Sasuke stared at her.
She stopped abruptly a meter away.
Before that body exploded into black flames. Far away, he saw Sasuke's silhouette disappear into a portal.
...
Konoha - 9 PM
The warm breeze made the lanterns of the *Kunai Ivre* dance. Inside, the smell of stale beer and cheap tobacco clung to the walls.
Sakura and Ino, nineteen years old, chins resting on a rickety table, clinked their sake glasses.
"Remember when we chased Sasuke like groupies?" Sakura said, a smirk on her lips.
Ino burst into laughter, spilling her drink.
"Pathetic! Me with my flowers, you with your blushing... That jerk didn't even look at us!"
Sakura snickered, downing a burning gulp.
"At least I had some dignity."
"Dignity? You cried for weeks when he left!"
They clinked glasses, emptying them in one go. Around them, the bar roared: exhausted ninjas, drunken merchants, raucous laughter.
Ino leaned in, her voice suddenly serious.
"Do you think he ever thinks of us?"
Sakura shrugged.
"Maybe he doesn't care."
*If he comes back, I'll punch him before talking to him,* Ino grumbled.
Sakura stood up, swaying.
"I'm going home. At this rate, I'll see doubles of that idiot."
Outside, the fresh air slapped her. The empty streets amplified the clacking of her sandals.
*He left. I'm still here.*
**Sakura's Apartment - 10:17 PM**
Sakura pushed open the door to her small apartment. Everything was silent, medical scrolls scattered, dirty dishes.
Too silent. The familiar lavender scent reassured her a little. She took off her boots, hung her jacket, and stood for a moment, hands in pockets, staring at her dimly lit living room.
She sighed, let her hair down, and headed for the bathroom.
She needed warmth. Calm. A moment to herself.
She lit the candles around the bathtub, let the water run slowly. Steam rose in swirls, fogging the mirrors. Sakura undressed slowly, letting her clothes fall one by one onto the cold tile floor.
She stepped into the hot water with a sigh of relief, closing her eyes, her head resting on the porcelain edge.
Sakura felt a heat rise within her, a heat that had nothing to do with alcohol. Her hands, submerged in the water, began to wander over her body, guided by an invisible force. She shivered as her fingers brushed her breasts, her nipples hardening instantly under the attention. They were small and pink, delicate buds that stood proudly, demanding more attention.
She sighed, her fingers massaging her breasts gently, kneading the sensitive flesh. Her nipples were like pearls in her fingers, and she rolled them slowly, feeling a wave of pleasure rise within her. The water around her seemed to vibrate with her desire, every drop caressing her skin as if it were alive.
Sakura bit her lower lip, feeling her heart race. Her hands moved downward, gliding over her flat stomach before venturing lower. She shivered as her fingers brushed her intimate lips, already wet with desire. Her pussy was a secret garden, a flower blooming under her caresses.
She moaned softly, her tongue darting out to lick her lips, saliva dripping slowly down her chin. Her fingers plunged into her intimacy, exploring the sensitive folds, and she shivered with pleasure. She added a second, then a third, stretching her flesh, feeling pleasure rise within her like a tide.
"Sasuke..." she murmured, his name a breath on her lips. She imagined his hands on her, his lips on hers, and her body reacted with an intensity that surprised her. She writhed in the water, her fingers working with growing urgency, seeking the exact spot that would make her tip over.
"Mmm..." she moaned, her eyes closing as pleasure rose. She felt every nerve in her body awaken, every cell vibrate in harmony. Her fingers moved frantically, and she felt her orgasm approach, a crashing wave about to engulf her.
"Ah... ah... ah..." she moaned, her cries filling the room. The water around her seemed to dance with her pleasure. She felt her body tense, every muscle contract, and then...
"SASUKE!" she cried, her body exploding in a fireworks of sensations. Her orgasm overwhelmed her, a wave of pleasure that made her tremble from head to toe. She arched her back, her fingers still inside her, prolonging the pleasure, and the water around her seemed to ignite with her desire.
Her breath was short, her breasts rising and falling rapidly as she recovered from the intensity of her orgasm. She felt dizzy, her body still vibrating with the echoes of her pleasure. She slowly withdrew her fingers, looking at them with a satisfied smile, before licking them, savoring her taste.
But as she relaxed, a noise made her jump. She quickly turned off the faucet, the water stopping with a groan, and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself. She stepped out of the bathtub, water pooling on the floor, and headed toward the source of the noise.
In her living room, she saw a familiar figure, swaying slightly. Sasuke. Her heart leaped in her chest, and she rubbed her eyes, wondering if it was a mirage. But no, it was him, his black hair disheveled, his forehead protector slightly askew.
"Sasuke?" she murmured, incredulous.
He turned toward her, his gaze a bit glazed, and smiled weakly. "Sakura... I... I need to see Kakashi-sensei..."
And then, he collapsed, unconscious, on the floor. Sakura rushed to him, her heart racing. She lifted him, carrying him to the couch, and laid him down gently. She sat beside him, running a hand through his hair, wondering what could have happened to him.