Raiga Kurosuki's words pushed Sakura into complete despair.
She already knew how strong Zabuza Momochi was. Back then, if Orion hadn't assisted Kakashi Hatake, Kakashi might not have been able to defeat Zabuza.
If Orion was held here… Kakashi might lose. Dazuna would die.
And Orion… might die trying to save her.
Even worse—if Zabuza succeeded and then came here, facing two jōnin, Sakura didn't believe Orion could survive.
A dead end.
"No… Orion won't fall for this… He'll definitely see through your trap!" Sakura said, her voice trembling.
She refused to believe he would come.
Raiga laughed loudly. "Even if he knows, does he have a choice?"
That single sentence silenced her.
Yes… even if Orion knew—what choice did he have?
Would he abandon them and go help Kakashi instead?
Seeing her fall silent, Raiga smirked. "Will he complete the mission… or save his comrades?"
"From what I've observed, he'll choose you."
"No… he won't…" Sakura shook her head desperately. "He'll go to Kakashi-sensei."
But deep down, she knew the truth.
Tears streamed down her face.
She didn't want Orion to come.
If he came, they would all die together.
"Orion… you won't come, right… You're a good ninja… You'll choose the mission…"
"We're just temporary teammates… I'm not that important to you…"
She cried uncontrollably.
Raiga mocked her, "Isn't it a good thing? Dying with a genius companion?"
But Sakura ignored him. She stared out the window, silently praying.
Please don't come.
Please don't see the letter.
"Didn't Kakashi-sensei tell you something during your test?"
A calm voice suddenly came from outside the cabin.
Orion.
Raiga's expression sharpened instantly. He appeared behind Sakura in a flash, crossing his twin blades—Kiba swords—against her neck.
The two chūnin moved just as quickly, placing kunai at Tsubasa and Inari's throats.
For a moment, Sakura felt relief—
Then she broke down.
"Orion! Why did you come?! You knew this was a trap!"
Orion walked slowly into the cabin.
He glanced around calmly and said, "I knew. But like he said… I didn't have a choice."
He shrugged lightly.
Despite his calm expression, the two Mist chūnin felt a chilling danger.
It was as if this boy could kill them at any moment.
They swallowed nervously.
They knew—this was no ordinary genin.
Raiga also didn't dare relax.
Sakura stared at Orion through tears, shaking her head. She didn't want him here.
Orion looked at Raiga and said casually, "You're not weaker than Zabuza. A jōnin, right? The Hidden Mist sure produces a lot of dangerous rogue ninja."
He spoke as if chatting idly, completely ignoring the deadly situation.
Raiga's expression turned serious. "Brat, you're going to die with that foolish girl."
Orion smiled faintly. "What makes you so sure?"
Raiga burst out laughing. "Didn't you notice anything strange?"
"I've been watching you for days. You think I'd fight you head-on?"
"Within a hundred meters of this cabin, I've planted countless explosive tags. This place alone has hundreds. Enough to blow you—and them—into nothing."
Orion wasn't surprised.
He had already sensed it.
Steel wires… explosive tags… covering the entire area.
If detonated, everything within hundreds of meters would be annihilated.
But Sakura, Tsubasa, and Inari were here.
What could he do?
Ignore them?
He couldn't.
"If everything explodes, you won't escape either," Orion said.
Raiga sneered. "Who said I'm using my real body?"
Orion clapped lightly. "Impressive. You've studied me well."
"A trap I can't avoid."
Raiga's patience ran out. "Enough talking. Die with your foolish choice."
"Explode."
At that exact moment—
Orion's eyes sharpened.
His chakra surged violently.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Net!"
"Wind Release: Air Burst!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
"Crackle—!"
"Buzz—!"
"Crash—!"
"BOOOOM!!!"
Every explosive tag detonated at once.
The cabin was instantly obliterated.
A massive explosion rose like a mushroom cloud tens of meters high.
Shockwaves tore through the forest, uprooting trees hundreds of meters away.
The ground trembled violently, like a massive earthquake.
Smoke and dust filled the sky.
After a long while, the dust finally settled.
The land was left in ruins—craters everywhere.
From behind a distant tree, Raiga and his two subordinates stepped out.
Raiga smiled.
"What a beautiful explosion… What a pity. A genius has fallen."
"Well then… let me give you a grand funeral."
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