Sasuke's lips curved into an involuntary smirk. Clearly, the Third Hokage's mention of Sakura's high praise for him was quite pleasing. "Sak
Sasuke's lips curved into an involuntary smirk. Clearly, the Third Hokage's mention of Sakura's high praise for him was quite pleasing.
"Sakura spoke to me about nurturing your potential, which is why Kakashi became your teacher," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
His words brought clarity to Sasuke's mind.
So that's how it is…
"I was initially worried that hatred would blind you," Hiruzen continued, stroking his already-white beard as he looked at the young Uchiha before him. "But seeing you now, it seems my concerns were unfounded."
"Lord Hokage…" Sasuke mumbled, caught off guard and unsure how to respond.
Even with the Mangekyo Sharingan, Sasuke was still only twelve years old. For the Hokage to lower himself, admitting he'd misjudged him, stirred a mix of gratitude and pride in Sasuke's heart. Unbeknownst to him, his regard for the title of "Hokage" grew significantly in that moment.
"But it's not too late," Hiruzen said, rising slowly and patting Sasuke's shoulder. He walked to his desk, retrieving a scroll prepared long ago for Sasuke—a guide to training in Lightning Release taijutsu—and placed it before him.
"What's this…?" Sasuke asked, eyeing the scroll with curiosity.
"Open it and see," Hiruzen replied, his expression warm and encouraging.
Sasuke obediently unfurled the scroll, his eyes narrowing as he read the first line.
"This is a secret technique from the Hidden Cloud Village," Hiruzen explained, his voice steady. "A closely guarded art, practiced only by successive Raikage. The Third Raikage once used these techniques to single-handedly hold back ten thousand ninja from the Hidden Rock Village."
Sasuke's breathing grew heavier as the weight of those words sank in.
"And now," Hiruzen added, "it's yours… Sasuke."
"What?!"
"Uchiha Itachi?!"
Sakura intercepted an ANBU operative in the dead of night, questioning the reason behind their large-scale mobilization. Such a sight—ANBU moving en masse—was rare.
With her current authority, Sakura didn't need Hiruzen's permission to get answers. "Yes, Lady Sakura," the ANBU replied hurriedly. "Please stay vigilant. I have a mission to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Without waiting for her response, the operative vanished.
"Tch, what's that weasel up to this time?" Sakura muttered, barely paying attention as she absentmindedly noted the pattern on the ANBU's mask.
She had just finished dinner at home and was heading to the death row prison to select a sacrificial candidate for the Reanimation Jutsu to bring back Tobirama Senju. She hadn't expected to stumble upon this commotion.
Gazing into the pitch-black night, Sakura shrugged it off. If the old man needed her, he would've summoned her already. According to the ANBU, neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade had been mobilized, and even she—a tireless workhorse—hadn't been informed. This was clearly just a show.
Maybe they're already secretly negotiating with that weasel, she thought.
Sakura had no interest in such shady intelligence deals. As long as Itachi didn't cross her path, she didn't care. Beating him to death wouldn't do, but letting him off unscathed wouldn't either. Quite the dilemma…
With her mastery of Yin Release, Sakura relished facing fragile opponents who relied on genjutsu. One punch to shatter their techniques, ignoring their illusions, then closing in for a precise, liver-exploding strike!
Humming a tune, Sakura strolled toward the death row prison, clearly excited about her upcoming attempt to reanimate Tobirama Senju. Her Yang Release training had lagged for too long, and with Naruto and Sasuke now on the right track, she couldn't afford to fall behind.
The death row prison was tucked away in a hidden corner of the Forest of Death, housing the most heinous criminals or those who harbored treasonous intent against Konoha. Using them for the Reanimation Jutsu was a guilt-free endeavor for both Hiruzen and Sakura. They were doomed anyway—might as well extract some value.
As the streets grew emptier, the shadowy outline of the Forest of Death came into view. But Sakura's light steps faltered.
She stared at a figure resting under a tree ahead, her mouth twitching.
Seriously…
Buddy…
Konoha's huge, and you still managed to cross me?
Who else could it be but Uchiha Itachi and the Scorpion of the Red Sand?
Itachi, spotting the silent pink-haired girl nearby, felt his usual composure waver. Since leaving his hideout, it was as if bad luck clung to him. Not only did he have to evade ANBU while dragging his weakened body, but he also had to shake off Scorpion to secure a private meeting with Hiruzen.
Along the way, he'd been ambushed by a woman wielding dual kekkei genkai Water Release techniques. After escaping her, he ran into Might Guy, shouting about youth while running five hundred laps around Konoha. Barely escaping Guy, Itachi thought he could catch a break—only to be chased by a dozen hairless ninja hounds from who-knows-where.
Hairless ninja hounds? Even with his and Scorpion's agility, they'd been spotted by those dogs. Were the Inuzuka cheating or something?
Finally thinking he could rest, the universe seemed to mock him. In this godforsaken place, he runs into her?
"Who's this?!" Scorpion snapped, glaring at Sakura. The string of misfortunes—especially being chased by those bald dogs—had pushed him to his limit. He'd held back from slaughtering them to avoid drawing the Inuzuka clan's attention, but now, facing a lone kid, he saw a chance to vent his frustration.
"She's…" Itachi began, but Scorpion was already done waiting.
In such a remote place, killing this pink-haired girl wouldn't be noticed immediately.
"Magnetic Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
As a master puppeteer, Scorpion's speed in deploying puppets was unmatched. Before Itachi could finish, the Third Kazekage puppet appeared, launching an attack on Sakura.
"You guys started it," Sakura said coolly. Without further ado, she tucked the Reanimation Jutsu scroll into her ninja pouch and charged at Scorpion.
Her foot slammed into the ground, cracking it as if a beast had stomped. Scorpion's eye twitched at the display of raw power.
That strength, pink hair, twelve or thirteen years old…
This is Haruno Sakura?!
The kid who killed a Raikage?!
Regret hit Scorpion too late—Sakura was already upon him. Three punches shattered the iron sand spikes hurtling toward her, reducing them to dust. In an instant, she was in front of Scorpion.
Itachi, a genjutsu specialist, was completely countered by her. Scorpion, a puppeteer who relied on poison, was equally outmatched by her taijutsu and medical expertise.
What chance do you two have against me?
Though curious about why Itachi and Scorpion were together, Sakura didn't dwell on it. For Sasuke's future Eternal Mangekyo and whatever deal Itachi had with Hiruzen, she'd let him off—barely. But Scorpion? He dared to provoke her?
"Die!"
Her fist roared like a raging tiger. Scorpion's expression shifted as he retreated, but his puppet-modified body was limited by its mechanisms. A puppeteer's speed had its ceiling.
A black figure flashed in front of him—the Third Kazekage puppet, summoned in desperation.
And then, Itachi acted.
No matter what, Scorpion was his nominal teammate. If he died here, Itachi would have a hard time explaining it to Pain. Though Scorpion led this mission, Itachi had proposed it.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Itachi unleashed a signature Uchiha fire jutsu. At this range, Sakura had no room to dodge.
Sakura sneered, pink chakra flaring around her fist. She smashed it into the massive fireball hurtling toward her.
Boom!
Flames erupted, but the fireball shattered as if it had hit an unstoppable steel wall, sparks scattering everywhere.
Itachi's eyes narrowed, and he immediately retreated. From their previous encounter, he knew Sakura was his hard counter. Without using Susanoo, he had no chance of winning.
"Damn pink-haired brat!" Scorpion, barely saved by Itachi's intervention, was furious. A twelve-year-old girl had made him look this pathetic?
Gritting his teeth, Scorpion manipulated the Kazekage puppet again. Purple poisonous mist spewed from its mouth—a secret toxin that could kill in three minutes.
Die!
Scorpion glared at the pink-haired girl, already imagining how he'd turn her into his finest puppet masterpiece.
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