Sakura 6

A heavy sigh parts the blonde's thin lips as she glared at the ceiling. She shifts about slightly, turning her cranium towards the right so her left eye could glance at a picture frame that was established upon her night stand. It was a picture of Sakura and her when they mere children. Ino had on her purple dress; Sakura had on a pink dress. They looked so happy

Extending her left hand outwards, her slender digits grasp the edge of said picture, positioning herself upon her back so she was lying flat upon the bed and gazing at the picture. It was back then that Ino recalls Sakura and her had a "golden relationship". They were partners in crime, a team...inseparable. Where had that friend gone? Where did the Sakura that used to be her best friend go? She had grown up, and their relationship had grown apart. After Sasuke became her center of attention, and puberty occured, Sakura had forgotten all about Ino. Did she not see between the lines? Was it not apparent that Ino wanted her, over all others? Could Sakura not see that Ino oobviously lo-

The sound of Ino's phone ringing disrupted her gazing at the picture, causing Ino to put it down and reach for her communication device that was adjacent to her. She flips the screen, checking the caller's I.D.. It was Sakura. For the first time, she had called her. Ino answers the phone, switching her demeanor while doing so.

"Sakura," Ino began, a smirk forming with her lips. "What a surprise to see that you decided to call me first. What's on your mind?"

"Ino, there's something I got to tell you."

"Go ahead, tell me."

"After school today, I got this anonymous text," Sakura explains. "It came from an unknown number, and it warning me to stay away from Sasuke. I tried to text back to see whom it was but I still got no response."

Ino sighs into the phone. "So you've come to the conclusion that someone just as infatuated with Sasuke as you are is threatening you to stay away from him?" Ino quickly deduces.

"Yes. So do know anybody who could do such a thing?"

"Sakura, I think the entire female population at that school has a thing for Sasuke," Ino states. "The guy is practically every girl's prince charming, so even if we did remove some from the list, you'll still be be making no dent."

Ino heard Sakura sigh over the phone. She was clearly creatfallen. However, Ino was going to do her best to help her...even though she desired for her to obey the warning and leave Sasuke alone. But that was he only her wishful thinking.

"Hey, I always wondered...Did you ever have a crush on Sasuke?"

"And where did that question stem from? Maybe you assuming that it is me that sent you that anonymous text?" Ino inquires.

"No, no...I just noticed that you never seemed to be as attracted to him as anyone else, is all..."

"To be honest, I have my sights set on somebody else. I person whom I'm trying to show that I really care for...but they're too dense to see it," Ino states sharply.

"Look, we can get together at lunch tomorrow so I can help you. If whoever this is is truly targeting you and attempting to keep Sasuke to themselves, then by observing Sasuke, we can weed out any suspects until we might be able to locate whoever this is," Ino elaborates.

"Wow Ino, you're very cunning. I knew calling you would be a good idea," Sakura compliments the blonde, making her blush.

"O-Oi, don't be acting so formal with me!" Ino suddenly blurts out impulsively. "This doesn't change anything between us, got it?!"

Sakura couldn't help but laugh because of this.

"You're so cute when you're upset. I wish you luck in catching the heart of the person you love. I'm sure they'll enjoy you as a girlfriend," Sakura says.

"Believe me, I plan on making them see it...one way or another..."

And with that being said, their conversation ends. Ino continues to glare at the picture before her, her thumb rubbing over Sakura's face.

"Trust me...if only you could read between the lines..."

The bell signalling lunch had rung. Sakura had made sure to rendezvous with Ino at the lunch room, where she goes to right after her free period. It was packed with students, making it somewhat difficult to spot them. But after spotting Ino's hand amongst the crowd, she made her way over to her table. Though, Ino wasn't alone; Tenten, Temari and Hinata had accompanied her as well at the table. Sakura was surprised to see all of them after a long period of miscommunication.

"Hey guys," Sakura greeted the group, occupying her seat in the circular table. The others greeted her back of course. It was clear that the time of separation had made them feel estranged towards her, but she was happy nonetheless to see them again...despite sharing numerous classes with them all. Sakura really needed to treat her friends better.

"Ino had informed us on what is going on," Temari spoke. "And even if we haven't been that close together, we still have your back."

"-Yeah, we got your back, Sakura!" Chimes in Tenten.

"-Of course we'll lend you a helping hand, Sakura-chan," includes Hinata.

Sakura couldn't help but be filled with happiness. Everyone was here for her, willing to lend a helping hand. Sakura almost wanted to cry because it was so heart-warming. She had never figured that Ino would involve everyone else in the fray.

"Ok, ok," Ino abruptly speaks. "Heart-warming reunion, check. Let's get down to business. Everyone here knows what's going on. Sakura has been targeted by a lover of Sasuke, and it's up to us to figure her out." Ino sets her eyes on Hinata. "Hinata, you and Naruto are dating, meaning you've been around Sasuke a few times. Have you ever heard of someone that has been constantly following Sasuke around in their conversation?"

Hinata takes a second to think. "I do recall once about him saying this red haired chick was sending him...explicit pictures," Hinata informs them.

"Wait, a red haired chick?" Temari questions Hinata.

"Yeah. Apparently she is new here and managed to get his number from some other girl. Since then, he says she's been stalking him."

"You don't think that the anonymous red head is that exchange student from a few of months ago, do you?" Tenten brings into question. "The one that wears the glasses and has bright red hair? Because this girl has my last class, and I swear she can't stop watching Sasuke."

"But if that's the case, I seen a girl with red hair and glasses walking in here before we got in," mentions Temari. Upon hearing this, the group began to scan the numerous faces throughout the lunch room. However, it didn't take long before Sakura spotted her in the far back of the lunch room. Her bright red hair made her stand out like a sore thumb. She was sitting at one of the tables, her crimson hues watching Sasuke like a hawk. She was also around a group of other girls, whom seemed to be doing the same.

"There she is, over there at the table," Sakura informs the others, causing them to look over in the direction Sakura was looking at, which was on the far right.

"-Yeah...that's definitely her..."

"-Wow, look at how intensively her stare is towards him..."

"-Absolute stalker material..."

"-Now that is just pathetic..."

"-..."

"Now that we've located our suspect, what next?" Temari asks.

"Sakura, approach Sasuke and talk to him." Ino edifies to Sakura, with Sakura giving the blonde a puzzled expression.

"And what's that supposed to accomplish?"

"I'm not asking you to ask his entire life story, but just engage him in conversation for a few seconds. If you manage to catch her attention, it might warrant her suspicions and make her perceive you as a threat," Ino elaborates. Sighing, Sakura stood and made her way over towards Sasuke's table.

Sakura couldn't believe she was forced to talk to Sasuke. After he basically left her high and dry yesterday in the library, she no longer possessed the ambitions to talk to him again-especially not to get attention from some crazed stalker. She soon stood before his table, Naruto and Itachi's conversation being put on hold after recognizing that she was standing there.

"Uh...hey...um?" Sasuke paused, attempting to recall her name, which prompts Sakura to answer.

"Sakura...Sakura Haruno...even though I told you that yesterday..."

"Oh Yeah! Sakura. What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much, heh..."

Ino and the others studied the red head, whom was staring at Sakura as she continues to talk to Sasuke. The others then saw her lips moving as she talked to the others, with her eyes still locked onto Sakura. They were poised for anything, ready to fight if requisite of them to-Ino especially. They continued to observe her from then on. Ino then goes into her phone, her thumbs moving at incredible speed in order to compose a message for Sakura. She then sends it.

Sakura was laughing with Itachi and Sasuke before she suddenly felt her right pocket vibrating. Reaching into said pocket, she retrieves her phone, looking at the message which read: "Leave now and head to the girls' bathroom. We'll be close behind."

After reading this, Sakura puts her phone away.

"Well, it was nice talking to you again. See ya," Sakura says, walking off before Sasuke and Itachi could say anything. She then leaves the lunchroom, cuing the red head and her three followers to do the same.

"It's time," Ino says, her and the others exiting the double doors as well that led out of the lunch room. They were trailing 30ft behind the red head's group, and Ino saw Sakura entering the girls' bathroom. The red head then enters soon after.

Sakura enters the bathroom and stands near one of the stalls in the back. Soon enough, she noticed the female and her group entered, blocking the entrance they entered from. But the other was still remained unattended, allowing the others to enter from there. Sakura watched as the crimson-eyed female casted her cold gaze upon her.

"Didn't I warn you not to go near Sasuke, or else?" She asks Sakura.

"So it was you that sent me the anonymous text. How did you even get my number?"

"Simple. I got it off your social media page. But that doesn't matter now. I specifically asked you to stay away from Sasuke."

"Look, I know you are some crazed stalker, but threatening people because of him isn't really the politest way of telling people to stay away from him," Sakura tells her off. "Second, Sasuke isn't your property, so quit treating him as if he were."

"You do realize you're outnumbered, right?" The female mentions, smirking. "If I wanted to, I could kick your ass right here, right now." She stated. Now it was Sakura's turn to smirk.

"You say she's outnumbered..." Ino and the others then enter the bathroom, startling the red head and her two members, "...but it looks like to me that YOU'RE the one that is outnumbered five to three.

"Go on! Get lost!" Temari demands, causing the two to flee with haste, leaving the red head surrounded. Ino and the others then move in on her.

"You knew you screwed up the moment you made a target of her," Ino tells the female. "Mind giving us your name?"

"...Karin. Karin Uzumaki..." She utters. "And no, I'm no relations of Naruto Uzumaki. We are just from the same clan."

"So...Karin...did you honestly think that you were going to just make everyone stay away from Sasuke because you don't want them near him?" Ino inquires.

"...It's obvious that Sasuke isn't interested in her..." Karin replies.

"And what makes you think you're so his type?" Sakura asked, evidently annoyed, folding her arms.

"..." Karin was actually pondering over that question. What did she have to offer for Sasuke? It was something that she had never considered-well, up to now atleast. Her gaze was shifted elsewhere and off of Sakura.

She didn't know why, but after seeing Karin look away, she suddenly felt bad for her. She was just another victim of love, wanting to protect what she thought was rightfully hers to claim. Sakura was sure she meant no harm; that her threats were empty. And seeing her now, Sakura actually felt bad for her. Her infatuation for him had driven her to a point where she wanted none to even bother attempting to be with him.

"So what now?" Karin asked, "You gonna gang up on me? Kick my ass for threatening you?"

"That seems about right." Tenten replied.

"No..." Sakura refuses. "I know now why you threatened me...and it's pointless to cause harm to you over nothing. Sasuke isn't your property, and don't ever threaten me like that again...else there will be consequences." Sakura warns. It was then that Sakura and the others left the bathroom. The bell signalling the end of lunch then rung. Karin, who still remained in the bathroom alone was clenching her phone tightly within her balled up fist. The Uzumaki was enraged.

"I'll get you back...that I swear! I'll get you back!" Karin declares within the walls of the bathroom.

"You really came through for me, Ino... Thanks..." Sakura thanks the blonde, smiling.

"Don't think that because I did you this favor that you are free. Remember, I still have those pictures," Ino mentions, a smirk decorating her features. "Plus, that Karin chick really had it coming after threatening you like that. She deserved her ass being kicked, but oh well."

Sakura snickered after that last statement. Although this weird relationship was detrimental to her, Ino was still dependable. She was just glad that Karin was finally off her back. Thank goodness too-she couldn't handle having two people manipulating her like that. But Ino was enough for her. Though now she had a rival for Sasuke's heart, and Sakura knew that Karin wasn't going to yield just yet. Maybe it was her gut, but sh had a feeling that this wasn't over yet...