"Hey, why'd you let that girl escape?" Suigetsu asked.
The question was simple enough, but Sasuke's mind couldn't seem to find the answer. It was too clogged up with memories and thoughts and words.
'That girl' was Sakura, a person who had seen him at his worst and his best and accepted him regardless. A person who had cared for him, supported him, loved him.
A person he had thought he'd broken his bonds with.
Somehow she was still important to him. Somehow, he still refused to hurt her, feeling the need to protect her instead.
A prickling pain reminded Sasuke of his curse mark. She had stopped him when he lost control, and saved him from the hideous evil of its power. For the moment.
Now he had given in, accepted Orochimaru. But Sakura hadn't given up. She and Naruto were still desperately chasing him, trying to bring him home.
Suigetsu snapped his fingers in the Uchiha's face.
"I said 'why'd you let that girl escape?'"
For a moment, Sasuke was quiet, staring down at his hands.
Sakura had saved him; he had let her live. It was because he was indebted to her… right?
No. It was deeper than that, deeper than he could understand. His heart, though filled with hatred and revenge, held a place for her, and refused to see her hurt, whether it was by his won doing or someone else's.
Just as Suigetsu was getting impatient again, Sasuke said, "I can't hurt her. It's personal." At the looks from his teammates, he added, "That's all you need to know."
Really, he meant, "You wouldn't understand."
Author's Notes: Not sure what to say about this one.. I guess I kinda like it and the way it explores Sasuke's thoughts, but I dunno...
Anyway, tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Naruto' or any of its characters.