Ryuta couldn't shake the feeling he was cursed with bad luck lately. Last night, his arms had been broken in a single blow by that intruder. Then he learns that the person who actually mutilated his brother had apparently mistaken her target, and now that same real culprit had the audacity to challenge him? The training grounds, she'd said? Fine.
Even though both arms were still in casts, he still had his patrol team members at his disposal. Just you wait.
After listlessly eating a meal, Sakura made her way to the training grounds. If Ryuta didn't show up, she figured she might as well take a nap there.
She didn't expect Ryuta to be so prompt. She had barely stepped onto the training grounds when her internal danger sense flared. Sakura, however, nonchalantly continued walking towards the center. Only then did several swoosh sounds cut through the air as figures landed around her, boxing her in.
"Aaaah~" Sakura let out a wide yawn, glancing lazily at the uniformed ninja surrounding her. "What do you guys want?"
"Hmph, what do we want!" Ryuta stepped forward, both arms suspended in slings around his neck. "We're here to arrest a criminal, obviously."
"Do you remember the person you injured yesterday afternoon?" Ryuta demanded, his face contorted in a menacing grimace. "Now, be smart and give up without a fight."
"Impressive, truly impressive. Still thinking about arresting people even with broken arms," Sakura drawled, deftly producing a kunai. "Ah well, no helping it. Suppose I can play with you for a bit."
"Go! Take her down!" Ryuta yelled, his expression almost feral.
The moment Ryuta's command left his lips, Sakura moved. The immense chakra from her Yin Seal granted her unparalleled speed, while the Gelel energy provided ice-cold tactical judgment. However, the sheer force erupting from her feet as she launched herself proved her inner state was far less calm than her outward demeanor suggested.
Moving like a phantom, Sakura blurred around the circle of ninja surrounding her. By the time she returned to her original spot less than a second later, the patrol members were dropping like sacks of potatoes—thump, thump, thump—all around her. Only Ryuta remained standing in the center of the field.
"Alright, speak up. How do you want to die?" Sakura asked, deactivating the Yin Seal and casually twirling the kunai in her hand as she looked at Ryuta.
"You... you... Who are you?!" Ryuta stammered, his mouth agape. On his usually handsome face, his eyes bulged like a goldfish's. His already fair complexion turned several shades paler, his expression one of utter terror, as if he'd just seen a ghost.
Even a Jonin couldn't take down that many Chunin so quickly! Could she actually be a Jonin?! Ryuta's mind felt like a snapped string. Trembling uncontrollably, he stumbled backward.
Sakura watched Ryuta tremble like a leaf in a storm and suddenly felt... bored. Just moments ago, she'd still felt a flicker of anger over what Ryuta represented, but now? Not a shred of it remained. She waved a dismissive hand. "Just go."
Hearing her words, Ryuta didn't hesitate for a second. He turned to flee.
"Wait!" Sakura called after him again. "Take your men with you."
Though still terrified, Ryuta obeyed and approached his fallen subordinates, trying to figure out how to move them all. As he did, he suddenly noticed their complexions... they were disturbingly dark, almost black. Checking more closely, his eyes widened in horror, and he let out a strangled scream. "You... you killed them!!!"
Sakura, feeling annoyed and just wanting to find a place to lie down, heard Ryuta's shriek and turned her head in confusion.
"What are you talking about? I just knocked them out!" Sakura explained.
"You say you knocked them out!" Ryuta pointed a trembling finger at the figures on the ground, his voice laced with terror. "But they're already dead!!!"
"Dead?!" Sakura was startled. She quickly moved forward to examine them herself.
Seeing Sakura approach, Ryuta panicked completely. "Don't come near me! You devil! Aaaahhh!" His mind finally snapping under the strain, Ryuta scrambled away, practically tumbling over himself in his haste to escape.
Sakura paid him no mind, kneeling beside the fallen patrol members. Upon examination, it was clear they had all died in the same manner: their faces were blackened, their skin unnaturally dry, and when she made a small incision, the blood that sluggishly oozed out was thick and black.
Black blood... that meant poison. Without any testing equipment on hand, she couldn't determine the specific type, but the situation was obvious now. Someone had framed her. But who? To be able to poison multiple people right under her nose, undetected... they must possess incredibly advanced infiltration skills.
If her guess was correct, the mastermind behind this would likely show themselves soon. Sakura decided she might as well wait and see how things unfolded.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before several more swoosh sounds echoed, and Sakura found herself surrounded again, this time by several ANBU operatives.
"Did you kill all these people?" one of the ANBU, the shorter one, stepped forward, his voice tinged with disbelief as he asked the question.
"Hawk, don't forget your orders," another ANBU interjected sharply. "Arrest her now. If she resists, use lethal force!"
"But..." The ANBU called 'Hawk' hesitated, his hand trembling slightly, yet he made no move to attack.
The ANBU who had spoken sighed, shaking his head. Weaving hand seals, he slammed his palms on the ground. "Earth Style: Rock Pillar Prison!" Stone pillars erupted around Sakura, trapping her inside. "Haruno Sakura," the ANBU leader stated formally, "you are suspected of murdering fellow Konoha shinobi. Please come with us quietly!"
Sakura looked at the ANBU operatives. She even recognized one of them under the mask. Clearly, they weren't the masterminds. But this doesn't make sense, she thought. Why hasn't the real culprit shown themselves yet? Could it be their objective isn't actually here?
"Wait!!"
Lost in thought, Sakura watched as the short ANBU turned his back to her prison, standing to face the other ANBU members.
"Hawk, return to your position! That's an order!" the ANBU leader snapped.
Clack. With a sharp sound, the ANBU ripped off his mask, revealing his face. "I'm not ANBU anymore."
"You... Are you betraying the village?!" the leader demanded furiously.
"I just want to understand what's going on! I don't believe she did this!" Sasuke retorted.
"Acts of betrayal are unforgivable! Whether she killed them or not will be determined by the Interrogation Division. Put your mask back on, Hawk, or I'll have no choice but to arrest you too!" the leader stated mercilessly.
"Sakura! You didn't kill these people, did you?!" Sasuke demanded, whipping his head around to face her.
"What are you doing, Sasuke?!" Sakura sighed helplessly, shrugging within her stone prison. "Where's your usual rationality gone? Hurry up and put your mask back on! You're ANBU right now." Her gaze then shifted past Sasuke to the ANBU leader. "I won't resist. And I didn't kill these men. I'll go with you."
"You massive idiot!" Sasuke exploded, his face flushed with anger. "Your clone back at the hospital—they found evidence she was manufacturing poison! One of your patients died, and right before the end, they accused you of poisoning them! Lady Hokage has already been implicated because of you; the Council has restricted her movements! This arrest order came directly from the three Elders!"
What?! Sakura's mind went completely blank. What's going on? How could this happen?! In such a short time... why didn't I get any warning from the clone? She must have been ambushed, given no chance to dispel and relay the information! An arrest order from the Council... Could Danzo be behind all this?!
"Hawk!!!" the ANBU leader roared. "All units! Apprehend Haruno Sakura and Sasuke!"