Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or the characters.
Hello, lovely readers! I hope you had a great weekend, and a great week ahead of you. I present to you, another chapter :) I love how honest and sweet you guys have all been with your reviews, and I certainly love hearing from everyone. Really though, I'd like to thank you all for the constant support. Without you guys, I'd be nothing! So thank you for that! Another thing - find me on Tumblr at (roraewrites). During the week, I take requests and write one-shots, so if you'd like to read more of my stuff, it's all on there!
Anywho, leave a review, if you'd be so kind! Let me know what you think, enjoy this chapter and have a great day :) next update may be Monday, or it may be sooner!
Glass Heart
Awakened
Sleep wouldn't come easily that night.
Sakura immediately regretted staying in the water for as long as she did. After being under for a minute and a half, her mind finally pleaded that she come up for air and quit the nonsense.
Deep breaths of air came rushing back to her lungs, filling her body and easing the panic in her mind as she brushed the water from her face and smoothed her sopping, wet hair down.
After minutes of running her fingers over the surface, she finally emerged. On went Sasuke's shirt, her leggings, the obi and finally her boots. Her walk back to their temporary home was short lived and before she could reach their place, she was shivering from the night's air.
Karin's eyes found Sakura immediately when she entered the room.
"Why are you soaking wet?" She asked, her voice hushed due to the late hour.
Why did she even get in the river? It sounded appealing at the time, but now that she stood tall in soaking wet clothes with her hair dripping water droplets, she had no idea why.
"I went swimming," Sakura admitted with confusion laced into her answer.
Karin only raised an eyebrow before nodding her head once, then once more in a slow manner. "Right," she repeated before looking back to the small notebook in her hands.
Sakura could see writing in it, and while it intrigued her and she wanted a closer look, she tip toed to the side of the room that her bed was on and stopped before lying down.
We're both girls, she thought awkwardly before removing the obi and the shirt. Karin seemed to be too preoccupied in her notes of some sort to give Sakura any mean looks or say snarky things.
Once the majority of her wet clothes were removed, she hung them on the window sill to dry out properly. Goosebumps began to cover her body as she shuffled under the thin blanket on her bed, and when Sakura turned to her side and closed her eyes, it was like stepping back in time.
She hadn't felt this sort of pain in her heart since the night Sasuke left her alone, but then again, she was older and moving on from that point in her life. Once she pushed her thoughts aside, Karin's sleepy voice woke her up.
"Sasuke was looking for you," she mumbled.
Sakura turned suddenly to the opposite side, her emerald eyes looking to Karin, who was still reading through her notes. The way she sat on her bed with her legs crossed and head leaning against the back of her hand told Sakura that she must've been studying a project of some sort. When she looked up from the page that she was currently on, her eyes caught the glimmer of the light, turning them the most exotic red that Sakura had ever seen.
"He went looking for you, but I take it he didn't find you, huh?
Sakura shook her head softly to each side. She honestly didn't care that he was looking for her. She was tired, done with the games, done with the heart break.
She had made her choice and come morning, she would prepare herself for the journey.
"You're awfully quiet. What's wrong?"
It touched Sakura's heart that not only Suigetsu, but now Karin were both concerned about her. When she first met the two of them, she thought they would be some psychotic monsters thanks to Orochimaru. But as their stories unfolded themselves, she found out that they both had very different personalities, but a caring heart deep beneath the surface.
"It's nothing," Sakura lied from beneath the sheet.
The red head's eyes didn't look away, she didn't blink, she only stared into Sakura's emerald pools. It started to make her feel uncomfortable that Karin could pick out a lie as easily at that. Sakura swallowed hard before she looked away.
"I've got a lot on my mind and choices to make."
Karin's eyes widened slightly as her head finally lifted from her head. She was now sitting straight up in her bed with her hands placed comfortably in her lap. Sakura could tell she was thinking of something to say, but the wondering shimmer in those red eyes of hers told Sakura that it would be anything but comforting.
It hurt her to see Karin's face twist into a painful expression, but it didn't stop her from sounding perfectly normal. "You know you're not the only one who's got a lot on their mind and you're not the only one that has choices to make, right?"
Karin's eyebrows raised a little, and her throat tightened as she continued. "It's obvious that he's torn on what he wants to do. One second, he's worrying about you and thinking of ways to help. The next, he's freaking out because you're gone and he doesn't know where you're at. Don't get me wrong, I have feelings for him. I love him and it hurts me to see him like that."
Sakura turned to her back now, her eyes resting on the ceiling as Karin's confession grew a bit louder. She continued to listen to the red head. It set her mind apart from all the jumbled thoughts in her head and it felt good to know what was going on in someone else's mind for a change.
"Just please, don't hurt him. He's already been through enough hurt in his life."
Although Karin didn't know half the shit about Sasuke like Sakura, the red head sympathized the Uchiha. She didn't pity him like every other girl who had a crush on him did. Yes, she had feelings. But did Sakura actually feel a connection between the two, or was Karin the one that always tried when it came to Sasuke?
Regardless, Sakura nodded her head before closing her eyes. The dim light that leaked in through the slits in her eyelids faded when Karin turned her lamp off, allowing both of them to turn their minds in for the night and relax for once.
The only thing Sakura could hear were her words of truth.
Sasuke had been through enough hurt in his life. But what good was Sakura when it came to helping someone who didn't want her help?
She closed her mind off to the patronizing thoughts and pestering feeling in her chest.
Tsunade trained her better than this. Sakura needed to remain strong and prove to not only herself, but to everyone around her that this type of shit didn't get her down that easily.
"Sakura?" It was Karin's voice once more. Sakura kept her face turned towards the ceiling, but she opened her viridian eyes.
"I don't mean to come off as rude, I've just never really had to experience this whole 'friends with another girl' type of thing. It's not that I don't like you," her voice hesitated slightly, causing Sakura's brows to furrow and her head to turn.
"I've just never been exposed to something like this."
And with that, Karin turned her body away from Sakura. It wasn't before Sakura saw the smallest of tears in the corner of her eye, before she had her back towards the pinkette.
Sakura inhaled deeply before turning the opposite direction from Karin and closed her eyes once more. She felt something transpiring in her mind for Karin and it wasn't that the girl was bad, she just didn't have the experience of having a girl be close to her.
Her mind instantly flashed back to Ino.
Ino-Pig, she scoffed to herself before letting her mind fade to sleep with a smile on her face.
She knew she could get through this, one way or another.
. . .
Sasuke felt alive when it came to a night like this.
He decided it would be easier on him if he let his heart open up to Sakura, and not just on a friendship level. He faced his emotions head on, clearly acknowledging that not only had Kabuto and Orochimaru abducted her from the Village, but now she was traveling side by side with a boy she spilled her heart out too years ago.
She was confusing, none the less, but Sasuke felt it in his iced over heart that he would at least try to understand her feelings.
Sakura was a tricky type of girl. One minute she could be the most selfless and caring girl in the world, the next, she could be moving mountains and destroying everything in her wake. The thought made him smirk as he laid against the roof of their home for the night.
He didn't want to be anywhere near Suigetsu, yet as close as possible to Sakura. The push and pull had a huge impact on his mind, but if he was doing the right thing, he'd stay as close as he could to her.
Sasuke couldn't help but observe her while she was on her own in the river. The way her body disappeared beneath the slow current, how her hair flowed slightly, and when she emerged from the confines of it, she looked absolutely stunning.
He had to hold himself back. If he approached her, they would start another round of why are your lips on mine and this feels so wrong, but you feel so right. He just couldn't afford to put his mind through the grinder anymore.
It was apparent that Sakura was staying, or else she would've left him already. Needless to say, the anchor over his heart faded and he could breathe with ease. He didn't feel his mind coming up with a million different thoughts at once anymore.
Sasuke just needed to be patient and understanding as possible when it came to Sakura. Even then, she'd help him conquer Itachi.
Even after that, what would they do? He couldn't return to the Village with her. Both of them would be killed within a matter of seconds, considering the two of them - or at least the Uchiha - were traitors to the Leaf.
You're doing it again.
He was reminded almost immediately. He sunk in on himself, reminding himself that he was of the great Uchiha clan. Being calm and composed at all times was something he was well known for, but lately, he was losing his mind.
Day after day, his mind slipped farther into his own personal Hell, all while Sakura stayed nothing but smiles and words of knowledge.
The stars overhead twinkled in silence while clouds sailed smoothly over them. The morning would bring their continuous adventure and that's when Sasuke would make it clear that he had obvious feelings for Sakura.
That's when he'll make it clear that she's his and no one else's.
Sasuke was finally facing the fact that he was selfish and only cared about himself, but now that Sakura was around, he needed to act more like her and become selfless. It actually hurt to see her in such a distressed state, knowing all too well that he caused that.
With heavy lashes closed over obsidian eyes, night faded to day and the relaxed orange sky began to welcome the morning sun.
xxx
"Sasuke?" Karin called from the dirt road.
Her hair looked like it had everyday, one side completely messed up while the other remained smoothed down in a silk-like manner. Karin's red eyes came to his sight clearly when he finally noticed that he had slept on the roof all night, only his cloak to keep him warm and safe from any harmful breeze the night had to offer.
"What're you doing up there so early in the morning?" She called again, obviously getting impatient with his lack of an answer.
He sighed deeply before pushing up from the roof and making his way down with graceful movements. She stood a few inches shorter than he did, but when she looked up to him, he could still see that flicker of fascination in her eyes.
"I was waiting for morning," he answered smoothly, knowing all too well that he had fallen asleep for the first night in weeks.
He felt not only refreshed, but like he had when he was a genin and came to realization that Team 7 was like his family. Sasuke's mind felt relieved almost. Almost, until he remembered that today would be the day they sought out Itachi once more - without detours or distractions.
"Get the others, it's time to leave," he ordered.
Karin only responded with a nod of the head and a sweet smile. As much as he hated it, he hated the fact that she was absolutely relentless when it came to him. He had warned her, informed her to quit being fresh with him, and while she took the hint about being nice to Sakura, she'd continue to try to seduce him.
It didn't take long for her to gather their group up. Sasuke's dark eyes looked from Juugo, to Suigetsu, to Karin, to-
Sakura was missing.
He felt his heart fall to the pit of his stomach while his throat constricted. Did she actually leave last night?
It hit him hard, his mind fading as a familiar numbness took over. He felt light headed, his chest welling up with more emotions than he could handle at a time. Their group looked small in numbers now, dwindled down to nothing without Sakura's positive outlook and heart warming smile.
His obsidian eyes traced back over familiar faces, Karin's eyes following his movements with concern in her eyes.
"Where is Sakura?" Sasuke finally asked.
A moment of silence went by. Everyone remained quiet, including Sasuke who still looked from each face, trying to find answers. When his onyx orbs came to rest on Karin's fire, red eyes, she released a sigh.
"She's getting supplies."
Relief.
His face didn't change the slightest. Sasuke still held an emotionless expression, yet in his mind he felt his composure regain.
"She'll catch up," he finally announced before turning on his heel.
"What was that?" Sakura chimed in as their bodies stood mere inches from one another.
Her hair shined with the morning sun, emerald eyes glimmering with life while her perfect lips pulled into a smile. She looked different.
Her ivory skin returned to its regular color; sheen and silk. The dark circles beneath her eyes faded, while her hair no longer looked dried out and dead.
Another thing Sasuke noticed was the fabric in her hand versus the clothing on her body.
She wore a red tank top once more, except it cut off at the mid section of her abdomen. A mock skirt like the one she wore when he first found her, except darker in color. She wore spandex beneath those, her kunai holster resting firmly against her thigh, and a new edition: a pouch that wrapped firmly around her waist.
"Where did you get all of this?" Karin asked from behind Sasuke. The amazement in her voice made not only Sasuke smirk, but Sakura smile.
"I've been busy this morning. Some people around here had spare fabric and supplies lying around. It's not what I'm used to, but it's lighter and I feel more comfortable," she admitted.
It was obvious that she was returning Sasuke's shirt to him now. It didn't look like it though, due to the dirt and stains that she had obviously removed during her adventure this morning.
Dark eyes watched as Sakura extended her arm further out, offering him his shirt once more, but he declined.
Sasuke turned his head slightly before speaking, "we can just get rid of it."
As much as he wanted to keep it, he felt jealousy transpiring in his heart. He wanted her to wear his clothing, not something she put together by herself. As good as she looked in her new clothing - the color red included - he felt she was exposing too much skin. The toned muscles in her torso contracted when she turned away, and with each step she took, he could see the way her slender legs looked in that short skirt.
This change would make it ten times harder on the Uchiha. It would make it harder to hold himself back.
"I like that color on you, Sakura," Juugo finally spoke that morning.
Morning was running away from them, and if the group didn't continue on from this location, they'd be traveling through the middle of the night.
"Let's go," he announced, his tone serious and deep.
With no further distractions that morning, the group of them began their journey once more. Once dispersed through the trees, Sasuke made it his own personal mission to stay close to Sakura. After all, he didn't want another run in like they had previously.
He'd keep an eye on Sakura this time around. Be more selfless, be more caring, more considerate of her health and emotions.
She's here for a reason, Sasuke reminded himself.
And that was to support him in his fight with Itachi.
. . .
Their travel through the Land of Wind went surprisingly fast. With the speed that each of them put into it, it took the five of them roughly four days to get across the desert. While they tried to keep to the border of the Land of Wind and Fire, Sakura came forth and informed them of the best route.
She felt like a traitor, but did she really want to watch any of them die?
"It's best to stay as close to the Land of Fire, without actually going there."
Sasuke didn't say anything, let alone as much as argue. Instead, he had been supportive with each of her decisions and ideas lately. He stayed close while traveling, closer when they thought danger was lurking, and ultimately remained quiet unless asked a question.
On the fourth day of traveling without so much as taking a night off for sleep, Sasuke finally brought his group to halt.
The air was dry, making it hard to breathe, and when everyone stopped, it was all or nothing to conceal their heavy breathing. Sakura noticed that Sasuke was also struggling to make himself calm his own breathing.
His eyes held exhaustion, and she could see it in the way he held his body, that he needed a break. Everyone needed a break, even herself.
"We'll stop here for the night," his hoarse voice spoke. It was apparent that his throat was dry, possibly due to the blowing sand and minimal breaks that they took.
Sakura could tell there was something different driving Sasuke now. She could see it in his eyes whenever he glanced at her, or the way he took the leadership roll over everyone else. It reminded her of their genin days, when Team 7 would travel. He'd be the first to call out every detail that entailed their enemies. The thought made a small smile paint across her lips before she shook her head.
The stars that speckled the night sky over the border were plentiful and vast. They each twinkled with their own personality, bright and glowing in the black velvet that painted the sky.
"I'll take first watch."
Sakura gathered enough supplies from earlier that week, that she could fit a small and thin cloak within it. She cast it over her shoulders and began walking around their temporary spot. Sasuke had picked somewhere secluded enough, yet they had many routes for escape if it came to flight or fight.
Once everyone settled in their places for the night, Sakura adjusted her back against the rock that she had taken her post on. It was large enough to watch over their selected camp, and also watch from every angle around them.
A low sigh escaped her throat before she pulled a small canteen from her pouch, drinking what little bit of water remained and quenching her thirst slightly.
"That's the ticket," she muttered to herself into the night air.
Minute after minute ticked by, and before long, Sakura felt her own eyes growing heavy and her limbs resisting the commands to stay awake.
"You know, first watch means staying awake."
It was Sasuke, his voice gentle and stance tensed slightly.
He had actually looked awkward for once in all the times Sakura had set her emerald eyes on him, and now that she saw that he could be awkward, he actually looked like a normal human being. With her mind jostled wide awake, she tucked her hair behind her ear before chuckling slightly.
"I'm sorry," Sakura apologized quietly.
Her jade eyes scanned the glowing stars from above while Sasuke shuffled closer towards her. Her nerves were all on edge when he took a seat next to her, his warmth radiating from him, to her, and she couldn't help but think back to the last time they were together alone; the single thought sent shivers down her spine.
He didn't say anything else, only keep his face pointed forwards as Sakura star gazed, her mind in another dimension. Their silence was anything but tense as the atmosphere settled between the two of them. She noted that he kept his distance, unlike every other time when he just had to touch her.
When his sudden movements stirred, Sakura felt herself jump, only to be calmed when his hand came to rest on his leg. The way his fingers massaged the muscles in his leg peaked her curiosity.
"Everything okay?" Sakura's professionalism took over, and her emerald eyes began to look for any clues as far as muscle fatigue went.
"Hn, just tired."
She could tell from the low tone in his voice that that wasn't the lie, but the way his nails dug deeper into his quad told her otherwise. Sakura began to readjust her position on their lookout rock, her knees coming to rest where his feet sat and when she infused chakra to her hands, the low hum filled the air.
From the illuminated glow, she could make out Sasuke's gorgeous features. His eyes flashed with distrust when her index finger, then middle finger made contact with his leg; following soon after came the palm of her hand. His faint jump would've gone undetected by any other medical ninja, but to her, she knew exactly why he was jumping.
"It's okay-" Sakura reassured him, repositioning herself further-"you've obviously got something wrong. I can tell by the way you move your fingers. Plus, you're doing it wrong."
The way his nose scrunched up and his brows furrowed told Sakura that he didn't approve of her accusation, and thus, pulled his leg from her hand and continued his self massage.
"Sasuke, quit being stubborn," Sakura scolded before reaching for his leg once more. This time, she was much more assertive when her hand made contact with his limb.
"Says the girl who deliberately disobeyed me," Sasuke retorted, pulling his leg from her grasp once more.
Their shuffles and stirring became apparent as they continued. Sakura caught her next words in her throat before her eyebrow raised with curiosity.
"Disobeyed?" She shot back suddenly. "What are you? My father?"
Sasuke's eyes glowered at her with anger before his face softened. She had struck a nerve, apparently, and before he argued back, he grew quiet. Even his elevating chakra levels descended as her hand made contact with his leg once more. Sakura's chakra flowed smoothly from her hand, through his muscles, to the exact point she had thought it was.
"You pulled a muscle," she remarked. Sakura still felt her temper boiling, but seeing Sasuke raw and exposed calmed her inner mind and soul.
She needed to be more patient with him. Gentle, understanding and most of all, considerate. As much as she felt her heart raging on inside her chest, she owed it to him to bring it down a notch.
"I-I'm-" Sasuke stuttered, his eyes growing wide with something Sakura had never seen in them before.
When his obsidian eyes noticed her own looking into his deeply, his face turned suddenly. The faint green reflected against silk black hair and nothing more.
"Never mind. Forget it."
He was brooding, a hurricane forming in his mind, and Sakura could sense it. He was trying, trying his damned hardest at this whole 'being nice' and if it wasn't for his almost apology, Sakura would've remained quiet.
The low hum died down once she fixed his aching quad, returning to her original position by Sasuke.
"I want you to know that I've experienced what being alone truly felt like."
Sakura couldn't feel her mind, feel her lungs compress and decompress as her chest opened up and spilled her heart out. Sasuke moved slightly next to her, probably to look ahead instead of him instead of to the side. She knew that she had his attention, but what more could she say that would make it so he would open up to her?
"Days were long. Nights were hard. I didn't cry. I didn't talk about my feelings. I only worked harder and reminded myself of my goals and bettering the future for the next generation," Sakura continued, her voice growing low and throat constricting. It became harder to talk about her feelings after having them bottled up for so long.
When her back came to touch the rough surface of the boulder, she exhaled and along with it came one hot, searing tear. It burned her skin. Reminded her just how long it had been since she'd truly felt this alone and out of place in the shinobi world.
Her mind felt lost, her heart not sure what to do, but in this moment, everything felt right.
She hadn't sensed it, but as Sasuke's fingers cupped her chin, her face was turned towards his. From the faint light of the moon, she could make out his dark, dark irises and shimmering pools. He looked content, almost. Melancholy still lined his features the closer his face came to hers, and before she could exhale her last thought into the night, Sasuke was steeling her breath away.
"I know, Sakura."
He didn't press his lips to hers in his usual firm and commanding way. He didn't comfort her, pull her to his chest and remind her just how warm his heart could be. He simply told her, told her exactly what she needed to hear.
Be it few words, the blood in her veins ran at high temperatures, her cheeks heating up and her eyes releasing small tears.
Sasuke's fingers remained on her chin, but once his soft lips made contact with her forehead, she was reminded just how selfless and caring Sasuke could actually be.
"Get some rest, your shift is over."
He was right, time had flown by. The moon was no longer sitting a quarter of the way in the sky, but hanging directly above them as the stars hugged the pale orb. Sasuke released her gently, his eyes averting to their usual spot that he watched while Sakura slipped by him, down the rock, and to their camp.
The ghost of his kiss lingered, sending fire through her body and reminding her just how much of a person she actually is.
Sleep came easily that night, just like dreams did when she was younger, before she was a shinobi.
. . .
Sasuke didn't wake anyone else up after his shift. He simply stayed awake, his eyes, senses and even nerves alert and on edge.
Sakura was changing something inside of him, awakening something that had been put to sleep multiple years ago. Even when she left, he still felt his heart beating incredibly fast while his fingers trembled.
Morning approached quickly, painting the sky in pastel reds, pinks, and oranges while the sun poked its head out over the horizon. Mountains would begin to spurt out once crossing the border to the Land of Fire, but while Sasuke faced the Land of Wind, all he could see were the outstretches of a clean view. The desert held rolling hills, but nothing would compare to the rocky mountains like the Fire possessed.
"Suigetsu, knock it off!"
Karin and Suigetsu were fighting already that morning, and to make things better, they had just woken up.
Sasuke popped his back, rolled his neck, stretched out the ligaments in his arms and fingers and began his way down their outpost rock. After Sakura had worked her magic and freed his leg of the pain, he felt not only refreshed, but rejuvenated as well.
When he arrived at their camp, he could clearly see Suigetsu holding Karin at arm's length, her red tresses spewing out from underneath his hand as he held her in place. The taunting smile on his face told Sasuke all he needed to know.
Him and that damn cup, Sasuke began rolling the charcoaled wood, extinguishing their embers from the night before.
"I'm serious, I'll strangle you if you don't stop!" Her screams grew louder by the second, and while Suigetsu kept smiling and mocking her, Juugo sat to the side with a single eyebrow raised.
"Karin, bring it down a notch," Juugo finally commented while birds landed among his outstretched fingers.
Missing from the picture was Sakura, but before his mind rushed to being panicked, he could just feel her nearby.
To Sasuke's surprise, Sakura was still curled up with her thin cloak over her petite frame. She looked peaceful, the way her knees came to her chest, her hands balled into fists and tucked between her chest and knees.
She was obviously tired; traveling for four days straight, taking first watch, and exerting chakra to heal a stupid pulled muscle.
Sasuke ran a hand through his hair before vanishing from his current position. If anything, he could give their group - mostly Sakura - time to unwind a bit longer. Besides, he needed to wash his hair and scrub his body of all the built up sweat from their days of travel.
As he walked silently through the trees and cover of the brush, his ears didn't pick up on any sort of water movements. No waterfalls, no rushing currents, not even a small pond was in sight.
He took his traveling to the trees, his dark eyes scanning every inch of the thick forest now. Just his luck, nothing.
Sasuke took off back towards the camp, hoping that Karin and Suigetsu hadn't torn into each other's throats and that Sakura was awake. He felt bad for thinking it, but Juugo was one of the only sane ones - when he wasn't undergoing his deranged beast state. Unlike Karin who nitpicked everything Suigetsu did, and Suigetsu who was always up to something mischievous, and then Sakura. Sakura who would always argue back and make his mind go blank from every thought and idea and everything else he had going on inside his mind.
Juugo always remained quiet and calm, unless otherwise stated.
When Sasuke arrived, he had the weirdest feeling in his chest, something uncomfortable and rather annoying. It didn't feel right, and if it hadn't been for his senses, he wouldn't have caught it.
A single kunai cut through the air, sending a cold breeze rush by his cheek as he dodged it at the last second.
The hot trickle of blood fell down Sasuke's cheek as he caught sight of his follower, knowing all too well that they'd been found. His mind instantly traced back to Karin's loud voice, her shrieks of distress as Suigetsu tormented her over his stupid slurping of his water bottle, and now each of them would put up a fight.
One after another, kunai launched from the cover of the brush. Blood red eyes watched the air trail that streamed behind each one, and when he caught glimpse of who exactly it was, his stomach flipped.
Anbu from the Hidden Leaf.
Sasuke knew he wouldn't be able to get back to his comrades, let alone escape without causing a scene. He'd attract a lot more attention than he'd wanted, but it was time to fight.
After a great deal of hand signs, the heat welled in his chest, enveloped and gathered in his throat, and soon coursed through his lips. The trees in his wake instantly caught fire from the Uchiha clan's famous fireball jutsu.
Charcoal flames ignited, creating a heat that outmatched the Wind's desert, and while trunks began to fall, Sasuke felt this would be his ideal time to get away. He needed to keep his whereabouts concealed. The last thing he needed was Konoha's Anbu on his ass while trying to track down Itachi.
Sasuke also started processing that maybe they weren't here for him, but for Sakura. The idea pained him, caused his heart to stop dead in his chest, the air to escape his lungs and his eyes to widen.
He couldn't let them take her from him, not when they were getting close to finding Itachi.
"Sasuke!" Karin's voice cut through the burning trees and rising smoke.
He could make out the way her hair flowed freely from the way she ran towards him, her legs carrying her faster than he had ever seen.
She was running straight into the danger zone, her eyes wide with fear as she approached him. She was mere feet away from him before the first of multiple shuriken plunged into her skin, coating her arm in her own blood.
Karin didn't scream when the next shuriken were about to make contact.
Hell, nothing sounded from her. Sasuke's eyes couldn't make out what had happened, but before he knew it, Sakura's kunai was making contact with and deflecting the ninja tools from sinking into Karin's body.
She stood with fierce, emerald eyes, her stance blocking Karin's body from the Leaf shinobi.
Sakura looked absolutely fearless.
With the fire blazing around them and trees falling left and right, she kept her mind focused and body ready for anything that came her way. Sasuke could only feel his mind reeling, his heart beating with an intense beat in his chest, and his eyes staying on her.
She was truly something else, and even now, he couldn't keep his mind off of her.