Sakura and Ino stood face-to-face in a secluded corner of the training ground, the air between them charged with tension. The years had brought maturity and strength, but some old rivalries remained stubbornly rooted.
"Ino, I can't believe you undermined me in that strategy meeting!" Sakura's voice was controlled, but her eyes flashed with anger. "You know how important it is for the medical corps to be properly coordinated."
Ino crossed her arms, her expression unapologetic. "Oh, come on, Sakura. You were taking too long to make a decision, and we needed to act fast. I did what I thought was best."
Sakura's jaw tightened as she took a step closer. "It wasn't your place to make that call. We all have roles to play, and second-guessing each other isn't going to help anyone. You need to trust my judgment."
Ino's eyes narrowed, a defensive edge creeping into her tone. "And you need to trust that I have good instincts, too. Just because you're the head of the medical corps doesn't mean you always know what's best in every situation."