Chapter 9. The weak can never forgive

SAKURA: SUNDAY

I had spent all weekend with Ino, TenTen and Hinata at the Yamanaka resident, yet all I really did was living in Sasuke's hoodie and being on my phone texting him. Hinata and TenTen was just as surprised yet ecstatic about the fact that Sasuke and I had kissed – with Ino's spying eyes on us – as Ino had been, when I had told her what he had said at the women's restrooms at the mall. The story about my hair was quite different though. The girls all agreed that Karin had crossed the line and that we – and particularly me, apparently – was supposed to get back at her. However, I didn't know what that possible would accomplish.

I was staring out of the car window, a silence had fell over us girls and soon I got caught in my own thoughts. I wondered, when I at some point doing the day had over spooked, saying that the boys where gathered at the Uchiha resident to train for their upcoming game – because, that was exactly where we were headed. Honestly, I didn't hate the idea of seeing Sasuke, quite the opposite actually, and I also wanted him to see how my hair had turned out. However, it was the part of involving the boys in the whole revenge-thing they had going on that bothered me. I just wanted everyone to kind of lay low… Was that so wrong of me? Just letting this go? I felt like I kind of already had won, Karin just didn't know yet.

My thoughts were suddenly disturbed by Hinata's low yet steady voice since her stuttering had seemed to have decreased lately: "I-I've actually never been at the Uchiha resident." She said with a thoughtful expression.

"Really?" I replied, but soon remembered what Sasuke's mother had said about him not bringing girls home. I couldn't help but smile and blush slightly at the memory.

"I haven't either." TenTen reassured Hinata. "Ino?"

"Nope," she stated at first, "I guess it's going to be an exciting first new experience, right?!" she exclaimed afterwards. "What's the Uchiha resident like, Sakura?!"

"Big." I just stated.

I caught her eyes in the rear-view mirror and she lifted an eyebrow as she teasingly asked the next question: "What else is big?"

"INO!" I shouted, and I think I gaped, while TenTen and Hinata starting dead laughing along with Ino.

The Uchiha family liked their privacy I guessed, because they lived a bit away from literally everything else, and it would probably have been weird for any of the girls to have been driving by to just stalk the family. Because as soon as Ino pulled in at the Uchiha resident they all became dead silence with a gaping expression – they really did speak the truth about not having seen the all mighty Uchiha resident. It didn't take them long to get out of the car to admire the resident either.

"Holy shit," Ino said flabbergasted.

So much stuff had happened to me the last couple of weeks that I barely remembered how I first reacted when I saw his house. 'Well, you probably said something stupid – like his garage was the actually heaven' my mind reminded me. I tried overlook my own inner thoughts at this point.

"If they're practicing they would be at the back." I stated.

SHIKAMARU

Naruto, Neji, Sasuke and I were going over the strategy and some new moves we had to practice two and two before the game on Friday, until I suddenly heard an all too familiar screeching voice. Sometimes it was the most comfortable sound especially in times of crisis but usually it was just the sound of annoyance and trouble.

"THIS IS LITERALLY THE PERFECT PLACE TO HAVE A POOL PARTY!" Ino's voice practically reached the skies at that point, "and you didn't tell me?!" she continued, pointing a finger at Sakura.

"It … didn't cross my mind, sorry Ino." Sakura replied innocent, yet annoyed, probably by the fact that all she thinks about is parties at this point.

Neji managed to ask what we were all thinking before a lot suddenly happened: "What are you guys doing here?"

Sasuke of all people dropped the basketball he was holding in his firm grip – the ball fell to the ground and bounced away – and I had to follow his sight to see exactly why. He had a shocked expression, instead of his normally stoic attitude, and his eyes were locked on Sakura who wore her new haircut as it was meant for her. Her hair was so short compared to before; it didn't even reach her shoulder. I wasn't an expert in haircuts, but her hair seemed more volumized and the colour seemed different … like brighter, and it kind of gave her charisma a whole new charm. Like it was her true self. Suddenly she started to walk towards the poor Uchiha who had yet to recover, but in the meantime, Naruto was storming towards the shy Hyuga girl.

I don't know how he did it – hell I don't know how Naruto accomplishes anything – but when he took Hinata's cheeks in his huge palms like it was the most fragile thing on the earth and pressed his lips against hers, he mad time stop. Everybody became silence, everybody stopped their movements, hell everybody practically stopped breathing until Neji stormed toward the kissing couple and grabbed Naruto by his collar and shoved him aside towards the brick wall of the mansion.

"What. Do. You. Think. You're. Doing. Uzumaki?" Neji interrogated the blond shocked boy. Hinata came running to grab Neji's arm to get his towering body away from Naruto.

"Don't! I love him, don't Neji-niisan!" And at that, time stopped yet again. Naruto's eyes had grown wide and Ino looked like one who needed to sit down from pure lack of oxygen.

'This is going to be troublesome' my brain went on and I couldn't help but sigh.

He narrowed his eyes at Naruto to interrogate him further, with his grip still strong around the collar of his training shirt: "And you, Naruto?" He practically spit his name out.

They stared at each other for a couple of seconds before Naruto slowly nodded, not ready to say those precious words; at least not in front of all of us.

Neji's demeanour aura disappeared for a split second, while he shrugged saying: "Oh, okay." But then his grip tightened at Naruto's shirt and shoved him harder against the wall as he lowered his mouth to his ear: "But I swear, if you break her heart…" his voice became lower and more threatening, "I will break your neck." Neji's demeanour changed back to normal as soon as he let go of Naruto's shirt and took a step back. "Got it?"

Naruto – now with a comforting Hinata by his side – gulped, looking like he was going to piss in his pants. "G-g-got it!" he squeaked, nodding his head frantically.

"I can't believe it! Why didn't you tell us?!" Ino scolded Hinata and lashed out on her.

"They're cute together, right?" TenTen commented, now standing beside the now calmer Neji, after he had made his point clear.

"About time." Sasuke spoke quietly as he crossed his arms and smirked, in the meantime Sakura had finally reached him.

"Have you said anything to them?" Sakura questioned him, and I couldn't help but knit my brows, feeling like more untold manners was coming towards the light.

"No, you said I shouldn't?" his voice had a questioning tone to it.

"I know, but the girls know – so I think they should too. It would make it easier too, right?"

"Right," he just remarked.

"What exactly is it that you're not telling?" Neji suddenly interrupted. But at the way Sakura put her small hand at Sasuke's bicep and Sasuke's hand placed itself at the small of Sakura's back it was already too clear.

"We are going out," he paused before adding "too."

'Shocking' my brain went on.

"YES!" Naruto shouted, "Then that means double dates teme!" Naruto came storming towards Sasuke to give him one of his bear crushing hugs.

"Over my dead body." Sasuke replied, as he tried to get the blond knucklehead off of him.

"I don't want anybody else to know – this is as far as the information goes." Sakura suddenly spoke up.

The three remaining girls were all exchanging looks with each other, while Naruto continued his loud shouting: "WHAT?!" he looked confused between his best friends, "WHY?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ino stated in an informative way, yet annoyed. "Karin is targeting Sakura because of her obsession about Sasuke. If she found out that they are together, she is going to kill Sakura. And we don't want that – just look at her hair, it's a perfect example."

Naruto's look went from Ino to Sakura, as it was the first time he had looked at her that day, and his expression went to one of a flabbergasted: "What happened to your hair?!" he exclaimed. He went over to investigate the subject, but as soon as he touched her hair, Sasuke was between them, clearly marking his territory towards his best friend. And Naruto probably felt like being victimized the second time in a very short amount of time.

"Karin literally destroyed it at the mall's restroom of all places 'cause of her jealousy, but luckily we were able to make a miracle happen!" Ino rambled in her own little world of fashion and beauty dreams.

"I see," Naruto stated with a worried tone before adding with his wide grin: "It really suit you – you look beautiful Sakura-chan." Naruto fled from Sasuke's arm's length as he received the deadliest death glare yet.

"Eh … Thanks Naruto," Sakura replied shyly, yet it didn't make her blush as it was often seen when it came to a sudden other person, who looked like he was going to kill his best friend at this point.

"We actually came, because we-"

"You," Sakura abruptly interrupted or further corrected Ino.

"No, we," she made a circling motion with her fingers to symbolise the girls, "have a plan to get back at Karin – but we really need your help." Before it was even possible to ask further into this matter she continued, with a fierce look at her face as she determined walked towards me and my eyes widened in realisation: "But first, YOU need to tell me everything about your date with Temari."

Why was it that everything suddenly felt like it was happening in slow motion? And it didn't take long before all my brain was focusing on was memories of Temari. Heat started to creep up my neck and darkening my ears.

It had become late when Temari and I had left the restaurant after she had agreed to take a stroll down the street checking out several shops that was still open. Together, we walked side by side, my hands shoved deep in my pockets as always, and hers behind her back. On the way back to the parking lot most people had already gone home and the streets nearly empty – only the stars, which made her eyes shine glorious, was still hanging above us.

When I drove her home, we exchanged words and laughed a few times; mostly we stayed quiet, enjoying the moment, however the silence was comfortable in her presence. Occasional I would steal a glance of her, feeling at peace at the way she smiled with her gaze focused out of the window.

FLASHBACK

When we reached her house, I turned the engine off, strode out and around the car to escort her out as well – a cheap trick my father had taught me women appreciated. But Temari was already out of the car, taking matters in her own hands. She turned towards me and gave me smile, which I would go through any trouble to see again – the fact that she smiled that smile at me, even because of me, actually made me blush; feeling heat creeping.

"Thanks for the meal. And the talks." She looked down the ground like she was debating something with herself.

"Don't mention it, a man should pay for his woman on a date." I shrugged and smiled lazily. Another thing my father had told me.

"Hmm? What did you say again? Think I can't take care of myself?" She sounded cold and it made me stiffen, wishing I hadn't opened my mouth in the first place, but a petty "what?" escaped yet again.

She gave me a light punch on the shoulder, "Nah, I'm just messing with you crybaby." She grinned, feeling pleased with my reaction, obviously. But my heart started to raise the next second she took a step closer to me and put her hand on my chest, my eyes widened as her lips met mine. She parted with me before I could even react or respond. Grinning, with pinkish cheeks, she turned towards the entrance to the house and started walking: "See you soon, Shikamaru." She waved her goodbyes.

"Troublesome." But I couldn't help but smile satisfactorily as I saw her disappear into her house.

END OF FLASHBACK

"It went fine." I finally managed to express to the over eagerly Ino.

SASUKE: MONDAY AFTER SCHOOL AND BASKETBALL TRAINING

I checked my phone as the first thing as I entered the locker room – it had become a habit ever since a specific kiss at the women's restrooms at the mall had happened. Sakura had indeed texted me, even before the training had begun: 'Working on the song – don't wait for me' it said. "Tsh. Annoying."

As I had finished the shower and changed, parted with the rest of the basketball team my legs started walking towards the music room. As soon as I swung the doors open to the room, the room became eerily silence and all eyes were on me, like they were hiding some secrets – which they surely were because of Ino's plan of revenge. At first, I didn't really get why Sakura singing at the game on Friday would at any point wreck Karin to miserable pieces as Ino had specific told, until she told us, that Karin likes control and power. And this singing-event the girls had going on, with some help from the basketball team, was something Karin couldn't control – and if there is something Karin is surely bad it, it is singing. A subject where she is powerless compared to Sakura, meaning, hitting her weak point.

"Relax guys, he knows about the plan." Sakura remarked while turning back to her piano.

"Wait?! Why?!" Ayumi practically shouted while I worked my way through instrument to get to Sakura. I towered over her small body to get a glimpse of what she would sing. I narrowed my eyes of the lines on the paper; they seemed so familiar, like I had read them before.

Sakura looked at her strangely, like it was obvious: "He's best friend with Naruto, the captain of the basketball team." She did a weird motion with her hand that Ino always did when she spoke about obvious things.

Ayumi became silenced at first, before she became suspicious about my presence: "Okay, but what is he doing here now?"

"I was just curious if she had passed the test in PE earlier, or failed miserable," I lowered my head to her ear and whispered, "without my presence that is."

I saw how she turned bright red at the memory of our bodies being up against each other, and it didn't take her long to grab her notes and hit me with them, "I passed, you jerk!" she exclaimed, and I struggled to suppress my laughter. As I noticed the looks we were receiving from the rest of the music team I abruptly cleared my throat, asking if she needed a lift home.

"No, we are not done yet." She answered, and I decided to flee before they would suspect something was going on between us, if they didn't already.

It had been an hour or so before Sakura came strolling out of the entrance to Konoha High and towards the parking lot and the exit of the school's property, when she laid her emerald eyes on me. Her expression turned to someone of an annoyance: "I told you not to wait," she scolded, "do you never listen?"

"I do," I defended, "I just don't allows agree with you." I held the passenger door to my car open for her to get in. She gave me a look that said 'this discussion is not over' while she took the seat. As I took my own seat at the wheel I couldn't help but lean towards her and brushing my lips against hers. It almost startled me as her hands flew up to grasp my face instantly and she responded with a desperate strength, making small noises of pleasure which had me shook, realising that Sakura maybe wasn't all that innocent at shy as she appeared to be. She suddenly parted and looked shocked and embarrassed, yet she couldn't help but bite her lower lip, which made me raise my brow at her. She blushed at her actions and she couldn't help but take her eyes anywhere else than at me, and I couldn't help but smirk.

While we were driving towards her house I couldn't help but think about the song: "The song – it's the one you have been working on while we've been studying, right?"

"Yes," she paused for a couple of seconds before continuing, "I don't particularly want revenge or doing something cocky, I'm sure Karin had her reason for doing what she did – however messed up those reasons might be. But I just want to show that I'll at least put up a fight… Just for once, I want people to look at me and see a strong person."

I didn't know what to reply to her after that, and we ended up sitting in silence the whole way to her house, but the way she said it reminded me of the way I felt about my father and my brother, so her actions was understandable.

When I parked in front of her grandmother's house I was ready to say goodbye for the day, when she took me by surprise yet again: "Do you wanna meet my grandma?" she asked with such a shy yet exciting expression that it took me aback and I suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of nervousness. In the end I couldn't turn her down – not with that expression.

As we walked towards the front door I noticed that the house looked cosy from the outside, but it was actually quite big. I had no idea if her grandmother was any kind of wealthy or not – this part of the town housed both expensive and the more affordable houses for all kind of families. It also made me realise that I had no idea what so ever to expect of her grandmother – was she even from her father's side or mother's? I had no idea.

As we entered the hall I immediately got a feeling that this was one of the more expensive houses on the street; the decor was modern, luxury and glamorous, which was unexpected of an old woman, some of the stuff even looked like something my mother would buy.

"Your grandmother is rich?" I thought out loud.

"Yes," she stated while she took of her shoes, "not Uchiha-rich, but she is doing pretty good." She pointed her finger at me, before she continued, "And technically I'm as well, since my father's legacy is just waiting for me." I realised that I had completely forgotten who she indeed was the daughter of.

She grabbed my arm and took me to the nearest living room, as she was shouting at her grandmother on the way: "Grandma! There's someone who really wants to meet you!"

I sighed inaudibly. 'It's you who wants me to meet her, like she is an old woman who never gets visitors'

As we reached the living room and I laid eyes on Sakura's grandmother, I was indeed embarrassed by the fact that I had just called her an old woman by thoughts. She was elderly, but she was nothing from whatever my brain had imagined. Even as she was sitting in her chair knitting – which was the most elderly feature – it was clear she had a tall and slender figure, and her skin barely seemed to have aged. The only thing that seemed to have been affected gradually by her age was her faded grey-brownish hair, which looked like it at some point had either been red or pink.

"Ah, I see, Fugaku's son," she spoke with a graceful voice, which didn't surprise me at this point, "you grew up to be handsome, but you sure took after your mother."

"You know my parents Ms. Haruno?" I asked a bit taken aback.

"Silly, I know everybody in this city – I've lived here my whole life. And please, for God's sake, call me Mito. Don't be so formal." She gave me a youthful smile, which reached her eyes.

LATER

As I drove home, I couldn't help to think how the whole evening had been nothing but unexpected. Mito had invited me to stay for dinner, which I agreed to, first and foremost because of Sakura, but it turned out to be unexpected pleasant compared to some of the dinners that sometimes takes place at the Uchiha resident. She was a comfortable woman to talk to, and she didn't make a weird mess out of silence – or she was just too old to care about stuff like that. Sakura talking and laughing about old memories of her parents and her childhood was unexpected. Her room was unexpected; it was filled with technology to make music and compared to her girly appearance – mainly because of her hair colour – her room was nothing like that. It was more just a place for her to sleep, store clothes, study and make music, because she spent so much time with her grandmother when she was home.

As I walked through the familiar doors to the all-too-talked-about Uchiha resident the evening continued to turn out unexpected. Both my father and brother were home having a conversation in the kitchen as my mother was preparing some kind of food which was probably for the next day.

"Where have you been son? I thought we had an agreement – and don't say you were with your friends, I already checked with them." My father's interrogation was normal, he just wasn't normally home at this hour to give them to me. My mother looked pleading at me, like I had to come up with at least a valid excuse for missing my mandatory lessons at the department. 'Fuck it' and at that, my brain had convinced me to just tell the truth. For once at least.

"I was with Sakura, at her grandmother's, Ms. Haruno – if you want to check up and that too?" I knew I was crossing a line by talking back, but before I could even prepare for a scolding my mother made a huge squeal and came running towards me and taking my hands in hers.

"It's the girl from last week – the one who was here, right?" she asked all excited.

"Yes, mom." I replied, as I tried to get my hands away from hers slightly sticky ones.

"Is she your girlfriend?" She challengingly asked further.

"Maybe," I replied, not knowing if it would make things worse or better. But my mother got even more excited and practically flew around in the kitchen of pure joy.

"Bring her home once, please!" she pleaded.

"Wow, wow, little brother is starting to take interest in girls." My brother remarked as the first thing this evening, a remake I chose to ignore.

"Do you have time to teach me the strategies today?" I asked in return, as he got up and walked towards me. He placed his index and middle finger at my forehead as he replied: "Sorry Sasuke, maybe next time." and went out the door. Soon I heard the sound of a car pulling out of the driveway.

KARIN: FRIDAY AT THE BASKETBALL GAME

Tonight, was the big night. It was finally the big basketball game between Konoha High and Suna High – two schools and students who were often seen as best friends, but when it came to basketball they had a long past of eerie struggle for power, to make it clear; they are pure reveals, just as we cheerleaders was. We had been practicing for months, coming up with new dance moves and new athletic moves to show who is in control and who is on top, but to our surprise they had too with a couple of new – and I must admit – talented girls, who knew what they were doing.

We were all at our rightful places – or so I thought – waiting for the game to start after a long cheerful introduction of the boys, when the gym suddenly all got dark as the power had been cut off. It became dead silence, before people started to whisper, taking their phones up and using them as flashlights, and weird noises came from the middle of the basketball track. Before any panic started to evolve the announcer started talking and a few spotlights was directed in the middle of the basketball track where she stood, surrounded by instruments – which the basketball team, who were idly leaving the track, seemed to have planned and brought to the track as soon as the lights went out – and the music team.

"This year, Konoha High, presence the most talented and greatest musicians with their own song called 'Alive' – ENJOY!" The announcer went on in the speaker as I felt my jaw clench, my muscle started to tense, and my fingernails was already making bruises of my palms. And it all became worse, when she began to sing:

"I was born in a thunderstorm
I grew up overnight
I played alone
I played on my own
I survived

Hey
I wanted everything I never had
Like the love that comes with light
I wore envy and I hated that
But I survived

I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go
Where the wind don't change
And nothing in the ground can ever grow
No hope, just lies
And you're taught to cry into your pillow
But I survived

I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive – I'm alive
I'm alive – I'm alive

I found solace in the strangest place
Way in the back of my mind
I saw my life in a stranger's face
And it was mine

I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go
Where the wind don't change
And nothing in the ground can ever grow
No hope, just lies
And you're taught to cry into your pillow
But I survived

I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive – I'm alive
I'm alive – I'm alive

You took it all, but I'm still breathing, you took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing, you took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing, you took it all, but I'm still breathing
You took it all, but I'm still breathing, you took it all, but I'm still breathing

I have made every single mistake
That you could ever possibly make
I took and I took and I took what you gave
But you never noticed that I was in pain
I knew what I wanted; I went out and got it
Did all the things that you said that I wouldn't
I told you that I would never be forgotten
And all in spite of you

And I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive (You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
(You took it all, but I'm still breathing)
I'm alive

I'm alive – I'm alive
I'm alive – I'm alive" (1)

Deep down I knew she was good, she had a unique and high voice, I knew she was talented and I knew she worked hard to do what she just did. But was I going to worship it? Hell no. I took a step forward, locking my prey with my eyes. 'She's so death' was the only thing my brain managed to think before a hand was suddenly on my shoulder, holding me back: "Let go of me!" I exclaimed automatically in my stage of fury.

"No, Karin-" Yuki told me surprisingly calm, which made me cut her off immediately.

I shook my shoulder violently to get her hand off of me as I interrogated her actions: "So you're on her side? That bitch?!"

"No! But look around Karin, there would be too many eyes on you – including teachers and the principal – for you to do anything to her at this point, it'll have to wait."

I took a second for me to make her reason really sink it, and it did start to make sense. I looked around to see both students from Konoha and Suna cheer Sakura on, teachers were smiling and even admiring her, the principal looked proud of her students. As I turned my eyes towards my fellow cheerleaders it was at that moment, I caught a weird eye contact with Ino Yamanaka of all people. As I narrowed my eyes at her, she winked at me and gave me a cocky smirk before she turned towards her friends. 'Son of a bitch!' it was time to break something – no, someone! And it was going to be Sakura, because this, this was unforgiveable.


(1): Sia – Alive


And I'm alive too! Sorry for the long wait though… I wanted to upload as soon as I was done, so this is not really read through thoroughly. Might go back and do something about it at some point. But not today, no no no, not today (the after effect of listening to too much BTS, just me? Okay then).

Hope you enjoyed enough to leave a review or a follow? Thanks!