A pleasant summer evening breeze was brushing Sasuke's face. The young boy strolled through the streets of Konoha with his hands in pockets and two rolls of sealed weapons.
He was just returning from a quick training session. The late hour was most suitable for it - Sasuke didn't have to worry about other people. He had the peace and quiet then; only him and his goal.
With his thoughts far away, contemplating life and absorbing the moonlight with his face, he almost bumped into someone as he turned into a side street. His eyes would have barely noticed the person's face if not for the bright pink hair he could see from a kilometer away. Sakura massaged her nose, directing a hostile stare at him, but when she saw who was standing in front of her, her cheeks darkened and her posture shrank.
They exchanged glances, and a moment of understanding hung in the air. Sasuke pulled one hand out of his pocket, turning and heading back to the main street of the village. Lanterns illuminated them here.
"What are you doing at this hour?" he asked, feeling Sakura's presence right next to him.
"I went for a walk, Sasuke-kun." her voice trailed off at his name.
He didn't believe her, so he turned to look into her eyes, but then he saw the bruises on her knees and the scratches on her hands, which were still bleeding. The sight of her stirred something in him.
"Who did this to you?" he grabbed her arm, still noticing the bruises under her eyes.
Sakura scowled, lowering her head ashamedly. Sasuke urged her on, raising his voice at the next question - "Who?" - unable to stand still any longer. He didn't know what was happening to him, but the urge to hurt the person who had hurt her was growing.
Who dared to touch her at all? To cause harm?
"Sakura, tell me finally—"
"I've been training. No one did anything to me." she said quietly.
What was so embarrassing about that? Sasuke resumed walking, knowing she would follow him.
"You couldn't have said that in the beginning?"
"... I don't know."
This was already too much. He couldn't understand why she sounded so sad, what had happened and why she was flustered. He didn't like her like that. Sasuke preferred to see a smiling and happy version of her. She was the one who kept him hoping that life could still be good.
He slowed his step, leveling it with Sakura's step "Are your parents home?" She shook her head negatively "I can come and treat your wounds."
He wasn't sure why he'd said it, but when he saw the sparkle in his friend's eyes and the blossoming smile on her now beaming face, he found he regretted nothing.
"Okay!"
She grabbed him under the arm, regaining her old vigor.