"Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides."

- André Malraux

Kingdom of Snakes

(Secrets)

It doesn't take a genius to figure out Karin's disdain for her, even more so now that they're always within reaching distance.

This fact becomes more obvious the longer they travel together, either through the red-head's snide comments or her blatant need to make Sakura feel unwelcome. And the animosity only becomes more obvious each time they take a moment to rest, considering Sakura's tendency to become exhausted every few hours.

Team Hebi, at least, that's what they called themselves - are used to running on little to no sleep, whereas before meeting Sasuke, Sakura had been pampered with civilian life and some sense of normalcy.

"Some" being an understatement.

Sasuke makes the decision to set up camp and scope the perimeters, ordering the other two members - Juugo and Suigetsu - to set up traps and collect wood, respectively. Karin, much to her displeasure, is designated caretaker in their absence.

However, for the first time in two days, Karin decides to speak up.

"What exactly do you do?" she asked, staring at the crackling fire.

The implications in her question become very clear to Sakura in that very moment.

Why does Sasuke want you?

"I… heal," Sakura replied, though the last thing she wanted was a conversation with the woman who tried to kill her..

"Huh." Karin raised a brow in suspicion. "That's not all you do...is it?"

Sakura froze.

"Your energy fluctuated right when I asked you that question," Karin pointed out. "You don't just heal, do you? If that was the case, Sasuke wouldn't have brought you along… or captured you at all."

When Sakura made no move to speak, Karin continued.

"If anything, he'd use me."

That wasn't something she was expecting at all.

"What do you mean?"

Karin chose that moment to hike up her sleeve, revealing a series of bite marks - all faded except for one which was in the process of healing.

Sakura cringed, though it only served to bring a smirk onto Karin's lips.

"I'm a healer, too." She trailed her finger around the most recent mark. "This one, of course, is from Sasuke-kun." Karin says it with a hint of adoration in her voice, though from their time traveling, it's clear that her infatuation is unreciprocated.

But it was strange… a bite mark?

From Sasuke?

"Was he… injured?" Sakura asked carefully, her mind slowly putting two and two together.

"Usually it's none of your business," Karin drawled, "but it happened a few days ago when he was traveling through Oto."

A few days ago?

It was that time.

Sakura had healed him, didn't she? She was sure of it.

She suddenly remembered the way she brought her hands to cradle his face, closing the distance between their lips―

Offering her body, giving him power.

But if he had already asked Karin...

The feeling of shame and humiliation was all too apparent.

Karin, too occupied with her gloating, doesn't notice the blank expression on Sakura's face.

.

.

The conversation eventually dies out, and when the other three members return from their tasks, Sakura makes it a point to avoid eye-contact with Sasuke for the rest of the night.

Suigetsu, Sakura eventually decides, is pleasant to be around.

He is loud-mouthed and vulgar, reminding her of a certain someone back home. However, the most important thing is that he's the first person she comes across that doesn't treat her as a prized possession. Of course, judging by his demeanor, he's willing to talk up anyone who isn't Karin - whom he bickers with on and off throughout their travels.

Sakura, however, doesn't mind; she likes the extra company.

Juugo, on the other hand, is reluctant to speak with anyone other than Sasuke; Suigetsu addresses the silent man on a few separate occasions, though never receives so much as a grunt of acknowledgement. Karin thinks Juugo is anti-social, Suigetsu says he wants his space. Sakura witnesses his trembling hands on more than one occasion, and decides that his self-isolation is probably a good thing.

That was, until Manda appeared.

.

.

.

.

Good evening, Sasuke-ssama...

"Report."

Whereaboutss of Orochimaru are unknown, Manda hissed out, however… Kabuto isss heading towardsss the ssame direction.

"How long?"

Seemss to be about two dayss journey…

Sasuke nodded, though made sure to glance at Sakura from the corner of his eye, noticing that she was looking away from them and out towards the trees. It didn't seem as if her ears were picking up on anything they were saying, which was strange, since just a few days before - she had been communicating with Manda just fine.

"Anything else?" Sasuke asked, getting ready to dismiss his summon.

The girl… Ssakura...

Sasuke raised a brow, urging for the serpent to continue.

Sshe holdss the power… the path to destruction…

With that, Manda disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sasuke stared at the spot where Manda was just moments before - a blank expression on his face.

Something wasn't adding up.

He looked over at Sakura once more, his eyes narrowing.

"You can understand them."

Sakura looked up - startled by the unfamiliar voice.

It was Juugo.

"I… what?" she asked, confused.

"The serpents," he explained, voice soft. "You can understand them."

No, no, no.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura answered, feigning ignorance. From her peripheral vision, she noticed Sasuke absentmindedly cleaning his sword, though something told her that he was listening to every word. "You're mistaken."

"They told me," Juugo stated. "They don't lie… they never lie."

Sakura had wanted to ignore him, though curiosity got the better of her.

"Who's 'they'?"

"The animals," he said, watching her reaction. "They said you hold a strange… presence."

Was this his power?

"I heal," Sakura replied. "That's probably what they're feeling. Or maybe because I hold part of the Kyuubi's power."

"That's not―"

"Juugo," Sasuke cut in, his voice sending chills down her spine. "That's enough."

Juugo reluctantly stops his interrogation, torn between following orders or satisfying his curiosity. However, his loyalty - or fear? - towards Sasuke wins, and the last thing Sakura sees is Juugo's back as he returns to his spot across the clearing.

However, what bothers her is the look of distrust that he sends her way.

Sakura takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.

I don't owe them anything.

I don't owe them anything.

They were a day and a half away from Konohagakure.

A day and a half away from Naruto.

Sakura looked down at her hands, so delicate and untouched by the world.

So fragile compared to Karin's.

Sakura remembers the marks marring Karin's arms; a sinking feeling settles in her stomach, realizing how different they were in abilities.

For a brief second, Sakura wonders how it'd feel to be useful to Naruto.

It's strange, Sasuke thinks, how weak Erity turned out to be.

The legend describes the being as a fierce warrior, an asset to those she aided. Sakura is nothing compared to the rumors, though it seems that her powers are otherwise preoccupied with keeping the demon from escaping the human host.

Would things change the closer they become to Konohagakure?

Or was it a ploy to get him towards her home?

Sasuke frowned at the thought of being deceived.

Sakura, at first glance, didn't appear to be a threat… she had been afraid and clinging onto life - going as far as trusting someone like him to protect her. But the woman from the beginning of their journey and the woman sitting alone right in front of him were completely different. Karin must have done or said something in his absence, because the pink-haired woman had not spoken to or glanced in his direction since he returned.

Was Juugo correct to interrogate her?

Sasuke observed her from where he was standing, watching as she blankly stared at her hands - clenching and unclenching them.

.

.

.

Sasuke closes his eyes, feeling the familiar thrum of power in his pupils.

When he opened them once more, his eyes were crimson.

There was one last thing he wanted to test out.

Author's Note: Long time, no see! I hate abandoning stories so things WILL get updated, even two years later. So I've planned most of this story but it's one thing to have ideas and another to actually write them. Thank you all for your patience!