Reckless Love || Sasuke x oc ?

After dispatching the rogue ninjas, the forest around them fell silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the occasional chirp of distant birds. Ryumi wiped her hands off on her mission vest, the smirk on her face still evident as she surveyed the battlefield.

Sasuke, however, was already moving forward, his eyes scanning the perimeter for any additional threats. His focus never wavered, though he could feel Ryumi's gaze occasionally flicker toward him. She wasn’t the type to let things go unnoticed.

"You handled that well," Ryumi commented, walking alongside him. Her voice was casual, but there was a certain admiration in her words. Sasuke shot her a sideways glance, but said nothing in return.

She, on the other hand, wasn’t deterred. "But, uh, don’t get used to me saving you. Next time, I might let you take care of yourself." The teasing edge to her voice never left.

Sasuke’s expression remained unreadable, but if anyone was paying close attention, they might have caught the slight twitch of his lips—almost a smile, but not quite.

They moved deeper into the forest, following the trail that the rogue ninjas had left behind. It was quiet, almost too quiet for Sasuke’s liking, but he wasn’t concerned. His senses were sharp, honed over years of battle and survival. He didn’t need anyone to tell him when something felt off.

Ryumi, on the other hand, wasn’t as rigid in her approach. Her steps were light, almost playful, as she twirled a kunai around her fingers, her eyes flitting to the trees above them. "You’ve been quiet, Sasuke. Is that normal for you?" she asked, her tone genuinely curious.

"I don’t need to talk to do my job," Sasuke replied, his voice as flat as ever. But even in his calm words, there was something else—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It wasn’t frustration or irritation. It was simply... Sasuke.

Ryumi rolled her eyes, though her expression softened in understanding. "Yeah, I get it. You're not much of a talker. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the silence, right? Sometimes you need a little bit of fun."

The two walked in silence for a while after that, each lost in their own thoughts. Sasuke didn’t mind the quiet—after all, it was easier for him to stay focused without distractions. But there was something about Ryumi’s presence that felt different. It wasn’t just the fact that she was a formidable ninja. It was how she carried herself—confident, easygoing, and yet undeniably sharp when it mattered.

They eventually reached the edge of the forest and came upon a clearing, where the remains of a campfire indicated the rogue ninjas had stayed for a time. Sasuke knelt by the firepit, examining the still-smoldering embers.

Ryumi stood off to the side, watching him. She couldn’t deny that Sasuke was impressive. His ability to stay calm, even in the heat of battle, was something she admired. But that didn’t mean she was about to let him get away with being so serious all the time.

"So, Sasuke," Ryumi began, her tone deliberately casual. "Do you ever lighten up? Or are you always this intense? Makes me wonder how you ever managed to be on Team 7. Naruto was like a ball of energy back then."

Sasuke looked up at her, his expression as stoic as ever. "Naruto’s different. I don’t need to be like him."

Ryumi raised an eyebrow. "I didn’t say you had to be. Just... wondering if there’s ever a time when you aren’t brooding like an old man." She grinned at him, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Sasuke’s gaze softened ever so slightly. "You talk too much," he muttered, though there was no real bite to his words.

"Ah, there it is," Ryumi said with a playful chuckle. "I knew you had some personality under that cool exterior."

Sasuke didn’t respond, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand. The mission wasn’t over yet. They still had to track down the remaining rogue ninjas. He didn’t have time to waste on unnecessary chatter, no matter how amusing it might have been.

They spent the next few hours tracking their quarry. Ryumi’s skills in sensory perception were just as sharp as Sasuke’s, and together, they were a seamless team—though neither would admit it aloud. Every step they took brought them closer to their target. The mission had grown more complicated, but Sasuke was no stranger to complications. And Ryumi? She thrived in them.

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, they had reached the outskirts of a small village, its buildings barely visible against the growing darkness. Sasuke’s sharp eyes caught movement in the shadows, and Ryumi was already by his side, her senses alert.

"I don’t like this," Sasuke said, his voice low. "There’s more of them."

Ryumi cracked her knuckles. "Good. I was getting bored."

Sasuke shot her a look, his expression unreadable, but the faintest hint of amusement lingered in his gaze. It was subtle—so subtle that Ryumi almost missed it.

"Let’s finish this," he said simply, and in a flash, he was off, disappearing into the night.

Ryumi followed, just as fast, her smile widening. "Now we’re talking."

---

As they infiltrated the village and began their search for the rogue ninjas, their teamwork was undeniable. Ryumi was everywhere, a blur of speed and precision, while Sasuke moved with the grace of a shadow, his Sharingan guiding him through the darkness. They made a deadly pair, each anticipating the other’s moves, reading the battlefield like they’d known each other for years.

It wasn’t long before they encountered the rogue ninjas—a group of six this time, armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. Sasuke moved first, his katana flashing through the air, cutting down two of them in an instant. Ryumi was right behind him, her kunai whistling through the air as she took down another.

"Too slow," she quipped as she landed next to Sasuke, a taunt in her voice.

Sasuke glanced at her, his eyes sharp. "Focus, Ryumi."

"Relax," she shot back with a smirk. "I’m always focused. It’s just that it’s way more fun when we have a little banter."

Before Sasuke could respond, the remaining rogue ninjas launched a final, desperate assault. Sasuke and Ryumi moved in perfect sync, their attacks so fluid that it was as if they were one entity, not two separate shinobi.

In mere moments, the fight was over. The rogue ninjas were defeated, and Ryumi stood over them, breathing lightly, her kunai glinting in the moonlight.

"See?" she said, wiping a speck of dirt off her cheek. "Told you I didn’t need to save you this time."

Sasuke sheathed his sword, his gaze distant. "I never asked you to."

Ryumi shot him a teasing look. "Sure, sure. But you’re welcome anyway."

There was no malice in his reply, just a quiet acknowledgment. They didn’t need to say it, but they both knew they made a good team. Despite their differences, despite their banter, they had each other’s backs—no questions asked.

As they made their way back toward the village to report the mission’s success, Ryumi couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Maybe Sasuke was the brooding Uchiha, and she was the unpredictable force of nature, but there was something undeniably comforting in their partnership.

She just hoped that Sasuke would come to appreciate that, eventually.