The air was suffocating, the kind of suffocating you feel when you're trapped in a small, dark space, unable to escape. Sakura couldn't see anything clearly. All she could hear was the whizzing sound, sharp, deafening, like the hum of a speeding vehicle, blurring everything else out.
She was looking at the car. But it didn't feel real.
Suddenly, there was a flash of red—flashes of her mother's wide-opened eyes, glazed over and bloodshot, her face contorted in an expression of shock and pain. The sound of the car tires screeching filled her ears, mingling with the whoosh of the wind as if the world had slowed down to a horrifying crawl. The scent of burning rubber, the sound of glass shattering—it all mixed together in an unbearable rush.
Blood.
It was the only thing that was clear in the midst of all the chaos. Blood.
It was coming from her mother's face, her lips, her nose, staining her clothes, pooling across the seat. The smell of it invaded Sakura's senses. Her breath hitched as she saw her mother's hand, pale and still, gripping the steering wheel, her fingers frozen in place, unmoving. Then, the world tilted and everything spun violently.
The car was still spinning.
The next thing Sakura felt was the sharp sting as she drove her fist toward the window, shattering the glass in one single motion, the sound of it deafening and brutal. The shards rained down in all directions, piercing her skin, the jagged pieces stabbing her arm with unrelenting force.
Blood. More blood. It seeped out of the fresh wounds in her arm, dripping onto her lap, the glass still falling in slow motion, glinting like deadly diamonds.
The whizzing grew louder. Her arm burned where the shards had embedded themselves, searing the same place where her scars now lay, the scars that she would cover with tattoos for the rest of her life.
The pain was excruciating. But it was nothing compared to the devastation of losing her mother, nothing compared to the guilt that flooded her every moment since that night.
Whizzing.
The noise consumed her as the blood poured down her arm, the world spinning too fast for her to catch her breath. She couldn't stop it. It was all too much. The screams, the blood, the glass.
Sakura woke up with a sharp gasp.
Her breathing was shallow, and her hands were shaking. She blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the darkness around her. The room was still, but she could still hear the whizzing sound in her ears, echoing from the nightmare that still lingered.
She reached instinctively for her left arm, where the tattoos and scars lay, and as soon as her fingers brushed over her skin, a sudden, searing pain shot through her. The scarred area felt like it was on fire, burning with an intensity that made her heart race. It felt so real. Like the shards were still there, embedded deep in her skin.
Sakura closed her eyes tightly, her heart pounding in her chest, and tried to steady her breath.
It was just a nightmare.
But the burning pain in her arm wouldn't let her forget. The scars, the tattoo, the past. All of it was still there, still with her. Still haunting her.
She lay there, unable to shake off the feeling of the glass cutting into her arm, the blood soaking her clothes. The whizzing sound in her ears wouldn't stop. The echoes of that night were alive in her, and even though she was awake, the nightmare still clung to her like a dark cloud.
For a moment, she just stayed there, staring into the dark, clutching her arm as if it could help her forget.
But the memories would never leave. And neither would the scars, damn it,Sakura cursed.
The morning sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow over the campsite nestled in the quiet forest, just before the group was set to go on a small hiking trip. The air was crisp and cool, perfect for the adventure ahead. Sakura, Ino, Hinata, and the rest of the group were preparing, packing up their bags and discussing the route they would take. It was a calm, easy morning—until they heard footsteps crunching on the gravel path that led to the campsite.
Naruto, with his usual enthusiasm, was the first to notice.
"Hey, someone's coming," he said, squinting into the distance.
Ino raised an eyebrow. "Who could it be? We're pretty far out here."
Sakura's pulse quickened. A strange feeling crawled up her spine. Her instincts screamed that something was off. The figure came into full view, and Sakura's breath caught in her throat when she saw the familiar red hair.
It was Karin.
Karin walked toward them with a confident smile, her eyes scanning the group before landing on Sasuke. She carried a large duffle bag slung over her shoulder, and though her posture was casual, there was a definite air of self-assuredness about her.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Sakura muttered under her breath, but before anyone could respond, Karin was already speaking.
"Hey, guys!" she called out brightly. "I didn't expect to find you all here." Her voice was sweet, but there was something in her tone that made it clear she had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
"We didn't expect to see you here either" Sakura mumbled and rolled her eyes.
Naruto frowned, exchanging a confused glance with Sasuke. "What do you mean?" Naruto asked. "How did you even know we were here?"
Karin shrugged, the mischievous glint in her eyes never fading. "Oh, I'm just here visiting my grandparents for the weekend. My dad owns this cabin, and when I found out you guys were here, I thought I'd come by and say hello."
Her dad owns this cabin?she thought, her mind racing.
Of course, Karin would know about it. It made sense now why she was so comfortable here, why she acted as if she owned the place.
Sasuke, clearly less than thrilled by the unexpected appearance, raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were planning to join us," he said, his voice flat, though there was an edge to it.
Karin smiled sweetly, clearly unfazed by Sasuke's tone. "I wasn't planning on it, but now that I'm here, why not stick around for a bit?" She dropped her bag on the ground and began to pull out a camping chair from the trunk of her car, as if she belonged there.
"I don't think that's our point, you see-" Neji started, but Naruto elbowed him in order to stop.
Sakura didn't even try to hide her discomfort. She stood up, straightening her jacket and glancing at the others.Of course she would show up.
"What's up with her?" Ino asked quietly, catching the look on Sakura's face.
"I don't know, I don't care and I am not interested" Sakura replied, her voice tight.
Naruto scratched his head. "I don't get it," he said, looking back at Karin who was now sitting comfortably, as if she'd been part of the group all along. "But I guess... whatever."
Sasuke, however, looked like he wanted to disappear into the trees. He turned back toward Sakura, who was staring at the ground, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as if she was thinking if she cares or not.
Karin, not missing the opportunity to needle Sakura, looked up with a sly grin. "So, Sasuke-kun," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness, "are you going to give me a tour of the trails? I'd love to catch up."
Sasuke-kun, my ass,Sakura thought.He barely talks to you, barely answers you and barely fucking looks at you. Such a loser!
Ino whispered. "She's trying way too hard."
Sakura nodded, taking a deep breath to center herself. She would just have to deal with this as it happens, now. The day wasn't going to go as planned, but she wasn't going to let Karin ruin it for her nor anyone else, as they are not privileged with such an honor.
No one ruins my day, except me, Sakura thought.
As they all gathered their things and prepared for the hike, Karin stuck close to Sasuke, shooting side glances at Sakura and Ino. The tension was palpable, but the group had no choice but to continue, despite the underlying current of discomfort.
The sky was clear, the sun dappled through the canopy of trees, and the cool breeze carried the fresh scent of pine and earth. The group was in high spirits, their laughter mingling with the sounds of nature.
That was, until Karin opened her mouth.
"So, Sasuke-kun," Karin began, her voice overly chipper as she fell into step beside him. "Have you thought about your plans after graduation? I mean, someone like you must have big things lined up, right?"
Sasuke didn't even glance at her. "I'll figure it out," he replied curtly, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Karin giggled, as if he had said something witty. "You're so mysterious. It's one of the things I love about you!"
Naruto, walking just ahead with Hinata, shot Sasuke a look over his shoulder. "Oi, Sasuke, don't let her distract you. You're going to trip over a root or something."
"Maybe you should focus on yourself, dumbass," Sasuke retorted, brushing past Karin to move closer to Naruto.
Karin's smile faltered, but only for a moment. She turned her attention to the rest of the group, clearly not ready to let the spotlight shift away from her.
"Ino, don't you think it's crazy how different some people's energy levels are?" she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I mean, look at you—always bubbly and excited. And then there's Sakura... so quiet and serious. It's like she's allergic to fun."
Ino immediately bristled, her hand clenching into a fist at her side. "Sakura's got more fun in her little finger than you do in your entire personality, Karin," she snapped. "And at least she knows when toshut up."
Karin's expression darkened, but she quickly masked it with a fake laugh. "Wow, touchy. I was just joking."
Sakura, walking near the back of the group, didn't even look up. She kept her eyes on the trail ahead, but her jaw tightened.
"Maybe focus on your own energy, Karin," Neji said dryly from the front of the group, not even turning around. "It's a little... overwhelming." he catches up Sakura and rolls his eyes at the same time as her.
Ever since they got enrolled at the medical college, they started bonding like they've known each other for many years. Ino was somewhat jealous of it, but she quickly realized that she can use this as a strategy in order to make Sasuke realize his own feelings for her best friend.
"Overwhelming?" Karin repeated, feigning innocence. "I'm just trying to keep the conversation lively! Not my fault ifsome peoplecan't handle a little enthusiasm."
Naruto muttered something under his breath, but it was Hinata who gently nudged him and shook her head, signaling him to let it go. He hated when she tried picking up on Sakura, everyone did actually.
Karin, pivoted back to Sasuke. "So, Sasuke-kun, what's your favorite thing about hiking? The scenery? The exercise? Or maybe the company?" She shot a meaningful look at him, batting her eyelashes.
Sasuke didn't even bother answering this time. He simply quickened his pace, moving ahead to join Neji and Shikamaru at the front of the group.
"Looks like he enjoys solitude," Sakura said under her breath, just loud enough for Ino to hear.
Ino snorted, covering her mouth to hide her laughter.
Karin heard the snicker and turned, narrowing her eyes. "Something funny, Ino?"
"Yeah," Ino replied smoothly. "You."
Before Karin could retort, Shikamaru stopped in his tracks and looked back at the group. "Can we pick up the pace? At this rate, we're never going to reach the top before noon."
"Agreed," Neji said, clearly eager to put some distance between himself and Karin.
The group began moving faster, and Karin, for once, seemed to take the hint and fell silent—though her sour expression said plenty. Sakura exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension building in her chest. The hike was supposed to be relaxing, a chance to escape the chaos in her mind. But with Karin around, peace felt like a distant dream.
Ino glanced at Sakura and gave her a sly smile. "Bet you she doesn't last the entire hike without saying something stupid again."
"Not taking that bet," Sakura replied, her lips twitching into a faint smirk.
From the front of the group, Naruto called out, "Hey, how much longer to the top? I'm starving already!"
"Don't worry," Shikamaru replied lazily. "We're almost there. Just keep walking."
It wasn't until they reached a beautiful top, a beautiful view, a spot that had been Sakura's favorite for years, that the tension finally reached a breaking point.
Karin, clearly feeling bold, approached Sasuke as he stood at the edge, looking out over the valley below. "Sasuke-kun, I've always loved this view," she said, standing next to him, her voice lower now, more intimate.
Sasuke barely reacted, his hands shoved into his pockets. "It's nice," he said, his voice flat.
Then, without warning, Karin turned toward Sasuke, closing the gap between them and kissing him on the lips. It was sudden, and she had caught him completely off guard. The rest of the group froze in their tracks, eyes wide in disbelief.
Sakura's breath caught in her throat, and her heart pounded. She had seen this kind of thing coming, but that didn't make it any easier. She felt a deep, unsettling churn in her stomach.
Naruto was the first to speak up, his voice full of surprise. "What the hell?"
Ino's eyes widened, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "She really just did that..."
Hinata looked away, her cheeks flushed, as if she hadn't expected it either.
Sasuke, to everyone's surprise, didn't immediately pull away. Instead, he stood frozen for a moment before gently pushing Karin away. "What the hell, Karin?" he said, his tone harsh now.
Karin just smiled, completely unbothered. "Just wanted to see if you felt the same way, Sasuke-kun."
As the rest of the group exchanged looks and murmurs, Sakura quietly distanced herself, stepping off the trail and heading toward the edge of the top.
She needed to breathe.