Hiruzen Sarutobi had only granted Sakura a single day of rest. By early the next morning, she was scheduled to depart for the battlefield in the Land of Frost, accompanied by Kakashi. Joining them on the mission were Sasuke and the members of Team Eight, led by Kurenai Yuhi.
Interestingly, Hinata was not part of Team Eight this time.
Sakura didn't dwell on it too much. With Hinata's gentle nature, sending her to the frontlines of war…
After parting with Kakashi, Sakura first returned home to inform her family she was safe, then made her way to the Senju clan's estate to visit Tsunade.
She hadn't forgotten the promise made by Tobirama Senju—the freedom to browse the Senju Clan's library at will. Originally, she had intended to visit right after receiving permission, but a series of events had kept her occupied until now.
"So you're heading to the front lines tomorrow, huh…"
A soft, slightly forlorn voice sounded beside her. The red-haired girl, Karin, looked at Sakura with unease in her eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm really strong," Sakura reassured her with a small smile. "If you want to stand beside me one day, then hurry up and earn your Konoha forehead protector."
Karin gave a wry smile. She certainly had the capabilities to become a Konoha ninja. But there was one particular academic subject that gave her a headache—The Will of Fire. Just the name of it made her temples throb.
Unfortunately, Sakura couldn't help her much with that. That kind of ideological course would have to be tackled by Karin herself.
"But by the way… where are you even taking me, Sakura?"
Karin asked with growing suspicion as she followed the pink-haired girl through the streets.
"You're a member of the Uzumaki Clan, aren't you?"
"I know someone else with Uzumaki blood. She might be very interested in you."
Karin blinked. Her first thought was—Naruto?
Even though that blond idiot was loud and often annoying, he was technically an Uzumaki. His chakra reserves were massive too.
But in Karin's view, aside from his surname and chakra volume, Naruto had very little in common with the true Uzumaki legacy. Most Uzumaki were sealing jutsu specialists, requiring incredibly precise chakra control. Naruto… didn't exactly scream finesse.
She didn't say anything out loud. Though admittedly, Naruto's chakra did give her a very warm and comforting feeling.
"Who is it?" she asked, curiosity winning over restraint.
"That," Sakura grinned, "is a secret for now."
Karin pouted, increasingly frustrated with the mystery. But Sakura wouldn't budge, no matter how much she pressed. The pink-haired girl simply led her forward with a smile, urging her to be patient.
Karin's curiosity only grew more intense as they made their way toward the Senju compound.
---
Sweet, soft, fragrant.
The taste and texture were familiar, yet distant—stirring something in the heart of the man quietly savoring them. He took his time chewing, appreciating each bite of the dango.
Even though similar dango could be found elsewhere, for him, there was something uniquely irreplaceable about these.
Perhaps, for Uchiha Itachi, this simple meal was the most meaningful reward of returning to this village after all these years.
He delicately finished the dango on his plate, then pulled out some ryo from his robes and left it on the table. Quietly, he rose and exited the shop.
Trailing behind him was his "companion," Hoshigaki Kisame, who moved with his usual casual air.
"So this is the place you used to live, huh, Itachi-san?"
"Peaceful," the shark-faced man remarked, glancing around. "Quite surprising given how close we are to a war."
Itachi didn't reply immediately. He stood quietly, his face hidden beneath the brim of his straw hat and the black cloak emblazoned with red clouds.
"…Yes. It's a remarkably peaceful place," he eventually responded, voice neutral.
The two men walked leisurely through the streets of Konoha, their conversation light and meandering.
"You know, once this mission is over, I'll have to part ways with you for a while," Kisame commented. "Kinda makes me sad."
The grin on his face never changed, and it was impossible to tell whether he truly felt that way or not.
"…Yes, that's true," Itachi answered calmly.
Due to the ongoing war, the Akatsuki leader, Pain, had ordered Kisame and Kakuzu to team up temporarily and operate as mercenaries for one of the nations—ensuring that the Land of Wind wouldn't fall too quickly to the alliance of Fire and Earth.
Itachi had initially volunteered to participate as well, but for reasons unknown, Pain had denied his request.
Deidara, ever the loudmouth, had also lobbied to be sent on the mission, but was rejected as well.
As for Sasori of the Red Sand? He wouldn't last two seconds in Suna without being assassinated on sight.
And then there was Hidan. No one wanted to team up with that psychotic Jashinist except Kakuzu.
"So what kind of mission are we talking about?" a clear, confident voice interrupted from ahead.
Without realizing it, the two Akatsuki had wandered to a riverbank near the edge of the village. Standing before them was a pink-haired girl in a green flak jacket.
Uchiha Itachi looked up. Haruno Sakura stood in front of them, arms crossed.
She had spotted them by chance while passing a dango shop with Karin. Now, of all times—just before heading to the frontlines—these two had appeared, just like in the original timeline.
But the further things progressed, the less she could rely on the "original story." So much had changed.
The war engulfing four great nations was about to begin. Hiruzen Sarutobi was still alive. Orochimaru's arms had not been sealed. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was still ruling the Sand Village. Tsunade had returned to the village far earlier than before.
Now Sakura and Kakashi were about to deploy to the frontlines. And with Kakashi needed on the battlefield, he couldn't afford to fall here—especially not against these two.
Sakura quietly hoped that her inner self—possibly the mysterious "Inner Sakura"—combined with her Yin Seal and the slug she had pre-summoned into her collar, could hold out against Tsukuyomi if Itachi tried it.
As for Karin, Sakura had already sent her running for backup.
"…Sakura," Itachi said softly. "It's been a while."
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun gently in his eyes as he stared at the girl in front of him.
In his memory, this girl had long since surpassed his younger brother. And Akatsuki's intelligence network had kept close tabs on the recent events in Konoha.
This once-overlooked kunoichi was now fully acknowledged by the organization. A complete dossier on her had landed on Pain's desk.
She had fought Orochimaru one-on-one in the Forest of Death.
She had helped the Third Hokage fend off both Orochimaru and the Fourth Kazekage.
She had played a major role in the true operation against the Hidden Grass.
Her combat record was becoming increasingly terrifying.
Whether in taijutsu, medical ninjutsu, or summoning techniques—she was an elite.
In some areas, she had even begun to surpass the legendary Sannin, Tsunade.
And now, here she stood—ready to face Uchiha Itachi.
---
End of Chapter