The smell of salt and fish filled the air as Team 7 reached the coastal port.
A massive, steam-powered cruise ship waited at the docks, chartered specifically for the film production. Sandayu Asama immediately ordered the crew to carry the still-unconscious Yukie Fujikaze below deck. He locked her in her VIP cabin, terrified she would try to jump overboard the second she woke up.
Kakashi vanished to read his book in the crow's nest. Naruto immediately ran off to explore the ship's massive kitchens.
Kenji stood on the main deck, leaning casually against the wooden railing. The ocean breeze whipped through his dark hair.
Sakura Haruno walked out onto the deck a few minutes later. She looked around, clearly searching for a specific Uchiha. When she saw he wasn't around, her shoulders slumped. She let out a frustrated sigh and walked toward the railing, stopping a few feet away from Kenji.
"Looking for the brooding prince?" Kenji asked, not taking his eyes off the water.
Sakura frowned. "Shut up, Kenji. Not everything is about Sasuke-kun."
"Right. You're just wandering the deck looking for seagulls."
Sakura scowled and crossed her arms, leaning against the railing next to him. She didn't walk away. Despite how much she argued with him, Kenji was the only one on the team who actually acknowledged she existed outside of combat.
Kenji turned his head. He looked her up and down. His eyes lingered unapologetically on the red dress and the tight shorts underneath.
He didn't use a system skill. He just stepped sideways, closing the gap between them.
Before Sakura could ask what he was doing, Kenji reached out. He placed his large, warm hand directly onto her ass. He didn't just graze it. He let his hand rest heavily on her firm cheek right there on the open deck, where any passing crew member could see.
Sakura froze. Her entire body stiffened.
"Still flat as a board up top, Sakura," Kenji smirked, giving her ass a deliberate, testing squeeze. "But I guess the bottom half has some actual potential."
For three seconds, Sakura's brain completely short-circuited.
Then, her face turned the color of a ripe tomato.
"YOU PERVERT!" Sakura shrieked.
She spun around, pulling her arm back, and threw a chakra-laced punch squarely at his jaw.
Kenji easily tilted his head. Her fist hit nothing but the sea breeze.
"Don't be shy, Sakura. Consider it an anatomy assessment," Kenji laughed. He turned and jogged down the deck.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Sakura roared.
She chased after him, throwing wild kicks and punches that he casually dodged with minimal effort. They ran past a group of startled deckhands, Sakura yelling every insult in the book at the back of his head.
But as she ran, her inner monologue was screaming a very different tune.
Why did he just do that?! Sakura thought, her heart hammering against her ribs. In broad daylight! He's such a jerk!
But her hand instinctively drifted toward her ass as she ran. She could still feel the heavy, searing heat of his large hand burned into her skin through her clothes. It was firm. It was incredibly dominant.
Why didn't I push him away instantly? she wondered, her chest heaving as she finally stopped to catch her breath, watching him laugh from the other end of the deck. He's so annoying. But... he's really handsome when he smiles like that. No! Stop it, Sakura! You love Sasuke-kun!
Yet, as she stood there panting, she realized a frustrating truth. Sasuke treated her like a ghost. He never looked at her. He never touched her. Kenji molested her, teased her, and made her blood boil... but he was giving her the physical attention her touch-starved body was desperately craving.
High above the main deck, standing on a steel balcony, Sasuke Uchiha watched the entire scene unfold.
His dark eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched tightly as he watched Sakura pant heavily, staring down the deck at Kenji.
Why is she always yelling? Sasuke thought, his fingernails digging into the metal railing. Just a few weeks ago she wouldn't even look in his direction. Now they're always fighting. Why is he touching her?
A weird, tight knot formed in Sasuke's chest. It wasn't love. It was raw, territorial jealousy. He didn't want Sakura, but he hated that Kenji was so casually taking what technically "belonged" to his fan club.
Why do I even feel weird about this? Sasuke scoffed to himself, shaking his head. It doesn't matter. She's weak. He's just playing with her. I don't care about either of them. I just need to get stronger. I need to kill Itachi.
Sasuke turned his back on the deck and walked into the shadows of the ship, completely unaware that his grip on the team was already slipping away.
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