REPOST DATE: September 1st, 2012.
Hey! This is the final chapter of this 3-shot! The night -and the next day- that Sasuke leaves! I put it in both Sakura and Sasuke's point of view, and I added a little something at the end...read it, please.
Sasuke, do the disclaimer! This is the last time for a while!
Sasuke: Epic Otaku Cherry does not own Naruto. If she did, we'd see Naruto garden, which is apparently a hobby of his. What'd'ya know.
Now go and read and review, peeps!
Chapter 3: Farewells
Sakura POV
I have a bad feeling, Inner. I think it's about Sasuke-kun.
He's been distant recently, and…darker. His curse mark activated, too. *Gasp* You don't think-
The gate! I need to get to the gate!
I had just finished eating ramen with Naruto-kun, and am running to the West(1) Gate in fear of Sasuke-kun…departing.
When I reached there, I realized I was right.
Why couldn't we be wrong?
"What are you doing down here so late at night? Just out for a stroll?" asked…Sasuke-kun.
Sasuke POV
"In order to gain something, you must give something up." I remembered one of the Sound Ninja saying to me.
I've decided to turn to Orochimaru for power. Konoha isn't cutting it.
What's wrong with you outer?
What do you mean? I made this decision a while ago. This isn't new.
I know! But you don't have to leave, Sasuke! Why are you letting the mark consume you? Why are you letting your hatred consume you? Have you fallen so far?
Nothing is consuming me. I'm just coming to my senses. I refuse to sit here and play ninja with a bunch of children when I could be getting stronger faster to kill my brother.
What about Sakura? Naruto? Kakashi? Your team? Your best friends? Hell, what about the rest of the Rookies? The 12 (plus Akamaru) of us are all friends, and you're going to desert them? What the hell did that Udon kid see in you for him to look up to you like a role model?
They're all in my way. And I don't care that some stupid little kid looks up to me. That's his own problem. Itachi would kill them all anyway if they knew my connection with them.
What about the times we had with our team, then, huh? Our night under Our Spot with Sakura? The day in the mansion with the team? We even showed them pictures of Itachi and Mother!(2)
I live my life for revenge! You know that! I can't sit back and watch as my brother gets stronger!
We can get stronger here, Sasuke. Our friends are here to help us. We don't have to do everything on our own. If even Naruto can get stronger, we can, too. Hell, Itachi has a partner, right? They can distract him, as we kill Itachi! There!
Konoha is too…goody-goody in their training. I need other measures. I refuse to let someone like Naruto get stronger than me.
You two are probably on par! What's wrong with him being as strong! That makes him all the more our rival and friend!
Itachi's more focused on him than me!
Geez, you sound jealous, don't you! Did you ever wonder why he's targeting Naruto? Why don't you just ask! I'm sure Naruto knows! It probably has to do with that orange chakra he resonates sometimes!
The point is, I'm not staying. End of story.
…Are you ever going to come back? Hopefully your soul isn't so tainted now that you won't miss this place. Come back after you kill him. Please. You uh...need to rebuild…the…clan…right? With Sakura, remember? Oh! Speaking of which, there she is!
We never agreed that it'd be Sakura. Itachi comes firs-
And I saw her. She really is here. Did she know I'd leave tonight? How?
"What are you doing down here so late at night? Just out for a stroll?" I knew what she was here for. To stop me.
Her head was down. "In order to leave the village, you have to take this road."
I began to move on, walking past her, readjusting my pack. "Go home and sleep."
"Why?" She said. I almost didn't hear her. "Why won't you say anything to me?" I knew she was crying, but still didn't turn around. I kept walking. Don't just leave!
Shut up.
"Why do you shut everyone out? Why won't you tell me anything?" Still walking. We almost opened up to her, Outer. Why not let her in?
In my heart, there's only room for hatred.
"Why do I have to tell you?" I said. "I'm telling you that you meddle too much." She's doing it because she cares! She, along with Naruto and Kakashi, has made a space in your heart for them whether you like it or not!
"Stop bothering me all the time." You don't mean that. You don't. You can't. You like it when she meddles, because it means someone cares... Don't you?
Sakura POV
"You always act like you hate me Sasuke-kun." Do you hate me? Deep down? Even with those few personal memories, we've shared?
"Do you remember?" I faced his back. "When we became genin. The day the three-man cell teams were decided, and we were alone at this very spot." Can't you face me?
"You were angry at me, weren't you?" I recalled myself bad-mouthing Naruto, and his not having parents. Then Sasuke telling me about loneliness. I was so confused then. And foolish. I guess I still am, in a way. That was also where he first said I was annoying.
"I don't remember." I gasped. W-what? You remember! You have to remember! Sure, it may have not been important to you, but you can't not remember!
"That's right. That was a long time ago." My tears continued their paths down my cheeks. I guess I shouldn't expect it from Sasuke-kun. I could already see him changing…though I wish I couldn't…
"But it started on that day, you and I, Naruto-kun and Kakashi-sensei…" Memories of the bell test, the three of us training together, heading for the Land of Waves, the four of us… they all painfully flashed through my head.
"We all did missions together. It was difficult, and it was awful, but…" More memories. It hurts…is heartbreak supposed to hurt this bad?
"But, even so, it was fun!" I took a breath. "I know about your clan. But with revenge alone, you will not be able to make anyone happy. No one…neither you…nor me." Are you going to do this to yourself, Sasuke-kun? What happened to the Sasuke-kun we knew? You're still there…but covered in darkness. Why are you letting it happen?
"I know that." Y-you know? Then why? Why go so far?
"I'm different from you. I follow a different path than you guys. The four of us together…it's true I thought of that as one possible path. Despite the four of us having been together, my heart has chosen revenge. I live for that purpose." I always knew that's what you always wanted, but can't you still stay? Then what about you! You're going to live for something like that? There are other things in this world…I'm not saying not to kill him, but revenge doesn't have to be all you see, Sasuke-kun…
"I can't be like you or Naruto." Naruto and I aren't anything alike! I'm weak, and he's…so, strong! He's been able to do more than I could ever dream of, and I can't do anything. I've always been behind both of you…watching your backs….
I couldn't take it. "Aren't you going to be lonely by yourself? Sasuke-kun, you told me that being alone was so painful! I know that very well, so much that it hurts! I have family and friends. If you leave… for me, to me, it's the same thing as being alone!" More and more tears.
"From this point on, new paths will start." I know they will! You don't need to say it! Don't say it like that- like you're going to leave me…
Even if he is going to leave us…
"I…!" I tried. "I love you more than anything! If you are by my side, I will make sure that you will not regret it. I will make each day more enjoyable, and you will be happy! I would do anything for you! That's why…I beg you! Please stay here! I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! That's why…please, stay here with me. If that is not possible, then please…take me with you." I'll do anything! Just don't leave my side!
"After all this, you really are annoying." What is that supposed to mean, Sasuke-kun? That you really do hate me? Or what?
He started walking again. I ran after. "Don't go! If you go, I'll scream out loud and-"
In a second, he appeared behind me. More proof that I'm beyond behind you both…
"Sakura…" he started. No…don't leave… "Thank you." I gasped. What…?
Then, a sharp pain in my neck, and falling into unconsciousness. Sasuke…-kun…
Sasuke POV, minutes earlier
"I can't be like you or Naruto." The two of you…we're different. You have your own paths, and I have mine.
"Aren't you going to be lonely by yourself?" She said. "Sasuke-kun, you told me that being alone is so painful! I know that very well, so much that it hurts!" How, Sakura? "I have family and friends. If you leave…for me, to me, it's the same as being alone!" You're going to make her suffer like this, Sasuke? You know how painful it is to be alone, and you're going to make her go through the same thing?
It's not the same. It's different.
"From this point on, new paths will start." Mine with Orochimaru, Naruto's with Jiraiya, I believe, and yours wherever life will take you.
"I…I love you more than anything!" How, why do you love me? We're children! I'm an avenger and you're… "If you are by my side, I will make sure that you will not regret it. I will make each day more enjoyable, and you will be happy!" Will you really be able to do that? I already told you, my heart has chosen revenge. Not happiness. " I would do anything for you!" Would you really? Sakura, you're weak. I don't like saying it, but you are. What can a weak person do?
She's still strong on the inside, Sasuke!
"That's why…I beg you! Please stay here! I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do!" There is…someday maybe you can help us.
Not now, Sakura…Itachi is my first priority.
That's why…please, stay here with me. If that's not possible, then please…take me with you." You see Sasuke? She loves you so much that she'll abandon her beloved village, Naruto, Kakashi, Ino…all for you. And yet, you let her suffer.
Can she really say that again, someday? Will she be able to say, "I love you", "I would do anything for you"? Will she be able to say that again in years to come? If she can…and I know we'll meet again in the future several times…if she can still say she loves me…after Itachi's gone and done with…
You'll…what?
Maybe I'll come back…maybe…maybe I can learn to love her like she does me…and be with Naruto and Kakashi again…but after revenge…
That is, if you're heart isn't so totally engulfed in that darkness that's pulling you in…
"After all this, you're still annoying." You can still get into my head. And you really are annoying sometimes…a bit…
But you like it, don't you? At least a little? Sometimes?
I was walking again, and I heard her footsteps behind me. "Don't go! If you go, I'll scream out loud and-"
I appeared behind her, stopping what she was going to say. Those tears…is hurting her all we're good for? She always cries for us…
"Sakura…thank you." I heard her gasp. Thank you…for loving me and being there. Thanks for everything.
I knocked her out.
I picked her up, and put her on the bench. I stared at her. That tear-streaked face will still be…so pretty, and one day, truly beautiful. We're sorry, Sakura…we're sorry...
I left.
I headed on, the village behind me.
"We've been waiting for you, Sasuke-sama."
I found the Sound Ninja Four, the ones who defeated me not too long ago, kneeling in front of me. "What is going on here?"
"We decided that if you left, you would be our new leader." The one with white hair and 2 heads said. "Please forgive us for being rude earlier." They all bowed. Bullshit…they're planning something.
"Hmph." I walked on anyway. "That doesn't matter now. Let's go."
*Next day, with the Sound Ninja Four*
…
"…After I 'die', what'll happen?" Die? What the…
"There is no need to worry." Right…because I totally trust you all…not.
The one with the pills –I think his name is Sakon or something- walked toward me. "That is why we're here." Outer…I've been getting weaker lately…I think it's because of the Curse Mark. Those pills…I have a bad feeling about them…
That explains why you haven't been talking much…
He gave me the bottle. "With our shield techniques we will block the side effects. Instead of dying, you will receive the power and be placed in a temporary coma."
I looked at the pills, then him. "Can I trust you and your shield techniques?"
The one with 6 arms, Kidomaru, responded. "Of course, Sasuke-sama. We are Orochimaru-sama's elite guard. Shields, defense ninjutsu and seal ninjutsu are our forte."
After glancing at all of the, I took a pill.
No, Outer don't!
I ignored him. No matter what happens, I can't die yet. "I leave it to you."
I swallowed it.
Suddenly, I felt it.
This pain…! Outer, I-
What? Inner….
I'm fadi-
The pain…it hurts so much!
They placed me in a barrel that they summoned and performed some sealing jutsu…I was in too much agony to pay attention to anything else.
Outer! I'm going…I'm fading away!
What? I thought you said you can't!
It's this mark…! And this jutsu! Bye, Sasuke…I'll be, I think, trapped in your mind somewhere…
What? Don't leave!
You might be able to awaken me sometime…but it'll take a few years…bye Sasuke…
No! Don't…
I'll be watching…do your best…Sasuke.
Hold on!
...And he's…gone. I can't stay conscious any longer…see you when I wake up world.
I succumbed to the darkness.
End of story.
(1): It was the West one that he left through, right?
(2): Remember in the last chapter, they were in the Uchiha mansion? I didn't add it, but Sasuke showed them pictures of his family, like he told Sakura he would. It could have been during that day, or the next- your imagination, your choice. But let's say it happened. I intended to, but I forgot to put it.
I got the dialogue from Sasuke's depature word for word.
I also got a little bit Sasuke's thoughts and his whole dialogue with the SN4 (Sound Ninja Four) word for word, too.
And that's a wrap! Thanks for readin'! Please review!
And read and review, please!
Epic Otaku Cherry- out!