When Naruto got home, the rain had already begun to ease.He walked with a spring in his step, humming a strange but simple little tune as he headed up the stairs.
The old apartment building where he lived didn't have many tenants—an odd mix of people. Sometimes he would spot a young girl, other times only old folks. But on rainy days, you could hardly see anyone at all.
Shaking the water off his big black umbrella, Naruto stomped his feet to rid his pants of the damp cling of rain. As he fished for his keys, his eyes suddenly caught sight of someone crouched by his door.
A girl.Pink hair.Wide forehead.She was leaning against the wall, head bowed, ends of her hair dripping wet. She looked… asleep.
—Huh? Sakura?
Sakura!!!
What was she doing here?Wasn't she supposed to be with Sasuke, signing up for the Chunin Exams?
Naruto crouched down, leaning in close."She's really asleep?"
Wait a second… this wasn't something out of one of those… novels?
Pah—filthy.He'd never read that kind of light novel. He only ever read serious romance stories on 某点.
Still, Sakura really was asleep like this. Naruto couldn't help but feel a little amazed.
She was curled up against the wall, legs drawn close, pink hair plastered down with rain. Her eyes were closed, her breathing slow and steady.
People usually fell asleep in only two cases: in the warmth of an air-conditioned room… or when chilled to the bone.
But it was midsummer. The storm had cleared the heavy heat, leaving the night pleasantly cool—not nearly enough to freeze anyone to death. Something didn't add up.
Naruto scratched his head, nudging at her shoe with his foot.…No response.
He scratched again, then finally sensed a trace of chakra. Awkwardly recalling lessons from the Academy, he formed a release seal."Release!"
His voice was sharp as fiery chakra burst from his hands into Sakura's body.
Suddenly, she jolted upright, gasping desperately like someone who had been drowning."I… I'm saved," she trembled.
"What happened?" Naruto asked.
"Sasuke was taken by a strange man. I was caught in his genjutsu… Kakashi-sensei should be chasing after him now.""Come on, Naruto! Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke are in danger!" She reached out to grab his hand.
But in the next instant—Naruto spun and kicked, his heel landing squarely on her face.
She cried out and leapt back, landing nimbly. Her appearance remained Sakura's, but her eyes turned cold and vicious."How did you see through me?"
"You sure like asking questions," Naruto shot back.
"Heh."The fake Sakura grinned, pulling two sharp kunai from behind her waist."No matter. You'll be a corpse soon enough."
She lunged.The air crackled with static, like an old film reel jamming. The world around Naruto dimmed, light devoured in ragged strips by a creeping darkness.
This was genjutsu.
Naruto steadied himself, instincts taking over as he dodged blindly. Even without seeing, his body moved on reflex.
Then—she joined him inside the illusion.
Boom!
The darkness split apart. Naruto found himself bound tightly to a stone pillar. Above hung a crimson blood moon, its light spilling evenly over him… and the sneering face of the fake Sakura.
"Why do you always smile like that?" Naruto taunted. His calmness was a sharper insult to death than fear could ever be.
"Heh… when I slit open your belly, I'll tell you," she whispered, eyes gleaming with madness as she sucked at her finger.
Her movements were unhinged, obsessive—like a deranged yandere straight out of a nightmare.
Damn it. Why was he suddenly reminded of Yuno Gasai at a time like this?!
"What was that you said you were going to do to me?" Naruto tilted his head, lips curling. "I didn't quite hear. Say it again?"
"…You're scared."
"Yes, terrified. I might even piss myself." Naruto smirked. "But now I'm planning to redeem you—guide you back to the right path."
"Redeem me? Hahaha!!"The fake Sakura doubled over laughing, eyes twisted with insanity."You? Redeem me? Maybe if you grovel on your knees and beg for mercy, I might let you live."
"Not a chance. You're dead." She raised her kunai high. "Here, an hour passes inside. Outside? Only a minute."
She stepped forward, blade poised over his chest."Die!"
"Wait."
"Any last words?"
"Yes." Naruto coughed, staring straight into her eyes."Have you… ever seen a mouth hand seal?"
"What?" She faltered, thrown off guard.
[Four Symbols Seal—Activate! Devour!]
Boom!!!
The illusion shattered, annihilated by an overwhelming ancient force. The fake Sakura was dragged away, spinning helplessly as the seal swallowed her whole.
In the damp, shadowy depths of the Four Symbols Seal's domain, she crashed into a shallow pool. Naruto stood over her——and behind him loomed an enormous cage of redwood bars.
From the darkness, a colossal fox head emerged, eyes glowing blood-red, fangs like mountains. The killing intent alone shook the air.
The intruder collapsed, body trembling, tears spilling down uncontrollably.
Naruto smiled faintly, his words falling heavy as iron.
"I. Got. You."