Sakura struggled to hide her disappointment. Once again, her team had failed to retrieve Sasuke. What hurt more was that they had been so close to succeeding. She still couldn't believe she'd fallen into a Sharingan illusion and lost him. It made her feel so stupid.
But that was how it always turned out. Sasuke would be within arm's reach of being brought home, and then somehow he would break free and slip away.
Like smoke; completely real and perfectly visible, yet imposible to catch. You couldn't grasp it with your hands, and if you trapped it, you would smother it.
"But," Sakura thought, watching chimney smoke drift away in the wind, "you can guide it in the right direction."
Author's Notes: Yeah, I know - uberly short. I still kinda like it though.
What do you guys think?
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Naruto' or any of its characters.