A Tiny Smirk is Devastating

by LScore

[SasuSaku Modern AU, Fusion Fic with Love O2O] Second-year Computer Science student Sakura never thought her road to find true love IRL would begin with a divorce in-game. But the Way of the Ninja is long and winding - and the person who takes her hand to travel it together is the last person she was expecting. How does the server's number one know who she is?

25. Parting Ways

Power cord? Check. Water? Check. Check for game updates? Check. Snacks and food for sixteen hours? Check!

Sakura eyed her battle array set out in front of her and finally nodded in satisfaction.

"What're you prepping for, Sakura-chan, the gaming apocalypse?" Tenten laughed at her as she packed her school bag.

"We're going to attempt the final couple's mission today," Sakura declared, not at all put off by Tenten's teasing. "It's 16 hours, and no one's ever beaten it. If we beat it, we cap out our intimacy points, and we're all set for the tournament."

"Wh-what about if you don't?" Hinata asked, curious.

"Then I've wasted 16 hours, and we go into the tournament with a serious handicap." Sakura sighed. She perked up again with a fist pump, though. "But we won't fail! I believe in Meister!"

"Good luck, you weirdo," Temari eyed her, "Don't forget about your algorithms assignment. We're convening to compare answers tomorrow, remember?"

"Yes yes," Sakura waved her hand, "I'm almost done, anyways."

"That's our resident genius for you," Tenten teased her from the doorway as she and Temari left.

Sticking her tongue out at the closing door, Sakura finally popped on her headset and logged in. As soon as she appeared at the predetermined meeting place, though, instead of finding her husband, she found Wulf and Old Man waiting for her.

[Here] OldRamenMan: 3SIL!
[Here] Beowulf69: hey
[Here] SakuraBlossom: Hey guys
[Here] OldRamenMan: Sm1rk's has to wrap up a phone call, he'll be here soon.
[Here] Beowulf69: He told us to practice PVPing with you first :D

Sakura frowned. That doesn't sound like Sm1rk. We have a 16 hour mission in front of us.

[Here] SakuraBlossom: Really?
[Here] Sm1rkMeister: No
[Here] Beowulf69: Boo Killjoy
[Here] Beowulf69: You guys are about to do a PVP tournament, you need the practice anyways
[Here] OldRamenMan: he's got a point there.
[Here] Beowulf69: We could give you a good fight
[Here] Beowulf69: Get some practice, you know
[Here] Sm1rkMeister: I see a problem
[Here] Sm1rkMeister: Way only has heterosexual couples
[Here] Sm1rkMeister: Who's taking the sex change potion?

Sasuke didn't even flinch when both of them shot out of their seats, raring for a fight. "YOU BE THE GIRL," Naruto and Kiba yelled at the same time.

"I'm taller than you!"

"I have more muscles than you!"

"I'm a better basketball player than you!"

"You even have a jutsu that'll turn you into a hot chick!"

"Oh yeah?! I can use it on you!"

"Bring it on!"

"I will!"

Chouji rolled his eyes at both of them, "Honestly, you two..."

Sasuke smirked, then looked back down at his keyboard.

[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: We should go
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: It's a long mission.
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Ready, mdw?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: ?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Ready
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: What happened to them?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Just ignore them

Sakura blinked as Wulf and Oldman started fighting furiously, even though she and Meister were walking away. Ah whatever, I'll figure it out later. Time to attempt this mission impossible! How hard could it be anyways?

(*꒦ິີ)

Which sadistic bastard dev created this quest?! Sakura wanted to cry when she saw the last puzzle. A chess puzzle?! What the heck is chess doing inside a game about ninjas?! Shannaro!

Sakura had lost track of time. Seven or eight hours must have passed, and they'd done each and every kind of activity the game ever had, from the basic, fend of a mob of several billion enemies, to the sadistic, kill one mob without hurting any others, to puzzles with even less direction than the hagoromo couples mission. There had even been a step to gather a rare kind of moon grass. If Sakura hadn't been a master herbalist with superior chakra control, she didn't know how they would've passed that step in the mission.

Now, with only two steps to go out of the thirty-two steps in the mission, Sakura was about to slowly bang her head on the desk when she saw the thirty first step.

[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I've never really played chess before…
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I don't even know what they're asking for!
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I also don't want to get sent back to the beginning again .

That had happened on the seventeenth step four hours ago, when Sakura had accidentally started a music puzzle early. She'd been ready to cry when she'd realize they'd have to start over, but Meister hadn't complained.

[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: I know
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Don't worry

Before she could question him further, Meister moved to the chessboard, which only had two white pieces out of place and one black piece out of place. She watched with a bated breath as he picked up one of the black pieces on the back row, and moved it diagonally.

I hope this works…

Sakura held her breath as the chessboard dissolved into a pool of light, and her screen went white. The flash hurt her dry eyes, but when she could see again they were standing outside the battle arena where Meister and Fries had fought earlier.

[Couple] System: Congratulations! You have reached the last step in the [Love Across Time and Space Mission]
[Couple] System: the final test is to see how long your red string of fate will stretch.

Sakura pumped her fists in the air and cheered. Her exuberance startled Hinata, who was just putting away her algorithms homework.

"A-Are you done?" Hinata-chan queried as she stretched.

"No, last step now. But we're almost there!" Sakura grinned. This time, an NPC Sakura had never before seen appeared near the arena, a pale man in a white kimono and bottomless eyes.

[Couple] Toneri: So it's you this time
[Couple] Toneri: You think you can change my mind?
[Couple] Toneri: Fine
[Couple] Toneri: Show me true love across time and space
[Couple] System: A strange old man has started making weird demands of you and your significant other. Do you wish to humour him? Type Y to begin the last step of the [Love across Time and Space] Chain Mission
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Y
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Y

Sakura had her eyes glued to the screen, not wanting to miss a second that might prove crucial to the outcome of this notoriously difficult mission, but all she saw was her screen suddenly going black.

She waited, ready to be done with this diabolical mission.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Her screen was still black.

"What the heck is going on?!" Sakura muttered to herself as she tabbed out of her window to make sure it wasn't her system freezing or anything.

"E-everything okay?" Hinata asked.

"My screen went totally black. I can't see anything at all," Sakura frowned as she checked her task manager, "This is very strange."

"W-would milk tea help?" Hinata offered, bringing over a cup.

"Milk tea always helps," Sakura grinned, "Thanks Hina-chan. You're the best! Hey, you're done with Algo, right? You should play for a bit - Wulf and Old Man should be online."

"I-I think I will then," Hinata smiled shyly and opened up her computer at her desk. She knew better to sit next to Sakura in the middle of an intense gaming session.

[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Sakura
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Are you there?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Are you okay?
[Couple] System: SakuraBlossom has woken up! Sm1rkMeister must find her in 7 hours and 48 minutes, otherwise…
[Couple] System: The only link SakuraBlossom will have with the outside world is this chat box. Use it well…
[Couple] System: Show us a love that reaches across time and space.

All of a sudden, a pool of light fell on her character and only her character appeared on her screen, alongside that flashing chat box that suddenly came alive. Sakura blinked, surprised, but quickly responded.

[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Still here
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Not sure where here is, though
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I'm in a dark hole and all I can see is the bare ground around me.
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I don't even have my gui,
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Not even my skills
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: just this chat bar.
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Interesting
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Do you have any other clues?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: What about sound?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: …
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Nothing, I can't hear anything
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: …
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Hm
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Wait
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I think I hear a bell?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Very far off in the distance though
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Okay, just sit still then
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: We have time
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: I will always find you

Sakura felt her cheeks grow hot. Shannaro! If he's not careful, I'm going to misunderstand him… No, no, no, I can't just sit there like some princess waiting to be rescued. Let's see if I can find more info on the forums.

To her chagrin, though, there wasn't a single word about the mission on the forums. The only post she could find was one obscure sentence: "The red string of fate draws lovers together across time and space."

That can't be it! Sakura stared at her screen. But it really was all she could find, even using multiple keywords and combinations of searches. She even used an external search engine. The only other hint she could find were a couple of players complaining about deleted forum posts and another external strategy page declaring that the guide was no longer appropriate, since the company had reprogrammed the mission entirely.

So that's why no one's beaten it yet. Sakura mused, raising her eyebrows. With that, she gave up looking and just reported the scanty information she'd found to Meister.

[Couple] SakuraBlossom: The only thing I could find was a forum post
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: It said "The red string of fate draws lovers together across time and space"
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Does that mean anything to you?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Maybe Jiraiya?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Maybe
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Just leave it to me.
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Don't you have studying to do?
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Yeah, but I feel guilty leaving you with all the work
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Besides, don't you have studying, too?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: No

Sakura cocked her head at his last message. But Old Man and Wulf have mentioned classwork, and I know they're all roommates. I didn't think the school let you stay on campus if you weren't enrolled…

Before she could think more about it, though, Meister asked another mission.

[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Nothing re: Jiraiya
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Do you remember if any of the couples missions mentioned a red string?
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: or ribbon, or anything long and tieable
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Maybe that's our starting point
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Hmm…
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Let me check my notebook

Sakura reached for her ever-present red notebook and started from about midway through, where she and Meister had met. Keeping a gaming diary was strange, even by super nerd standards, but Sakura considered her little red book part of her professional development and since she'd started it after she and Fries had done many of the couples mission, her notes with Meister were extremely detailed.

She stopped at the last entry, of Heitaro and his Willow wife - the last mission they'd done. Her fingers gently traced over the rough sketch of the willow with the long red rope tied around it marking it as a sacrifice to the imperial court. I remember, I sketched it down because the red ribbon made me think of someone cutting a woman's throat. It was good symbolism. She frowned at the note she'd made beside it, though. When I did this with Fries, the ribbon was white. Maybe… Sakura jumped to her keyboard.

[Couple] SakuraBlossom: Go find the willow wife
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: from our last mission
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I think she has a clue
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: OK

She blinked. He's just going to go, just like that? He didn't even ask me why? Then again, this is a timed mission. Maybe he just doesn't want to waste time. Oh well, I guess I should just trust him too. At least this way I can get some algorithms done. With that though, Sakura pulled out her homework like a responsible scholarship student.

A couple hours later, Sakura had finished her algorithms homework and was well into the advance reading and assignment for the next week. She hadn't wanted to navigate away from Way on her laptop, just in case Meister needed to ask her another mission, but since she didn't have a phone, she didn't have much else to do sitting at her desk. Beside a couple of questions about their old missions, though, Meister had maintained radio silence, and she didn't want to distract him from whatever he was doing. She glanced at the mission timer and made a face at it. 4 hours remaining. Well, at least I have snacks.

Just as she was about to reach for another strawberry daifuku, though, another chat started bombarding her with messages. She jumped, thinking it was Meister with something for her to do, but frowned when she saw the name of the sender.

[Whisper] MightyEbisu: SakuraBlossom you have some explaining to do
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: I didn't think you were this kind of person
[Whisper] MightyEbisu:I didn't think one of your statics would do something so reprehensible
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: Woah woah woah
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: Meister and I are in the middle of attempting the [Love Across Time and Space] Couples Mission
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: I've been locked in a dark room for the past three hours.
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: What exactly are you accusing me of?
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: Some of your new static members
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: Stole a drop from Kasumi
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: Who?
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: I made allowances for you since Fries broke up with you
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: I haven't even complained that you haven't been supporting the clan as much
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: But there's no need to bully his new wife and her friends
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: They're
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: We're all adults, and it's just a game
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: I expect you to return the drop and apologize to Kasumi

Sakura sat there with her mouth agape from disbelief. The nerve of this guy! Does he have a delusional disorder or something? I didn't even know the UWU family joined the clan, anyways. Sakura's anger started to boil over. He's the clan leader, not my mother. I gave them fair warning that I was going to be busy with the couples tournament and levelling up my intimacy with Meister. He doesn't get to dictate how I play the game!

A sudden thought occurred to her. I don't even have a static right now, anyways, unless you count Meister. But he's been even busier than I have. Who the heck is this numbskull talking about? Then she saw Hinata's screen out of the corner of her eye. Hinata-chan maybe? But how would he... Oh right, the video!

"Hinata-chan, are you, Old man and Wulf playing together right now? Are you doing an open world mission?" Sakura asked

"Y-yes, the Shukaku world boss in the Land of Sand. Is something wrong?"

"Did you guys steal someone's drop? Not you, but maybe Wulf or Old Man?"

"N-No. C-can you even do that?"

"Yeah, if something really rare drops for a world boss, the system will announce it and allow players to fight you for it if they pay a big enough penalty. It's considered pretty rude to do something like that to one of your allies, though."

"O-Oh. Th-the system did announce one of Ramen-san's drops. D-Does that help?"

"Did it announce anyone else's first?"

"N-No, I don't think so," Hinata frowned, "Wh-what's the matter?"

"My clan leader is accusing him of stealing a rare drop from one of our clan members. Did you see anyone with a name starting with "uwu" around?"

Hinata thought hard about it before she remembered something, "L-Like the girl who stole your ex-husband? I-I think Wulf might have mentioned it. B-but we definitely didn't fight them or anything."

Sakura scoffed and smiled at Hinata before she turned back to her computer, "Thanks Hina-chan. I'll take it from here."

Hinata watched the battle light shine in Sakura's eyes as her roommate rolled up her sleeves, ready to go to war. Turning back to her own game, she blinked at the barrage of messages she was receiving.

[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Sola-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Sola Sola Sola Sola
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Do you have time for another world boss or no?
[Party] Tournesola: Oh, sorry
[Party] Tournesola: Yes I do have time.
[Party] Tournesola: I was just talking to Sakura-chan
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: 3SIL?
[Party] Beowulf69: What happened?
[Party] Tournesola: I think Sakura-chan got accused of stealing a drop
[Party] Tournesola: or
[Party] Tournesola: no
[Party] Tournesola: She got accused of us stealing a drop
[Party] Tournesola: Anyways she was just asking me about it
[Party] Beowulf69: WHAT?!
[Party] Beowulf69: By WHO!?
[Party] Beowulf69: Bull *****
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: That's ridiculous.
[Party] Tournesola: We didn't steal a drop, did we?
[Party] Beowulf69: There wasn't anything worth stealing except this guy's sand
[Party] Beowulf69: And that's only if you're a forger
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Man we should help her out
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Do you know who accused her?
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Let's put'em on blast
[Party] Sexy OldRamenMan: Beat them up a little :D
[Party] Tournesola: Oh um
[Party] Tournesola: I don't think we need to
[Party] Beowulf69: Man, we can't just leave 3SIL hanging like this
[Party] Beowulf69: Cmon tell us
[Party] Tournesola: No
[Party] Tournesola: I mean
[Party] Tournesola: It's very thoughtful you offered, and I will tell her
[Party] Tournesola: But
[Party] Tournesola: Sakura-chan is very mad right now
[Party] Tournesola: So she doesn't need any help
[Party] Tournesola: :)

(─‿‿─)

[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: I think Kasumi owes me an explanation for why she's throwing baseless accusations around
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] SakuraBlossom: If you're going to come after me with this, you better have screenshots
[Whisper] MightyEbisu: Hey! Just cough up the drop, don't make this uglier than it has to be

Useless. Sakura scowled at this clan leader with a hole for a brain. If that's how you want to play it, be prepared for war.

[Couple] SakuraBlossom: I gotta kick some ****es and take some names
[Couple] SakuraBlossom: If you need me, you might need to ping me a few times
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: ok
[Couple] Sm1rkMeister: Let me know if you need any help with clean up mdw

Sakura blushed for the hundredth time at the epithet. No, Sakura, focus. She rolled up her sleeves and pulled up the clan chat window.

[Clan] SakuraBlossom: UwuKasumixx, come out here and explain why you're accusing my static of stealing your drop.
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Wait what?
[Clan] Chun_Lee: SakuraBlossom wouldn't do something like that
[Clan] FrieswithThat: ?
[Clan] SakiChan: What's going on?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Substitute clan leader Ebisu is demanding I give you some drop because you told him one of my statics stole it from you
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I'm currently in the middle of the [Love Across Time and Space] Mission
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: So I really don't have time for this bull****
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Hey SakuraBlossom, no need to make our private issues public
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: We can resolve it on our own
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: If my static stole your drop, I'll make it up to you x10
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: But if you're going to accuse me of this ****
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: prove it
[Clan] FireyKunai: Dem's fighting words
[Clan] ILolololU: But WL's not wrong
[Clan] SakiChan: Why's the WL calling Ebisu Substitute Clan Leader?
[Clan] FireyKunai: Because his ig wife was the original clan leader, but she had irl stuff
[Clan] SakiChan: ohhhh I didn't know
[Clan] ILolololU: You're too n00b

Sakura frowned as she watched the comments scroll by, not a peep out of anyone from the UWU family, or even Fries, after the initial missionion. Cowards, she sneered.

[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Sakura, what's going on?
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: Someone's trying to use a borrowed knife to stab me
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: unfortunately, the knife borrowed isn't very sharp
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: In English?
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: UWUFubukixx got him thinking one of my friends stole from them
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: It's a simple lie that five minutes of asking around would've sorted out
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: Ebisu's a dumb***
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SakuraBlossom: and I'm pissed off
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Her again!
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: She's been nothing but trouble since she joined the clan
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Flirting with all the single male players to get equipment and help with missions, and even some of the married ones too.
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: I even caught her sharing a mount with Ebisu! Can you believe it?

Sakura frowned. While riding on the same mount wasn't a couple emote or anything, it had evolved into a kind of flirting on Way as a prelude to a marriage proposal. It'd be one thing if it was a rank newbie, someone who'd played for less than a year. But Ebisu's been playing for longer than I have, and he's already married in game! I wonder if the Clan leader knew what kind idiot her husband was before she handed over leadership...

[Clan] SakuraBlossom: UWUKasumi, come out and explain yourself
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Or you can admit that you lied and mislead the substitute clan leader
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Stop pretending to be dead, I can see that you're online in the clan member list
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Or I can just go on world
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: It was a world boss, after all. There must have been other witnesses
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I don't mind calling you out publicly if you want to keep pretending to be afk
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: What's up?
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: I was just afking
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: Looks like Clan chat is lively today ^^
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: She's so fake
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: She knows she can just scroll back up, right?
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: Oh, that old thing
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: I just meant stole as a figure of speech
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: Not as in actual game mechanic stealing
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: So Substitute Clan Leader purposefully misunderstood you and accused me without proof?
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: Hey, it's not a big deal, right?
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: I'm still allowed some free speech

Sakura sneered. She throws people under the bus so quickly. I hope Ebisu gets squashed. In real life, Sakura would swallow her irritation and smooth things over in order to maintain the relationship, but this was just a game. She didn't have to worry about relationships and tact in games. This is why I like to keep them separate.

[Clan] FriesWithThat: Looks like it was all a misunderstanding
[Clan] FriesWithThat: stuff happens between friends, right?
[Clan] FireyKunai: Man, I was just getting the popcorn
[Clan] FriesWithThat: Let's move on
[Clan] FireyKunai: wait, that's it?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Substitute Clan Leader, I want an explanation from you
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I can't believe our esteemed leader would be so careless
[Clan] ILolololU: Ebisu's doing an ostrich rn lmao
[Clan] ILolololU: Oops, wrong channel
[Clan] MightyEbisu: Okay yes, I'm sorry
[Clan] MightyEbisu: I did misunderstand you, and I acted carelessly
[Clan] MightyEbisu: My bad, Sakura

Annoyed, but unwilling to waste any more time on these idiots, Sakura was just about to close the window when Ebisu's next couple of messages really made her jaw drop at the sheer audacity.

[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: But there is one thing we should talk about since you're here, SakuraBlossom
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: For once lol
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: The elite potions you sold at Fries and Ami's wedding
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: They were crafted with clan supplies, weren't they?
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: I haven't seen you turn in any profits though
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Once is okay
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: But don't do it again, okay?

Sakura fumed. He can't just apologize, can he? He's has to try to embarrass me because I demanded an apology? Hmph, just try it. Shannaro!

[Clan] SakuraBlossom: That's funny
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: It was so long ago, why are you only bringing it up now?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I thought I was the only master herbalist besides CutiepigTonton
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: And she hasn't been on in a while because of work
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: So…
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I don't see the problem with me using my own high-level herbs
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: to make my own potions
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: and keep my own profit
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Or do I now need to pay a storage fee?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Letting other people use my herbs isn't enough?

Eat that, jackass. Sakura scowled, crossing her arms in annoyance as she watched the chat on her dark screen.

[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: You know as well as I that you don't just use high-level herbs
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: There's quite a large quantity of low-level herbs used
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Especially moongrass
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: CL did quite a bit to collect all that
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: And you used it all
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Sakura and I already had an arrangement for those herbs
[Clan] Chun_Lee: She paid me back for it
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Anyways, it's not that important
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Well she used herbs from other people too
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Maybe we should all take a step back
[Clan] Chun_Lee: We're one clan, after all
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: My point is that SakuraBlossom should be more aware of others
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: And not abuse her position and status as an elder for personal gain
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: I don't want to hand down a penalty or anything
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Just a warning

Why that little… How dare he? Shannaro! How dare he baselessly accuse me of abusing my position?! What abuse? And how the hell does a snot-nosed, brainless twit with a stick shoved so far up his ass it's knocked out his spine get off on -

"S-Sakura-chan!" Hinata yelled in alarm. Her shout snapped Sakura out of the rising red haze and made her look towards her roommate, who pointed to her hand. Sakura looked down, and finally noticed that in her rage, she'd clenched her fists so hard cracked her wireless mouse in half. All the pent up anger dissipated into a mild annoyance at the thought that she'd need a new gaming mouse.

It's just a game. Is it worth me getting so upset?

"Hinata-chan, when you get up, can you bring me the backup mouse in the top drawer of my desk?" Sakura asked, unplugging the broken mouse since she was just chatting right now.

"S-Sure," Hinata got up right away. Sakura could hear the rustling behind her as she turned back to her screen and ignored the barrage of messages to lay out her ultimatum. In her heart, though, she already knew what the outcome would be. I'm so done with this shit. This isn't the Rolling Green Jade Seas Clan I know.

[Clan] SakuraBlossom: You know what Substitute Clan Leader?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I've had it up to here with your bull****
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: UWUKasumixx, you and I both know that you owe me an apology right now
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Either come out and apologize for slandering me
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Or I will make your lies the truth
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: The next time I see you get a drop worth anything, I'll steal it from you
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: If you're not going to have any consideration for clan mates, then don't expect me to be polite
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: Didn't the Clan Leader just tell you not to abuse your elder status?
[Clan] UWUKasumixx: It really was an honest mistake :(
[Clan] UWUAmixx: SakuraBlossom don't bully weaker players!
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] UWUKasumixx: She's so mean and stuck up
[Whisper to MightyEbisu] UWUKasumixx: even if she wants to be a ***** to me, she should still at least show you some respect
[Clan] FrieswithThat: Maybe everyone should calm down for a bit...
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: SakuraBlossom, you go too far!
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: She just made a mistake, why do you have to be so overbearing?
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Just let it go, geez
[Clan] Clan Leader MightyEbisu: Why do you have to be so unreasonable?
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Hey, don't try to pin this on Sakura-chan!
[Clan] Chun_Lee: It was originally Kasumi-san who was wrong in the first place
[Clan] Chun_Lee: Let's all just calm down for a bit, okay?
[Clan] FireyKunai: Yeah just let it go
[Clan] FireyKunai: What's the point of all this drama
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Oh I'm unreasonable?
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Forget it
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: If this is how you run a clan, I want no part of it
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] Chun_Lee: Sakura don't be rash
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] Chun_Lee: Don't leave me here alone!

Sakura felt a twinge of conscience at CL's last message, but she was fed up. This was too much bullshit to deal with for a game

[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I've said all I need to say
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: I'd rather forfeit any false honour than bear these unwarranted accusations
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: Friends, if we meet again on the Way of the Ninja, we'll still be friends
[Clan] SakuraBlossom: But I, SakuraBlossom, am withdrawing from the Clan
[Clan] ILolololU: Wait what?!
[Clan] SakiChan: Who's going to be the warleader now?
[Clan] FireyKunai: tf just happened?!

Sakura ignored the explosion in chat as she hit the clan window shortcut. Although the navigation buttons were greyed out, the option she was looking for was still available

[Clan] System: Are you sure you wish to withdraw from your clan? You will lose any merit, status, boons, and access to common assets as a result! Type Y to Confirm.
[Self] SakuraBlossom: Y
[World] System: While we may walk the same way for a while, all roads must part eventually. SakuraBlossom has withdrawn from the [Rolling Green Jade Seas Clan]!

---

AN:Our girl Sakura takes no shit, huehuehue.

Honestly kick-ass and take names Sakura is one of my favourite characters to write. Also, this chapter is just one of my favourite scenes in both the novel and the drama (and yes, I know I have many many favourites) - it's been a while since we've had one of those chapters. Also... hi guys, it's been a while. At this point I don't think I should promise anything because life sucks and I want to be vaccinated already. I miss people dammit! I haven't forgotten this fic though - maybe upcoming camp Nano will give me some more mojo, and, y'know, a backlog for my Beta. Speaking of which, thanks to Reglee for the excellent Beta job as always. Anyways, thank you for stopping by (if anyone's left) and as always, comments, reviews, kudos, favourites, bookmarks, and vaccination appointments always make my days.