As Karin frantically tried to clean up the blood, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. The dead body on her couch was the stalker she had hired to follow Hinata, and now it was gone, taken away by the mysterious figure who had threatened her.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she was in danger, that she was somehow involved in something much bigger and more dangerous than she had ever imagined. Her mind raced as she scrubbed at the stains on the couch, her heart pounding in her chest.
Every sound, every creak of the floorboards, made her jump, and she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. She didn't know who this figure was or what he wanted, but she knew one thing for sure: she had to keep her mouth shut about Sasuke and Hinata's secret marriage.
As she worked to clean up the blood, she couldn't help but think about the consequences of her actions, of the people she had put in danger by hiring a stalker. She felt sick to her stomach, knowing that she had made a terrible mistake.
But it was too late to turn back now. She had to live with the consequences of her actions and pray that the figure who had taken the body wouldn't come back for her.
As the front door swung open, Karin scrambled to sit right on the stain, hoping Naruto wouldn't notice. "Uh...Hi," she greeted him nervously. Naruto raised a brow, clearly confused. "Hi? Why are you acting weird? And why does it smell weird in here?" he asked, his nose scrunching up.
Karin forced a nervous laugh. "I spilled something on the couch. I've been trying to get the stain out," she lied, hoping to sound convincing. Naruto looked at her skeptically. "Then why are you sitting on it?" he asked.
Naruto raised a skeptical eyebrow, his eyes darting to the suspicious stain on the couch. Karin tried to act casual, but her nerves were getting the best of her.
As Naruto continued to stare at her, Karin knew she had to think fast. "Oh um. I'm going to be leaving for a while. Nothing bad, just have to take care of something," she blurted out, hoping to divert his attention.
Naruto didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't press the issue. "Okay then, well I'm going to go to my room. Have fun on your trip," he said before leaving the room.
Karin let out a shaky breath as Naruto disappeared from sight. She knew she had dodged a bullet, but the fear of being caught lingered in the back of her mind. She quickly gathered her things and left, hoping that she had covered her tracks well enough.
Karin knew she couldn't stay here. She had to get out of town, at least for a while. She quickly packed a bag with some essentials and left the house, careful to avoid any attention. She hailed a taxi and headed for the train station, her heart racing as she tried to keep a low profile.
As the train pulled out of the station, Karin leaned back in her seat and let out a long, shaky breath. She didn't know where she was going or what she was going to do, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn't go back to that house.
---🌟---
With a heavy sigh, Naruto let himself collapse onto the comfort of his bed, the weight of the day slowly seeping away into the mattress. His fingers instinctively sought refuge in the distraction of his phone, a portal to a world beyond the confines of his own thoughts. As he swiped through the myriad notifications, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of a message from Shion, the girl he had met at the bar.
The name alone sent a flutter of excitement through him, and he eagerly opened the message, wondering what awaited within the digital confines. Shion's words danced across the screen, simple yet significant: "Hey Naruto, I had a great time the other night. Would love to see you again sometime." A grin spread across his face, a spontaneous expression of delight at the unexpected turn of events. The decision to venture into the bar had been a hesitant leap into the unknown, but now, it seemed like a stroke of luck.
Fingers tapping swiftly, Naruto crafted his response, enthusiasm evident in every keystroke. "Hey Shion, I had a great time too. I'd love to see you again. How about we meet up this weekend?" The message flew off into the digital ether, leaving him anxiously awaiting her reply.
A buzz and a few moments later, Shion's reply appeared on the screen, drawing his attention like a magnet. "That sounds great! How about we meet at the park by the river? It's a beautiful spot and we can have a picnic." Naruto's heart practically leaped with excitement, envisioning the scene she painted.
"Sounds perfect! I'll bring some snacks. What time should we meet?" he eagerly typed out.
The anticipation built with each exchange, the glow of his phone casting a soft light on his face as Naruto and Shion solidified their plans. As they settled on a time for their Saturday afternoon picnic, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of elation. The prospect of spending time in the picturesque park with Shion was a welcomed diversion from the routine of his daily life.
With the details set, Naruto couldn't shake the grin that seemed to have taken permanent residence on his face. The digital conversation concluded for the moment, but the excitement lingered. The weekend couldn't come soon enough.
Setting his phone aside, Naruto's mind briefly returned to the earlier odd encounter with Karin. The air in the room shifted, a subtle undertone of curiosity. Questions buzzed in his mind like persistent fireflies in the evening. What had caused her abrupt exit? Was something troubling her? However, the allure of the upcoming weekend with Shion managed to push these queries to the periphery.
As Naruto contemplated the unpredictability of life and the twists it could take, he found himself caught between the lingering mystery of Karin's actions and the burgeoning excitement for the weekend ahead. With a sigh that held a blend of uncertainty and anticipation, he decided to let the present moment dictate his thoughts.
His bed, once a refuge from the day's stresses, now cradled him in a cocoon of newfound expectations. Closing his eyes, Naruto couldn't help but smile as he drifted into the realm of dreams, where the promise of the weekend and the company of Shion painted a vibrant canvas of possibilities.
---🌟---
The next morning Hinata, Sakura, and Ino made plans to hit the mall together, eager to check out the latest fashion trends and perhaps pick up some new clothes. As they walked through the bustling shopping center, Hinata couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.
"Ooh, this dress is so cute!" Sakura exclaimed, holding up a bright pink sundress. "What do you guys think?"
Ino wrinkled her nose. "Eh, it's a little too girly for my taste. I prefer something more edgy."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "I like something more comfortable and practical. Like this pair of jeans," she said, holding up a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Come on, guys, we're here to have fun and try new things. Let's live a little!"
Ino grinned. "She's got a point. Let's all try on something outside of our comfort zones and see how it goes."
Hinata hesitated, but eventually, she nodded. "Okay, let's do it."
The girls spent the next few hours trying on all sorts of outfits - some that were a hit, and others that were definitely a miss.
"This is ridiculous," Hinata muttered, as she tugged at the itchy sequined top that Ino had convinced her to try on.
Sakura laughed. "You can take it off now. We're done with that section anyway."
After changing back into her own clothes, Hinata walked up to the girls and smiled as they walked out of the store together. However, Hinata was still on high alert since getting stalked, and she looked around more, making sure they weren't being followed. Sakura and Ino noticed her behavior and looked at each other before turning to Hinata.
"Are you okay?" Ino asked, furrowing her brow.
"Yeah, you're acting weird," Sakura added. "Actually, you've been acting weird a lot recently."
Hinata hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell them the truth. "Well, um, I was getting stalked," she finally admitted. "But don't worry, Sasuke-sensei helped me get rid of them."
Sakura and Ino's eyes widened in shock. "And you didn't tell us why?" Sakura asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Hinata looked down, feeling ashamed. "I didn't want to be a burden," she murmured.
Sakura and Ino exchanged a concerned look. "Hinata, you're not a burden to us," Ino said firmly. "We're your friends, and we want to help you through this."
"Yeah," Sakura chimed in. "You don't have to go through something like that alone. We're here for you."
Hinata's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her friends. "Thank you," she whispered, touched by their support. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"Don't worry about it," Ino said, giving her a comforting hug. "Just promise us you'll come to us if anything like this ever happens again, okay?"
Hinata nodded, feeling grateful for her friends. "I promise," she said, wiping away her tears.
In an effort to cheer her up, Sakura suggested they go to a lingerie store. Hinata hesitated at first, but eventually agreed, feeling a little excited at the prospect of buying something new and pretty.
As they browsed through the store, Hinata found a delicate, lacy set that caught her eye. She hesitated, unsure if she should buy it, but Ino and Sakura encouraged her to try it on.
When she emerged from the fitting room, her friends gasped in awe. "You look amazing, Hinata!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.
Hinata blushed, feeling a little embarrassed by the attention. Ino and Sakura teased her about her mysterious boyfriend, and Hinata couldn't help but smile, grateful for their lightheartedness. For a moment, she forgot about her troubles and just enjoyed the moment with her friends.
As they exited the lingerie store, bags in hand, Ino pointed out Kakashi-Sensei browsing shirts in a store across from them. Sakura and Kakashi's eyes met briefly, and Sakura raised a skeptical eyebrow before turning to walk away. "Let's go," she said, motioning for her friends to follow.
Ino couldn't resist teasing her friend. "Ooo, do you have a crush on Kakashi-Sensei now instead of Sasuke-Sensei?" she teased, laughing at Sakura's reaction.
Sakura scoffed. "You wish," she retorted with a roll of her eyes.