"You might be being targeted," Tsunade said, looking at Sakura.
"Targeted?" Sakura was baffled by Tsunade's statement. "Targeted by whom?" she asked.
"Let me explain," Jiraiya interjected. "In the Waterfall Village, did you see a girl in a kimono, wearing a fox mask?"
"..." Hearing Jiraiya's description, Sakura's brow furrowed instantly, and a sense of unease crept into her heart. Why does Jiraiya know about Shuying? Did she tell him everything?
No, if Jiraiya and Master Tsunade knew about my plan, they wouldn't be this calm. I need to stay steady, let's see how this plays out.
"You know her?" Tsunade asked, seeing from Sakura's expression that she seemed to know something.
Sakura nodded, her expression grave. "I did see her in the Waterfall Village. According to the villagers, she's a civilian who fled to the village by chance a few years ago after encountering bandits. What's wrong? Did Lord Jiraiya meet her somewhere?"
Sakura didn't know that Tsunade had sent Jiraiya to look for her, so she was very curious as to where he could have met Shuying.
"I met her in the Town of a Hundred Flowers in the Land of Hot Water. Is her name Shuying?" Jiraiya asked Sakura.
It really was her. Sakura was shocked. But judging by their reactions, they shouldn't know about her plan to capture the Tailed Beasts. So what did Shuying tell Jiraiya?
"That's right," Sakura nodded. "That's what she said her name was. When did Lord Jiraiya meet her?"
"Yesterday. She came up to me and said she had information about you, telling me you were in the Waterfall Village and were preparing to return, so there was no need to look for you anymore. It seems what she said was true. But I don't understand her motive for doing so," Jiraiya said with confusion, then added, "And she was able to use my ninjutsu. That's what surprised me the most."
"Eh? Why was Lord Jiraiya looking for me?" Sakura asked, feigning ignorance.
"Ahem, let's talk about the girl named Shuying," Tsunade interrupted, her expression slightly awkward. It was clear she had been overly worried before.
Seeing that her master didn't want to elaborate, Sakura didn't press the issue. But returning to the topic of Shuying, her story in the Waterfall Village could basically be dismissed. But that raised new questions.
Was she really the Third Hokage's contingency plan? From what Jiraiya just said, perhaps she had been wrong. If she was one of the Third's people, she could have just revealed her identity to Jiraiya. But she didn't, and even had a small clash with him.
Right now, Sakura hoped more than anything that Shuying was the Third's contingency. In that case, the situation would still be under control. At least the lines would be clear, making it easier to plan. But if she wasn't, Sakura truly had no idea who she could be. She had some impression of every major character in Naruto.
Yet this Shuying... she had no impression of her at all, as if she had appeared out of thin air. Of course, she wouldn't remember a minor background character, but all signs indicated that she was no ordinary person.
"That's all I know. What happened after I met her in the Waterfall Village was indeed a bit strange. I asked around later, and there is such a person in the village. But now, it seems that was all probably fake," Sakura said, shaking her head.
"It seems so. Sakura, think back carefully. Did she make any other suspicious moves?" Tsunade said.
"Suspicious moves..." Sakura pondered. It seemed... it seemed... there really was something. Getting close to the Jinchuriki. Now that she knew there was something wrong with her, her getting close to the Jinchuriki was definitely a problem. But she couldn't say that.
This, however, made Sakura breathe a sigh of relief. Shuying was probably the Third's contingency after all. Getting close to the Jinchuriki to guard against her, then informing Jiraiya to return to the village—such actions really did seem like an attempt to stop her without exposing her.
"No," Sakura said, shaking her head regretfully at her master. "I can't figure out her motive for doing this."
The office fell into silence. This suddenly emerged, enigmatic girl had plunged all three of them into their own confusion, but none of them could figure out her true identity.
"Let's leave it at that for now," Tsunade finally said, putting the matter to rest. "If she truly has some purpose, she will appear again. Any more speculation before then is futile."
"I suppose that's the only way," Jiraiya sighed.
"Sakura," Tsunade said.
"Yes."
"Regarding the Waterfall Village's request, I can agree to it. Now is the time for recuperation. As a village bordering the Land of Fire, the Waterfall Village is worth befriending. Since you brought back the request, your next mission will be a diplomatic visit to the Waterfall Village," Tsunade said, then added after a thought, "Together with Jiraiya."
"Hey, wait a minute! Tsunade," Jiraiya quickly cried out. "I'm not good at diplomatic missions like this. You should find someone else."
Sakura, listening from the side, was taken aback. She had been thinking it would just be her own small team on this mission. If Jiraiya was added, she wouldn't be able to do any... extra things. But now, she could only hope that Tsunade would rescind the order.
"You must go," Tsunade said, her tone firm and decisive.
"Ngh," Jiraiya scratched his head. "I want to take Naruto to train as soon as possible. You know the reason. Besides, Sakura failed her mission this time. I'm afraid he won't stay put if he remains in the village. It would be better if I took him to that place."
Tsunade fell silent, then said, "In that case, we'll do as you say."
Sakura didn't know what kind of riddle Jiraiya and Tsunade were speaking in, but she knew that this mission would likely be just her team.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Sakura looked preoccupied. Shuying's appearance seemed like it would affect her Tailed Beast capture plan, but no matter what, the plan had to continue.
Arriving at Training Ground 3, Sakura was surprised to find that Yakumo had already begun practicing the second stage she had mentioned, with Sai training alongside her.
After watching from the side for a while, Sakura appeared and said to Yakumo, "Take a break, Yakumo."
The two in the field stopped their movements upon hearing the voice from the side. Yakumo looked at Sakura, a hint of excitement on her face, though she didn't show it. "You're back."
"Yeah. So, are you two getting along okay?" Sakura asked casually.
"It's alright, I guess," Yakumo said with a shrug.
"It's been absolutely terrible," Sai said with a smile. "Karin seems to be very hostile towards me, and so is Yakumo."
"..." Hearing Sai's words, Yakumo was fuming. This person was just as sharp-tongued as before. She had thought he would have gotten better after the last incident.
"Is that so? It doesn't matter. This is fine," Sakura didn't really care; it was just a casual question. She then looked at Yakumo. "Have you completed the first stage?"
"Yes, I have," Yakumo nodded. "I'm currently on the second stage."
"Good. Let's stop for now. We need to start training you in the practical application of Genjutsu: True Creation," Sakura said.
"So soon? I haven't finished the second stage yet," Yakumo said, confused.
"Something has come up. We have a mission soon, so we need to hurry things up a bit. But you don't need to master it completely, just being able to use it is enough," Sakura explained.
"By the way, Sai, you're not needed here anymore. Go back and prepare. We'll be setting out on a new mission soon," Sakura then said, dismissing him.
"Well then, I'll leave you to it. I'll be going now," Sai said with a slight smile. Without another word, he left crisply.
"Alright, let's begin," Sakura said, looking at Yakumo.