Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Konoha - a fairly large city divided into four parts.

The North.

Even though poverty dominates most of Konoha, a few wealthy people have still settled here. They live in villas that are strictly separated from the rest of the city. They even have their own downtown area and a park. Residents from other parts of the city are not welcome there.

The further south you go, the poorer it gets. In the South, you can hardly call it “living” anymore. No one goes there voluntarily. At night, you can hear people shouting and arguing-sometimes even gunshots. Law and order have long been abandoned. Drunks lie on the streets, barely conscious. Broken bottles and used needles cover the ground. The whole district reeks of alcohol, drugs, and garbage. One of the first things children are taught is to stay away from the South. Even the gangs rarely hang around there, except for a few weapons or drug deals. The area is completely run-down and rotten.

East and West are something in between. They’re also eaten up by poverty, and it’s not safe to walk alone at night, but life there is still somewhat bearable. Of course, people still try to live as close to the North as possible but it ain't that bad.

Most of the city’s life takes place right on the border between East and West. There’s a shopping street near the North and a small park, not nearly as nice as the one up north, but better than nothing. Further south, there’s the Wicked, the main club for the gangs. Both the Foxes and the Snakes hang out there almost every weekend. It’s considered neutral ground.

Not every encounter between the gangs ends in chaos. Sometimes it’s just a few sarcastic remarks before they go their separate ways. But that’s rare. Usually, it ends in a fight.
However, fights never break out inside the Wicked. Each gang has its own corner, and they mostly keep to themselves.

Many young civilians also go to the Wicked. They romanticize the gang lifestyle and wish they could be part of it. Riding motorcycles through the streets at night, spraying graffiti on walls, partying together, no school-just being one of the cool ones.

At least, that’s how they imagine it.

Some are also simply attracted to the members-after all, with all the fighting and training, most of them are in good shape, and many don’t look bad either.

Despite the high crime rate, the streets of Konoha are still full of life, and most people have grown used to the situation. They can hardly imagine the city without the gangs. Motorcycles roar through the streets every day, and when tensions rise, massive gang fights can break out.

Civilians are usually spared, the gangs only care about each other. Still, the unlucky ones sometimes get caught in the crossfire.

Adults look down on all this gang nonsense with disapproval. Many are afraid and keep demanding that the police finally take action. But the police are completely overwhelmed. The gangs know the streets inside and out, making them almost impossible to catch. And when it comes to weapons and equipment, they’re not far behind. They have real firearms, and they don’t hesitate to use them.

The gangs themselves are highly organized systems, built over many years and refined through generations.

Major gangs like the Toxic Snakes and the Fire Foxes consist of a core group and several crews - smaller gangs that have joined the larger ones for protection and survival.
When they need help, they can turn to the big ones and in return, they assist during gang fights or other major operations.

Inside the gangs, it’s like a family. Many members have gone through difficult childhoods or personal tragedies and have no real families left. Surviving alone on the streets is nearly impossible, some are lucky enough to be taken in and supported.

The Foxes and the Snakes hate each other with a passion.
And now that summer is just around the corner with countless parties and festivals bringing them face to face again the situation is about to explode.

Chapter Text

"Hey, Saku — do you have anything for number three?"
Three girls sit together at a table in the big cafeteria of Konoha High. The blonde leans over to peek at her friend's paper but she pushes her away. "Stop snooping, Ino. Hina can do it on her own too." The blue haired girl in question is hunched over her math problems, but desperation is written all over her face. Math simply isn't her thing.

Ino pouts and turns away with a huff. Her long hair falls over Sakura's sheets. Annoyed, Sakura brushes the hair away and pushes her paper toward her friend. Ino just grins and starts to copy. Seconds later, the third girl in the trio leans across the table to copy the answers as well.

"Hina and I are going to a little party later. I can probably bring you as my plus one. What do you say?" The blonde tucks a strand behind her ear while continuing to write. Sakura looks up. "Where exactly?"
"A friend of—" Hinata interrupts her: "Her new boyfriend," she laughs and immediately gets an elbow from her friend. "He's really sweet and said I could come to a party with him and his friends. He even offered that I could bring friends so I wouldn't be alone." Sakura runs a hand through her long pink hair. It isn't nearly as long or shiny as Ino's, but it reaches almost to the middle of her back.

She shrugs. "Why not. We haven't gone out together in ages." She leans back and stretches. School is stressing the nineteen-year-old out, especially in final year. Thirteenth grade isn't being kind to the three friends. They're getting by together. To their advantage, they have very different interests and complete each other, which helps them scrape through all the subjects with passing grades — but it's still not easy.

After studying, Sakura stands in Ino's room in front of the mirror, checking her outfit. Worn, old blue baggy jeans, a wine-red crop top that just shows a sliver of stomach, and a lot of jewelry she picked up at flea markets. Or, to be frank, stole.

Sakura comes from very poor circumstances. Unlike her two friends, she never had a cozy home. Never. Now she has a place she can call home, even a family, but she doesn't like to think about how things were before. She absentmindedly shakes her head and pulls on her black, scuffed leather jacket.

Ino has just finished with Hinata's hair so now Sakura sits down in front of the blonde. Ino is like the big sister Sakura never had: annoying and sassy, but caring and helpful. She more or less adopted Sakura and Hina and taught them everything they know about makeup and hair.

Ino herself is unbelievably pretty — flawless skin, she uses makeup only to emphasize her features, not to hide anything. Her hair is a dream. Sometimes it seems to have a life of its own, flying into faces whenever she's mad or a breeze makes her look like a movie star. It's really unfair. Guys just follow her everywhere. Sakura doesn't think she's ugly by any means, but she knows she'll never get up to Ino's level.

While Sakura is admiring her friend again, Ino has put a few soft waves in her hair and pinned the front back with clips. Hinata chose a white lace top, a light blue cardigan, and black straight-leg jeans. Her hair is tied up in a low bun. Ino is wearing her usual high ponytail with slight waves at the ends, a dark lilac off-shoulder long shirt, and low-waist flared jeans. She starts digging through her jewelry box and pulls out dozens of bracelets and necklaces.

Then she stands up and takes a long look at the three of them. "We look fantastic, people — let’s go have the perfect party!" She grins, grabs her small bag, and is the first to leave the room extremely motivated. The other two follow laughing. The blonde is, as always, way too enthusiastic.

At the door, Ino grabs her fitted leather jacket and, with a wink to the others, a bottle of sparkling wine. "Mom, we're off!" comes Ino's call. A curt "Okay" answers from the kitchen.

Ino's parents have been divorced for years. As a kid she often heard them fight — loud screaming, things breaking. As Ino grew older she stopped holding back. What started as listening turned into shouting back. Things were said in the heat of the moment that no one really meant, but some things are hard to forget. During one of her father's outbursts, Ino was hit in the head by a wine bottle and had to go to the hospital. It was an accident, but for Ino's mother it was the last straw; she decided on a divorce. Ino chose the lesser evil and went to live with her mom, but the atmosphere at home still isn't pleasant.

The blonde takes a long swig from the bottle and stretches her arms wide to feel the nightly wind. It's still fairly cool in Konoha, but spring is coming. Winter jackets can be put away now.

The nightlife in Konoha is active, but not in a way anyone would really want. Ino lives in the East. It's not as bad as some places when it comes to poverty, but you can't call it affluent either. Drunks lie on the sidewalks. Building walls are mostly weathered or covered in graffiti. The smell of exhaust would be sharp to a tourist's nose, but if you live here you get used to it. Looking up you can tell there are too many fumes to see stars. Sakura has never really seen a brilliant night sky. Sometimes you can make out a few dots on a good summer night, but with all the factories it's no wonder they are usually hidden.

The closer they get to the city center, the more young people they see — many probably heading to the Wicked, the city's biggest and most popular club. It's the gangs' main meeting place, at least publicly. They also have headquarters, HQs. Many live in those HQs; they're hidden and heavily guarded. Gangs have ruled the city for years and not one of their strongholds has ever been uncovered. That proves something.

Sakura also lives in an HQ. She's a member of the Fire Foxes. They found her half-dead on the street when she was fourteen — fingers blue from the cold in the middle of winter. She's grateful to the gang that took her in, nursed her back to health, and supported her. She hates the other gangs, just like her friends do — foremost among them the Toxic Snakes: their biggest enemies, strongest rivals, annoying snakes who stir up trouble and make life difficult.

"Ino, where exactly are you taking us? You said it was close to the border earlier", Hinata asks, glancing at the walls. Among the typical graffiti, a large snake stands out. Hina stops and studies it — the work of the Toxic Snakes.

They're in the West. Snake territory.

Not exactly where a Fox should hang out, but Hina and Ino aren't Fox members. At most they're friends with a lot of members. Sakura isn't well known among the gangs — she rarely participates in gang fights, and when she does it's with her face covered. She prefers to stay at the HQ to care for the injured or focus on school.

Many gang members dropped out or never had the opportunity to go to school. The people in the gangs want the best for everyone — since Sakura still had a chance to finish school, they did everything they could to make sure she could go. They say that's the highest priority. It would be difficult if her face made it obvious she was a Fox.

Ino just shrugs. "It's not far. He's really nice and said he has nothing to do with the gangs." Sakura laughs. "Oh, so we just believe him now?" Her tone is teasing. Ino ignores her and hands her the bottle — motto: think less, drink more.

A moment later they stand in front of a door. Music is already thudding from the first floor. The lights are dimmed. The block looks like any other here: a gray, unremarkable building at night. After Ino presses the buzzer, there's a whir and the door is unlocked. The stairwell smells no better than outside — the smell of cigarettes and booze might even be a bit stronger here. You can see unease on Hinata's face. Ino practically bounces up the stairs and Sakura follows curiously. She doesn't really have a good feeling about it, but she's curious who will open the door.

The music gets louder as the door on the first floor opens. A guy with platinum-blond hair stands in the doorway; in that light his hair looks almost pale blue. A wide grin spreads across his face. "Ino!" he opens his arms for a hug, and she falls into them. Hinata and Sakura stand awkwardly to the side and wait. The two break apart and the tall guy looks at the two strangers expectantly.

Ino chimes in immediately, "This is my dear Hinata — but you can call her Hina, we all do." She looks at Hinata, who nods a little overwhelmed and smiles. "And this is Sakura, or Saku." Sakura smiles and mumbles a quiet, "Nice to meet you."

"Suigetsu, nice to meet you." He shakes both their hands and invites them in. In less than thirty seconds all three girls already have a drink and sit on a couch in the living room: Sakura on the far left, then Hinata and then Ino next to Suigetsu. They talk cheerfully over the music, a mix of techno and rap — not really Sakura's taste, but it's what's trendy and played at most parties. She doesn't mind.

The room is dark; the curtains are drawn even though it's already dark outside. Little light globes cast colored dots on the walls and spin — a makeshift club vibe. The apartment is big. The rent must be expensive. Sakura wonders if it's Suigetsu's place, or if he shares it. There are no photos showing recognizable people; overall it feels impersonal.

More people arrive. A few even dance in the middle of the room. The mood is good. So far Sakura has only talked with Hina. Hina is probably glad Saku tagged along. They exchanged a few polite words with Suigetsu, but it was just small talk until Ino took over the conversation and they went back to themselves.

Suddenly the sofa next to her dips. Sakura almost jumps. The seat beside her had been empty until now. She smiles warily at the man who sat down and turns back to Hina. The guy is big and broad — white hair slicked back. An odd look, but it kind of fits. He wears a loose t-shirt and even baggier jeans. A chain with a star pendant clinks at his neck. Just as she turns back to Hina he stretches out, draping his arms along the back of the couch, and speaks: "I don't think we've had the chance to properly introduce ourselves?" A broad grin on his face. Sakura bites her tongue and composes herself to respond politely to the cheap come-on. "I don't think so. But I'm just supporting my friend. Don't bother"

"Ah, I see," he says, glancing at Ino and Suigetsu. "But she seems busy. Then you probably have time for me." Sakura raises an eyebrow. "Thanks, but I think I'm in good company." She reaches for Hina's hand to emphasize her point, but the white-haired guy doesn't give up. "But, but — I don't mind hanging out with both of you. I'm Hidan." He winks at Hinata, who tightens her grip on Sakura's hand noticeably.

Sakura tilts her head. The guy is persistent. "Nice to meet you, Hidan, but we were in the middle of a conversation." She gives a deliberately fake smile and swings around so her hair flies over her shoulder, brushing just in front of his face — a move she copied from Ino. Her eyes meet Suigetsu's, who seems to have been watching. He quickly turns away and returns to listening to Ino.

"You haven't told me your names yet, my darlings." The pet name gives Sakura goosebumps. Gross. Before she can react, Suigetsu speaks up: "Come on, Hidan — leave them alone. You're freaking them out." Hidan just rolls his eyes. "Shut up, Susu, and mind your own shit." Suigetsu straightens to say something else when Sakura lets out a small laugh, muffled by her hand but still audible. Confused looks fall on her. Suigetsu narrows his eyes. "What's so funny?" She looks at him, then at Ino. She thinks about whether she should say what she's thinking, but before she can, one eyebrow lifts and a grin spreads across her face. "Susu?" Her grin gets even wider. Who in the world came up with that stupid nickname?

His eyes widen in surprise. "Are you serious?" His expression turns challenging. "Saku?" Her mouth opens to reply, but nothing clever comes to mind. Her nickname really isn't imaginative. She shrugs, resigned. "Touché... still sounds like shit." Still grinning, she leans back, but sits up straight the moment she notices the arm of the unwanted neighbor draped behind her.

"Saku, then? That wasn't too hard, was it? And what's your little friend's name?" Instead of answering, Sakura stands and pulls Hinata with her. "I think I need to go to the bathroom. We'll be right back, Ino." Ino just nods and the two disappear.

They have to wait a moment in front of the bathroom — seems occupied. "Weird dude", Hinata murmurs. The music is much quieter here; they can actually talk. Sakura nods in agreement.

They stand in silence until the conversation behind the door catches their attention. They exchange a quick look to make sure the other heard it too.

"Yeah, so annoying that those bitches showed up. I thought this was going to be a chill party. Everyone's acting weird."

"I don't get why they had to bring them. He can sleep with them later if he wants. She's not that bright."

"Looks dumb as hell. And her friends too."

"Whatever, once we have the info, we'll throw them out."

The bathroom lock clicks and the door flies open. A blonde girl with shoulder-length hair steps out first, dark red lipstick, tight leather pants, and a skimpy top. Did she just call them bitches? Behind her follows another girl with fiery red hair and glasses, similar style — they scream Snakes.

Sakura leans against the wall with her arms crossed and stares them down. Everything in her stance tells them that she heard the conversation. It was obvious they knew. And obvious they weren't pleased.

Her gaze is hard, emotionless. The two strangers hold her stare until the redhead pushes forward. Her eyes travel from Sakura's face to her neck and then her chest. She sniffs dismissively. "Cute necklace," and walks past Sakura and Hina. The blonde follows, but not without one more scornful look.

Sakura's eyes widen just barely. She grabs Hinata's hand and drags her back into the bathroom, locking the door. "Fuck, they're definitely Snakes. Probably all of them," she says, raking a hand through her hair. "And they know I'm a Fox. At the latest, now." She's mad at herself. She'd completely forgotten about the necklace. Gang signs are common among members. Most have them tattooed somewhere. Some, like her, only wear a chain or a bracelet. It wouldn't be handy if classmates saw a tattoo in the locker room and could unmistakingly prove she is a member. With a necklace you can still make excuses — most people assume you're just friends with the Foxes.

But in this situation any sign linking her to the Foxes is problematic — even though the Snakes apparently already suspected a connection.

"They want to get info about the gang through Ino?" Hina asks cautiously. "They're using her." Sakura doesn't answer. Both know what they heard. The question now is how to get out of this. Both sides are aware of the other's identity. The chances they'll be allowed to just leave are pretty slim.

Sakura looks around. Her eyes fall on the window — small but not impossible. They're on the first floor. It will hurt, but it won't be fatal, at least if you don't fall awkwardly. She turns to Hinata, who already has wide eyes. She has understood what's about to happen. Hinata takes a deep breath.

"Okay, Hina — we can do this. You climb out. I'll hold you and let you down as far as I can. Then you run. When you reach the border to the East, call me. Then I'll try to get Ino out. If we don't call within ten minutes, call the others and tell them everything. Understood?" Hinata nods, frightened, and grips her phone tighter.

"Okay — let's go."

Chapter Text

Stressed, Sakura paced back and forth in the small bathroom. Her phone pressed tightly against her chest, she waited for Hinata’s call. She still had no real idea how she was going to get Ino out of there, but something would surely come to her on the spot. At least she hoped it would. Planning had never really been her strength anyway. Normally, she relied on the others in the gang for that.

She flinched when her phone suddenly rang.

“Yeah?” she answered.

“I’m at the border now. Should I call the others?” Hinata was completely out of breath. Panic was unmistakable in her shaky, tear-filled voice. She sounded fragile — almost breakable.

“I think it’s best if they at least get ready. I have no idea if they’ll just let us walk out of here.”

After a quick agreement from Hina, the two hung up, and Sakura shoved her phone away. Taking one last deep breath, she paused at the door.

In and out. That’s all it is.

Go in, grab Ino, get out.

In theory, easy.

Like a mantra, she tried to reassure herself.

Her hand pushed down the door handle, and the music hit her again. She had completely tuned it out before. Shoulders back, head held high, she pushed through the crowd — faces that suddenly felt strangely familiar. Or maybe her mind was just playing tricks on her.

“Ino!” she called as soon as she spotted the blonde. “We need to go. Hina’s feeling really bad. I think she overdid it today. She’s waiting outside already. You coming?”

Ino’s eyes widened. Without hesitation, she grabbed her small purse.

“Oh no, is it really bad?”

Sakura thanked God internally that Ino was so caring — always putting her friends first, no matter how much fun she was having. Sakura shook her head lightly.

“No, no. But we should get going. Just to be safe.”

Just as Ino straightened up, Suigetsu pressed her gently back down into the cushions.

“Why don’t you bring her up here? We can take care of her,” he said, his smile never reaching his eyes. What a snake… literally.

“Oh, no. We’ll just take her home. Hina’s shy. She wouldn’t feel comfortable, and we don’t want to ruin your party.”

Thankfully, Ino agreed.

“Yeah, that’s probably best. I’m really sorry, but thanks for the invite.”

She sounded disappointed. Sakura even felt a little bad. But the light-blue-haired boy didn’t give up so easily.

“Should I drive you? I can drive you, really,” he said, digging through his pocket for his keys as he stood up.

Just as Ino was about to accept, Sakura cut in quickly: “Oh, don’t trouble yourself. We wouldn’t want to drag you away from your friends. A little sober-up walk sounds perfect anyway, right Ino?” A meaningful look from Sakura made Ino nod — confused but compliant.

Before Suigetsu could keep trying to convince them, Sakura grabbed Ino’s arm and pushed her toward the door. Only now did she notice the looks directed at them. Some contemptuous. Some confused. Some curious. Her confidence faltered, and she pulled Ino along faster, head lowered. She bumped into people in her rush, muttering apologies. Just get to the exit.

But as soon as she opened the door, it was slammed shut again — forcefully.

When Sakura looked up, she saw long black nails on a thin hand. She followed the arm to a girl with bright red hair.

“Oh, leaving already? Running away with your tail between your legs?” Her eyebrows rose mockingly, an ugly grin twisting her face. She grabbed Sakura’s hand — the one still on the door handle — and squeezed hard, clearly aiming to leave bruises. She probably would.

Ino had finally understood what was happening. She shoved the redhead off Sakura with a firm push to the shoulder. Sakura took the chance, yanked the door open again, shoved Ino through, and slipped out after her.

“Run!” she shouted, though Ino was already leaping down the stairs.

Adrenaline surged through them again. Their blood roared in their ears. They barreled down the steps, taking five at a time, barely managing not to fall. Behind them, chaos erupted. Their enemies were right on their heels. Shouting. Dozens of pounding footsteps filling the stairwell.

Ino’s blonde hair whipped wildly at every turn until she threw herself against the exit door, forcing it open. It slammed against the wall with a loud bang, but she kept running. Sakura didn’t care about the damaged door either.

What did worry her was the group of men standing slightly to their right.

She froze for a split second.

Snakes. They had just arrived.

Confused faces stared at the two girls.

She quickly pushed Ino left instead. “Go, go, go!” she urged, and they took off again.

But that brief hesitation gave their pursuers enough time.

Suigetsu caught up and grabbed Ino’s arm, twisting it behind her back. The blonde screamed in shock, kicking wildly. A hiss escaped him as she managed to land a solid kick to his shin. But he didn’t let it last. He was much stronger and needed only seconds to restrain her completely. Ino screamed insults at him, cursing him and his entire bloodline.

Sakura didn’t fare much better.

The redhead grabbed her hair and yanked it hard, throwing her to the ground. She moved to sit on Sakura — but Sakura wasn’t helpless.

She grabbed a fistful of fiery red hair and yanked back just as hard.

If the snake wanted to play dirty — fine.

She rolled up and punched the girl in the face. Once. Twice. Then someone dragged her up from behind. She twisted and slammed her elbow into whoever grabbed her. When she turned around, expecting more attackers — none came.

A small circle had formed around her, Ino, and the three Snakes, but no one interfered.

After a breath, Sakura turned toward Suigetsu and wiped bloody hair from her face. “Let her go. I won’t say it twice.” Her voice was cold, steady. She was in full combat mode now — acting more on instinct than conscious thought.

“And then?” He grinned. “Then we just let you skip home happily?”

Sakura’s fists tightened. “Not exactly. First, I’m gonna wipe that disgusting smile off your face.”

Some Snakes laughed. Others snorted angrily at her arrogance.

“Well, someone’s talking big,” Suigetsu taunted. He shoved Ino aside slightly and approached Sakura, rolling up his sleeves, cracking his neck. All for show. A pathetic attempt to intimidate her.

He stopped a meter in front of her — close enough to hit, close enough to be hit.

Like a drawn bow, she watched every twitch of his muscles, ready to move.

“You know… I usually don’t hit women. But for little foxes, I’ll make an exception. No hard feelings.” Before he even finished speaking, his fist flew toward her. She ducked instantly and stepped back, creating distance.

Hands up. Stand firm. Knees bent.

Enough defense. She preferred attacking.

The moment he swung again, she slipped under his arm and lunged forward — left hook from below. He dodged — quick. She followed through with her right, spinning into it.

A hit.

Square in the face. Not as effective as she hoped.

His counterattack came fast — a flurry of blows she had no choice but to block. The hits didn’t get through her guard, but her arms screamed in pain. She ended his combo by slamming her knee into his stomach. He doubled over slightly. She struck again.

Right, left, right, a kick to the gut — stepping forward as he stumbled back. Left, right — he took hit after hit.

Then suddenly, he dropped his guard and charged.

She managed one more punch before he tackled her to the ground. A painful gasp tore from her throat as he pinned her hips and began punching. She tried desperately to shield her face, but he punched straight through her defenses. Blood filled her mouth. Half her face burned, the other half numb.

She kicked at him wildly, driving her knees into his back with hoarse screams, but he didn’t budge.

“I’m not getting beat up by some stupid little bitch,” he spat between punches.

In the background, she heard Ino crying — hysterical — but held back. Not that she could’ve helped.

Sakura knew she couldn’t win against a grown man. Not like this. She had only wanted to stall — long enough for help to arrive. Long enough to keep the Snakes from dragging them off somewhere no one would ever find them. Now she could only take hit after hit.

“I think that’s enough, Barracuda,” a deep voice suddenly said. One final punch landed before the weight lifted off her.

“She asked for it…” Barracuda muttered angrily.

Sakura stayed on the ground for a moment. Everything spun. She probably had a concussion.

Fuck.

The headache was unbearable. She ignored the Snakes’ mocking laughter. She had overestimated herself. Going at a grown man empty-handed had been a stupid idea.

A hand grabbed her arm to pull her up. She kicked instinctively and ripped herself free. Forcing her eyes open, she looked up.

A man stared down at her, unimpressed. His arm still slightly extended but out of reach. Black hair. Eyes so dark brown they looked pitch black — maybe they really were. No emotion. Just emptiness.
Time felt like it stopped.

They just looked at each other.

Everyone around them fell silent. She recognized the face. She was sure. In her memory it had been younger, shorter hair, fewer dark circles, fewer worry lines.

She saw this face every day — though she rarely paid attention. It was almost… expected that it existed. But she had never seen him in real life. Seeing him sent a cold shock down her spine.

His picture hung in the briefing room.

The leader of the Toxic Snakes.

The Leader.

Red Raven.

The photo must’ve been outdated, but she knew it was him. The authority radiating off him was unmistakable.

Her face twisted — disgust, anger, hatred.

She pushed herself up — or tried to. She managed only a kneeling position; the world spun too violently for her to stand.

But then...

She froze when she heard it.

Motorcycles.

Dozens of them. Could it be…? Were they…?

The engines grew louder — fast. A small smile crept onto her blood-smeared face.

Red Raven stepped back.

“Seems our little foxes are getting help. How exciting.” His voice monotone, dripping with sarcasm.

Right on cue, seven motorcycles shot around the corner, stopping about five meters from Sakura. The Snakes gathered behind her, about three meters away, Ino still held tight. The Fire Foxes get of their bikes -the usual teams of two- stepping towards the scene hastily. Muscles tense, faces twisted with fury. At the front was a wild blond guy, hair sticking out in every direction from the ride. His bright blue eyes locked on Sakura, kneeling and blood-soaked — her own and apparently "Barracuda’s".

Then he looked at the Snakes. A sharp, disgusted exhale. The other Foxes reacted similarly.

One of them crossed the distance to Sakura and crouched.

“You alright, Shadow?”

She gave a small nod. He helped her up — or practically carried her, given how unsteady she was.

Kiba had been a friend for years. Most of the gang were. She trusted them blindly. She closed her eyes. The world swung too much to follow what happened next. Kiba guided her behind the Foxes’ formation and sat her on one of the bikes. “Fucking bastards…” he muttered while checking her injuries.

“Raven,” the blond Fox began. “I’d love to know why I have to pick up one of my foxes half-dead at your feet, and why one of her friends is being held behind your ranks.” His voice was calm, but the anger beneath it was clear. His fists clenched, eyes ice cold.

Raven snorted, amused. “Believe it or not, they were here voluntarily.” The black-haired man was cut off again.

“I know what happened. Spare me your embellished story. Give us Ino, and we’ll leave. She’s a civilian. We don’t involve civilians.”

Raven eyed Ino calculatingly.“Civilian, huh? Then our scout must’ve been mistaken. You didn’t show any fighting spirit — your escape attempts were pathetic. Although… that fits the Foxes.”

The Snakes laughed.

The Foxes tensed.

“Kurama Fox,” Raven continued lazily, “we were just having a bit of fun. Your little fox challenged Barracuda herself. Technically, he defended himself.”

“I said save your stories,” Kurama Fox cut him off again. “Shadow doesn’t start fights. Now hand over Ino, you snakes.”

Raven waved his hand dismissively. A signal. They released Ino.

“Shadow, huh? Shadow… ridiculous.” he muttered emotionlessly.

Ino sprinted toward the Foxes and collapsed into the arms of another girl, clinging to her, sobbing. She had never imagined the night ending like this. It was too much. Kurama Fox watched with a sharp, evaluating stare. He ignored Raven’s jabs completely.

“We’re leaving,” he announced to his gang.

The Snakes threw a few taunts — calling them cowards, suggesting they should settle things “like real men” — but Kurama didn’t take the bait.

Not tonight.

Next time.

Next time, someone would pay.

Because no one beat one of his foxes half to death and walked away unscathed.
No one.

Chapter Text

Sakura barely notices anything anymore. Kiba does his best to drive carefully and make sure to keep a firm hold on her. When they reach the HQ, he lifts her off the motorcycle and carries her from the garage inside. Her familiar four walls. Her home.

It’s an old factory in the East, close to the South. The city doesn’t really care what happens to most of the abandoned buildings here. They’re often used by homeless people. Many of them are so dilapidated that they could collapse at any moment. But not their HQ. Generations have maintained and improved this building so well that it’s actually very livable inside. It used to be a machine factory. The delivery garage was converted into a general garage, where most of them park their motorcycles and often work on them. The largest hall, where most of the machines were probably built back in the day, has become the common room. A smaller adjacent hall was remodeled into a kitchen and dining area. Most of the time, though, they eat in the common room anyway.

Everything was taken care of. A medical wing to treat injuries after battles, a training hall, a small hall designated as the briefing room, and smaller former offices that now serve as bedrooms for those who live permanently in the HQ. They have to share them, three or four people per room, but it’s still more than they ever had on the streets. Only the leaders have the privilege of having their own rooms.

The leader of the Fire Foxes is Naruto Uzumaki. Here, he’s called Kurama Fox. Often, people just call him Fox. He’s been part of the gang since he was little. The former boss, Jiraiya, took him in back then and raised him. It was clear early on that he would one day follow in his footsteps. The wild blond does a good job, even though not everyone had expected that from such a hothead.

Sakura shares her room with Temari and Tenten. They joined the gang after her, but they’re generally more active than she is and take part in almost every action or battle. The two of them are tough. Sometimes Sakura envies them. Even though she’s been around longer, she doesn’t have the same bond with the others as her roommates do. Fighting back to back on the streets creates a connection that normal friendship just can’t compete with. Sometimes, you can simply tell that something is missing.

But that isn’t really occupying Sakura’s mind right now. At the moment, she’s just fighting to stay conscious. Kiba carries her straight into the medical wing and lays her down on an improvised cot. Kankuro and Naruto are right behind them. While Naruto positions himself next to the cot and grimly takes in the damage, Kankuro is already gathering supplies. A stolen first-aid kit here, some painkillers they managed to swipe at some point there. He has to work with whatever the others can somehow get their hands on.

He hands Kiba a glass and some pills. “Give her these.” Then he’s gone again, only to return with a stack of ice packs, which he presses into Naruto’s hands. “May I take off your shirt?” A question of courtesy. Everyone knows there’s no other way, and still he asks. He would never want to pressure anyone. Sakura just nods and shifts slightly to make it easier for her friends.

For a moment, everyone freezes. An angry hiss cuts through the silence. Naruto clenches his fists and leaves the room. Not storming out, but with purpose. They’ve known each other for five years now and have spent almost every day together. They’re practically best friends. He’s not just angry at the Snakes, he’s also blaming himself, as if he failed as a big brother. The injuries themselves aren’t what make him angry. That kind of thing is almost normal. Sakura will recover, even if it’s painful right now and she’s not as used to battles as the others. Technically, it’s just bruises and a concussion, plus a split lip and eyebrow. It was quickly determined that nothing was broken and that there was no real danger to her life. What really enrages him is that Sakura was the one who got hurt. A member who isn’t even supposed to be involved in fights and should be focusing on school. Now she’s on the Snakes’ radar. They all know her face. They all know that the core of the Foxes came to rescue her. There’s a massive target on her back now, and it drives him insane. Sakura is so close to graduating and could actually make something of her life—but now they have to wait and see whether the Snakes will target her in the future and how they’re going to deal with it.

As soon as Naruto leaves the room, Sakura turns to Kiba. “Sorry,” she mumbles while Kankuro applies cooling ointment to her ribs and bandages them. “You know how he is,” Kiba says quietly, handing her a damp cloth to wipe the blood from her face and hands. “He’s not mad at you. You know that. None of us are. It was… an unfortunate situation.” He scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

Kankuro looks up. “I am mad. How could you think it was a good idea to party in the West? And without any escort or at least informing us. Sometimes I wonder if you just shut your brains off the moment you hear the words party and dancing.” As if to underline his point, he pours a bit too much disinfectant onto a cloth and presses it straight onto Sakura’s eyebrow. She hisses in pain, but before she can say anything, Kiba smacks Kankuro on the back of the head. “Asshole, watch it.”

Kankuro just rolls his eyes but is more careful while cleaning her lip. The rest of the “treatment” passes in silence. Sakura feels awful. This evening could have been avoided. It was her own fault, and she’s honestly lucky no one else was hurt. When Kankuro is done, Kiba turns off the light. “Rest and get some sleep. Call if you need anything.” With that, he closes the rusty sliding door and leaves her alone. It’s completely quiet. The others have probably gone to sleep already. Only the ringing in her ears breaks the silence. That’s definitely going to stay with her for a while.

Sakura wakes up with a splitting headache. The room is still dark. In general, the HQ has no windows. Everything is carefully sealed to avoid drawing attention when the lights are on. She feels around for her phone to check the time. The moment the screen lights up, she regrets it. The glare stabs her eyes, and she quickly turns the phone away again. Slowly, she sits up and tries once more. 10 a.m. Damn. That’s really late. She turns on the flashlight to find her way out of the infirmary.

As soon as she steps into the hallway, everything is brightly lit, and she puts her phone away. She follows the voices toward the common room. With every meter, they grow louder... and angrier. Things seem to be getting intense in there. Damn. She rubs her still pounding head. She really doesn’t want to go in there. It’ll be loud, people will bombard her with questions, and Naruto will probably lecture her too.

Was that Ino’s voice? Why would Ino still be here?

Carefully, she peeks through the crack in the door. All members are gathered. The usual younger crowd is sitting on the couches, but instead of playing video games like they normally do, they’re watching the scene in front of them with tense attention. Temari and Tenten are sitting on the tables where Sakura usually does her homework. Akamaru, Kiba’s dog, is sitting on the stairs leading to the private rooms, looking like he’d rather escape the shouting but unwilling to leave his pack. The rest are scattered throughout the room, all eyes fixed on the shouting group in the center.

A visibly uncomfortable Hinata, who would clearly rather be anywhere else, and a furious Ino, loudly arguing against the opposing side. Sakura has rarely seen Ino this upset. On the other side stands an almost exploding Naruto, shouting just as loudly. Beside him is Shikamaru, his right hand when it comes to gang matters, many call him the vice. Next to him are Kiba and Shino.

“How can you have absolutely no understanding that you made a mistake?! Damn it, you put everyone in danger!” Naruto’s fists are clenched. He probably wants to smash something. Kiba looks just as tense but holds back from speaking. “I didn’t even do anything! How was I supposed to know they were Snakes?!” “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the massive snake tattoo on his arm? Or the fact that he lives in the West? Are you actually that stupid, or are you just pretending?!” Naruto steps forward, but Shikamaru’s hand immediately lands on his shoulder. “It was reckless, Ino. Even you have to see that.” “Even me? Do you think I’m fucking stupid too?!” Ino’s anger snaps toward anyone who dares to speak. In moments like this, there’s no reasoning with her. Once she feels attacked, she goes fully defensive.

Before Shikamaru can respond, Naruto jumps back in. “That’s not the point right now. How can you show no remorse at all?! What if they had done something to Hinata because you dragged her along?! You practically handed your closest friends over to the enemy! Just look at Sakura, this is because of you!” “Naruto,” Shikamaru hisses quietly. That’s going too far. They’re shouting so loudly that the entire HQ can probably hear them. “That’s not my fault. The Snakes are your enemies, not mine! Saku didn’t have to fight them.” That’s when Kiba snaps. He storms forward before Shino can react and grabs Ino by the shoulders, making her yelp in pain. “That’s enough! Is your brain fucking broken?! Saku protected you, damn it! You ungrateful diva-” He doesn’t get to finish. Shino and Lee drag him back. Even though he struggles and continues to yell insults at Ino, they manage to pull him out of the room.

Ino isn’t shaken by the outburst. If anything, it fuels her temper even more. “So you all think this was my fucking fault?! Maybe I should just leave then. I don’t even really belong here anyway. You don’t even like us. You’re only nice because we’re friends with Sakura. You don’t even see us as real members!” She turns to leave and grabs Hinata’s wrist to pull her along.

“With that attitude, you could never be a real Fox! If you throw your friends’ safety out the window just because some guy smiles at you, you’re not reliable! I would never let you into my gang!”

Everyone holds their breath. Ino stops abruptly, staring at the floor. Tears slowly gather in her eyes. She’s always known she wasn’t a full member. It’s bothered her before, but she still thought she belonged somehow. Hearing Naruto say it so plainly shatters something inside her. But Ino is proud. Ino, who stood up to all the kids who mocked her alcoholic father. Who worked her way up and is now known only as the popular, beautiful Ino. Everyone knows Ino, and everyone envies her. Ino Yamanaka doesn’t cry just because a guy tells her she doesn’t belong.

She rolls her shoulders back, lifts her chin higher than ever. With practiced confidence, she flips her hair back and calmly turns to Naruto one last time. “Fuck you, Naruto. Fuck you and your little kindergarten crew. Wake up, you’re not as important as you think. I’ll do just fine without you.” With that, she strides out with purpose, Hinata in tow, through the gate to the garage and out of the HQ.

Silence. Naruto is seething. No one dares to move. No one expected things to escalate like this. Both Ino and Naruto have strong personalities. Maybe the entire discussion should have been stopped but it probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. Maybe it had to happen.

Gaara is the first to speak after what feels like an eternity. He turns to Shikamaru, who has spent more time with Ino than most. “Do you think she’ll go to the Snakes and sell us out?” He voices what many have already been thinking. Before Shikamaru can answer, Naruto lets out a frustrated shout, storms toward the table where Tenten and Temari are still sitting-though they quickly jump down-and flips it over, sending it skidding halfway across the room. Then he storms toward the training hall.

Shikamaru lights a cigarette, takes a drag, and tilts his head back. “Hard to say… let’s hope not.” With that, he heads for the stairs, probably up to the roof. The rest sit together in silence for a moment before slowly returning to their activities, noticeably quieter than usual.

Sakura closes the door crack again and leans against the hallway wall. Slowly, she slides down until she’s sitting on the floor. Tears fill her eyes. What the hell just happened?

Chapter Text

Sakura had been sitting on the hallway floor for what felt like an eternity. All she wanted was to run away. Just leave. Seeing her closest friends so deeply divided hurt more than she wanted to admit. On top of that, she was, at least partially, the reason they were fighting in the first place. Of course, Ino had played her part as well. The stubborn blonde simply could not admit when she was wrong, and trusting a stranger had definitely not been her smartest move. Still, Sakura could not fully blame her for reacting the way she did to Naruto’s accusations.

Even when Sakura and Ino were younger, they had clashed often. Sakura preferred talking things out, discussing misunderstandings, and clearing the air as soon as possible. Ino, on the other hand, saw giving in as a weakness.
Even among friends. Ino would rather silently accept that something had gone wrong and continue as if nothing had happened. Ignoring mistakes and avoiding conflict was her way of coping.

Most of the time, it ended with them not speaking for a few days before finding their way back to each other. Deep down, Sakura hoped it would be the same this time. Ino would not betray the Foxes.
Especially not to disgusting people like the Snakes.

Her legs had fallen asleep from sitting on the cold floor for so long. Maybe that was her sign that it was time to get up. With some effort, she pushed herself to her feet. Her ribs still hurt. Honestly, everything still hurt. Damn it.

She rolled her shoulders back and opened the door. One glance around the room was enough to tell her that everyone was staring at her.

Perfect.

Temari was sitting on the couch with her brother Gaara, playing some kind of shooter game. Tenten was lying in Neji’s arms, watching with visible boredom, while Neji himself looked almost absent. Sai had pushed the tables back into a row and was crouched over a sketch.

Aside from them, the room was surprisingly empty.

“Hi…” was all Sakura managed to say. Sai briefly glanced up before returning to his drawing. “Ino and Hinata left. You should probably call them. Naruto is training, you should leave him alone. And Kiba went out to clear his head.” His voice remained monotone. He had never been particularly gifted with empathy. “If you want to go outside too, you’re supposed to take someone with you. At least for now. That’s the agreement.”

“Thanks,” she murmured and headed for the kitchen. Maybe there was still some breakfast left. Or maybe lunch was already being prepared.

Walking across the room felt uncomfortable. Relieved, she closed the kitchen door behind her and went straight to the fridge.

After briefly scanning her options, she settled for a yogurt and sat down at the counter. The kitchen had clearly just been a random room chosen for its proximity to the common area, so no one had to walk far with their food.

Because of that, it was far too large. Someone had simply filled it with extra tables and chairs. The furniture was mismatched, some salvaged from bulky waste and refurbished, others built by hand. Very little had actually been bought.

Money was better spent on technical equipment like walkie-talkies, trackers, weapons, and mechanical parts for the bikes.

Lost in thought, Sakura poked at her yogurt when the door suddenly opened a crack. A brown-haired man with a pineapple-like hairstyle squeezed through and leaned against one of the tables.

His hands were shoved into his pockets, his expression bored. A strong smell of cigarettes filled the room. One of Shikamaru’s less charming habits.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Sakura stared at her yogurt as if it were some exotic wonder. Shikamaru stared at the floor, clearly debating what to say.

“So… I guess this isn’t how you imagined the evening going, huh.” Wow, Shikamaru. Very creative. Sakura only shook her head slightly.

“Hinata and Ino told us everything. Naruto will probably leave you alone, unless you tell him there’s something important you noticed.” He looked at her expectantly. She shook her head again.

Silence settled between them once more. It wasn’t that they disliked each other. Their past had been rocky, but they had left that behind long ago.

At first, the twenty-one-year-old had struggled to accept Sakura in the gang. She was weak and didn’t seem to contribute much. He believed in helping people, sure, but usefulness always had to be considered.

If they turned into a shelter for neglected kids, the entire gang structure would fall apart. Everyone had to pull their weight. He had voiced this mindset openly, without regard for feelings.

Over time, however, they had spent more time together and eventually grown close.

Sakura had always felt there was more beneath the surface. Her role in the gang hadn’t really changed. She still didn’t have a true function, other than helping wherever she was needed, mostly in the infirmary.

She didn’t want to disturb the peace and was simply glad things between them had been resolved.

Right now, though, it felt just like before. Neither of them really knew what to say. The fact that Shikamaru was here meant there was something to discuss.

And it also meant that Kiba hadn’t returned yet and Naruto hadn’t calmed down. Otherwise, one of them would have taken over this conversation without question.

With a sigh, Sakura leaned back. “So what’s the plan now? Is there a plan? Revenge?”

Shikamaru played with his lighter. One day, he was probably going to set the HQ on fire. “No revenge. At least not for now.”

“We’re going to act like we don’t care about what happened. You disappear for a while. School is canceled for the next two weeks.” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“The leader basically put you under house arrest.”

“He didn’t,” Sakura stared at him in disbelief. He only gave her an apologetic grin. “And you have a hair appointment tomorrow. The pink has to go.”

Shocked, Sakura grabbed her hair. “You can forget that.” Shikamaru raised his hands defensively. “You’ll have to discuss that with Fox.”

He looked back down at his shoes. “It would make sense, though,” he muttered.

Sakura leaned back stubbornly and crossed her arms. “Anything else, or was that it?”

He paused briefly. His expression shifted from mildly provocative to serious. The lighter was back in his hand, flicking on and off, flame appearing and disappearing.

Both of them stared at the small, hypnotic movement. “Are you okay?” His voice was quiet, but she heard him clearly.

Shikamaru was someone she would go to for logical advice. But she had never talked to him about her feelings or emotional problems. His offer surprised her. Hesitantly, she looked back down at her yogurt and stirred it again.

“I was scared you wouldn’t come,” she admitted, taking a deep breath. “I tried to stall so they wouldn’t take us somewhere no one could find us. At one point, I thought he was going to beat me to death.” The memory sent goosebumps across her skin.

Sakura had been part of battles before, but always in controlled environments. Never on the front lines. Usually, everything was planned in detail by the Foxes’ strategy team over several days.

What happened yesterday had been planned by her alone. She had been completely on her own, while also worrying about Ino.

Nothing she ever wanted to experience again. The uncertainty of whether the others would arrive in time had been the worst part.

“You handled it well. You can be proud of yourself.”

Sakura’s eyes widened. Compliments from Shikamaru were rare. A small smile crept onto her lips. “I almost died. I’m lucky Raven stepped in.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Shikamaru’s head snap up. “What?”

Now Sakura looked confused too. Had Ino forgotten to mention that? “Raven called Barrakuda off. It was right before you arrived.”

Shikamaru’s brow furrowed. She wished she knew what was going on in his head.

He was the gang’s genius, after all. Not without reason was he the vice leader. He noticed details others overlooked and approached problems in ways most people couldn’t understand.

Why was the fact that Raven intervened so important?

Before she could ask, his phone vibrated. He checked it gratefully and pushed himself off the table. “I need a cigarette, and Kiba’s back.”

“I’ll give him two minutes before he tears the HQ apart looking for you if he doesn’t find you in the infirmary. Spare us the chaos.” With that, he stepped outside, leaving the door open so she could follow. Cigarette already between his lips, he headed for the roof.

The week passed faster than she had expected.

She hadn’t left the HQ once. Luckily, she had managed to avoid the hairdresser. She had grown to love her pink hair. It was part of who she was.

Most of the time, she caught up on schoolwork Hinata kindly sent her.

She still hadn’t spoken to Ino. Her messages went unanswered, but she had expected that. Hinata said she was doing okay. Not showing much emotion. That was just how Ino was.

The rest of the time, Sakura spent with Temari and Tenten or gaming with one of the guys. Slowly, she was getting better at it.

Sometimes, she just lazed around in her room. Damn it, summer was coming and she was stuck indoors.

Tomorrow was Saturday. The others would probably go to the WICKED, and she planned on coming along. She kept wondering whether she should just get ready like it was obvious or ask first.

In the end, she simply got ready with the other two girls, without talking to Naruto beforehand.

Maybe he wouldn’t even notice her until they arrived at the WICKED. Temari laughed at that naive idea, while Tenten said she shouldn’t listen to Naruto.

He was the leader, not her father. Technically, she was right.

Still, Sakura wanted to avoid arguments. Especially since Naruto was only trying to protect her. His members meant everything to him.

He wouldn’t leave anyone behind, and when it came to the girls, he was especially protective. The leader had a good heart. Deep down, they were all grateful for that, even if it was sometimes a bit much.

The three women headed down the stairs to the common room.

Loud voices echoed from below. People had already been drinking, and the mood was high. Tenten wore a fiery red crop top and white low-cut jeans. Her hair was styled into her signature two buns, a small red leather bag completing her look.

Temari had left her hair down. Her purple shirt was loose and off-shoulder on one side, paired with a denim mini skirt and white boots.

Their jewelry clinked as they happily skipped down the stairs.

Sakura missed Ino’s styling skills, but her outfit still looked good. A loose black top from a band she didn’t really know, paired with dark blue baggy jeans. Lots of jewelry again, and a thin scarf purely as an accessory. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, with loose strands falling free.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she cautiously looked for Naruto.

He had been watching her the whole time. The eye contact made her nervous, but he only let out a heavy sigh and looked away.

“Alright, let’s go! Let’s have a fun night.”

Loud cheering followed, mostly from the guys, and everyone headed toward the garage. Sakura went straight to Kiba’s bike. She usually rode with him. They were a well-practiced team.

The garage was chaotic now. Most people paired up with their usual riders and got ready. Just as Sakura was about to climb on behind Kiba, Naruto stopped her.

Surprised, she looked at him. She had wondered why he hadn’t said anything yet.

He looked at her seriously. “No solo moves tonight. We don’t know if they’re targeting you or how they’ll react. Stick with Kiba and be careful.”

“I know I can’t force you to stay, but please don’t make me regret it.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned away and mounted his own bike. The engine roared as he sped out of the garage.

The others followed immediately into the warm spring night.

“You good?” Kiba had turned around, looking at her expectantly. “Yeah. Let’s have fun.” Sakura grinned at him.

Everyone was together. All her friends were here. Nothing bad could happen.

She swung herself onto the bike behind him and barely had time to hold on before Kiba took off after the others. The night wind tousled her hair, but nothing could ruin this feeling of freedom.

It was priceless.

Chapter Text

WICKED. The most popular club in all of Konoha. Right in the center of the city, the perfect location. The club has two floors.

On the ground floor, it is a regular club. A large bar, the rest is a dance floor, plus a few seating options along the edges. Most of the time, you see couples making out there.

One floor above, there is also a bar and a dance floor. Much more important are the relatively large seating areas tho. Reserved for the Toxic Snakes on the left and the Fire Foxes on the right. No one would ever sit there.

Those seats are taboo.

On the dance floor, however, there are also civilians hoping to catch the attention of one of the gang members.
Street life looks cool to them. They romanticize it. In other words, they are too stupid and naive to recognize the danger. People actually die quite often when they get involved with gangs. It is not a game. Not whatever they might be hoping for. Sakura cannot understand why anyone would voluntarily associate with them. Not when they are not dependent on it and actually have a nice home.

On the other hand, by now she could probably survive without the Foxes. She only stays because they have become her family.

There are many ways upstairs. Mainly so you can get out quickly in an emergency.

The Foxes have settled into their usual corner. They have ordered their first round of drinks. The mood is good. Relaxed.

Tenten and Temari immediately sprint to the dance floor. Lee, Kiba, and Choji make themselves comfortable at the bar. That way, the walk to new drinks is short. The three of them plan to drink a lot tonight.

Gradually, Foxes from the outer circles join them. Members who either do not live at HQ or belong to other gangs that have allied themselves with the Foxes.

The organization and communication of these sub-gangs is Temari’s responsibility. She is in almost constant contact with them. She processes the information they provide. At the same time, she keeps them updated on what is happening at HQ. She also informs them about upcoming actions or battles. She attends most meetings of the strategist team. That means she has to work closely with them.

Constantly.

The members of the subs are just as much part of the gang as everyone else. Sakura knows quite a few of them. A few of them join their seating area. Filling the corner even more.

Sakura is sitting between Naruto and Shikamaru. Not a coincidence, she is sure of that. But it does not bother her. “Do you think they will come?” She leans a little toward Naruto. Just enough to speak over the loud music.

“One hundred percent.”

Shikamaru nods. He blows the smoke of his cigarette upward so it will not drift toward Sakura. Nice try. Not very effective tho.

“According to the subs, they have had scouts here all week.” “Their activity has increased recently. They are planning something.” Annoyed, he tilts his head back and closes his eyes. “I will figure out what.” There is clear irritation in his voice. He seems to have been on it for a while. Without success.

Naruto reaches across Sakura. He pats his friend on the thigh. “Come on, brother. Enjoy the evening. We can think about it tomorrow.” A wide grin spreads across the blond’s face as he downs his beer in one go. Then leans back again. “Look, the others are having fun too.”

The two of them are chaos and calm. Complete opposites depending on the situations. That is probably why they understand each other so well.

The next hour passes quietly. As quietly as a party can be. Sakura stays in her corner and talks with Naruto about school and recent events. The rest drink, dance, or talk as well. At first, everyone was noticeably on guard, but slowly the mistrust fades into the background.

At least it was pleasant until suddenly all kinds of people are shoved aside and the crowd splits to make a path to the bar. Unnecessarily loud, so loud that you can hear them over the music, Snakes push their way through and draw the attention of everyone present. Show-hungry assholes. Every Fox’s smile disappears and only serious expressions remain. Individual glances turn toward Naruto.

He is somewhat tense and watches everything with hawk eyes, but for now he shakes his head. They want to pretend that the action did not bother them. If they go straight into confrontation, that would contradict their own behavior. The Foxes almost never start a conflict.

More and more Snakes fill the room. You can feel the tension in the air. Neither of the two gangs would ever give up their place in this club. As annoying as it is, leaving this club would be a clear defeat.

Sakura actually tries to control herself and not stare, but she catches herself scanning the crowd again and again, looking for faces she might recognize from last week’s party. She actually finds the redhead and her friend. The two throw her a venomous look, but nothing more. She has also already seen the silver-haired one, but the guy seems too drunk to recognize anyone anymore.

She pushes her thoughts aside and tries to focus on Naruto again. He also tries to talk to her calmly. Sai has moved to the other side of Shikamaru and the two are talking quietly. She would love to listen in, but the music is too loud for her to understand anything.

For a while, the distraction works quite well until Shikamaru suddenly kicks Naruto against the shin and accidentally hits her as well. Both first direct their looks at the culprit, only to then follow his gaze and recognize Red Raven as he comes up the stairs with two others. Next to him an orange-haired one and a blue-haired one.

Itachi looks straight into the Foxes’ corner. He has probably already been informed that they are here. His gaze is ice-cold. He practically stares into Naruto’s soul. His lips move and the blue-haired one nods and turns away while the other two remain standing. When his gaze shifts to her, he snorts in amusement. Then he turns to his buddy and leads the way to their own corner.

The man is a mystery to her. As calculating as Shikamaru looks, he cannot really read him either.

“He didn’t say anything to you, did he?” Naruto’s gaze is still fixed on the spot where Itachi was last seen before the crowd swallowed him. “He only stopped Barracuda, right?”

Shikamaru and Sai have also turned toward her. “No, he didn’t say anything.”

Naruto looks his vice in the eyes as if they are communicating without words. The other just nods and stands up.

“I know you won’t like this, but could you please go with Shikamaru? I have a bad feeling.” All the playful and energetic tone has disappeared from Naruto’s voice. He is in leader mode. Sakura reluctantly accepts the instruction and stands up as well. She follows Shikamaru through a back exit that is a bit more discreet so that not everyone immediately notices that they have left.

The corridor is narrow and quite dark. Shikamaru walks pretty fast. He seems to know his way around. Sakura herself has never taken this route before. It does not take long before Shikamaru pushes open a heavy steel door and lets her step through. They are east of the WICKED. Their motorcycles are parked just around the corner. With hurried steps, her companion moves ahead again. Out here, they are easy prey.

Abruptly, he stops and pushes her back just as they were about to go around the corner. She still had no idea who was there. Shikamaru blocked her view.

“Oh come on, you don’t need to hide her. We know she went out with you,” a voice dripping with sarcasm sounds out.

Shikamaru shows no reaction. Casually, he leans against the wall and lights a cigarette. “No idea what you idiots are babbling about again. I just wanted some fresh air.” He reaches for his phone. All calm movements. He gives nothing away. Sakura sees him texting Naruto. She herself is still positioned so that she cannot be seen by the others. The brown-haired had stopped her in time.

Slowly, she moves backward step by step. She does not even really need to be that quiet. The music from the club protects her, even if only muffled. She looks around. She could go behind the WICKED and then head toward the subway, hoping that no one sees her. She hears Shikamaru continue talking. She has to hurry. He will not be able to stall them forever.

Part of her feels bad for leaving him alone with who knows how many Snakes, but he has texted Naruto and reinforcements will probably arrive soon.

Every tiny movement makes her flinch. Where has all her courage gone? Normally, Sakura is actually a rather cheeky girl who overestimates herself first and then gets a reality check. Especially in a duo with Ino, she can understand that some people find them very annoying. Right now, however, there is somehow not much of that left.

Now she is two streets away and the WICKED is out of sight, so she decides to run. They will not hear her anymore. She runs for about five minutes further east. She knows the area well. On the one hand because the HQ is nearby, but also because Ino lives a few streets away. She is still a bit too far north for HQ.

Going to HQ on foot would be somewhat reckless. She would be too easy to follow. Sakura looks around briefly and then heads toward an alley. She hides between a few trash cans, sits down, and sends Naruto and Kiba her location. With her phone pressed tightly to her chest, she waits to see if one of them responds. Who knows, maybe the situation at the WICKED has completely escalated by now and a spontaneous battle has broken out.

Every now and then, you hear a car race by. Nightlife in Konoha is mainly on foot. Most people are afraid that their car will get scratched or damaged if they drive it to a party, and in general most adults do not go outside at night because of all the crime. Only teenagers are reckless enough to voluntarily go to the city center on a Saturday night.

Thirty minutes have passed. Still no message from any of the Foxes. Sakura hears motorcycles racing through the streets, but of course she cannot tell whether they belong to her friends or enemies. Internally, she curses the situation. She briefly considers whether she should just go on foot after all, but the constant motorcycle noises suggest that the night is not over yet. It would be stupid to go out and get involved without information about what is going on. Are they looking for someone? Are they looking for me?

Sakura is not actually an important gang member. Of course they all care about each other, but it makes a difference when you compare her to someone like Shikamaru, who has insider information about strategies, supplies, or locations. Logically, it would not make sense to look for her. Still, she cannot shake the feeling that the Snakes were waiting for her and Shikamaru at the WICKED.

“She has to be somewhere around here.” Shit. “Show it again. Are we really in the right place?” “Maybe she kept walking.” Two voices. One she does not recognize, male. The female one promises nothing good. Sakura desperately leans her head against the wall behind her and sends up silent prayers.

The red-haired fury.

Of course it had to be exactly that one bitch she had personal bad experiences with. Any other Snake would have been better. At least almost any.

“Argh, man! Where is that slut?!” A loud clatter as an empty can flies through the alley. “Chill, Karin. If she hears you, she’ll run anyway.” “Shut up. Show Sui’s picture again.”

You hear the guy groan annoyed. “We’re in the right place. She probably just kept walking. Would be stupid to stay in one spot too long.” “But she is stupid.”

Sakura hears footsteps moving away and a bike being started again. The steps sounded quite heavy, so it was probably the man. “I’m going back to Sasuke. I don’t care about your little revenge trip.” “Juugo, wait.” Her grumpy tone shows that she does not want to come along, but you still hear her heels moving toward the bike. Shortly after, you hear them speed off.

Sakura takes a deep breath. Relief fills her. It feels like for the first time God answered her prayers. Or maybe it was just luck. She does not really care. The main thing is that she stayed unnoticed.

The man, apparently Juugo, was right though. Staying in one place the whole time was really not the best idea. Just as she is about to stand up, she hears another motorcycle. Are they back? She crouches into her corner between the trash cans. Had she celebrated too early?

“Saku?!” A voice she knows. She immediately jumps up. “Yes!” Kiba has stopped in front of the alley. His hair is wildly tousled. When she looks closer, she notices that he looks pretty battered. His shirt partly torn and stained with blood. His knuckles split open, just like his lip. “Let’s go now. We don’t have forever.” His expression is dead serious. Nothing of his childish nature remains. He looks stressed.

Sakura rushes toward him. “Are you okay?” As soon as she is seated, he takes off. “HQ is overcrowded. Kankuro needs you,” is all he says before speeding through the streets at an insane pace. He always rides too fast, but today it is even worse. Desperately, Sakura clings to him while he leans far too deep into the curves for her liking.

If Kankuro needs her, that means the infirmary is flooded. That means there was a battle. Judging by Kiba’s mood, we lost.

Which means there were deaths.

Chapter Text

At the HQ it was surprisingly quiet. Neji and Tenten are lying together on the couch once again, watching the news. The two of them do not even look up when Kiba and Sakura enter the room.

Sakura actually wants to stay standing behind them to see what could still be relevant in the news at this hour, but Kiba pushes her further along. “You’ll have time for that later.” She does not like the atmosphere in HQ. Normally everyone celebrates after won battles or there is general anger and thirst for revenge if they lost. Right now it is simply quiet. Not even mourning, just silence. It feels as if time itself has frozen or everyone needs space to think.

“Kiba, get over here!” Shikamaru’s head sticks out of the meeting room. His voice is tense, as if he had been urgently waiting for Kiba. But why would Kiba be needed in the meeting room? He is not part of the strategy team and otherwise does not have any special role in the gang. He is simply a good fighter with years of experience. He is almost always on the front lines, like many from the core of the gang.

From Kiba comes only a short “Right away,” while he pushes Sakura the last few meters toward the infirmary. He does not seem surprised at all that they are asking for him. “Good luck,” he murmurs before turning around and heading toward Shikamaru and the others. A cold shiver runs down her spine. What does she need luck for? She hears voices behind the heavy door that she now slowly pushes open.

The infirmary is relatively large. Lit by unpleasantly bright light. She herself was here not too long ago to be treated, but now… now it is full. Some people are lying on the floor. What the hell happened out there? So many sub-Foxes were here. Some she had not even seen at the WICKED. Had they come as reinforcements and then been injured? The room is filled with painful groaning, some even screaming and crying.

Sakura closes the door again and walks through the rows, scanning for injuries she can treat, overwhelmed by where to start. She tries not to look at faces. She cannot afford to worry about close friends right now.

“Sakura, start in the back left. Shizune is coming toward you. We’ll work our way forward.” Tsunade is here. And Shizune. That means the two of them have probably already taken care of the worst injuries. The two nurses are former members of the gang and come occasionally in exceptional situations to help. Like today. She nods quickly and goes to the indicated spot. She stops short in shock when she arrives. All the way in the back, in the farthest corner, five people are lying on the floor. Sakura turns ice-cold for a moment. The bodies are covered with cloths. She swallows hard. They died from their injuries? That happens rarely. Either they die on site or they are patched up in the infirmary. That so many die here from their injuries is abnormal.

It was serious.

Like a robot she turns away from the bodies. Tears in her eyes, but there is no time for that now. That is street life. Eat or be eaten. She has to slip into her role now so that maybe no one else dies. “What kind of pain are you in?” Her voice professional, unemotional. She scans the body up and down. Several cuts catch her eye immediately. Bruises on the upper arm.

The person does not answer her. When Sakura looks up at her face, she sees a frightened woman. Maybe only twenty-three. About her own age. “Can’t I lie somewhere else?” The voice trembles, her eyes are red. She must have cried a lot. Maybe she knows one of the dead.

Sakura starts cleaning the wounds. The woman hisses in pain. “If a cot further up becomes free, you can switch. Where else do you feel pain?” Sakura works with practiced movements. She has been doing this for five years now. Every battle she helps Kankuro. Even if she can only take care of superficial injuries, she thinks this is the place and the gang where she can help best. Here she is not useless.

Tears run down the woman’s cheeks again. She looks emaciated. Sakura will later find out which sub-gang she is from and whether she needs help. All injuries are documented, as well as how they were treated, to keep track of what new materials are needed and to notice if someone, for example, uses too much bandaging material. They have to save wherever they can. If someone consistently uses more than others, they have to see if something can be reduced there.

Almost mechanically she takes care of all wounds, briefly asks if she can move on to the next person, and repeats the whole process. From time to time she is called over to help elsewhere and assists briefly. They are all a well-coordinated team.

In total there were about fifty injured who could not treat themselves. The infirmary normally has space for thirty people. So it hardly needs mentioning that it is massively overcrowded. Three hours later they are still working. Without a break, mind you. Even though the first rush was over after an hour, individual people kept coming whose condition suddenly worsened or whose provisional treatment did not hold. Now it was mostly just changing bandages, checking that everyone was still okay, and supporting the critically injured as best as possible. By now, three more have died from internal bleeding. Unfortunately, even the two nurses cannot do anything about that. They simply do not have the right resources at HQ, and they would not have made it to a hospital in time either.

By now it is four in the morning. Sakura has deep dark circles, just like the others. Kankuro is currently taking care of the deceased in another room. Tsunade had originally come straight from her own shift and had therefore been awake the longest and was completely exhausted, so Shizune had sent her to sleep. There really was not much left to do anyway. Sakura sits on a chair next to sleeping Lee, who broke his shin when he tried to jump off a container and landed badly. He was quite annoyed that he injured himself doing something so unnecessary.

She fights to keep her eyes from closing. Shizune is still moving through the rows, making notes about the individual injured. The lights have been dimmed so that people could sleep at all, but that is not really helping Sakura right now. “Saku, go sleep. Everything is fine. You did everything you could.” She had not even noticed that Shizune was suddenly standing in front of her. “Mhm, but what if someone needs something?” Even her voice sounds tired.

“Then I’ll call one of the guys outside.” “You sure?” “Sure.” And with that she practically pushes Sakura out of the infirmary and closes the door behind her.

A little bewildered at how suddenly she is outside now, she looks around the hallway. Everything is empty. Earlier, people had been sitting here now and then to ask about the injured and pass on information. Now no one is sitting here anymore. Well, the situation has calmed down and no one is in mortal danger anymore. Slowly she walks down the hallway toward the common room and pushes the door open.

Neji and Tenten have fallen asleep on the couch. Someone turned off the TV. Looking at them like this almost makes her a little jealous. The two of them are inseparable. She never would have believed that people who grow up the way the members here had to experience could actually feel such love. They truly are each other’s safe space, the one every lost soul in the world needs. A home when the place that should be called that has completely failed. They give each other support.

Sakura wishes she had someone who showed that much interest in her life, who is always there for her. Someone she can tell everything to and feel safe with. Neji and Tenten have been through a lot together. That is probably why their bond is so extremely strong.

Sakura turns away and is just about to go upstairs when she sees a sliver of light shining through the gap of the meeting room door. They are still in there? Or again? She steps a little closer. You can hear a voice. Shikamaru. One step closer. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes hits her nose. If the smell reaches all the way out here, they must have been smoking heavily inside. There is not even a window. Smoking is actually forbidden anywhere in HQ.

“Guys, get a grip. This is nothing that would have thrown earlier generations off balance.” Sakura’s eyes widen. Jiraiya is here? So they did not just call in reinforcements for the injured, but also brought in a former leader for advice. Jiraiya does not sound pleased. Apparently the attitude of their guys leaves something to be desired. But what does he expect. The hour hand keeps creeping toward five. Everyone should really get some sleep first.

A luxury you simply do not have as leader and strategy team.

What happened this evening that things are almost being treated like a state of emergency?

Jiraiya’s voice gets louder. He moves toward the door. Sakura is too tired to react logically. Like a startled deer, she just freezes while the door swings open. A nearly gigantic white-haired man stands in front of her. He freezes as well. “Huh, Shadow?”

She swallows hard. “Big Fox,” is all she manages. The others look past the man’s figure. At a glance she recognizes Naruto, Shikamaru, Temari, Sai, Shino, and Kiba. So he stayed until the end. Just when she thinks she will get in trouble for listening in, she is suddenly pulled into a tight hug. “Man, it’s been forever since we last saw each other. So, what’s new. Good lord, you look completely exhausted, did Konoha’s Flame work you to the bone again?” She does not even know how it happened when he grabs Temari and her and pushes them toward the stairs.

“I just told the others too that they should really go sleep. Big meeting tomorrow at ten. Get as much sleep as you can!” Why is he still so awake? It is almost unbearable. Dumbfounded, Temari slaps his hand away but still heads upstairs. Sakura follows her, with one last look at the guys.

Kiba looks completely overtired. He seems to be feeling similar to her. Shikamaru and Sai show no emotion, but their red eyes reveal that they are also struggling with exhaustion. Naruto has turned away from her. She had no chance to make eye contact with the blond. If something really bad happened tonight, it must be weighing heavily on him. The sheer number of injured alone must have hit him hard. Every injured or dead person is his fault in his eyes. He should have made better decisions as leader to protect everyone.

The others keep telling him that it is simply not possible to get everyone through unharmed. Naruto’s heart is too big to accept that. The weight on his shoulders is crushing. Sometimes she would love nothing more than to run away with him. Leave everything behind and free him from all this responsibility. Start somewhere new, where he is just like everyone else. A twenty-one-year-old boy. She knows he would never agree to leave the gang behind and abandon everyone to their fate, but deep down she hopes that one day he will start putting himself first and stop sacrificing everything. Another wish that will probably never come true.

Temari and she do not say a word. They both just collapse into bed. No strength to remove makeup or change clothes. Sakura rolls onto her back and stares at the ceiling. Or rather at the underside of the top bunk of the bunk bed. Temari mutters something into her pillow. It sounds like she is complaining about sleep. Frustrated, she punches her pillow and sits up. “Are you setting an alarm?” No response from Sakura. “Fine, then I’ll do it myself.”

The blonde grabs her phone and types something in before throwing herself back into her pillow. It is quiet for a while. Sakura’s thoughts, however, are all the louder. What happened after she left?

“Tema?” she asks quietly. Maybe her roommate is already asleep. In response she only gets another mumble. “How bad is it going to be?” There is rustling in Temari’s bed. She sits up again and looks down to Sakura. The room is dark, but she can tell that Sakura is not looking at her, only staring into emptiness.

A sigh escapes her. “Try not to worry, Saku. It’s nothing we Foxes can’t handle.” Sakura does not answer. Temari’s statement only confirms what she already suspected. Hard times are ahead. It had been quiet for so long. The calm before the storm, maybe.

She stays awake the rest of the night. Earlier her eyes had almost closed, but now she tosses from side to side. Impossible to shut off the thoughts in her head. As soon as she hears movement in the hallways, she quietly grabs fresh clothes and sneaks out of the room to get ready in the bathroom. The clock reads 8:37. She stared into nothingness for about three hours.

Quietly she pads through the halls to the common room. The room is already quite full. All the people she saw in the infirmary yesterday have dragged themselves here to hear the news that will be announced at the meeting. An unpleasant atmosphere hangs in the air. Everyone already senses what is coming, but no one wants to say it.

Naruto is sitting at the table. His head propped on his hands. Running his fingers through his hair. He probably did not sleep at all, just like her. One look at Shikamaru and she is sure he did not get a wink of sleep either. She cannot really assess the rest. They all look tired, but they were all awake for a long time.

Sakura does not really know where to go. Usually the group at the table is where she stays most of the time, but right now she somehow feels out of place there. Slightly lost, she scans the room for other options.

“Shadow.” Confused, she looks at Shikamaru. He points to a free seat next to him. Hesitantly she follows the offer and sits down with her usual group after all. At the table sits a large part of the core of the gang and surprisingly many former members.

Jiraiya and Tsunade are back, but also Kakashi, who took over the gang after Jiraiya, and Asuma, his vice back then. Yamato and Iruka were part of the strategy team at the time. The two are sitting at the end of the table. Shizune is probably still in the infirmary, but Rin is sitting next to Tsunade. Seeing all of them gathered here is a strange feeling. Sakura had not seen most of them for several years.

“Where is Kiba?” she almost whispers to her neighbor. Others are talking too, but it feels so quiet that you do not want to stand out. The pineapple head looks around confused. Apparently he has not even noticed that Kiba is missing yet. He must really be overtired. Normally he notices everything. He just shrugs. “Sleeping?”

He is probably right. Kiba still has a little time before the meeting starts.

Time drags on. Again and again individual people ask what the plan is now and how things will continue, but no one gets an answer. Quiet rumors about the night spread across the sofas and other seating areas. Only the table with the core members and former leaders remains quiet.

There is no point in explaining everything already. They would only have to repeat themselves unnecessarily until everyone is present. On the other hand, Sakura also has the feeling that the core has known everything for a long time and therefore does not need to speculate. She is probably the only one who did not hear anything from the meetings. Jiraiya has likely already brought all the former members up to date as well. So why would the table she is sitting at be restless if they already know everything.

The longer she waits, the more tired she becomes again. Ironic. She is sure that even if she tried to sleep now, she still would not be able to. She leans toward Shikamaru again. “Do you have caffeine tablets?” He just raises an eyebrow. “Forget it.” “Please, Shikamaru.” He looks at her thoughtfully, then shakes his head slightly. “Go sleep. I’ll tell you everything later.”

As if she could sleep now. He himself would never go to sleep in her situation. “Man, Shika, just this one time. They’re just caffeine tablets. That’s not a drug.” Shikamaru turns toward her and stares down at her admonishingly. “Anything you take because you think it will make you feel better is a damn drug. Go sleep or stay awake, I don’t care, but don’t pump yourself full of substances.” She wants to reply. But you smoke too. The fact that you have the tablets proves that you take them as well. She could say so many things, but she does not. Shikamaru’s look is reason enough.

She understands that he is afraid she might develop an addiction, but she is so damn tired and cannot sleep anyway. Then he could at least give her sleeping pills. Slightly offended, she crosses her arms and sinks further into the chair. Her gaze wanders through the room again. Tsunade’s eyes meet hers. She looks understanding. Did she hear the conversation? She can probably guess what it was about. They spoke too quietly for her to actually hear it.

Tsunade and Shizune taught her everything she knows. In the medical field, but also on the battlefield. She spent the most time with them out of all the former members. They were practically her mentors. Because of them she is considering working in a hospital later. She is sure that if she studies enough for her graduation, she could make it and start medical school. Especially if the two of them recommend her.

First, however, she has to manage to graduate during all this chaos.

For the rest of the time she stares at an undefined spot in front of her and waits for time to pass. She almost jumps when Naruto suddenly stands up and starts to speak.

“So, guys.” He runs a hand through his hair once as he moves a little away from the table so everyone can see him. The room has become surprisingly full. Sakura had not even noticed how more and more people had gathered. “It’s time we talk about how we deal with yesterday’s situation. For everyone who wasn’t there, a short summary.” He looks expectantly at Shikamaru, who now stands up. “The presence of the Snakes has steadily increased over the past months. I could bombard you with data now, but I think you don’t really care. They have become bolder and more noticeable. Their actions have slowly spread into our territory as well.” You can hear isolated angry comments. Shikamaru shoots everyone who speaks, even whispers, an annoyed look, silencing them again.

“Violent attacks outside of typical gang confrontations did not increase, however. Last week the first active espionage attempt was uncovered when they tried to obtain information through friends of members.” Sakura is very grateful that he did not mention names. A few people are already looking at her knowingly. It would be even more uncomfortable if everyone stared at her now. “This led to individual fights in the city center where Foxes were ambushed and beaten.” The mood had already been bad, but now it dropped even further. How had she not noticed any of this? She had been here all the time.

“Last night the situation escalated. They were waiting for us and surrounded us to catch as many as possible. We suffered enormous losses and many injuries. This was a planned action to harm us. Finally, in a fight between Red Raven and Kurama Fox, ...Raven declared war on us.” Everyone held their breath.

That was apparently new information for most. Sakura herself turns ice-cold. War? But why so suddenly. Her thoughts race. Her heart pounds faster. She feels dizzy for a moment, but Shikamaru shakes her shoulder so she refocuses on her surroundings.

“Hey, hey. Saku?” The brown-haired man had sat back down next to her. The whole hall has erupted into conversations. Loud, stunned, angry, shocked members. No one knows what happens now. The last gang war feels like ages ago. Back then the leader died and Jiraiya had to finish it. That is how he came into office. So many people died. Why would anyone want to repeat that.

“HEY!” Naruto has thrown a chair against the wall. Apparently he had already tried several times to get their attention unsuccessfully and thought this might work. Everyone immediately falls silent. Sakura also slowly regains her composure. Her face still pale as chalk. Slightly dazed, she nods at Shikamaru to show that she is okay. As okay as you can be in a situation like this.

“I know this is a shitty situation. Technically, though, it is not yet an official declaration of war. We have to wait and see whether they also announce it publicly or whether it was just meant to unsettle me in the fight. And even then we still have to decide whether we accept.”

Conversations immediately break out again. She hears words like pride, honor, defending territory. Are they all out of their minds? People will die if we accept.

“HEY!” Naruto is visibly pissed that people keep interrupting him. “Are you animals or what? We handle this properly! You’re making me look like absolute shit in front of the former leaders. They’ll think I don’t have you damn idiots under control.” The former leaders do not react. Especially they understand how difficult it can be to get a gang of teenagers and young adults to listen, and yet they all managed it. Each in their own way.

“So, here’s how we proceed. Temari will coordinate the sub-gangs. No one goes out alone anymore. You get scout positions and report Snake activities. I want to know about every border crossing. If something is suspicious, write to Tema. If something feels off, write to Tema. If you have anything at all where you even thought for a second whether it might be important, write to Tema. Do you understand? I want nothing to slip through the cracks.” He throws Temari a meaningful look. She nods firmly and looks down the line at the leaders of the individual sub-gangs, with whom she is already almost always in contact. Everyone seems aware of their task.

“Furthermore, we have decided not to launch a counterattack for now. We lack information about the motivation or triggers of their actions, and I don’t want to start anything without considering all factors. Keep a low profile. Take care of yourselves and each other. We have to wait and develop strategies for emergencies. Still, I want to ask how the overall stance toward the war is. Please quietly raise your hand if you are in favor of accepting the declaration of war and fighting fire with fire.” His voice is calm and monotone, but she is sure this is hard for him. If the members vote yes now, there will be deaths. They will seal the fate of friends, enemies, and probably civilians and police as well.

Hands rise.

More and more.

You do not need to count to see it. It is the majority. By far.

Sakura feels sick. The war will come. A glance at the former leaders shows that they share grim suspicions. All of them look serious. Marked by exactly such battles. Sakura does not want to know what memories are surfacing for Jiraiya and Tsunade right now. They are the only ones present who actively fought in the last gang war. The rest were either too young or not yet in the gang and only experienced it as outsiders. And yet she will probably soon gather similar memories. Experience losses. Lose friends.

Maybe even bury her newfound family.

Naruto takes a deep breath. That means many difficult decisions for him.

He will send his friends to their deaths. His family.

Despite his inner pride and fire, a small part of him had hoped he could avoid it. The fact that he even had that thought makes him angry as well. He has to commit fully. He cannot afford doubts. How else are people supposed to follow him with trust?

“Then it is decided. We go to war as soon as the Toxic Snakes dare to make it public. I want a list from all sub-leaders by fifteen hundred at the latest. How many members do you have? How many are willing to fight? How much experience do they have and where are they specialized. No one has to fight. We will also need plenty of people in the infirmary. Don’t do anything you don’t trust yourself with. These will not be good times.”

Determined, he raises his fist into the air. “But we will win!” Loud cheering and shouting follows. He motivates his people for a battle that will cost some their lives. Sakura does not really know how to feel about it, but when she looks at the former leaders again, she sees pride in their eyes. They seem to believe it is right or simply support Naruto in his decision, and the former leaders are reliable.

Maybe they really will manage to drive out the Snakes and finally live in peace in this city. Maybe all of this is only the beginning and not the end.