Ocean Of Blood And Fire [Sasusaku]

Chapter Nine: Sakura's P.O.V.

A/N: Uh, okay, still not part of the OG story, but I promise we're getting there. And also, this whole chapter has absolutely no relevance to the anime. It is the equivalent of a filler, except it is a tiny bit more important to the plot hehe. But if you want to skip it, I guess go ahead, BUT... You'll be missing out on some great Sasusaku. Booooyyy, I'm feedin' y'all good tah-day! 😜✌️🫶 Uhh, okay my bad enjoy the Sasusaku! 😅
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I let out a slow breath. I knew exactly what he was asking.

In a daze of pain, I had let slip a comment that he wasn't supposed to hear. I had been referencing the times I'd trained with that man in the forest, thousands of miles away. All those times he would push me past the point of utter exhaustion, past my limits. All the times he would break my bones just to force me to heal myself.

Oh, yes, I got very good at medical ninjutsu. All because he was always a criminal, and could never be a father.

But I didn't want to tell Sasuke. I didn't think he'd understand. And I really didn't want him to berate me for being so weak against that man. Or just being weak in general. I didn't want to hear him ask why it took so long for me to escape. I didn't want to see the contempt in his eyes when I started to cry.

So instead I glared at him. I got angry at those thoughts swirling inside my head. I was so mad at him, for something he didn't even do, but for something I thought he'd do. So I went on the defensive, as any guilty person does.

As I did so, I could feel the temperature rising. I didn't want to start a forest fire, but I couldn't control it. It was an irrational, almost crazy reaction to a simple question.

I wrenched my hand out of his grasp, trying my best to keep my control. "Why does it matter what I meant? It was a harmless, offhanded comment. Stop taking things so seriously, Sasuke!" I turned to storm off, but he grabbed my upper arm, swinging me back around.

"If it's not a big deal, then why'd you get so riled up about it?" He asked calmly, with devastating logic, ignoring how hot my skin felt to the touch.

"Because you're blowing it out of proportion!"

He raised an eyebrow, the ultimate picture of nonchalance. "I think you're making it a bigger deal. I simply asked a question. It's your overreaction that's blowing this out of proportion."

I got so frustrated that I slammed my palms into his chest, making him stagger back a few paces. "Shut up! You don't know anything!"

"Then tell me!" He answered, rushing forward and grabbing my shoulders. This was the first time since he asked me the question that he'd shown actual human emotion. I could see frustration, confusion and, most shocking of all, and underlying genuine concern for me.

Seeing that, my anger left me, and an overwhelming depth of sadness rushed in behind it. My shoulders slumped, and I looked at the ground, refusing to let him see the tears welling in my eyes. He was not going to see me cry.

His grip on my shoulders relaxed, and let his hands fall to his sides, placing them in his pockets before turning around.

I thought he was going to walk away casually, which was surprising to me, even though it shouldn't have been.

What he did next, however, was even more surprising than anything else he'd ever done.

Instead of walking away, he stayed rooted to the spot, eyes downcast. Then he whispered softly, "Go ahead."