Sakura, leading a changed Karin, headed for the Hokage Tower. As she reached the base of the building, she glanced back up at the second-floor window of her apartment. Forming a hand seal, Sakura released her Yin Seal and activated Seijutsu, feeling natural energy flood every cell in her body.
She then created a single shadow clone before deactivating both the Yin Seal and Seijutsu. For some reason, Sakura couldn't use Seijutsu after creating a clone. If she wanted a clone to possess natural energy, she had to create it while her own body was already in the Seijutsu state.
This was a significant departure from what she knew about natural energy. Naruto could have his clones help him absorb it, but Sakura couldn't do the same; she had to gather it with her main body.
Sakura had a theory as to why. Perhaps it was because Seijutsu directly drew upon and utilized pure natural energy without mixing it with chakra. A shadow clone, being merely a lump of chakra, was therefore incapable of entering the Seijutsu state.
The so-called senjutsu from the three great holy lands, on the other hand, was actually a mixture of natural energy and chakra. A shadow clone, being made of chakra, could naturally absorb natural energy to create sage chakra.
In other words, Seijutsu was unique; it wasn't a technique that could be simply copied. It was like the Yin Seal—a clone couldn't use it either, because the seal itself was a storage of chakra. You couldn't use chakra to replicate a source of chakra out of thin air. If you could, you'd have an infinite supply.
The shadow clone of Sakura leaped lightly onto the roof. What she had told Yakumo was a massive shock, and she needed to leave a clone behind to keep an eye on things. She had used Seijutsu to create it specifically to guard against Yakumo's genjutsu.
Without Seijutsu active, Sakura was no different from a regular ninja and just as vulnerable to Yakumo's bug-level genjutsu. Only by using Seijutsu could she nullify its effects.
Truthfully, Sakura mused, even though I deceived her, Yakumo probably doesn't hate me. The Ido was a part of her, after all. Even if they hadn't merged, it would have continued to exist. At worst, my actions have earned her disgust, and she'll leave the team.
If she had to rely solely on Karin's sealing jutsu, it would be a difficult fight. The Akatsuki made capturing the Tailed Beasts look easy, but that was because they had members who could perfectly counter them. Sakura didn't have the abilities of the Zombie Combo. Although she had been directly or indirectly responsible for their deaths, she had to admit that anyone unfamiliar with their powers, even a Jinchuriki, would have had a hard time escaping them.
Kisame and Itachi's pairing was even more perfect. Kisame's jutsu, in particular, was incredibly convenient for capturing Tailed Beasts, and he had a genjutsu master like Itachi Uchiha providing support.
As for Deidara and Sasori, their success was due to Gaara being grounded by his duty to protect the village at his feet.
And the most crucial point was that the Jinchuriki couldn't cooperate well with their Tailed Beasts, preventing them from using their full power. That was why they were defeated so easily.
A perfect Jinchuriki as powerful as Killer Bee, even when facing Sasuke after he had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan and was supported by Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo, had still thrashed Team Taka. If Bee hadn't been trying to fake his capture to sneak away from the village, the entire team would likely have been annihilated.
That just went to show how terrifying a perfect Jinchuriki could be. Besides, Sakura's team wasn't just for dealing with the Jinchuriki themselves. Behind every one of them was a powerful faction, watching like a hawk. Whether they wanted to protect their Jinchuriki or shared her goal, Sakura needed someone to share the pressure.
So far, while Sakura had experienced the power of Seijutsu, she had yet to discover a way to use it to completely overwhelm an opponent. At least, she couldn't do it at her current level. Though she hadn't lost to Pain last time, he hadn't been using his full strength either. There was still a gap between them.
It wasn't that Sakura didn't want to develop Seijutsu further, but the technique itself was simply a method for absorbing and using natural energy, similar in function to the basic art of chakra molding.
All she had gotten from Kazuo Sohwa was the complete training method for Seijutsu. The memories she'd acquired from Junko were just miscellaneous bits of information about that era; they didn't touch much on the Tsu God or Seijutsu.
Until she discovered its true application, the only thing Sakura could do was apply it to her ninjutsu to increase its power.
If Yakumo is unwilling to be on the team, then... Sakura looked up at the sky. ...then I'll just have to rely on myself and Karin. She honestly couldn't think of where else she could find a ninja with such powerful genjutsu who would also be willing to hunt Tailed Beasts with her.
The rain continued to fall. The Third Hokage's memorial was set up on the open-air platform atop the Hokage Tower. By the time Sakura arrived, the area was already packed. Civilians surrounded the base of the tower, while Sakura led Karin inside and up to the roof.
When she reached the top, she found it filled with familiar faces: Team 8, Team 10, Team 3, and a teacher she hadn't seen in a long time, Kakashi. Iruka-sensei and Konohamaru were there as well.
At the very front of the memorial, Tsunade-sensei stood flanked by the two elders. The Third Hokage's black-and-white portrait was surrounded by flowers. Sakura and Karin quietly joined the line at the back.
In the world of ninja, death was a common occurrence, so funerals were never overly complicated, not even for a Hokage.
"It's been a while, Sakura," Kakashi said as she came to stand nearby, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura nodded, saying nothing more.
"We are gathered for a memorial service to commemorate the outstanding contributions of the Third Hokage to Konoha," Homura Mitokado's voice carried from the front. Everyone was silent, their expressions somber.
"The Third Hokage served for forty-eight years, dedicating his life to Konoha. He lived through the First, Second, and Third Great Ninja Wars, leading the village through one crisis after another..."
Homura's voice echoed across the platform. Beside him, Konohamaru was sobbing uncontrollably. The Third's death was likely hardest on him. After his parents died, he had lived with his grandfather. Now that the Third was gone too, if it weren't for his relatives within the clan, he would be almost exactly like Naruto.
"...Please pay your respects..." Homura stepped aside, and the line began to move as people went up to offer a flower to the Third Hokage.
Since the Fifth Hokage was already in place, the Third's death hadn't caused any chaos. Everyone carried on with their duties in an orderly fashion, the only sign of their grief written plainly on their faces.
The Third had been the longest-reigning Hokage, and his influence in the village was unparalleled. From the oldest elders to the youngest children, nearly everyone had grown up under his leadership. It could be said that more than half the ninja in the village had received his kindness at some point.
As time passed, the memorial service came to an end. Sakura didn't feel sadness over the Third's death; what she felt was a heavy weight. His final actions had made the burden on her heart even heavier.
She stared silently at his portrait, then shook her head. As she prepared to leave, Tsunade called out to her.
"Sakura, come to my office. I have some questions for you," Tsunade said.
"Yes." Sakura already knew Tsunade would want to ask about the Third's final moments. If she wasn't mistaken, the two elders would be there as well.