At last, tears spilled from Haruno Sakura's eyes.
"I love you more than anyone, Sasuke-kun! Please, stay!"
Her sobs were like a fine needle, trying to pierce the ice around his heart.
But he only clenched his other hand into a fist and struck her hard in the chest.
Thud!
The air was forced from her lungs, and she doubled over in pain.
"You want me to play at romance with you?" His voice held an almost cruel calm. "Don't be naive. I, Sasuke Uchiha, need no love or friendship from anyone in Konoha."
Then a precise chop struck the side of her neck. Her sobs stopped, and she went limp in his arms.
Sasuke gently set her down by the road so she would not fall onto the cold stone pavement.
Moonlight fell across her tear-streaked face, a face that had smiled at him countless times.
He looked at her for a moment, then finally turned away.
"Brother," he murmured to the empty street, his voice tinged with self-mockery, "I still can't be as cold and heartless as you."
He picked up his Zanpakuto and strapped it to his back.
Without looking back, Sasuke Uchiha headed out of the village. His figure vanished into the deep night, leaving only the unconscious girl and the cold moon to witness his defection.
At the Konoha Gate, two guards stood on either side as still as statues, watching the night for any movement.
"Who's there?!"
One of them barked the challenge, his hand already on his Kunai.
The only answer was a sudden glimmer. In Sasuke's pocket, the Rabbit Talisman pulsed once like a heartbeat.
In the next instant, the world twisted and stretched before the guards' eyes.
Before they could react, each felt a precise blow to the back of the