"I must say, I expected a different reaction from you," Danzo observed calmly, watching Sakura closely.
"And what reaction did you want, Danzo?!" Sakura shot back, her voice laced with hatred. She desperately wanted to kill him right then and there, but forced herself to wait. He was here, in front of her. Best to hear what he had to say first.
"I expected surprise, perhaps confusion. But I see neither," Danzo noted after a moment's thought. "It's as if you were certain it was me all along. I confess, I don't quite understand why you've been so focused on me."
"The famed 'Darkness of Konoha'. Do I need any other reason to pay attention to you?" Sakura retorted mockingly.
"Ah, so that's it. That little girl Tsunade told you, didn't she?" Danzo let out a small cough before continuing. "I've come to see you now for only one reason."
"Are you admitting, then, that you killed those people?" Sakura pressed.
"Those people were killed by you," Danzo corrected smoothly. "I am merely here to offer you an opportunity. I acknowledge your talent, but the mistakes you've made are unforgivable. However, if you wish to remain in the village, I can provide you with a path."
"I don't need it!" Sakura refused flatly. "If you publicly announce the truth about how you framed me, then I'll consider it!"
"What makes you think you're in any position to negotiate?" Danzo's face suddenly darkened, his voice turning cold. "You are now classified as an A-rank missing-nin. Think about your family, your friends. You have only two choices left: obey me, or die!"
Shink!
The sickening sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed softly. Sakura's eyes blazed red as she drove the kunai clutched in her hand deep into Danzo's chest, aiming for the heart.
"Do you want to die?!" she snarled, twisting the kunai viciously within his chest cavity.
"I... regret... your... choice..." Danzo's visible eye seemed to hold a flicker of disappointment. With those final words, his body dissolved into mud.
Watching the mud puddle where Danzo had stood, Sakura spat contemptuously. It would have been far more surprising if he had sent his real body. Dusting the mud splatters from her clothes, she turned and continued on her way.
Danzo's threat lingered, causing a faint unease. Her parents were civilians; they shouldn't be targeted, right? Especially with Tsunade-sensei there to watch over them. She didn't have many close friends. Karin was also Tsunade's disciple. Then there was Junko...
Junko! The thought struck Sakura like lightning. Could Danzo's ultimate target have been Junko all along, not her? Was this elaborate scheme to frame Sakura actually designed to somehow recruit Junko? She remembered Danzo attempting to bring Junko into Root previously. Maybe Junko had said something that day, something that made Danzo perceive Sakura as an obstacle to his plans!
Could Junko's potential truly be so immense that Danzo would risk antagonizing the Hokage herself just to secure her? Sakura couldn't make sense of it.
...
Danzo sat quietly in his residence. Opposite him sat the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Was this your doing, Danzo?" Hiruzen asked, his voice grave. "I do not believe she would act this way."
Danzo's eye remained downcast. He slowly raised a cup of tea to his lips with his one good arm, took a sip, and then replied measuredly, "My only concern is the welfare of the village. I only ever do what is necessary to protect Konoha's interests."
"Do not evade the question!" Hiruzen reprimanded him sharply, though his voice remained low.
Danzo finally looked up, meeting Hiruzen's gaze. "This matter has nothing to do with me."
Hiruzen stared intently at Danzo for a long moment before finally saying, "I hope that is the truth." He then stood and left.
Danzo watched Hiruzen's departing back, his gaze returning to the teacup before him, his expression unreadable.
"Since she rejected the choice," he thought silently, "she is now an enemy of the village."
...
The Hokage's office was crowded with ninja. Tsunade stood before them, clearing her throat lightly. "It seems everyone is here. Let's get straight to the mission briefing. This will be a joint operation, classified as A-rank."
"An A-rank mission?"
Whispers immediately broke out amongst the lower-ranked shinobi present. An A-rank mission? And one requiring so many Jonin?
"Moments ago, Haruno Sakura defected from the village," Tsunade stated, her voice calm and clear, betraying none of her inner turmoil. "Your mission is to apprehend her before she escapes the borders of the Land of Fire!"
Despite Tsunade's composed delivery, the announcement sent a shockwave through the assembled ninja. After a moment of stunned silence, someone finally voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"Lady Hokage, are you sure there hasn't been some mistake?!" Kiba demanded, stepping forward agitatedly.
"Kiba!" Kurenai snapped, instantly silencing him. "Quiet!"
Tsunade ignored Kiba's outburst, her expression unreadable. "Kurenai, Asuma," she addressed the Jonin sensei. "Take your respective teams and begin searching for Sakura's whereabouts immediately. She shouldn't have gotten far. If you locate her, bring her back to the village to see me at once."
"Yes, ma'am!" Asuma and Kurenai responded without hesitation, quickly leading their genin teams out of the office.
Kakashi, who usually sported an air of detached boredom, now looked uncharacteristically serious.
"Do you have a separate assignment for me?" he asked thoughtfully.
Tsunade nodded. "Yes. This scroll contains everything I've compiled regarding this situation so far." She tossed a scroll towards Kakashi. "You were Sakura's supervising Jonin. I trust your judgment. If... if Sakura truly has betrayed the village, you know what must be done."
Kakashi caught the scroll, his visible eye scanning its contents briefly. "Understood," he said, his voice even. "However... I believe my student would never betray the village."
"I believe her too," Tsunade replied quietly. "But right now, the most important thing is to find her."
...
Night gradually enveloped the land. Sakura continued her journey south, heading towards the small islands off the coast. Red Aku Island seemed like the most logical destination for now. It was remote, far from the mainland shinobi villages, and its leader owed her a favor. It would be a suitable place to lie low for a while.
Danzo, she thought grimly. Impressive, forcing me to flee the village like this. I really did underestimate him. Reflecting on the chain of events, Sakura realized her own carelessness had played a part. She had assumed she was just a minor figure, someone who wouldn't attract Danzo's serious attention.
But he had noticed her, likely long ago. He had gathered accurate intelligence and expertly exploited her unintentional mistake, fanning the flames perfectly. She had fallen headfirst into the pit Danzo had dug for her.
She had thought ignoring Danzo would keep her out of his schemes, but conflict had found her regardless. But Danzo, she thought defiantly, do you really think your plan is flawless? Hmph. Just wait until I get through this. Then you'll see what 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind' truly means.
First, however, she had to deal with the immediate "enemies." Sakura's steps suddenly faltered, and she came to a halt.
Although the surrounding forest appeared empty, Sakura fixed her gaze on a dense clump of bushes nearby. "Come out," she called out calmly. "I don't want to fight comrades."
The bushes rustled, and three figures emerged, stepping into the dim light: Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji.
"Ah," Shikamaru sighed, beads of nervous sweat forming on his brow. "Looks like our luck isn't so great today."
"Sakura!" Ino cried out, the pain on her face looking utterly genuine. "Did... did you really betray the village?"
"I don't believe you'd betray Konoha," Choji stated, his expression serious. "What's really going on here?"
"Yeah..." Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, looking troubled. "What is going on? Can you tell us?"
Sakura looked at her former classmates. "What are your orders?" she asked quietly.
"Apprehend you and bring you back to the village," Shikamaru replied directly.
"Is that all?" Sakura pressed.
"Yes, that's the mission we received," Shikamaru confirmed. "Though, frankly, I doubt the three of us could actually succeed in capturing you." He took a small step forward, his usual laziness replaced by concern. "Look, we were all in the Academy together. I'm sure this is all just some big misunderstanding. Why don't you just come back with us?"
"Hmph," Sakura looked down, a cold scoff escaping her lips. "Shikamaru, what I've always admired most about you is your mind. Your ability to remain calm and formulate a strategy in any situation."
Hearing this, Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly. Not good, he thought instantly. His hands flew through seals. "Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
A ribbon of shadow shot out from the darkness beneath his feet, instantly connecting with Sakura's own shadow. In that same moment, Sakura felt her limbs lock up, her body no longer under her complete control.
"Ino! Choji!" Shikamaru yelled urgently. "Now!"