Sakura Haruno's face darkened, her emotions surging."Everyone saw it! Naruto actually punched me in front of everyone! And Hinata—Hinata of all people—stood in front of him, shielding him so I couldn't even fight back! How is that fair? How is that right?"Her voice trembled with frustration and humiliation. She expected her best friend, Ino Yamanaka, to comfort her, to agree with her unconditionally. Yet, Ino's calm reply cut through Sakura's indignation like a knife.Ino sighed softly. "But Sakura… don't you often punch and kick Naruto in front of everyone yourself?"Sakura froze.Ino's expression softened, but her tone carried reason. "And as for Hinata… yes, she did step in front of Naruto when you wanted to hit him. But isn't that the same thing as when Naruto wanted to go after Sasuke, and you stood in front of Naruto to protect Sasuke?"The words struck Sakura like a sudden gust of cold wind.She blinked, stunned, her lips parting but unable to form a rebuttal.Ino continued, her voice steady and unyielding. "You like Sasuke, so you try to protect him. Hinata likes Naruto, so of course, she would protect him too. If what Hinata did is considered wrong, then Sakura… what you're doing is no different."Sakura's heart thudded against her ribs. She blurted out without thinking, "That's not the same!"Ino frowned, tilting her head slightly. "What's not the same?"The silence that followed was suffocating. Sakura opened her mouth, but no words came out. Logic betrayed her. Deep down, she knew Ino was right, but her pride refused to let her admit it.Her fists clenched tightly."Anyway…" Sakura's voice hardened. "If you were really my best friend, you'd stand firmly by my side no matter what, instead of arguing with me about right and wrong. Friends are supposed to support each other unconditionally! I must have misjudged you."Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she spun on her heel. With a loud stomp of her foot, Sakura stormed off, her back rigid with stubbornness.Ino remained rooted to the spot. Her hand, which had instinctively reached out to stop Sakura, hovered helplessly in the air before falling back to her side.Her chest tightened with a dull ache.Had Sakura forgotten? Forgotten those days when the girls at the academy mocked her relentlessly for her wide forehead? Forgotten who it was that handed her a bright red ribbon, tied up her bangs, and told her with a radiant smile that her forehead was nothing to be ashamed of—that it was cute?It was Ino.It was that moment that gave Sakura the courage to hold her head high, to walk forward with confidence. That was the moment their bond as best friends had been forged.And yet, because of a boy they both admired—Uchiha Sasuke—their paths had diverged.Even so, Ino never stopped considering Sakura her closest friend, even beneath the rivalry. Deep inside, she knew Sakura felt the same. But now… now Ino wasn't so sure. As she watched Sakura's figure grow smaller in the distance, her vision blurred, her heart weighed down by uncertainty.Perhaps… things would never go back to the way they used to be.---At the same time, Sakura's chest burned with resentment and loneliness.Why? Why wouldn't even her best friend stand by her side?Her parents at home didn't understand her heart. Her friend had betrayed her. And Naruto—Naruto, the boy she always found so annoying—had stopped chasing after her altogether. He no longer cared whether she paid him attention. It felt as if the entire world was abandoning her.Only Sasuke remained.Only Sasuke was her unshakable light, her untouchable White Moonlight.In her mind, Sasuke's face appeared like a beacon of salvation. Her steps quickened, and soon reality overlapped with fantasy."Sa… Sasuke-kun!"Her expression softened, eyes shimmering with renewed hope as she spotted Sasuke's tall figure up ahead.As usual, a crowd of girls surrounded him, giggling and vying for his attention. Sakura shoved her way forward, ignoring the glares of the other fangirls, until she reached the front. She beamed brightly."Good morning, Sasuke-kun!" she said, her voice sweet and eager. "You look as handsome as ever today…"But Sasuke wasn't listening.Hands shoved in his pockets, his dark eyes stared blankly ahead. His face was pale, his expression colder and gloomier than usual. He barely slept the night before.The image of Naruto's defiant face haunted him. The fight replayed endlessly in his mind—the clash of fists, the burning pain of Naruto's Leaf Whirlwind kick that sent shockwaves through his body. If not for the sudden arrival of the Third Hokage, that battle might have reached a very different conclusion.That uncertainty gnawed at him, a thorn lodged deep in his heart.How could Naruto—a boy he once dismissed as weak and foolish—stand against him like that? The humiliation was unbearable. The only solution was clear: he needed more power, enough to crush Naruto completely.That single thought consumed him.The meaningless chatter of fangirls was nothing but noise. Their affection, their devotion—it was all a burden he couldn't afford.He bore the hatred of his entire clan. He had no time, no patience, and no desire for childish distractions."Get lost," Sasuke muttered, his voice like a blade of ice.Sakura froze, her smile faltering. Sasuke's eyes glared at her with such cold indifference that her heart trembled. Still, she refused to back down. She had heard those words before. She told herself that persistence was the only way to prove she was different, that she alone deserved to stand by his side.She forced a smile. "Don't be so cold, Sasuke-kun…"But Sasuke stopped walking.His aura turned heavier, sharper. If it were any other day, he would have brushed her off with another sharp remark. But today, the storm raging in his chest demanded release.His voice cut through the air, sharp and merciless."Sakura Haruno, listen carefully."Sakura's breath hitched."Stop wasting your time on foolish things. And stop hovering around me."Her heart cracked, but Sasuke wasn't finished."I don't have time for your childish love games. You, and all of you," he swept his gaze across the fangirls, "don't matter to me. I don't want your feelings. I don't need them. And I will never return them."The group of girls gasped, their faces paling in shock."And…" His words pierced deeper, colder than kunai."You're really… annoying."Sakura's eyes widened.The world around her shattered.Sasuke's retreating figure blurred as tears welled in her eyes. Yet what she felt wasn't sorrow, nor rage. It was something worse—an emptiness so profound it hollowed her out completely. It was as if her very existence had been denied, as though the meaning of her struggles had evaporated in an instant.Her lips trembled. "…Sasuke-kun…"The sound was barely a whisper.Around her, the fangirls dispersed quietly, their hearts equally broken, though none bore the brunt as she did. Only Ino remained, watching in silence, her own heart heavy. She wanted to step forward, to ease Sakura's pain, yet hesitation held her back.Finally, she walked forward and spoke softly, "Sakura… are you okay?"Her hand reached out in a gentle gesture of comfort.But Sakura jerked away, shoving her hand aside."Don't touch me."Ino's eyes widened. "Sakura, I—"But Sakura's tears spilled freely now, streaking her cheeks. Her sorrow twisted into something stubborn and fierce."Are you here to gloat?" she snapped. "Do you think that just because Sasuke scolded me, I'll give up? Do you think I'll stay away from him forever?"Her voice rose louder, echoing across the courtyard."You're all underestimating me, Sakura Haruno! I will never give up on Sasuke-kun! No matter what anyone says, no matter what happens, I will never give up!"Her declaration rang out, defiant and unwavering, as if she was proclaiming her will to the heavens themselves.Then, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she turned and ran off, leaving only stunned silence in her wake."Sakura…" Ino whispered, her chest tightening with indescribable emotions.She, too, liked Sasuke. That much was true. But unlike Sakura, she never allowed her feelings to consume her entire being. Family, friendship—these were just as important to her as romance. She could never place Sasuke above everything else.To Ino, Sakura's love no longer looked like love. It looked like an obsession."…Or perhaps," Ino murmured bitterly, "this is simply Sakura's choice."Behind her, a soft voice spoke."Yes… perhaps it is."It was Hinata, watching silently, her pale eyes filled with quiet understanding.
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