"Why does a technique I helped create have such a plain, unremarkable name?"
"Look at the techniques I developed: Flying Thunder God Technique, Reanimation Jutsu, Mutual Multi-Explosive Tag Technique… Those names sound powerful the moment you hear them!"
"What's the point of making it all fancy and flashy? As long as it works, it's fine," Sakura Haruno replied, waving her hand dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Tobirama Senju's words.
"If you're not satisfied, just keep developing derivative techniques like the Cloud Village's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. You can name them later."
Tobirama sighed as he looked at the pink-haired girl beside him.
She'd rather abandon a top-tier bloodline limit like Wood Release to focus solely on Yang Release techniques. Even though mastering both wouldn't have been an issue—after all, Sakura was only thirteen—she stubbornly chose Yang Release without so much as a glance at Wood Release.
She was charging headlong down the path of power, relentless and unyielding…
But it was precisely because of this that Tobirama was curious to see just how powerful this Yang Release, so stubbornly chosen by the pink-haired girl, could become.
Three days later, at the gates of Konohagakure:
The logistics team bound for the front lines in the Land of Rivers was assembling. Sakura sat in a carriage, idly fiddling with her knuckle-dusters to pass the time. Beside her sat Karin, while across from them were Kakashi Hatake and Mei Terumi.
This was the assassination squad led by Sakura, tasked with taking down Kakuzu.
Originally, Asuma Sarutobi was supposed to join them, but he was unavailable due to a last-minute issue. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Might Guy's team had already escorted Naruto to Turtle Island along the Fire Country's coastline the previous day.
As a result, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade were left to hold the fort in Konoha. The village had no spare forces to deploy.
Sakura had initially wanted to bring Sasuke along—after all, he possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. But the old man, Hiruzen, had refused, citing Sasuke's ongoing training in Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Clearly, the Third Hokage intended to leave this stage in the Land of Rivers entirely to Sakura.
As for Uchiha Hikaru… forget it. She wouldn't fight for Konoha under any circumstances. Given her past, she likely harbored a deep aversion to war.
So, Sakura had recruited Karin instead.
Karin's sensory abilities were unparalleled in the ninja world, and with Yamanaka Haiichi at the front lines in the Land of Rivers, they could perform the Mind Transmission Jutsu together, just like Ino. With Karin's help, the moment Kakuzu showed himself, they'd be able to pinpoint him immediately.
Karin sat next to Sakura, engrossed in a scroll, studying a new technique even while they were on the move.
Sakura couldn't help but lean over, curious about what Karin was learning.
"Want to take a look, Sakura?" Noticing the pink-haired girl's movement, Karin nudged the scroll toward her.
"Nah, just curious what you're studying," Sakura replied.
"This is a technique the Third Hokage gave me yesterday after testing my chakra nature. It's a reward for my performance on the battlefield," Karin said with a smile, flipping the scroll back to its first page. "Apparently, my chakra nature is the same as yours, Sakura—Yin, Yang, Water, and Earth."
The scroll's title came into view: Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique (Second Hokage's Enhanced Version).
"The old man's so stingy, only giving you a single Water Release technique," Sakura muttered, pouting.
"No, no, this one was requested by Lady Tsunade on my behalf. The Third Hokage actually gave me these," Karin said, pulling out two more scrolls from her ninja pouch.
Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Blade.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet.
One was an S-rank Water Release technique unique to Tobirama Senju, and the other was his enhanced version of the Water Dragon Bullet.
Seeing this, Sakura nodded in satisfaction. After all, Karin and Ino's use of the Mind Transmission Jutsu during the Frost Country battle had been invaluable. An S-rank technique and an A-rank technique were decent rewards from the old man.
From these three Water Release techniques, it was clear that Tsunade and Hiruzen intended to capitalize on Karin's immense chakra reserves, turning her into a walking artillery platform. Since Karin had grown up in the Grass Village and lacked a strong foundation in ninja basics, building those skills now would take time. For now, they were taking a different approach: overwhelming force. No matter what the enemy threw at her, Karin could simply unleash a massive Water Release technique and bombard them into submission.
Kakashi, propped up on one elbow, glanced at the red-haired girl's Water Release scrolls and twitched his lips. Some people were drowning in chakra, while others were parched. If he tried pulling off three Great Waterfall Techniques, he'd be drained dry.
"Hehe, I'm just starting to learn it now, so I'm only studying the Great Waterfall Technique for the time being," Karin said, rubbing her nose with a grin. "But in the future, I'll definitely be able to help you out, Sakura!"
"You're already a huge help," Sakura said, her gaze softening as she looked at the redhead.
Back then, Sakura had only been thinking about mastering the Strength of a Hundred Seal when she'd sought out Karin. Looking back, no matter her initial intentions, bringing Karin out of the Grass Village had been a blessing for her.
As the logistics team finished preparations, the convoy bound for the Land of Rivers set off.
At the Sand Village's forward command tent on the front lines in the Land of Rivers:
"Is this information reliable?" Chiyo asked, rubbing her temples with a headache.
Lately, Konoha had switched commanders. While Mito Menma wasn't as cunning or unpredictable as Danzo, he was no pushover either. His strategies weren't exceptional in offense, defense, flanking, or border control—but every aspect was solidly above average. Defeating him would require tactics far superior to his, or else the old man was like an unkillable cockroach.
"You doubt our intelligence?" said a tall man in a black cloak with red clouds, his face hidden behind a mask. He counted a stack of cash nonchalantly.
Chiyo's mouth twitched as she watched him. This old geezer was older than her, yet all he cared about was money.
"So, what now?" she asked. "Konoha's 'Demon Witch' took down even the Fourth Raikage."
It had been some time since the Frost Country conflict ended, and details from the war had spread. Especially regarding Sakura.
By now, nearly the entire ninja world believed the war had been sparked because of her. The Raikage's heated exchange with Jiraiya on the battlefield had cemented it: he'd publicly declared Sakura as the cause of it all.
At just thirteen years old, with meticulous cunning and overwhelming strength, she'd captured the Two-Tails and defeated the Raikage. This wasn't the realm of ordinary ninja—she was utterly beyond reason, downright monstrous.
Even the prodigious Minato Namikaze, in all his brilliance, hadn't been this absurd.
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