"So this is the Village Hidden in the Waterfall," Sai said with a smile, looking at the massive waterfall with a thoughtful expression. "I heard this village used to be very strong, and even possessed the Seven-Tails, which it still has to this day."
"Hm?" Sakura turned her head to the side, looking at Sai with some surprise. "You know about that?"
"Oh?" Sai turned his head and smiled back at Sakura. "It seems you know as well."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura said, her face relaxed, but her mind was already on high alert. Sai might not understand social etiquette, but he was skilled at prying for information.
"I thought you knew," Sai said with a smile.
"How could I possibly know?" Sakura scoffed.
"That's true," Sai shrugged. "This information is classified as top secret even within Root."
"So how would I know?" Sakura said, shrugging as well.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Karin already understood the purpose of this mission. It seemed it was time to begin.
But... Karin couldn't help but recall her fight with Sai the other day. Was she really up to the task of Sakura's plan? Karin didn't know, but even if she wasn't, she had to do it. For the sake of...
Sakura looked back at Karin and Yakumo, who had fallen behind. "You two, hurry and keep up! The 'mission' is about to begin!"
"Ah, yes!" Sakura's voice snapped Karin out of her wandering thoughts, and she hurried to catch up.
Yakumo, however, continued to trail behind the three of them at a leisurely pace. But her hands were already forming seals, aimed at the group ahead.
"Demonic Illusion: The Five Senses!"
The moment Yakumo began to form the seals, the Yin Seal on Sakura's forehead unfurled. As the pattern of the seal spread, an extremely powerful aura erupted, pressing down on Karin beside her, making her tremble.
Sai, however, had already collapsed limply to the ground. Sakura turned to Yakumo, her face cold, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you act on your own?"
"Well, since we didn't want him to know about this mission anyway, it's better to take care of him out here first, don't you think?" Yakumo said with a smile.
Sakura stared at Yakumo in silence for a long time before asking, "What about Karin?"
"Her?" Yakumo said, surprised. "Isn't she fine?"
Looking at Yakumo, Sakura suddenly felt a chill as if she had been plunged into an ice cave. It seemed she had underestimated her. The genjutsu just now had targeted her as well.
If she hadn't reacted quickly enough, it was very likely all three of them would have been caught.
Looking at Yakumo's smiling, indifferent face, Sakura suddenly felt like a complete idiot.
"Hey, where should we put him? He's been hit by my genjutsu; he won't be waking up for at least a few days," Yakumo said, crouching down and poking at Sai.
"His problem can wait," Sakura said, her face dark. "Let's talk about your problem first."
The arrow was already on the bowstring; it had to be fired. Before capturing the Seven-Tails, this problem had to be solved. Otherwise, if this operation failed, things would only become more difficult in the future.
"Hm? What do you want to talk about?" Yakumo asked, tilting her head.
"Just now, you didn't just include Karin. You included me as well. Am I wrong?" Sakura said coldly. "What are you trying to do?"
Yakumo stared blankly at Sakura's serious expression for a long moment, then burst out laughing. "If I really wanted to do something to you, would I need to be so obvious? It's not like I don't know your strength. Don't you think? I was just trying to test my own abilities."
Yakumo stuck out her tongue cutely.
Sakura was taken aback by Yakumo's explanation. Was I overthinking it? No, that's not right...
"Karin!" Sakura suddenly called out.
Startled by the sudden call of her name, Karin immediately understood what Sakura wanted her to do.
Sakura waited for a moment, then saw Karin shake her head.
Getting Karin's answer, Sakura was stunned again. Was I really just overthinking it? No one can deceive Karin's senses.
And Karin would absolutely never deceive her. But Sakura didn't believe she was just imagining things. For now, she could only put this matter aside. If Yakumo really made a strange move, then... she would just have to eliminate her.
Looking at Yakumo's innocent face, Sakura shook her head. "Find a place to hide him for now."
"Okay," Yakumo said, calling to Karin. "Come give me a hand."
Karin had always been one to bear hardships without complaint. As long as she didn't receive an order from Sakura, they were still comrades.
After a bit of work, Sakura led the two of them into the Waterfall Village.
Yakumo looked at Sakura's back, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She clenched her fists, and finally, followed.
...
After the three of them left, the waterfall at the entrance of the village returned to its tranquility. But it only lasted for a moment before another uninvited guest arrived.
"That was close. I was almost discovered," Jiraiya muttered to himself, looking at the waterfall.
He hadn't found anything unusual during his tracking these past few days. He had even sensed that Sakura's strength hadn't improved that much; she was completely unaware of him tailing her.
But just now, Jiraiya had been truly shocked.
There was no mistaking that feeling. Sage Art. Sage Chakra.
It was a power that surpassed chakra. If Jiraiya hadn't learned Sage Art himself, he probably would have been discovered just now.
With his years of Sage Art training, he had only barely managed to remain undetected.
This was simply too astonishing for Jiraiya. It had only been half a year, and she had already learned Sage Mode.
But that wasn't the most surprising thing. If he remembered correctly, Shikkotsu Forest didn't have Sage Art. Where on earth did she learn it? Could it have been from that incident half a year ago?
It seemed all the mysteries were related to that incident.
Tsunade, you were wrong. She's not the same person she was before. She's... too dangerous now.
Although Jiraiya had already overestimated Sakura before, it seemed he had still underestimated her. Once one learned Sage Mode, they were already in a completely different league from ordinary ninja.
The originally clear sky suddenly darkened, and dark clouds covered the entire sky. Jiraiya's heart was also filled with dark clouds.
...
"Welcome, welcome! I didn't expect Captain Sakura to return so soon."
Although the once-bright sky was now overcast and looked like it was about to rain, Shibuki, as the village leader, still came out personally to greet them.
Sakura looked up at the sky, a heavy feeling like a stone in her heart. She felt even more worried about the purpose of this trip.
Although the weather was a natural phenomenon, for it to change so suddenly at such a crucial moment, it only added to the frustration Sakura was already feeling because of Yakumo.
"This is a personal letter from the Fifth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaf. Please, Village Leader Shibuki, take a look," Sakura said, taking out a scroll and handing it to Senji, who was standing beside Shibuki.
As a diplomatic mission between two villages, the necessary etiquette had to be observed.
"Captain Sakura, you must be tired from your long journey. The banquet is ready. Please, join us," Shibuki said, taking the scroll but not opening it. He first invited them to the banquet.
"In that case, let's go," Sakura said faintly.
The group then followed Shibuki to the dining hall. This banquet was much more lavish than the one when Sakura had come alone last time. After all, she was here to bring the Waterfall Village money.
But this time, there was someone Sakura didn't expect to see.
"Hehe, we meet again, Sakura," Fu, with her short, blue-green hair, greeted Sakura at the banquet.
At that moment, Shibuki's face had already turned the color of a pig's liver, clearly from anger.