Normal POV
They stayed still for a while, Sasuke looking at Sakura, waiting a movement from her, Sakura avoiding his eyes because of the Sharingan.
She was the first to attack, throwing shurikens to him. For Sasuke, escaping from some shurikens was so easy that he even closed his eyes jumping to a tree. But, Sakura had already prepared exploding kunais in the trees around them. It almost caught him.
- Good try, but you have to do better than that.
With this said, he disappeared and appeared behind her, giving her a stroke in the neck. But she wasn't there anymore. There was a branch instead.
- You got me once with that trick, but you won't get me twice.
Sasuke smirked at this.
Sasuke's POV
I remember that moment too. But it's just because I have a good memory and unfortunately I sometimes recall things that aren't important to me. Like that time, still in Konoha, when I was in the hospital, and the first person I saw when I finally opened my eyes was Sakura, that immediately hugged me. I can't say I didn't appreciate her gesture. In some way, I did. It was comforting. What are you saying? Geez… Focus on the fight, though it won't take any longer, in my opinion.
Normal POV
She noticed he was too confident and because of that was also understating her, so she took advantage of that and disappeared, appearing in front of him. She then put her hand full of chakra between his right shoulder and his chest. Intentionally, she caused debility in his chakra circulation. He grunted, feeling some pain, and she punched his face with that strength of her. Sasuke smirked as he cleaned the blood in the corner of his mouth. The next thing Sakura saw was him walking in her direction, grabbing her by the neck, making her feet left the ground and choke a bit at the lack of air.
- I have to admit. I wasn't expecting you to have such a strong punch. You made my chakra in a bad circulation and I can't use it properly yet. But I'm still stronger than you. So, what are you going to do next?
He punched her stomach and she choked again, and then slapped both sides of her face, making her cheeks burning. He had a serious aura, but he wasn't enjoying what he was doing to her. He felt pity. Inside him he knew this wasn't correct. He didn't like to hurt or bruise a girl, especially Sakura who had been his team mate after all, but Sasuke shoudn't and couldn't admit or even show this feelings. Not to her, not to anyone.
He looked at her and threw her to the ground against a tree. She stood there, frowning with the pain. But she wasn't giving up, so she rose up and concentred her chakra on her right hand again, breaking the soil forward with her wrist, forcing Sasuke to jump in the air. With one fast movement, she grabbed him from behind, tightening her grip with her last force. In a matter of seconds he felt something cold stabbing his skin in his back. He frowned and she released him, letting him drop on the ground. He still tried to activate his sharingan and put her into a genjutsu, but he was getting weak and was loosing blood from his wound. They were both lying on the dirt, motionless, breathing heavily. He was imprudent and thought he could take care of everything with one hit. She, on the other hand, was weaker than usual and was forceless now.
Sakura's POV
I shouldn't complain, but I'm tired and in pain. I'm so useless. Where is my strength when I need it the most? I failed. And now, here I am, looking at the dark sky and waiting for him to give me the last knock and kill me. At least I tried… It can't be always Naruto doing everything by his own to keep that stupid promise I made him make five years ago. I tried, Naruto, but Sasuke is really strong now, you know that too. He has great techniques, adding the oh so great sharingan. He must have thought that I am really wick to don't put me into a genjutsu. I'm so idiot.
What is done, is done.
- I can't move. I think you can kill me now. It sucks that I couldn't do anything to take you back to the village. Your house. Our house. You could have a great future doing good things, using your power to protect Kono…
- Why would I want to protect Konoha? You don't know anything! And stop talking shit like "my house".
- I just want you to know that we always believed that one day you would come back to us, we always had faith in you. You're our friend.
- I don't need friends. You two are so weak because you feel too much. You care far too much. That's your problem. I was able to achieve my ambition 'cause I didn't have the weight of no one to carry. I only needed hate.
I'm hearing him grunt one more time, harder. Even if it's dangerous, I'll approach him a little bit.
Normal POV
- Get away!
- I think I can help you. Let me take a look at your wound.
- For what? It was you who put me like this.
- I'm sorry. Can I ask you a question?
- I can't move so I have to listen anyway…
- That night, at the street, when you were leaving…
- Forget it, Sakura.
- If you're so cold with us now, with me, why did you cared on thank me in that moment? Thank me for what?
The sky wasn't so dark anymore, but started to rain. Hard. The clod was getting wet and there was mud everywhere.
- Are you going to answer me? – Sakura was now talking with a low and soft voice.
- Hn.
How Sakura missed those "hn" from him.
- So…
Sasuke tried to look at her, and when he noticed her eyes on him, he avoided them. Sakura started to think that maybe he was giving up. 'How' she didn't knew.
- I said "thank you" 'cause I knew that you were always supporting me, even knowing that I would never notice you and considered you very annoying. You were prepared to be by my side in my revenge and to leave everything behind for me.
- Then why didn't you let me go with you?
- I was going to train with Orochimaru. And… I didn't wanted you with me. You would start to be a burden, and I couldn't… protect you. – Sasuke felt discomfort with this entire talk. – I think that's better you go now. I won't hurt you no more, and you won't bother me with the same issue again. Are we clear?
Sakura's POV
He won't hurt me any more? He has been hurting me for five years and every word that comes from that mouth hurts too.
When he was starting to seem more vulnerable... Shit. I'm feeling them. My tears have the urge to come out. I can't help but cry. He thinks that it won't hurt if he doesn't come with me to Konoha. He's wrong.
- You don't get it. – I said, already with tears in my eyes and my voice trembling. – You don't understand that if you don't come with me, you'll be hurting my feelings. I tried to hide this, but maybe it's not worthy.
- What's so dramatic? In this moment you look like yourself with twelve years old.
- And you know why? 'Cause I'm an idiot, and I still care so much about you!
What's said, is said. I'll get up one more time and walk to him.
Sasuke's POV
I heard her crying and it caused me pain. Why now? She's making me remember everything from the pass. That hurts me too.
She's getting up slowly and walking with difficulty in my direction again. I'm avoiding her eyes, but I can feel her kneeling beside me and putting her hands above my bruise. Her touch made me chills.
- Leaving the village wasn't easy for me, Sakura.
She's continuing to try to heal me, but it's useless. She doesn't have any chakra left. She didn't even heard what I said. I think that she's feeling dizzy.
Normal POV
Feeling dizzy, Sakura closed her eyes and fell partially on top of him.
- I tried Naruto… Sasuke-kun isn't coming anymore… - she mumbled before passing out.
With the weight of her falling upon him, his wound opened a bit more, causing him to loose more blood.