Inside Konoha Hospital, Sakura found herself stuck on night duty. Shizune-senpai and Karin had already clocked out and gone home.
I have absolutely no rights! Sakura fumed internally – well, her Shadow Clone did. Why me? Why do I have to stay here for night duty while everyone else gets to go home? What did I do to deserve this?!
"I need to eat! I'm hungry! You can't just treat me like this!" the Sakura clone complained indignantly to Shizune-senpai just as she was about to leave.
Shizune merely rolled her eyes. "Do Shadow Clones even need to eat? Just stay put and do your duty properly. You're only a Shadow Clone, after all."
"What's wrong with being a Shadow Clone?!" Sakura Prime— er, the Clone— leaped up agitatedly. "Shadow Clones deserve human rights too! This is completely unfair! It's outrageous!"
"Alright, alright," Shizune sighed. "Feeding you would be pointless anyway. Just hang in there until… hmm… let's say nine o'clock. Then you can dispel yourself. How about this as a compromise: I won't report to Lady Tsunade that you used a clone to cover your shift today. Deal?"
"Uh… well… okay, fine," the clone grumbled, ultimately relenting after a moment's thought.
Sakura couldn't quite articulate the sensation of being a Shadow Clone. Intellectually, she knew she was a copy, but she never felt like one. In the end, all the memories and experiences would flow back to the original body, becoming indistinguishable from her own experiences. It all felt real.
So, stomach rumbling, Sakura sat grumpily in the hospital's on-call duty room, muttering under her breath. She wasn't even supposed to be on duty tonight. But Shizune, seeing how long her clone could be maintained, had decided to take advantage of the situation. It wasn't the duty itself Sakura minded, but the principle! It felt like a fundamental violation of rights – why shouldn't Shadow Clones get to eat?!
Later, Karin returned, bless her kind soul, bringing a steaming bowl of Ichiraku Ramen that finally soothed Sakura's (or her clone's) wounded spirit.
After eating, boredom set in again. Sakura lounged on a chair, engrossed in a thick medical textbook. Suddenly, the duty room door burst open, and a nurse rushed in anxiously.
"Doctor Sakura!" the nurse called out. "A patient was just brought in! His injuries look quite serious!"
Sakura immediately put down her book. "Where are the injuries? What's his current condition?"
"They're severe," the nurse reported, "but he doesn't appear to be in immediate mortal danger. Still… I really think you should come take a look."
"Okay, lead the way," Sakura agreed, quickly donning her white doctor's coat and gesturing for the nurse to proceed.
Following the nurse, Sakura arrived outside one of the emergency rooms. She frowned. "Didn't you say his life wasn't in danger? Why is he in the ER?"
"Ah," the nurse replied helplessly, "the patient's younger brother insisted."
Sakura sighed inwardly, pushing open the ER doors. Inside, lying on the examination bed, was a portly, middle-aged man. Standing vigilantly beside him was a rather handsome ninja.
"Hello…" Sakura began professionally, but before she could continue, the patient on the bed suddenly reacted violently, pointing a trembling arm stump frantically at her, words tumbling out in a choked stammer.
"Y-You…! It's you…! It was YOU…!"
Only then did Sakura get a clear look at the man's injuries. They were indeed horrific. Both hands and his right foot were missing entirely. Blood still seeped sluggishly from the stumps, though the blackened, cauterized edges indicated that intense heat had, at some point, temporarily sealed the wounds.
Sakura took a step closer, intending to examine the injuries more thoroughly. But as she approached, the middle-aged man let out a terrified cry and scrambled backward off the bed, falling onto the floor and shuffling away from her in abject terror.
Sakura stopped in her tracks, utterly bewildered. Frowning, she turned to the ninja standing beside the bed. "Is he… alright mentally? Did he suffer some kind of severe psychological shock?"
The handsome ninja regarded Sakura with a thoughtful, unreadable expression. He didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he looked down at the terrified man cowering on the floor. "Brother," he asked calmly, "is she the one who did this to you?"
"YES! It was her! Definitely her!" Keita cried, raising his trembling, bleeding arm stump. "I'll never forget that face as long as I live! She's the one who attacked me!"
"???" Sakura stared at him, completely baffled. Is this guy delusional? Do I even know you? Accusing me of injuring you like this? Watch it, buddy, I could sue you for slander! Though, she mused, suing someone clearly suffering from a mental breakdown probably wouldn't be very effective.
"Um, excuse me," Sakura addressed the ninja brother again, trying to remain professional. "You're his brother, correct? I strongly suggest you try to calm him down first. He appears to be suffering from significant psychological trauma. In his current state, it's very difficult for me to provide treatment."
However, the ninja completely ignored her advice. Instead, his expression turned icy cold as he stared directly at Sakura. "I am the Captain of the Konoha Patrol Teams, Ryuta."
"Ah, hello. Nice to meet you," Sakura replied, slightly taken aback by his stern formality. "I'm Haruno Sakura." Seeing his serious demeanor, she felt compelled to introduce herself as well. She gestured towards Keita, who was still huddled in the corner, trembling violently. "Um, look, I really need to treat him now. Could you please try to calm your brother down?"
Ryuta took a menacing step forward, drawing a kunai. "Haruno Sakura," he declared, his voice hard as steel, "you are hereby suspected of assaulting a villager and betraying the village. You will come with me immediately. Cooperate, or don't blame me for using force."
"Whoa, whoa, hang on!" Sakura exclaimed hastily, trying to reason with him. "You've clearly made a mistake! This man is suffering from severe trauma! I've never even seen him before today! How could I possibly have injured him? He has a mental illness! Do you even understand what that entails?"
Sakura could sympathize with Ryuta's distress over his brother's condition, but she had to make him understand that Keita was delusional, mistaking her for his attacker due to shock.
"N-No! I'm not mistaken!" Keita shrieked from the corner, his face a grotesque mask of fear and venomous hatred. "It was YOU! You're the one who did this to me! Ryuta, capture her! I want to torture her! Torture her until she begs for death!"
Swish!
A kunai flew straight towards Sakura. She dodged it effortlessly, but her expression towards Ryuta turned sharp and hostile.
"What is the meaning of this?!" she demanded angrily. "Attacking a civilian before verifying any facts?!" (She was still technically in her civilian doctor guise).
"You're the civilian attacker here," Ryuta sneered, producing several shuriken in his hand, his expression grim. "The facts are clear now. My brother was grievously injured by you. Come back with me quietly, or I'll break both your arms and legs and drag you back myself."
Damn it! What in the world is going on?! How did I suddenly become the prime suspect in an assault I know nothing about?! Sakura didn't want to fight him. This was just a clone, and the whole situation was clearly a massive misunderstanding. Engaging him would only muddy the waters further. But she certainly wasn't going to let herself be captured either.
Bang! Sakura burst through the ER doors, running out into the corridor. Several shuriken zipped past her head as she moved. She evaded them with ease.
"Don't even think about escaping!" Ryuta roared, giving chase immediately.
As she ran, Sakura glanced back over her shoulder, shouting at him, "I keep telling you, you've made a mistake! I've never met your brother before! Besides, I'm the Fifth Hokage's disciple!"
"Hmph," Ryuta scoffed derisively. "A rather pathetic lie. Everyone knows the Fifth Hokage's disciple is a red-haired girl."
Sakura nearly tripped and face-planted. Are you serious?! Karin is actually more famous around here than I am?! Ryuta remained hot on her heels. She needed to get out of the hospital fast – there were too many patients and staff around. Getting outside was the priority.
Seeing Sakura heading for the exit, Ryuta felt a small measure of relief. He had been worried she might try to take hostages within the hospital, which would have complicated matters significantly.
Nurses in the corridors heard the commotion and saw the two figures racing past. "Hey, isn't that Captain Ryuta from the Patrols?" one nurse asked uncertainly. "Why is he chasing Doctor Sakura?"
"I have no idea," replied another nurse standing nearby. "It definitely looks like Doctor Sakura is in some kind of trouble, though. Should we notify Lady Shizune?"
"Maybe we should…" the first nurse hesitated. "Could Doctor Sakura have actually done something wrong?"
The chase spilled out of the hospital onto the street in front. Sakura skidded to a halt, Ryuta stopping a short distance away. They faced each other on the now deserted street.
"I am telling you one last time!" Sakura repeated, her voice laced with frustration and anger. "You have made a serious mistake! I have never seen your brother before today, nor did I harm him in any way!"
"Hmph," Ryuta's expression remained grim and determined. "Every criminal claims innocence. For the safety and security of this village, I must eliminate you."
Sakura stared at him, aghast. "Eliminate me?! Leaving aside the fact that I didn't do anything, what right do you possibly have to decide the fate of a suspect? The Patrol Team's duty is to maintain order, not to act as judge, jury, and executioner!"
"Hahaha…!" Ryuta burst into maniacal laughter. "Any potential threat to the safety of this village, I have the full authority to sentence to death! Especially a traitor like you, who would murder innocent civilians! However," he added magnanimously, "if you surrender peacefully right now, I might consider sparing your life."
"So," Sakura stated coldly, her eyes narrowing, "you're admitting to abusing your authority."
"Since you refuse to come quietly," Ryuta said, already forming hand seals, "then don't blame me for being impolite."
"Earth Style: Stone Pillar Prison!"
A low rumbling sound filled the air. The ground beneath Sakura trembled violently as four massive stone pillars erupted from the earth, boxing her in completely. Sakura didn't resist. It's just a clone, she reminded herself. No big deal. Let's just see how this ridiculous situation plays out.
Ryuta strode confidently up to the stone prison, looking down at the trapped Sakura with smug satisfaction. "Now brother should be pleased," he sneered. "This is the inevitable consequence for anyone foolish enough to cross the Tanii clan."
"And then what?" Sakura asked calmly from within the stone enclosure. "What exactly do you plan to do with me?"
"Don't be impatient," Ryuta replied with a thin, cruel smile. "First, you'll be officially designated as a missing-nin. Then, for the suffering you inflicted upon my brother, I will repay you tenfold. My brother and I will take great pleasure in torturing you, bit by bit. Such a pretty face too… what a tragic waste. This is the fate that awaits all ninjas with no family connections, no powerful backing, who dare to offend the Tanii clan."
Sakura watched Ryuta's arrogant posturing in silence. As long as Tsunade-sensei is the Hokage, I have nothing to truly fear from scum like this. She decided to wait and see how events unfolded.
"Captain! We found you!"
A voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere. A ninja appeared abruptly on the scene.
"Hm?" Ryuta turned, annoyed by the interruption. "Why aren't you out on patrol?"
"B-Bad news… Captain!" the newly arrived ninja panted, struggling to catch his breath. "At the night market street… an enemy spy has appeared! She's incredibly strong! We need backup, urgently!" He gasped for air. "On the scene… Shiranui Genma-senpai is currently engaging her! We ran into Kotetsu-senpai en route, and he's gone to report directly to Lady Hokage… Everyone else has already headed there to provide support!"
"What?!" Ryuta was genuinely shocked. "It requires alerting the Hokage herself? The enemy must be exceptionally powerful! Take me there at once!" No matter how much corruption festered within the village's internal politics, external threats always took precedence, demanding a unified response.
The reporting ninja then noticed Sakura trapped within the stone prison. "Captain, who is she?"
Ryuta hesitated for a brief moment, then replied curtly, "She's a ninja who deliberately assaulted someone. I was in the process of arresting her!" With the Hokage potentially on her way, this situation could become inconvenient, he thought rapidly. Declaring someone a missing-nin requires official village council approval…
"Assault?" the reporting ninja mused aloud, then suggested reasonably, "Perhaps she can assist us? There are too many civilians near the night market. This could be an opportunity for her to redeem herself."
Ryuta's expression flickered with indecision. He wielded power largely through the network of loyal, often indebted, ninjas he had cultivated. He couldn't easily dismiss a logical suggestion from one of his own subordinates without potentially undermining that loyalty. Besides, village protocols did sometimes allow for offenders to atone for their actions through meritorious service, especially during emergencies.
His face hardening into a grim mask, Ryuta walked back to the stone prison and lowered his voice so only Sakura could hear. "Listen to me very carefully. You are coming with me right now to provide support against an enemy invasion. Lady Hokage herself will likely be present. You will keep your mouth shut about anything that does not concern the immediate threat. Say anything you shouldn't, and I promise you will regret the day you were ever born."
Ryuta knew exactly how to handle ninjas like her – those without powerful clan backing or connections. They spend six years at the Academy; if they don't make the cut as active shinobi, they end up shuffled into various village departments or maybe assigned to the hospital like this one. A little threat, a little pressure, and they almost always fell into line. As long as things didn't escalate too publicly, nobody questioned his methods. And Ryuta was always careful never to pick fights with ninjas who did have powerful families behind them.
Sakura watched with cold, calculating eyes as Ryuta dispelled the Stone Pillar Prison jutsu. An attack on the village? Serious enough that Tsunade-sensei herself is being mobilized? Suddenly, this whole ridiculous affair with Ryuta and his brother seemed utterly insignificant. The priority now was dealing with the intruder. Where is my main body right now? she wondered fleetingly. Has she received the news yet?