Outside the tent, Sasuke observed the two with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. His Sharingan eyes took in the entire scene, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation and jealousy at the evident bond and relationship between Kakashi and Sakura.

"You two are pathetic," Sasuke muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.

As he continued to watch from a distance, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "Sasuke, you need to let go of the past."

It was Naruto, who had approached silently, observing the scene as well. Sasuke turned to face his former teammate, his expression guarded.

"I don't need your advice, Naruto," Sasuke retorted coldly. "How can you tolerate this relationship? When I left, I told you to do one thing. I told you to take care of her. But not like this. Why would you let Kakashi have his way with her?"

Naruto sighed, a mix of sadness and frustration evident in his expression. "Sasuke, you don't get it. Sakura chose Kakashi. It's not about 'having his way.' They love each other, and she's happy with him. She spent the majority of her life chasing after you. Now she moved on. You need to respect her choices and let go of your resentment. If you just realized that you love her, does not mean she is going to jump back into your arms. She has Kaka-sensei now."

Sasuke's eyes flashed with a hint of frustration at Naruto's words. "Love? You think I care about such things?"

Naruto crossed his arms, a stern expression on his face. "Maybe you should start caring, Sasuke. Sakura deserves to be happy, and Kakashi makes her happy. You can't control her life or force her into what you want. Let her be."

Sasuke's grip on his emotions tightened, and he shot Naruto a sharp look. "I need her to help me rebuild my clan, Naruto. And no one can stop me from achieving that."

Naruto shook his head, a mixture of pity and disappointment in his eyes. "Sasuke, using Sakura like that is not fair to her. She's not a tool for you to achieve your goals. She has her own life and choices to make. Don't drag her into something she might not want."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his expression growing colder. "She owes me for my brother's sacrifice."

"Do you think Itachi will like it?" Naruto asked. "Do you think he would want you to force someone to be with you?"

"My brother said that no matter what I choose to do, he will love me always. No matter what atrocities I do now, he won't turn his back on me."

Naruto stared at Sasuke, he really is not the Sasuke he used to know. "Sasuke," his voice is grave. "if you do anything to Sakura-chan or Kaka-sensei, I'll personally avenge her pain."

Sasuke scoffed at Naruto's threat, a smirk playing on his lips. "You always were soft, Naruto. But go ahead, play hero if you want. It won't change anything."

Naruto's gaze hardened, and he stepped closer to Sasuke. "I won't let you hurt Sakura. She's suffered enough because of you. If you care about your brother's sacrifice, then honor it by not causing more pain."

Sasuke's Sharingan glowed ominously, and he regarded Naruto with a cold stare. "I'll do what I need to do. No one can stop me." He said before he marched inside the tent.

Sakura immediately untangled herself from Kakashi's embrace when she saw Sasuke's red eyes looking at them. "What is it, Sasuke?"

Sasuke's eyes bore into Sakura and Kakashi, his expression unreadable. He grabbed her wrist and tried to drag her outside the tent. But she resisted, using her chakra-infused feet to root her in her place. Sasuke's eyes narrowed more. "You're coming with me."

"Let her go, Sasuke." Kakashi said with dangerous voice, and although his body is still aching from the war, he rose from the cot and held Sakura, his arms encircling her shaking form. "Let go, Sasuke." He demanded.

Sasuke tightened his grip on Sakura's wrist, his expression growing colder. "She owes me, Kakashi. She's a valuable asset for the Uchiha clan's revival. I won't let her stay here and waste her time and potential with you. She is mine." He looked at Sakura. "You're coming with me, Sakura." He declared. "That man is just using you. He doesn't love you, Sakura. You're just a plaything, a pretty plaything."

Sakura glared at Sasuke, "I don't owe you anything, Sasuke. And I'm not a tool for your clan's revival. I have my own life, my own choices. Let me go!" She tried wrenching her wrist from his grasp, but Sasuke held on to her tighter, almost bruising her.

Kakashi stepped forward, his presence imposing. "Sasuke, let her go. She's made her choice, and she's with me. You can't force her into something she doesn't want."

Sasuke's Sharingan flared and morphed into his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and he hissed, "You're not good enough for her, Kakashi. She deserves better." He turned to Sakura again and tried to poison her mind. "You think this man cares about you, Sakura? He's just using you to fill the void left by his dead lover." He sneered at Kakashi. "Don't think that I don't know about Nohara Rin, Kakashi." Then to Sakura. "You're nothing more than just a substitute." He pulled her out of Kakashi's arms. "Do you even know that she's a medic too?" he asked her. "A medic like you. In his mind, he's fucking Rin while he is fucking you." He tightened his hold on her. "Do you really want to live on another woman's shadow, Sakura?"

Sakura's eyes widened at Sasuke's words, a mix of shock and anger flashing across her face. She forcefully pulled her wrist from Sasuke's grasp, standing her ground. "You're crossing the line, Sasuke. Don't you dare insult Kakashi like that. He's not using me."

"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked. "Look at how quiet your lover is. He is quiet because he knows I'm right."

Doubt crossed Sakura's eyes when he realized that Sasuke was right. When he mentioned Rin's name, Kakashi became silently as stone. She turned to him. "Kakashi…?"

"Do you really want to live your whole life with a man who's only with you because you remind him of someone?" Sasuke added. "You deserve better than that."

"Kakashi!" Sakura yelled, when he didn't even move to defend himself.

Kakashi finally spoke, his voice calm but filled with pain. "Sakura, it's true that I loved Rin. But I love you, too. It's not about replacing one with the other. It's about finding a place for you in my heart. I can't change my past, but I can choose who I am now. And I choose you, Sakura."

Sasuke chuckled mockingly, "Choosing her because she's convenient, right, Kakashi? A replacement for a love that you lost. You don't truly love her. She's just a stand-in."

Sakura's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Kakashi, searching for the truth in his visible eye. "Kakashi, is that true?"

Kakashi reached out to cup Sakura's cheek, his touch gentle. "Sakura, I won't deny my past, and I won't deny that Rin holds a special place in my heart. But you are not a substitute. You are an individual, with your own strengths, your own qualities that I cherish. I love you for who you are, not because of who you remind me of."

Sasuke's eyes had an evil glint in it, satisfied with Kakashi's flustered explanation. "Sakura, don't be blinded by his words. He's manipulating you. You deserve someone who can give you their whole heart, not someone who is divided between you and a dead lover." He whispered to her ear. "Come with me, Sakura. And you won't have any past lovers to be worried about."

Sakura, torn between Sasuke's words and Kakashi's assurances, took a step back. She wiped away her tears and steadied herself, her expression determined. "No, Sasuke. I won't let you manipulate me. Kakashi has been honest with me, and I trust him. I won't be a pawn in your clan's revival or anyone's substitute. I choose my own path, and it's with Kakashi."

But Sasuke only smirked. "Honest with you, Sakura?" he echoed her words. "Then how come you didn't know about Rin?"

Kakashi's gaze never wavered as he spoke, addressing both Sasuke and Sakura. "I didn't tell her anything because Rin is in the past. And she's not going to be in the present, never in my future. Why do I have to tell her about something that doesn't concern her?"

"Doesn't concern her, Kakashi?" Sasuke laughed. "But you stayed for hours on end in the memorial stone and her resting place. Are you sure that she's not going to come between the two of you?" He added, trying to plant a seed of doubt firmly in Sakura's mind.

"Sakura," he held her hand. "I won't deny his accusations. Yes, I still visit her. Yes, she's important to me. But she's in the past. She's dead, Sakura. Why would we let a dead person come between us?"

Sasuke sighed. Concealing the happiness that he feels because he is slowly getting to his goals. "Sakura-chan, do you really want to share your man with a dead woman?" he asked. "With me, I can promise you that no woman dead or alive will come between us. You won't have to share me with anyone."

"Kakashi…" Sakura whispered the silver-haired jonin's name and big fat tears started to fall from her eyes. Doubt is clouding her mind. "Ka… Kakashi…"

Kakashi took her hands in his, not letting Sasuke win. "Sakura, please, look at me. Look at me." He implored.

Sakura reluctantly met Kakashi's gaze, her eyes clouded with uncertainty and pain. Kakashi's visible eye held a mixture of understanding and desperation. He couldn't bear to see her torn between them.

"Sakura, I won't force you to stay with me if you have doubts. But please, listen to your heart. You know me, you know us. We've been through so much together," Kakashi spoke earnestly, his grip on her hands tightening. "I love you, Sakura. And I want you to choose me because you love me, not out of obligation or fear."

Sasuke watched the scene unfold with a triumphant smirk. He felt that he was close to achieving what he wanted, pulling Sakura away from Kakashi. The tension in the air was palpable as Sakura wrestled with her emotions.

"I... I don't know, Kakashi," Sakura admitted, her voice shaky. "I love you, but Sasuke's words..."

Kakashi gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Sakura, don't let Sasuke's words cloud your judgment. He's trying to manipulate you. Our love is real, and I want you to choose me because you believe in us."

Sasuke grew impatient, seeing that Sakura was still hesitant. "Sakura, how long are you going to let this man play with your heart? Choose me, and I'll make sure you're treated the way you deserve. No more shadows of the past haunting us."

"Sakura, answer me this. When did Sasuke showed you affections and empathy without asking anything in return?" Kakashi asked. "When was the last time he showed you or made you feel important?"

Sakura hesitated, reflecting on Kakashi's question. She recalled the moments where Sasuke had been distant, focused on his own goals, he even tried to kill her, and she couldn't deny the truth in Kakashi's words.

She took a deep breath and shuddered. "Kakashi, do I… do I have to compete with her?" she asked in a low voice.

Kakashi cupped her face, his thumbs wiping her tears. "No. Never." He promised. "Sakura, you don't have to compete with anyone, especially not with someone from my past. Rin is gone, and you are here, in the present, with me. I love you for who you are, and I don't want you to feel like you're in a competition. You're my priority, Sakura," Kakashi reassured her, sincerity in his voice.

Sasuke scoffed, growing impatient with the conversation. "Sakura, if you're done with this emotional drama, let's go. We have things to discuss, and I won't wait forever."

But Sakura pulled away from Sasuke, her decision becoming clearer. She turned to Kakashi, her eyes still filled with uncertainty but a newfound determination. "Kakashi, I'm sorry…" she murmured. And behind her, Sasuke's smirked grew while Kakashi's eyes turned somber. "I'm sorry that I ever doubted you, that I doubted us." She finished.

Kakashi's eyes softened with relief and gratitude. He gently pulled Sakura into a tight embrace, holding her close. "You don't have to apologize, Sakura. I understand the doubts, but I'm just glad you chose to trust in us."

Sasuke's expression darkened, and he grabbed her by the shoulder. "No! You're mine. You're mine and no one else."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, a hint of anger in his gaze. "That's not for you to decide, Sasuke. Sakura chose me, and I won't let you take her away."

The tension in the tent escalated, and the air crackled with the unspoken threat. Outside, Naruto watched the confrontation unfold, his expression grave. He could sense the growing conflict, and he knew that he needed to intervene.

"Sasuke, let's talk outside," Naruto suggested, his tone firm.

"No. Sakura's mine. She's mine." Sasuke insisted. "I will take her with me."

Sakura's anger flared as Sasuke continued to assert his claim over her. She glared at him, her emerald eyes filled with defiance. "I am not yours, Sasuke! I don't belong to anyone. I've made my choice, and it's not you. Let go of me!"

Sasuke's grip on her wrist tightened, and he leaned in, his voice a dangerous whisper. "You don't get to make choices, Sakura. You're a part of my plan, and you will come with me."

Naruto stepped forward and gripped Sasuke's shoulder. "Let her go, Sasuke."

Sasuke shot Naruto a sharp look, his eyes narrowing in irritation. "Stay out of this, Naruto. This doesn't concern you."

Naruto's grip on Sasuke's shoulder tightened, his expression unwavering. "It concerns Sakura, and that makes it my concern. You can't force her into something she doesn't want. Let her go."

Sasuke's eyes glowed ominously, and the air became charged with the intensity of the brewing conflict. Inside the tent, Sakura felt a surge of frustration and fear, but she didn't back down. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, determined to resist Sasuke's attempts to control her.

"Sasuke, I don't know what delusions you have, but I'm not a pawn in your plan. I am not obligated to follow your orders," Sakura declared, her voice steady despite the emotional turmoil he had put her through. "Let me go!"

"No!" Sasuke shouted at her. "I need you for my plans. I saw how you fought earlier. I know that my children will be strong with you as their mother."

Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief and anger. "Children? You think you can just decide that and force me into it? Sasuke, I won't be a part of your plans, and I won't let you dictate my life. Let go of me!"

Sasuke's grip on Sakura's wrist didn't falter, but the intensity in his eyes wavered for a moment. Naruto's gaze hardened, and he spoke with a stern voice. "Sasuke, you can't control someone else's life like this. Sakura is not a tool for you to use. Let her make her own choices."

Sasuke's eyes flickered between Sakura and Naruto, his internal struggle evident. The weight of his clan's expectations and his desire for revenge clashed with the reality of Sakura's autonomy. After a tense moment, Sasuke finally released Sakura's wrist, his expression dark and conflicted.

"Fine!" He turned to Sakura. "You will see that you are wrong to stay with our pathetic sensei. You will come back crawling to me, and when that time comes, I'll enjoy putting you into your place."

Sakura took a step back, rubbing her wrist where Sasuke had gripped her. She glared at him, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "I won't come crawling back to you, Sasuke. I've made my choice, and it's not you. You need to let go of your delusions and move on. I won't be a part of your plans or your revenge."

Sasuke's eyes burned with a mix of anger and frustration. "You'll regret this, Sakura. I offered you a chance to be part of something greater, and you chose a washed-up sensei over that. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Without waiting for her response, Sasuke turned and left the tent, disappearing into the shadows of the night. Sakura watched him go, a mixture of relief and lingering unease in her eyes, and watched Naruto followed the dark-haired man. Kakashi rubbed her shoulders to calm her down. Then without pause, she turned to Kakashi and buried her face in his chest.

"Shh. Sakura, don't cry." Kakashi whispered. "You're okay." He rubbed her back when her shoulders started to shake.

Kakashi continued to hold Sakura, offering her comfort and support as she processed the intense encounter with Sasuke. The emotions in the air were palpable, and Kakashi could feel the lingering tension in Sakura's body. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, silently reassuring her that he was there for her.

"Sasuke is just... he's lost," Kakashi murmured softly.

"Don't." she cut him off. Her voice sharp. "Don't defend him. He tried to kill me, then he tried to kidnap me, then he tried to turn me against you. And then he will tell me that I'll be mothering his children? No! Don't you dare defend him."

Kakashi nodded, understanding the depth of Sakura's frustration and anger. He continued to hold her, offering silent support. "I won't defend his actions, Sakura. What he did was wrong. You have the right to be angry, and I'm here for you."

Sakura took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing emotions. She pulled back slightly from Kakashi's embrace, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. "I just want to forget about him. I want to focus on us. I don't want him to have any power over our lives."

"He won't. I'll make sure that he can't get close to you anymore. Not on my watch." Kakashi's tone was firm and protective, his determination evident in his dark grey eyes. Sakura nodded, appreciating the reassurance. She wiped away her tears, determined to move past the unsettling encounter with Sasuke.

"Thank you." She whispered and leaned on him again.

Kakashi tightened his embrace around Sakura, silently vowing to protect her from any further harm. They stayed in each other's arms, finding solace in the shared warmth and comfort.