"Sakura, your mission is over?" Karin said with pleasant surprise.
"Yes, just got back." Sakura Haruno smiled at Karin. "Why are you back now?"
"Ah, sensei had something to do today, so class ended early," Karin said, running towards the kitchen. "You just got back, you must not have eaten yet. I'll go make you something."
"No need," Sakura stopped Karin. "I've already eaten."
"Oh, I see." Karin was clearly a little disappointed, as if the one thing she could do for Sakura was no longer an option.
The room suddenly fell silent. Neither of them spoke. A terrible silence enveloped them. In the past, this place was always filled with the scolding voice of Mebuki Haruno and the hearty laughter of Kizashi Haruno. Yet now, there was only a deathly stillness.
"Karin..."
"Sakura..."
"You first..."
"You first..."
This coincidence lightened Sakura's mood slightly. She said to Karin, "Sit down. There's something I want to talk to you about."
Karin obediently sat opposite Sakura. Seeing Sakura's somewhat serious expression, she felt a little apprehensive, wondering what Sakura wanted to say to her.
Sakura looked at Karin, who appeared a bit nervous. She closed her eyes, considered for a moment, then spoke, "Have you been practicing the sealing jutsu you showed me last time?"
"That, ah, yes. But... but I haven't made much progress," Karin said, seeming somewhat dejected.
"Mm... There's something I'd like to ask your opinion on." Sakura paused, then continued, "I want you to team up with me for missions."
"Okay," Karin said without hesitation.
"..." This time, it was Sakura's turn to be silent. After a moment, she said, "Actually, you can think about it. I'm not forcing you."
"No, there's no need to think about it, Sakura. This is my own will. I don't want to be left behind by you," Karin said, her head lowered. "No matter... no matter what you want to do... I'm willing to... to do it for you..."
Hearing Karin's soft yet firm voice, Sakura felt a sharp pang in her heart, as if it had been fiercely pierced. Karin's peaceful life had not come easily, and she didn't want to disrupt the tranquility she had only recently found. But now, she truly needed Karin's power.
And if Karin's abilities weren't honed, her progress would be very slow. It would be very troublesome if Karin couldn't exert her due strength when she was needed.
Shaking her head, she pushed these thoughts aside. Since she had proposed it, there was no room for regret. She would just have to be careful to protect her in the future.
"I understand. I'll go talk to the Fifth Hokage," Sakura said.
Just then, a knock suddenly came from the door. Sakura got up, walked over, and opened it to find an ANBU operative standing there.
"Sakura Haruno, Lady Fifth Hokage wants to see you," the ANBU operative said.
"Mm, got it. I'll be right there," Sakura replied. The ANBU operative then vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.
Sakura turned to Karin and said, "Well then, you stay home for now. I'll go see what Master wants with me first, and I'll mention the team-up matter as well."
"Um... I'll go with you," Karin said, standing up.
"No need, you stay home. I'll go talk to her." Before Karin could speak, Sakura had already stepped out and locked the door.
Once outside, Sakura took a deep breath. Her master probably wanted to see her about Yakumo Kurama. If she could arrange for Yakumo Kurama to join her team, it would be perfect.
A genjutsu user comparable to the Sharingan, a kunoichi possessing the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains, plus herself as the main attacker—a perfect Tailed Beast hunting squad.
After learning Yakumo Kurama's identity, Sakura knew she had to make Yakumo hate Konoha, yet also retain some affection for it, for Yakumo to be useful to her.
If her memory served her right, according to the plot development—though the plot might have already been disrupted—Yakumo Kurama, aside from her misunderstandings about Kurenai Yuhi and Konoha, didn't have any good reason to work for Sakura. Besides, she was the young mistress of the Kurama clan. Although the Kurama clan had declined, they would absolutely not allow their young mistress to follow her.
Sakura could only deepen Yakumo's hatred for Konoha and show her kindness herself to possibly make her work for her. But because she didn't plan to leave Konoha for the time being, she couldn't let Yakumo's hatred for Konoha reach an irreconcilable point.
This was truly a delicate task. Sasuke Uchiha was no longer in the village, and even if he were, he wouldn't necessarily join her plan. So, encountering Yakumo Kurama today was truly fortunate. No matter what, she had to persuade her master.
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade and Kurenai Yuhi sat in silence. Just moments ago, Kurenai had recounted the events of that year. Now, it seemed they could only wait for Sakura's explanation to decide whether it was time to implement the Third Hokage's plan from back then.
Knock, knock, knock. A knock came from the door.
"Come in!" Tsunade said.
Click. The door opened, and Sakura Haruno entered from outside. Only two people were in the office.
"Kurenai-sensei, hello. Master, you wanted to see me?" Sakura greeted Kurenai Yuhi, then looked at her master and asked.
"Mm, there's something I want to understand from you." Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on Sakura, and asked seriously, "Where were you just now?"
"Hmm? Just now? I was at home," Sakura said, looking at her master with a puzzled expression.
"Have you been out at all?" Tsunade continued to ask.
"No..." Sakura looked bewildered.
"Just now, someone from the medical team said they saw you at Mioka Villa," Tsunade said, trying to prompt Sakura.
"Mioka Villa? Where's that?" Sakura still looked confused, then asked in return, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Tsunade stared intently into Sakura's eyes. It seemed she wasn't lying. No, I should believe her. The lack of trust last time led to tragedy. Perhaps I really am being too suspicious this time.
"Just now, a member of the Mioka Villa medical team said they saw you there, and that you knocked out two ANBU members," Tsunade said with a sigh of relief. "Of course, I believe what you said."
"Hmm? What's going on?" Sakura asked urgently, a hint of surprise on her face.
"This matter..."
"Lady Fifth Hokage," Kurenai Yuhi interrupted Tsunade at this moment. "Since this matter has nothing to do with Sakura, let's proceed with the plan from that year."
"Mm, it seems that's the only way." Tsunade nodded, then said to Sakura, "It's nothing now. Sorry to make you come all this way. You can go back first."
"No, what exactly happened? Since it involves me, I have the right to know the details. Besides, from what Master is saying, it sounds like someone impersonated me," Sakura said, how could she just leave like that? She immediately pressed further.
"..." Tsunade was silent for a moment. "Alright, perhaps you're right. Then let me ask you, have you been to the forest northeast of the village recently?"
"Yes, I have. Sometime after I first returned to the village," Sakura nodded.
"Then it should be correct." Tsunade nodded at Kurenai Yuhi. "Since Sakura is already involved, then this mission will be carried out by the two of you."
"Lady Hokage, Yakumo is my student. I can handle it myself," Kurenai Yuhi objected.
"Say no more. It will be very dangerous for you alone. If her abilities awaken, you alone will likely be unable to cope," Tsunade refused, then looked at Sakura. "This story begins with the Third Hokage...."