Chapter 314: Sarada: I Knew It!
"This is a photo Uchiha Sasuke just imprinted using his Mangekyō Sharingan. From my analysis, it's a reconnaissance-type dōjutsu. He recorded what's happening right now at Uzumaki Naruto's location."
The ANBU handed over the photo and began to explain.
"So what's wrong with this photo?"
Sarada interjected.
"…You need to compare it with the previous round of photos and intelligence to understand."
The ANBU hesitated for a moment but eventually told her the truth.
She wasn't sure whether she should show Sarada the previous set of photos.
Those images were far too… explicit.
Yet, Sarada was Sasuke's kin. If she insisted on seeing them, it was reasonable.
"If it's classified, just let her see it alone. We'll look away." Uchiha Hikari said when he noticed the ANBU's hesitation.
"It is indeed classified, but… alright."
The ANBU wanted to explain further but noticed that everyone else had already turned away, so he stopped fussing and pulled out the previous set of photos from his clothing.
"W-What is this?!"
The moment Sarada glimpsed the photo, she transformed into a red-hot little train, flinging it back in horror and screaming.
For Sarada, a pure girl who had never been exposed to anything like this, the content was terrifying.
"Don't panic, I haven't explained exactly what happened yet."
The ANBU, already expecting this reaction, calmly picked up the photo and dusted it off.
"…What… what happened?"
Sarada hugged herself, confused, and asked instinctively.
"Uzumaki Naruto was kidnapped by the Kumogakure Village. They want to use him to breed members of the Uzumaki clan who should be suitable as Jinchūriki."
"Originally, Naruto was temporarily safe, but the Kumogakure Village stole some of Orochimaru's research and implanted the purple bow and arrows into Naruto!"
"As a result, Naruto fathered several children of the Uzumaki clan."
"When Uchiha Sasuke saw this photo and learned the truth, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and decided to rescue Uzumaki Naruto."
"Frankly speaking, Sasuke going there could very well be like a meat bun hitting a dog."
"He might even be captured and used as a source to propagate the Uchiha clan in the Kumogakure Village."
"Furthermore, there's a possibility that Uchiha Sasuke and Naruto, who had the purple bow and arrows implanted, might…"
Halfway through, Sarada was already holding her head, utterly collapsing.
She even pulled out a kunai and stabbed it lightly into her leg.
"This isn't a genjutsu? This isn't a dream?"
Sarada cried, her eyes vacant.
She had endured being transported from the future to the past.
She managed to accept the news that Boruto from the future and her father were dead.
But this…
Her idol, the Seventh Hokage, had become a plaything of the Kumogakure Village. And her father, who had gone to rescue him, was about to suffer the same fate.
To make her believe this, at the very least, someone would need to explain the traditions and reputation of the Kumogakure Village, like they did with Sasuke.
But unfortunately, Sarada's memory only extended to after "Sarada Uchiha Arc" ended. (Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring)
During that period, she had read extensively in libraries, trying to uncover her biological mother and the history of the Uchiha clan.
She even consulted with Hozuki Suigetsu, a helpful citizen who had participated in capturing the Eight-Tails, at Orochimaru's base.
In short, Sarada already knew the Kumogakure Village's past reputation.
It was just…
"How could this happen…"
Sarada sank to the ground, burying her head between her knees, and began to cry.
"Don't be sad. Actually, the bond between Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke has always surpassed normal friendship."
Uchiha Hikari approached, patting Sarada's shoulder in consolation.
But the words only made her pause and cry even louder.
"I knew it… Waaah"
"I now know why the Seventh Hokage always met Dad in person, leaving only a shadow clone in the Hokage office. But during Himawari's birthday, the real one stayed in the office, while the clone went home!"
"I now know why Dad only visits the Seventh Hokage when he comes back, but never us, even though he has so much free time…"
"I now know why Dad and the Seventh Hokage were holding up their childhood clothes and discussing whether Boruto looked more like Dad or the Seventh Hokage!"
"I knew why the Seventh Hokage got so angry when he mistakenly thought Dad and Karin had an affair!"
(Karin: ?)
"I knew why Dad was so cold to me at first, stabbing me when he saw me, until he learned my idol was the Seventh Hokage and I wanted to become Hokage, then his attitude changed immediately!"
"I knew why, when I was sad thinking I wasn't Mom's biological daughter, the Seventh Hokage held my hand and told me he was my family!"
"I knew that in today's ninja world, Kage have to manage villages and countries, yet still have so much free time, so why did it seem like Dad and the Hokage were always busy and rarely home?"
"Turns out they were outside…"
"I knew last time Metal told me he saw the Seventh Hokage and Dad in the bathroom together. Dad had one hand holding the gift for me, so the Hokage helped him with the other."
"No wonder Dad never reattached the severed hand, even though he could. It was their little quirk!"
"No wonder Mom would get shy and faint when Dad came home. They weren't an old married couple at all!"
"No wonder the place where the Seventh Hokage and Dad fought is now called Severed Arm Mountain!"
"No wonder…"
Sarada's thoughts only made her sadder.
It hurts… It hurts so much!
"Stop crying. We must turn this pain into strength, end this world filled with bonds, and create a new, beautiful world!"
Uchiha Hikari patted her and continued to console her.
To be honest, after listening to Sarada for a while, she felt her scalp tingle.
She had known Naruto and Sasuke had a bond, but she hadn't realized it was this intense.
"End this ninja world?"
Sarada lifted her teary eyes.
When she looked up, her gaze fell again on that photo.
The shock… was the final straw.
"Ah!"
Her three tomoe began spinning rapidly, forming a new pattern.
Shhhh.
The photo in the ANBU's hands suddenly began to tear.
"Oh?"
Shiromo, witnessing this, started speculating about Sarada's Mangekyō ability.
It probably wasn't the original Ohirume (Great Sun Goddess).
But it seemed still related to space-time ninjutsu.
But compared to Kamui, its power seemed significantly weaker.
(End of this chapter)