As it turns out, not everyone in this world can read the situation. Some people always want to test the patience of the strong with their own weakness.
Sakura looked at the three Iwagakure ninja blocking her path, her eyes narrowing as she demanded, "What more do you want?"
The three of them, Jakuhochi included, were silent. They couldn't believe a ninja this powerful was just a kid, but it seemed to be the truth. What else could they do? They could do nothing.
But Jakuhochi didn't want to give up just like that. This was the only chance for the Kamizuru clan to rise again. If she missed it, there would be no other.
"What will it take for you to give us the Bikochu?" Jakuhochi asked cautiously. The ninja before them was strong, but she was young. Perhaps there was still a chance. That's what gave Jakuhochi the courage to block their path.
"What will it take?" Sakura was stunned. Have these three Iwa-nin lost their minds? I didn't even hold them accountable for kidnapping Hinata, which was lucky for them, and they're still thinking about the Bikochu?
Sakura was so exasperated she almost laughed. "Are you all so brain-dead that you got kicked out of Iwagakure?"
Jakuhochi gritted her teeth, showing no anger at the girl's taunts. "I know this request sounds ridiculous, but I have a reason why I must have the Bikochu. Name your conditions. I'll meet any of them."
Sakura was speechless. The Iwa-nin was being so deferential that she really didn't want to kill them. She only killed those who tried to kill her. Killing was a means to an end, not a necessity. But if it became necessary, Sakura wouldn't hesitate.
"Iwagakure and Konoha are still enemy villages, you know," Sakura said softly. "It was merciful enough of me not to kill you just now. Don't you understand that?"
"I... we understand," Jakuhochi's voice trembled.
"Since you're so clueless, I guess I'll just have to get rid of you," Sakura said, handing Hinata to Shino. "You two go on ahead. Just follow the river and you'll find the camp."
"Right." Shino nodded without another word. Sakura was the captain; her word was law. Shino knew full well what was required of a team member.
Since Shino had no objections, Kiba naturally didn't either, and he left with Shino.
After the two had gone, Sakura smiled, cracking her knuckles as she looked at the three from Iwagakure.
Jibachi and Kurobachi were instantly on high alert, drawing their kunai and taking a defensive stance.
"Jakuhochi... wh-what do we do?" Kurobachi asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Should we run... Jakuhochi..." Jibachi couldn't suppress the fear in his heart. If Jakuhochi hadn't insisted on stopping them, he would never have wanted to face such a powerful ninja. Konoha truly was the land of geniuses; a kid this young was already so formidable.
But at that moment, Jakuhochi had calmed down. Looking at the slowly approaching Sakura, the fear she had felt earlier was gone.
"Hm?" Sakura looked at Jakuhochi with curiosity. "You're not afraid of death?"
Jakuhochi replied calmly, "I am. But you won't kill me."
"Oh?" Sakura narrowed her eyes. "And what makes you so sure I won't kill you?"
"If you wanted to kill us, you wouldn't have needed to send your comrades away," Jakuhochi said confidently, shaking her head. "The only other possibility is that you've accepted my proposal."
"An interesting theory," Sakura said, her gaze turning sharp. "But it's also possible that I sent them away because I didn't want them to see a bloody scene."
"...We're ninja," Jakuhochi said with a wry laugh, though she was inwardly relieved. It seems my gamble paid off. She doesn't really want to kill us. If she did, she would have done it the moment she appeared. There would be no need to send her teammates away now.
"That's right. You're very clever. I don't plan on killing you," Sakura said, a feeling of disgust rising in her as she looked at the woman. Overly clever people really were annoying.
Hearing Sakura's words, Kurobachi and Jibachi breathed a sigh of relief. A sense of admiration for Jakuhochi welled up inside them. As expected of the heir to the main family. Her mind is so sharp. It seems there's hope for the clan's revival after all.
"Jakuhochi... urgh...!!!!!"
Kurobachi had just started to speak to Jakuhochi when he suddenly found he couldn't breathe. His chest began to swell as if being inflated, until it reached its limit. With a soft pop, a blood-soaked hand burst out from Kurobachi's chest, dazzling lightning and a piercing hum surrounding it.
Jibachi stared at the sudden turn of events, his face instantly turning deathly pale. His comrade had been brutally killed before his eyes, and he was powerless to do anything. Finally, Jibachi's fragile mental defenses shattered. He let out a wild, boar-like scream and fled into the forest. He hadn't taken two steps before Sakura appeared behind him, knocking him unconscious with a single chop to the neck.
"Y-you... you said... you... you wouldn't... kill us...!!!!" Jakuhochi was completely stunned, the muscles on her bloodless face twitching as she finally managed to stammer out the words.
"Oh, but I didn't kill you!" Sakura said, flicking her wrist and looking at Jakuhochi out of the corner of her eye. "I never said I wouldn't kill the other two. So, you don't need to be nervous. Here, relax."
Seeing that Jakuhochi had finally lost her confidence, Sakura nodded in satisfaction. If you can't read the situation, then I'll help you see it clearly. I'll show you who's in control. To play mind games with her when their lives were already in her hands... they were simply asking to die!
"You really don't need to be nervous. I won't kill you. I have a use for you, so I won't kill you for now," Sakura said, looking at Jakuhochi's pale, trembling form. "Now, I'll ask, and you'll answer. Understood?"
Jakuhochi nodded in terror, indicating she understood.
"So, what do you want the Bikochu for?" Sakura asked, sitting down on a rock.
"T-to... to find the First's legacy," Jakuhochi stammered in reply.
The First's legacy? Sakura frowned. What legacy did the First have that even Iwagakure was searching for? Could it be the Nine-Tails? All things considered, the Nine-Tails was the First's greatest legacy. Still, she had to ask.
"The First's legacy? What is it?" Sakura asked.
"It's the Kamizuru clan's Bee Manipulation Technique. With it, I can revive my clan," Jakuhochi said. She seemed to have calmed down, her speech no longer stuttering.
"Hm? Bee Manipulation Technique?" Sakura grew more and more confused. Did the First Hokage steal something like that from them? Was something like that even worth stealing for the First Hokage? Wait, could it be...
"Who is this 'First' you're talking about?" Sakura asked.
"The founder of the Kamizuru clan. My grandfather," Jakuhochi replied. She had resigned herself to her fate. Like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, she told Sakura everything she asked.
Sakura was speechless. So "the First" referred to the founder of their clan. No wonder. The First Hokage would never stoop so low as to steal a minor clan's ninjutsu.
"So how are you planning to use the Bikochu to find it?" Sakura continued.
"I have a lock of the First's hair. When he died, he had the Kamizuru clan's secret scroll with him. But because of the war, no one knows where he died. With the Bikochu, we can find him," Jakuhochi answered without reservation.
"So you want to use the Bikochu to find that secret scroll," Sakura stated.
Jakuhochi nodded, not speaking this time, just waiting for Sakura's final decision.
"Don't be so tense. I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't. As long as you cooperate," Sakura said, getting up from the rock. She walked over to the unconscious Jibachi. "Since you're a ninja from Iwagakure, do you know Han?"
"You..." Jakuhochi's heart leaped in her chest. This time, she was truly shocked. "I... I don't know," she stammered.
"Do you want to die?" Sakura said coldly, dragging Jibachi in front of Jakuhochi.
"I..." Jakuhochi gritted her teeth. "Betraying my village is impossible!"
Before, Jakuhochi had answered every question because it was only information about her own clan. The Kamizuru clan had already fallen; even if it disappeared completely, it wouldn't have a major impact on Iwagakure. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was the truth.
But even though her clan had fallen, Jakuhochi had no intention of betraying her village. She would never give up information about it.
"I can help you. Help you revive your clan," Sakura explained. "All I need from you is to go back to your village and gather information on Han. Don't worry, this is just my personal business. It has nothing to do with Konoha."
"You... you'll let me go back?" Jakuhochi asked, her voice filled with surprised delight.
"Of course," Sakura nodded. "As long as you agree to pass me information on Han, I'll let you go back. Not only that, but I can also help you find your clan's secret scroll and help you revive the Kamizuru clan. How about it?"
Jakuhochi looked at Sakura and suddenly wanted to laugh. No matter how strong she is, she's still just a kid. Once I get back to the village, why would I ever listen to her?
Sakura saw the disdain in Jakuhochi's eyes but said nothing. There were always those who thought themselves clever, putting on airs.
In a moment, Sakura thought, you'll find out who the real fool is.