A New Path

In the dimly lit cavern, a thick tension hung in the air as Orochimaru stood before the three figures of the Akatsuki’s leadership. He resisted the urge to sneer. This meeting was already proving to be a test of patience, not that he expected anything different.

Pain sat at the center, his Rinnegan eyes unreadable as he listened in silence. Konan stood to his left, her expression calm and composed, hands folded neatly in front of her. To Pain’s right, however, stood Tobi, his ever-present swirling orange mask tilting slightly as he regarded Orochimaru with something far too playful for the occasion.

“So,” Tobi drawled, his voice carrying a distinct lilt of amusement. “Orochimaru-chan, how are your arms? Oh wait—” He let out an exaggerated gasp, holding up his gloved hands before slapping them against the sides of his mask. “They’re useless, aren’t they?”

Orochimaru’s golden eyes shifted to the masked man, unimpressed. He didn’t dignify the remark with a response, though the corner of his mouth twitched in irritation. His arms, still dead at his sides, throbbed dully as if mocking him. He ignored the pain and focused on the real reason he was here.

“Despite the unfortunate setback,” Orochimaru said smoothly, “I have something of great interest to report.”

Pain’s gaze remained impassive, but he gave a small nod. “Speak.”

Orochimaru smiled, slow and deliberate. “A rather… unique individual has appeared in Konoha. A boy by the name of Harry Potter.”

Konan’s brow furrowed slightly. “A foreigner?”

“Indeed.” Orochimaru’s tone turned contemplative, but there was an unmistakable gleam of intrigue in his eyes. “I have reason to believe he possesses an ancient bloodline—one that may have ties to the Otsutsuki.”

That earned a flicker of interest from Pain, though his expression barely changed.

“Otsutsuki?” Konan murmured, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Are you certain?”

“Oh, quite certain,” Orochimaru assured, his voice smooth as silk. “During our brief… encounter, the boy underwent a transformation—horns sprouted from his head, his sclera darkened, and his irises shone white like the full moon. His chakra, potent and overwhelming, was unlike anything I’ve encountered before. Even in my prime, I would have struggled to subdue him.”

Pain steepled his fingers, considering the information. “Interesting.”

Konan, however, narrowed her eyes. “And what exactly are you suggesting?”

Orochimaru’s smile widened. “That he may be a valuable asset. Perhaps even a potential recruit.”

Tobi hummed, shifting his weight onto one foot. “Ohhh? Do you think the little Potter boy would wear our fancy little cloaks? I don’t know, Orochimaru-chan. He doesn’t seem like the type to be swayed by power alone.”

Orochimaru barely suppressed a sneer. Of course, Tobi would see right through him. That infuriatingly ridiculous demeanor hid a mind far too perceptive for his liking.

Konan’s sharp eyes cut through the conversation like a blade. “Or do you simply want him as one of your test subjects?”

Orochimaru chuckled, low and raspy. “Now, now, you wound me, Konan. I have nothing but admiration for those with… extraordinary abilities.”

Tobi suddenly leaned forward, tilting his masked head. “Maa, maa, Orochimaru-chan, you seem very interested in this boy. Maybe a little too interested?”

Pain, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke. “Tobi, you will investigate this Harry Potter. Learn what you can.”

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered with displeasure for a fraction of a second. He had hoped to keep this particular matter in his grasp a little longer.

Tobi straightened up, placing his hands on his hips. “Aye aye, Leader-sama! I’ll do some digging.” He then turned his masked gaze back to Orochimaru and waggled a gloved finger at him. “Buuut, if I find out you’re trying to get another test subject, I’ll tell Leader-sama on you~”

Orochimaru’s expression remained neutral, but there was no mistaking the venom in his gaze.

Pain ignored their exchange, already done with the conversation. “That is all. You may leave.”

With a final glance at the Akatsuki’s leader, Orochimaru turned on his heel and exited the cavern, his mind already working through the many possibilities Harry Potter presented.

Yes, he had lost the opportunity to pursue the boy himself.

But there was always another way.

The morning was far too loud for how early it was.

“Oi! Wake up, brats! We’ve got training to do!”

Jiraiya’s voice boomed through the small inn room, shaking Team 7 out of their peaceful slumber. The effect was instant—and disastrous.

Naruto groaned dramatically, pulling his blanket over his head like it could shield him from the cruel reality of morning. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled into his pillow. “Or, y’know, maybe five more hours.”

Sakura curled up on her futon and cracked one bleary eye open before immediately shutting it again. “Jiraiya-sensei,” she grumbled, voice rough with sleep, “if you don’t leave in the next ten seconds, I will personally test how many of your bones I can break before breakfast.”

Harry, who had been half-draped over his own blanket, made a disgruntled noise as he shifted onto his back. “Why are you like this?” he asked, voice dry and unamused. “Do you enjoy ruining perfectly good mornings?”

Sasuke, who had been the most silent of them all, merely turned onto his side, facing away from the commotion. His only contribution to the conversation was an annoyed sigh and a muttered, “Go away.”

Jiraiya, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and an infuriatingly amused grin chuckled at their suffering. “You know,” he mused, “you kids really need to work on your morning attitudes. What if this had been an enemy attack?”

Naruto finally emerged from beneath his blanket, sitting up with his hair, which was a complete mess. He squinted at Jiraiya, unimpressed. “Unless our enemies specialize in waking people up at stupid o’clock, I don’t see the relevance.”

Harry sat up as well, rubbing his eyes before muttering, “If that was an enemy attack, I’d rather just let them take me at this point.”

Sakura snorted into her pillow. “Same.”

Sasuke grunted but otherwise stayed in his cocoon of blankets.

Jiraiya clapped his hands together, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Alright, alright. Enough whining. Get up and get dressed—your breakfast is waiting on the table.”

That got a reaction.

Naruto perked up almost instantly. “Wait, food?”

Sakura sat up, stretching her arms over her head with a tired sigh. “You should’ve started with that.”

Harry muttered something under his breath about how bribery was a cheap tactic, but he still got to his feet.

Even Sasuke finally rolled over, groaning as he sat up, shooting Jiraiya a glare. “This better be worth it.”

Jiraiya only chuckled, stepping aside so they could see the table. Laid out on it were trays of steaming rice, grilled fish, miso soup, and some fresh fruit. A proper meal—not the cheap rations they had been stuck with the past couple of days.

Naruto’s eyes sparkled. “I take back everything bad I said about you, dattebayo!” He shot forward, already grabbing a bowl.

Sakura sighed, shaking her head as she walked toward the table, though there was a small, appreciative smile on her face. “You’re so easily bought, it’s embarrassing.”

Harry, despite his grumbling, sat down at the table with an air of reluctant acceptance. “For once, I’ll agree with Naruto. Good food is worth the suffering.”

Sasuke, as always, said nothing but didn’t hesitate to join them at the table.

Jiraiya smirked, taking a seat nearby. “See? You lot complain, but I always know what motivates you.”

As Team 7 dug into their breakfast, still sluggish from sleep but significantly less grouchy, Jiraiya leaned back and chuckled to himself.

Brats.

But at least they were his brats now.

The field was peaceful in the morning light, the tall grass swaying lazily in the breeze. The scent of fresh earth and dew hung in the air, the occasional chirp of birds filling the silence. Team 7 sat cross-legged in a circle, their backs straight but their expressions ranging from focused to slightly annoyed.

Jiraiya, standing in front of them with his arms crossed, smirked. "Alright, brats, yesterday you managed to get past the first step—learning how to sense natural energy around you." He gave them an approving nod. "Not bad. Most shinobi take years to even grasp that concept, and you four got the basics down in a day."

Naruto grinned proudly, puffing out his chest. "Heh! Of course, we did! We’re awesome like that!"

Sakura rolled her eyes but didn't bother arguing. "So what’s the next step?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

Jiraiya smirked. "Now that you can sense natural energy, the next step is learning how to balance it with your own chakra. This is where most people fail."

Sasuke raised a brow. "Why?"

"Because," Jiraiya said, crouching down and picking up a small rock, "natural energy is wild. If you don’t control it properly and let it overwhelm your chakra… you turn to stone." He casually tossed the rock in the air before catching it.

Naruto immediately stiffened. "Turn to stone?"

Jiraiya nodded, his expression serious now. "Yup. Too much natural energy without the right balance, and your body won’t be able to handle it. Your skin will harden, your limbs will petrify, and then—poof. You’re a fancy lawn ornament."

Naruto gulped. "That… sucks."

"Wait," Harry cut in, his brows furrowing. "You’re telling me we’re training in something that could literally turn us into statues?"

Jiraiya grinned. "Yep! But don’t worry—I've got an eye on you, and I won’t let you overdo it. Besides, you guys are smart. You’ll get the hang of it."

Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples. "This explains why we weren’t taught this in the Academy."

Naruto huffed. "That place barely taught us anything useful anyway. Just a bunch of boring lectures and how to throw kunai."

"It was lacking," Sasuke admitted, though his gaze was still locked onto Jiraiya as if analyzing every word. "But let's focus. How do we balance it?"

Jiraiya grinned, satisfied by their determination. "Good question. The key is patience. You need to slowly absorb the natural energy while keeping your own chakra steady. Too much, and you turn to stone. Too little, and you won’t get anything out of it." He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "Lucky for you, I am a master at this, so you’re in good hands."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "That’s debatable."

Jiraiya ignored him. "Now, close your eyes, focus, and try to pull in just a little bit of natural energy. Feel it mix with your chakra, but don’t force it."

Team 7 exchanged glances before closing their eyes. The field fell into silence as they concentrated, the wind rustling around them.

Jiraiya observed them carefully, his usual carefree expression softening slightly. These kids… they were something else. Naruto was a walking powerhouse, Sakura was sharp and controlled, Sasuke had a natural affinity for precision, and Harry… well, that kid was a wildcard in the best way.

If anyone could grasp Senjutsu faster than normal, it would be them.

With a smirk, Jiraiya sat back and waited, letting the next step of their training unfold.

As the morning training session stretched on, Team 7 continued making steady—albeit slow—progress. Each of them was able to draw in small amounts of natural energy, though keeping it balanced was proving to be the real challenge. Their bodies instinctively fought against the foreign energy, making the process even more difficult.

Jiraiya watched silently, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He wasn’t about to admit it aloud, but he was impressed. These brats were moving faster than he expected. Of course, they still had a long way to go before they could actually use Senjutsu properly, but for a bunch of kids barely into their shinobi careers? Not bad at all.

After a while, he noticed their concentration slipping—Naruto was fidgeting, Harry’s brow was twitching in frustration, Sakura looked like she had a headache, and even Sasuke was starting to breathe heavier. Yeah, it was about time.

“Alright, that’s enough for now,” Jiraiya finally said, clapping his hands together.

All four immediately relaxed, some more dramatically than others. Naruto flopped onto his back with a groan. “Finally! I thought I was gonna die of starvation before we even learned anything cool!”

Sakura sighed, rolling her shoulders. “That was harder than I thought.”

“Understatement,” Harry muttered, rubbing his temples. “Balancing that stuff feels like trying to carry a bowl of water across a tightrope while being electrocuted.”

Sasuke, always the quiet one, simply gave a small nod, his hand clenching and unclenching as if testing his chakra flow.

Jiraiya chuckled. “Yep, that’s Senjutsu for you. But you guys are doing well. Let’s take a lunch break before we pick back up.”

Naruto immediately shot up. “Yes!” He then looked around. “Uh… where are we eating?”

Jiraiya waved them forward. “We’re in a village, aren’t we? C’mon, we’ll find something.”

Excited at the thought of food, Team 7 eagerly followed Jiraiya into the village, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. The streets were lively despite the afternoon heat, vendors calling out their wares, the scent of fresh-cooked meals wafting through the air.

As they passed different restaurants, Jiraiya started listing options. “We got ramen, grilled fish, dumplings—”

“This one,” Naruto suddenly declared, stopping in front of a lavish-looking restaurant with gold-trimmed menus.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. “Kid, that place looks expensive as hell.”

Naruto gave him an innocent grin. “You’re paying, right?”

The rest of Team 7 quickly caught on.

Sakura gave a thoughtful hum. “Hmm, yeah, a well-balanced diet is really important, and high-end places always use the best ingredients…”

Harry, playing along, nodded seriously. “It’d be a shame if we ate somewhere with low-quality food and didn’t get enough nutrients for our very difficult training.”

Sasuke, the most subtle, simply looked at Jiraiya and said, “It’d be a waste not to get the best meal we can.”

Jiraiya stares at them. He could practically see the little horns forming on their heads.

“…You little shits.”

Naruto beamed. “Love you too, Pervy Sage.”

Sighing, Jiraiya dragged a hand down his face. “Fine, fine, but don’t order the most expensive thing on the menu.”

Team 7 exchanged mischievous glances before marching inside like royalty.

Jiraiya groaned. This was going to hurt his wallet.

As Team 7 stepped inside the restaurant, they all simultaneously slowed their pace, eyes widening at the sheer elegance of the place.

The walls were lined with intricate golden patterns, and the soft glow of lanterns cast a warm, welcoming ambiance. The floor was polished to perfection, reflecting the light like a mirror. In the air, the rich scent of grilled meats, perfectly spiced broths, and freshly steamed rice made their mouths water. The waiters moved about with practiced grace, dressed in traditional robes that only added to the refined atmosphere.

Naruto whistled. “Damn… this place is fancy.”

Sakura, eyes scanning the decor, nodded in agreement. “It’s beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere this nice before.”

Even Sasuke looked mildly impressed, his usual stoic demeanor softening as he took in the surroundings.

Harry hummed, rubbing his chin. “Not bad. Definitely beats that one place in Wave that smelled like fish and regret.”

As they approached the front podium, a well-dressed host greeted them with a polite bow. He had sharp eyes, but his expression was welcoming. However, as his gaze flickered over their gear—shinobi headbands, kunai pouches, and the general aura of trained warriors—his expression shifted into one of realization.

“Oh! You’re all shinobi,” the host said with a knowing nod. “We actually offer a discount for all active-duty shinobi and kunoichi.”

Immediately, Team 7’s heads snapped toward Jiraiya in unison, their eyes shining with pure, innocent joy.

Jiraiya, who had seen through their schemes since the moment they chose this place, pinches the bridge of his nose. “Oh, for Kami’s sake…”

Naruto grinned like a fox. “Would you look at that, Pervy Sage! A discount just for us! How lucky!”

Sakura clasped her hands together, her voice dripping with sweetness. “And we were so worried about making you pay too much…”

Harry gave Jiraiya a solemn nod. “Truly, fate is kind to you today, Jiraiya-sensei.”

Sasuke, ever the minimalist, simply gave him a rare grin and muttered, “How convenient.”

Jiraiya let out a long, suffering sigh before looking at the host. “Table for five, please.”

“Of course! Right this way,” the host said, gesturing toward an open seating area.

As soon as the host turned around, Team 7 broke into a quiet but intense celebration behind Jiraiya. Naruto fist-pumped. Sakura did a small bounce in place. Harry and Sasuke exchanged victorious glances.

Jiraiya rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the amused smirk tugging at his lips. These brats…

He followed after the host, muttering under his breath, “Bunch of damn con artists in training…”

With their plates filled to the brim, Team 7 wasted no time digging in. The sound of chopsticks clicking against bowls and satisfied munching filled the air as they indulged in the finest meal they'd had in a while. Jiraiya, seated at the head of the table, sipped his sake lazily, eyeing the four shinobi as they practically inhaled their food.

“You guys eat like you haven’t seen food in weeks,” Jiraiya commented dryly.

Harry, mid-bite into a perfectly seasoned piece of beef, pointed his chopsticks at Jiraiya. “We haven’t had decent food in weeks.”

Sakura nodded as she elegantly picked up some tempura. “Seriously, we’ve been eating nothing but road food. If I see another rice ball with stale seaweed, I’m going to lose it.”

“Not my fault you didn’t pack extra,” Jiraiya shrugged.

Sasuke, for once, didn’t have anything sarcastic to say—probably because he was too busy savoring a particularly delicious piece of grilled fish.

As the meal continued, Naruto suddenly perked up, swallowing his food quickly before speaking. “Hey, Pervy Sage, why was Granny Tsunade picked to be Hokage anyway?”

Jiraiya quirked a brow at him. “You say that like she’s not a solid choice.”

“No, no, I get that she’s strong,” Naruto said, waving his chopsticks. “But, like… why her? How come it wasn’t someone else? Hayato-jiji could probably do it.”

Harry hummed thoughtfully. “He could, but let’s be honest—he only came out of hiding because of us. Otherwise, he’d still be locked away in that estate, ignoring the world.”

Sakura took a sip of tea before adding, “And even if he did take the position, it would be out of obligation, not because he wants to be Hokage. That wouldn’t be good for the village.”

Jiraiya nodded in approval. “Exactly. Hayato’s strong, smart, and a legend in his own right, but he’s not a leader. He’s too much of a recluse, and a Hokage has to be involved with the people, not just the shinobi.”

Sasuke, who had been mostly silent, set down his chopsticks and said, “What about one of the clan heads? Someone like Hiashi Hyuga or Shikaku Nara?”

Jiraiya leaned back, crossing his arms. “They’re strong, yeah, and great leaders for their clans. But the Hokage has to lead everyone. They’d have to put their clans aside for the sake of the whole village, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”

Sakura tapped her fingers against the table. “That makes sense, but it still doesn’t explain why Tsunade specifically.”

Jiraiya smirked. “Simple. She’s the best medic-nin in the world, one of the Sannin, and the granddaughter of the First Hokage. She has the strength, experience, and name to unite the village after what happened during the invasion.”

Harry tilted his head. “So it’s also a political move?”

“Partially,” Jiraiya admitted. “But mostly, it’s because she’s the best person for the job. She might not want it, but Konoha needs someone strong, someone who understands the village and war. Tsunade’s seen it all—she knows the cost of being Hokage better than anyone.”

Naruto frowned slightly. “But… does she even want to be Hokage?”

Jiraiya sighed, swirling his cup of sake. “That’s the real question, isn’t it?”

A brief silence settled over the table as the weight of the discussion sank in. Tsunade wasn’t just some strong kunoichi—they were about to ask a woman with a painful past to take on a responsibility that had crushed every Hokage before her.

Then, Naruto grinned, breaking the heavy mood. “Well, we’ll just have to convince her, right?”

Sakura huffed, shaking her head. “It’s not that simple, Naruto.”

Naruto shot her a confident look. “Eh, it’ll be fine. We have me, after all.”

Harry snorted. “That’s exactly what worries me.”

Sasuke sighed, rubbing his temples. “This is going to be a disaster.”

Jiraiya chuckled, amused at their antics. “Well, whatever happens, at least we’ll have front-row seats to the show.”

With that, Team 7 returned to their food, their lighthearted chatter filling the space once more. The journey to find Tsunade was still far from over, but for now, they enjoyed the moment, full bellies and all.

As Team 7 finished their meal, the satisfied hums and light banter between them began to settle. Jiraiya set down his empty cup of sake and looked at them with a more serious expression, a stark contrast to his usual laid-back demeanor.

“There’s something you all should know,” Jiraiya began, crossing his arms. “There’s a high chance that Orochimaru is also looking for Tsunade.”

The mood at the table shifted instantly. Naruto, who had been licking the remnants of sauce off his fingers, perked up. “Wait, what? Why?”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “He’s injured.”

Jiraiya nodded. “More than injured—his arms are completely useless.”

Sakura frowned. “His arms?”

“You three weren’t there to see the fight,” Jiraiya muttered, rubbing his chin. “The old man… Sarutobi-sensei… he used a powerful, forbidden jutsu. The Reaper Death Seal.”

The weight of those words settled over them, but Naruto was the first to react. His brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s that?”

Jiraiya sighed. “It’s a sealing technique. One that costs the user their life in exchange for sealing away their target’s soul—or in this case, part of it.” His expression darkened. “The Third Hokage sacrificed himself to seal away Orochimaru’s ability to use jutsu. His arms are dead weight now, rotting away with no way to heal naturally.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened slightly, and Harry’s grip on his cup tightened. Sakura felt a chill creep up her spine.

“But if his arms are useless,” Harry started, “then how is he still a threat?”

Jiraiya exhaled through his nose. “Because there’s one person alive who might be able to fix them.”

Sakura was the first to connect the dots. “…Tsunade.”

Jiraiya nodded grimly. “She’s one of the greatest medical-nin to ever live. If there’s anyone in this world who could restore Orochimaru’s arms, it’s her. That’s why he might be looking for her.”

A heavy silence fell over them.

Sakura clenched her fists beneath the table, her nails digging into her palms. She didn’t want to think about Orochimaru getting his arms back—getting his power back. A bitter, sick feeling brewed inside her chest. If Orochimaru hadn’t planned the invasion, the village wouldn’t have suffered the way it did. If the invasion hadn’t happened, her parents would still be alive.

It didn’t matter that, logically, she knew he hadn’t personally slaughtered them. That didn’t erase the fact that it was his war. His plan. His destruction.

A slow, creeping heat spread through her body.

Sakura flinched as she felt it.

The Curse Mark.

Her shoulder tingled, a dull burn spreading across her skin. It wasn’t as painful as before—not like when it had first appeared or when she had fought Ino—but it was there.

Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed slightly as he caught the shift in her chakra. His sharp gaze flickered toward her. “Sakura.”

She swallowed thickly and forced herself to take a deep breath. “I’m fine.”

Jiraiya didn’t look convinced. He glanced at the others, and Sasuke and Naruto shared a look before Naruto finally spoke. “It… does that sometimes.”

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“It flared up during Sakura’s match against Ino,” Sasuke explained, his voice measured. “When Ino tried to use the Mind Body Switch Jutsu, the mark reacted and forced her out of Sakura’s body.”

Jiraiya frowned. “It forced her out?”

Harry nodded. “Yeah. It was like… a defense mechanism. It didn’t spread or take over Sakura’s body, but it reacted to protect her.”

Jiraiya taps his fingers against the table, thoughtful. “That’s… unusual.” He looked at Sasuke. “Has yours done anything similar?”

Sasuke shook his head. “No. But I haven’t been in a situation where it needed to.”

Jiraiya hummed, deep in thought. “That’s interesting. Orochimaru’s curse marks are supposed to corrupt the user, make them rely on its power. But if yours is defending you instead of taking control…” He glanced at Sakura again. “It means you’ve altered its influence.”

Sakura exhaled slowly, feeling the warmth in her shoulder recede. “We think it’s because my chakra made it my own,” she admitted. “Ever since I first unlocked it, it’s never spread without my control. It’s like it changed when I accepted it instead of rejecting it.”

Jiraiya studied her for a long moment before smirking. “You really are something else, huh?”

Sakura rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it.

Jiraiya leaned back, looking at the four of them. “You’re all interesting cases. No wonder Orochimaru’s got his eyes on you.”

Naruto huffed. “Yeah, well, he can keep his creepy eyes away from us.”

Harry sighed. “I don’t think it’s that easy.”

Jiraiya nodded. “Exactly. That’s why we need to find Tsunade before Orochimaru does. If he gets to her first…”

Sasuke’s jaw tightened. “Then the village is in danger.”

Jiraiya gave them a firm look. “That’s why I’m warning you now. Keep your guard up. The next time we run into Orochimaru, I don’t want any of you caught off guard.”

Sakura clenched her fist. Naruto’s usual bright energy had dimmed slightly; Harry was quieter, and even Sasuke looked tenser than before.

They weren’t kids anymore. They couldn’t afford to be.

They had a mission to complete. And Orochimaru wasn’t going to stop them.

The room was quiet, save for the soft sounds of breathing coming from Naruto and Harry as they slept soundly on the other side of the room. The faint glow of the moonlight from the window cast long shadows on the floor, the silence almost suffocating. But to Sakura, the silence was oppressive, heavy with the weight of her thoughts.

She lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, her fingers pressing against the cool surface of the pillow. Her thoughts raced, too fast, too loud. Orochimaru. She could still see his face, his cold, mocking expression, his voice slithering like a snake. The images of her parents’ destruction flashed in her mind again, and the anger bubbled up in her chest, a fire that burned hotter the more she tried to suppress it.

I want him gone. I want him dead.

Her fists clenched under the blanket, her body trembling with the force of the emotions she could barely control. The feeling of helplessness was suffocating, drowning her. The powerlessness that had haunted her ever since that day, ever since the invasion, was slowly being replaced by something else, something darker. Revenge. She could almost taste it, sharp and bitter on the back of her tongue.

A soft rustling interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head, and there, in the darkness, she saw Sasuke sitting on the edge of his bed, his eyes staring out of the window. He hadn’t spoken, hadn’t moved, just watching the night. But somehow, she had known he hadn’t been asleep.

"Sasuke?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it cut through the stillness. His head turned slightly, just enough for his eyes to catch hers in the dim light.

"You're awake," Sakura said, a little surprised. She had assumed that after everything they’d been through, he would have fallen asleep just like Naruto and Harry.

Sasuke’s eyes lingered on hers for a moment before he gave a noncommittal nod. "Couldn’t sleep," he muttered, his tone flat. But there was something in his eyes, something unspoken.

Sakura sat up, the blanket falling around her shoulders as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should even bring it up, but her thoughts were too heavy. She needed to talk, to find some way to deal with the burning hatred inside her.

"Sasuke… how do you deal with it?" she asked softly, the question coming out more fragile than she intended. "The anger. The thirst for revenge."

The words hung in the air between them, almost like a challenge. Sasuke’s gaze shifted from the window to her, his expression unreadable. But there was something about the way his shoulders tensed, the subtle flicker in his eyes that told her he understood. She saw the storm behind his calm facade—the same storm she was fighting against.

"I don’t," he said finally, his voice low and steady. "I’ve been carrying it for so long, it’s part of me now. The anger, the need for revenge… it’s all I’ve had. It’s what kept me going."

Sakura’s heart twisted at his words. She had known about Sasuke’s past, of course, but hearing him speak so plainly about the weight he carried made it feel so much more real, so much more raw. She could feel the tension in the air, the fragile thread that connected them in this moment of shared understanding.

"I want him gone," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "Orochimaru. I want him dead. I keep seeing his face, and it makes my blood boil. I just… I don’t know how to stop wanting it."

Sasuke looked at her, his dark eyes softening for a moment. "You don’t stop wanting it," he said quietly. "You just learn to live with it." He paused as if weighing his next words carefully. "It never goes away. But if you let it consume you, it will destroy you. I’ve seen it happen to others. People who lost everything and let their anger take over. They lose themselves."

Sakura swallowed hard, her throat tight. She looked down at her hands, clenched tightly in her lap. "But I *want* it. I want to hurt him… the way he hurt my parents… the way he ruined everything." The bitterness in her voice was undeniable.

Sasuke's gaze softened, and he leaned forward slightly as if trying to make her understand. "I know," he said gently. "I know exactly how you feel. But revenge doesn’t give you back what you’ve lost. It won’t bring your parents back. It won’t fix the hole in your heart."

Sakura’s eyes stung, and she blinked rapidly, trying to push back the tears. But the hurt was there, raw and exposed, and for a moment, she felt completely lost. Sasuke was right—revenge wouldn’t bring them back. It wouldn’t undo the pain. But it was all she had left. 

Sasuke exhaled slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "The pain never fully goes away. But it becomes easier to live with if you don’t let it control you. If you find something else that makes you stronger."

Sakura raised her eyes to meet his. "Like what?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

Sasuke’s gaze was steady, almost resolute. "I don’t know yet. But I’m still trying to figure it out." His lips quirked slightly, a hint of something vulnerable behind the cold exterior. "Maybe it’s about protecting the people you care about. Maybe it’s about finding something worth fighting for other than revenge."

Sakura sat there in silence, letting his words sink in. She didn’t know if she could ever truly let go of the anger, of the need to hurt Orochimaru. But hearing Sasuke speak so openly, so honestly, made her feel… less alone. Less like she was losing herself in the storm.

"I’ll try," she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "I’ll try not to let it control me."

Sasuke gave a small nod, his expression softening just a fraction. "That’s all you can do."

There was a long pause between them, the quiet of the room filling the space as they sat together, each lost in their own thoughts. But somehow, in that moment, it didn’t feel so heavy. Sakura felt a small flicker of peace, like a gentle warmth in the middle of the storm inside her chest.

"Thanks, Sasuke," she murmured.

Sasuke didn’t respond right away, but there was a quiet understanding in his gaze. "Don’t mention it."

Sakura leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. Maybe she didn’t have all the answers. Maybe the anger would never fully go away. But for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel completely lost. She felt like there might be a way through this, even if she didn’t know exactly what it looked like yet.

As she let herself relax for the first time that night, she felt a sense of quiet resolve settles in her chest. She would move forward. One step at a time. And whatever it took, she would never let the darkness consume her.