Inside an endless swirl of rainbow chaos, crimson chakra rose up, ballooning fast—like molten steel ripping across the sky, swallowing everything in sight.
The Arakami's pitch-black divine weapon shot a million miles to stab the blasphemer who dared defy Him.
Susanoo: Yasaka Magatama!
The Mist's rogue ninjas heard the roar, blank-faced. They looked up on instinct and saw the torrent of blazing light exploding outward.
"Uh, Dawarishi—that thing's glowing?"
"Wait, why's it getting bigger?"
"What do you mean tell Fugaku myself? Fugaku's dead—how?!"
"You're telling me to go see Fugaku?!"
"No way—I still wanna live!!"
BOOOOM!!!!
Countless confused eyes were lit by the firestorm.
The ultimate attack born from the kaleidoscope of illusion and ruin shook the earth. Crimson lightning erupted, tearing the sky, dragging dozens of Mist rogues into the inferno.
"Uchiha Itachi, you lunatic—what are you doing?!"
Mizukage's eyes nearly split from rage, but the opening was all Shibuki needed. He flung his water blade straight through the man's chest.
Hack…
Blood sprayed. Mizukage dropped to his knees.
Far off, Itachi—wrapped in the shadow of a god—glanced over, lips curling into the faintest smirk.
This brother-obsessed freak!
Sakura caught the thought mid-clash with Observation Haki and rolled her eyes.
Clear steam hissed from every pore. Under Bloodline Limit: Boil Release, her chakra ignited.
Boil Release: Strange Strength Unmatched!
The wild power of the Giant Clan roared free. Superheated chakra layered insane physical boosts—her punch sparked fire just from friction with the air.
Susanoo's shield rose. The Yata Mirror tried to reflect the elemental fury on her fist.
But raw, stupid force crushed every trick. It ripped chakra apart and smashed everything in its path.
Pure stats. No fancy mechanics—just numbers steamrolling everything. Her pink fist rocketed straight for Itachi's cheek.
Even a healthy Itachi felt his spine chill under that primal violence.
Amaterasu!
Black flames surged, burning all creation!
The dark fire came with world-ending glory, swallowing the girl whole.
Observation Haki screamed bloody murder, warning her of the incoming doom.
No way was she cocky enough to test that fire with her bare knuckles.
Fine. Chakra pierced space-time, locking onto a Flying Thunder God kunai below.
Whoosh!
Light flashed. She teleported miles away, clean out of Amaterasu's range.
The black flames hit the ground, instantly turning rock to ash—and kept spreading like a prairie fire.
"Hey! You're actually trying to kill me?!"
Barely dodging, Sakura wiped sweat and stared at the growing inferno.
She slapped her ninja pouch. A small scroll dropped. She flicked it open with her toe—revealing fire-sealing runes.
Boiling chakra poured in. Sealing lines surged like tidal waves, coiling the black flames and dragging them into the scroll.
Itachi didn't answer, but he really wished he could swap his Sharingan for Byakugan—just to roll his eyes at this girl 24/7.
Listen to her. Is that even human?
Who started it by trying to punch his face off with super strength? Would he survive that hit?
"If we keep this up, I'll have to go full Susanoo."
Itachi's cold voice cut through the smoke. He pointed behind her, wiping blood from his eye.
Sakura glanced back—Takigakure in ruins.
"Tch…"
She clicked her tongue, irritation all over her face.
Seeing she got the message, Itachi dismissed Susanoo's chakra and flicked a storm of kunai and shuriken.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Shuriken!
Fire lit the tools. Burning blades spun through the air.
Sakura swayed lightly—dodged every one.
Earth Style: Yellow Spring Bog!
Fingers flew through seals. Chakra hit the ground. Soil and water fused—a massive swamp swallowed the field.
Mist rogues who'd turned to flee at Itachi's fire suddenly sank, trapped.
Then the flaming shuriken and kunai rained down, showing off the Uchiha's infamous fire in all its vicious glory.
The ninjas' eyes widened in their final moment. A spark of clarity hit.
"You sons of— you're working together?!"
Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!
Flames shot, kunai pierced, shuriken sliced. Their bitter realization drowned in screeching metal.
No survivors.
Fire spread everywhere. Sakura and Itachi stood face-to-face.
"The jinchuriki was moved early. They knew we were coming."
"Also—tell the village someone's collecting tailed beasts. Organization called Akatsuki."
Amid the crackling flames and towering smoke, Itachi warned her.
"Got it. I'll pass it on. Anything for Auntie Mikoto?"
Sakura brushed dust off, eyeing the taller, sharper young man.
"Nothing."
Surrounded by fire, his pupils trembled—just barely.
His black cloak writhed. Crows burst out, scattering into the sky.
As he vanished, something heavy dropped into Sakura's hand.
She opened her palm. An eyeball floated in nutrient fluid.
"Take care of Sasuke. When he gets there… help him steal the other one back from Danzo."
His voice faded, swallowed by the fire's roar.
More worried about his brother than his mom. Deadbeat brother-complex!
She grumbled, but cleanup was cleanup.
She sealed Shisui's eye in a scroll, tucked it close, and looked at the burning, wrecked Takigakure.
Tiger → Rooster → Rabbit
Hands slammed the ground!
Water Style: Who Fixed the Dam, Huh?!
Chakra called clear water from nearby rivers. A deluge crashed down, washing the battlefield clean and dousing the village fires.
After the man-made disaster, the village was a mess—dead, wounded, Leader Shibuki passed out from overdosing on Hero Water. Chaos everywhere.
Sakura gathered the survivors and summoned Katsuyu to heal them.
Hours later, a bandaged Shibuki showed up at her door.
"Thank you for your help!"
He knelt and bowed deeply.
"Hold the thanks. We're ninjas. You hired us—so let's talk payment~"
Sakura tilted her head lazily. Naruto and Sasuke stood behind her, trying to look stone-cold and intimidating.
"Medical ninjutsu's on me—freebie."
"But combat? One current S-rank rogue: Uchiha Itachi. Four Mist chunin. Thirty genin…"
Every word made Shibuki's heart twitch.
Takigakure had just been invaded. Wealth and production—nearly wiped out.
Troops still needed supplies. Homes burned. Villagers needed aid.
Now an S-rank bill slapped in his face.
No money. Seriously no money. Squeeze the village dry and we still can't pay!
Wahhh, Dad—why didn't you warn me being leader costs this much?!
"Um, Lady Haruno… we really…"
Under her burning gaze, he swallowed bitter words. For the village, he had to say it.
"We… can't pay."
"No money? Easy fix!"
His eyes lit up—angelic voice!
Then he looked up. On the tatami, Sakura's emerald eyes were half-lidded, savoring his panic.
After a long, happy smile…
"I hear Takigakure has something special…"
Shibuki felt winter in his bones.