Konoha: I, Ninja War Sakura, rely entirely on skills!

Chapter 338 Extra Chapter: Sakura Haruno's Story (Part 2)
Looking at Sakura's performance in the distance, Sakura was quite satisfied.

It's much better than before.

Naruto's return also added a ripple to Konoha, which had been peaceful for three years.

Meanwhile, in the distant Sand Village of the Land of Wind, their Fifth Kazekage met with misfortune. Deidara of the Akatsuki single-handedly stormed into the Sand Village and kidnapped Gaara, who was now the Kazekage.

This prompted Sunagakure to request assistance from Konoha.

Tsunade also wanted to repay the Sand Village for their support in retrieving Sasuke three years ago, so she immediately sent Kakashi's team and Guy's team to the Land of Wind.

Sakura watched all of this.

As always, following the original storyline, Kakashi and Naruto chased after Deidara, who had lost an arm during his fight with Gaara.

Chiyo and Sakura battle Sasori of the Red Sand.

Sakura yawned out of boredom.

It's so boring to go and see something you already know will happen.

Sakura and Chiyo defeated Sasori of the Red Sand, and Kakashi and Naruto also caught up with Gaara, who had become a corpse.

Then Chiyo used her Reincarnation technique to revive Gaara.

Subsequently, Konoha located Orochimaru's hidden stronghold based on Sasori's intelligence. Naruto and his group, who had just returned to Konoha, rushed there. During this time, Sai from Root joined Team 7. Kakashi had other matters to attend to, so Anbu member Tenzo, using the alias Yamato, became the temporary leader of Team 7.

A dark corridor, disordered footsteps, and indescribable emotions.

Naruto had no idea what he was thinking at that moment.

He just wanted to drag back the guy who had once been so fiercely loyal to him and Sakura.

Even though Sakura has completely given up on that person now.

Breaking through the oppressive darkness, it rushed into the light at the end of the road.

The sudden change in his field of vision made Naruto subconsciously squint, but even so, he did not stop and looked at the black-haired boy standing high up.

The sky seemed to accentuate the boy's white robes, making them appear exceptionally blue.

Three years have passed, and the Uchiha orphan named Sasuke has grown into a handsome young man.

Sasuke stood high above, his dark eyes filled with estrangement and indifference.

"Sasuke!"

Looking at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, Naruto couldn't help but shout loudly.

At that moment, Yamato, Sai, and Sakura also arrived here.

"what……"

"Who do we have here..."

"So it was... Naruto."

Looking down at the blond boy below, Sasuke slowly spoke.

The next second, Sasuke vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of Naruto.

This scene made Sakura and the others tense up.

Sasuke put his arm around Naruto's shoulder, and his other hand gripped the Kusanagi sword at his waist.

The metallic clang of the drawn sword signaled Sakura to prepare to fight.

Naruto seemed completely unaware of this, and his expression simply calmed down.

He didn't believe it.

Even now, he still doesn't believe Sasuke would kill him.

However, just as the sword was about to pierce Naruto's body, a hand tightly grabbed Sasuke's wrist.

The palm was very white; it was a woman's palm.

"Reunited with teammates, is this how you choose to go?"

Her emerald eyes were fixed on Sasuke in front of her.

"It's Sakura~"

"Compared to Naruto, you've changed even more..."

A smile appeared on Sasuke's aloof face.

"Yeah……"

Three years later, Class 7, who had once shared life and death, reunited in such a strange way.

Sasuke and Sakura surrounded Naruto from the front and back.

"If it weren't for Naruto, I wouldn't have come here."

Sakura responded calmly to Sasuke.

These words brought a slight, indescribable bitterness to Naruto's heart.

Clearly, clearly, clearly we used to be able to be happy together.

Why does it become like this...

"is it?"

"Is that the person who will replace me?"

"Even Kakashi isn't here."

Sasuke glanced at Sai, who was expressionless beside him, and then looked at Yamato and spoke.

"Sasuke, Orochimaru just wants to use you."

"To make you his vessel."

Naruto had now sorted out his thoughts.

"I've known about this for a long time..."

Sasuke looked at the calm-faced boy and spoke calmly.

"I sought Orochimaru only to gain power."

"If I were in Konoha..."

"Can it still maintain its current strength?"

Sasuke spoke coldly, and arcs of electricity crackled around him, covering almost half of the area in an instant!
Sakura immediately released Sasuke's wrist and grabbed Naruto by the back of his collar to retreat.

"This range..."

Yamato was startled upon seeing this.

To achieve such a level of mastery in Lightning Release requires not only rigorous training but also exceptional talent.

Moreover, he had never seen this technique before; it was clearly a lightning release technique unique to Uchiha Sasuke.

"Sasuke!"

"Why!"

"You know perfectly well that Orochimaru has ill intentions towards you!"

Seeing this, Naruto felt sorrow in his heart, but he could not suppress the Nine-Tails within him. His originally blue pupils turned into blood-red beast eyes.

Seeing that Naruto still didn't understand him as always, Sasuke's expression gradually turned cold.

The three-tomoe Sharingan covered his dark eyes.

With just one glance, Sasuke had already entered Naruto's inner world, where the Nine-Tails was imprisoned.

In the dimly lit sewers, a giant nine-tailed fox demon was sealed inside.

An ominous chakra surged from the cage, transforming into a form resembling the Nine-Tails.

"I see."

"Is this the power within you?"

Naruto was somewhat taken aback by Sasuke's sudden appearance.

"Evil eyes."

"Looking into your eyes reminds me of someone."

Kurama grinned as it looked at Sasuke, who had invaded Naruto's inner world.

"But, kid, let me tell you something."

"Don't kill Naruto."

Looking at the Nine-Tails before him, Sasuke sneered and slapped his palm into the chakra formed by the Nine-Tails. With a single pull, the countless scarlet and evil tailed beast chakra were instantly torn apart!
This scene left Naruto momentarily stunned.

He was almost powerless against the Nine-Tails, but Sasuke...

In the real world, the beast eyes in Naruto's eyes faded as the Nine-Tails' chakra dissipated.

He simply stared silently at Sasuke in the distance.

"In that case, it seems you have no power that would earn my respect."

"So……"

Sasuke raised his hand high, intending to use some kind of technique to kill the people in front of him completely.

However, at that moment a hand grabbed his wrist.

"We should go, Sasuke."

Orochimaru, who had appeared out of nowhere, stared at Sasuke with a wicked smile on his face.

"whispering sound……"

Sasuke looked at Orochimaru beside him with a hint of displeasure on his face.

However, this also led to him withdrawing his hand.

"Be thankful, Naruto."

"Another day has passed."

Looking back at the blond boy who was trying to rush forward but was stopped by Sakura, Sasuke left with Orochimaru without the slightest hesitation.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto watched Sasuke leave, gritting his teeth.

He didn't understand, he didn't understand why this was happening.

Sasuke would rather believe in someone like Orochimaru than go with him.

Sakura looked at Naruto in front of her, and a hint of sadness appeared in her eyes.

Compared to Naruto, it seemed he no longer cared about Sasuke, whom he had once cherished so deeply. "Naruto..."

Sakura gently stroked Naruto's head, hoping to calm him down.

No matter how unwilling Naruto was at this moment, he had no choice but to accept the fact that Sasuke had once again left before his eyes.

The mission has now ended in failure.

Next, the Akatsuki's immortal duo attacked Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, and killed Chiriku, one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Fire Temple.

Konoha immediately issued a kill order against the immortal duo, Kakuzu and Hidan.

Asma also died as a result.

However, during the subsequent pursuit, Naruto used a new technique, Rasenshuriken, to severely injure Kakuzu, who was then finished off by Kakashi.

The Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails were successively captured by the Akatsuki organization.

This also attracted the attention of other ninja villages.

Sakura also continued to grow during this time, and her Hundred Healings Technique was almost ready to accumulate enough chakra.

Given some more time.

However, time will not wait for Sakura.

After Sasuke killed Itachi Uchiha and was invited to join the Akatsuki organization by Obito Uchiha, Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki organization, had already dealt with Jiraiya who was heading to Amegakure and had arrived at the outskirts of Konoha.

A massacre ensued.

With just six puppets, they easily broke through Konoha.

Sakura was assigned by Iruka to go to Konoha Hospital to treat the wounded.

During this process, Pain flew into the sky.

Unparalleled chakra gathered within him.

A single Super Shinra Tensei instantly destroyed Konoha, the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages.

Countless people have died as a result.

Sakura, who barely survived Shinra Tensei, stared helplessly at the scene before her.

died……

Many people died.

Even the little girl she had just rescued was buried under the rubble and died.

A tear slid down her cheek.

"Oh dear, why are you crying again?"

Sakura, who hadn't appeared for a long time, suddenly appeared beside Sakura.

"why?"

"Why is this happening?!"

"I clearly did everything I could to save them."

"Why? These people are all innocent!"

Sakura stared at the countless ruins and corpses around her, her voice trembling.

"You expected all of this, didn't you!"

Sakura gazes at Cherry.

"Who knows?"

Sakura shrugged and spoke nonchalantly.

"you!"

Seeing Sakura's state, Sakura felt a surge of anger.

"Didn't you say you were going to protect everyone?"

"What did you protect?"

"Before making such boastful claims next time, consider your own capabilities."

"Setting goals that are unattainable and extravagant is laughable."

Sakura, seeing Sakura's ever-changing expression, continued speaking.

"……I see."

Sakura stared at the person in front of her, clenched her fists tightly, gritted her teeth and spoke, then quickly rushed towards Pain, who seemed to be standing in the desert!
"Want to challenge him to a one-on-one fight?"

"If we master the Hundred Healings Technique, we do have a chance of winning."

"But you now..."

Sakura shook her head.

Ignoring Sakura's pitying gaze behind her, Sakura rushed out from the remaining crowd without hesitation!

Face Payne head-on!

At that moment, Sakura focused her attention on a girl rolling her eyes not far away.

Hinata...

He sighed inwardly and didn't pay much attention to it.

At this moment, Sakura had already engaged in combat with Pain.

Pain has just unleashed the Shinra Tensei, so he is temporarily unable to act. Only the other four Paths, excluding the Naraka Path, are fighting Sakura.

With intelligence gathered from across Konoha, Pain's abilities have been almost completely figured out.

With this information, Sakura managed to fight Pain to a standstill.

However, this is only temporary.

Even with intelligence, the opponent's strength is what it is, and Sakura won't be able to turn the tables just because she has information about the opponent.

She can only win against Pain if she can master the Hundred Healings Technique and simultaneously complete the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest.

Sakura's current attempt to stop Pain is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Dodging the attack from the Human Path behind her, Sakura was about to punch him away.

However, an iron fist appeared in front of her!
It's the Asura realm!

Since the six paths of Pain share a common vision, it is impossible for them to have any weaknesses.

Shura Path seized the opportunity instantly and sent Sakura flying with a single punch!
At the same time, the Loli Path, the Human Path, and the Hungry Ghost Path quickly followed, each wielding a black rod that was driven directly into Sakura's body!
His legs were pierced, and his hands were forcibly nailed to the ground.

A glaring red liquid flowed from the wound, and Sakura pressed her lips tightly together to prevent herself from uttering a cry of pain.

"Sakura!"

At that moment, a figure rushed towards them.

It's Tsunade.

However, Tsunade's condition had clearly deteriorated significantly at this moment. In order to protect the people of the village, she distributed her chakra to everyone in Konoha through slugs.

Even so, Pain's Super Shinra Tensei still caused Konoha heavy losses.

"Master."

Sakura gritted her teeth, trying to calm herself down.

At that moment, Tsunade was preparing to fight Pain alone when a huge plume of smoke bloomed in the desolate, desert-like Konoha.

Sakura then looked over and saw three giant toads appear there.

That is……

Naruto?

Sakura was slightly taken aback.

Why did Naruto come back...?

Pain's target was the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.

"Don't worry, I'm the one who brought Naruto back."

Sakura knew that Naruto had gone to Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Mode.

But unexpectedly, Tsunade brought Naruto back at this time.

If Pain were to capture Naruto, wouldn't all of them have died for nothing?

"No, it shouldn't be like this..."

Sakura tried to struggle to get up, but Pain's black rods could interfere with chakra. Although they looked like just three ordinary black rods, they held Sakura firmly to the ground.

At this moment, Naruto realized that this desert was the Konoha he knew.

They were the first to spot Sakura, who was trapped on the ground.

At that moment, his heart suddenly stopped.

Again…

Again.

The girl he wanted to protect most, the girl he liked the most, was hurt again.

Naruto's face showed an indescribable expression, and he instantly appeared in front of Sakura.

They carefully pulled out the black rods stuck in Sakura's body one by one.

"Sakura..."

Looking at the girl in front of him, whose body was covered in blood and dirt, the blond boy's face showed pain.

"Naruto, let's go!"

"His target is you."

Sakura's face was slightly pale as she lost blood.

"Please rest assured..."

"I will... kill the person who hurt Sakura."

After saying that, Naruto picked up Sakura and prepared to leave the place, escorting her to a safe area.

He glanced back at the six figures.

For the first time, a chilling killing intent surfaced in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)