Toxic Love

The air was heavy. Sakura walked slowly through the narrow, dark hallway of Orochimaru's lair, each step echoing faintly on the damp stone. As promised, Danzō had upheld his end of the deal, allowing her to reach the legendary Sannin.

The place felt alive, breathing in a sickly way, as if the walls themselves whispered things she couldn't understand. A pungent smell, a mix of dried blood and mold, filled the air, turning her stomach.

The floor beneath her feet was cold, slippery in places, covered with a thin layer of moisture seeping from the rocky walls. A shiver ran down her spine. This place was a tomb—a labyrinth where souls were lost, never to return.

She had never felt such unease before. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn back, but she forced herself to move forward. For Sasuke.

A sound of footsteps broke the oppressive silence. She lifted her head, her body instinctively tensing, ready to react. A silhouette appeared at the end of the hallway, faintly illuminated by a flickering torch.

Kabuto.

With his usual smile, he stopped a few steps away, observing her with amusement.

"Welcome, Sakura."

She didn't respond immediately. There was something unsettling in his gaze, a twisted curiosity that made her want to step back.

"Sasuke is… occupied at the moment," he continued in a neutral tone. "In the meantime, come with me."

She slowly nodded, clenching her fists to contain her anxiety, and followed him through the winding corridors. The dim lighting cast shifting shadows, making it seem as if something was watching them from the darkness.

A strange cold crept into her.

She knew that by coming here, she was stepping into an abyss whose depths she had yet to grasp.

Finally, Kabuto stopped in front of a heavy metal door and opened it without a word.

"Enter."

Sakura took a deep breath before stepping through the threshold.

The room was austere. A simple desk, a few chairs, shelves filled with scrolls and vials she preferred not to think about. A stone table stood in the center, stained with what looked like dried blood.

Kabuto closed the door behind her, leaving her alone in this room that looked more like an examination chamber… or a lab for experimentation.

Her heart started racing.

Was coming here really a good idea?

The thought of seeing Sasuke again after all this time was the only thing keeping her going.

---

Meanwhile, in another room…

"Use all your strength, Jūgo," Sasuke ordered, his voice calm but authoritative. "Don't hold back."

At the center of the vast training hall, Sasuke and Jūgo faced each other in relentless combat. Sasuke, shirtless, sweat glistening on his pale skin, held a flawless combat stance. Opposite him, Jūgo, under the influence of his transformation, had black veins snaking across his body, contrasting with his already darkened skin, his gaze filled with barely contained rage.

"You sure? You might not be able to handle it," Jūgo hesitated.

"I told you not to go easy on me," Sasuke insisted, his sharp gaze burning with determination.

With a powerful leap, Jūgo charged, his muscles swelling with natural energy. His massive fist cut through the air, aiming straight for Sasuke's face. Sasuke dodged just in time, his feet sliding across the rough floor, before countering with a spinning kick that struck Jūgo's shoulder.

Jūgo didn't stop. He followed up with a knee strike, hitting only the air where Sasuke had stood a second ago, then swung a right hook that Sasuke blocked with his forearm. The force of the blow pushed Sasuke back a few steps, but he quickly regained his stance.

"Not bad," Sasuke muttered, slightly out of breath.

He lunged at Jūgo, targeting his torso with a series of precise punches. Despite his size and strength, Jūgo managed to block some of them, but Sasuke's relentless assault began to overwhelm him. A right hook from Sasuke landed on Jūgo's jaw, but Jūgo retaliated with a powerful punch to his chest, sending Sasuke crashing against the wall.

Sasuke got up, wiping a drop of blood from the corner of his lips, his determination even fiercer. "Not bad," he repeated before charging again.

Suigetsu, sitting next to Karin, let out a chuckle. "Looks like Sasuke isn't invincible after all."

Karin, watching intently, snapped, "Shut up and watch."

Sasuke's eyes glowed with an icy resolve. Ignoring the pain, he threw himself back into the fight. His taijutsu was sharper now. He blocked an attack with his forearm, slipped under another, and struck Jūgo's abdomen with a sharp blow, knocking the wind out of him. Finally, Sasuke executed a quick sweep, toppling his opponent and pinning him to the ground.

Jūgo quickly recovered and launched a lateral attack, but Sasuke pivoted, dodged, and landed a well-placed kick to Jūgo's ribs. Seizing the opening, he followed up with an uppercut that made Jūgo stagger. Before Jūgo could regain his balance, Sasuke leaped and drove his heel into Jūgo's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Jūgo raised a hand in surrender. "Alright, I give up. You're too fast for me."

Still expressionless, Sasuke extended a hand to help Jūgo up. "You're strong. But you need to learn to channel your power with more precision."

They decided to take a break. Sasuke sat on a bench near the wall, his breath ragged.

"He's really incredible," Karin murmured, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Suigetsu, leaning lazily against a wall, snickered. "You're drooling over him again. It's pathetic."

Ignoring him, Karin stood up eagerly and ran toward Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, if you want to recover faster, you can bite me," she offered, pulling down her blouse slightly to expose her shoulder.

Sasuke, still out of breath, stared at her for a moment before stepping forward without a word. He placed his hands on her shoulders and, without hesitation, bit the offered skin. A sharp pain, followed by an overwhelming warmth, spread through Karin's body. Her cheeks flushed as she watched Sasuke up close, captivated by his intense expression.

As he finished drawing from her energy, she timidly placed a hand on his sweaty chest, lightly brushing his skin. "S-Sasuke-kun," she murmured.

With a sudden movement, Sasuke pushed her hand away. "Stop it," he said coldly before turning to leave for the washroom.

Just then, Kabuto entered the room, his ever-present smile in place.

"I see you're not holding back, Sasuke."

Sasuke turned his head, showing no reaction.

"What do you want… Kabuto?" he asked impassively.

"Still as tough as ever," Kabuto chuckled. "You have a visitor. Come to the old lab."

With that, he turned and left.

Karin stood still, her cheeks still flushed. After overhearing their conversation, she was curious to see who had come to see Sasuke.

Suigetsu, who had observed everything, burst out laughing. "Karin, seriously, give it up. Sasuke's not the type to fall in love, especially not with you."

"Shut up, Suigetsu," she snapped, her eyes flashing. She turned and stormed out, leaving Suigetsu grinning.

As she passed through the corridor, she caught a glimpse of Sakura sitting in the old lab, looking impatient.

"Who is that girl? She's here to see Sasuke?" she thought, her expression darkening.

Back in her lab, frustration boiled within Karin. "He'll see. Sasuke-kun will notice me," she murmured, handling various vials and instruments. After a few minutes, she produced a white powder, mixing it into a cup of water.

"If he won't see my feelings… I'll have to make him understand."

With a strange smile, she carried the cup out.

"Sasuke-kun… I'm sorry for earlier," she said sweetly, handing him the drink.

Sasuke took the cup, drank it in one go, and walked off without a word.

Karin watched, a sinister smile hidden beneath her innocent expression.

"Let's see if you can resist this, Sasuke-kun," she whispered, disappearing into the shadows.