𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐊

05 ‒ under the moonlight

It seemed something had changed after the encounter with the infamous Akatsuki member.

It seemed as if Sasuke grew more distant and his usual gaze had this gloomy look as if he wasn't present in the room. 

He watched Sakura peel apples for him with such intensity that it seemed that he was if he down a memory lane.

'Weird.' The pinkette thought to herself but didn't stop from feeding Sasuke, he was definitely going through something.

Then she realised.

The Uchiha Clan Massacre.

Sasuke must have felt lonely all this time and considering he lived alone, he didn't have someone to peel fruits for him like she did, her parents always peeled fruits for her.

It wasn't like Sakura could console him or anything, though they were friends. At least she considered him her friend.

But she couldn't say they were close like that.

Enough for her to care for him, her friend but not close friends so she could ask him what was going through his mind.

Honestly, she had never seen Sasuke interact with anyone apart from Naruto and her.

Naruto, because they both couldn't get along and with her, because she was the only one who managed to beat his written scores.

Even then, they couldn't do anything for him, he had always been distant since she saw him.

Sakura was not interested in other's life but she had to do something, she was the one who managed to stop him when he went berserk because of the curse mark.

In the end, she tried convincing him.

To stay, but he was too obsessed with the idea of revenge.

Under the moonlight, there were only the two of them and only one stayed.

She lay on the bench and closed her eyes once again when she saw the sun rays flashing in her eyes.

Sasuke had gone rogue and she had tried to stop him.

But she supposed she didn't really have any more right to interfere with his life when he clearly wanted to be left alone.

So, she got up and left.

When others interrogated her about Sasuke, she told them she had no idea.

It was obvious that the only reason Sasuke could leave without the others noticing was because Orochimaru pulled some strings and made sure no one could catch sight of him.

And since no one knew about Sasule's disappearance, they also didn't know about her.

Perhaps, this was the one thing she could do for her friend.

Not to interfere with whatever he wanted to do.

But of course, she couldn't say that out loud, so when the others were chosen to form a team to get back Sasuke, she went to see them and wished them luck.

Somehow, she knew that Sasuke wasn't returning.

He was stubborn like that, Sakura thought with an amused hum as she waved the others goodbye.

Just as she expected, they didn't manage to bring back Sasuke.

...

"Forehead," Ino called out.

"Hmm?"

"I thought you'd be more worried about Sasuke-kun being rogue," The blonde mentioned as she weaved a flower into a crown.

Together, they sat on a blanket on the green grass and a basket full of food around them. Spending time together since the reconstruction of their village made things laid back for them and gave them time to relax from the hectic life they had.

"We weren't that close." Sakura replied.

It was true, she wasn't close to him but she supposed they had bonded a little because Sasuke only seemed to deem her worthy of his replies instead of his usual grunts of 'Hn'.

"Ughh," Ino scoffed, "You had the heartthrob in your team and didn't make moves on him, I'm so disappointed!"

Sakura didn't bother replying and just rolled her eyes making sure the blonde beside her could see.

...

"He left...?" Sakura asked clutching her hand to her chest.

Iruka-sensei nodded his head and urged her to sit down, "He left yesterday with Master Jiraya who took him to train outside the village."

Still in a daze, she asked: "How long will he be gone?"

"He didn't specify," Iruka answered, "Could be a few years." He ended with a thoughtful hum.

"Oh."

"Thank you for replying sensei!" Sakura cheerfully smiled as if she didn't feel left out.

"I'll get going then!" She said and walked out of the academy, the smile on her face long gone.

Sasuke left in search of power for his quest for revenge, Naruto left to become stronger for reasons she wasn't aware of and Kakashi-sensei had long disappeared.

Was she meant to be like this?

No, Sakura refused.

The pinkette was long aware of what everyone was expecting her to do.

A genin without a clan backing and now one without a team, she was expected to become a paper ninja.

And she refused to follow what others expected her to do.

Her feet led her to the Hokage tower and she knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Entering the room, she was face to face with the current Hokage of Konoha - Tsunade Senju.

"Well, say it quick, I have work to do." Tsunade said, bottles of alcohol and tons of paperwork on her desk.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura bowed down.

"Please take me as your apprentice!"

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒

‒ I think InoSaku friendship is top-tier, even better than anyone's friendship. And it's such a shame that they had it broken for a stupid reason as a boy (crush).