A/N: Thank you all for your interactions with this story thus far. And a special arigato to those who are coming back for the updated chapter after so long. ✨ My business has taken a lot of the free time I typically have after working my day job... So I would rather not push content just for the sake of pushing it.
But anyway, I will never forget Outrunning Karma! Or you lovely folks who support it.
Much love, enjoy!
And I said all of that... why?
When I began to feel an enveloping warmth creep up the back of my neck, I stuffed the new items I acquired into my backpack to distract myself. Meanwhile, Kakashi continued talking with the demon brothers behind me. Eyes swept over my figure from time to time - I could feel that. Yet I couldn't deal with the confusion, the burning curiosity in their gazes, because I was struggling to find sense in my sudden outburst of frustration, too. Once I felt the rage towards the ninja begin to rise inside me, it was as if a lever had been turned, and the words simply poured out of my throat with vengeance. There was a sour taste to the whole situation.
It was fortunate that no one ever questioned my encounter with the demon brothers. We departed once more towards the Land of Waves. In addition to the time we spent fighting the ambush, I estimated that we'd been walking for 7 hours now. Over the course of the day, we slowly lost sight of the sun as it gradually sank lower on the horizon. It became concealed by the great oaks enveloping us, casting eerie shadows over the grove through which we passed.
Despite my hypervigilance from the ambush earlier, I was left feeling physically drained from the walk and mentally drained from my earlier spat. The fact that I wasn't the only one whose perception had begun to deteriorate brought a sense of guilty relief. As time passed, Naruto began to stumble from time to time and Sasuke's pace slowed periodically. In spite of appearing unconcerned and oblivious as he tucked his nose into his book, Kakashi's posture radiated confidence and ease, a testament to his exceptional skill in battle.
Over time, the number of other travelers along the primary route decreased as the darkness settled on the area. A forbidding wind roared through the leaves of the oaks, the creaking of the immense branches above pulling everyone into a trance of unusual silence and we all seemed to contemplate the ambiance. The clouds sailed swiftly across the sky as the breeze carried them.
It would have been better if I hadn't said anything.
Shouldn't have drawn unwanted attention.
Mind my role as Sakura Haruno.
Stay in the backdrop.
In the end, it was… satisfying.
"Ehhh, sensei!" Naruto grumbled as his arms snaked around his stomach, which was growling. "Are we planning to take a break anytime soon or what?"
Kaikashi glanced down at the yellow-haired boy before he shifted his gaze to the bridge builder. As Tazuna yawned, he raised his hand over his mouth to cover it.
"Our mission funds will help us find a place to rest and eat in Fushichou, a small township nearby. We'll use them when we reach the settlement."
Tazuna and Naruto's faces shone with relief and their strides gained energy. Our journey brought us to the edge of a town in 10 minutes, as Kakashi predicted. There were several lanterns affixed to the scaffoldings of the large wooden gates that led into town. A sequence of crows flew down to amass on top of the entrance, just as a gust of mouthwatering hickory smoke billowed from the other side. Undoubtedly, they were attracted by the aroma of a juicy slab of flavorful meat being prepared. Still, the sight of them sent tingles down my spine. Memories of freezing water brought an agonizing sensation of pressure building in my body, betraying the mind and the senses.
Caw!
My heart pounded as my breath caught in my throat.
Kakashi halted about 100 yards from the gates, his sandals scuffing the gravel and dirt below them as he turned to us, pulling me back to the present.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura. Continue following this road until you see Sawayaka Inn- the name is on the building, so there's no way you'll miss it. Take the bridge builder and purchase two rooms for the night there." Naruto immediately opened his mouth to protest the orders. My eyes swept briefly over Sasuke for his reaction, whose brows had furrowed in obvious disbelief. I, however, knew that I wasn't calling any shots in this unknown time period in Sakura's past, so I tried my best to maintain trust in Kakashi's judgment.
Regardless of what happens, I have a good idea of what the end results will be.
Sensei's elongated gaze and the finger he held to his masked lips kept us all attentive and silent as he continued talking.
"Don't forget Tazuna is still a target. There is the possibility that enemies will be stationed in towns along the route to the Land of Waves, now that we know trained hitmen are after him. They will be looking for people who match his description. A surprise element is important so we can be more secure. I need to coordinate that surprise, alone."
In a state of utter bewilderment, Tazuna asked, "What element is this you speak of?" It was hard to blame his skepticism, considering we are children.
"Please be assured, you'll be safe with my team." Kakashi told the bridge builder in a soothing tone. Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets and twisted his lips downward, clearly unpersuaded. A part of me wondered if that was because he felt compelled to protect both me and Naruto. The confidence in Kakashi's voice when he said, my team, was not lost to Naruto and he broke into a broad cocky grin.
Sensei produced a scroll from a pouch stitched over the left breast of his flak jacket. Next, he fished out a thin stack of cash as well as a red coin from his pants pockets. "Show this coin to the front desk before you pay for the room." Kakashi then flicked the coin up in the air, causing it to spin wildly. Sasuke pulled a hand out from his pocket and lifted it above his head. The coin descended toward him, and he snatched it up with ease. A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
"And... Be careful not to lose it." Kakashi concluded with a smile of his own, pressing through the fabric of his mask. Naruto and I stood on opposite sides of Sasuke, peering into his open palm and observing the red coin that rested there. It was carved wood. There wasn't anything particularly special about that, it was a common skill in this age of development. No, it was the ANBU symbol burned into the surface that led to its rarity. I leaned in closer to inspect the blemishes. As strands of my long pink hair swept over Sasuke's arm, he seemed to tense at the close contact. Taking a deep breath, I rocked back on my heels and gave him some space.
As if it were burned by electricity.
"Understood?"
"Yes, Sensei." We answered in unison. Sasuke stuffed the coin into his right pocket and I took the cash from Kakashi's offered hand, who left us after that point. Having no Sensei, we passed through the gate as a half-confident, half-skeptical party. We found the Inn soon after we entered the small township. It was a lofty, narrow building with three stories. There was a bar on the right side and a restaurant on the left. It was a pleasant surprise to see a thoughtfully decorated front desk and breathe in a strong floral scent that permeated the establishment. The noise coming from the bar next door was a bit unsettling on my tired nerves though. The party featured mind-numbing chatter, loud music, and terrible karaoke.
"Good evening!" The man at the front desk greeted us cheerfully. "What can I do ya for?" My eye twitched at the choice of words.
"Bathroom, bathroom!" Naruto cried restlessly as he shifted his weight from one leg to another. The Innkeeper laughed as he pointed across the room to a door. Immediately, Naruto ran for it.
"H-hey, wait for me, kid!" Tazuna hurriedly followed behind him.
Naruto would keep an eye on him, I hoped and prayed.
"We would like to book two rooms for tonight." I spoke in a pleasant tone and mustered up a polite smile to give back to the man. I leaned over the counter to make sure he could hear me. The walls of the mostly barren reception area reverberated with an echoed whine of microphone feedback and roars of laughter. In the far right corner, a door suddenly opened with such force it slammed against the wall. It gave me an afterthought that we all would come to appreciate come time for sleep.
A group of drunken men piled in through the doorway and some fell through noisily to the floor, capturing all of our attention. As I rolled my eyes at the sight of a Konoha headband tied lazily around a man's upper arm, I couldn't help but chuckle. The sight of the familiar symbol had given me a wave of relief and comfort.
We are still in the Land of Fire.
"On the top floor please, if possible." I said, hesitantly bringing my attention back to the task at hand. It would be rude to stare.
When Sasuke stepped up to the counter and leaned in beside me, I tried to simultaneously read into his body language and manage the tension that raised in my own from his unusual closeness. I suspected he intended to hurry along the process and present Kakashi's special ANBU coin in a subtle fashion to the Innkeeper, using our bodies as barriers to protect it from the view of passing or prying eyes. I turned my attention back to the Innkeeper, who was still staring at the group of men with a humorous expression. My control slipped as the back of Sasuke's hand rubbed briefly over my left hip. As he struggled momentarily to fish out the coin, my eyes drifted towards a rather intriguing blemish on the wooden counter. I never expected to feel the almost featherweight pressure of his fingertips through the material of our shorts as he dug them into his pocket.
Sasuke's arm was being watched carefully by the man behind the front desk. His eyes had flickered over my transparent ones with a cheeky twinkle, though I did not see this as my focus was still cast downward. "A double for your brother and grandfather, and the deluxe full for you and your boyfriend then, Miss?"
You seem to make some pretty heavy assumptions, don't you?
"Oooh la la~"
One giggly man cooed unabashedly as a group of drunk men passed by. They stumbled up a flight of stairs, seemingly as loud as possible, leaning in against each other for support so that they wouldn't tumble back down the unforgiving steps.
Sasuke's hand stilled as he lifted it from his side. With the ANBU coin still hidden from view behind the counter, Sasuke looked slowly from the man, to his hand, and then to the space between us. Or the lack thereof. A rosy hue dusted both of our cheeks as his gaze finally raised to meet mine.
Took you long enough.
I felt a spark of frustration.
Then I glanced at his hand pointedly, hoping he would get the message. Thankfully, he moved along at the same pace, positioning his open palm on the counter next to my arm, showing the coin to the Innkeeper for a moment. Almost instantly, the teasing smile dropped from his face. Sasuke's palm closed once more as he wore a look of seriousness on his face. For a moment, the Innkeeper studied us both skeptically, and I guessed he was evaluating our looks and ages. He cleared his throat subtly after the pregnant pause.
"That will be 3000 yen in total." The Innkeeper was inconspicuously discreet as his tone became less pronounced. Counting out mentally from the small stack of yen I had acquired, I divided and passed the total to the Innkeeper from between my fingers. We were given the keys to our rooms as Naruto and Tazuna walked back up and the man wished us a good night's rest. Naruto grabbed the key in a flash and giggled, already halfway up the stairs before I could stop him.
"I'm starving!" Naruto shouted. "Come on, let's drop our packs off and get something to eat already."
Despite the bags under his eyes showing his tiredness from the day's travel, Tazuna said, "Say no more." with a chirp to his tone. Using the railing as a stepping stone, he hustled up the stairs after Naruto. Briefly I pondered how a man of his age stayed fit enough to keep up so well, but then I remembered the obvious.
Right. Bridge builder.
I had been left at the bottom of the stairs with Sasuke.
"...He could have waited for us, really." I grumbled, eliciting a hum of agreement from the dark-haired boy beside me. The climb up the three flights of stairs began with tired eyes and an inward prayer for patience to whatever Gods were listening. I thumbed over the raised metal of the key's room number. As I approached the doorway, I inserted the key into the lock and turned it, pushing open the door to our room.
D3
My heavy pack slipped off my back as I stepped to the side to allow Sasuke to enter. Next to the door, I leant it against the wall. When I began rubbing deep circles into my sore shoulder, my neck tilted back in relaxation and my eyes closed for a minute while I appreciated the air conditioning. I opened my eyes back up and looked around. Although Sasuke had already set his pack down, he seemed to be lost in thought, staring afar. He had taken a seat in a chair beside the door. His face curved in a frown. Just as I was about to ask what was wrong a door slammed outside our room. As he drew back his attention to the present, we made eye contact and listened together to the sound of two equally loud, familiar footsteps clambering back down the stairway.
"Let's go, that idiot shouldn't be left by himself too long with Tazuna." Sasuke seemed to grumble as he stood back up to open the door. Still feeling gross from the hike, I followed, despite wanting nothing more than to be alone and off my aching feet for a few minutes. I settled by pouting down at the Uchiha crest the entire way.
One of us failed to notice that the foot of one full bed protruded from around the corner of the entrance of our hotel room.
At the time I didn't realize that one was me.
We didn't have to wait long for Kakashi to join us. Naruto had surprisingly chosen a booth in the corner of the main dining room of the barbeque bar for us. He did a great job of being mindful of our need for privacy. It was the smell, taste, and sight of the delicious smoked barbeque that kept our mouths full for the first half of dinner. When our plates were almost empty, Kakashi briefly discussed what time we would depart in the morning. He was going to show us how to place some advanced traps to secure our rooms and alert us to intruders. Through Kakashi's proactive thinking, we could get a decent night's rest before the next day of travel, without as much worry about an ambush.
At that point, I had stacked my dishes with Kakashi and Tazuna's, but Sasuke and Naruto were still working on theirs. After swallowing his last bite, Sasuke picked up his teacup and generously tipped it.
"The beds here are sooo comfortable, Sensei!" Naruto cheered, and I shifted my gaze from the lone Uchiha to him. He was consistently bright and positive, no matter the situation, almost like sunshine. If you looked close enough though, you could begin to tell the difference between his real and fake smiles. You could tell he was trying just as hard to convince himself to see the good in everything, as he tried with everyone else. I smiled bittersweetly as I watched him. "And honestly, I think they could easily sleep all of us together, no problem!"
Sasuke coughed and choked on his tea almost immediately, setting his teacup back down with a loud thud. At that point I turned quickly as he leaned over in his chair, coughing thoughtfully away from us. I felt my brows crease as I patted his back, and my lungs seemed to squeeze uncontrollably as I heard that awful, familiar, wet sound. When Sasuke's fit slowed down, I relaxed back against my chair, allowing him the space to compose himself.
"I agree with Sasuke." Kakashi said with a slight tease in his tone. "I know the beds are comfortable, Naruto, but we should still sleep in two rooms. It's just less attention that way."
"Any room packed like sardines is gonna get attention for certain." Tazuna snorted, knocking back his second and only remaining shot of sake. The restaurant had a two-shot limit one hour before closing. Thankfully.
"Of course!" Naruto nodded his head in agreement with crossed arms, as though that had been his thought all along too. "It would just be weird for 5 people to sleep in one room."
"Whew..." Tazuna leaned back against his own chair, a hand resting gingerly on his notably bloated belly. In his other hand, he held a toothpick, which he pulled from his mouth as he yawned. "I'm about ready to call it a night myself."
"Sakura, since you still have the mission funds, can you pay for dinner?" Kakashi asked from over his book, his eyes flickering back and forth along the page as he progressed deeper into his story.
"Of course, sensei."
I soon found myself alone at the table with the host, counting out the funds to pay for our meals. I briefly considered whether or not it was custom to leave a tip in this area, and asked the host, who adamantly shook his head no.
"Thank you, please come again!" The host bowed and moved along to clean up his next table.
For a moment, I remained seated at the table, rubbing my thumb over the rim of my teacup absentmindedly as I slouched down. I held my chin in my other hand, elbow propped up on the table to support the weight. My feet ached from all the walking and I found it hard to muster up the energy to stand and drag myself up the staircase. Inhaling became difficult as my mind slowly considered the events of the day.
I really don't remember it taking this long to get to Tazuna's house. The show made it seem like it only took a day.
A heavy load of fatigue weighed over my eyes, and I squeezed them shut.
And we only walked half the day...
Can I really keep this up?
"Sakura."
The sudden voice, low but clear, might have startled me if I hadn't become so accustomed to hearing it in the oddest and sometimes loneliest of times. Still, the intrusion of quiet reflection made me feel a little embarrassed. Being trapped in the body of a young Sakura Haruno left me with little free time.
"Oh..." I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding and laughed nervously, hastily tucking away a long lock of pink hair behind my ear that was obstructing my view of him. "Sasuke. I thought you went upstairs with everyone else. I hope that Kakashi-sensei didn't ask you to wait on me."
"I didn't think it was a good idea to leave you by yourself, so I came back." Sasuke said, regarding me with an undecipherable expression on his face as I stood from the booth. "Kakashi said we would begin setting traps in Tazuna's room soon. Are you ready?" He asked with a light tone, implying that we did have some time to spare, if I needed it.
"Yes, I'm ready." I replied, an embarrassed smile on my face. How long had he been standing there, watching me?
As he turned toward the exit, he took a few steps but looked back at me expectantly after a moment, and I caught up and fell into step with him. My hands met behind my back, my left hand clasping my right wrist. It was quiet between us, the only exception being the sound of our footsteps.
A thought crossed my mind.
"Let's stop back with the Innkeeper for a second." I said with a tone of finality, causing Sasuke to look back at me with a quirked brow.
"...If you don't mind sharing, I am fine with it." I said tiredly, wanting nothing more than a hot bath at that moment.
Our last two hours were spent in Tazuna's room, learning how to make, find, and disarm traps, as well as strategies to disorient and demoralize the enemy using them. I discovered I was quite talented at hiding explosive seals using the jambs on the windows of the upper floor, courtesy of praise from Kakashi after I successfully removed and replaced the trim of the window without damage or apparent tampering.
Sasuke was particularly skilled at manipulating pull wires, so Kakashi assigned him the duty of arming the doorways leading into both rooms. I recalled Kakashi's words when I asked him if I needed to secure the windows in the other room too.
"Yes, it will be necessary in case the enemy tries to hold one of us hostage for a trade-off. I'll be staying in Tazuna's room with Naruto, but I have confidence that you and Sasuke will work out just fine together." He had said it quite cheekily with a wink, bringing the realization upon all of us that Sasuke and I would be alone together. All night.
We found that Naruto was no longer patient for setting traps after Kakashi's comment, and there were some close calls when he tangled himself up in Sasuke's pull wire. But he did well with pressure plates, which would come in handier in other situations.
. . .
"Whatever." Sasuke sighed out after our long pause of us staring at the lone bed together. His brows scrunched closer together and there appeared to be a tint of red to his cheeks as he reached for a change of sleep clothes that he set out on his bag and hurried to the bathroom.
I couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped me before I walked over to the bed to pull the sheets and comforter back, preparing it for when we would rest. Next, I laid out my own sleep clothes for when Sasuke was done. About 15 minutes were spent securing our windows with the explosive seals. As a last-minute thought, I grabbed the door hangers that I acquired from the Innkeeper earlier, being careful not to trigger Sasuke's traps as I exited our room briefly. I hung the privacy notice on the outside door handles of both rooms occupied by my team.
I don't want any staff to get hurt by our traps on accident.
By the time that I began to empty my pockets and unpack the few personal items I brought, namely my journals and the note that I failed to destroy earlier, Sasuke had finished showering and opened the bathroom door. With practiced ease, I hid the note into one of the journals inconspicuously and then turned to face him.
God, I hope there's a-
"There's a bathtub." Sasuke said evenly while he crossed the room towards the bed, his eyes drifting over the exposed sheets as he stuffed his dirty clothes into his bag.
"Ohh, what a relief! I guess I should get right to it then." I beamed back at him and grabbed the clothes I had laid out. I paused after I opened the bathroom door and turned to look back at Sasuke, my mouth opening to speak but the action fell short as I took him in. The left side of the bed was clearly his choice, but he paused. As he looked between the door and the bed, a small frown twisted his lips.
"Sasuke, what is it?" I called to him quietly, my brows knitting together. His eyes darted to me, meeting my tired and worried gaze.
Does he sense someone? I tried to focus my senses, heightening them for the feel of any strange chakra presence outside of the room.
"It's nothing." Sasuke said confidently as he walked around to the other side of the bed.
"...Alright. Well, in case you're asleep by the time I'm done," I began after considering his odd behavior briefly. "I hope you rest well."
"Hn."
As the bathroom door clicked gently behind me, I missed his quiet response and acknowledgment.
What I didn't miss was that Sasuke had changed his mind despite the fact it was obvious he preferred the left side.
Ultimately, he chose the side closest to the door.
Closest to danger.