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If questioned by anyone else, Sasuke wouldn't deny that he directed more of his attention to Sakura apart from the rest of the kunoichi enrolled into the academy. She was his teammate, after all.

And contrary to the standard belief, he did not ignore her entirely. Sure he may have refused to engage in a friendly conversation with her on a daily basis, for he wasn't exactly the sociable sort in the first place—but that didn't mean that he refused to acknowledge her presence altogether.

In fact, Sasuke preferred to remain silent on the sidelines, taking these various chances to simply observe her. It wasn't as if Sakura had been anything much to take seriously during their team's starting point, although overtime she happened to catch his deeper interest.

And he wasn't dull. He could certainly tell that she began to progress after each mission. Even if her levels of evolution were rather delicate and subtle, Sasuke was able to see the gradual change within her nonetheless. While the other girls their age continued to address him with their tedious, bubbly fantasies, Sakura's affections were truer. (Truer for him, and truer for their teammate and sensei alike.)

So in result, he started to feel a growing fascination for her. Because when their days would be painted with unfortunate events, or when harsh judgments would be hurled her way by any foul mouths saying she wasn't worthy of wearing the Shinobi's band—Sakura still forced a smile. And when he knew for a fact that she was clever enough to figure the math out leading to a miserable outcome, and smart enough to remember every written rule saying expressing emotions were not acceptable in this lifestlye—she still laughed it off. Even at the times when she would cry openly...he would almost become utterly baffled by how easily she could restore her faith the very next day.

Sasuke only wondered how long she would be capable of acting as if she was that cheerful unconditionally? How long could that openhearted grin of hers last, until that certain unspoken pain of actually knowing the cold truth piled beneath, would eventually break her down permanently?

Really, he had admired her determination to stay optimistic, he did, but for some reason, Sasuke prayed he wouldn't be there once she ultimately shattered beyond the point of recovery.

He did not want to the one who would be forced to watch it happen.

Because honestly, where would the hope ever be found in that?

I'm not sure if this would flow well with the current mind-blowing, insane Sasuke.

But nontheless, I imagined he'd felt like this once upon a time during the earlier portions of the saga.