"Aren't you going to drink your tea?" Yuan asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Sakura holding the teacup, her face somewhat contorted as if trying not to drink, yet not putting the cup down either. Something's definitely wrong with this kid, Yuan thought.
"N-no, thank you. Cough, cough..." Sakura managed between coughs, trying desperately to sound casual. "Drinking water... while eating... isn't good for... digestion."
"Oh, is that so?" Yuan replied, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched Sakura struggle.
Sakura forced down the food caught in her throat, her face, which had been slightly red from holding her breath, gradually returning to its normal color. Her throat still felt dry and scratchy from the food.
"Cough, cough..." After another couple of forceful coughs, Sakura felt her throat clear slightly.
Yuan simply watched her quietly. Once Sakura seemed composed again, she asked calmly, "Why didn't you drink the tea?"
Sakura glanced regretfully at the table laden with food, more than half of it still untouched. She popped a piece of yokan into her mouth and mumbled indistinctly around it, "Datura flowers... they're not exactly easy to find here in the Land of Water. They're originally from the Land of Earth, though they were later transplanted to the Land of Fire... commonly refined into anesthetics."
"So, you noticed," Yuan acknowledged, seemingly in no rush to attack. "What else?"
Sakura shot Yuan a surprised look. She had expected an immediate attack and had braced herself accordingly. But since the woman wanted to talk, Sakura was more than happy to eat a bit more while obliging her. She picked up another skewer of dango. "The seeds of the Datura plant are the most toxic part," she continued, chewing thoughtfully. "When ground into powder and refined... they become a poison that can cause unconsciousness and hallucinations. Your technique for adding it to the tea was quite skillful, I admit, but... I happen to be quite familiar with the taste of this particular drug."
Familiar indeed, Sakura thought wryly. Datura could be refined into anesthetics, something she herself had experimented with. She had even prepared similar poisons before. If Yuan had used a different, less common substance, Sakura wasn't entirely certain she would have identified it so quickly.
"I see," Yuan nodded, still smiling faintly. "Well then, you have two choices now. One, come with me willingly. Two, I knock you out and take you by force. Though," she added lightly, "there's always the unfortunate possibility I might accidentally kill you in the process."
Sakura popped a chestnut bun into her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled around it. "I choose option three."
The words had barely left her mouth when Yuan instantly produced a kunai, seemingly from nowhere, and slashed it towards Sakura's neck. Sakura was genuinely startled – She's a ninja! She had assumed Yuan was just an ordinary human trafficker. What a revelation! A ninja from the Land of Water moonlighting as a kidnapper?
However, Sakura had been prepared for an attack. Dodging backward, she instinctively grabbed two more chestnut buns from the table before dashing out of the shop entrance.
Yuan leaped onto the tabletop, kunai glinting in her hand, and launched herself in pursuit. The force of her jump sent the table crashing over, scattering the remaining dango and sweets across the floor.
Seeing the feast wasted like that, Sakura mentally cried out in dismay. Such a waste! Shoving the buns currently in her hands into her mouth, she reached behind her back towards where her weapon pouch should be... then paused awkwardly. Right. Forgot I have nothing on me except these clothes and a few vials of sedative.
"I advise you to come along quietly," Yuan called out, landing lightly in the street outside, kunai held at the ready. Her expression was serious now. "Otherwise, you will regret it."
The commotion had already sent the few people on the street scattering in panic. Perhaps they were accustomed to such things; any hint of conflict and they dispersed like startled birds. Watching the hurried retreat of the civilians, Sakura thought she saw a fleeting flicker of sadness in Yuan's eyes.
"Then come and try me!" Sakura retorted defiantly. She had no weapons, but she rarely relied on them for more than initial probing anyway. Alright then, no weapons means we get straight to it. Her hands blurred through seals. "Earth Style: Hardening Technique!"
Visibly, Sakura's skin roughened, turning a dull, stony grey as her muscles became sharply defined beneath it. Thanks to Creation Rebirth and my medical knowledge, I haven't needed to use this old technique much, she reflected. This is the first time I've applied it to my whole body.
Since she lacked ninja tools for testing her opponent, she'd have to engage directly. Best to play it safe. And using Storm Release was out of the question if she could help it; her Kekkei Genkai was far too recognizable now that she was a wanted ninja.
Sakura charged forward like a clap of thunder. The Hardening Technique definitely reduced her agility somewhat; localized application was usually better for offensive maneuvers. Still, she doubted the slight decrease in speed would be a significant disadvantage. It all depends on the opponent, she reasoned. And surely my luck isn't so bad that I'd randomly run into a Kage-level opponent asking for directions?
Yuan didn't flinch as Sakura charged. Her hands moved through a dizzyingly complex series of seals, and she expelled a massive torrent of water from her mouth. "Water Style: Water Formation Pillar!"
It was a versatile B-rank jutsu, useful for both offense and defense. Sakura was again surprised by the sheer volume of water Yuan could produce seemingly out of nowhere. This woman has to be a Special Jonin, at least.
But Sakura didn't back down. She tried to drug me. She deserves a lesson. Bracing herself, Sakura pushed forward directly into the crushing force of the water pillar. She wouldn't normally attempt such a reckless, brute-force approach, but she was curious to test the limits of her full-body Hardening Technique.
Seeing Sakura advancing step by step against the torrent, Yuan visibly increased her chakra output. The pressure of the water intensified dramatically.
Sakura suddenly felt the immense force surge against her. Her footing became unstable. Before she could even think to form seals to anchor herself, the overwhelming pressure slammed into her, sending her flying backward through the wall of a nearby shop.
There was a tremendous crash of splintering wood and shattering merchandise. Fortunately, the shop was empty; everyone in the vicinity had fled when the confrontation began.
Sakura struggled to climb out from the wreckage, spitting out mouthfuls of water she'd inadvertently swallowed. Her vision momentarily darkened as a figure landed silently in front of her.
"You're really not very cute, are you?" Yuan remarked, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Insisting on learning things the hard way. Heh." Her fingers formed a knife-hand as she aimed another swift chop towards Sakura's neck.
Seeing the smile on Yuan's face, Sakura reacted instantly, her hand shooting out to grab Yuan's descending wrist in a vice-like grip.
"You think you've won?" Sakura glared up at her sharply. "This is just getting started!"
Yuan's eyes widened in surprise at the strength in Sakura's grip. She felt an irresistible force pulling her downwards, closer to the girl trapped in the debris. Suddenly, an enormous fist filled her vision – exaggerated perhaps by proximity, but undeniably powerful.
Yuan's instincts, honed by years of combat, screamed DANGER! She knew she absolutely could not allow that punch to connect. In the split second before impact, even as Sakura's fist rushed towards her face, Yuan's free hand flashed through a single seal.
The punch landed solidly on Yuan's cheek, yet Sakura's expression turned baffled. The woman dissolved into a splash of water upon impact. A Water Clone! Yuan reformed moments later from a nearby puddle, completely unharmed.
"Impressive," Sakura muttered, genuinely surprised. Definitely Jonin-level. To be able to substitute with a Water Clone while being physically restrained? That was a feat Sakura herself couldn't replicate. It must be some advanced application or a specific Water Style technique. Her assessment of Yuan's abilities jumped another notch.
A Jonin, huh? My luck really is terrible, Sakura thought, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Still, if she's alone, she should be manageable. She wondered which hidden village Yuan belonged to, and whether she had backup nearby.
Yuan was dressed in plain civilian clothes, just like Sakura, with no identifying headband or insignia. Most likely Kirigakure, given the location, Sakura reasoned. But what she's doing still seems strange. Is the Hidden Mist Village really so desperate for new recruits that they have Jonin out here kidnapping children?
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