Chapter 166:
"You came to visit me in prison, little fox?"
Bang!
Standing behind the Clown, Fox Spirit Hero slammed his head hard against the table.
"Ow, that hurt, little fox. Would you mind being a bit more gentle?" the Clown chuckled, even as his face was pressed against the cold metal surface.
"Tell me—what exactly are you scheming!"
"You're always like this, little fox. So suspicious, so paranoid."
Without waiting for the Clown to finish, Fox Spirit Hero lifted his head and smashed it down against the table again with a loud crack.
"Is your scheme targeting me? Are you trying to kill me?"
"Kill you?" The Clown let out a laugh, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "That's hilarious. Why would I want to kill you, Fox Spirit Hero? Sure, we're enemies, rivals even, but I have no reason to kill you. Or rather, if I did kill you—what else would I have left? You're my everything, little fox. It's you—you who gave my life meaning. You're the one who made me feel whole."
Just then, the door to the interrogation room swung open.
Fox Spirit Hero looked toward the doorway. "Shikamaru, it hasn't even been ten minutes yet."
"I know. But I think I've already figured out the Clown's plan." Shikamaru walked up to the table and locked eyes with the Clown. "Latest intel—Kurenai-sensei just went missing. Where have you taken her?!"
Everyone knew that Shikamaru had been Asuma's student. Asuma was not only Kurenai's husband, but she was also currently carrying his child.
Shikamaru slammed his hand down on the table, struggling to contain his emotions.
Taking care of Kurenai had been Asuma's last request to him.
The Clown let out a high-pitched, raspy laugh, mocking the man standing before him—the man who dared not kill him.
"You think I'm afraid of death?"
Grabbing the Clown by the collar, Shikamaru punched him hard in the face. All he got in return was more laughter.
"Calm down, Shikamaru. If you really kill him, Kurenai will definitely die too."
At Fox Spirit Hero's words, Shikamaru reluctantly lowered his fist.
"Mmm… See? You always understand me, Fox Spirit Hero. We really are made for each other."
"What are you planning, Clown?!"
"Let me handle this," said Sakura Haruno, stepping into the room.
"Sakura? What are you doing here?" Shikamaru frowned at her.
"I'm here to help. I've heard about Kurenai-sensei's disappearance too." As she spoke, Sakura sat down across from the Clown, facing him across the table. "Release him."
At her command, Fox Spirit Hero slowly let go of the Clown's throat.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"Genjutsu."
"What?! You're going to use Genjutsu on him?"
The more skilled someone was in Genjutsu, the higher their resistance to it. And the Clown had the Sharingan, which made him even more resistant.
"Don't worry, you two." Sakura closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she suddenly opened them. "Yin Seal: Release!"
An immense surge of chakra burst forth from her body.
"She's using chakra to forcibly enhance the effects of her Genjutsu?" Shikamaru stared at her in amazement. "With chakra that powerful, it should be enough to deal with the Clown."
In the world of Genjutsu—
"Is this... a movie theater?"
Sakura sat in a theater seat, staring at the massive screen in front of her. It was playing the life story of Sasuke.
Back then, Sasuke had been just a child—innocent and happy. A strict father, a gentle mother, and an older brother who cared for him. Little Sasuke's face was always lit up with joy.
"Hello, beautiful lady."
"The Clown!!" Sakura snapped her head to the side—and saw a normal-looking Sasuke, without the Clown's signature white face paint. But the corners of his mouth still bore the telltale scars—now healed.
"Don't be so worked up." Sasuke smiled gently.
"Uchiha Sasuke…" It was only natural to feel some attraction to someone handsome. Sakura was no exception. This Sasuke in front of her was good-looking, with a hint of melancholy in his eyes—she couldn't help but feel a tinge of sympathy. "Why did you become like this?"
"All it takes is one really bad day. That's all it takes to drive someone mad." As he spoke, the screen began playing scenes from the Uchiha clan massacre. "We're all monsters trapped inside the Leaf Village. Every one of us has a monster sealed inside by sealing techniques. And with just the right amount of pain and fear, that monster can be unleashed."
As she watched little Sasuke's tortured expression—the moment he witnessed his brother murder their entire family—Sakura couldn't help but feel a surge of pity for the man sitting beside her.
"Have you ever regretted the things you've done?"
"Have I…?" Sasuke's voice grew heavy with emotion.
Seeing his change in demeanor, Sakura believed he was truly remorseful. She believed there was still hope for him.
"Sasuke… Right? I heard that's your name. Can you tell me your plan for kidnapping Kurenai-sensei?"
After a moment of hesitation, Sasuke nodded. "Of course I can."
Back in the real world, Sakura suddenly snapped out of the trance.
"How did it go, Sakura?"
Shikamaru rushed to her side, glancing briefly at the Clown, who now sat dazed across the table.
"I've got it," Sakura nodded. "Kurenai-sensei was taken to the eastern edge of the village. There's also a child and his parents—they were kidnapped and taken to the far right side of the village."
"Classic two-choice dilemma," Shikamaru muttered, rubbing his chin. "Clown wants us to choose one."
"Not just that. We have ten minutes," the Clown said slowly, raising his head. "In ten minutes, if you haven't chosen to save the child, his parents will be killed—right in front of him."
"Fox Spirit Hero, we'll split up. I'll go after Kurenai-sensei. You rescue the child."
"Got it."
Fox Spirit Hero nodded, and the two of them rushed out the door, wasting no time.
Now, only Sakura and Sasuke remained in the room.
"You're leaving too?" the Clown mumbled, head hanging. "Just like the others—using Fox Spirit Hero for your own ends. Sure, the Security Force trusts him now, but that's only because they need him. Once they don't... Fox Spirit Hero will be discarded, just like always… But whatever. Why am I even telling you this? I've long since gotten used to being alone."
Though human beings have both reason and emotion, women tend to lean more toward emotion.
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