"I heard you and Naruto are together," Sasuke's callous voice arises from the rear of Sakura's head: attempting to conceal the pain in his tone as she diverts her way to encounter him, gazing at the former in curiosity.
She looks at him like she never has before. The premature yearning eyes she used to set on him were now substituted with the maturity that she gracefully carries as she returns a sheer smile that solely sufficed with familiarity.
"Yeah...It's been great," Sakura commented, fondling her elongate coral-pink hair, the length directly flourished to her back, enveloped into a flimsy ponytail that Sasuke ached to stroke. "I've been truly joyful these days and, it's cause of him," she articulated so cheerfully, yanking Sasuke's heart, a sword punctured straight through it.
He was aware that Naruto had pined for Sakura since they were genin as his best friend had candidly spoken about his fondness for the girl. Praising her beauty and her extraordinary medical aptitudes that one wished they had. Despite this, he hasn't acquainted that Sakura conveyed the exact sentiments back.
The kunoichi never openly expressed her feelings for Naruto as she stood busy pursuing him. However, after some time away from the pair: it appeared as Sakura had developed to love the jinchūriki, eventually choosing to be in a committed relationship with him. The two seemed incredibly happy and Sasuke..could only observe as the couple's relationship blossomed as the one who valued him through all renounced him. And he couldn't be incensed at all. He owned no privilege after the misery he induced them both.
Bearing a breath, Sasuke ignored the relentless aching in his chest, "I'm glad that you're happy," he says and frankly speaking, he was glad that she was happy. "Naruto is a great guy and, I'm sure you two will have a bright future," he exclaims, "Together." Despite how it pained Sasuke to say those words, he knew Sakura wasn't his to love or keep. And this was his way of letting her go from the agony he compelled upon her.
Sakura honestly smiles. A smile that Sasuke finally rendered offered him the exhilaration that satisfied his soul. It wasn't sufficient to atone for his sins whereas, it was a beginning. "Thank you, Sasuke," she beams, "That means a lot to me."
And to Sasuke, it signified more than Sakura would ever know.