Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

A/N: I just want to take this time to greet you all a Happy New Year! I'm sorry if this is a bit late, things have been hectic last December, what with holiday preparations and all. That said, enjoy this chapter!

12. Picture

Sasuke is leaving Konoha.

The decision is a gradual process rather than a revelation that just came to him one day. He supposes that it started, really, when he resolved to avenge the murder of his clan.

And culminated when he had aimed a Chidori laden hand at Naruto's chest.

Kakashi had said that using the Chidori is a privilege he shouldn't be using on his friends or for revenge. But are they his friends in the first place? What is Chidori even supposed to be used for other than revenge?

As days passed by and his frustration at his weakness grew, so too did the feeling of detachment he got. It was as if he's just a stranger passing by, staying for a while, and then moving on to his ultimate destination.

Killing Itachi.

Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi…they're just people he met and would—should?—soon forget on this journey.

And what happens once he reaches the end? Would he feel only emptiness, like what Kakashi says? More importantly, does it even matter that he'd be left with nothing once his revenge is complete?

These thoughts swirl in Sasuke's head as he gazes at the picture of Team 7. Finally, he places the picture back at the stand and turns it face down.

No. It doesn't matter. Even if he is left with nothing as long as he avenges their deaths, then…

He now understands. He never belonged to Konoha…nor anywhere for that matter. Things can't go back to the way they were. The water tanks that he and Naruto destroyed could be fixed (eventually) but that fight at the hospital rooftop can't be erased. Can't be un-fought.

Grabbing his pack, he leaves his room and closes the door.

It is completely dark out, save for the light provided by street lamps and the streets are empty. Sasuke thinks, as he approaches the bridge connecting the Uchiha District to the main street one last time, that leaving Konoha at night when he most felt connected with the village, has a strange bittersweet quality to it. He is trying to decide how he feels about this when he sees someone coming out from under the bridge. He stops walking, suddenly remembering with a jolt that this is the bridge with the sakurasou bush under it.

He knows who it is even before the street lamps cast their light on her figure coming towards him.

Of course. He is pretty sure this is fate's sarcasm right here.

She finally notices him staring at her. "S-Sasuke-san?" she squeaks in surprise and pauses in her tracks, acting as though he had caught her breaking rules.

He raises a questioning eyebrow at her odd behavior and walks closer, stopping when both of them are illuminated by the lamps. He spares a glance at the flowers she's clutching in her hands and asks dryly, "Why don't you just plant them at home?" It'll certainly save her these late night trips.

She looks a bit sheepish when she says, "I-I don't have e-enough time…"

Sasuke knows an excuse when he hears one. "Not enough time or not enough inclination?"

"N-Neither." She blushes and averts her eyes to her sandals, "I…I've tried b-but th-they keep…dying," she says the last word as if it physically pains her to murder plants by being…well, by not having a green thumb.

Sasuke finds this bit of information amusing, his lips quirking up despite himself. "Good luck with that."

She smiles and once again meets his eyes. He knows the moment she notices the traveling pack slung over his shoulders because he sees her eyes move towards the straps.

Her smile disappears, bringing with it the light mood that briefly covered them.

"Y-You…you're leaving." It isn't a question.

He stares at her silently and doesn't deny it.

She clutches the flower stems tighter. "I-Is it for the power y-you are seeking?"

Sasuke blinks, surprised by her insight, and thinks not for the first time, that perhaps the Byakugan lends more to its owner than absolute vision.

"Yes." He doesn't bother with untruths. What's the point? It's not as if she could stop him if she tried. "You're not going to stop me." Sasuke couldn't help the questioning lilt injected into that statement.

It's her turn to blink. She shakes her head no, and he sighs. He is uncertain if it's in resignation or disappointment. Either way, he doesn't want to know.

He stares at her, feeling slightly unnerved that she is staring right back. Is it because they both know that the next time they see each other, they'd be on opposite sides of a wide crack? Sasuke is quite sure he'd see her again, and he is sure too, that when it happens, they'd be enemies. Is she staring right back because she knew this too?

Whatever her reason is, Sasuke regards her silently, memorizing her features; the way the street light illuminates her dark hair and makes her complexion paler than it is. And the way she bites her lip when she is nervous or deep in thought.

As well as how he is unnerved by the stare of her white eyes.

He regards her and memorizes because when he recalls this memory in the future, this memory of the bridge with the sakurasou, he wants to be able to put a face to a name. And be able to remind himself that he had known a person that looks like this, once upon a time.

Thinking on it, he had done the same too, with Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto. Only he couldn't do it in person so he had stared at Team 7's picture instead.

That's also why he didn't bring it with him. He only needs memories, not reminders.

He sighs again, this time he recognizes it as release. Farewell. The words refuse to come out of his lips. Sasuke doesn't force them to.

With one last look at her, he sidesteps her immobile figure and continues in the opposite direction.

"W-Wait!"

Sasuke stops mid-step and looks back at her. Is she going to stop him after all?

She hurriedly approaches him and he could only watch in curiosity, as she fishes around her coat pockets and hands him something.

He raises an eyebrow at her, but accepts the object regardless. She drops a round red tin on his palm.

"It's the bruise ointment I made from the sakurasou," she explains, "I want you to h-have it."

The gesture takes him off-guard and he couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

She bites her bottom lip. "I-I can m-make more of it."

"That doesn't really answer my question."

This time she meets his eyes, looking slightly miffed. "D-Do I need a r-reason to h-help someone?"

He smirks. "I suppose you do if you're helping a soon to be missing nin."

Her face falls and she bites her lip more vigorously.

"Right." Sasuke shakes his head at her and pockets the tin. "Don't worry, no one will find out you abetted a criminal."

"B-But you're not a criminal…!" she shakily denies.

"Yet. I'm not a criminal yet."

She subsides and purses her lips.

Sasuke raises the hand holding the tin. "Naruto needs this more than I."

Hinata shakes her head vehemently. "B-But Naruto-kun has…!"

She cuts herself off. However, Sasuke doesn't need to hear the rest of it to know what she meant.

Naruto has everyone; Kakashi, Sakura, Iruka…Hinata. While Sasuke…

His hand clenches around the tin container. He only has the leftovers.

"I see." He mutters, more to himself.

She is looking at him uncertainly. "Sasuke-san…I'm—"

He shakes his head. "Whatever." He doesn't have time to feel sorry for himself. He had always known that when the time came to exact his revenge, he'd walk alone. Being given leftover pity isn't anything new. It isn't that different from living alone.

He pockets the tin and turns away. "Thanks anyway."

Sasuke doesn't see her expression but he hears the surprise in her voice when she says, "Y-You're w-welcome."

He walks away. Just before he got too far, he could have sworn she had said something that went like

"May you be brave until you find it."

But he couldn't be too sure. And before he could dwell more on it, he finds Sakura standing in front of him, blocking his path out of the village.

.

.

.

A/N: I'm surprised with the vote turn-out last chapter. Most of you voted for option three so I'll really have to work hard to surprise you guys.

imorin, UchihaMistress723, toshiko-san21, Saki-Hime, michioka, Lastine, DarkMegaSF, imatwilightfan, Distant Moon Flower, Shippooliver, FallenRaindrops, iheartcupcakes15, MissLuppi, saucekaay, MeltYouWithOneKiss, and cooink! You guys are amazing and your reviews make writing each chapter worth it.