Sharing Lives | SasuSaku ✔️

Chapter 11 - Sakura

Sakura jolts awake, her heart racing as the sharp chirping of birds pierces the haze of sleep. With a groan, she stretches her sore neck and blinks against the shimmering morning light filtering through the trees. It takes a moment for her to regain her bearings. But a wave of panic grips her as fragments of memory rush back—the gripping battle with Orochimaru, the palpable sense of his killing intent, and Sasuke, who now lies unconscious beside her.

As if her worried thoughts have summoned him, Sasuke stirs, a low groan escaping his lips that resonates deep within her chest. She brushes the damp strands of his jet-black hair from his furrowed brow, replacing the cold towel on his forehead with her warm palm. She marvels at how his tense muscles seem to relax whenever her skin brushes against his.

Gently, her fingers weave through his spiky hair, trailing down to the odd marking on his neck—the seal left by Orochimaru's bite. As her fingertips explore the strange symbols etched into his skin, a chilling thought washes over her: What could have possibly been sealed inside him?

Sakura wishes she had paid closer attention to the battle, but each time she emerges from Hana's mind prison, a fragment of her very essence seems to fade away. She needs answers, and soon—if she can just escape this terrifying predicament.

A soft whimper escapes Sasuke, drawing her attention back to the present. Tears glisten on his cheeks, and her heart stutters at the sight. She reaches out and quickly wipes them away with her thumb.

"Shhhhhh," she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper. "You'll be just fine."

She drenches the towel with the last of her water and presses it gently against the seal on his neck, willing him to recover.

"Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. I'm right here. I promise I'll take care of you."

Her eyes linger on his fragile form, but the tranquillity is shattered by the unmistakable sound of snapping twigs. Her heartbeat quickens as she catches sight of a foot emerging from the bushes. Instinctively, she grips her kunai, her hand shaking with adrenaline.

An older teenager with wild, black hair strides into the clearing, flanked by two equally ominous teammates—a girl with dark, silky hair and a hulking boy wrapped in bandages.

"It's not that I'm ungrateful," the spiky-haired boy scoffs as he steps briskly into the clearing, "but I hate being sent without any intel. What if we don't recognize Uchiha Sasuke when we see him?"

Sakura's breath catches in her throat at the mention of Sasuke's name, her gaze darting to her unconscious teammate. What more do they want from him? Panic melds with anger as she steels herself.

The black-haired girl scowls, a gleam of disdain in her voice. "I'd much prefer capturing slaves. Uchiha is a shinobi; he has a chance to kill us."

The boy's eyes scan the clearing until they lock onto Sakura's hiding place, a smirk curling his lips.

"He's thirteen, Kin," he says, contempt dripping from his words. "That will be a walk in the park." He jabs a finger in her direction, amusement glimmering in his dark eyes. "Look what I've found. Isn't she just the picture of the pink-haired girl we need?"