Chapter 172:
Konoha Village.
Dusk.
Naruto was driving slowly, while Sakura sat in the back seat, fussing over Sasuke who was beside her. Glancing at them through the rearview mirror, Naruto couldn't help but feel like he was just playing the role of a chauffeur.
The richest man in Konoha, the Fox Spirit Hero who protected the village, was currently playing driver for someone else.
The car rolled to a slow stop.
"What's wrong, Naruto?"
Sasuke, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
"They're probably here for you again…"
Looking at the five masked men who had suddenly appeared in front of the car, Naruto spoke gravely.
Sasuke didn't respond. Just as he was about to open the door, Sakura stopped him.
Sasuke looked at her, confused, but Sakura simply shook her head and said, "Let me handle this."
As Tsunade's disciple, Sakura had not only learned medical ninjutsu but also inherited her monstrous strength.
As Sakura stepped out of the car, Naruto followed.
Then, Sasuke followed after Naruto.
"We're still inside the village, so I'll only use half my strength to deal with you guys."
Sakura cracked her neck as she looked at the five men before her.
"All of us, go!"
The leader, Sai, gave the order.
Watching Sakura take down one thug after another with a single punch each, Naruto—standing to the side—asked, "Aren't you going to help, Sasuke?"
Sasuke shook his head and replied, "I trust Sakura."
"Now you're the only one left."
Four unconscious men lay at Sakura's feet. Poised and confident, Sakura looked at the last one standing—clearly the leader of the group.
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!"
Sai unfurled the scroll slung across his back and quickly painted across it with ink. At last, he clapped his hands together.
The painted deity on the scroll suddenly came to life and rose to stand before them.
The newly materialized figure clashed fists with Sakura.
The impact of their blows cracked the ground beneath them.
Eventually, the deity burst into splashes of black ink, and Sakura was sent flying.
"You okay, Sakura?"
Naruto caught her as she flew toward him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Naruto."
As his ink beast vanished, Sai began painting again on a fresh part of the scroll.
"Sakura, take a break."
Naruto rolled up his sleeves as he spoke.
"But Naruto, your—"
"Let me handle it."
Sasuke stepped in front of them as he spoke, revealing his Sharingan with three tomoe.
"Sharingan…" Sai's expression turned grave. "Aren't you going to show yourself? I can't take him on alone."
Naruto quickly scanned the surroundings. A masked ninja stepped out from the shadows of a nearby alley.
"You…"
Naruto would never forget—the masked ninja dressed exactly like the one who had murdered his parents that night.
"Wood Release…"
"You bastard!"
Seeing the familiar Wood Release, Naruto finally confirmed that this was the very same person who had killed his parents.
"Naruto, get behind me."
Sakura moved in front of Naruto.
Because of the Nine Tails' interference, Naruto, despite having massive chakra reserves, was unable to properly harness it for jutsu.
The Fox Armor served as a processing station, refining Naruto's chakra into a usable form.
Without the armor, Naruto was essentially just a strong ordinary man.
"What a familiar scene, Minato Naruto."
The masked Yamato finally spoke.
Naruto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. He was fighting to keep himself from acting impulsively, silently waiting for the Foxmobile to arrive.
"Sakura Shock!"
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
A line of wooden stakes rose in front of Yamato, bending to form a domed barrier around him.
After smashing through the wood in front of her, Sakura stopped in her tracks—Yamato was nowhere to be seen, and she froze for a moment.
Though Tsunade had granted her immense strength as a disciple, she had also shielded her from actual combat.
In short, Sakura had power—but lacked experience.
"Sakura, above you!"
Naruto's warning made her look up.
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
High above, Yamato extended his right hand downward. His arm transformed into stretching branches that reached down and pinned Sakura to the ground.
"Sakura!"
Naruto ran to her side, panic on his face, but with his current strength, there was no way he could break through Wood Release to free her.
"Naruto, run!"
Sakura, still struggling, shouted to him.
"No… Sakura, I won't run anymore…"
"This time you didn't run. Impressive, Minato Naruto."
Naruto stepped between Sakura and Yamato.
"Who are you, really?"
Naruto asked as he took a fighting stance, fists clenched.
Yamato gave a faint shake of his head. "You're not my target, Naruto."
As he finished speaking, Yamato formed a hand seal and slammed his hand to the ground.
"What are you doing?!"
Naruto immediately looked back at Sakura, still pinned under the Wood Release.
"Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial!"
The wood restraining Sakura began to compress. A piercing scream of agony escaped her lips.
"Sakura!" Naruto looked at her pain-stricken face, then turned back to Yamato. "Stop it—NOW!"
Elsewhere, Sai was still clashing with Sasuke, but because he feared direct eye contact with the Sharingan, he kept avoiding Sasuke's gaze and was clearly losing ground.
"Aren't you worried?" Sai asked after dodging another shuriken.
"Worried about what?"
Sasuke didn't hold any strong feelings for Sakura.
"SAKURA!!!"
Hearing Naruto's anguished scream, Sasuke's attention was finally drawn to them. By then, the entangling Wood Release had completely silenced Sakura.
Yamato walked over to Sai and said, "Mission accomplished. We can withdraw now."
"Got it." Sai nodded.
Raised under Danzō's training, all Root members had been indoctrinated with the mindset of emotionless tools—just complete the mission, nothing else matters.
At that moment, the Foxmobile arrived beside Naruto, driving itself.
As they left, Sai happened to glance back—he saw Naruto carrying Sakura's body into the car.
Just like that night years ago, Naruto once again experienced the helplessness of watching someone he loved die in front of him.
No one knew what was going through his mind now. But as they looked at Naruto holding Sakura's corpse, even Sasuke couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
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