Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

Letter of Demand

The night was still, an eerie quiet blanketing Konoha as Sakura Haruno paced her dimly lit apartment. Her mind raced, replaying the events of the past few weeks over and over. The masked man's voice, the chilling touch of the gun against her skin, and the weight of his demands had taken root in her psyche, festering like a wound that refused to heal. She couldn't shake the image of his cold, calculating eyes as he threatened her—eyes that brought out terror inside of her.

Sakura sat down at her kitchen table, her hands trembling as she poured herself another drink. She was no stranger to pressure, but this was different. This wasn't the battlefield or the hospital. This was a game of survival, and the stakes were higher than ever before. Her life, the lives of her friends, and everything she held dear were on the line.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. Midnight. Time was running out. Tomorrow evening, she would have to deliver more of the drugs as promised, or face the consequences the masked man had so clearly outlined. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

A knock at the door startled her, causing her to spill some of her drink. Sakura wiped her hand on her skirt and walked cautiously to the door, peering through the peephole. No one. She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest, before slowly unlocking and opening the door.

There, on the ground, was a small envelope. Sakura picked it up, her hands shaking as she tore it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper, the handwriting neat and precise.

Dr. Haruno,

Do not disappoint me. The clock is ticking.

—H

Sakura crumpled the paper in her hand, her anger boiling beneath the surface. She was being cornered, manipulated into a position where she had no choice but to comply. But who was this man? How had he managed to infiltrate her life so completely, so effortlessly?

She needed to know more. The pieces of the puzzle weren't fitting together, and it was driving her mad. There was something familiar about him, something she couldn't quite place. And it wasn't just his eyes—it was the way he moved, the way he spoke. It was almost as if she knew him.

Sakura downed the rest of her drink, the alcohol burning her throat as it went down. She was going to find out who this man was, and why he had targeted her. But first, she had to survive tomorrow. She had to get the drugs and deliver them, just as he demanded. There was no room for error.

The next day, Sakura made her way to the hospital, her mind in a haze. She walked through the halls, her gaze flicking nervously to every shadow, every unfamiliar face. The usual bustling energy of the hospital felt different—darker, more oppressive.

She entered the pharmacy, where the head pharmacist was busy reviewing inventory. "Good morning, Dr. Haruno," he greeted her with a warm smile. "How can I assist you today?"

Sakura forced a smile in return, though it felt hollow. "I need to place an order for a large batch of opioids," she said, her voice as steady as she could manage. "We're running low, and I want to make sure we're well-stocked."

The pharmacist raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a large order, Dr. Haruno. Are you sure it's necessary? We haven't had that many patients requiring those types of medications recently."

Sakura's heart pounded in her chest. She needed to convince him, to make this seem like a routine request. "Yes, I'm sure," she replied, her tone firm. "We've had an increase in cases that require stronger pain management. A lot of shinobi returning from missions. I'd rather be prepared than risk running out."

The pharmacist studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well, I'll get that order processed for you. It should be ready by this evening."

"Thank you," Sakura said, silently exhaling in relief. The first part of her task was done. Now, all she had to do was wait.

As the day wore on, Sakura couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every time she turned a corner, she expected to see the masked man standing there, waiting for her. But he was nowhere to be found.

By evening, the drugs were ready, packed into a similar discreet black duffle bag as the first one. Sakura retrieved them from the pharmacy and made her way to the location the masked man had specified—the same secluded alleyway on the outskirts of the village.

Her hands gripped the bag tightly as she approached the same meeting point, her heart racing in her chest. The alley was dark, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp at the far end. She could hear her own breathing, ragged and uneven, as she waited.

Then, from the shadows, he emerged.

The masked man stepped forward, his presence dominating the narrow alleyway. He was dressed in the same attire as before, the mask obscuring his features. Sakura's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, that same sense of familiarity washing over her.

"You have what I asked for?" he inquired, his voice cold and detached.

Sakura nodded, holding out the duffle bag. "It's all here. Just like you asked."

He took the bag from her, unzipping it to inspect the contents. After a moment, he nodded in approval, zipping it back up. "Good," he said. "You've done well, Dr. Haruno."

Sakura bit her lip, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"

The masked man paused, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Then, he turned away, disappearing back into the shadows without a word.

Sakura stood there, trembling in the dark alleyway, the weight of the unanswered questions pressing down on her. Who was he, and what did he really want from her? She knew one thing for certain—this was far from over.

As she made her way back home, Sakura couldn't shake the feeling that she was being pulled into a dangerous game, one where the rules were constantly shifting, and the stakes were higher than she could ever imagine. And the worst part? She had no idea who she was playing against.

But she was determined to find out.

No matter the cost.