"Even the techniques I helped create end up with such plain, unassuming names," Tobirama Senju grumbled.
"Look at the techniques I developed: Flying Thunder God Technique, Reanimation Jutsu, Mutual Multiplier Explosive Tag... These names sound impressive just by hearing them."
"What's the point of making them all fancy and ostentatious? As long as they're effective, that's enough," Sakura Haruno retorted, waving her hand dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Tobirama's words.
"Worst case, we can just keep developing derivative techniques like the Lightning Release: Ninja Body Art from the Cloud Village and name them later."
"Fine, do as you please. It's your technique, after all," Tobirama sighed, glancing at the pink-haired girl beside him.
She had willingly given up Wood Release, a top-tier kekkei genkai, to focus on Yang Release techniques instead. Even though mastering both wouldn't have been an issue—after all, Sakura was only thirteen—she stubbornly chose Yang Release, showing no interest whatsoever in Wood Release.
She was charging down the path of power at breakneck speed...
But it was precisely this determination that made Tobirama curious to see just how powerful this Yang Release, so fervently chosen by the pink-haired girl, could become.
Three Days Later
Konohagakure's Main Gate
The logistical support team bound for the front lines in the Land of Rivers assembled at this moment. Sakura sat in a carriage, idly fiddling with her knuckle-dusters to pass the time. Beside her sat Karin, while across from them were Kakashi Hatake and Terumi Mei.
This was the assassination squad led by Sakura, tasked with taking down Kakuzu.
Originally, Asuma Sarutobi was supposed to join them, but he was called away at the last minute. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Might Guy's team had already escorted Naruto out of Konoha the previous day, heading to Turtle Island on the coastline of the Land of Fire.
As a result, only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade remained to hold the fort in Konoha. The village had no spare forces left.
Sakura had initially wanted to bring Sasuke along—after all, he had the Mangekyo Sharingan. But the old man had refused, citing Sasuke's need to train in Lightning Release: Ninja Body Art. Clearly, Hiruzen intended to leave this stage in the Land of Rivers entirely to Sakura.
As for Uchiha Hikaru... forget it. There was no way she'd fight for Konoha right now. Given her past, she likely harbored a deep aversion to war.
So, Sakura had brought Karin instead. Karin's sensory abilities were unmatched in the ninja world, and with Yamanaka Haiichi already at the front lines in the Land of Rivers, they could perform the Mind-Mountain Technique together, just like Ino. With Karin's help, the moment Kakuzu showed his face, they'd track him down instantly.
Karin sat beside Sakura, diligently studying a scroll even while traveling. Sakura couldn't help but lean over, curious about what Karin was learning.
"Want to take a look, Sakura?" Karin asked, noticing the pink-haired girl's movement and nudging the scroll toward her.
"No, I'm just curious about what you're studying," Sakura replied.
"This is the technique the Third gave me yesterday after testing my chakra nature. It's a reward for my performance on the battlefield," Karin said with a smile, flipping the scroll back to its first page. "According to the Third, my chakra nature is the same as yours, Sakura—Yin, Yang, Water, and Earth."
The scroll's title came into view: Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique (Second Hokage's Improved Version).
"The old man's so stingy, only giving you a Water Release technique like that," Sakura said, pursing her lips.
"No, that's not true. This one was requested by Lady Tsunade for me. The Third gave me these instead." Karin pulled two more scrolls from her ninja pouch: Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Blade and Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet.
The first was an S-rank Water Release technique exclusive to Tobirama Senju, and the second was his improved version of the Water Dragon Bullet. Seeing this, Sakura nodded in satisfaction.
After all, Karin and Ino's Mind-Mountain Technique had been instrumental on the Frost Country battlefield. For the old man to reward her with an S-rank and an A-rank technique was fair enough. From these three Water Release techniques, it was clear that Tsunade and Hiruzen wanted Karin to capitalize on her vast chakra reserves, turning her into a mobile artillery platform.
Since Karin had grown up in the Grass Village, her foundational ninja skills were lacking. Building those up now would take time, so they were taking a different approach—focusing on overwhelming power. No matter what the enemy threw at her, Karin could simply unleash a massive Water Release technique and dominate through sheer ninjutsu bombardment.
Kakashi, resting his cheek in his hand, glanced at the red-haired girl's Water Release scrolls and twitched his mouth. Some people drown in abundance, while others are left parched. If he tried to use three Great Waterfall Techniques, his chakra would be drained dry.
"Hehe, I'm just starting to learn it now, so I'm only studying the Great Waterfall Technique," Karin said, rubbing her nose with a grin. "But in the future, I'll definitely be able to help you, Sakura."
"You're already a huge help, Karin," Sakura replied, her expression softening as she looked at the redhead.
Back then, Sakura had only been thinking about mastering the Yin Seal when she sought out Karin. But now, it was clear that rescuing Karin from the Grass Village had been the right choice, no matter her original intentions.
As the logistical team finished preparations, the group bound for the Land of Rivers officially set out.
Land of Rivers, Sand Village Front Line, Sand Village Central Command Tent
"Is your information reliable?" Chiyo asked, rubbing her temple with a headache.
Lately, though Konoha had changed commanders, replacing Danzo Shimura with Mito Menma, the new commander wasn't any easier to deal with. While Mito Menma's tactics weren't as cunning or unpredictable as Danzo's, they were consistently above average in every aspect—offense, defense, flanking, border security. To defeat him, one would need overwhelmingly superior strategy, or else he was like an unkillable cockroach.
"You doubt our intelligence?" the tall man in a black-and-red-clouded cloak and a mask replied casually, counting a stack of cash.
Chiyo's mouth twitched as she watched him. This old man, older than her, cared about nothing but money.
"So, what now?" she asked. "That witch from Konoha defeated even the Fourth Raikage."
It had been some time since the Frost Country conflict ended, and details from the war had been uncovered. Especially regarding Sakura. By now, nearly the entire ninja world believed the war had started because of her. The Raikage's heated exchange with Jiraiya on the battlefield, where he outright blamed Sakura, had cemented this.
At just thirteen years old, with meticulous cunning and formidable strength, she had captured the Two-Tails and defeated the Raikage. This was no longer within the realm of a normal ninja—it was utterly absurd, defying all logic.
Even the legendary Minato Namikaze, in all his brilliance, hadn't been this outrageous at her age.
Before Sakura, if someone had told Chiyo that a thirteen-year-old could defeat the renowned Raikage, she would've laughed it off as a joke. But now, this ludicrous reality had come to pass, and Chiyo could no longer laugh.
It was precisely because of this absurdity that some had dubbed her the "Witch."
"What now?" Kakuzu asked, lifting his eerie green eyes to meet the elderly woman's gaze. "You either fight or run. It's that simple."
After counting his stack of bills, he inhaled the crisp scent of ink, closing his eyes in bliss. Money... the most beautiful thing in the world.
Chiyo felt a pang of frustration watching him. A single Konoha ninja was worth 100,000 ryo—how much had Kakuzu already earned from the Sand Village? If not for the Wind Country's daimyo heavily funding this war, the Sand Village couldn't have afforded it.
"Then we have no choice but to ensure this witch dies here," Chiyo said grimly.
Running wasn't an option. It might seem like the Sand Village was fighting both the Rock Village and Konoha alone, but Konoha, fresh from its grueling battle with the Cloud Village, needed time to recover. The forces they'd committed to the Frost Country couldn't be redeployed to the Land of Rivers so quickly.
Moreover, the Rock Village had the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki, plus Loess, yet they still hadn't defeated Ebizo and Kisame Hoshigaki. It was clear they were holding back, wary of letting Konoha dominate unchallenged. Their effort was half-hearted at best.
The Land of Earth faced little pressure in this war. Meanwhile, word had come from the Mist Village—they would soon set out, crossing the sea to land in the Land of Whirlpools, using it as a staging ground to attack the Land of Fire.
On the surface, the Wind-Lightning alliance had already lost half its strength. In reality, it had shifted into a Wind-Water alliance, while the Fire-Earth alliance was essentially Konoha alone against the Wind and Water Countries. And from the Rock Village's actions, it was clear they were wavering internally.
If Konoha kept winning, the Rock Village would likely maintain their superficial alliance and continue slacking. But if Konoha suffered a defeat, it was uncertain whether a Wind-Earth-Water alliance or a Wind-Water alliance would emerge.
Chiyo's gaze fell on the photo of the pink-haired girl on the table. Only thirteen years old... This child cannot be allowed to live. At thirteen, she was already this monstrous. What would she become as an adult?
Seeing Chiyo's resolve, Kakuzu glanced at her. "This operation is clearly targeting me. I'm taking on a lot of pressure for your Sand Village. Shouldn't you show some appreciation?"
Chiyo paused, considering. "Kill Haruno Sakura, and you'll get 150 million ryo."
"Deal! Elder Chiyo is as generous as ever!" Kakuzu's face lit up with a grin.
By now, the pink-haired girl's bounty had skyrocketed, rivaling that of the Five Kage and the older generation of elite ninjas—perhaps even surpassing them. Not only had she defeated the Raikage, but her youth made her a threat no one outside Konoha wanted to see grow.
"I'll inform the Kazekage to bring reinforcements and join us personally," Chiyo said coldly, slamming a kunai into Sakura's photo on the table. "You, me, the Kazekage, and his Jinchuriki—four of us will strike together and cut her down in the chaos of battle."
"Sounds good," Kakuzu replied, the corners of his mouth stretching into a wide grin beneath his mask.
He wasn't just agreeing with Chiyo's plan—he knew Sakura's team consisted only of a young Uzumaki girl, Kakashi, and Terumi Mei. Jiraiya, the veteran powerhouse, wasn't part of this mission. Meanwhile, the Mist Village was preparing to move, and to counter them, Konoha had only the Hokage and Tsunade left. Tsunade would undoubtedly lead an army to hold off the Mist, meaning Sakura's team lacked any other standout fighters.
If the Kazekage could keep Terumi Mei occupied and a squad could intercept Kakashi, Sakura would be isolated. Killing her would mean a fortune in ryo.
Surely the mighty Kazekage could handle an obscure figure like Terumi Mei, right?
Land of Rivers, Konoha Front Line
"Thank you for your hard work," Mito Menma said, personally greeting the logistical team.
The little girl who once trailed behind the Third Hokage had grown into a figure even he couldn't underestimate.
"Elder Menma," Sakura said with a smile, looking at the older man.
Compared to Koharu Utatane and Danzo Shimura, this elder was far more reasonable. Any earlier prejudices she'd held against him had long since vanished. If he'd ever sought the Hokage position, he would've been a formidable rival to the old man.
"You've grown taller," Menma remarked with a smile, gesturing for his subordinates to receive the supplies before leading Sakura's group to the central command tent.
"Any trouble on the way?" he asked casually as they walked.
"My movements were discovered," Sakura replied.
Her words made Menma pause, his brow furrowing. Without another word, he quickened his pace, leading them to the command tent and activating a barrier to prevent eavesdropping.
"What happened?" he asked urgently the moment they were inside.
"The logistical team's movements weren't concealed—it was practically an open march," Sakura explained. "That kind of commotion couldn't possibly escape the Sand Village's scouts. Yet they didn't make a move."
At that moment, Menma's expression shifted, and he glanced toward the tent's entrance.
The flap opened, revealing three men: one with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle, another with long beige hair, and a third, burly man with red hair—Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Haiichi, and Akimichi Choza, the current heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and Konoha's strongest trio.
"This confirms that your presence, Sakura, has been leaked," Shikaku said, giving her a friendly glance before nodding to Kakashi in acknowledgment. Clearly, they were old acquaintances.
"Testing whether your intelligence has been compromised is also a psychological tactic," Shikaku continued, his tone measured. He had immediately grasped Sakura's intent.
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