Karin let out a scream and, in a ferocious gesture, dug her nails into my neck. The burning only fueled my fury. I grabbed her crimson hair and pulled hard, pulling out a tuft.
Someone grabbed my shoulders - a guard. But before he could restrain me, I slapped Karin across the face, splitting her lip. She squirmed in pain, her eyes sparking with hatred.
In one swift movement, she picked something up off the floor - a share from the broken cup. Before I could react, she felt the makeshift blade cut my cheek and ear. The heat of the dripping blood made me step back, staggering over the soldier behind me.
I tried to advance again, but two more guards appeared, blocking my way.
- DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE DID? I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, HARUNO!
- SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING PRINCESS. AND DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT INO AGAIN.
- You're a psychopath! I'll cut your hands off for that!
Behind me, Hinata began to cry. My body froze, and reality hit me like a blow. I was dead... or, at the very least, mutilated.
- S-Sakura... - Pakura muttered, covering her mouth with her hands.
Tenten was pale as paper.
- Princess, please have mercy, not her
Karin raised her hand, silencing her instantly.
- DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME? I WANT HER HANDS! - The princess shouted to the guards. My body trembled in his arms.
- No one will touch her.
The firm voice cut through the chaos. Jiraiya burst through the door, followed by Itachi and Obito, who quickly calmed the guards.
- Jiraiya, look what she did to me! - Karin cried, pointing to the cut on her lip. - I'll tell Naruto everything!
- No one will see Naruto now.
When Jiraiya spoke, everyone stopped to listen. I had never met a man with so much presence. I could never have imagined that he came from Caste Six.
- Itachi, take Sakura to the infirmary. I'll look after Karin.
The hospital wing was spotless, a long corridor with beds lined up against the walls.
- Hold the ice, miss. - The nurse instructed.
I had three stitches in my ear. I wish Karin had had a few too, but I knew her cut was only superficial.
- Thank you.
Itachi Uchiha was leaning against the wall. When the nurse left, he closed the screen behind him and approached.
- This is yours.
He handed me a letter. The elegant handwriting on the envelope read: Izumi Uchiha.
I tore the paper without delicacy, fumbling a little with the seal.
"Dear Sakura,
I'm doing everything I can to find Ino's whereabouts. I will find her, wherever the prince has sent her. My provisions and help will reach her. I want you to be safe, stay out of trouble and don't worry about Ino-I'll take care of her.
Don't let your life die. Or what I know is brewing between you and the prince.
Laugh, laugh out loud and always laugh. And when the occasion calls for silence, smile."
I ran a hand over my head, trying to take it all in.
- What will happen to me?
- You'll probably be expelled. - Itachi said bluntly. - Stripped of your caste... It's hard to say.
- Thank you for giving me the letter. It means a lot to me.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
- Izumi always knows what to say, doesn't she?
- Yes... - Tears began to run down my cheeks. - Why don't you ever come home? Why don't you answer her letters?
Itachi straightened his posture, his gaze firm.
- Izumi is promised to Neji Hyuuga. And if Hinata doesn't marry the prince... she'll be my wife.
A shock went through my chest. Izumi would never accept that. She would rather die than be forced into marriage-she had told me that a thousand times.
- Does she know?
- No, she doesn't.
The sound of rapid footsteps echoed in the corridor. Naruto was hurrying down the infirmary stairs.
- Do you love her? - I asked, my voice breaking.
Itachi pursed his lips.
- That's none of your business.
He bowed to Naruto and left us alone.
The prince sat on the edge of my bed, his blue eyes analyzing the bandage on my ear.
- I'm sorry... - His voice came out low, sincere. - For everything.
I couldn't hold back the tears. I hugged him tightly, sobbing against his chest.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
Naruto ran his hand through my hair, holding me against him. I don't know how long I cried. I don't know how long we stood there, together, as if nothing else existed but the two of us.
Then he pulled away a little and sighed.
- How can I justify this, Sakura? King Mangetsu and Queen Ajisai are still here. All of Lightning's offspring too. What do I tell them?
My heart squeezed.
- Are you going to send me away?
A day ago, I wanted to leave. Now, just imagining the possibility felt like half my heart was being ripped out.
Tears streamed down my face again when I saw Naruto's silence answer for him.
- It'll be better, won't it, darling?
- Who will you choose? - I couldn't stop crying. No matter how much he dried my tears, there were always more when he came back.
- If my grandmother insists, I'll have to choose Tenten. But that would only happen if Hinata decided to leave. She's the best option.
- Hinata is a good choice. She'll make a much better princess than I ever could.
He smiled, amused.
- She's less exciting. God knows what would happen to the country if you were in charge.
I laughed. Deep down, he was right.
- It would be total ruin.
Naruto continued to smile.
- Maybe the country needs to be ruined.
The silence stretched on for a minute. My fingers slid down his arm, as if to memorize his skin, his warmth. I needed to record every detail - his blue eyes shining with sadness, because this was the last time. Because it was all my fault.
- Do you love me? - he asked, his voice low, hesitant. - Do you still love me after what I did?
My lips trembled. The words were there, but I couldn't say them. My chest was burning, and the bandage on my cheek was already soaked with tears.
Naruto smiled, a soft smile full of something that made me ache even more.
- When I saw you for the first time... not in the garden, but in the Selected photo... The short, unruly hair, the eyes full of hope... I thought: "I'm going to love this girl forever".
He kissed my forehead, the touch as delicate and irreversible as a goodbye.