"If I slap her, she'll understand exactly how it feels!"
---
"Shame on you, Ino." The voice was cold, laced with disdain, echoing just enough to make her flinch. "How low can you be, disturbing someone's sleep like that?"
Ino spun around, her eyes narrowing as she recognized the speaker. It was Tenten, standing a few feet away, her arms crossed, a look of distinct disapproval on her face.
Tenten, who always seemed to have a particular disdain for Ino's usual antics.
"Tenten...?" Ino scoffed, disbelief tinging her voice. "What in the world are you doing here, trying to act all high and mighty?"
Tenten merely raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Nothing much," she replied, her gaze sweeping pointedly from Ino to the still-unconscious Karin. "Just saving people from your particular brand of 'help' and 'harm'."
Ino's eyes flared. She frowned deeply, quickly getting up from her kneeling position and standing directly in front of Tenten, hands on her hips. "Are you implying I am harming Karin, Tenten?!" she demanded, her voice rising.
"Of course you are, you idiot!" Tenten retorted, her patience clearly thin. "Why don't you understand? You're waking someone from their much-needed sleep just for someone like Sakura." Her tone when she said Sakura's name was laced with a casual dismissal that instantly infuriated Ino.
"You dare you speak about—" Ino began, her voice dripping with venom, ready to launch into a full-blown argument.
"Ino, stop it."
The voice was soft but firm. Both Ino and Tenten turned their heads to see Sakura. She was no longer lying down, but had managed to push herself up into a sitting position, though her face was still pale and drawn with lingering pain.
Tenten's smirk returned, sharper this time. "See, Ino?" she crowed, gesturing towards Sakura with a sweep of her hand. "She's perfectly fine. She's sitting up on her own, no thanks to your unnecessary ruckus."
"Tenten, do not interfere!"
Tenten merely shrugged, a smirk still playing on her lips. "Look," she said, gesturing dismissively towards Sakura. "She's talking with that poisonous tongue like ever and sitting up perfectly fine. I suppose she doesn't need a medic after all, does she?"
That was the last straw for Ino. With a furious gasp, she lunged forward, grabbing Tenten's collar with a white-knuckled grip. "Tenten, just get lost from here!" she snarled, pulling Tenten closer until their faces were inches apart.
Not far from them, a distinct snore rumbled from a shadowed corner. Lee, with his eyes still tightly shut, murmured to the figure beside him. "Neji... I think we really need to stop Tenten."
Neji, equally still and with his eyes closed, replied in a low, even tone. "We are not responsible for her behavior, Lee."
"But she's our comrade!" Lee insisted, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"She is big enough to understand at what time, and how much, she has to speak," Neji responded, his voice flat. He offered no further comment, and a quiet stillness settled back over their corner.
'This is a foolish argument,' Neji thought, 'and i will not waste my energy on it unless absolutely necessary.'
Meanwhile, Sasuke had pulled Mini Sasuke a little closer, lowering his voice. Naruto, though listening intently, was now sitting upright, pretending to be utterly engrossed in something on the opposite wall.
"Listen closely," Sasuke instructed Mini Sasuke. "If anyone asks you who you are, just say you're Sasuke. And if they ask from which time you are, just tell them you're from the future. Nothing else. You won't reveal anything else, understand?"
Mini Sasuke frowned, a small crease appearing between his brows. "But... some time ago, you told me I was from the past according to you..."
"Sasuke, this won't work, dattebayo!" Naruto cut in, finally turning to face them. "I think he's taken enough for today. And whatever you're telling him, what if he messes up? And by the way, what's the need of telling him all of it right now anyway?"
"No," Sasuke retorted, his gaze sharp. 'This is foolish...even if he can't understand it I need to give him the essentials.' "If someone else gets a hold of him and starts asking questions, that's why we're taking precautions. Of course, all the details won't fit, but something simple might."
He looked back at Mini Sasuke, his expression serious. "See, not everyone knows that you and I are the same person. So if they get to know, they will hurt you. Only Naruto knows, so trust him only. No one else..."
Suddenly, Sasuke's voice was cut short by a fresh surge of shouts.
"TENTEN!"
"INO!"
Both Sasuke and Naruto whipped their heads around, their eyes scanning the cavern. Indeed, Tenten and Ino were now locked in a full-blown scuffle, a flurry of flailing limbs and furious expressions.
"Oh no, dattebayo!" Naruto groaned, rubbing the back of his head. His face a muxturecof exasperation and concern "Why at a time like this? Sasuke, let's go and help them solve it!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What's the need to get involved in girl's matters?" he muttered, a typical Uchiha sneer on his face. "You know they're crazy like ever."
"No, Sasuke!" Naruto insisted, already starting to get up. "What if Bushy Brows and Neji reach there, and we don't? Then they'll think something's suspicious and would doubt us for not taking an active part in the conversation!"
Naruto's voice held a genuine point, a rare spark of strategic thinking that caught Sasuke off guard. Sasuke paused, his expressions shifting as the logic hit him.
'Good. He actually got a point here. We can't let them think that we are hiding something more than we already are.'
Sasuke paused, his expression shifting. "Good. You got a point."
He quickly looked down at Mini Sasuke. "You," he said, his voice urgent. "You just act like you're sleeping. And if someone comes, don't answer anything."
"Why not take him?" Naruto suggested, looking at Mini Sasuke. "Then we'd have a close eye on him, dattebayo!"
Mini Sasuke, his eyes wide with renewed excitement, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, Usurantokachi is right! Why not take me? I promise I won't mess up!" His small voice was filled with eagerness, desperate to be part of the action.
Sasuke sighed, a hint of resignation flickered in his eyes. 'Great..More trouble. But i suppose keeping him close is better than leaving him to potentially get interrogated.'
"Alright," he conceded. "But don't speak anything unless spoken to, and stay glued to me or Naruto. Understand?"
Mini Sasuke nodded eagerly. His small face brightening. With that, all three of them—Older Sasuke, Mini Sasuke, and Naruto—left their secluded corner, moving swiftly towards where the shouts were growing louder and louder.
Ino and Tenten now stood nose-to-nose, their hands gripping each other's collars, faces flushed with a raw, unbridled anger.
"Ino, stop! It's okay!" Sakura pleaded from her sitting position, trying to intervene, her voice laced with pain and desperation.
"Hmmph, 'okay' she says," Tenten scoffed, her gaze sliding past Ino to Sakura, a clear sneer twisting her lips. 'Always trying to play the peacekeeper, aren't you, Sakura? As if everything's 'okay' when Ino is involved.'
"All you can do, Sakura, is control others and sit there looking pitiful. You can't even stand up straight."
That did it. Ino's eyes blazed with a fury. With a furious gasp, she lunged forward, her hand shooting out to grab Tenten's collar with a white-knuckled grip. "When you're asked to speak, Tenten, then you speak! Otherwise, keep your useless mouth shut!" she snarled, pulling Tenten closer until their faces were inches apart.
Karin, who had slowly pushed herself to a sitting position, watched the escalating scene, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. 'Well, this is getting exciting,' she thought.
'Might as well stay awake for this.' She then slowly pushed herself up to a standing position, observing the chaos with detached curiosity.
"You're going to tell me when to speak and when not to, huh?" Tenten roared, a vein throbbing in her neck. With a furious shove, she tried to push Ino to the ground, her voice dripping with pure venom.
"You're all talk, Ino! Always have been! Don't tell me... did you suddenly lost your voice, or did you realize you wouldn't last five seconds against me in a real fight, so you'd rather throw a tantrum than actually prove something?!"
"What's going on here?!" Naruto's voice cut through the commotion, his eyes wide with alarm as he, Sasuke, and Mini Sasuke arrived on the scene.
Ino, regaining her footing from Tenten's shove, quickly pulled out a kunai, its sharp blade glinting ominously in the dim light. She aimed it directly at Tenten, her hand trembling with rage, clearly intending to hurt her.
But before she could act, Sasuke reacted very fast and he reached out, his hands gripping Ino's wrists firmly, just as she was about to strike.
"Ino, stop!" Sasuke's voice was sharp, commanding, cutting through her rage. "What are you doing?! Are you trying to kill her?!"
Ino struggled against Sasuke's grip for a few moments, her face filled with fury, her muscles straining. But realizing it was useless, the kunai slipped from her numb fingers and fell to the ground. Sasuke released her, letting her hands fall limp.
"Naruto?" a voice came, soft and bewildered, from behind them.
Sasuke turned around towards his back he saw that Sakura was sitting on the ground, a mixture of pain and profound confusion on her face. Naruto was also sitting in front of her, his expression a mix of concern and relief.
Beside Naruto, Mini Sasuke was standing, clutching the sleeve of Naruto's jacket, his small face wide-eyed, taking in the chaotic scene.
"N-Naruto, what are you... what are you doing here?" Sakura asked, her voice weak but filled with surprise. 'Naruto... he's here. He actually came.'
Naruto instantly softened, his usual boisterous energy replaced by genuine care. He reached out, gently touching her arm. "Everything's alright, Sakura-chan. Me and Sasuke are here. We won't let anyone hurt you, dattebayo!" His voice was a comforting balm.
As Naruto spoke, Sakura's gaze drifted past him. Behind his reassuring form, she noticed another figure standing. She couldn't make out the face from her sitting position, only the familiar broad shoulders and dark clothing.
Her breath hitched. 'Could it be...?' Slowly, painfully, she lifted her head, her eyes tracing upwards until they met the cold, yet strangely comforting, gaze of Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun..." she whispered, a tear escaping, tracing a path down her dust-streaked cheek. A warm, tremulous smile, despite the pain, bloomed on her face. "Thank goodness... you both are back." The tears streamed freely now, not just from pain, but from an overwhelming wave of relief and gratitude. 'They're here. They really came back.'
Just then, Hinata, her face etched with deep concern, gently approached Ino and Tenten. She cautiously placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Ino-chan... Tenten-chan... what's the argument all about?" Ino, still seething with residual anger, merely twitched her shoulder, causing Hinata's hand to fall back to her side, unacknowledged.
Hinata's face fell, a sad, hurt expression blooming as she thought Ino was annoyed with her.
"At least learn to respect some people in this world not whole, Ino," Tenten spat, her voice dripping with contempt, watching Hinata's dejected face. Ino, who had been walking away, stopped, her back stiff.
Tenten continued, her voice rising, dripping with provocation like acid. "What exactly did Hinata do to you that you're showing your anger towards her, huh? Have you become completely mute that no voice is coming out of your mouth....."
"....Or is it that you were humilited very badly by your own rubbish behaviour, so it's better not to cause a scene or else you'll just be utterly disrespected even more than you already are?..."
"....You're nothing but a pathetic, weakling copycat who can't even stand on her own two feet without piggybacking on someone else!"
While Tenten was delivering her savage monologue, Karin had fully gotten up and stood, observing the chaotic scene with an impassive expression, a faint glint of interest in her eyes.
Naruto, meanwhile, had carefully helped Sakura to her feet, supporting her gently.
Suddenly, Ino let out a furious scream, her face a mask of pure rage, and charged towards Tenten, her fist clenched, ready to push her to the ground and land a vicious punch.
'Not again... these girls,' Sasuke thought, his eyes narrowing in exasperation, already anticipating the ensuing chaos.
"Ino!!" Sasuke shouted, his voice sharp, trying to halt the inevitable.
But it was too late. As Ino swung wildly, Hinata, sensing the impending clash, bravely darted in front of Tenten, trying to block the attack. Ino, blinded by rage, crashed into Hinata, shoving her hard. Hinata cried out, stumbling backward and falling to the ground with a painful thud, her head hitting the hard rock.
"Hinata-sama!" Neji roared, no longer feigning sleep. He was just behind Tenten, now fully awake and standing, supported by Lee.
Hinata groaned, clutching her head as a wave of sharp pain surged through her.
Tenten, seeing Hinata fall because of Ino's uncontrolled fury, grew even more enraged. Her eyes burned with a protective fire. Ino, momentarily stunned by her own actions, stood there, frozen, unable to fully comprehend the unintended consequence.
Suddenly, Tenten charged at Ino, her intention clear: to make her pay. But then Sakura, moving surprisingly fast despite her pain, intervened once more, stepping directly in front of Ino, trying to shield her friend. Tenten's hand, aimed with furious intent at Ino, accidentally slapped Sakura instead, a sharp, echoing crack resounding through the cavern.
Sakura reeled from the unexpected blow, her hand flying to her stinging cheek, about to fall. But Naruto instantly caught her, his arms wrapping around her, steadying her. His face contorted with a cold, terrifying anger.
"SAKURA-CHAN!!"
"SAKURA-CHAN!?"
"Oi, Neji!" Naruto bellowed, his voice filled with a rare, chilling fury that made even Sasuke flinch. "Say that Tenten of yours to be in her limits! Or else, if I slap her, she'll understand exactly how it feels!"
Lee, meanwhile, was carefully helping Hinata up from the ground. "Hinata-san, are you all right?" he asked, his voice laced with profound concern. "Shall I bring some water for you?"
Hinata, still holding her head, managed a weak smile. "No, I'm okay, Lee-san."
Naruto's furious gaze briefly left Tenten, softening immediately as he turned back to Sakura. He gently touched her cheek where Tenten had slapped her. "Sakura-chan, does it hurt badly? Do you want to lay down?" His concern for her was clear in his eyes.
Karin, shocked by the sudden escalation and Sakura's injury, hurried towards her, her usual detached demeanor replaced by genuine concern. "I'll heal you!" she offered, reaching out her hands, a flicker of chakra already forming.
Sakura, despite her pain, pulled away slightly, her voice sharp with annoyance. "No thank you," she snapped. "I can heal myself."
Mini Sasuke, wide-eyed with the unfolding drama, looked up at Older Sasuke. They exchanged quick, knowing glances—Older Sasuke's filled with a familiar exasperation, Mini Sasuke's with a mix of awe and a mischievous thrill at the adult chaos.
"What did you say, Naruto?!" Tenten snarled, completely ignoring Lee and Hinata, her focus entirely on Naruto now. "Are you going to slap me, huh? Do you even have the guts to do it?!"
"Bushy Brows!" Naruto roared back, pointing a furious finger at Tenten. "Take her, or else her outcome won't be good for what she did!" His anger was palpable, threatening to erupt.
"You... you are only big talks, Naruto!" Tenten shot back, her own fury matching his, pushing his buttons further.
"So you're not gonna stop, huh?!" Naruto bellowed, taking a menacing step forward, ready to charge. But just as he moved, Sasuke's hand clamped firmly onto his arm, pulling him back. Sasuke shook his head slowly, a silent, firm 'NO.'
Naruto instantly halted, his body tense but obedient, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
Neji was standing still and supported by Lee. He quickly knelt down beside Hinata, his eyes scanning her for injuries.
Hinata, still clutching her head, offered a small, reassuring smile despite her pain. "Neji Nii-san," she whispered, trying to sound brave, "you... you please don't worry yourself. I'm okay. It's just nothing serious."
A faint shadow of pain crossed her face, a fleeting grimace that only Neji seemed to catch. It was a familiar 'mask' she wore, trying to spare others worry. There were tears of pain and guiltiness of causing a scene in her eyes. Though it was not her fault.
Neji's eyes, usually so calm and analytical, were now wide as he saw the genuine pain in Hinata's eyes, masked though it was. A wave of anger, cold and potent, washed over him.
He gently helped Hinata sit up more comfortably, then slowly, deliberately, he grabbed Lee's arm, using it to push himself to a standing position. His gaze swept over the stunned group, cold and dangerous.
"Who....?" he demanded, his voice low but sharp, each word laced with icy fury, " Who in the world pushed Hinata-sama, huh?"
Ino, who had been standing frozen in shock, felt a fresh wave of horror wash over her. 'Oh god... first I pushed Hinata, unintentionally... then Sakura got slapped because I wouldn't move... what have I done?' Her mind raced, a knot of dread tightening in her stomach. She was tense, her shoulders hunched.
"Who did it?!" Neji's voice rose, a sharp crack echoing in the cavern, demanding an answer.
Ino flinched, shrinking in on herself. She looked at the ground, unable to meet Neji's intense gaze. "I..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, choked with regret.
"Ino did it!" Tenten blurted out, stepping forward, her voice surprisingly calm now, a cruel satisfaction in her eyes as she pointed directly at Ino. "Ino was the one who pushed Hinata!"
Ino's head snapped up, a fresh wave of tears springing to her eyes as she saw Tenten deliberately filling Neji's ears with accusations, twisting the knife. "But... but Neji-san, I didn't do it intentionally!" she cried out, her voice cracking. "I-I was going to push Tenten, but Hinata came..." Her voice trailed off into a choked sob, unable to explain the chaos that had consumed her.
Sasuke let out a long, annoying sigh, shaking his head slightly. 'Great. Just what we needed. These girls are nothing but trouble. As if we aren't already drowning in issues, now this idiotic fighting has to jump right into our heads. Like we needed more problems to deal with.'
Lee, seeing Sakura still being held by Naruto, quickly moved towards them. His expression was full of genuine concern. "Sakura-san, are you okay?" he asked, his usual boisterousness replaced by a gentle earnestness.
"I'm so sorry on Tenten's behalf, you know how sh—"
"Lee, how dare you?!" Tenten's voice, sharp and indignant, cut him off mid-sentence. "Who told you I am ashamed? And I will never be ashamed of fighting back against a loud-mouthed idiot like her!"
Lee's eyes, usually bright with youthful enthusiasm, hardened. His voice grew serious, deep, and unwavering.
"Tenten. Now stop. Haven't you done enough?" His gaze was uncharacteristically firm, meeting hers directly. "Now don't speak any further. You were not the only one who saw everything... everyone was here. They will tell who did what. You stay quiet."
His words were a clear, unyielding command. He then turned his back on her, focusing his full attention on Sakura, resuming his concern.
Sasuke, observing the sudden shift in Lee's demeanor, nodded subtly. 'Impressive. Even Rock Lee has his limits with her.' He then moved towards the group where Sakura, Naruto, and Lee now stood, his presence adding a new gravity to the gathering.
Mini Sasuke, still clinging to Naruto's jacket, looked towards Hinata, who, on Neji's gentle advice, was slowly making her way to a secluded corner of the cavern to rest and recover from her fall.
Once Hinata settled herself, Tenten, unable to believe her ears at how Lee had so openly humiliated her, turned and stalked away in a huff. She walked to another corner, as far from everyone as possible, and laid down, facing the wall, a clear picture of humiliation and stubborn pride.
A new, uneasy group slowly formed in the center of the cavern: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Lee, Ino, and Neji. An unspoken conversation was about to begin, a desperate attempt to bring order to the chaos.
Taking advantage of the moment,that Sasuke and Naruto's attention now fully diverted, Mini Sasuke quietly slipped away. His small eyes darted towards the direction where Hinata had gone. With cautious, silent steps, he began moving towards the corner of the cave where she was sitting.
---
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Chapter 13, "Not Again... These Girls" 🔥💥 was an explosion waiting to happen—and oh boy, did it blow up in everyone's faces! 😮💨 From the very first exchange, the tension between Ino and Tenten was sharp enough to cut steel. Collars were grabbed, kunai were drawn, and words? Oh, those hit harder than any jutsu. 🗯️💢
We saw our kunoichi clash like never before—Ino's desperation, Tenten's fury, and a wild storm of misunderstandings, pride, and protective rage. Sakura tried to stop the fight, and Hinata got caught right in the middle 😣💫... literally.
Even Neji, usually the calm in the chaos, couldn't stay still this time. And Naruto's rare cold rage? That was terrifyingly satisfying 😤⚡
And yet... somewhere in all this chaos, little things slipped through: Mini Sasuke sneaking off 👀, Karin watching the drama unfold like it was a soap opera 🍿, and Sakura—hit both physically and emotionally—still trying to hold it together.
It wasn't just a fight. It was the unraveling of hidden tension, bruised egos, and friendships on edge. And yeah, Sasuke's "girls are crazy like ever" line? 👀 Typical Uchiha. 😏
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TEASER FOR NEXT CHAPTER:
The cavern that held their chaos… now becomes their prison. ⛓️🕳️
As tensions cool, a new panic begins. They're trapped—with no way out.
Some will try teamwork. Others will lose patience. And trust? It's thinning. 😰
Will they find an escape—or lose each other trying?
Friendships will falter, blame will fly, and one desperate idea might cost them everything… 🌀🪨
🔍 SNEAK PEEK LINE:
"Can someone please ask the Hokage to send help?! We can't get out of here!"
"Hmph. Do you really think Lord Rokudaime would come all the way here just to rescue a bunch of lost brats?"
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TALK TO ME!
🔥 Who do you think went too far—Ino or Tenten? Or was it someone else entirely?
💥 Was it the slap, the scream, or the kunai moment that left you speechless?
😂 Or maybe Neji's savage calm or Sasuke's "these girls are crazy" energy made you snort?
This chapter was a storm of tempers, tears, and total chaos—and I want to hear YOUR thoughts!
👀 Who are you siding with? And… do you think Hinata will forgive Ino?
👇 Drop your raw reactions, theories, and fav lines—I'm reading every single one! 💌
Let's keep this ninja madness growing, one chapter at a time.
—With love and a protective forehead protector,
Sakura Shinomiya 💫
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