A torrential downpour fell from the sky. Sakura used an Earth Style jutsu to create a temporary cave, and the team took shelter inside. Shino stood nervously at the mouth of the cave, watching over the agitated Bikochu, while Kiba and Akamaru feasted heartily on fish they were roasting over a fire.
Hinata picked up a cooked fish and handed it to Sakura. Accepting it, Sakura began to eat, her mind already running through the next steps of their plan. As long as the Bikochu caught the scent, Sasuke wouldn't be able to escape.
To be honest, a part of Sakura didn't want Sasuke to return. She had just put together her own small team, and if Sasuke came back, it was very likely she wouldn't be able to continue leading them. After this incident, her master would probably never let him back into the ANBU. The only possibility would be for him to team up with her again.
Sakura had already thought of the perfect excuse to give Tsunade-sensei. It would be something along the lines of needing to monitor Sasuke to prevent Orochimaru from having another opportunity, or to keep an eye on him so he wouldn't run away again, providing him with psychological support. But if he joined her team, her current members would need to find another jonin to lead them.
Although it wasn't a certainty that things would be arranged that way, someone like Sasuke, who had shown a willingness to defect to Orochimaru, would obviously not be allowed to remain in the ANBU. In the end, it was highly probable he would be placed on her team once more.
But there was no point in dwelling on it now; it was just needless worry. Even if Sasuke did return, it wasn't like there was no room to maneuver. At worst, she could just push him off on Kakashi.
The rain continued to fall, and the air in the cave grew damp. Kiba and Akamaru, full and satisfied, were lying off to the side, resting. With nothing else to do, Hinata joined Shino in observing the Bikochu.
Sakura found a comfortable spot and closed her eyes to rest. If things went as expected, a long pursuit would begin soon.
She drifted off, unsure of how long she'd slept, when she vaguely felt someone shaking her. A soft voice called her name.
"Nngh..." Sakura rubbed her bleary eyes. Standing before her was Hinata.
"Is it time?" Sakura asked, still rubbing her eyes.
"Yes, it has laid its eggs, and they're about to hatch," Hinata said. "Shino wanted me to wake you. The chase is about to begin."
"Right. Got it." Sakura stood up, stretched her body, and walked toward Shino at the entrance of the cave.
Inside the container, a cluster of white eggs looked as if they were about to burst open. "Are those the Bikochu eggs?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. They're about to hatch," Shino confirmed with a nod.
"Are you guys coming too?" Sakura asked.
"What do you mean?" Shino countered.
"I mean, you all can head back. I can handle the tracking myself," Sakura said, rubbing her head. "It's too much trouble to bring you along. If we actually run into Orochimaru, I'll have to divert my attention to protect you."
"No," Shino refused. "No one here knows more about insects than I do. Furthermore, Kiba and Hinata can provide backup tracking. It's necessary to have an extra layer of security."
"Fine, have it your way," Sakura muttered with a pout. If she went alone, she would have a chance to really talk things out with Sasuke when she found him. There might be a small chance he would have a change of heart.
But since they insisted on following, they couldn't blame her for what happened next. While she didn't want Sasuke returning to the village and disrupting her plans, she didn't want him to stay with Orochimaru either. After all, Orochimaru's hands weren't sealed this time around. It was debatable whether Sasuke could even defeat him.
If Orochimaru got his hands on the Sharingan... ugh, that would probably be a huge pain.
A moment later, the Bikochu successfully hatched. Shino quickly held a scrap from Sasuke's clothing up to the newly born insect. The Bikochu sniffed it, then flapped its wings and took off, flying toward another part of the forest.
Sakura led the other three in close pursuit. Though it was the middle of the night, all four of them forced themselves to stay alert.
An unknown amount of time passed before the first hint of sunlight appeared on the horizon. The Bikochu in front of them, however, kept flying onward. Sakura noticed the exhausted looks on her teammates' faces.
"Shino, recall the Bikochu. Let's rest for a bit," Sakura said.
"N-No need, we can keep going," Kiba interjected.
Shino, however, ignored Kiba's comment. With a wave of his hand, a swarm of his own kikaichu flew from his sleeve, surrounded the Bikochu, and brought it back.
"If you all collapse from exhaustion, you won't even be able to run away when a fight starts," Sakura teased.
"Why would I run? Right, Akamaru?" Kiba asked his partner, though his voice lacked some of its usual confidence.
"Woof..." Akamaru whimpered, seeming just as tired.
Finding a clean patch of grass, Sakura had the three of them sit down. She then took out some soldier pills to replenish their energy. After the long journey, she was feeling a bit tired herself.
"Where are we now?" Sakura asked Shino.
The three of them specialized in reconnaissance and had a clear understanding of the terrain, so Sakura didn't have to bother figuring out their location.
"Based on the distance we've traveled, we have reached the border of the Land of Hot Water," Shino said, pushing up his sunglasses.
"The Land of Hot Water?" An image of the ninja world map appeared in Sakura's mind.
The Land of Hot Water was a small country north of the Land of Fire. As the wars gradually subsided, the Village Hidden in the Hot Water lost the support of its daimyo and its power waned. Even so, the village continued to exist. Thanks to the Land of Hot Water's abundant natural resources, it could sustain itself even without funding from the daimyo.
In short, it was a country with an abundance of hot springs and a peace-loving ninja village. Would Sasuke be here? Sakura wasn't sure. The Land of Hot Water bordered the Land of Rice Paddies—the location of the Village Hidden in the Sound.
The Bikochu flying in this direction at least proved that Sasuke had been here. If the insect continued toward the Land of Rice Paddies, then she would have Team 8 stay behind in the Land of Hot Water. The Land of Rice Paddies was Orochimaru's den. Any mishap there would be disastrous.
After resting for an hour, the sun had gradually risen, its light illuminating the land. The sounds of birds chirping filled the forest.
"Let's get going. If I'm not mistaken, we're about to enter the Land of Hot Water," Sakura said, getting to her feet.
"It appears so," Shino confirmed. After he released the Bikochu, it flew straight toward the Land of Hot Water.
And so, the group set off again. After an hour's rest, the three members of Team 8 were clearly much more refreshed. Following another relentless, non-stop journey, they finally arrived at a town just as the sun was high in the sky.
"The Town of a Hundred Flowers..." Sakura chuckled. "It seems to live up to its name."
Even before entering the town, a rich floral fragrance drifted out from within. A single glance was enough to have one's vision filled with flowers.
"I don't like this place," Kiba said with disgust, pinching his nose.
"Me neither. The scent here is too strong. It will interfere with tracking," Shino agreed with a nod.
"I... I think it's wonderful here. So many flowers, what a beautiful town," Hinata, on the other hand, praised it highly. As expected, unlike the other two, she relied on her eyes.
"The scent is too strong?" Sakura asked with a frown. "Will it affect the Bikochu's tracking?"
"Theoretically, yes," Shino said. "But for the Bikochu, it will just be more time-consuming. Since we've come here, it proves that Sasuke stayed here for a long time. It might take the Bikochu a while to distinguish Sasuke's scent."
"Okay, that's fine then," Sakura continued. "If it's going to take a while even for the Bikochu, let's find an inn to stay at first. We can let the Bikochu take its time searching."
"Yes, ma'am," the three replied. After all, Sakura was their captain.