On the streets of Konoha.
A girl with light blonde hair stared curiously at Sakura, who was dressed simply beside her.
Sakura wore the usual black ninja outfit, with black ninja sandals on her feet. But despite the all-black look, Sakura seemed devoid of any vibrancy today.
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" Ino asked.
As soon as she spoke, the flash of pink zoomed right up to her, hands grabbing her shoulders, her small face full of regret.
"I was practicing ninjutsu at home this morning and made a huge mess. Now my mom's grounded me from eating meatballs for a whole week!"
Hearing Sakura's words, Ino looked at the dejected girl in front of her and couldn't help but smile.
So, Sakura has this side to her too, huh…
Still the same Sakura I know…
Though she has gotten a lot cooler lately—still not as cool as Sasuke, though.
"Alright, aren't we going to visit Sasuke today?"
"I'll treat you to a meal afterward, but don't let your mom find out!"
Ino wrapped an arm around Sakura's waist, gently patting the cat-like girl.
"Ino, are you an angel?!"
Sakura buried her face in Ino's chest, catching a whiff of carnation.
Turning her head, she saw the flower basket Ino was carrying in her right hand, meant as a gift for Sasuke.
Tch, what's that guy got that makes my Ino so smitten?!
The two headed straight for Konoha Hospital. Today, the hospital corridors were filled with hidden gazes sweeping over them.
ANBU… no, it's Root!
Sakura's Observation Haki picked up the familiar cold stares, and she instinctively pulled Ino behind her.
"What's wrong, Sakura?"
"Nothing. Just… no matter what you hear, don't get mad!"
Sakura whispered a warning to Ino, pulling her hand as they hurried through the corridor.
The noisy chatter around them couldn't be hidden from Ino, with her natural ninja sensory talents, or from Sakura, with her Observation Haki.
"Hey, did you hear? A ton of rogue ninjas came from the Uchiha clan."
"So scary! A guy who killed his own father? They really are a cursed clan!"
"A clan like that should be kicked out of the village. I don't know why the Third Hokage keeps them around!"
The same old tactics, the same old playbook.
Ninjas blending in with civilians, stirring up their malice.
The last time they used the invisible blade of gossip, they destroyed Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
This time, who're they trying to ruin, dear Advisor Hokage?
"…"
Behind Sakura, Ino's face was just as grim. As the young lady of the Yamanaka clan, how could she not understand what was happening?
They hurried to Sasuke's hospital room, yanking the door open and slamming it shut behind them.
Inside, the breeze fluttered the white curtains, casting shadows on a boy steeped in silence.
Though the Uchiha clan had avoided extinction, his father was dead, his brother had killed their father and fled with a group of elite ninjas…
The weight of those crimes only fueled the chaotic villagers of Konoha to pile their malice onto this orphan and his widowed mother. After all, he shared the same blood as the criminal, didn't he?
"Sasuke-kun?"
Ino softened her voice, placing the flower basket on the nightstand beside his bed.
Before coming, Iruka-sensei had told them Sasuke was hospitalized due to a complex jutsu, which is why the two were here representing their class.
At the sound of Ino's voice, a pair of hollow eyes slowly turned.
Ino was completely ignored as Sasuke stared straight at Sakura.
In his crimson pupils, two tomoe spun, looking eerie and dangerous.
"Sakura Haruno."
"Fight me!"
A cold, almost emotionless tone came from Sasuke's mouth, but in Sakura's Observation Haki, his emotions were at their breaking point, like a volcano ready to erupt.
"Huh? Sasuke-kun, you need to rest!"
"Sakura, help me talk some sense into him!"
Ino tried to intervene, tugging at Sakura's sleeve, her blue-green eyes sending desperate signals.
After all, one was the boy she had a crush on, and the other was her best friend—she'd be heartbroken if either got hurt.
"Fine!"
Sakura turned, pointing toward the rooftop, and strode out of the room.
Sasuke threw off his blanket, jumped out of bed, and followed.
"Sakura? Sasuke? Ugh, these two…"
Ino scratched her head in frustration but followed them.
The three reached the hospital rooftop, where white bedsheets hung on iron racks.
Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno stood face-to-face.
"Not gonna attack? Once I make my move, you won't get a chance."
The pink-haired girl stood casually, arms crossed. From a ninja's perspective, her every move seemed full of openings.
"Damn it, don't underestimate me!"
Sasuke's face twisted as he threw a sharp punch straight at Sakura's delicate face.
Why?! Why?!
That strict but loving father, those clan members who seemed cold but showed care in their own way…
In his blood-red pupils, he saw that night by the riverbank, the cold gaze of a blood-soaked man…
"Hate me, foolish little brother!"
"You're too weak right now to even be worth killing!"
"Damn it!"
All his rage was compressed into that roar. At this moment, Sasuke Uchiha was like a beast desperate to devour everything.
Abandoning defense for a frenzied attack, he sought only one thing: a clear answer from this junior of that man's ANBU!
Bang!
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. Sakura caught his fist with a single, effortless palm, not even flinching.
"Impossible! How's the gap this big?!"
Midair, Sasuke twisted his waist, one hand bracing against the ground as he launched a spinning kick!
"You're doing it wrong. That won't beat Itachi!"
Sakura's fingers spread, catching his kicking leg in a firm grip!
Her right hand grabbed Sasuke, swung him in a wide arc, and slammed him hard onto the hospital's concrete floor.
"Ugh! Cough! Don't… say that name!"
The impact made Sasuke bounce off the ground, coughing up frothy spit.
Steel wires from his ninja pouch whipped out, binding him tightly, as Sakura sighed and let go.
"That's it? Are you pitying me, Sakura Haruno?"
"Or is my weakness so pathetic it can't even force out your precious bloodline?!"
Sasuke roared, maddened. What did he see? Her eyes held the same disappointment as that man.
That, above all else, was something Sasuke Uchiha absolutely couldn't accept!
"Man, you Uchihas…"
Sakura sat cross-legged beside him.
Her emerald eyes calmly watched the struggling boy as she spoke.
"Who're you putting on this rabid dog act for? Don't you have anyone left in the village you care about?"
Her clear voice hit Sasuke's ears, freezing his struggles.
Right—he still had his mother.
He was the only pillar left in their household. If he threw everything away, what would happen to her…?
"Figured it out?"
Sakura flicked her fingers, releasing the wires, and Sasuke collapsed.
He couldn't say a word, just clenched his fists against the ground.
Age didn't matter. Health didn't matter.
A man has to grow up fast when responsibility comes knocking, ready to shield his family from the storm.
The clouds above grew darker, and as thunder rolled, rain began to fall in scattered drops.
Sakura patted Sasuke's shoulder and stood up.
"If you get it, then focus on recovering."
"On the ninja path, Itachi Uchiha is leagues ahead of you. If you want to beat him, use the village's connections, resources, and techniques. That's the only thing you've got right now to stand up to him."
With that, Sakura didn't look at Sasuke again, stepping through the rain toward the stairwell.
Pushing the door open, she saw Ino's worried face.
"Sakura…"
"It's fine now. Go tell the nurses to take him back to his room."
Sakura gave Ino's arm a reassuring pat.
"Oh, and I want fried meatballs from South Street!"
"Sakura!!!"