Fish were placed on a stick, and rolled under the fire by Juugo. Since Suigetsu had the "courtesy to catch dinner" as he smugly said, Juugo was going to have to cook the night's meal. Not that he did not enjoy it, (watching the roasted fish turn under the flames was actually somehow  relaxing), he just did not like being told what to do by Suigetsu.

"If Sasuke asked you to kiss his ass, you'd do it without any fucking hesitation"

Juugo closed his eyes, as if that would rid the concerns that had surfaced. Never, had he questioned his loyalty to Sasuke. Sasuke was the reason he was alive, he was the reason he was sane, he was the only reason he had not gone on a rampage and destroyed a village with his bare hands.

His life completely belonged to Sasuke.

But why was it that when Suigetsu said what he already knew, Juugo felt...embarrassment?

That he, a grown man, was incapable of controlling himself. That he had relied on someone else to be his peace for so many years. That he had never once thought about what was best for him, not what would make Sasuke satsified or helping Karin find happiness.

He had told Karin to be selfish for a change. Did that apply to him? Was being selfish even in his nature?

Was he selfless, or was he just a coward?

Time had passed, night had befallen and the elephant in the room was still not addressed. Suigetsu only spoke to Juugo when neccessary, therefore most of his talking was aimed at poor Sachiki, who just wanted him to shut up. Juugo had not said more than ten words since the fight, which was just a little less than the number he usually spoke.

Although Heila kept saying so, Sachiki did not feel like she was stuck in the middle of the fight. After all, they were not fighting over her, nor was she a friend to both of them. Suigetsu, maybe, but she hardly knew Juugo. She felt like a bystander, witnessing a private scene between two friends and doing nothing but watching the story unfold.

The dark girl glanced at both men, who were obviously trying to avoid talking to each other. Suigetsu was still raving on about how annoying the past few days have been, while the tanned man at the other side of the fire was simply staring at the fire with no expression on his face.

"They're acting like children." Heila groaned, ruffling her brown hair in frustration. "Sachiki, do something. I can't take anymore of this awkward silence."

"What do you want me to do?" Sachiki hissed, earning a suspicious glance from Suigetsu as he munched on the roasted fish Juugo had  rudely thrusted at him to shut him up.

"I don't knowㅡhave an open session or something. Let them hash it out, whatever. Just make it end because this feud is so lame."

The young scientist huffed, not actually in the mood to have a talk session. She just wanted to eat that delicious looking fish and get a well-deserved rest. Besides, she did not know much about relationships between boys. Back in her old village, she was surrounded by girls, since most of the men in her family were either samurai or shinobi that went to war, and almost never, made it back home alive.

A vein bulged out of Heila's forehead. "You really want to eat at a time like this? You technically are the reason their relationship is destroyed."

"I am notㅡ" Sachiki stopped; her imaginary ghost of her late lover was right. They had begun fighting during the mission, a mission that she had asked for and that they were not looking forward to. That mission had made them irritated, and prone to angry outbursts like the one Suigetsu had.

"Okay, fine." She relented. "Guys!"

The two men turned their attention to her. Suigetsu placed his hand on his chin, "Something the matter?"

Sachiki rubbed the nape of her neck, not sure how to start. "Uhm, you guys are..." Sachiki mentally groaned, gathering all her confrontational strength for the awkward conversation. "Okay, you are both acting like 12 year old girls that just found out they like the same boy. It's pathetic. The simple way to solve this is to talk, not ignore each other like babies."

Silence fell on them like a giant piano in a cartoon, crippling the three with total awkwardness. Suigetsu had stopped eating and rather just stared at the ground, like he uncharacteristically did not know what to say. Juugo's expression remained flat, not giving away anything that was on his mind.

Heila groaned even louder.

"Please guys. Please." Sachiki was tired of hearing Heila's constant groaning.

Suigetsu glanced at his comrade, a bit unsure of what to say. Was he feeling guilt over what he said? No. However, he was not happy with the way he voiced his feelings.

Juugo was good at putting up a front, but Suigetsu could tell what he said really hurt Juugo. The shark toothed man did not think that was neccessarily a bad thing though, he felt it would help Juugo in so many ways.

Still, he did not want it to be at the expense of their relationship.

"I'm sorry."

Suigetsu had thought that had come out of his mouth at first, but then he thought, he did not feel the vibration of his vocal chords nor the opening of his mouth. He set his gaze on Juugo, and realisation hit.

Juugo was apologizing.

"I'm sorry I've been acting like such a coward."

: :

"Excuse you."

Sasuke sweat dropped. He was expecting the shock and disapproval, but what he was not expecting was how furious her eyes looked as she glared at him. But then he remembered how she had blatantly rejected going to the Hidden Mist. Why had he thought the Leaf would be any different?

She crossed her arms, subtly indicating she wasㅡ

"ㅡ not going anywhere near Konoha!" She seethed,

The Uchiha did not know how to react to her blatant disobedience to his order. He was used to people following him without question, putting him above themselves and willing to break their backs just so he could have his way. He was used to women treating him like his word was absolutely final, and nothing else mattered but him. He was used to compliance, to being chased after, to blind devotion.

He was not used to Karin's defiance.

Sasuke did not  want to get angry, since he understood Karin's detest towards the Hidden Leaf. They _did_ imprison her, after all. So he sighed away his frustration at her stubborn state and tried to soothe her into the situation. Sasuke sat down on the bed, gesturing for her to follow suit. Begrudgingly, she complied.

"Karin, I genuinely think this hatred you have towards villages needs to be addressed, so this is the first step in your journey. Konoha is filled with nice people, so it's the best place to start with." Sasuke argued.

The redhead scoffed loudly, "That's just it. They're fucking nice people."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Karin literally wanted to smack him. He, of all people should've understood what she meant. His entire clan was gone because of that place; men, women and children alike! No one was spared during the manslaughter except for him. The village had done that and not even atoned for their crimes. Surely, he understood. Surely they hadn't brainwashed him completely.

"They're the strongest village among the Five, but they are nice people. They massacred a whole clan, but they are nice people. They treat outsiders like trash and secure intel by any vile means neccessary, but they are still nice people!" Karin yelled. "When I was in that place, all I could feel was warmth. Can you believe that? They'll kill thousands for the sake of their precious village and still have the stomach to smile afterwards. That's absolutely psychotic! No one should hold themselves so highly after massacre , no one should have such nice chakra after becoming a murderer, and no one should be that happy with all the blood of innocents on their hands!"

Sasuke's eyes widened further with every statement. Such an outburst was not one to be expected from Karin. She never involved herself in village matters and tended to keep a neutral gaze whenever Konoha was mentioned. Until the day she had rejected Sachiki, Sasuke was not even remotely aware of her anger towards villages. And most people thought of Konoha to be the best out of the Great Five as well as the kindest. Sasuke had never really thought about how... unsettling their happiness was.

It shocked him greatly that he could not retort for a long moment. His loyalty to Konoha had become strong after the war like that of his elder brother's, but sometimes, there was a waver in his belief. When he'd remember the pool of blood trailing all the way to his feet; when he'd remember the relatives strewn across the floor like rag dolls; when he'd think of the sickening dead look in their eyes, like they were butchered fish in the market.

And he remembered, that his elder brother would say, all the blood he spilled; the lives took; the love he stripped away from Sasuke; it was all for the sake of the village.

For the sake of the village.

He wanted to follow in Itachi's footsteps, to protect Konoha in their state of need. To be that shadow that stayed in the light like a shield and cover.

But the question was : how far would he go for the sake of the village?

Sasuke did not argue back. He could not, for he saw himself in Karin's icy gaze. He saw the anger, the hate, the desperate need for something better than what they were getting.

"Okay." Sasuke closed his eyes, not finding flaw in Karin's anger, only misjudgement. "I will not argue with you. Rather, I will make a proposal. A bet, if you'd like."

Surprise painted Karin's face for a good second,then her gaze morphed into one of a well trained crook. A bet? That sounds like some good shit'

"I'm listening."

The Uchiha almost wanted to smile. "Consider it our first journey together. After living in Konoha for a while, we will conclude if it is just as bad as you say it is, or if it's a place actually worth protecting like I...say it is.

"If you're right, then I'll admit Konoha is a shithole and my initial plan of destroying it was not a bad idea. However, if I'm right, then you shall admit villages are not as evil as you portray them to be."

Karin tapped her chin, assessing Sasuke's wager and if it was even worth taking. An idea popped into her head that would spice things up a bit, and her crooked smile turned into a perverted one.

'Oh yes'

"How about we add some prizes." Karin smirked, side glancing at Sasuke like she knew something he did not.

"I don't see why not." He shrugged, not knowing what he had gotten himself into.

"You go first." Save the best for last.

Sasuke pondered on it for a while, then a bulb went on in his head. "If I win, then you must do whatever I want."

If Karin actually believed there was a chance of him winning, then she would have flipped the bed on his ridiculous wager. After all, Karin was a stubborn little brat at times and Sasuke's bossiness would only drive her to an early death.

But since she had full confidence in herself, she simply shrugged. "S'kay."

Sasuke sweatdropped as she rubbed her hands maliciously.

"If I win," Karin started, and once Sasuke saw that Lenny face, he knew what would come out of her mouth was going to make him convulse.

"Then you will kiss me on the lips for not less than ten seconds."

: :

Author's note

I'm trying to improve my writing so I wrote this chapter to the best of my abilities!

update : lies

Question 1 : who do you think will win the bet?

Question 2 : just a random question, would you rather be a village ninja or a rogue?