𝓢𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓻𝓪 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 at Sasuke's tense shoulders for hours, her skeptical eyes trying to figure him out, to put together the pieces of his puzzled mind. The many emotionally charged exchanges of the previous day have left everyone on edge, and she can't take the heavy atmosphere anymore but doesn't dare break it. Years of being in love with someone teaches you many things, and Sakura now understands Sasuke enough to know she must adapt her pace to him, never the other way around. If only the redhead running by her side had learned the same thing.

Punctuated sighs on Karin's part disrupt the silence, bringing Sasuke's hands to clench and unclench in obvious irritation. Yet the girl remains unaware of the impending outburst and even dares to provoke the angry beast when they pause for the evening.

"I was going to tell you, you know," she declares, trying to meet Sasuke's eyes, fingers playing with the straps of her bag.

"Karin..." Sakura whispers in a warning tone.

"Why do you think I asked you to join me, Karin?" Sasuke exclaims, throwing his belongings forcibly on the forest floor. "For your pleasant company?"

The irony doesn't go unnoticed, and Suigetsu whistles before sitting on Sakura's right.

"I was going to tell you," Karin repeats, face almost as red as her hair, "but figured it wasn't a big deal if I waited a little. You and Sakura had barely survived an explosion, for Kami's sake! I was monitoring his movements and had everything under control, I swear."

"You didn't tell me because you wanted a break, Karin. Don't pin that on Sakura. She would've told me, would've followed without a word."

Sakura shifts in her seat, feeling heat crawl from her neck to the tips of her ears, pleased to hear Sasuke's praise but regretting how he brought it up.

"Of course," Karin spits, "Miss Perfect would've done the right thing. Or would she? You're putting her on a pedestal, and it's getting on my nerves!"

She kicks a rock into the fire and glares at the embers ascending into the sky.

"Sakura has obvious, annoying flaws, but she's selfless. No one can deny that. You, on the other hand, are one of the most selfish people on this planet," he continues, unaware of the pink-haired girl's discomfort. "And coming from me, that says a lot."

"Birds of a feather flock together," Karin mutters, pouting.

"There's no together, Karin. There'll never be. You had one job, and it wasn't to spread your l—"

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura interrupts with wide eyes.

He turns to her with his Sharingan on and black marks ascending on his neck. Upon meeting her eyes, he sighs loudly and drops to the ground.

"Well, you never complained," Karin mutters before diverting to Sakura. "You're a saint. I don't know how you can still love him after everything. He's a piece of shit covered in shining gold."

"Looks are deceiving," Sasuke agrees in a whisper.

Karin snorts and stomps out of the clearing. After an awkward silence, Suigetsu follows her, scratching his head and passing an oblivious Jūgo. Sakura scans the orange-haired man's peaceful expression as he converses with birds perched on his shoulders, then diverts her gaze to the troubled man by the fire. After a long sigh, she joins him.

"Well, let's just say it wasn't your most glorious moment," she jokes, stretching her legs.

Sasuke harrumphs but doesn't engage in the conversation.

"Jūgo seems to have a better grip on his emotions lately," she resumes, ignoring the unnerving atmosphere. "I wonder why. Maybe you should ask him for help."

He shakes his head but doesn't meet her eyes. "Your obliviousness is such an annoying trait."

"I'm not oblivious," she pouts. "And stop saying I'm annoying."

Her heart somersaults when he finally looks at her with his mouth quirked in his characteristic smirk. "Never."

The wind carries the whispered word, caressing her warm cheeks. Sakura stares at his perfect lips, itching to close the distance and wrap her arms around his broad shoulders, when Sasuke snaps her out of her daze.

"Your presence is soothing him."

She meets his eyes in astonishment, then glances at the man petting a squirrel. She smiles fondly before returning to her conversation with Sasuke.

"But it's not soothing you," she points out, hardly covering her disappointment.

He lets out a hollow laugh. "Karin's right, you know. You shouldn't love me. I'm rotten to the core."

Sakura ducks her head to hide her embarrassment, fingers clenching the fabric of her shorts.

"You have obvious, annoying flaws," she repeats Sasuke's previous words hidden behind a curtain of pink hair, "but despite it all, you are surprisingly caring. I will always be in love with the boy who'd do anything for his precious people."

Sakura lifts her head and catches her breath upon noticing Sasuke's new proximity. Viridian bores into obsidian when he speaks, but she barely hears the words through the hectic beating of her heart.

"You're the only thing soothing me."

"What are you doing?" she asks, eyes wide, when he leans forward.

"Kissing you."

Don't cave in, someone orders, and Sakura glances to the side at a scowling man with familiar obsidian eyes.

Sasuke sighs in annoyance when his nose brushes her cheek. "Who are you seeing this time?" he asks, withdrawing just enough to inspect her face.

He doesn't deserve it, the man resumes. Tell him he never disappointed me before. Tell him he's disappointing me now. He should treat women better.

"I thought you said kissing me was a mistake," Sakura points out, ignoring his question and his father's request, feeling trapped in the middle of something bigger than her.

Sasuke surprises her by tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Sakura, who are you seeing?"

She scans his face, playing with her bottom lip while silently debating what to do. His mood swings are more frequent, making it difficult to predict his reactions. And bringing up his parents has always outraged Sasuke. Sakura doesn't know if she can face his wrath again so soon after their last fight.

However, the profession of faith that transpired during his argument with Karin ignited a new desire to treasure his surprising trust in her. Contrary to Sasuke's belief, it's no question for Sakura that he deserves kindness and loyalty. After all, he survived the biggest betrayal of all when his brother murdered their entire clan, parents included.

"Sakura."

The pink-haired girl sighs and closes her eyes, not brave enough to witness his reaction when she says: "Your father."

She hears Sasuke hold his breath and peeks at him through her long eyelashes. His dark, unreadable eyes scan the trees before him.

"Where? Why? How do you know it's him?"

"Over there," she points to a spot beside the fire before gently taking his hand. "He and Itachi sure look alike," she adds tentatively.

Haruno-san, Fugaku calls, taking Sakura off guard. Unlike Mikoto, I don't care about Itachi. I can't forgive him. But Sasuke, my boy... Save him. Please.

"Of course."

Sasuke whips his head around at her reply. "What? What did he say?"

The emotions contorting his handsome features are so raw that Sakura scoots closer and brings her other hand to his cheek.

"You've never disappointed him, Sasuke. Not once. He loves you so much."

The raven-haired man goes rigid under her touch as his lips press into a thin line. "That can't be true."

"It is, but he worries about you."

"What about my mother? Is she here as well? Sakura, tell me," he begs when he sees her fidgeting.

"No. Not this time."

"But you've seen her before."

Her silence says it all, and after an awkward pause, Sasuke slaps her hand away and grabs her by the collar of her shirt. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She meets his eyes full of suspicion and hurt and shakes her head vehemently, sending pink locks flying left and right.

"Sasuke-kun, believe me, I wanted to, but... It was the first night when you found me seizing. I didn't know how to tell you. We weren't on good terms, and I was afraid of..."

She falters, and he slowly releases her with an empty laugh.

"You were afraid of me," he finishes for her. His hand tangles with her hair, bringing her face to his. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I can't control it." She shivers at the feeling of his warm breath on her lips. "You deserve better. You should leave."

Contradicting his words, he snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her flush against his chest. Her fingers trace a path on his face, starting with his squared jaw, then his aristocratic nose and tempting lips.

"She asked me to save you. They both did. I'm not going anywhere, Sasuke."

He tightens his hold on her, and his lips brush hers, but she withdraws reluctantly, swallowing her guilt upon reading the hurt in his eyes.

"It's not all," she begins, playing with her fingers. "She asked me to save you both. You... and Itachi."

"... Why you?"

"I was wondering the same thing until yesterday."

Sasuke leans back and closes his eyes. "Right. He said he was dying. You believe him?"

"I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for your mother's request."

The silence stretches, and Sakura plants herself before him, attracting his attention back to her. She kneels and wraps her hands around his biceps, trying to ignore the desire pooling in her stomach at the feeling of his taut muscles.

"I'll do what you want, Sasuke-kun. When the time comes, if it comes, you'll have the last word. I'll only heal him if you want me to."

He takes her off guard again when he cups her cheek gently, the callous skin of his thumb stroking her plump lips, parting them open slightly. She leans closer.

"Annoying," he whispers, his fingers returning to her hair.

His breath hitches when Sakura's hands drop to his thighs, and she leans in even more.

"Well, don't mind us."

Suigetsu startles them when he enters their line of sight and sits by the fire. Sakura can feel Karin's glare burning the back of her head and gets up abruptly.

"I need to refill my bottle," she declares, hiding her blush behind a curtain of hair. "I'll be back."

Sasuke doesn't move when she strides to her bag, is still in the same position when she walks out of the clearing. She wonders if his heart is beating as fast as hers. If he's ever wanted something as hard as she wants him now.

She curses herself for being so easy to seduce and empties the remnant of her water bottle on top of her head, hoping Uchiha Fugaku hasn't witnessed the entire scene by the fire.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 with Sasuke, their touches, and her unmanageable desire occupy Sakura's mind the next day so much that her foot has already slipped from a branch on three occasions since their departure, and she's barely recovered in time to prevent her fall.

"You're preoccupied," Jūgo points out, falling into steps with her.

She scrunches her nose at being so easily read. Some things never change.

"I just want Sasuke-kun back. Fully," she replies, knowing he'll understand what she means.

"Aa. I'm sorry..."

Sakura inspects Jūgo's profile with a deepening frown. "For what?"

"We all assumed his mood swings were a product of the cursed mark. I never suspected a part of Orochimaru could still live in him."

"It's an assumption. I might be wrong."

"Yes, but something's telling me you are hardly ever wrong."

Sakura blushes and is about to deny it when he resumes speaking.

"Sasuke-san thinks highly of you. And so do I."

"Jūgo..."

"And I wish to find someone, one day, who will love me the way you love him."

"You will," Sakura reassures, a blush colouring her cheeks. "What's there not to love?"

Jūgo frowns dejectedly at the rhetorical question, making her heart drop. She grabs his hand.

"Your chakra reacts to some chemical imbalance. With the help of my shishō, I know we can figure something out. You won't be at your chakra's mercy for the rest of your life. I promise."

A soft smile graces his lips, and she squeezes his hand tighter.

"Itachi's coming our way," Karin interrupts with unease. "Two other large chakra signatures flank him."

Sakura releases Jūgo to retrieve a kunai, her eyes instinctively darting to Sasuke. His sharingan are already on her.

"We'll take care of the others," she nods. "Be careful. Please."

"They're here!" Karin exclaims, and three men appear before them.

"Sasuke," Itachi begins, his face half-hidden behind the collar of his cloak, making it hard to read his expression. "You came."

Upon recognizing the person beside him, Sakura's hand tightens around her weapon. "It's the other Uchiha."

"Good to see you too, pretty girl," the masked man says with a wave, acting like a twelve-year-old again.

"Oh," the blue man on Itachi's other side exclaims suddenly. "It's little shrimp! You sure look delicious now that you're all grown up."

Itachi chuckles. "Sakura-chan and her suitors. It never stops, does it?" he teases, eyes staring at his brother. "Will you follow me or stay to protect her?"

"That you think she needs protection shows just how little you know about her," Sasuke replies, Chidori chirping at his fingertips.

"Save your chakra for when you've caught me, little brother." Itachi takes them off guard when he disappears through the foliage at an impressive speed.

"Can you keep up?" his voice echoes, and Sasuke doesn't need more to jump in his pursuit, leaving his team behind.

Suigetsu takes an offensive stance and murmurs: "Samehada."

Noticing his grin and crazed eyes, Sakura sends a questioning look to Karin.

The redhead sighs. "The swords. He's collecting them."

Kisame snorts at that. "Well, good luck with obtaining this one, kid."

"We need to plan first," Sakura warns as Suigetsu lunges forward, paying no attention to her words.

She feels Jūgo's and Karin's eyes on her and pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to come up with the best combination.

"Jūgo, help him. Karin, you stay with me."

"What?" the redhead exclaims with widened eyes while the man nods and follows his white-haired teammate.

"Master Deidara would be proud of me," the masked man says, attracting Sakura's attention. "Two chicks at the same time!"

Then, he widens his stance, and his voice lowers. "I'm offended. You seem not to take me seriously."

Sakura mimics him and hardens her stare. "Why do you say that? Because we're women?"

"Mm. Maybe. She's not a combat ninja," he says, tilting his head to the side, and Sakura can see Karin shiver under the man's scrutinizing gaze.

"She doesn't need to. I'll be the one fighting."

She charges at her opponent, who retreats several feet back, evading her deadly punch.

"Don't be cocky, Sakura-chan. You can't fight me and protect her at the same time. You're not that talented, civilian Kunoichi."

She ignores the taunting and sends the girl a confident smile. "Karin is an Uzumaki. She doesn't need my protection. I, on the other hand, need her brain."

The redhead's eyes narrow for a second, then she nods in understanding and finds a remote location in a tree, where she kneels in a defensive stance.

"You're going to die today," the man states in a velvety voice. "You know that?"

Sakura suppresses a shiver and is about to interject when he resumes speaking.

"I must admit, I am quite fond of you. You sure have an effect on Uchihas, Sakura-chan." She frowns upon hearing the smile in his voice. "I regret having to end your life, but to see the desperation in your sensei's stolen eye at the sight of your beaten body will be more than enough to quell my sorrow."

"What is it with you and Kakashi-sensei?" she wonders, but quickly rolls to the side to evade a low kick.

She hides her surprise upon noticing the impressive speed behind each of his movements. Last time, he hadn't been on the offensive, more preoccupied with toying with her and watching her helplessly try to land a hit on his ghostly form.

She retaliates and inwardly curses the prowess of his sharingan as he dodges her glowing fist again. This doujutsu has proven to be the pain of her existence over the years, and no amount of training sessions with her lazy sensei will ever be enough to show her a way around it.

"To answer your previous question," the man resumes, retreating to a lower branch after minutes of intense fighting. "Hatake Kakashi took something from me. It's an eye for an eye."

Sweat is pearling on Sakura's forehead, locks of pink hair sticking to the sides of her face when her eyes register a weird swirling before her.

"MOVE!"

Upon hearing Karin's shout, Sakura hurries out of the vortex, her heart in her mouth.

"What were you trying to do?"

"Getting rid of you."

The man vanishes in another swirl a second later.

"I can't sense his chakra anymore," Karin announces.

"At all?"

The redhead shakes her head, a crease forming between her eyebrows. "What should we do?"

"Stay alert," Sakura orders. "He's preparing some—"

She feels the air shift behind her, but having expected the surprise attack, she spins on herself with a glowing fist and finally lands a hit. Sakura takes a second to appreciate the folding of the man's body and the cracking of his ribs before meeting Karin in her tree.

"You know what this means?" the redhead asks with a victorious smile.

Sakura nods. "He can't teleport and use his ghost-thing technique simultaneously."

A cough that sounds like a laugh emerges from the broken tree where the man's lying. Sakura holds her breath when she sees him get up.

"Oh, congrats. You've figured it out!" the masked man exclaims sarcastically. "Not that it will help you win this fight, but at least you've proven you're not helpless."

Sakura groans and lunges at him again, scalpels at her fingertips. They dance for a while, but her hands push through his body without leaving a mark each time she sees an opening.

"You've taken too much of my time," he whispers in her ears, fingers closing around her wrist when her punch hits the tree behind him. "Thank you for humouring me, Sakura-chan."

She smirks. "No, thank you."

"Mahi Suru Fūin!"

Karin appears to their left and applies her hand to the back of his, still maintaining Sakura in place. Chains ascend on his arm, but Sakura feels the air shift again. Thinking the man's trying to make Karin disappear, she pushes the girl to the side and feels the sudden, familiar feeling of an icy blade penetrating her skin.

Karin falls down the tree with wide eyes as a fit of coughing on Sakura's part sends blood out of her mouth and onto the man's orange mask.

"There's so much you don't understand about the Kamui, Sakura-chan. I hope Kakashi will feel responsible for your death."

He retrieves his weapon, and Sakura focuses all her chakra on her punctured lung, leaving her at the mercy of the man before her. He grabs a fistful of pink hair and brings the kunai to her throat. She blocks the attack with her palm and watches the blade poking out of the back of her hand.

She curses under the pain when he retrieves his weapon for the second time.

"Sayōnara," he says, but two muscled arms lift her from the ground before the weapon can reach her again.

She recognizes the scent automatically and half-sobs, half-laughs in the collar of a green vest.

"Kakashi-sensei!"