Published at 16th of September 2024 2:10 pm

Chapter 30 The Bonds We Choose ;A Shattered Reflection

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Sarada had long fought the feelings that grew stronger with each passing day. She could no longer ignore them, and sneaking out at night to watch Naruto, Hinata, and her mother only deepened her frustration. She knew her feelings were wrong, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to be the center of Naruto’s attention, just like her mother and Hinata were.

Sakura had recently informed the family that she was heading out on a secret mission. However, Sarada knew that this wasn’t an ordinary mission. Her mother had decided to find Sasuke and end things once and for all. A divorce seemed inevitable, and Sarada had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, she knew her mother deserved happiness, but on the other… what did that mean for their family? What if Sakura and Sasuke couldn’t come to an agreement? Sarada felt lost, but one thing was now clear to her—she had a chance she couldn’t let slip away.

Under the cover of night, using her ninja skills, Sarada transformed herself to look like her mother. She felt a strange mixture of excitement and fear as she crept into the bedroom where Naruto slept beside Hinata. Her heart pounded as she lay down next to him, trying not to draw attention to herself. She didn’t know exactly what she was expecting, but the desire to be close to Naruto, even in such an illusionary way, was too strong to ignore.

Naruto, half-asleep, wrapped his arm around her, thinking it was Sakura who had returned. Sarada froze, feeling the warmth of his embrace, but the terror of what she had done slowly began to set in. She wondered how far she could go before anyone noticed. But before she could decide what to do next, she fell asleep in his arms.

***The next morning, Sarada woke up suddenly as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window. She felt the weight of Naruto’s arm around her body, and her heart immediately began to race. "What have I done?" she thought, horrified. In a panic, she quietly slipped out of bed, trying to make sure no one noticed. She used her transformation technique again to return to her normal form and snuck out of the room before Naruto could wake up.

When Sarada reached her room, she closed the door and collapsed to the floor, trembling all over. "Did he notice?" she wondered, terrified. "Does he know what happened?" And then another thought, one that terrified her even more: "What if I get pregnant?" The idea pierced through her mind like a blade. Sarada felt her stomach tighten with fear. "If that happens, what will I" do? Would her mother and Naruto hate her? Would her whole family fall apart? What about Himawari, who treated her like a sister? Would she turn against her too?

Sarada felt like her world was starting to crumble. For the rest of the day, she avoided Naruto and the rest of the family, locking herself in her room and replaying the night’s events over and over in her head, haunted by the questions she had no answers for.

***

Meanwhile, Sakura had set off on her "mission." Though she had told everyone it was a secret task, in truth, her goal was to find Sasuke and finally resolve things between them. Their marriage had existed only on paper for months, and Sasuke had rarely been home. Sakura was ready for a divorce, knowing she couldn’t stay in a relationship that had long ceased to be real.

Sasuke was elusive, as always, but Sakura had her methods. She knew she would find him—and when she did, she would have to face the decisions she had made. She wasn’t sure how Sasuke would react to the news of her relationship with Naruto, nor whether the divorce would be a formality or open old wounds. But she was determined to end it. For the sake of their daughter. For the sake of herself.

What she couldn’t predict, however, were the emotions that awaited her when she finally found Sasuke.

Share