Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ Departure ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter Two: Departure

The rest of that night, Sasuke and Sakura sped through the forest, away from the Leaf Village, leaving homes, friends, and families behind. Sasuke stayed impassive and silent, but Sakura was having a hard time keeping quiet. So many questions flitted through her head that she was tempted to let them all out, and she would have, if it weren't for the fact that they weren't supposed to be here. If she blew off their cover and revealed where they were, not only the Konoha Jounin would be after them, but the Sound Village Jounin would be after their heads as well. After their last encounter with the Sound Village ninjas, they were pretty sure they wouldn't want to battle with them again. Lee claimed that his ears were still ringing from their battle in the Forest of Death. As one particularly enticing question pushed its way to the top of her subconscious, Sakura was forced to bite her lip in order to keep it in. Did Sasuke like her? He'd said he didn't want her to die, but then again, he'd witnessed so much death already that it was quite reasonable he didn't want to experience it again. But…but then again, he had become much nicer to her over the past year they'd had together. Sakura had persuaded herself that maybe Sasuke might even consider her Ino's equal, if not better.

Sasuke's voice penetrated her thoughts. “We're here.” He straightened up from his crouch and allowed a grim smile to reach his lips. “The Sound Village.”

Sakura blinked in surprise. “The Sound Village? We've traveled this far?”

Sasuke smirked. “Yeah. You've gotten faster. Good job, Sakura.”

Sakura knew it was sarcasm, but she smiled anyway. “You too, Sasuke.”

Something like a laugh and a disbelieving scoff escaped from Sasuke's mouth. He quickly turned around before Sakura could read his emotions. “Let's go. We're wasting time.” He immersed himself in the shadows and stalked towards the village.

Sakura immediately followed his lead, but she allowed triumph to surface above her misery and worry. Inside her heart, she'd won a small victory.