Night enveloped the land, yet it could not conceal the overwhelming inferno blazing ahead.
Sakura stood on a low hill overlooking the village, the firelight flickering across her face. Flames roared, consuming buildings, and the faint, hoarse screams of the dying carried on the wind.
I should put it out first, she thought, hands forming seals to activate her Strength of a Hundred Seal. But just as she was about to release a massive Water Release jutsu, hesitation gripped her.
A fire this large would demand a significant amount of chakra if she relied solely on her active reserves. Dipping into the vast stores of her Byakugou Seal would impact her ability to fight later. Karin and Neji were in enemy hands, and she had no idea what she was up against. Wasting chakra now could be fatal…
After a moment of internal struggle, Sakura released the seals, deactivating the Byakugou before it could fully form. I pity them, I truly do, she thought grimly, but I'm sorry. My teammates come first.
Coating her body in a protective layer of chakra, Sakura dashed into the village. The first thing that hit her wasn't an enemy attack, but the sickeningly sweet smell of burning flesh.
Nausea churned in her stomach. She knew that smell all too well. Spotting a villager collapsed on the ground ahead, still twitching feebly, Sakura rushed over.
He was horrifically burned, his features melted beyond recognition. With effort, Sakura turned him onto his back. Channeling chakra into the side of his waist, she stimulated his adrenal glands.
The rush of adrenaline could only grant him a final burst of lucidity; burns this severe were beyond healing. But perhaps, while he still drew breath, she could get some answers.
After a moment, the villager's eyes fluttered open. Seeing the girl leaning over him, his lips trembled. "Are… are you… with them?"
"Who are 'they'? What do you know? Tell me!" Sakura demanded, urgency sharpening her voice.
"They… they set the fire… burned the village chief… They're devils…" Words escaped his ruined mouth in broken gasps.
"That's useless information!" Sakura snapped, her patience fraying. "I'm a shinobi from Konoha! They took two of my comrades. Where did they go? Do you know?!"
At the mention of Konoha, a flicker of light returned to the villager's eyes. He managed a complete sentence, "They took… someone from the merchant caravan… I don't know where they went… Can you… help our village?"
"The caravan – where are they now?" Sakura pressed, sensing his life fading fast. She increased the chakra flow, trying to keep him conscious for just a moment longer.
"Gone…" the man rasped, laboriously lifting a trembling arm to point towards the village entrance. "That… that way…"
The effort seemed to drain the last of his strength. His arm fell limp, his last breath rattling in his chest before he went still.
Sakura rose, her gaze fixed on the direction he had indicated – the village entrance. Frowning, she decided questioning other villagers would be pointless. The merchant caravan the man mentioned – they would know something.
Returning to the entrance, she began meticulously searching for signs of the caravan's departure. Suddenly, the ferret on her shoulder leaped down, darting towards the edge of the forest. Sakura immediately gave chase.
Damn this ferret! Choosing now of all times to cause trouble! She took two steps, ready to snatch it quickly, when her eyes caught sight of discarded crates scattered by the roadside, accompanied by a mess of frantic footprints in the dirt.
Surprise and suspicion warred on Sakura's face. She continued following the ferret, her mind racing, piecing together the night's events. The client was a merchant caravan. The mission handover point was this village, which had just been attacked. And the village was attacked because of the caravan…
Combined with the direction the ferret was heading… Could it be the same caravan?
It's a gamble, she decided. But if this ferret is just messing with me, I won't hesitate to turn it into a new scarf.
She sprinted after the ferret, following it deeper into the woods until she watched it disappear headfirst into the mouth of a cave. Sakura skidded to a halt at the entrance, a wave of apprehension washing over her. Should she just barge in?
The last time she'd recklessly entered a cave, she'd run into Hanzo. She really hoped she wasn't about to stumble upon another legendary powerhouse.
As she hesitated, the sound of faint cheering echoed from within the cave. That settled it. Gripping a kunai tightly, Sakura moved swiftly but cautiously into the darkness.
The cave opened into a larger chamber, revealing a group of people huddled together, looking utterly wretched. They were exhausted, many sported fresh injuries, and their cargo lay scattered haphazardly around a central campfire. Men, women, and children – all bore the same haunted look.
"Who are you?!" Several of the more robust-looking men stepped forward, demanding answers from the suddenly appearing kunoichi.
"Does this ferret belong to your caravan?" Sakura asked, her voice cold as ice, gesturing to the small creature now capering near the fire.
"Yes. Is there a problem?" one of the men asked, frowning warily.
"Then I'm in the right place," Sakura stated flatly. "The people who attacked you – where are they now?"
Hearing her question, the entire group tensed, scrambling to their feet. A few children started to cry, only to be quickly muffled by the adults beside them.
"Are you with them?" The man who had spoken drew a knife, pointing it shakily at Sakura, his eyes filled with suspicion.
Fwip.
Before he could react, Sakura flicked her wrist. A kunai embedded itself in the back of his hand with pinpoint accuracy. The knife clattered uselessly to the cave floor.
Seeing her attack without warning, the group cried out in fear, scrambling backwards until their backs were pressed against the cold stone walls.
"Enough of this ridiculous suspicion!" Sakura's voice cut through their panic like shards of ice. "I will ask again: where are they? It would be wise to answer me truthfully. My patience has limits."
A hush fell over the terrified group. An old man emerged from their midst, waving the younger men back. He approached Sakura and bowed respectfully. "I am the steward of this caravan. I can answer your questions."
"Good," Sakura nodded curtly. "Were you attacked by people wearing silver-white armor?" She avoided the word 'knight', recognizing it might not be used here.
"Yes," the old man confirmed, his face clouding over. "It happened at dusk, as we approached the village to rest for the night. They ambushed us." His expression grew heavy with sorrow. "They took Kheshik… and the poor villagers were caught in the crossfire because of us."
"Kheshik?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. The name sounded distinctly Western, completely out of place in this world. It was incredibly strange.
"Kheshik is our caravan's doctor," the old man explained. "And our leader."
"We can discuss that later. Do you know who those attackers were? Where did they go?" Sakura asked again, forcing herself to remain patient.
"To the sea!" the steward replied.
"The sea? Which sea?" Sakura frowned, confused.
"Due south from here, across the great sea beyond the Land of Wind," the old man clarified, sadness etched deep in his voice. "If you seek them… I believe they will not depart immediately."
"Alright. Tell me everything you know. Now." Sakura sat down cross-legged on the cave floor.
Based on the conversation so far, the steward's explanation, the knight's strange power, and that concussive blast, Sakura concluded that both this caravan and their attackers were likely not native to this continent. Before attempting a rescue, she needed intelligence. Rescuing no one and getting herself captured was not an option. Besides, a part of her was intensely curious about these people from outside the known Shinobi World.
"You lot, prepare some food," the old man instructed the others, finding a smooth rock to sit on himself. The group, still trembling, slowly began to busy themselves.
"You are a ninja from Konohagakure, are you not?" the steward asked, looking closely at the young woman.
"Yes. I'm Haruno Sakura. You can call me Sakura," she replied, glancing down as the ferret decided her lap was the perfect place for a nap. "This was your mission request, I assume? To find this ferret."
"It was," the steward confirmed. "We travel constantly across this land, with no fixed base. We chose that village in the Land of Wind as the rendezvous point… Who could have imagined…" He trailed off, overcome with grief.
"I didn't come here to listen to your misfortunes," Sakura cut him off, her tone hardening. "Those people abducted two of my teammates. Right now, my only goal is to find those attackers and rescue my friends. I need all the information you have on them. Understand?" She stared intently at the old man.
"I understand," the steward sighed heavily. "They are the Destroyers of Naelkui. An organization from the Theocratic Nation."
"Continue," Sakura prompted, nodding. This confirmed her suspicion: they were outsiders.
"Naelkui was our ancestral homeland," the steward began, his voice flat, as if recounting ancient history that barely concerned him. "Though truthfully, none of us here truly remember it. Three hundred years ago, the Theocratic Nation launched a war and destroyed Naelkui. The ones who took your companions are agents of that same Theocratic Nation."
"Three hundred years ago?" Sakura frowned. "They've existed for that long?"
"We were once the people of Naelkui. Since the empire fell, our ancestors, and now us, have lived this wandering existence. We've largely forgotten our past. If they hadn't sought us out… perhaps in a few more generations, our origins would have been lost completely," the old man said, his expression bleak.
"Why did they come looking for you now?"
"Because of the Stone of Gelel," the steward stated, pausing for effect. "Perhaps… that is also why they took your friends."
"The Stone of Gelel," Sakura murmured, tasting the unfamiliar words. "What is that?"
"The Stone of Gelel was the very cause of the war three centuries ago," the old man said, closing his eyes briefly. "According to the legends in the Book of Gelel, our ancestors discovered the stone and used it to build a vast empire. With the Stone of Gelel, we developed powerful technology rapidly… but it was also the beginning of our destruction."
He continued, "We weren't the only ones who could utilize the stone's power. The veins of Gelel ore became the flashpoint for conflict. In the endless wars that followed, Naelkui ultimately fell to the Theocratic Nation. A great massacre began, and the few survivors were forced to flee across the sea…"
"So your ancestors drifted to this continent and lived as merchants ever since," Sakura interjected flatly, summarizing. "Alright, I understand the history. It's all because of this Stone of Gelel. Now, why are you so sure they haven't left the area yet?"
"Because they are searching for the lost legacy of the Naelkui Empire," the steward explained. "My grandfather told me that as Naelkui fell, our ancestors sealed a large quantity of Gelel Stone onto a mobile island, hoping to use it one day to stage a comeback. The Stone of Gelel is not infinite, you see. It seems their own supply must be dwindling. Since they've appeared here now, it strongly suggests they believe that island is somewhere in these waters."
"This Stone of Gelel… is it green?" Sakura asked suddenly, the image of the knight's green-flamed sword flashing in her mind.
The old man shook his head. "I do not know. I have never seen the Stone of Gelel myself. Everything I've told you, I heard from my grandfather, and he from his father before him. Even the Book of Gelel I mentioned – I only know of it through their stories."
"I see," Sakura nodded slowly. "But you must know something about what the Stone of Gelel does." Understanding its properties was crucial before planning a rescue mission, especially since it clearly had combat applications.
"The Stone of Gelel is said to be a source of life itself," the steward elaborated, again cautioning that his knowledge was secondhand. "It can make livestock mature overnight, cause crops and fruit trees to grow with astonishing speed. They even say that prolonged contact with the stone can increase one's lifespan." He paused. "That is all I know."
Sakura's jaw dropped slightly, her eyes wide with disbelief. A stone that could do all that? She had definitely underestimated it, thinking it was merely some kind of energy source.
As she processed this, the nagging sense of déjà vu she'd felt during the fight with the knight returned, stronger this time. She had encountered something with similar effects before… but where? Frowning deeply, Sakura closed her eyes, concentrating, sitting silently amidst the low murmur of the cave. Across from her, the old steward watched her thoughtful expression and respectfully held his tongue.
A moment later, the savory aroma of cooked food drifted over from the campfire. Someone had prepared a meal as the steward had instructed.
"Please, eat something," the steward offered kindly. "And truly, thank you for finding our little friend here." He gestured to the sleeping ferret.
That's it! Sakura's eyes snapped open, realization hitting her like a physical blow. I remember now! Last year's mission on Red Continent Island! The large torii gate… the one Village Chief Soga called the sacred 'Great Tree of God'! It possessed similar life-accelerating properties, though seemingly much weaker than the Stone of Gelel. Could there be a connection between the two?
Perhaps, she mused, a new resolve forming, after I get Karin and Neji back, a return trip to Red Island is in order.