"A tiny, insignificant change in Yin Nature Transformation."
The cherry-blossom-haired girl pinched her thumb and index finger together.
The Uchiha crowd then showed expressions of sudden realization, beginning to ponder based on their own situations.
"It's nothing but the Mist Servant Technique! Don't let her lead you astray, you fools!"
An elder stepped out from the crowd, loudly rebuking them.
"As Uchiha, you should delve into your Kekkei Genkai and pursue the ultimate form of these eyes."
He slowly walked up to Sakura, activated his Sharingan, and sneered:
"'Creating form from nothing'? A laughable trick! Can it compare to the legendary power of the gods?!"
"Sooner or later, I'll shatter you along with your so-called 'power of the gods'!"
Sakura raised her fist, the smile beneath her mask growing even sweeter.
It was a shame this beauty was hidden behind the mask, with no one to appreciate it.
"Cough, Konoha's young sprout has caused you trouble, Clan Head Fugaku!"
Hiruzen's deep voice cut through the increasingly tense atmosphere between Sakura and the elder.
"Elder Gin, mind your manners. Step back!"
Fugaku leaped down from the roof and landed before the Third Hokage, bowing slightly.
The two left their subordinates behind and walked to a secluded spot to talk.
Although both were Ninjas and intentionally isolated themselves from prying eyes, Sakura's Observation Haki could cover a full kilometer, allowing her to easily overhear their conversation.
The Third Hokage subtly blamed the Uchiha Clan for their internal turmoil, while Fugaku simply attributed it to a conflict between two young men.
In reality, both were well aware of the current divisive state within the Uchiha Clan. Tonight's clash was essentially a collision between two opposing viewpoints within the clan.
Fugaku, as head of the clan, was utterly incompetent. Externally, he's unable to secure benefits, while internally, he's unable to heal the divisions.
It could be said that Fugaku himself bore about thirty percent of the responsibility for the Uchiha Clan's out-of-control war chariot ultimately charging toward destruction.
As for the remaining seventy percent? The Blame Kage of the Ninja World undoubtedly took the lion's share.
'The clan of love, huh...'
Sakura looked down at her arm, at the Ninja Wristbands given to her as an apology by a certain tsundere.
'The annihilation of the Uchiha Clan was truly a pity. Moreover, if it attracted the attention of other great nations and threw Konoha into turmoil, it would also affect my parents.'
'For the sake of my parents, and to ensure a certain tsundere didn't become an orphan, perhaps... I could do something!'
Just as Sakura was deep in thought, Hiruzen returned with Fugaku.
"After discussions with Clan Head Fugaku, it has been decided that henceforth, one Anbu's member will be stationed within the Uchiha Clan to serve as a bridge for communication between both sides."
Having said that, Hiruzen's gaze swept over the assembled Anbu, intending to select one from the ranks he had personally trained for the role of stationed operative.
But... the discord between the Uchiha Clan and the village was no secret.
The Anbu present all understood this was a troublesome assignment, so they averted their eyes, afraid of being chosen.
"Hokage-sama, please assign this mission to me!"
A clear voice caught Hiruzen's attention. He looked over and saw Sakura, wearing her cat mask.
Instantly, an idea flashed through his mind.
'Amid the current heavy tensions between the village and the Uchiha Clan, any drastic move could ignite the powder keg on both sides. Yet, the practical need to suppress the Uchiha Clan remained.'
'And now, with Sakura volunteering, her potential utility was immense.'
'Whether viewed as a child, a Kekkei Genkai User, a powerful Anbu's member, or a genius capable of developing Genjutsu that countered the Sharingan, this task was perfect for her.'
"Very well!" Hiruzen nodded.
'While Sakura is a bit rebellious, overly bold, not very polite, and always eager for a fight… but ultimately, she was still a good kid with the Will of Fire!'
"Cough, consider this your mission reward, issued in advance."
Forming the Tiger hand seal, Hiruzen summoned a small scroll and tossed it to Sakura.
Sakura's eyes scanned the text on the scroll, and her lips curved into a smile.
'Wow! The Shadow Clone Technique! To help me deal with my parents, right?'
'Old man Sarutobi, good job!'
If it weren't for the crowd, Sakura would have totally put on a show for Hiruzen!
The Anbu and Uchiha crowds gradually dispersed, and Sakura followed Fugaku to his home.
"I'll be troubling you during this time, Clan Head Fugaku."
Sakura straightforwardly removed her mask. Given the Uchiha Clan's abilities, no matter how marginalized they were, they should know her identity.
Concealing her identity after being exposed would only invite suspicion… it served no purpose.
"Since you're Sasuke's classmate, I'll just call you Sakura."
"Of course, you can also call me Uncle Fugaku."
"If you need anything during your mission, you can tell Mikoto. She'll help you."
Fugaku offered a relatively kind smile before leaving the reception room.
His wife, Uchiha Mikoto, entered and led Sakura to the room prepared for her.
Tap, tap, tap!
Urgent footsteps echoed from the hallway as Itachi, returning from his Anbu's duties, slid open the Japanese-style door and rushed in.
Seeing Itachi in this state, Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"Has the beastly senior finally decided to make a move on his junior, Crow-senpai?"
The girl, possessed by her inner drama queen, weakly collapsed onto the floor, pretending to wipe tears from the corner of her eye with an empty hand.
But Itachi was obviously not in the mood to joke with her at the moment.
"What were you thinking? Why would you voluntarily get involved in the affairs between the village and the Uchiha Clan?"
"Right now, immediately, go resign from Hokage-sama and have him assign someone else!"
The concern in Itachi's eyes was genuine. From the village's perspective, he might indeed be a good comrade-
'It's just a pity...'
Sakura's Observation Haki swept over him, sensing a sinister Chakra around his eye sockets, continuously eroding his brain.
Moreover, his clothes carried the scent of forest, soil, and blood.
'It seemed he might have also had contact with… 'Root'?'
"Who else could they send at this point? Is there anyone in the Anbu more suitable than me?"
Sakura asked Itachi back, leaving him speechless.
"Sigh, Uchiha Itachi!"
Sakura let out a soft sigh and called out the name of the person before her.
Then, Sakura unbuckled her Anbu's iron armor, revealing the wrist guards underneath.
On the cuff of the wrist guard was a small uchiwa fan… the distinctive mark of the Uchiha Clan's weapon supplier.
"This was given to me by your brother."
Itachi frowned and asked in confusion: "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I see potential in your Uchiha Clan through him. That's why I'm willing to step into this whirlpool."
These people weren't just characters drawn in lines from a manga she'd once read.
They were living, breathing people, weaving their own stories on this land called Konoha with their joys, sorrows, and emotions.
The slightly tsundere but kind-hearted Uchiha Sasuke, the perpetually burdened yet caring Uchiha Itachi who looked out for his juniors...
It was their vividness that allowed Sakura to see past the Uchiha Clan's cold exterior and feel their burning emotions.
Uchiha… the clan of love. Sakura acknowledged their way of life, and as a pirate, she would act in her own way for the friends she recognized.
"So, don't you dare let me down, U! Chi! Ha!"
Moonlight streamed down, a gentle breeze stirring her short cherry-pink hair, revealing the girl's confident and bold smile, along with her expectations for the Uchiha Clan's future.
And this scene would become a memory Itachi could never forget for the rest of his life.