Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter 103 The Scarlet Thorn of Konoha

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Sakura sat silently in the small boat as it rocked gently over the black, still waters. The sound of the oars cutting through the surface was rhythmic, almost hypnotic. Her mind was numb, her gaze locked on the dark expanse beneath them. The water seemed endless, like a void that could swallow her whole.

The boat jerked to a sudden stop.

"Why… why did we stop?"

No one answered.

Instead, something began rising from the water—a shape, slowly breaking the surface.

"Murder…"

The voice was guttural, as though the speaker's throat was clogged with something thick and wet. Sakura's heart froze, her breath catching as Gozu emerged from the water in front of her.

He was bloodied and broken, his dark eyes lifeless yet fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach turn. A kunai jutted from his neck, embedded deep, blood seeping in rivulets down his chest. His frame was twisted unnaturally, like a marionette held together by fraying strings.

Sakura scrambled backward, her palms scraping against the rough boards of the boat as she tried to put distance between herself and the horrifying figure.

She backed into something solid.

Sakura froze, her head turning slowly to see the helmsman standing behind her. Relief flooded her—she wasn't alone.

"Help me—" she started to say, but the words died in her throat as the helmsman's face twisted and morphed.

It wasn't the helmsman anymore.

It was Naruto.

But not the Naruto she knew.

His face was pale and angry, his blue eyes cold and accusing. His right arm, blackened and charred, hung limply at his side.

"If only you were faster," Naruto growled. "I wouldn't have lost my arm!"

Before she could react, his charcoal hand shot out, gripping her throat with inhuman strength. He lifted her effortlessly, his eyes burning with fury.

"Always so slow in everything, Sakura. You wanted to be the cog in the machine of Team 7, and yet… you're the reason I'm damaged!"

Naruto's voice roared in her ears as he slammed her down, plunging her into the icy black water.

The cold hit her like a shockwave, stealing the breath from her lungs. She thrashed against the crushing weight of the water, but it was like trying to fight against chains. Her limbs felt heavy, her movements sluggish. She opened her mouth to scream, but the water rushed in, choking her.

"Huh," Naruto's voice echoed in the darkness. "You did it, didn't you? You weren't fast enough on purpose."

Sakura's heart clenched. She couldn't see him, but his words surrounded her, suffocating her as much as the water.

"You were jealous. Jealous of me surpassing your precious Sasuke."

"No," she croaked, her voice barely audible even in her own mind. "No, I would never…"

"Don't deny it... Murder."

Gozu's hands reached up and pulled the blade free with a sickening squelch, blood spurting from the wound.

He raised the kunai high, and as Naruto's hands forced her deeper into the water, Gozu plunged the blade downward.

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Sakura gasped, bolting upright as her lungs heaved desperately for air. Her body was drenched in sweat, her hands clawing at her throat as though she could still feel Naruto's charred fingers wrapped around her neck. Her heart pounded in her chest, the echoes of the nightmare clinging to her like a second skin.

"Sakura."

Her head snapped to the side to see Sasuke beside her, his dark eyes sharp but soft enough to hold concern.

"It's okay," he said. "It wasn't real."

Sakura's breaths were shallow and uneven, her entire body trembling. "I… I saw them," she stammered. "Gozu… and Naruto… they said—"

"It wasn't real," Sasuke repeated firmly. "You're safe."

Tears blurred her vision as she stared at him, the weight of the nightmare still pressing down on her. "Naruto said I let him get hurt… that it was my fault…"

Sasuke shook his head. "Naruto doesn't think that," he said bluntly. "He's an idiot, but he's not that kind of idiot."

Sakura let out a shaky laugh through her tears, her lips quivering as she tried to steady herself.

"Breathe," he said suddenly, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.

"What?"

"Breathe," Sasuke repeated and took a slow inhale, expanding his chest, then released the air in a long, controlled exhale. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just focus on that."

Sakura hesitated, her heart still pounding from the nightmare, but she followed his lead. Slowly, shakily, she inhaled, letting the cold air fill her lungs, then exhaled just as slowly.

"Again," Sasuke instructed, his tone calm, almost soothing.

They repeated the exercise a few more times, and with each breath, Sakura felt her mind begin to settle. The pounding in her chest eased, and the edge of panic dulled into a faint ache.

When her breathing steadied, she looked around the room, grounding herself in the quiet reality of their surroundings. Tazuna's house was small, barely furnished, and the air was heavy with the scent of wood smoke. The old man had laid out a few thin mattresses for them, apologizing profusely about the lack of comfort. Times were tough, he had explained, and Sakura could see it in the worn walls and meager offerings.

Her eyes drifted to Naruto, lying unconscious on one of the mattresses, his face pale but peaceful. His right arm was swathed in thick bandages, and the faint smell of healing ointment hung in the air—an ointment Kakashi had taught them to make on their first day here.

"It's been three days," Sakura murmured. "He still hasn't woken up."

"Kakashi said the pressure dome jutsu did a lot of internal damage," Sasuke said, leaning back against the wall. "And that's not even counting what happened to his arm."

Sakura nodded, her chest tightening at the memory of Naruto's burned, charcoal-like hand. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned away, as if looking too long might make her tears come back.

"Don't worry," Sasuke added. "That idiot's too stubborn to die."

"Yeah, you're right."

But the smile faded quickly as her thoughts drifted. She could still hear Gozu's voice in her head, screaming at her. The memory of his bloodied, broken face haunted her every time she closed her eyes. It's not real. It's not real, she told herself, but it didn't make it stop.

"Thank you," she said softly, breaking the heavy silence. She wasn't even sure why she said it—maybe she just needed something, anything, to fill the void.

"Hn." Sasuke's response was his usual noncommittal grunt, but this time, he didn't move away. "You want to talk?"

"Yes, please," Sakura blurted out, her voice almost desperate before she caught herself, sitting up straighter and composing her tone. "I mean… if that's okay."

"You don't have to ask," Sasuke replied. "I don't mind. Silence… it's not always as comforting as it seems."

"I thought you liked silence."

"Not really," Sasuke said. "If I let the silence drag on too long, the voices start creeping in—for you, for me. It's better to fill the space before they take over."

"You can tell?"

Sasuke gave a short nod, his gaze distant. "Of course. After the Uchiha massacre, every day was a living hell. The voices of my clan wouldn't leave me alone. I'd hear them—crying, accusing, begging. 'Why did I die, Sasuke?' 'I was just a child. I didn't want to go.' 'Why did you get to live when we didn't?' It wasn't just anger… it was grief. Their pain, their fear—it was everywhere. I couldn't sleep without hearing their screams. I'd close my eyes, and I'd see their faces. My mother, my father, even the kids I grew up with. And every time, I'd ask myself the same thing—why me? Why was I the one who survived?"

"Sasuke…" Sakura whispered, her hands clutching the edge of her blanket.

"I don't need pity," Sasuke said bluntly. "The Yamanaka therapist called it survivor's guilt. Said it was normal to feel like that after… after everything."

"But why the screams? Why would you hear their voices?"

Sasuke's eyes darkened. "The therapist said it was my mind's way of punishing me. I lived, and they didn't. So now… it's like they're always there, reminding me of what I survived. Asking why I'm still here, why I didn't die with them."

"But Sasuke… you deserve to be here. You deserve to live."

Sasuke scoffed lightly, but it wasn't harsh—more like he didn't know what to do with the reassurance. "The therapist said the same thing. That it wasn't my fault. That I couldn't have done anything."

"Well… they're right."

"Maybe. But that doesn't stop the guilt. It doesn't stop the voices. Every time I let myself stop, let myself sit in silence… they're there." Sasuke let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting to the floor. "And they never stop asking why."

"Does it ever… go away?"

Sasuke's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not for me. The therapist said it might fade with time if I let myself grieve, if I 'forgave myself.'"

"And did you?" Sakura asked hesitantly.

"No," Sasuke said flatly. "I didn't see the point. Pretending to forgive myself wouldn't bring them back. It wouldn't make it better. So I stopped going to therapy and just… focused on training. Every time the voices came back, every time I felt the guilt, I used it. I trained harder. Pushed myself further. I told myself it would all be worth it when I got strong enough for revenge."

Sakura felt her chest tightening. "That's…" She paused, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "That's a lot to carry."

"It's better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself."

"But it doesn't make it any less painful," Sakura said softly.

Sasuke was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. "No. It doesn't."

Sakura hesitated before speaking again. "What if… what if you did try what the therapist said? What if you let yourself grieve, or tried to forgive yourself? Would it really be so bad?"

Sasuke gave her a sidelong glance, his expression thoughtful but skeptical. "Maybe. But I don't think it's for me. Not now."

Sakura bit her lip. "Well… for what it's worth, I think you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You're still here, and you're still fighting. That has to mean something."

"Maybe."

The silence between them was heavy, but it didn't feel as suffocating as before.

"Want to try it?"

Sakura frowned, tilting her head toward him. "Try what?"

"The therapist's advice," Sasuke said, lying back on his mattress, his hands resting on his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling.

"I thought you said it didn't work for you."

"It didn't," Sasuke admitted. "But maybe it'll work for you. Doesn't hurt to try."

Sakura hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in the blanket. She wasn't sure if it would help, but… it was worth a shot, wasn't it? Slowly, she nodded. "Okay."

She lay back on her mattress, mimicking Sasuke's posture, her arms crossed lightly over her chest. The room was quiet, the faint creak of the house settling mingling with the distant crash of waves. For a moment, it almost felt peaceful.

"What do you think about killing?"

The question hit Sakura like a wave, her chest tightening as the words echoed in her mind.

"What do I… think?"

"Yeah," Sasuke said. "You've done it now. Gozu. What do you feel about it?"

"I hate it," Sakura admitted quietly. "It feels… wrong. I keep seeing his face. Hearing his voice. And the blood…" She shivered. "It's like it's still on my hands, no matter how many times I tell myself it was necessary."

"Necessary doesn't mean it's easy," the boy said bluntly. "But killing isn't about what feels right or wrong. Sometimes it's just what has to be done."

"How can you say that so easily? How can you just… accept it?"

"I didn't say it was easy," Sasuke replied. "I said it was necessary. If it's you or them, hesitation isn't an option. You kill, not because you want to, but because the alternative is death. And if you die, who will protect your teammates? Your family? The people relying on you to stand between them and the blade?"

Sakura's throat tightened. "But doesn't that kind of thinking… doesn't it strip us of something? If we kill without hesitation, don't we lose what makes us human?"

"No," Sasuke said firmly. "It doesn't strip us of our humanity—it redefines it. Killing isn't about losing yourself; it's about surviving. The world doesn't care about kindness or fairness, Sakura. It's indifferent. People die every day, sometimes for no reason at all. If we hesitate, if we let guilt consume us, we don't just risk ourselves—we abandon everyone who's depending on us. That's not just failure. That's betrayal."

Sakura looked away, her hands gripping the edges of her blanket tightly. His words were brutal, but she couldn't deny their truth.

"Maybe Naruto's got it right."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"He doesn't see people like Gozu and Meizu as people," Sasuke explained. "He sees them as threats. Beasts that need to be killed to protect what matters. He doesn't get caught up in their humanity, and that makes it easier for him."

Sakura's eyes widened slightly. "That's… cold."

"It's practical," Sasuke said simply. "He's learned to compartmentalize. We were taught the same thing in the academy—remember those survival hunts in the forest? Every month, the teachers took us out there to hunt and kill animals, to learn how to survive. Naruto just adapted to it better than we did."

"Still," Sakura murmured. "I don't think I can see it that way. Not yet, anyway."

"You don't have to," Sasuke said after a moment. "You don't have to see it the way I do, or the way Naruto does. But you need to decide what it means to you. If you don't, when the moment comes again, you'll hesitate. And in that hesitation, the world won't stop for you. Someone will die. Maybe you. Maybe someone you care about."

Sakura stayed silent, his words sinking in like stones dropped into a still pond.

"What about you?" she asked after a long pause. "How do you deal with it?"

"I use it," Sasuke said finally. "The guilt, the voices, the anger. I don't let it stop me—I let it push me forward. Every time I kill, I remind myself it's for a reason. A purpose. My family, my revenge. That's what keeps me moving."

Sakura frowned. "That sounds… lonely."

"It is," Sasuke admitted quietly. "But I don't need anyone to understand it. I just need to get stronger."

Sakura turned her gaze back to the ceiling, her mind swirling with everything he'd said. She didn't know if she could ever see killing the way he did, or the way Naruto seemed to, but maybe that was okay. Maybe she didn't have to forget the pain of it or ignore the guilt. Maybe she could carry it and still move forward.

"Thanks for talking about this," she said softly, breaking the silence.

"Hn," Sasuke replied, his usual noncommittal grunt, but there was a faint hint of acknowledgment in his tone.

A few minutes of silence passed before Sakura stood, brushing her hands against her skirt.

"I'll change Naruto's bandages."

She left the room briefly and returned with a metal dish filled with water. Setting it down beside Naruto's mattress, she glanced at Sasuke.

"You know the drill."

Sasuke didn't say anything, but he dipped a finger into the water, a faint crackle of lightning chakra sparking around it. The water rippled as it began to heat, steam curling into the air.

"Thanks," Sakura said, kneeling beside Naruto. She hesitated for a moment, then began carefully unwinding the old bandages.

The smell hit her almost immediately, sharp and acrid, like burnt wood and scorched flesh. Her stomach churned, but she forced herself to keep going. Beneath the bandages, Naruto's hand looked no better than the last time she'd checked. The skin was blackened and cracked, and the healing ointment they'd been applying seemed to have done little, if anything.

Sakura swallowed hard, dipping the cloth into the warm water before gently cleaning the wounds.

"How do you think Naruto's going to take this when he wakes up?"

"Probably complain about having to learn how to eat ramen with his left hand."

Despite herself, Sakura let out a faint laugh. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

Her smile faded slightly as she glanced at Naruto's face. "You know," she said softly, "it amazes me how much he's changed. He's so different now, but… at the same time, he's still the same Naruto."

"Hn," Sasuke replied noncommittally, watching her work.

Sakura's brow furrowed as she rinsed the cloth again. "Sometimes," she murmured, "I wonder if the Naruto we knew before was real. Or if this is the real him."

"It was real," Sasuke said. "But things happened. He's still the same idiot—he just has more tools now."

"Aren't you curious? About where he got all this? The sword, the armor, the crazy jutsu… He lies about it all the time, but it doesn't change the fact that he has them. Don't you wonder?"

Sasuke's eyes flicked to the drake sword lying beside his mattress, its surface hidden beneath bandages. The blade looked less like steel and more like sinew, like torn muscle barely holding together.

"It doesn't matter," he said finally. "Kakashi and Lord Third don't seem concerned, so it's probably fine."

"That's not what I mean," Sakura said. She dipped the cloth into the water again, wringing it out. "It's just… Naruto used to be the loser. The one who—" She stopped, realizing how harsh her words sounded.

"The one who didn't seem special," Sasuke finished for her, his tone neutral.

"Yeah. But now… there's so much more to him. And sometimes I don't know how to feel about it."

"As long as he's strong, I don't care."

"Why?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

Sakura didn't push him, but after a few moments, she spoke again. "Sasuke," she said softly, "I'll get stronger too."

He glanced at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Good," he said quietly. "I hope you and Naruto are strong enough to keep up." His voice softened. "I don't want to lose anyone else."

Sakura felt her chest tighten at his words. She suddenly realized why Sasuke always kept people at arm's length, why he never let himself get close. It wasn't because he didn't care—it was because he cared too much. He was afraid. Afraid of losing them, just like he lost his family.

Her gaze drifted back to Naruto, his face pale but peaceful.

"Just wake up, Naruto," she whispered. "Team 7 needs you. Me, you, and Sasuke… we're stronger together."

As if on cue, Naruto let out a faint grunt, his face twitching. His eyelids fluttered, then slowly began to open.

"Naruto!" Sakura gasped, leaning forward.

Sasuke was already on his feet, his expression sharp with concern. "Dobe, can you hear me? How do you feel?"

Naruto mumbled something, his voice low and slurred.

"What's he saying?" Sasuke frowned, glancing at Sakura.

"Naruto, can you repeat that?"

Naruto's lips moved again, his voice just barely audible.

"I want to take a massive dump!"

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Kakashi stood outside Tazuna's house, hunched over as he emptied the contents of his stomach into the bushes. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, exhaling shakily. The chakra pills he'd been relying on to keep him standing were taking a toll. Artificial chakra kept him going, but at the cost of his body breaking down further with each passing hour.

His mind was a tangle of exhaustion and paranoia. Zabuza's status was unknown, and the possibility of Gato sending another rogue weighed heavily on him. But most pressing of all was Naruto.

The boy hadn't woken up.

Kakashi had checked him repeatedly, even using his Sharingan to confirm the internal injuries. By all accounts, the Kyuubi should have healed him already. But days had passed, and while his wounds were closing, Naruto remained unconscious. Was it the sheer extent of the damage? Or was it tied to whatever had happened to his right hand—the charred and useless limb that still refused to heal?

He rubbed his temples, forcing himself to push the thoughts aside. There was no time to spiral. His students needed him. He swallowed another chakra pill, ignoring the sharp protest from his body, and forced himself to straighten.

Suddenly, Kakashi froze.

A flicker of foreign chakra brushed against his senses. It wasn't hostile—it was deliberate, like someone announcing their presence.

His body tensed, his mind sharpening as he analyzed the chakra's rhythm. Then he recognized it: Konoha's distinct signature.

Relief washed over him as four figures flickered into view, landing in front of him.

At their head stood Kurenai Yūhi, her sharp red eyes meeting his immediately. Her long, untamed black hair framed her pale face. She wore a red mesh armor blouse with its thorny pattern, bandages wrapped around her hands and upper thighs.

Kurenai Yūhi. The Scarlet Thorn of Konoha.

Kakashi was well acquainted with her, having fought side by side during the Third Shinobi War. He could still remember the day her father had stopped him, Guy, Asuma, and even Kurenai herself from rushing headlong into the chaos of the Kyūbi's attack on the village.

While Kurenai had earned her jōnin rank through her unparalleled skill in genjutsu, she was also a war medic, having served on the battlefield since the tender age of seven. Her medical prowess, honed under some of the best in Konoha, had been enough to secure her a path to jōnin rank on its own. But Kurenai had chosen another path, a more personal one. Driven by a desire to honor her father's legacy, she had focused her talents on mastering genjutsu.

"Kakashi… what happened to you?"

Kakashi waved her off. "Nothing. Just ate something bad," he lied, adjusting his posture to seem less strained.

Kurenai's frown deepened, but she let it go for now. Her eyes flicked to her team: Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka.

Hinata shifted nervously, her lavender eyes glancing at Kakashi before quickly looking away. He could tell her Byakugan had picked up the state of his chakra network—frayed, overstrained, and held together by sheer will. Shino stood calmly, his hands in his pockets, while Kiba looked ready to jump into action.

"Let's get you inside. You can debrief me while you rest."

Kakashi opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He wasn't in a position to refuse help right now. He nodded curtly. "Fine."

Before they could move, the sound of the front door creaking open made them all turn.

"Sensei! Naruto's awake!"

Behind the pink-haired girl, Sasuke emerged, one arm slung around a stumbling Naruto, who looked groggy but alive.

Naruto squinted at the misty evening air. "Seriously… who the hell puts the bathroom outside?" he grumbled, his voice scratchy.

"It's called an outhouse. Maybe if you'd read a book for once, you'd know that."

"After I take my dump, I am kicking your ass."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but his arm stayed steady around Naruto's back, supporting him.

Kakashi watched the exchange silently, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time in days. Relief flooded through him, his worries momentarily melting away.

Suddenly, to everyone's shock, chakra exploded in the clearing.

"Man-Beast Taijutsu: Fang Over Fang!" Kiba yelled, his voice ringing out as he and Akamaru spun into a violent blur of motion. The two launched themselves like twin drills, spiraling at high speeds toward their target.

"Naruto!" Kiba roared.

Sakura reacted instantly, her sharp instincts kicking in. She threw kunai to the side, clapping her hands as a glowing barrier materialized in front of Naruto just as Kiba's attack hit. The spinning force of Fang Over Fang crashed against the barrier, sending sparks flying as it absorbed the brunt of the blow.

As soon as Kiba stopped spinning, Sasuke appeared beside him in a blur of motion. His dark eyes burned with fury, his Sharingan spinning wildly as his foot arced forward in a precise, devastating kick. Chakra surged visibly around his outstretched leg, the sheer pressure of it causing the air to hum. If the kick landed, it would have cracked Kiba's skull like an egg.

But then, everything changed.

The scene melted away like mist evaporating in sunlight. Sasuke froze mid-kick, blinking as he suddenly found himself standing back in his original position. Beside him, Sakura lowered her hands, confusion and alarm written on her face.

"What the—"

A yelp broke the silence as everyone turned to see Kurenai gripping Kiba's ear, her fury palpable.

"What the hell are you doing, Genin Kiba?!"

Kiba squirmed under her grip, his bravado fading in the face of her anger. "Getting my payback!" he whimpered, his voice weak as he tried to tug his ear free.

"Payback?!" Kurenai's red eyes burned with fury as her grip tightened. "Do you even realize what you just did? Attacking a fellow shinobi without provocation?!"

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, realizing the entire confrontation had been a genjutsu. They'd all been caught in it so smoothly that they hadn't even noticed—until now.

Kurenai took a deep breath, her hand still firmly on Kiba's ear. "Kiba, Shino—you're staying here to guard the area. And if you ever do anything like that again, I'll make sure your mother hears about it."

At the mention of his mother, Kiba froze, his face paling. "Y-You wouldn't!" he stammered.

"Try me," Kurenai said darkly, finally letting go of his ear.

Grumbling under his breath, Kiba turned to leave, casting one last glare at Naruto. "He started it," Kiba muttered before stalking off.

Shino, as composed as ever, glanced briefly at Naruto before following after his teammate.

Kurenai turned back to Kakashi, her face tinged with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I don't know what got into my subordinate. It won't happen again."

Kakashi's expression was unreadable as he folded his arms. "It's not me you should be apologizing to."

Kurenai frowned, glancing toward Naruto. "Naruto, I—"

Before she could finish, Naruto suddenly shoved past her, his face flushed and frantic. "Where the hell is the bathroom?!"

Hinata stood frozen, her hand trembling slightly as she pointed toward the outhouse at the edge of the yard.

"A-Ano… it's over there."

Naruto turned to look at her, his blue eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment.

Hinata felt her heart leap into her throat.

He wasn't glaring or angry—he was just looking—but the intensity of his gaze, combined with how much taller and more commanding he seemed now, made her pulse quicken.

"Thanks," Naruto muttered, his voice a little hoarse but still carrying that familiar tone she recognized. Without another word, he ran past her, slamming the outhouse door shut behind him.

Hinata didn't move. She just stood there, staring at the door, her hand still hovering where she'd pointed moments ago. Slowly, she placed it against her chest, feeling her heartbeat pounding furiously against her palm.

He's… still him, she thought, relief washing over her like a wave.

For weeks, she had worried, replaying the terrifying moment from the graduation class in her mind. She had seen it, felt it—the way his chakra had turned dark and oppressive, like a heavy storm cloud blotting out the sun. That wasn't the Naruto she knew, the one she had admired for so long. She had braced herself to see that Naruto again—the cold, unrecognizable one. She had been afraid that the boy who had inspired her, who had always been so bright and resilient, had disappeared.

But then, just now, when he had looked at her…

Hinata smiled faintly, her fingers tightening slightly around her jacket.

It's still him.

Yes, he had changed—he seemed taller, stronger, and carried an air about him that was unfamiliar, almost intimidating. But there was something else beneath it. The warmth that had always been there, the essence of who Naruto was—it hadn't gone anywhere.

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 51, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!