Forged Beyond

This chapter creeps the life outta me, you gotta leave comments on the parts that blew ur mind pleaseeee T-T 




Sakura woke with a start, the dim glow of candlelight flickering against the walls of the library. The book she had been reading lay open beneath her, ink smudged where her cheek had pressed against the pages. She blinked, rubbing her eyes before glancing at the clock. 2:07 AM.

She sighed. So much for pacing herself.

Pushing back the fatigue, she stretched and stood up, the heavy silence of the hideout pressing around her. The scent of old parchment and candle wax lingered in the air as she grabbed the nearest lantern, its faint golden light barely cutting through the darkness.

She needed coffee.

Stepping out into the dimly lit hallway, she walked toward the kitchen, her bare feet making no sound against the cool stone floor. The hideout was eerily quiet at this hour—no distant murmurs, no footsteps, just the occasional drip of condensation from the ceiling.

As she neared the kitchen, movement flickered at the edge of her vision.

She stopped.

Down the corridor to her right, Sasori slipped into a room.

Her brows furrowed. That room.

The room Tsunade had explicitly warned them about. The one she, Naruto, and Sasuke were strictly forbidden from entering.

Sakura stood still, heart picking up speed. Sasori wasn't the type to make mistakes. If he went in there, it was for a reason.

An uncomfortable curiosity curled in her stomach.

Abandoning her coffee run, she turned on her heel and walked toward the door. She hesitated for only a second before pushing it open.

Inside, rows of crates loomed in the dim light, stacked haphazardly along the walls. A chemical stench filled the air, sharp and acidic, making her throat tighten. Bottles of unknown substances gleamed dully in the half-light, their labels faded and peeling.

But Sasori was gone.

No lingering chakra signature. No sign he had ever been there.

Sakura's fingers tightened around the lantern handle.

Weird.

She took a cautious step forward, scanning the room. A few crates were partially open, revealing sealed vials filled with dark, viscous liquids. The air carried an unnatural stillness, like the room had been undisturbed for years.

Had she imagined it?

A sudden noise made her whirl around—a rustling sound, like something shifting inside the walls.

Sakura swallowed, her grip tightening on the lantern. She wasn't the type to get spooked easily, but something about this place made her uneasy.

Exhaling slowly, she backed out of the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. She was probably just tired. Overthinking.

Turning on her heel, she walked briskly back toward the kitchen.

The dark hallways felt longer than before, the silence heavier.

Sakura reached the kitchen, lighting a few more candles as she set about making her coffee. The quiet hum of boiling water was almost comforting, grounding her as she grabbed some biscuits from the cupboard.

As she stirred her drink, her gaze flickered toward the hallway leading to Tsunade's quarters. The room was all the way across the hideout, but... maybe she should check if Tsunade was still awake.