Night had fallen, but the village streets were still bustling with people enjoying the clamor of the evening after a long day's work.
For Choji, who had just completed a mission, the enjoyment was just beginning.
"What should I eat today?" Choji rubbed his stomach, a bit of drool unconsciously slipping from the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, can you stop thinking about food all the time? You should focus on your training once in a while," Ino said with a hint of disdain.
"Hmph. In my life, only two things are most important: food, food, and food," Choji huffed.
"Isn't that just one thing? What's the other one?" Ino counted on her fingers, realizing that although Choji had said three words, they were all the same thing.
"Heh heh, the other thing is naturally to find a wife who can cook and appreciate me. That way, I can eat to my heart's content every day," Choji said with a simple, goofy grin.
"Huh?~" A look of disgust crossed Ino's face. "Who would appreciate a fat—"
Before she could finish, Ino felt as if several ice-cold needles were tracing paths down her back.
Her mouth was suddenly clamped shut by Shikamaru.
"Hey, you can't say that word, have you forgotten?" Shikamaru whispered nervously to Ino.
"Mmph…" Ino nodded, struggling to break free from Shikamaru's grip. "I… I know, I'm sorry."
Then, just as Choji was about to explode, Ino forced a twitching smile and said, "Um, you'll definitely find someone who appreciates you, Choji. I believe in you."
"Oh, really? Do you really think so?" Choji's anger came and went like a storm. Hearing Ino's words, the terrifying look on his face vanished completely.
"Re… really," Ino said through a strained smile, the words feeling false on her tongue.
"Sigh~" Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, exasperated. "Honestly… it always turns into this. What a drag."
"Well then, let's go for barbecue today!" Choji decided cheerfully.
"Why barbecue again? I remember we had barbecue yesterday, and the day before. It feels like we've had barbecue all week," Ino protested, raising her hand.
"What, were you lying to me just now?" Choji's expression began to darken, a storm brewing once more.
"Ha… haha, of course not. But those seem like two different things, right?" The ice needles on Ino's back melted, turning into a cold sweat that seeped from her pores.
"Alright, alright, let's just go for barbecue. I remember Choji still has a few coupons for that place. They'll expire if we don't use them. Choji's just trying not to be wasteful, right?" Shikamaru said, playing the peacemaker.
"That's right, that's right!" Choji nodded vigorously. "The discount on these coupons is huge. It would be such a waste not to use them."
"Tsk…" Ino turned her head away, not wanting to deal with Choji. With how often you go there, you have more coupons than you can ever use. That's why they're about to expire, she thought.
But since Shikamaru had spoken, Ino didn't object anymore. Besides, even though it was a barbecue place, they did have other things to eat.
And so, the three of them headed toward their usual barbecue restaurant. Just then, a familiar figure rounded the corner of the opposite street.
"Hey, that… that's Sakura, right?" Choji asked, pointing at the figure with some uncertainty.
"I… I think so," Ino replied, equally unsure.
The girl ahead of them had the same pink hair as Sakura, but her t-shirt and shorts were filthy, and her hair was a mess. It was a far cry from the Sakura they knew, who always kept herself neat and clean.
The silhouette was similar, but nothing else seemed to match.
"You idiots, that's her," Shikamaru confirmed. "She looks different from usual, but there's no doubt it's her."
Sakura wandered aimlessly down the street. She had no destination in mind; she just wanted to get some air. The oppressive atmosphere of the last two days had been suffocating her.
The street was the same as always, the people coming and going just as they always had. After kicking an empty can out of her path, Sakura heard someone call her name from behind.
"Sakura…"
Sakura slowly turned her head and saw Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji. All three of them wore expressions of surprise.
"It really is you! I thought I was seeing things," Ino said, looking Sakura up and down. "You… what happened to you? Why do you look like this?"
"Oh, it's you guys," Sakura said, her voice low, not answering Ino's question. "What's up?"
"Uh… no, nothing. Are you okay?" Ino asked, looking at Sakura's poor state.
"I'm fine. If there's nothing else, I'll be going," Sakura said, turning to leave.
"Wait, we were just about to get some barbecue. If you're not busy, you should come with us," Shikamaru said, taking a step forward to invite her.
"…" Sakura looked at the three of them and was silent for a moment. "Thanks, but I don't want to eat. You guys go ahead."
"Oh, is that so? Well, alright. Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you," Shikamaru continued. "About the last mission."
"Last… mission?" Perhaps because she hadn't eaten or slept well for the past two days, Sakura's mind was slow to react to Shikamaru's sudden question.
"Last? Mission? What was it?" Sakura asked back.
The three of them exchanged a look. Did she lose her memory?
"The Bikochu mission," Shikamaru reminded her.
"The Bikochu mission?" Sakura finally registered what he was talking about. "Oh, that," she said coolly. "We didn't find it."
Although Ino already knew the outcome of that mission, hearing it again from Sakura's own lips still brought a pang of sadness.
"Can you tell me the details?" Shikamaru requested.
"There's nothing to tell." Sakura shook her head slightly, her tone devoid of any emotion. "Everyone chooses their own path. Even if we had found it, what then? Even if we had brought him back, what then? There would just be a next time."
"Yeah… you're right…" Ino's voice was tinged with sadness, but also a hint of self-consolation. "I knew it all along, but I still wanted to try and change things. I'm such… such an idiot."
Sakura gave Ino a surprised glance. "It's good that you understand. The next time we meet, we might be enemies."
Ino fell silent. Though the street was still lively, the atmosphere between them had grown heavy.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way." The chance encounter with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, though brief, had lifted Sakura's spirits just a little.
Shuying stood atop the Hokage Rock, the gentle breeze rustling the hem of her clothes. She looked down at the bustling rows of shops and the crowded streets below.
"So beautiful," Shuying sighed. It had been many years since she had last seen such a peaceful, prosperous sight.
She had no desire to destroy this scene, but some things could not be controlled by her will alone.
Shuying's body slowly floated into the air, rising until she could overlook the entire village. Then, one by one, white insects flew from her sleeves, spreading out over Konoha. The insects looked exactly like… clay bombs.
"Darkness always walks alongside the light. If you want to cherish the light, the only way is to let the darkness descend. Forgive me, Sakura. One day, you will understand."