Disclaimer: I don't own Sasuke..Sakura or anything Naruto

After getting beaten by those four sound ninja and realizing that Naruto was becoming more powerful, Sasuke knew he needed to leave Konoha to get power. Even if that meant selling his soul to the Snake Sannin Orochimaru, he would leave to get more power so he can defeat his brother. He was an avenger and he wasn't meant to live his life in the Hidden Leaf Village.

The reason he left in the dead of the night was to avoid confrontation. He knew it was cowardly but he couldn't afford anyone trying to stop him...he had to break all his ties and bonds with this village.

He couldn't let anyone stop him from his quest for revenge...even her.

So when Sakura emerged onto the path he was walking on to leave the village, he ordered her to go home and kept on walking.

At first he planned to keep walking and ignore Sakura's pleading voice but his legs refused to move and he stopped walking to listen to what Sakura had to say.

Her words only reaffirmed that they were moving on two different paths and Sakura's path was one he could not follow. She was only proving to him that they were too different for him to stay behind. His only goal was to avenge his clan and he only lived for revenge. Sakura...and Naruto would only hold him back.

Sasuke's confidence of his true path was quickly shattered at Sakura's words.

"I have family, and I have friends but if you're gone...to me...It'll be the same as being alone!"

Sasuke didn't understand why Sakura always has such a powerful effect over him. Minutes ago he was ready and determined to leave the village without any regret but as soon as Sakura began talking doubt filled in his heart. Her words filled him with uncertainty, guilt and regret. Sakura always had this affect over him and it bothered him immensely. How can a girl who barely knew him be causing his emotions to stir so violently?

Maybe because she knows you more than you know yourself...How else would she be here in time to stop you?

Sasuke's mind was filled with seeds of doubt and thoughts of Sakura. He began to think of all the memories he made in the village and with team seven.

Sakura continued on, confessing her love to him and promising him happiness and Sasuke's resolve began to waver. His eye brows furrowed in confusion as his mind and heart began racing. Sakura always had a different influence over him that was more powerful than Naruto and Kakashi.

Sasuke knew he would have to leave quickly or else Sakura would become successful in getting him to stay in the village and put aside his revenge.

Sasuke began to leave but Sakura wasn't going to let Sasuke go without a fight and threatened to scream if he left.

Sasuke in a flash disappeared from Sakura's sight and immediately appeared behind her.

"Sakura..."

Sasuke bit his lip hesitating and contemplating on how to respond to Sakura's confession and pleading offer.

Sakura has always been there for him even when he didn't ask for it. She always stayed by his side even when he was rude to her and on several occasions she was willing to risk her life for his. Even though he lost his entire clan and family...He never felt alone when Sakura was with him...

"Thank you...for everything"

Sasuke then knocked her out to prevent her from continuing her attempts to stop him. Sakura went limp from the hit to the back of her head and Sasuke caught her instead of letting her hit the ground. It was the least he could do for her...because he knew he was going to break her heart when he left her behind. But it was his destiny...a fate that was his and his alone. He couldn't place the burden of revenge on Sakura's shoulders.

He didn't have time to take her back to her home so he decided to place her on the nearby bench. Sasuke readjusted Sakura into his arms and began to carry her bridal style towards the bench.

He gently laid her down onto the bench and began to reminisce about their first meeting that Sakura mentioned only minutes before.

"Hn" whispered Sasuke as he glanced down at Sakura's unconscious form.

"You really are annoying Sakura..."

You are the only one who can bring out my emotions that I spent years trying to ignore.

Before Sasuke realized what he was doing he placed his hand on Sakura's forehead and swiped the hair out of her face. His hand lingered on her and he couldn't find the will to force himself to remove it.

"What are you doing to me Sakura." Sasuke breathed.

Sasuke moved his eyes off of Sakura and looked at the path ahead of him as if trying to convince himself to leave.

The silence of the night was broken by a quiet voice.

"Sasuke-kun...don't go."

Sasuke immediately tensed as he felt his cold calloused hand engulfed in warmth. His eyes darted back down towards Sakura and he relaxed when he discovered she was not awake. In her unconscious state she had managed to grab a hold of Sasuke's hand.

Sasuke didn't pry her hand away and continued to keep their hands intertwined. He felt at peace with Sakura's hand connected to his and found the warmth pleasurable. Something inside Sasuke told him to promise Sakura that he wouldn't leave her and keep holding onto her hand until she opened her emerald eyes.

"Sakura...I'm sorry" Sasuke uttered as he let go of Sakura's hand.

Sasuke stole one last glance at Sakura before continuing down his path of darkness.

Sakura...maybe if my life was different we could have been happy...together.

Now outside the village gates, Sasuke relinquished his feelings of regret and placed his focus solely on gaining power.

But the feeling of warmth from Sakura's hand would always linger in Sasuke's mind.