Kairos | SasuSaku

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The snow fell in clumps to the ground as they moved from tree to tree, swift shadows against the white snowscape.

The pace they were moving wasn't fast, but Sakura still struggled, her stomach cramping as she channeled chakra to the soles of her feet. Being on the road had its negatives, such as not being able to make the usual pills she took for this problem. She usually stocked up on the ingredients, but after running out of them the previous month, she had completely forgotten to do so. A decision she was deeply regretting as she noticed the distance between her and the cloaked figure ahead getting bigger.

The distance, as it appeared, had become noticeable to Sasuke as well, because he stopped and looked back at her, waiting patiently as he caught up to him. The snow crunched under their footsteps as she paused, bracing a hand against the rough bark of the tree and bending slightly at the waist.

"Is something wrong? Are you ill?" Sasuke asked, concern lacing his voice.

"No, I'm fine, I can keep going." she looked at him determinedly, and he pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes, now activated with the sharingan in that way that said, yeah, I don't believe you. Spill it out.

Sakura sighed, bending more. The action seemed to help slightly. "I'm having cramps. I forgot to restock on ingredients after I ran out, so I couldn't make any." she said quietly, embarrassed this had to be even brought up.

Sasuke looked a little taken aback, before looking away and clearing his throat. She supposed he would be uncomfortable with this topic. It had never come up between them the days they had traveled together.

He hopped down from the branch they were standing on, and confused, Sakura followed.

"We'll get some rest here," he gestured to a small clearing amid the dense trees. A canvas of bright blue sky peaked between them, lighting the snow covered ground like a halo.

"What? no, it's really fine. I'm tough, you know," Sakura followed after him, watching him pick up firewood, gathering them quickly.

He looked at her, smiling ruefully, "yeah, I have no doubt about that."

"Then we should m-"

"But we're still taking a break," he pointed toward a tree with a caved-in trunk, appearing comfortable enough to burrow in from the cold. "Sit down."

She knew he wasn't going to change his mind, so she sat down, wrapping the cloak tightly around her shoulders as she watched him light the fire with fire style.

"Thank you."

"Hn."

***

The attack had come from nowhere, and before Sakura knew it, concealed figures wrapped in cloaks had them cornered on opposite ends of the road.

They had been close to The Village of Waterfall, wanting to stock up on supplies for their long journey to the Land of Lightning. The road had appeared deserted, and she had just seen the infrastructure of the village when the attacks began.

From the swift counterattack by Sasuke, she suspected he knew, and they both had jumped into action. To two shinobi of Sakura and Sasuke's level, this was no hard work. But the problem had been the number: no matter how many opponents they fell, more just kept on coming.

Kunai and other sorts of ninja tools whisked past Sakura as she delivered strong punches and kicks. From her periphery, she saw Sasuke unsheathed his katana, using the dull side to deliver swift blows. Countless bodies littered the ground, and as she spun to deliver a roundhouse kick, her eyes caught sight of the two small figures huddled behind the trees.