17

White flower trees bordered the straight path sinking into the Somas neighborhood, almost acting as a source of light, with their delicate, shining flowers, reminding Sakura of their fancy-looking residents. For a long time, they walked in silence, their minds raptured by the scenery, the traditional houses bordering the enchanting path, and the occasional white long-haired dogs taking a nap. Except for the birds, dogs, and their guide, Emi's cousin, there was no sight of any Somas, and not any light inside the houses, as if the neighborhood were empty. Only the sounds of their steps rubbing against the gray gravel resonated through the lightly illuminated path of this early evening. The sound of flowing water joined their descent at some point, materializing into a large fountain. What from afar seemed to be four statues surrounding the marble sculpture turned out to be four Somas. Women with braided white hair, dressed in silver kimonos that hugged their voluptuous curves. Only when they were close enough did Sakura notice they were all with child. They bowed gracefully in front of them, offering a warm, polite smile without uttering a single word. Sakura's eyes darted to her teammate, who seemed oddly uncomfortable as he greeted the women back.

She couldn't recall having ever seen this many pregnant women at the same time, and thus she assumed this was the reason for Naruto's disconcerted face—their striking beauty probably played a part in this too. Naruto had sadly inherited some less respectable traits from his deviant sensei, such as a tendency to lose his ability to think when pretty faces were involved.

They progressed further within the neighborhood, encountering more and more Somas along the way. Always women. Rumors that claimed they were only men in the Soma Clan couldn't have been more wrong. Emi's cousin ended up leading them inside a large building, where a massive, low table stood in the middle of a single room. It looked like one of these places where meetings were held. A Kaisho. Except this one wasn't as austere as one would expect, being decorated with numerous paintings and plants. White flowers, naturally. Their guide abandoned them inside, not without instructing them to sit down.

Just like her, Naruto was contemplating the fascinating painting, representing what she assumed was their former home, a great island, far to the south and beyond the Land of Waves. It looked as much eerie as the atmosphere inside their neighborhood. She couldn't imagine how it must feel to be forced to leave her home and everything behind.

Naruto's azure eyes turned to her. "This is weird."

Her blond, lazy teammate had made the effort to dress himself in a more appropriate way, abandoning his orange-black outfit, for a traditional dark blue haori, one she had chosen herself. Judging by the stares he had received from all the women outside, the haori had surpassed their expectations. But maybe her handsome friend picked up their attention for other reasons.

Sakura breathed from her nose. "I know this look in your eyes. It reminds me of your perverted sensei."

His eyes widened, as he reached for her hands. "Sakura-chan! Do you remember the 67th volume of Icha-Icha-Paradise? A lost island brimming with fruits, vegetation, birds, and…women! It's exactly like here!"

"Naruto," she warned, gritting her teeth. "We're not in one of your perverted fantasies. Besides, they have men too, unlike the Island of Pleasure."

"So, you did read it!"

"Baka, I had no choice! You were always reading everything aloud."

"Bah! You and Sasuke never complained…"

They kept chatting for a moment, riveting about the foreign lands in the painting, their voices barely murmurs, afraid of disturbing the memories filling this room. Distant footsteps echoed through the doorless frames, jarring them back to the present. Wary eyes observed ten women of mature age, some older than the Godaime, entering the Kaisho, all walking in a single file to rejoin their seats. There was a dichotomy between their austere expressions, the hollowness in their fair eyes—eyes that had seen too much—the bluish makeup painting their white powder faces, and the shiny attire they all wore. Not to mention the whitish hair braided over their heads. Their fair eyes were highlighted by blue eyeshadow, with well-defined strokes of painting forming figures extending upward from their eyes to their hairline, and downward, falling on their cheeks like tears. Just like everything else in this place, there were works of art.

For a time that felt like an eternity, the ethereal newcomers stared at Naruto and Sakura, without blinking an eye or uttering a single word, which made them incredibly uncomfortable. Sakura was too flabbergasted to dare speak. When another woman joined them, Sakura recognized her as one of Emi's closest relatives, the Matriarch, whom she had met briefly back during the last festival.

"I would like to introduce you to Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno, our honorary guests for tonight's celebration of our two years here, in Konoha."

Piercing gray and bluish eyes shifted to the raucous voice of the speaker, who sat at the end of the long table, like a proper leader.

"Uzumaki-san, a regrettable story has reached my ears, as of recently. It is under my understanding that you feel you've been wronged and disrespected by my people."

Being as intimidated as Sakura was, her teammate remained silent, though she didn't miss how focused he was, as if the woman's authority had enraptured him.

"I apologize on behalf of all of them, for this is all but a regretful misunderstanding. My clan has a certain appetite for stories, such as Kyuubi no Yoko Shūrai. Truly a disastrous night for Konoha. But in our faraway land, this story carries an utterly different meaning. It is known as the Haha no Gisei, the mother's sacrifice. We, Somas, worship gods such as Inari, goddess of fertility, and thus, when our people learned of a woman named Kushina who sacrificed herself to give birth to her child, it became a symbol. The embodiment of a mother's love for her child."

Sakura grasped her friend's hand under the table, sensing the impact of the woman's words on him.

"Of course, when we arrived in Konoha, nobody expected that this child born of love and sacrifice was not only real, but very much alive. A man now. Even less, that he was treated wrongfully for a long time, to such an extent that the word reminiscent of his burden became an insult. I pledge it to you, no Somas will ever insult you again."

Unable to speak, Naruto just nodded, but Sakura could tell he was moved by her speech.

"Sakura Haruno," the old woman called, causing Sakura to straighten her back. "We're pleased to have you here. Your presence here is a very strong testimony to your forthcoming journey with our promising child, Emi Nuzuka. Though you're not ready to accept your destiny yet, you'll soon understand that nobody escapes their fate."

Sakura would have protested, if it weren't for all the intimidating eyes on her, instead, she imitated her teammate and just agreed with a nod.

"I must add that you both seem to complement each other well."

"We're close friends," Sakura corrected, finding her voice again.

"Is that so? I was misinformed then…. If nobody else wishes to speak, we shall all meet in the main hall now."

One of the women bumped her tight fist against the table, catching the entire room's attention. She was staring intensely at Naruto. "How many lunar moons do you have?"

"Er..."

"Your age," Sakura whispered.

"I'm twenty-two years old, ma'am."

"Are you healthy down there?"

Naruto opened his mouth, confused.

"Your manhood."

"He's healthy enough," Sakura chimed in, feeling as embarrassed as Naruto.

The woman paused for a moment and nodded silently, seeming satisfied by this answer.

"Wait outside. Someone will come for you," the matriarch informed before she strolled away, followed closely by all the other elders.

Naruto looked shaken. "Did you—did you see the look in her eyes? Sakura-chan. I swear, it's—it's exactly like in Icha-Icha Paradise. Why did I come here?"

"Because you didn't want to let me go alone," she reminded him. "Come on, now. Get up."

Emi's cousin was standing outside the large doors of the Kaisho, although this time, he was accompanied by a young lady, whose face, just like the elders from the council, was covered by blue paintings. This kind of ornament was likely meant for special occasions, having never seen Emi with one. Sakura's eyes darted swiftly to the bump on her belly. She was starting to get used to it.

"I present you my companion, Tori-san," Emi's cousin said softly.

The woman bowed her head slightly, offering them a shy smile. She was simply beautiful. Were these people related in any way to the gods?

"I see, by the look on your face, that you've both been troubled by our elders."

"They were different from what we expected," Sakura muttered, lost in her musing.

Naruto patted him on the shoulder. "Hoi! Where are all the men?"

"You'll meet them soon, Uzumaki-san. Please follow me."

Absorbed in a game of strength and pride, the contestants, connected by a thick rope falling behind their heads, were trying to pull each other forward by the sheer force of their necks. They called it kubihiki. Neck wrestling. Naruto had just won its third battle, causing the crowd of men and women around him to cheer loudly. From the second he had stepped into the large banquet room, Naruto had drawn every eye on him, making Sakura feel less self-conscious. Almost invisible. Long gone was the wariness of his friend, who seemed to be exhilarated by all the attention he was receiving, from the eager men sparing with him to the blushing women looking at him like he was an exotic piece of candy. When Emi Nuzuka rewarded him shyly with a peculiar piece of food shaped like a stick of fish, Sakura had to contain her laugh at the sight of Naruto's shocked face.

"Moshiki," Emi's cousin said, with an amused smile.

So, this moshiki did taste like ramen, after all.

Behind their reserved nature, the Somas proved to be hospitable and kind-hearted people who were not afraid of showing their emotions. They seemed to have a strange ability to sense one's emotions, showing a higher level of empathy than most. Every time she frowned or struggled to find her words, they would worry about having offended her. It was tiresome, but she understood it came from a good intention.

At the very back of the room, she had spotted the man known as the leader of the Somas Clan. An imposing, white-bearded man of mature age, as resplendent as every other member of his clan. To his side sat four women, two of whom had babies in their arms. Another one seemed to be with child. They all emanated an air of authority and held themselves like strong warriors. Like leaders. Though this man was the face of his clan, Sakura wondered how much power he really had, for she had witnessed many times through the evening, some Somas bowing before one of the gray-eyed women. She remembered seeing her within the council of elders. The youngest one.

"This is my cousin, Haiko Nuzura."

As observant as ever, of course he had caught her looking with insistence at her. "Which makes her Emi's cousin too. How many cousins do you have?"

"Quite a few. The Nuzura family has always been fruitful."

Sakura observed the athletic features of the woman. "She looks like a fighter. Why isn't she on duty?"

It was common knowledge that there were no kunoichis within the Somas clan, but after seeing how many women there were behind the secret walls of their neighborhood, she was starting to doubt any claim made about them. Some even said there weren't any civilian women, seeing as they were rarely seen outside.

"Haiko-sama will soon be with child, and as you know, conceiving is almost impossible for kunoichis. When they do, the child never survives..."

Sakura paused and said, "So, they are doing their duty."

He pondered for a moment, not so naive as not to realize how odd their women's condition looked from an outsider's perspective. "Bearing a child is a blessing to my people. Though we appeared to be in large numbers compared to other clans in Konoha, long ago, we were even more prosperous. The war had weakened us. Our enemy… they primarily targeted our children and women."

"Which is why they don't leave these walls."

"A temporary compromise," a woman sitting in front of them chimed in. "To keep our men's sanity."

"What of your sanity?"

She smiled. "We're grateful for what we have."

"I'm...sorry to learn you don't feel safe here. In Konoha." Sakura said, not only addressing the women at the table but the men too. They were all young adults, not older than she was. To think, these women were all renouncing their nindo this young for marriage. In the fire country, once a kunoichi had their first child, they rarely went back to duty.

"This was supposed to end sooner. Alas, some unforeseen events changed our plans."

The Uchiha clan. While Sakura had seen with her own eyes what lengths they were ready to go to accomplish their goals, imagining they would attempt anything against civilians was pure madness. They certainly didn't help their case with their poor kidnapping attempt. This unfortunate fact aside, the Somas must still heavily feel the weight of their trauma from the war, even after two years of joining Konoha.

"You're all married, then?" Sakura inquired, trying to lighten the mood again.

The Somas blinked, looking like obvious children. It made Sakura wonder what she had missed once again.

Emi's cousin coughed and stared at his ignorant kinsmen. "She meant marriage, my friends. A common practice to unite different families together. Each family chooses a partner for their daughter or son, and if the family of their chosen partner agrees, they establish a contract to bind their children together."

The expressions of all members around the table turned into one of pure repulsion. Sakura was quick to correct this rigid definition. "Not always. Some families let their children choose their partner."

"We do not marry," one of the women said firmly.

"How can you have children if you don't?"

"With men's seed."

Sakura blushed, taken aback by the bluntness of her interlocutor. "Erm…I know this. I meant to say—"

"When a woman decides it, whether she is civilian or kunoichi, she shall seek a man to create a new life within her. Once the child is born, she shall tend to their needs until they don't need her to feed them anymore. Then, she shall return to her former duties."

"Who looks after the children?"

"Other mothers, family members, and elders," the woman continued. "We help each other's."

"This marriage thing," another Somas inquired, joining the conversation, "how would you check for sexual compatibility if you're not the one to choose your mate?"

It was Sakura's turn to blink like an ignorant child, for she could only blush further, both from the use of his words and for failing to comprehend their meaning.

"I think that's enough with questions for tonight," Emi's cousin leaned towards her ear, and whispered, "I apologize for this, Haruno-san."

"No, it's…it's fine. Your people are just straightforward, aren't they?"

Tori chose this moment to reappear, making her presence known by clapping her hands together softly. Having never heard her voice, she wondered whether the young woman was shy or unable to speak.

"The seer," Emi's cousin announced, after exchanging glares with his companion. "She's ready to see you."

When Sakura was pushed inside a dark room by Tori, who just offered her an encouraging nod before leaving her to her fate, she started regretting ever wishing to meet their so-called seer. The coldness of the air hit her first, making her feel goosebumps on her skin. A figure stood on a large cushion, surrounded by a dozen candles, enough to lighten the wrinkles on her face. She had her eyes closed, appearing to be asleep. Was it even possible to sleep while standing? Uneasy before this strange old woman, Sakura felt tempted to just turn around and forget everything about what she had seen.

"You may sit, Sakura Haruno," her voice spoke, startling the kunoichi. "What is it that you wish to know?"

"Nothing." Sakura said, remaining on her feet, "I just wish for you to stop telling Emi Nuzuka lies about my involvement in her future. I'm not the one she's looking for."

"Do you think you have any choice in the matter, child?"

"Giving her false hopes is cruel."

"My sister was the one that foreseen your coming," her eyelid opened, revealing her clairvoyant eyes covered by a thin shell of translucent white, a common feature that came with blindness. "And here you are. Right where we expected you to be."

Of course, just like her peers, the seer refused to listen.

"This…this isn't why I'm here." Sakura insisted.

"At last, you speak the truth, for your curiosity is what brought you here. Don't you wish to know what awaits you?"

It wasn't the future that haunted her mind and troubled her sleep. Only the past truly burdened her. Aware that she couldn't just leave this room and risk insulting her hosts by refusing this meeting, she ended up complying.

"Stretch your arms, child."

The seers clapped her hands together slowly, entwining her fingers together. Sakura saw red immediately, her kunoichi's instincts screaming at her to back away.

"Wait. Stop! I'm not letting anyone go inside my mind."

"My eyes do not see the past nor the present, only the future," though the seer couldn't see her, she was looking straight in her eyes. "You will see what I see when you look around you."

The seer resumed to activate her jutsu, under the wary gaze of Sakura. The white hair of the seer started floating and emitting a bright light, reflecting on every part of the room. When the previously dark room became all light, Sakura watched all around her how the walls and ground became translucent, making it look like they were floating in the air. There were strange bursts of air going in every direction, almost shapes hovering over their heads. Was this a genjutsu? Little was known about the Soma's abilities, other than their affinity for swordsmanship.

"Spirits." The seer, opened her arms to feel the burst of energy touching her skin. "Touch them too."

She obeyed, sensing a cold sensation touching her skin. It felt pleasant and soothing until her gaze fell on the chains around both of her wrists. Just like everything in this reality, they were not solid, only emitting bright light.

The seer's voice broke the silence. "A prison."

The ground cracked around them, fracturing itself violently, and spreading apart to let a jet of stream hit the ceiling. A thicker substance climbed through the fracture, spreading itself all over the floor. The seer remained quiet, observing the vision intently. A new shape formed itself over Sakura's head, one that slowly turned into a raven, or was it a crow?

"Kai."

Once the word was whispered, it released the jutsu, and all at once, they were in the darkness once again. Sakura felt dizzy for a moment, until she recalled where she was and what she had just seen.

"What…what did it all mean?" she blurted out. "This liquid coming out of the ground… I've never seen such a thing before."

"Not in this land, Haruno-san. But who exactly knows all that our world has to offer?"

"What of the chains?"

"You'll lose your freedom, and you'll witness everything around you crumble," she declared, without an ounce of emotion.

"This. All of this is stupid," she suddenly said.

"You're scared, which is understandable. But you won't be alone in your struggles; the crow flying above you is a messenger from the gods, a sign of rebirth after death."

"I don't care about any of this." Sakura cut her short. "Just stop putting lies in Emi's head. That's all I ask!"

She stormed out of the dark chamber, feeling silly for ever wishing to meet one of their seers.

"Don't do it. Do not follow her," the seer warned in a menacing voice, just as she was about to cross the door.

What was this crazy woman mumbling about?

Sakura had been waiting for her guide to come back for a few minutes now. She was inwardly fuming, feeling unwise for letting herself be subjugated to such nonsense. Nobody could predict one's future. Memories could be retrieved, altered, and shared. The present and the future, however, didn't belong to anyone. Neither jutsu nor spirit could ever get a glimpse of what was to happen. And if there was ever such a thing, it would be declared forbidden.

"Are you…are you the iryō-nin? Are you Emi-sama's sensei?"

Sakura stared at the newcomers, a teenager, whose gray eyes sparked fear and despair. How did she not sense her coming? She must have been too lost in her thoughts. Damn the seer! The girl looked nothing like her kindred, her hair was unkempt and dirty, her clothes were loose around her frail body, and her feet were barren.

How strange.

"My friend," she cried out, as she reached for her arm. "He needs help. Please. I think he will…he'll soon die. Please!"

"Where's your friend?" Sakura asked automatically, her instinct as a healer taking over.

The young girl motioned for Sakura to follow her, heading outside the building. Although she had no idea where they were going, she followed her blindly, comforted by the idea that someone needed medical help. The Soma led her through a bunch of empty alleys surrounded by homes. Everything was utterly quiet here, except for the harsh breathing of the girl. Many times, she looked behind them anxiously, before speeding up even more, struggling to keep the pace. Sakura didn't think anything of it.

As they neared the end of the residential zone, the Soma climbed a fence enclosing a small clearing area. Some goats were grazing the rich grass. Farm animals weren't uncommon within Konoha's wall, quite a bit of land was dedicated to agriculture and farming. The largest surface exploited lay outside the walls, which were usually properties of powerful clans.

The very feud between the Somas and the Uchihas had indeed begun with a claim for a piece of land. It was a bunch of fertile lands that the Clan Hyuuga had given up for the Somas, the result of a common agreement with the Council of Konoha—a decision that the Uchihas had heavily contested, claiming the land offered to the newcomers had always belonged to them to begin with. People have been on the Somas's side at first. After all, the Somas were starting a new life in Konoha, offering their service and lives for the sake of the village. Giving them a way to thrive economically was the least they could do.

Opinions were now becoming more polarized by the lies that the Uchiha Clan perpetuated about their enemy. Which was quite a feat, considering most Konoha residents only respected the Uchihas out of fear, not because they admired them. No, there were mostly arrogant hypocrites, whose money might sometimes convince some malleable souls to propagate lies. Somas were so peaceful and amiable that Sakura could not see how anyone could build a case against them.

Sakura paused in front of the fence, the thick smell of the goats reaching her nose. A small barn stood far within the field, almost undistinguishable in the darkness. Was this their final destination?

Having sensed her hesitation, the anxious teenager beckoned for her to follow. "Please, ma'am, let us hurry!"

Sakura stared at the goats, who were now piled up in front of the fence, attracted by their presence. These gluttonous guys were surely expecting food. She looked again at the barn, then at the defenseless girl. There were tears in her eyes, falling on her trembling skin. What was wrong with her?. Ignoring her invasive thoughts, she finally moved forward, but just as she was about to climb the fence, a familiar, raucous voice stopped her, causing her heart to miss a beat.

"What do you think you're doing, Haruno?"

It was the matriarch. Emi's relative. The woman's eyes narrowed, as she raised a small lantern over Sakura's head.

"Er…I was just following your—" Sakura pointed behind her, expecting to see the girl behind the fence, but there was nobody, except for the bleating goats. She had just disappeared, leaving Sakura in the most difficult position.

"Being allowed inside our walls doesn't give you the right to wander wherever you wish."

A sudden scream made their heads turn. The girl was being manhandled by a Soma in armor, who was most likely being on watch for the night. He was pressing his hands on both her shoulders, forcing her to kneel.

"Please!" she cried, trying to reach for Sakura. "He's dying! He—"

The swift blow came from the woman with the lantern, striking the teenager's cheeks forcefully and making her fall on her side. "Quiet, child!"

Violence only made her react ever more madly, for she started to scream like she was being burned alive. The man seized the girl again then and tried to muffle her shrieks against his arm.

"Lock her up in her room," she ordered him. "Make sure she cannot get out this time."

"Hai, Leader-sama."

Confused, Sakura watched them disappear. She had fought against her instinct, urging her to intervene during the whole, strange, altercation. She felt conflicted and guilty. She should have done something. However, she was just a guest here. Nothing else. Still, the girl had seemed truly desperate in her maniac episode. Almost scared to death.

"The child is sick," the woman spoke, having followed her worried gaze. "Don't burden yourself with her nonsensical demands."

Sakura glanced at the barn again. "She...mentioned someone needing medical assistance. That's why I followed her. I didn't mean to disrespect—"

"Shh." The elder laid her palm on her back, inciting her body to move away from the fence and the intriguing barn. "I assure you, our goats are in perfect health. Return to the feast, now."

Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but when the fair eyes of the elder turned into cold, hostile orbs, she started hearing voices in her head. Warnings chilling her to the bones. All her resolve went away then, and this, despite her instincts telling her not to cave in.

The rushed steps of Tori alerted her already awakened senses. The quiet woman passed right in front of her, without offering her any reassuring smile, and started bowing frantically in front of the Elder, seeking her forgiveness. When the old woman was satisfied, she let them go quickly—to Sakura's relief. Once again, Sakura searched for her guide's eyes, however, the woman refused to look at her. It dawned on her that she might be the one accountable for losing sight of her guest. Would they really punish her for this? Her small, rapid steps led the way forward, away from this strange clearing. Compelled to look once more, Sakura gave a last glance at the intriguing barn, feeling even more curious when she spotted the reflection of blades around it. There was something about this barn that had attracted these shadows in armors.

In one rare manifestation of wisdom, Sakura forced herself to look away, for whatever affair they had, she had no power here.

The return to civilization and safety unfolded in the tensest atmosphere. Something had changed. The celebration had already reached its climax, replaced by the shadows of a joyful cacophony of laughs. The Somas weren't afraid of inebriating themselves, that much was true, judging by the many leftover' drinks. No familiar faces remained amongst the few people left. Thankfully, her guide's steps were leading her right where she needed to be.

When she recognized her teammate's blond hair, her eyes fell on the two women speaking to him. A young lady and the elder, who had previously scared Naruto with her inappropriate question during their first meeting at the Kaisho.

"...we'll give you time to consider our offer, Uzumaki-san," the elder promised.

Even in the dark, she spotted Naruto's red cheek and could only speculate as to what they must have told him to make him this embarrassed.

"Ah, Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed, as he strode to her. He smiled awkwardly, and then whispered, with urgency, "We must leave. Right now."

Sakura could only agree. She turned to her guide, whose eyes were still glued to the ground. She wished to say something, to apologize, but the words remained stuck in her throat. Instead, she inclined her head lightly and thanked her for bringing her back to the gates.

As they walked away from the great gates of the Soma neighborhood, she felt Naruto's fingers tighten his grip on her. "Are they—are they still looking at me?"

A quick glance let her distinguish two shapes standing still by the gates behind them. "Hai. Did she ask you to marry her daughter?"

"Hun. Worse. Way worse."

"She wants your seed."

He blushed. "How! How did you know?"

"The pregnant women all around the place, the deities they worship..."

"I think they don't even marry. They are so… strange."

"I agree," Sakura yawned. "Though we've had our share of weird encounters before."

"Aye."

"You didn't accept, did you?"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? No. Of course not! Why the hell would you think that?"

Sakura regretted her words immediately. The moment wasn't ideal to touch Naruto's weakness for his female admirers. She would never use the word promiscuous to define his ways.

"Hoi! Say something, Sakura-chan."

She grimaced. "Do I really need to say it? Really?"

"Hai." Naruto said solemnly.

"Just… just stop trying to please everybody all the time."

"Mah!" he chuckled, draping his arm over her shoulder to bring her closer to him. "What makes you believe I don't benefit from this?"

"Pervert," she hissed while pushing him away.

"Besides, I've been faithful to Jiraya's rule since the beginning. Never indulge in pleasure where you eat. Never in Konoha."

Perplexed about the veracity of his claims, Sakura remained quiet for a short while, before she muttered too quietly for him to hear. "I wish I had followed the same advice."

"What did you say!?"

"Nothing."

"You were right about them, though," Naruto admitted. "The Somas are…decent folks."

Indeed, they were. Although, just like most clans, they had their own secret to protect. As much as she wished to move forward from the bizarre events of the night, she couldn't forget the crying face of the girl. Something was amiss. She knew it deep within her guts. She just struggled to understand why something that had felt so right back then, almost instinctual, was perceived as an offense to them. Even if she shouldn't have just followed a stranger, it wasn't in Sakura's habit to turn down someone asking for help. Sick or not, the girl truly needed help. There has been no deceptiveness in her distressed behavior.

Sakura wished she could share her concerns with Naruto, but she feared it would once again alter his perception of the Somas.

When they arrived in front of her quiet building, Sakura sat on the stairs leading to her door. She was soon welcomed by a ginger tabby cat, Moshi. Not just any cat. Her cat—not that she had any say in the matter, seeing as the little guy had decided to occupy her apartment by himself. Moshi jumped on her thing, and let himself be petted, his dense fur undulating under Sakura's fingers.

The weather was pleasant tonight for a summer night, a gentle, colder breeze making the strands of her hair balanced back and forth like a pendulum. They spent a long time recounting the strange interactions they had experienced during the night, being both marveled and puzzled by the Somas's traditions.

"...ah, if only the bastard could have seen me beat them at their neck-wrestling game." Naruto mused, leaning against the wall.

"I don't think they would have welcomed him."

"Bah! The bastard doesn't care about the Somas."

"He's still an Uchiha to them..." she sighed, as she stared at the darkened sky, wondering what her teammate was experiencing in the Land of the Sound. "Going back to the forsaken land that had caused him so much pain. What the hell went through his mind?"

"I actually volunteered to join the squad right after Sasuke told me he was leaving for Otokagure," Naruto admitted, with a sour smile. "Itachi-san denied my request, though."

Sakura stopped petting Mochi, feeling all her stress come back at the mention of his name.

"You spoke to him?" she asked, in an accusatory tone.

Naruto nodded. "Sasuke's wish to face his ghosts is his own journey to fulfill, that's what his brother told me."

"Kami-sama," Sakura cursed under her breath. That sounded exactly like what someone would say to try to separate them. Sasuke's family had never accepted her and Naruto. She understood this very clearly now. Sasuke's brother had told her himself how his family blamed Team Seven for corrupting their son. "I'm heading to bed, now."

"Wait—are we good, Sakura-chan? You look…"

She hesitated, her foot frozen on the second march of her stairs, before she finally asked, "Tell me, how long exactly have you been on a first-name basis with him?"

"With whom?" the blonde responded innocently.

Sakura's expression turned into one of exasperation. "Sasuke's brother."

"Oh! Hmm… I don't know. Since I first met him, I guess. It was...after the war. Yes! I had lunch with him and the bastard. Dangos, I think… or was it ramen?"

"You had lunch with him," she repeated calmly, feeling even more annoyed by Naruto's clueless.

"Erm…yes?"

Sakura cursed again, and resumed climbing the stairs to her home, muttering a short goodnight to her idiotic friend. If it wasn't her apartment, she would have broken something already. It just hurt. To think she had been discarded in such a way. Why had Naruto had the privilege to meet Sasuke's most precious relative, and she hadn't? She shouldn't care as much as she did about this. It truly didn't matter. Not anymore. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder how things might have turned out had she been introduced to Sasuke's brother properly. Perhaps they wouldn't be strangers, and the event at the onsen would have never happened…

Kami-sama!

Her eyes lingered on her fridge automatically, her mind already picturing the blessed bottle she might find inside. How did she end up in her kitchen instead of her not-so-cozy bed? She shook her head, recognizing this toxic pattern despite her sleepiness. She knew her fridge was empty, anyway. It was only when she lay on her bed, that, all at once, the seer's cryptic words echoed in her ears like a haunting nightmare, the words she had failed to acknowledge: Do not follow her.

I need to find a name for Emi's cousin...
Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The Soma Clan turns out to be some kind of matriarchial clan, not as pristine as they look. Was Itachi right when he said not to trust them ? Who knows... In any case, in the next chapter, some Uchihas won't be happy to learn of Sakura's evening.

Let me know how you feel, suggestions are always welcomed by the way!
Thanks for reading!