Chapter 3

Indigo awoke to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the hospital room window. Her head rested against Naruto's chest, his soft snores filling the quiet room. She blinked slowly, letting the events of the past day sink in. Her heart still ached with the memory of Sasuke—his words, his touch, his kiss.
She gently sat up, careful not to wake Naruto. Looking at his sleeping face, she smiled softly. "You always take care of me, don't you?" she whispered.
Before she could dwell further, a knock at the door startled her. She stood quickly, smoothing her hair. The door opened to reveal Kakashi, his usual laid-back demeanor in place, though his visible eye carried a hint of concern.
"Good morning, Indigo. I see Naruto's... recovering well," Kakashi said, glancing at the sleeping blond.
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei. Yes, he's fine. Just exhausted," she replied softly.
Kakashi nodded. "Good to hear. I've come to check on everyone after yesterday's... encounter." His voice was calm, but the weight of what he left unsaid hung heavily in the air.
Indigo folded her arms, looking down at the floor. "We failed, didn't we? We couldn't bring him back."
Kakashi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's not a failure, Indigo. Sasuke's path isn't something that can be changed in one battle. But we'll try again. Together."
Indigo nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. Could she truly face Sasuke again? Her resolve wavered every time she thought of him.
"I'll leave you two to rest," Kakashi said, turning to leave. "But remember, Indigo, you're not alone in this. Take some time to heal—emotionally as well as physically."
As the door closed behind him, Indigo let out a deep sigh. She turned back to Naruto, who was now stirring awake. His blue eyes blinked up at her groggily.
"Indigo-chan... morning already?" he mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
She smiled weakly. "Yeah, it is. Kakashi-sensei stopped by to check on us."
Naruto grinned. "He didn't scold me, did he? I wasn't exactly at my best yesterday..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Naruto. You did everything you could."
Naruto's face turned serious as he looked at her. "And so did you, Indigo-chan. Don't blame yourself for what happened. We'll get him back next time. Believe it."
She nodded, though her heart felt heavy.
Meanwhile, far away in Orochimaru's hideout, Sasuke stood alone in a dimly lit room. The air was damp and cold, but he barely noticed. His mind replayed the events of the battle—the clash of fists, the exchange of words, and, most of all, the kiss.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Why couldn't he shake the memory of her lips against his? Why did the sight of her tears haunt him?
"Still thinking about her, aren't you?"
The voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Turning, he saw Suigetsu leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk on his face.
"Stay out of my business," Sasuke said coldly, his Sharingan flaring briefly.
Suigetsu chuckled. "Relax, I'm not here to pry. Just thought I'd remind you that you've got bigger things to worry about than an old flame. Orochimaru's not going to kill himself, you know."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I don't need reminders. I know exactly what I need to do."
"Good," Suigetsu said, pushing off the doorframe. "Because I don't think she's coming back here to save you. You're on your own, Sasuke."
As Suigetsu walked away, Sasuke stared at the ground, his jaw clenched. Alone. He had chosen this path, hadn't he? But why did it feel like with every step forward, he was leaving pieces of himself behind?
Back in Konoha, Indigo stood on the training grounds, her Raigan activated. Electricity crackled around her as she focused on her targets. She needed to get stronger. Faster. If they were going to face Sasuke again, she wouldn't hold back this time.
She threw a kunai, and with a flick of her wrist, the weapon changed direction mid-air, striking the bullseye. She smirked, satisfied with her progress.
"You've gotten better," a voice said behind her.
She turned to see Sai, his usual blank expression in place.
"Thank you, Sai-kun," she said, lowering her hand.
He stepped closer, studying her intently. "You seem... determined. More than usual."
"I have to be. Next time, I won't hesitate," she said firmly.
Sai tilted his head. "Even if it means hurting him?"
Indigo's heart skipped a beat. She turned away, hiding the turmoil on her face. "If it comes to that, I'll do what I have to. For him... and for Konoha."
Sai nodded, though his gaze lingered on her. "I hope you're prepared for what that might mean, Indigo-chan."
As he walked away, Indigo clenched her fists, her Raigan fading. Was she truly prepared to face Sasuke again? Could she really bring him back... or was she fooling herself?
The wind rustled through the training grounds, carrying with it a whisper of doubt.
To be continued.