The demon-masked figure, seeing it couldn't hit Sakura Haruno, couldn't help but stop. It then opened its mouth, and a large swath of blue flames rushed towards Sakura.
Sakura looked at the blue flames with some surprise. They seemed to be flames formed from chakra, not ordinary fire. This demon-masked figure did possess some strength.
However, it still wasn't enough to deal with Sakura. Sakura formed hand seals again, and a large amount of water instantly materialized around her. It first enveloped Kurenai Yuhi, preventing her from dying inexplicably.
Then, as the flames approached, Sakura used the water to counter them. Water and fire collided like Mars hitting Earth, and the entire room instantly filled with steam.
Sakura probed a bit and roughly gauged the demon-masked figure's strength. It wasn't overwhelmingly strong, but it wasn't weak either. Perhaps it needed Yakumo Kurama's genjutsu to complement it.
"Well then..." Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly. She instantly vanished from her spot and reappeared beside Yakumo Kurama.
Ever since the demon-masked figure had appeared, Yakumo Kurama had seemed to be in a daze, standing there motionless. Sakura's sudden appearance startled her. After composing herself, she pointed a trembling finger at the demon-masked figure and asked, "Who... who is it?"
"You don't know?" Sakura frowned, but then her expression relaxed. Perhaps she really didn't know. But that would make it easier to deceive her.
"I... I don't know. Is... is it also here to kill me?" Yakumo Kurama asked, her face pale as she watched the demon-masked figure look towards her.
"Hehe," Sakura chuckled slyly. "I told you I'm not here to kill you, and neither is it."
"Hmm?" Yakumo Kurama hadn't expected Sakura to still say this in such a situation. Could it be that I really misunderstood? She then said, "Then why did you stop me? The Third Hokage, Kurenai-sensei, Konoha—they all want to kill me."
"Do you want to become a ninja?" Sakura asked, staring at Yakumo Kurama.
"I..." Yakumo Kurama was momentarily stunned. Everything she hated stemmed from this identity of a ninja. If she could become a ninja, then she wouldn't have to bear the pressure of those expectant gazes.
Initially, she had been burdened by the fervent hopes of her family, and thus the demon in her heart was born. Konoha's decision to eliminate her had then thoroughly ignited the darkness within her. She hated Kurenai Yuhi's hypocrisy, hated the Third Hokage for killing her parents, hated the entire village, to the point where she now wanted to destroy everything.
But destroying the village wasn't her true intention. What she truly desired was recognition. She wanted to become a ninja and gain her family's recognition, wanted to see her parents' smiles upon learning she had become a ninja, wanted to earn Kurenai-sensei's approval.
But Kurenai-sensei had directly denied her possibility of becoming a ninja. This had allowed the monster within her to grow wildly, until the thought of destroying everything took root. This wasn't a monster formed in a day; it was a monster formed from years of accumulated pressure.
When Sakura asked, "Do you want to become a ninja?" Yakumo Kurama found herself somewhat unable to answer. Do I want to?
"That is the monster born from the depths of your heart," Sakura said slowly. "If you want revenge, you cannot succeed as you are now. You need to become a ninja, a Konoha ninja. When you have great strength, then you can take revenge on Konoha."
"You..." Yakumo Kurama's face looked somewhat pained as she asked, "Why are you helping me?"
"I'm not helping you," Sakura sighed. "It's merely a matter of mutual benefit. If you agree to my proposal, then go and accept it. It is you, and you are it. Only when you accept your own heart can you become a ninja."
Sakura didn't know if merging with that demon-masked figure would allow Yakumo to become a ninja. But what Sakura needed wasn't a pure-hearted Yakumo, but a Yakumo who could face her own inner darkness and be tainted by it. Such a Yakumo was the most useful Yakumo to her.
"Wh-why accept it..." Yakumo Kurama asked subconsciously, watching the demon-masked figure gradually approach.
Looks like I still need to add some fuel to the fire. Seeing Yakumo Kurama's wary look, Sakura mulled over her words and said, "A so-called ninja is someone who can endure anything. If you cannot face yourself, how can you become a ninja?"
"Is... is that... someone who... endures everything..." Yakumo's body trembled violently, muttering Sakura's words to herself. Then, she slowly stood up and walked unsteadily towards the demon-masked figure in the mist.
Sakura watched as the two drew closer and finally met. When Yakumo Kurama reached out and touched the demon-masked figure, it instantly dissolved into a thick fog, enveloping Yakumo Kurama.
"Ah~~~~~~" Yakumo Kurama instantly let out a wretched scream. The joints in her body made cracking sounds, and finally, unable to support herself any longer, she collapsed to the ground.
Sakura rushed over to support Yakumo. After checking her breathing, she found that Yakumo had only fainted. Just then, the door was suddenly thrown open, and a red-haired girl entered from outside.
"Sakura!" Karin looked at Sakura holding another girl and asked nervously, "Are you, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm very well," Sakura said to Karin. "Go and release Kurenai-sensei's genjutsu. The mission is complete. Let's go back."
"Eh? It's already completed?" Karin asked, puzzled.
"Mm, the monster in Yakumo Kurama's heart has disappeared," Sakura said with a smile. It just merged with Yakumo.
"Oh, then does that mean I didn't help much?" Karin looked somewhat dejected.
"How could that be? Karin, just by coming here, you've already helped me a great deal," Sakura said, smiling comfortingly.
A moment later, Kurenai Yuhi awoke from the genjutsu. Looking at Yakumo lying on the floor, she opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected her former student to be so formidable, directly pulling her into a genjutsu.
"It seems I failed, and you succeeded, right, Sakura?" Kurenai asked softly.
"Mm, succeeded. The monster hidden in her heart was eliminated by herself," Sakura said, telling a truthful lie. The monster was indeed eliminated by Yakumo herself.
"Heh, I'm such a failure as a teacher. You weren't wrong. I really am quite incompetent," Kurenai said, shaking her head self-deprecatingly.
"No, that's not it. I was just a bit anxious then and spoke without thinking," Sakura said with a smile in the gloomy room.
"How is Yakumo now?" Kurenai turned her attention to Yakumo and asked Sakura.
"Hmm, I just did a check. She probably fainted from excessive exhaustion," Sakura said.
"I see. Then let's send her to the hospital first. Since the mission is completed, we still need to report to Lady Hokage," Kurenai said.
"Mm, I was thinking the same thing," Sakura nodded, then added, "Karin can take Yakumo to the hospital first. Kurenai-sensei and I can go report."
Kurenai looked at Karin and nodded. "That works too. Then I'll have to trouble you, Karin."
"Mm, I'll take Yakumo to the hospital. Don't worry, Kurenai-sensei," Karin said quickly.
Subsequently, Kurenai Yuhi was the first to walk out of the still gloomy room. Sakura glanced at Yakumo, who was being supported by Karin, and said faintly, "This is Karin. You go to the hospital first. I'll come find you later tonight."
"Understood," Yakumo, who had been unconscious just moments ago, replied.
"Huh, you're awake?" Karin was clearly startled.
"Karin, you don't need to worry about her. Just take her to the hospital and arrange a room for her. As for you," Sakura said, turning to Yakumo, "don't try any tricks. Your techniques might be formidable against others, but they're useless against me. I hope you can see the situation clearly and not waste my efforts."
"This, Sakura... what exactly is going on?" Karin asked in surprise.
"I'll explain to you later. For now, take her to the hospital. I want to go report the mission status to Master," Sakura said, then flashed out of the uncomfortable room.
Karin, helpless, could only support Yakumo and also leave the room, heading towards the hospital.
_______
+200 chapters on: patreon.com/Shinobi_Scrolls