall from her green eyes because of Sasuke. At least she did not want that. There had been enough of that already.
I hate crying. A kunoichi must not cry! I learned that in the academy. When I was young I wanted to be a strong ninja. Even not belonging to a clan, I wanted to be a shinobi. Be strong and never cry. But I was pretty pathetic when I entered the academy. Ino helped me to improve... but I stayed pathetic for a long time. I fell in love with Sasuke-kun... All he did was call me annoying... I was really annoying... Sakura admitted silently, if it was just a passion of a child, I would be okay... it would be easier for sure. But this feeling grew stronger and uncontrollable... to the point where I couldn't stand it... to the point I would leave my family and my village to follow him, not even realizing that that was wrong... but Sasuke-kun stopped me. He even thanked me... not even the distance weakened this feeling. I made Naruto suffer so much. Sasuke-kun actually became a criminal... I cannot keep fooling myself... I don't have the right to cause Naruto more pain. I will kill Sasuke-kun, even though Naruto is going to hate me... even though I don't know if I'll come back alive after this mission.
Sakura touched her poisoned kunai without letting anyone notice it. The strange thing is that death does not frighten me. What I am about to do is what fills me with fear. I could attack Sasuke-kun by surprise... The only way to attack Sasuke-kun successfully is for me to surprise him... he doesn't know about my physical strength. I could kill him or at least seriously hurt him if I could give him a punch... This wouldn't be so hard having the element of surprise on my side. Even if Sasuke-kun is very strong and attacks me without hesitation, I could handle it, combining my skills to my strategic ability... Sakura bit her lip as a tiny flicker of doubt tried to worm its way in, at least I think so... but I cannot do that. My chakra control has to be very accurate... a slight miscalculation... one moment of weakness would ruin everything. I hate crying. I hate being weak... I hate having to admit that I can falter at the last minute. I chose the poisoned kunai because the kunai is independent of my feelings... poison does not become less deadly if I falter... he will die quickly and without pain ...
Sakura released a sigh and then straightened up, fighting to regain her determination. I'm a ninja! I must do my duty! I must be strong for everyone! The antidote is merely a precaution. All doctor ninja must carry it in case of accidents... I certainly will not need to use it... if I hit Sasuke-kun in a vital point, there wouldn't be enough time to use the antidote...
How long she spent going over everything in her mind in an attempt to ease herself, Sakura did not know. After a while, Sai brought her back to the present by muttering quietly, "Ugly, is there something wrong with your hearing? Kiba has just finished talking and yet you did not react. I read in 'Symptons of the Broken hearted' that one's hearing could-"
Fortunately for Sai, Sakura only managed to clench her right fist threateningly, before Kiba intervened and for Sakura's sake repeated his earlier statement: That he'd picked up Sasuke's scent.
Sakura immediately forgot all about pounding Sai for his usual lack of manners, she felt a tightness in her chest and all her earlier thoughts came tumbling back with vengeance. I have to do it. I have to go alone! She thought, while carefully taking the sleep gas bombs out.
Her heart ached a moment later, as she spoke softly to her friends "sorry guys..." and it hurt even more when she had to deal with the expected resistance from her companions, until finally she managed to use the bombs.
Some minutes later, Sakura ran towards the direction that the now asleep Kiba had told her. I must be strong... I can no longer be a selfish child... I need to be strong.
Sorry for the short chapter. This story will be somewhat irregular due to my internship at the university. Thanks for the comments. And thanks to my Beta reader, for helping me with the Sai part. :D