Although Sakura had accepted the mission, she had absolutely no motivation for it.
The moment she opened the door to the Hokage's office with the three members of Team 8 in tow, she was met with the stunned gaze of a certain blond, blue-eyed boy. Seeing his shocked expression, Sakura felt a headache coming on. It seemed things were about to get complicated again.
"S-Sakura," Naruto stammered, staring at her. "Wh-what were you all just talking about?"
"N-Naruto..." Hinata's heart began to race the moment she saw him standing outside the door, and her words came out in a nervous stutter.
Sakura sighed in resignation. "Let's not stand here. Come with me, I'll tell you what's going on."
Naruto nodded blankly, the joy of seeing Sakura completely gone. Sakura led the group out of the Hokage Tower, first sending the three members of Team 8 to wait for her at the main gate while she explained things to Naruto.
"What happened? Sakura, what's wrong with Sasuke?" Naruto asked impatiently.
"It's nothing. Sasuke isn't in the village right now. We're going to look for him," Sakura explained. "If you want the details, go ask the Hokage. I have to go on a mission now."
"No, you have to tell me clearly! Where is Sasuke right now?" Naruto demanded, grabbing Sakura's arm.
"I don't have time for you. If you want to know, go ask the Fifth Hokage," Sakura said, shaking off his hand and disappearing with the Body Flicker Technique.
Naruto stared at the empty space where she had been, frustrated but helpless. Just as he was about to turn back toward the Hokage Tower, Sakura reappeared in front of him.
"Oh, right. If you see Karin, tell her for me that I'm leading Team 8 on a mission in Kurenai-sensei's place," Sakura said, then vanished again.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on?! Answer me!" Naruto yelled into the empty air, but no one answered. Defeated, he had no choice but to head for the Hokage Tower.
Sakura arrived at the Konoha gate. After showing their exit permits to Kotetsu and Izumo, she led the three of them out of the village.
"So, does Naruto know?" Kiba asked, his arms crossed behind his head.
"Not yet," Sakura said, shaking her head. "I didn't tell him."
"Why didn't you tell Naruto?" Hinata asked softly from the side.
"Sasuke means a lot to that guy. If he knew, we probably wouldn't have been able to leave," Sakura said with a pout. She then turned and asked, "By the way, I'm really curious... why are you all so determined to bring Sasuke back?"
"What kind of question is that? You're the one being weird," Kiba retorted, his irritation with Sakura's attitude growing. "As his classmates, shouldn't you be worried about him?"
"Logically speaking, yes, that's true," Sakura affirmed with a nod. "But, everyone..."
"Everyone makes their own choices!" Kiba interrupted. "That's what you were going to say, right?"
Sakura nodded, not denying it. Kiba gritted his teeth in frustration, but there was nothing he could do, so he just shut his mouth. A heavy silence fell over the group.
"Why do you think that way?" Shino, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly asked.
"There's no special reason," Sakura said with a slight shake of her head. "It's just a fact. For example, if you were asked to give up being a ninja, would you be willing?"
"That's different," Kiba couldn't help but say.
"How is it different?" Sakura sighed, looking up at the sky. "Sasuke's pursuit of power is just like your choice to become a ninja. It's something that can't be changed. He has a reason why he has to get stronger, quickly."
Another silence fell. Sakura was the first to break it. "Even though I said that, since I've accepted this mission, I will see it through. But you still haven't answered my question. Why do you all care so much about him?"
"Actually, Sasuke's a pretty good guy," Kiba said slowly. "In the years you were gone, he would often train with us. I used to think he was really aloof, but he's actually a good comrade."
"Is that so..." Sakura nodded in understanding. It seemed the butterfly effect had started much earlier than she had anticipated. She had thought the real changes began during the Chunin Exams, but it looked like they had started four years ago.
The original Sasuke, as she remembered, wasn't this popular. Could it be because she had taken the number one spot that rightfully belonged to him, and it had changed his attitude? How strange. In the original story, only Naruto had cared so much when Sasuke left. But now, it seemed he was quite well-liked.
It's lonely at the top. It seemed that after she had taken his place as the top student, he had finally lost his original arrogance.
"Actually, I kind of understand you," Hinata said suddenly. "You left the village in our third year, so you had less time to spend with Sasuke. But if you really get to know him, you'll find that his tough talk is just an act..."
A sudden chill ran up Sakura's spine. She stared at Hinata as if she had seen a ghost. Did I hear that right? Hinata is defending Sasuke? What about Naruto?
"Wh-what's wrong?" Hinata grew nervous under Sakura's intense stare.
"Do... you like Sasuke?" Sakura asked in a low, haunting voice.
"Wha-???" Hinata's face instantly flushed crimson. "O-of course not! That's not it at all!" she denied hastily.
Seeing Hinata's flustered state, Sakura was speechless. Could it be true? Sasuke was handsome, so it was normal for girls to like him. But she never expected Hinata to be one of them. Did Naruto not save her that one winter?
Forget it. She decided not to think about it. Whatever happens, happens. The moment she realized she had triggered the butterfly effect four years ago, Sakura knew she could no longer predict the future.
"Ahem." Sakura cleared her throat and said to Shino, "Alright, Shino, I'll be counting on you from here on out."
"Right. No problem," Shino nodded, moving to the front of the group to take the lead.
Although Sakura was the captain, the task of finding the Bikochu beetle was still the responsibility of Team 8. Sakura's role as captain was more to prevent danger and to track Sasuke after they found the beetle.
Shino led them on, stopping and starting along the way. Sakura didn't understand much about it, so she didn't object. After all, it was best to leave it to the professionals.
"Did you bring something of Sasuke's?" Sakura asked, suddenly remembering something.
"Yes," Hinata said. "I went to Sasuke's house and found one of his shirts. I brought it with me."
Er... Sakura gave Hinata another strange look. The more she looked, the more suspicious it seemed. But she didn't press the issue. She just nodded. "Alright, then. Let's tear this shirt into four pieces. We'll each carry one."
With a rip, Sasuke's shirt was divided into four pieces. Then, Shino led the group onward.
Finally, at sunset, the four of them arrived at a massive, circular basin.
"We're here. This is it," Shino said, pointing down into the basin. "This is the Insect Paradise. All kinds of insects live here. According to my family's records, this is where the Bikochu was last sighted. But this place is particularly unsuitable for human survival."
Unsuitable for human survival? Sakura took a step forward and looked down into the enormous sunken basin. So the Bikochu is here. Now, it's all up to luck.
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