Just as Sakura Haruno was thinking more and more that it was feasible, the ground suddenly shook violently. Then, several muffled thuds were heard, and a thunderous sound exploded in everyone's ears.
This sound pulled Sakura's scattered thoughts back. The people in the shop were in a panic, their screams incessant.
Sakura put down her noodles and, with a quick dash, rushed outside the shop. Outside was just like inside; the people on the street were scattering in all directions, startled by the explosions.
At the same time, Sakura noticed thick smoke rising in the distance, seemingly encircling the city walls.
"This is? An explosion tag?" Sakura looked at Shikamaru, Choji, and a young man who had also come out, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Did you guys do this?"
"N-no," Shikamaru said cautiously, looking at the black smoke rising from the explosion.
"No?" Sakura pondered for a moment, a possibility coming to mind. Could it be that Kirigakure's pursuit team has caught up with me?
However, this behavior didn't seem like them. If it were them, they should have approached her silently. Making such a big commotion would clearly alert the enemy.
So, does this mean it has nothing to do with me? But she couldn't jump to that conclusion either. What if they felt it was inconvenient to make a move in the city and wanted to force her out?
"What's going on?" Terumi Mei also ran out at this moment, asking as she saw the chaotic city.
Looking at Terumi Mei, Sakura shook her head. Forget it, I'll keep her for now. At least she's quite obedient, doing whatever I ask.
"Let's go, take a look!" Sakura said and ran towards the explosion site.
If it really was the Kirigakure pursuit team, it would be better to fight in the city. The outside would definitely be surrounded and trapped. She would go see if it was them first before making a decision.
Shikamaru watched Sakura leave, a thoughtful expression on his face. Why is she so nervous? Did the village send people? But if the village wanted to apprehend her, they should have told me about this mission so I could cooperate. However, Lady Hokage didn't reveal anything. Besides, this mission doesn't seem like a cover-up.
Could it be... that another force is hunting her? Shikamaru felt that only this could explain why she was so nervous. But besides the village, who else would be hunting her?
"Shikamaru, what should we do?" Choji looked at Shikamaru and asked.
"Continue the mission!" Shikamaru said, then looked to the side and was suddenly startled. "Where is he?"
"Uh..." Choji was also surprised to see the empty space beside them.
"Go, find him quickly! He shouldn't have gone far!" Shikamaru paused, then added, "Wait, you go to the Daimyo's residence and get Ino. I'll go find him."
"Yes," Choji replied and headed towards the Daimyo's residence.
Sakura ran towards the nearest explosion site, a step ahead of Terumi Mei. Mei, carrying the Executioner's Blade on her back, had some difficulty moving but also ran in Sakura's direction.
When Sakura reached the explosion site, she saw a scene of devastation. Houses near the city wall had been blown to smithereens, and beside them lay a pile of civilians, mangled and bloody from the blast.
Sakura's pupils contracted as she looked at the tragic scene, frozen in place. It wasn't because she was shocked by the gruesome sight, but because it reminded her of the small town in the Land of Water that she had reduced to ruins with a single punch.
The scene there was not much different from here. However, it was precisely because such a tragic scene hadn't elicited the slightest sympathy or guilt from her that Sakura had become alert to the changes in herself.
And now, this ruin reminded her of her previous introspection. But she hadn't expected that just moments ago, she had actually had the thought of killing Shikamaru and Terumi Mei, and she hadn't even felt there was anything wrong with it.
Thinking of this, a cold sweat broke out on Sakura's back. Her will had been twisted without her even realizing it. If she were changed without any awareness, would she still be herself?!
The problem was urgent. She had thought that ever since she became aware of the issue last time, it had been under her control. But she hadn't expected that it would still unknowingly change her will.
"What's wrong with you?" Terumi Mei asked, seeing Sakura standing there motionless.
"N-nothing," Sakura said, her face pale, shaking her head. Then she formed hand seals, "Ninja Art: Summoning Technique!"
Poof! With a puff of white smoke, a miniature Katsuyu appeared on the ground.
"L-Lady Sakura Haruno!" The small Katsuyu was clearly stunned when summoned.
Sakura frowned and asked, "Lady Katsuyu, why has there been no news for so long?"
"S-sorry!" the small Katsuyu said, sounding very aggrieved. "Lady Tsunade said she couldn't find what you described."
"Couldn't find it?" Sakura was taken aback. That shouldn't be. Could someone have taken it? No, absolutely not. That box is so inconspicuous, and the stone inside is a poison to ordinary people. Touching it would deprive them of their emotions and gradually disintegrate them. If it were stolen, it would definitely have been discovered.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade said she didn't find that box," the small Katsuyu said.
Sakura was silent for a long time before speaking, "Did Master have any message for me?"
"No," the small Katsuyu said, its antennae drooping.
Sakura fell silent again. She couldn't quite figure out her master's meaning. She had originally planned to study the Gelel Stone after obtaining it, but she hadn't expected it to be missing at this critical juncture.
Although she wasn't one hundred percent sure that the changes in her were related to the Gelel Stone, there was an undeniable connection. But nothing was going smoothly. Without the Gelel Stone, not only could she not study the changes in herself, but she would also be at a disadvantage in the upcoming battles.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura suppressed the agitation in her heart and said to the small Katsuyu, "It's nothing. You can go back now."
"Yes." The small Katsuyu twitched its antennae, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Lady Sakura Haruno, your current state... doesn't look very good. Do you need help?"
Sakura glanced at Katsuyu in surprise. It can tell my condition isn't good? Sakura pursed her lips and asked, "Do you know senjutsu?"
"No!" Katsuyu said quite frankly.
"No?" Sakura was genuinely surprised now. Shikkotsu Forest, one of the three great sage regions, didn't know senjutsu? She had just asked casually out of frustration, but she hadn't expected such a surprising answer.
"Yes, I don't," the small Katsuyu said again.
"Uh." Seeing the small Katsuyu being so direct, Sakura didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Don't you know that the other two great sage regions on par with Shikkotsu Forest both know senjutsu? Why don't you know senjutsu?" Sakura thought for a moment and asked.
"I know, but I really don't know senjutsu," the small Katsuyu said.
It's a good thing I obtained Seijutsu, otherwise, wouldn't my expectations have been in vain? Why didn't I think of summoning it directly to ask before?
"Forget it, you can go," Sakura waved her hand, sounding somewhat disinterested.
"But if what's troubling you is the erosion of natural energy in your body, I have a way to solve it," the small Katsuyu said lightly.
Sakura had already lost hope, but Katsuyu's words exploded in her ears like thunder.
"Wh-wh-what did you say!!" Sakura stammered.
"There is already a small amount of natural energy in your body. It is affecting you at all times," the small Katsuyu said.
"You can sense natural energy? Y-you don't know senjutsu?" Sakura asked, her expression slightly agitated.
"Senjutsu is senjutsu, natural energy is natural energy. They are not the same thing," Katsuyu said. "If you want to know the specifics, go ask my main body. I only have a portion of the main body's knowledge."
"Do I have to go to Shikkotsu Forest?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, but that place is filled with corrosive liquids and gases. If you enter rashly in your current state, you will probably die," the small Katsuyu said, twitching its antennae.
Calming the excitement in her heart, Sakura asked, "Let's not talk about this for now. Do you know how to solve my current trouble?"
"I do, but the conditions are very harsh," the small Katsuyu said.
"What are they?" Sakura asked eagerly.
This time, Katsuyu didn't speak. Its antennae swayed back and forth, seeming somewhat hesitant. After a long while, it said, "Just stop cultivating natural energy. This will prevent the situation from worsening."
This... what kind of solution is this? Sakura opened her mouth, stunned for a moment.
"I'll be going now. If you want to solve it, this is the only way."
With that, the small Katsuyu disappeared with a poof.
Staring blankly at the spot where Katsuyu had disappeared, Sakura frowned deeply, feeling that things were not so simple.
Katsuyu was hiding something from her. It definitely knew the real solution, but for some reason, it didn't tell her. Moreover, it said that senjutsu and natural energy were different. What could be the difference?
And it said that she had a small amount of natural energy in her body, but she hadn't sensed anything. There was nothing similar to the Gelel Force...
Wait, if Katsuyu wasn't deceiving me, then the Gelel Force, natural energy, and senjutsu... these three are completely different things.
H-how could this be? Sakura found this world increasingly incomprehensible. She had thought she was the one who understood this world best, but now it seemed she was just a frog in a well. The secrets of this world were far more numerous than she had imagined.
Katsuyu's attitude just now was very suspicious. It discovered she possessed natural energy but didn't ask where it came from.
Although Katsuyu said it didn't know senjutsu, from its words, it seemed it could use natural energy. Damn it, I actually forgot to ask it how to cultivate natural energy just now.
Katsuyu's words, instead of clearing Sakura's doubts, brought even greater confusion.
Thinking of this, Sakura formed hand seals again.
"Ninja Art: Summoning Technique!"
The small Katsuyu appeared before Sakura again.
"Lady Sakura Haruno, hello," the small Katsuyu still said politely.
"Lady Katsuyu, you know how to cultivate natural energy, right?" Sakura asked directly.
"Hm?" The small Katsuyu's antennae twitched as if tilting its head in question. "Natural energy? What's that?"
"..." Sakura was speechless. "Have you forgotten everything you just told me?"
"The clone you summoned just now has already merged back into the main body. I didn't receive any memories from that clone," the small Katsuyu explained.
"..." Sakura fell silent. It seemed the Great Slug Sage didn't want her to know, even erasing the related knowledge about natural energy from the clone. Sakura didn't know if the Great Slug Sage had this ability, nor did she know if this small Katsuyu was playing dumb with her.
But one thing was certain: there was definitely something unknown here, something the Great Slug Sage didn't want "it" to be revealed.