In front of Ichiraku Ramen, the air was thick with tension. Karin stood face-to-face with Sakura, her expression filled with hostility.
Love rivals are never calm when they meet.
Seeing Karin's clenched teeth and hostile glare, Sakura instinctively held Sasuke's hand tighter, leaning closer against him. The sight made Karin's blood boil. She gritted her teeth, eyes flashing with anger, and snapped:
"You! Let go of Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura, refusing to back down, smiled confidently. "Sasuke-kun and I have already confirmed our relationship. Holding his hand is natural. There's nothing wrong with it."
"Impossible!" Karin's voice cracked, nearly trembling. "Absolutely impossible!"
Her eyes began to water, the pain in her chest threatening to spill over as tears. She turned to Sasuke, desperate, her voice breaking: "Sasuke-kun, what she's saying isn't true, right? Tell me it isn't true!"
Sasuke's dark eyes lowered slightly. He knew very well how Karin felt about him. Naruto had once pointed it out—that Karin was even willing to risk her life for his sake. That kind of loyalty was undeniable.
In another timeline, Karin had never married Sasuke—or anyone else. But in this life, Sasuke had considered something he never did before: the continuation of the Uchiha clan. For the sake of rebuilding his people, marrying Karin wouldn't be unreasonable.
Still, at this moment, Sasuke's path had been carved with Sakura in mind. He had already laid the groundwork.
Sakura, emboldened, gave Sasuke's hand a squeeze and said, "Sasuke-kun, you should tell her directly. Otherwise, she'll never let this go. It'll be better for her and for us."
Taking a steady breath, Sasuke exhaled softly, then fixed his gaze on Karin. His expression was calm, yet the words were heavy.
"Karin… what Sakura said is true. I have confirmed my relationship with her."
The words landed like a blade.
Crack—
It was as if Karin's heart had shattered into pieces. She stumbled a step back, staring at him with wide, trembling eyes.
"H-how… how is this possible? Sasuke-kun! How could this be true?"
Her disbelief burned hot. Sasuke-kun, of all people, chose this flat-chested girl?
Hadn't Sasuke always shown irritation toward Sakura in the past? Hadn't he despised these kinds of attachments? Why then was he suddenly declaring himself with her?
Karin refused to accept it. She rushed forward, seizing Sasuke's other arm desperately. Her grip was trembling, frantic.
"Sasuke-kun! Tell me this is a lie. You must be hiding something! You're just saying this to drive me away, right?"
Her eyes darted toward Sakura, burning with jealousy and venom.
"You wicked woman! Did you bewitch him? Did you drug Sasuke-kun?!"
Sakura tightened her hold on Sasuke's arm, her voice sharp with anger. "Don't be ridiculous! Sasuke is far too strong for something like that. Our love is genuine! Can't you see that? Just let go of this delusion already!"
Sakura tried to pull Sasuke closer to her, but Sasuke's body remained firmly still, unwilling to be dragged between the two.
"Karin, what are you doing?" Sakura snapped. "Sasuke has already admitted it himself. Why are you still clinging on?"
Karin shook her head, her crimson eyes blazing. "No! I don't believe it! Sasuke-kun would never fall in love with someone like you. You must have tricked him somehow!"
"You—!" Sakura's temper flared, her cheeks flushing red with frustration. She turned toward Sasuke again, pleading. "Sasuke, please, say something!"
Karin leaned closer, her voice trembling but still soft when it came to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, look at her—she's so fierce. I'm not like that. I care about you sincerely… I would never hurt you."
Sasuke's patience was wearing thin. His jaw clenched.
From the side, Suigetsu leaned against the wall with arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with clear amusement. He nudged Jugo beside him and muttered:
"Man… women are really troublesome."
Jugo gave a small nod, his tone calm but serious. "Troublesome indeed. Their emotions are overflowing, and it's suffocating. I can feel Sasuke-kun's irritation from here."
Suigetsu chuckled, poking at his ear casually. "Exactly. This is why marriage is so complicated."
Jugo tilted his head, watching Sasuke's stern face. "Still, Sasuke-kun is thinking about his clan's survival. That's the only reason he's even considering this. Otherwise, he'd never waste time on love or marriage. He's only ever cared about getting stronger."
Suigetsu smirked knowingly. "That's where you're wrong, Jugo. Sasuke and Naruto are at the peak now. Stronger than anyone else in this world. When men reach the top, what else is left? They start chasing other things… like love."
"Really?" Jugo asked doubtfully.
"Of course," Suigetsu replied, nodding with a grin.
At that moment, Sasuke's patience finally snapped. His voice cut through the bickering like thunder.
"Enough! Shut up!"
He ripped his arms free from both women, stepping forward with an air of finality.
Facing Karin directly, Sasuke's tone was calm but unyielding. "Karin, it's true. I have a confirmed relationship with Sakura. There's nothing false about it. And more than that—I intend to marry her. Sakura will be my wife."
Sakura's eyes widened, her heart leaping in her chest. To hear Sasuke declare it so openly, with such certainty—it was everything she had ever dreamed of. All the years of chasing, waiting, and enduring rejection had finally led to this moment.
"Sasuke-kun…" her voice cracked with overwhelming joy.
But for Karin, it was agony. Her chest tightened painfully as tears spilled from her eyes. "No… no, this can't be true. Sasuke-kun, you can't love her. Not her…"
Sakura straightened, pride swelling in her voice. "Karin, I admit—you're strong, and I'm grateful you've been there to help Sasuke. But Sasuke and I are childhood friends. We grew up together, went to the Academy together. Our bond runs deeper than you could ever understand!"
Karin's lips trembled. She wanted to argue, to scream—but Sasuke's earlier words echoed too loudly in her head. She faltered, powerless.
Sasuke studied her carefully, then made his decision.
"Karin… there's something I want to ask you. Will you listen?"
Both women froze, caught off guard. Sakura blinked in confusion, while Karin stared blankly, drained of hope.
"Ask me, Sasuke-kun… what is it?" Karin whispered.
Sasuke's eyes darkened with resolve. "In name, I am the last of the Uchiha. Even though I revived fragments of my clan before, those were only Edo Tensei reincarnations. The only Uchiha left with real bodies are me, Itachi, and Shisui. For the survival of my clan, Naruto spoke to me about… another solution. At first, I refused. But then I thought… perhaps it is acceptable. Not just for me, but for you as well. I don't want to let you down."
Both women stiffened. Karin's heart leapt, while Sakura's stomach twisted uneasily.
Sasuke continued. "Karin… I know your feelings for me. On Team Taka, you were always loyal. You risked your life for me more than once. That devotion—I don't take it lightly. So I ask you this: would you marry me… together with Sakura?"
The words struck like lightning.
Karin's eyes widened, disbelief giving way to pure euphoria. "Yes! Yes, Sasuke-kun, I'll do it! I'll marry you, with all my heart!" She lunged forward, throwing her arms around him.
Sakura's heart cracked.
"I don't want this!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage and sorrow. "Sasuke-kun, how could you ask something like this of me?"
Tears threatened her eyes. "I've loved you since we were children. My love for you is selfish and absolute—I can't share you with anyone!"
Karin clung tightly to Sasuke, her voice sharp but victorious. "Hmph! If it weren't for Sasuke-kun, I'd never agree to this. But since it's him, I'll share—even with you, Sakura!" She pressed closer, inhaling Sasuke's scent with shameless passion.
It was the first time she embraced him so openly.
Sasuke looked at Sakura seriously, his tone softer now. "Sakura… I know this is asking too much. I wanted to talk to you about it carefully, but—"
"I do!!!" Sakura suddenly shouted, cutting him off.
Both Sasuke and Karin froze.
Sakura clenched her fists, teeth gritted. If I don't accept, Karin might take everything. That shameless woman would do anything to claim Sasuke completely. I can't risk that. Better to accept now… and fight later.
She stormed forward, grabbing Sasuke's other arm, her emerald eyes burning with silent determination.
Sasuke glanced at both women holding onto him—one weeping with joy, the other burning with possessiveness. A faint smirk curved his lips.
The blessing of all people… finally, it's settled.
From the sidelines, Suigetsu and Jugo stared with slack jaws.
Suigetsu whistled low. "Damn… Sasuke's charm really is on another level. Two women, both impossible to deal with—and he's got them both hooked."
Jugo only shook his head, sighing heavily. "Troublesome. Extremely troublesome."
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