Sakura sat in the luxurious room on the fortress's top level – formerly Klick's, now hers by default – idly turning a dull grey stone over in her hand.
"Is that the Stone of Gelel?" Karin asked curiously, peering at the smooth, oval object.
"It was," Sakura replied distractedly.
"But... I can't sense any energy left in it," Karin noted, tilting her head.
"That's because I absorbed all the energy inside it," Sakura explained, sighing as she looked at the now-inert, grey stone, completely devoid of its former green luminescence. Since the previous evening, she had been continuously drawing the stone's power into her Yin Seal until, just moments ago, it had finally run dry.
"Chakra is truly miraculous," Ranke commented from nearby, marveling at the concept before a flicker of concern crossed her face. "Lord Klick learned the extraction method for Chakra... Do you think, in there, he might..."
"Impossible," Sakura interrupted firmly. "Extracting Chakra is only the first, simplest step. Knowing how to use it is what matters. Even if he manages to extract some, without knowing any techniques, it's highly unlikely to help him survive."
Ranke nodded silently, though a shadow of regret lingered in her eyes – clearly, the inability to exact vengeance personally still stung.
"Speaking of which," Sakura changed the subject, "what are your plans now?"
Ranke gazed out the window at the vast ocean, contemplating for a moment. "Return to my homeland – Ikarus, on the Red Continent. It's still in chaos there. I intend to establish order."
"Hm?" Sakura glanced at Ranke, surprised. "Your homeland is called Ikarus?"
"Yes. Remnants of the Theocratic Nation are still active on the Red Continent. The original plan was to secure the Naelkui legacy and then return to end the turmoil," Ranke explained, her gaze hardening with resolve. "Although Klick was my enemy, achieving the Ideal Nation has always been the dream of us, the people of Ikarus."
"Well... good luck with that, then," Sakura offered somewhat dryly.
"Is there something else on your mind?" Ranke asked perceptively, noticing a subtle hesitation in Sakura's expression.
"Ahem," Sakura coughed awkwardly. "It's not a big deal, really, but..." She paused, deciding against her more elaborate, manipulative idea. Asking Ranke to help stage a fake invasion to unite the Shinobi Continent, shifting internal conflicts outwards... No, Ranke genuinely sought peace. Such a plan could easily spiral into true inter-civilizational war, the exact opposite of Ranke's goal. It was something Klick might have considered, but not Ranke. Instead, Sakura asked, "...could you perhaps give me the remaining two Gelel Stones?"
"I can give you one," Ranke countered immediately. "Our supply of refined Gelel Stones is extremely limited. Otherwise, we wouldn't have needed to seek out the Naelkui legacy in the first place."
"Okay, one is fine," Sakura conceded easily, not pressing the issue. It had been a long shot anyway.
"I will not repeat the mistakes of Naelkui or the Theocratic Nation," Ranke declared, looking directly at Sakura. "Once the current chaos is quelled using this last batch of Gelel Stones, there will be no more. That's why... could you teach me how to use Chakra?"
"Power is often the beginning of chaos," Sakura sighed. "Chakra arguably fuels even more war than the Stone of Gelel, if you truly understood the Shinobi Continent."
"That may be true," Ranke acknowledged frankly. "But if used correctly, it doesn't have to lead to war. The side effects of the Stone of Gelel were the root of much conflict. Chakra doesn't have that drawback. I want to try a different path."
Sakura hesitated for a moment. "Alright then." Even if she refused, Ranke could likely acquire basic Chakra knowledge back on the continent eventually. Extraction methods weren't exactly top-secret; Konoha's library had scrolls on it. If Ikarus resorted to capturing and interrogating genin or chunin, they'd learn eventually. Better to teach her herself and gain some goodwill. Ranke didn't seem like an unreasonable or inherently malicious person.
Spotting paper and a pen on Klick's desk, Sakura began drawing. She detailed the Chakra extraction method again, included diagrams for hand seals, and wrote out instructions for three basic elemental techniques: Water Release, Fire Release, and Earth Release.
"Here you go. These are the basics," Sakura said, handing the papers to Ranke.
"Thank you," Ranke accepted them gratefully. "I will fetch the Gelel Stone for you shortly."
"Okay. By the way, where are we now?" Sakura asked. Judging by the travel time, they should be getting close.
"One moment." Ranke reached up and pressed a switch near her collar – some kind of radio device, Sakura noted. After a brief exchange Sakura couldn't hear, Ranke reported, "We're approaching now. In a short while, we'll be near the first island we passed on our way out."
"Wait," Sakura's mind raced. "Which direction did you originally approach the Land of Wind from?" An island... could it be near the Land of Water?
"From the east," Ranke confirmed, thinking for a second. "More accurately, the southeast."
Southeast! That meant... Red Island! Sakura's face lit up with genuine excitement. Red Island was located southeast of the main continent, just off the coast from the Land of Tea!
"Ranke, you can just drop us off on that island!" Sakura requested eagerly. "I actually have some business to take care of there!"
"Very well," Ranke agreed without fuss. "Wait here, I'll go get the Stone."
Once Ranke had left, Karin and Neji immediately crowded around Sakura.
"What's Red Island? I've never heard of it," Neji asked, puzzled by Sakura's sudden enthusiasm.
"Ever heard of Ise Beef?" Sakura asked, her own mouth watering slightly at the thought.
"Yes!" Both Neji and Karin nodded, swallowing simultaneously.
"The famous Ise Beef from Ise Town originates from Red Island," Sakura explained. "Coincidentally, I had a mission there once. I helped their village out with a major problem."
"Really?" Karin practically vibrated with excitement, practically tasting the legendary, luxurious beef she could rarely afford (usually only scoring a bite when a senior medic treated the staff). "Does that mean... if we go there... I can eat as much as I want?"
"Absolutely!" Sakura grinned, giving Karin the answer she desperately wanted to hear.
.....
.....
On the fortress deck, standing once again on the large descending platform, Sakura, Karin, Neji, and Kheshik prepared to depart, saying their farewells to Ranke.
"I didn't expect us to part ways so soon. I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to meet again," Ranke said, a touch of genuine sadness in her voice.
"Perhaps," Sakura replied. "If you manage to bring peace to your homeland, you're welcome to establish trade with ours. Honestly, some of your technology is quite impressive."
"I will strive for that," Ranke nodded, taking a deep breath and masking her melancholy with renewed determination. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye!"
The platform began its slow descent. Ranke watched Sakura and the others shrink from view, an unexpected sense of loss settling in her heart. Despite their different origins and initial conflict, they had helped each other. A strange feeling, almost like revolutionary camaraderie, lingered.
Only when the small boat carrying them had disappeared from sight did Ranke allow her expression to firm. Suppressing her lingering sadness, she turned decisively and strode back towards the fortress's command center. Addressing the assembled crew, her voice, though slightly hoarse, rang with newfound authority.
"We're going home!"