On The Same Path [SasuxSaku]

Chapter 15: Uchiha's Decision

~ Sasuke's POV

After hearing Gaara's name from Sakura's lips the night before, Sasuke couldn't sleep. After tossing and turning in bed for a few hours, he gave up and went straight to the training grounds in the early hours of the morning.

A few hours into his training, he was greeted by Kakashi and Naruto, who had apparently come for Naruto's Hokage training.

Sasuke had hoped to return to his lodging undetected, but he knew they'd probably already sensed him. He decided he'd simply make a case of being tired and head back to his apartment for a shower.

"Hey, hey, hey! Let's spar. For old times' sake. What do you say?" Naruto asked excitedly, looking at his rival across the training ground.

"I did not take time out of my Hokage duties to watch you two spar," Kakashi interjected.

Sasuke was glad he didn't have to reject Naruto himself. He wasn't ready for Naruto's bantering this early in the morning.

"I need to go pack. I'll be leaving the village soon," Sasuke said flatly. He'd decided there was nothing left for him here anymore.

"What!? But Sakura-chan—" Naruto started.

"—is engaged to Gaara. There's no reason for me to stay."

The confession came out louder than Sasuke had intended, surprising even him.

"Ah, I see. Early morning training. Burning off all that pent-up sexual tension by punching some trees, eh?" Kakashi added nonchalantly.

Sasuke didn't grace him with a response, only shot him a glare.

"Don't be angry at me." Kakashi ignored his expression and continued, "I did warn you that the Kazekage had taken an interest..."

Sakura will say no. That had been Sasuke's response. How conceited he'd been. It was almost laughable, Sasuke thought bitterly.

Gaara had taken the next step, while he had just...

He had done nothing.

Naruto smirked at their conversation. "And here I thought I was the dense one."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that.

"'When a girl truly falls in love, her feelings don't change that easily.' That's what Sakura-chan told me during our mission to rescue Hanabi and Hinata. I don't know Sakura-chan's reason for agreeing to this, but—"

"Toneri kidnapped Hinata," Kakashi interjected. "Sakura has complete freedom to choose whoever she wants. We're well aware of her feelings, but politically speaking, there couldn't be a better match... even for her."

Sasuke felt his blood beginning to boil.

Before he could hear any more of Kakashi and Naruto's bickering, he turned and started walking away.

"Sasuke—!" Naruto shouted after him, but Kakashi stopped him.

Naruto spun toward Kakashi, almost shouting. "What the hell, Kakashi-sensei? You know Sakura-chan would never! And Gaara would never! So why did you say that?"

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.

"I know they would never. But I also know my student." His visible eye curved slightly. "Sasuke won't do anything until—how do I put this nicely?—he's provoked."

Naruto's eyes widened.

Then he sighed.

"Well, I'm not so sure about that. Sasuke's changed..." His gaze drifted toward where Sasuke had disappeared. "Plus, he deserves a good life."