Chapter 9

A hand pressed down on her mouth, jolting Sakura awake. Panic surged through her as she instinctively grabbed the hand, fingers seeking the reassuring presence of her weapon at her thigh.

"Sh," Sasuke whispered, easing his voice. "Come with me."

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she squinted at the outline of her teammate looming above her. She had curled up in her makeshift nest of blankets, desperately trying to fend off the bone-chilling cold that seeped through the thin fabric of her tent. Outside, the snow had piled high, the weight of it pressing down on her shelter, and she had spent countless moments smacking it off from the inside. It fell in sheets, gathering around the cheap tent. It creaked ominously with every slight movement, the poles threatening to collapse.

Was this just a dream, her mind hazily wondered?

Closing her eyes, she rolled over, hoping to return to the warmth of slumber.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, frustration flickering in the depths of his gaze. He knew her well enough—Kakashi and Naruto were usually the ones to wake her on their missions, knowing her feisty nature and her fierce dislike for sleep interruptions. That was precisely why she took the first watch, and why they had learned to wait until dawn before heading out, letting her wake naturally before daring to disturb her.

She hadn't changed much in that respect.

"Sakura, come hunt with me," he urged again, his tone softer now, a plea wrapped in steel. This time, it seemed to stir something within her.

"Sasuke?" she breathed, the fog of sleep lifting just enough for her to sense the hesitancy in his voice. Reaching out, the kunoichi placed her hand on his cheek. He had not expected her to pinch it.

The man sucked in a breath between clenched teeth, and Sakura jolted upright, adrenaline replacing sleepiness. "What is it? What's wrong?" Panic coursed through her—was the enemy attacking?

Sasuke pressed a hand to the sore spot on his face. "You're supposed to pinch yourself if you think you're dreaming, not me."

"I'm so sorry!"

"Come on," he offered his hand one last time. Sasuke wasn't one to repeat himself, nor was he the type to invade a woman's tent uninvited. He sighed, frustration creeping in.

The moon, not quite full, cast a silvery glow through the morning sleet, creating an eerie, ethereal light. Sakura hurriedly gathered her covering, forgoing any attempt to wash her face or brush her teeth; she sensed that time was slipping away. Sasuke remained silent, shrouded in his own thoughts.

As she trailed behind him, Sakura couldn't help but notice the wooden bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. She said nothing, and mirrored his strides, her smaller feet fitting into the impressions he had left on the frost. When they reached a secluded spot away from the others, she finally spoke, her voice low and cautious. "Is everything okay?"

Sasuke raised a finger to silence her, turning his head slowly to scan the dark woods. The snap of a twig echoed in the stillness, and he crouched slightly, instinctively shifting toward the sound. When she hesitated, he beckoned her closer with a silent wave.

It had been some time since they had communicated this way, but the signs came back to her easily. He guided her deeper into the forest, where towering trees loomed like sentinels. Motioning for her to stay put, he vanished into the misty fog, leaving an unsettling quiet in his wake.

Using his foot as leverage, Sakura watches as he strings his bow by bending it. His fingers are dexterous, more than Sakura could say for her dominant hand. Knocking the arrow, Sasuke jerked his head to the side, beckoning her.

The man was crouched low to the ground, hidden behind an overhang of rock. Sasuke gestures with his hand–closer it symbolizes. Closer, she went, until he grasped her wrist lightly. He was warm.

Keeping his eyes trained ahead, the man pulled her against his chest and between his legs, pressing her back flat against him.

A warm flush spread across Sakura's cheeks, her heart racing in her chest. She barely registered his voice as he leaned in.. The heat of his breath lingered, teasing her senses, while the gentle brush of his jaw against her hair ignited a flutter of awareness within her. Each word he spoke was a soft caress.

"There are wild hogs ahead. Just there."

Sakura whipped her head around, the sudden movement drawing Sasuke's attention. He grasped her chin—not painful, but stern. "Slowly, Sakura," he instructed, his voice low and steady. "They'll see."

"Slowly," she echoed, a mix of excitement and tension coursing through her. She felt like a tightly coiled spring, ready to burst.

As he adjusted her gaze, she caught sight of a massive boar lounging in the sun, surrounded by smaller pigs and playful piglets. The creatures rooted around, huffing clouds of earth-scented breath into the crisp air.

"We're going to get closer. I need you to do as I say," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the prey.

Sakura smirked, her playful spirit surfacing. "Woof," she barked, hoping to lighten the moment.

Sasuke's lips curled into the faintest smile as he playfully patted her head. "Good girl."

"Good girl," she repeated, feeling a thrill rush through her. In this quiet moment, with the world waiting just beyond their little bubble, everything felt alive with possibility.

Sasuke moved ahead and she followed, stifling her rapid pants behind her palms, afraid the puffy clouds would call attention to them. Sasuke moved like a predator, eyes never wandering. He reached backwards and guided her hand into his in the dim light. Her face reflected the red glow of his sharingan, so brilliant, so bright, so beautiful.

Sakura was grateful for Sasuke's steady grip as they navigated the rocky terrain. The ground was uneven, and while she didn't fear injury, the sound of cascading rocks threatened to betray their presence. Sasuke was serious about many things—missions, duty, and apparently, hunting. The last thing she wanted was to sabotage him.

They settled behind a fallen tree, as close to the clearing as they dared. Sasuke took his familiar position, motioning for Sakura to follow suit. She nestled against him, drawing in the crisp morning air, hoping its coolness would calm her racing heart.

"The draw is 80 lbs. You can pull that without chakra?" he asked.

"Why without chakra?" she replied, closing her eyes at the vibration of his voice against her back.

"They sense it. That's why I'm not using susanoo."

"But you can use your sharingan?"

"It's incorrigible." He probably would have shrugged, had they been elsewhere.

Sakura turned to study his red iris, acutely aware of how close his face was to hers. She blinked slowly, her gaze drawn to his mouth. Taking a deep breath, she confessed, "I don't know how to shoot a bow. I've never used one."

"I'll aim. You draw," he dipped his head to meet her gaze.

"Okay," she exhaled, turning slightly away to mask her nerves.

With his right hand, Sasuke guided her to the joint, helping her grip the arrow. He lifted her elbow, directing her focus to the largest boar in sight. "Pull" he instructed.

As she pulled back with her strength, Sakura felt the bow flex, the tension building. Sasuke rested his chin on her shoulder, aligning himself with her view. It was overwhelming—the heat radiating from him, the smoke of his breath against her neck. When he slid his hand to her belly and rested it atop her navel, she began to tremble, caught between adrenaline and the intensity of their connection.

"Don't be nervous," he says, pressing his palm flat, spreading his fingers out. "Get him behind the shoulder,"

"I'm not nervous about the hog."

Sakura released the arrow, her heart pounding as it sliced through the air. She didn't care to look and see if it hit its mark. Instead, she dropped the bow, twisting away from Sasuke, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tension heavy in the air.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, to escape the moment before it consumed her. She felt a surge of frustration and pain, a tempest of emotions she couldn't articulate. The silence between them crackled, amplifying the unvoiced doubts and fears swirling in her mind.

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension.

"Yes," she laughed, but it felt hollow, barely masking the truth. "Was it not obvious?"

"Do you fear me?"

Sakura stepped back, her stern eyes locking onto his. "No."

But inside, a storm brewed. If Naruto belonged to the warmth of summer, Sasuke embodied the frigid chill of winter. The blues reflecting off the snow banks and the pale moonlight cast a haunting shade across his features, accentuating the sharp angles of his face. His nose stood out, strong and proud, while his lips held the lightest shade of brown, like the earth beneath the frost.

"Your lack of fear in my presence," he began, his voice low and steady as Sakura watched the deep gray of his iris bleed into crimson—a transformation that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. She didn't look away, even as the patterns of his sharingan unfurled, pupils blooming like dark flowers in a kaleidoscope of ominous shapes swirling in a lazy, predatory dance. "It reveals a profound ignorance of the dangers I embody."

"You fear me because I love you." He narrowed his eyes, shifting as she spoke her truths. "I know you don't feel the same. So, what is it, Sasuke? Do you want to…hurt me?"

The words felt like daggers against her throat, each syllable slicing deeper into her heart. She swallowed hard, icy fear creeping up her spine, making her shoulders tremble. Every instinct urged her to flee, yet she stood frozen, trapped by the weight of their unspoken truths, like a moth drawn to the flame of his gaze.

Sakura's heart raced as the realization crashed over her like a tidal wave: she had never considered this as a possibility. As a girl, the legends of S-Class criminals, the haunting pages of the Bingo Book, and the dread of the Akatsuki loomed like foreboding clouds on the horizon. Orochimaru had paralyzed her with fear in the Forest of Death—a name that still could send icy tendrils down her spine.

Was this truly the man Sasuke had become? Even Zabuza had been an innocent, bright-eyed child, once. They all had been. Children who should have smiled, loved, and been cared for. Biting her lip, Sakura struggled to rein in her spiraling breath, but it was futile. His eyes, deep and fathomless, saw right through her.

His hand, rough and battle-scarred, inched toward her throat. Panic seized her heart like a vice. She couldn't help but wonder: when was the last time it cradled something tender—a flower, a kitten, a baby?

The horror didn't end there. His thumb grazed the curve of her jaw, while his fingers danced across her cheek. He traced the outline of her cupid's bow, and she felt a searing warmth where his touch lingered. He parted her lips as if her words would spill from them. Words he expected to hear from someone like her. Words she would never say.

Monster, traitor, liar, deceiver–

Sakura locked onto his sharingan, the whirlpool of his eyes capturing every moment with a clarity she could never hope to replicate. Each pulse of his gaze felt like a camera shutter clicking shut, freezing her likeness for all eternity. And when his eyes were no longer watchful, when his fingers finally fell away, what would he remember? Would he see her as the girl who cried, the girl who cared, or as nothing at all?

At that moment, something inside her shifted.

Sakura smiled.

Her breath steadied as she closed her eyes, leaning into the warmth of his touch. With a sudden surge of defiance, she captured his hand with her own, intertwining their fates in a fleeting embrace. A delicate moment, teetering on the edge of despair and hope, hung between them, aching to be defined.

This hand held many flowers. She could almost feel the stories emanating from his skin. It had picked them for mothers and aunties. This hand has held kittens–scratched behind their ears and brought them in from storms. And the babies, oh, the babies he had cradled as his mandatory duty of a child of the Chief. He had welcomed every Uchiha that had been born since he'd learned to hold them.

"No," he says finally, firmly, leaning in to press his lips to her forehead. "I never want to hurt you."


"That was quick,"

Naruto tossed another log onto the fire, a solitary figure struggling against the fading darkness. It was still too early for the sun to rise. Only Sasuke's tent remained standing, the others having gathered their gear and supplies already.

Sakura dropped the wild hog at his feet, its weight thudding against the ground. "It only took one arrow,"

Naruto wiped his reddened nose and rubbed his hands together for warmth. "Huh… so you really did take her hunting. I thought that was just an excuse—"

Sasuke shot him a look that blended annoyance and disgust. It felt like a slap, heavy and uncomfortable, and in that moment, the camaraderie they often shared slipped away, replaced by an awkward silence.

Annoyance? Disgust?

Sakura felt the walls closing in, confusion swirling in her mind.

Did Sasuke really see her as just a teammate now?

Or worse—like a little sister?

The thought made her stomach twist. She turned abruptly toward Naruto's cheap tent, a rush of embarrassment flooding her cheeks as she tried to shake off the feeling of being exposed.

The thrill of their heartfelt exchange faded like a distant memory, leaving an unsettling question to hang the air: where did she stand with Sasuke now? As she stepped away, the tension thickened, each moment teetering on the edge of something she couldn't quite grasp. She could feel their eyes lingering on her back, a reminder that the dynamics between them had shifted, and she wasn't sure if she liked where it was headed.

Sakura had always envied the bond that Sasuke shared with Naruto, appreciating her own sibling-like friendship with the blond. But for her, being labeled as "friends" felt more daunting and complicated than simply being "teammates."

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!

The sun hung high in the sky as the two teams prepared to set out, each member fortified with enough protein to sustain them through a long or arduous journey. Sakura noticed that Sasuke had donned an entirely different cloak, fur-lined and bearing the marks of years he couldn't possibly have lived. In contrast, Karin wore only a cropped jacket that left her exposed to the elements.

Feeling a sudden impulse, Sakura dug into her bag, remembering the gifts she had meant to distribute. She pulled out a standard-issue cloak and offered it to the redhead. Karin accepted it with a puzzled look, curiosity evident in her expression.

"Here Jugo, more birdseed. I also found this little trinket. I know it's a bit silly for us to travel with items of no use, but I couldn't pass it up." Sakura handed him a carved, wooden finch. "The man was just passing through Konoha, so I thought I'd better get several before he left. Here, Karin, I got you a bear cub. Suigetsu, a fish."

"A fish?" He asked, reaching out for the ornament. "It's…so ugly…"

"Yeah," Sakura said jokingly, "It reminded me of you."

Naruto erupted with laughter, bouncing around like an excited child anticipating his gift. "And where's mine?"

Sakura smirked. "I got you the same thing you got me for my birthday last year."

He tapped his chin, trying to remember. "What did it get you?" Images of the Cherry Blossom Festival flashed in his mind—fireworks, Hinata falling asleep on his shoulder. Had he even spent time with Sakura that day?

"Nothing, Naruto. You got me nothing."

"Aw, man." He scrunched his nose, suddenly feeling deflated. She rolled her eyes and began to set off, not bothering with farewells. Naruto hurried after her as she leaped into the trees, Jugo trailing close behind.

"No, no, don't worry, it's just the day I was born. Nothing special," she called back.

"Sakura, c'mon! I was with Hinata!"

She shot him a grin over her shoulder, glancing at Jugo. "I know we're in the slower group, but you need to put some pep in your step!"

Jugo murmured something so softly that Sakura barely caught it. "...Sasuke…"

Dipping under a low branch, she landed gracefully in the snowy permafrost beside him. "Sorry?"

"You didn't get Sasuke anything. Is it because he forgot it was your birthday?"

Naruto slowed to match their pace, the slush crunching beneath his boots as he left deep impressions in the snow. "Yeah, Sakura, you didn't even give him a kiss goodbye."

"Kiss?" Jugo shook his head and stumbled slightly. Sakura quickly steadied him with her shoulder, absorbing his weight effortlessly.

"Ignore him; he just likes to make fun of me."

"I see. I can't imagine Sasuke doing anything like that. Many women have tried—Karin, especially."

Sakura reaches out for Naruto, tugging on his hood. "Naruto kissed him!"

"HEY! That was an accident!"

"Once is an accident. Twice is…"

Naruto reached for a branch and shook it, sending a column of frost and crystals towards his giggling teammate.

They spent several hours reminiscing, with Sakura choosing to set aside her thoughts about her relationship with Sasuke for now. Instead, she enjoyed sharing stories with Jugo, who listened eagerly and asked questions with a level of enthusiasm she had never seen from him before.

Jugo hadn't heard these tales about his leader, his cage—stories from a time when the stern man was not completely unhappy. The two described chasing cats, pulling weeds, and walking dogs. Jugo struggled to imagine the scenes she painted with her words.

"We have been to The Great Naruto Bridge on our journeys." Their first mission had been especially perilous for children, but Jugo was happy to learn the story.

"Did Sasuke say anything?" Naruto asked. Jugo simply shook his head as he leapt, trying to keep snow from falling into his shoes. The farther they traveled, the higher it rose.

"What about Orochimaru? How did you…meet?"

Sakura shivered, but it wasn't the cold that sent chills down her spine. "It was during our chunin exams. It was the first time I'd ever encountered an enemy like them."

Sakura's mind flashed back to that moment—Orochimaru's slithering presence, the sinister gleam in his eyes. The way he had laughed as he toyed with their fear, as if their lives were just a game to him. She instinctively glanced around, half-expecting him to materialize from the snow. The memory lingered, a reminder that some horrors never truly faded.

Naruto frowned, his voice low and serious as he caught sight of Sakura's face. "He's a freak. I can't stand that creep. I don't get how you, Suigetsu and Karin can even talk to him now that you don't have to. His experiments are creepy enough, but that curse mark stuff... that's terrifying."

At this, their female companion slowed, the weight of her memories pressing down on her. It had been years since she'd thought about that mark—the putrid black flames that had consumed her teammate, wrapping around him with a power far too overwhelming for a boy. The regret washed over her like a tide, leaving her feeling hollow. "I wish I could have been stronger. Maybe if Sasuke had a competent partner, I could have—"

"Listen," Naruto interrupted gently. "We were twelve. He was a sannin. It had nothing to do with your strength."

But her heart ached with the burden of those words. She couldn't shake the feeling that if only she had been more capable, perhaps things would have turned out differently. The sorrow hung in the air, a reminder that some scars run deeper than the skin, and some moments of weakness lingered long after they've passed.

They stopped to rest on an elevated patch of land, shaking off the snow that clung to their heads and shoulders. Sakura passed out their rations of meat, glancing around uneasily. If their estimates were correct, they should be approaching the ancient chakra pathway soon—

Suddenly, the earth shook violently.

The ground vibrated beneath them, cracks snaking through the snow-covered surface. A flock of birds erupted from the trees overhead, desperate to escape the unsettling chakra that began to swirl ominously around them. It wasn't confined to a single source; several bubbles of energy erupted forth, pulsating with a menacing rhythm.

Naruto and Jugo ducked and dodged the debris, instinctively pushing themselves away from danger. But as Sakura tried to follow suit, a paralyzing dread gripped her. She looked down, heart racing, as the mysterious chakra boiled up around her foot, wrapping tightly and holding her in place. Panic surged within her as she realized she was trapped, unable to move as the world around them fizzed with an unrecognizable energy.