Chapter 5: Merciless

Inside the imposing Kazekage's office building, Sakura executed a bold infiltration. With cat-like stealth, she moved through the dimly lit corridors, her lengthy hair swaying. The tension in the air was detectable as she approached a pair of vigilant guards stationed beside an imposing door on the first floor.

Then, with a swift, well-practiced motion, she produced a smoke bomb from her pouch. In one fluid movement, she hurled it down the hallway and retreated to a concealed vantage point around the corner of the entrance. The instant it detonated, an engulfing cloud of thick, white smoke billowed forth, obscuring everything in its shroud.

The Jonin guards, alerted by the sudden commotion, reacted instinctively. They rushed towards the smoke-filled corridor, their senses on high alert. Their concern was drawn to the mysterious disturbance, but Sakura knew it was all part of her plan.

Seizing the opportunity, Sakura made her move. Like a shadow, she leaped through a nearby window, landing gracefully inside a darkened room. It was cavernous, filled with rows upon rows of towering shelves laden with scrolls of all sizes.

With a sense of urgency, Sakura combed through the shelves, her trained eyes scanning for specific scrolls in the labyrinth of knowledge. Her fingers brushed against ancient parchment until, at last, she clutched the prized documents she sought. Her heart raced triumphantly as she whispered, "Yes, I found it."

Swiftly and silently, she retraced her steps back into the darkened room. Then, with her precious cargo in hand, she nimbly vaulted back out the window. She soared through the air, hoping her daring escape went unnoticed by prying eyes.

Overhead, Sakura overheard the unmistakable sounds of the Kazekage emerging from his office and approaching the building's front door. His authoritative voice rang out, directing the Jonin to investigate the source of the disturbance without a deal, but no one would suspect the little helpless princess who lived in Suna.

Sakura's heart raced as she sprinted home, clutching the stolen scrolls tightly. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the tranquil streets of Sunagakure. She arrived at her front door, her breaths coming in short, hurried gasps.

She stepped inside, glancing around to ensure she was alone. The familiar warmth and coziness of her home greeted her. A quick scan confirmed that her sister, Shijima, was still absent, perhaps occupied with her duties elsewhere.

With relief, Sakura made her way to the spacious kitchen. The worn wooden table, bathed in soft, late-afternoon sunlight, seemed the perfect place to unravel the mysteries within the scrolls she'd risked so much to obtain.

Sakura carefully placed the scrolls on the table, her fingers trembling with anticipation. Her eyes darted around the room, ensuring that she was still unobserved. There were so many questions - questions that needed answers.

She selected one scroll labeled "How to Block Chakra Flow" and another marked "How to Restore Chakra." The former was a measure of last resort, a defense against those who misuse their chakra. The latter held the promise of healing, of restoring what was lost.

Drawing a steadying breath, Sakura began to read. The scrolls contained intricate diagrams, esoteric symbols, and meticulously detailed instructions. The knowledge they held was both awe-inspiring and humbling.

As she delved into the contents, she quickly realized the gravity of her discovery. Not even the most skilled medics in Sunagakure had mastered the art of restoring chakra. She was on the verge of an incredible breakthrough.

Time seemed to blur as Sakura pored over the scrolls, absorbing their wisdom. While intriguing, the scroll on how to block chakra flow could have been more dangerous. Sakura carefully stashed it away, ensuring it was hidden from prying eyes.

With single-minded determination, she continued to study the scroll on chakra restoration. This was her path forward, a way to unlock her full potential and, perhaps, help those she cared about.

The Kazekage had implemented strict measures to ensure those with blocked chakra couldn't enroll in the Suna Shinobi Academy. Thus, Sakura faced the daunting task of unlocking her chakra if she ever hoped to join forces with the Kazekage's siblings.

In the open expanse outside her home, where she had once met Gaara, Sakura meticulously inscribed the Kanji character "解放" for "kaifou" in the sand and various accompanying symbols as instructed by the ancient scroll. Standing at the center of this intricate circle, she executed the prescribed hand signs. At once, she felt the rapid pounding of her heart and sharp pinpricks of pain coursing through her body. Then, in an instant, the sensations vanished, leaving Sakura with a sigh of disappointment.

"It seems it didn't work," she murmured in disappointment. "I should seek Granny Chiyo's guidance. She might have the answers I need." 

Perched high atop the Suna Aviary, Sakura spotted Mikoto enthusiastically waving to her from the uppermost balcony. Her lips curved into a gentle smile as she recognized his signal, beckoning her closer. However, a wistful sigh escaped her lips, a poignant reminder that her responsibilities took precedence over her fervent but seemingly unrealistic aspiration of becoming a shinobi.

On her inaugural work day, Sakura was stationed beside a table laden with bird feed and veiled in a thin layer of dust. Selecting a diminutive, arid ink brush, she delicately dipped it into a bowl of jet-black ink. She meticulously transcribed the message Mikoto had tasked her with word by word. Her hand began to throb with discomfort after completing a score of letters.

Midway through her shift, Sakura glanced up to witness Mikoto extracting a missive from a tube fastened to a hawk, snugly nestled within a small pouch.

"What does it say?" she inquired.

"The Kazekage's son has called for the rest of the troops to assemble a few days after the Hidden Leaf Village begins the exams, so they'll set out in roughly three days.

"Why would they be requesting shinobi, he only departed a few hours ago."

"It's not our job to question them. It's our job to relay the message. Could you inform the Kazekage? I need to finish tending to the birds."

"Sure."

Sakura exited through the door and descended a long, spiraling staircase. The adjacent structure housed the largest building in the village, where the Kazekage diligently worked to safeguard their community. She ascended to the third floor and went directly to his office, where two S-ranked ninjas stood guard.

"Why are you here?" questioned one of the guards.

"I bear a message for the Kazekage."

"No one is permitted beyond this point except us."

A tall, slender man emerged from the office, his disheveled hair cast in a dark hue, almost resembling deep purple. His eyes, like Gaara's, were obsidian and deeply set. 

"What's happening here?" inquired the man.

"Rasa, Kazekage, sir!"

"She's here to speak with you."

Rasa briefly glued at the diminutive Sakura, who was fulfilling her duties. "Stand down, both of you," he ordered. "She's a new recruit at the message tower. First, send a missive to Orochimaru. Inform him that I wish to negotiate a pact. Our population is dwindling, and he claims he can offer assistance."

"Yes, sir," responded the shinobi, entering Rasa's office to prepare the letter for his signature once he had concluded his discussion with the young girl. Fortunately, the Kazekage appeared to be in a favorable disposition. The guards passed Sakura as the two of them stood in silence, waiting until the two guards had vacated the vicinity.

Leaning casually against his doorframe, Rasa greeted Sakura with a warm smile. "I can only imagine the aloneness that's crept in since your friends departed for the Chunin exams. Have you been coping well since we last spoke?"

Meeting his gaze and standing before his imposing figure, Sakura replied, "I'm fine. Actually, I was hoping to find Granny Chiyo. Do you know where she is? She's been assisting me with my recovery."

Rasa's brow furrowed as he crossed his arms thoughtfully. "I was informed that you completed your recovery over a month ago. May I ask as to what you're now aiming to achieve?"

Determined, Sakura stated, "I'm going to unblock my chakra and become the village's Jinchuriki."

In response, Rasa burst into hearty laughter, his disbelief apparent. "That's quite the goal you've set for yourself. We lack the specialized shinobi and nature transformation jutsu required for such a task in our village. I doubt Chiyo would be of much help. Remember, my son nearly took your life, dear. Consider yourself fortunate to still be among the living."

Sakura's voice trembled with frustration, "It wasn't Gaara..."

Perplexed, Rasa inquired, not quite catching her words, "What was that, my dear?"

Fuming, Sakura reiterated, "Gaara isn't the monster that everyone makes him out to be. He's just an ordinary kid like the rest of us, trying to survive in a world that criticizes him for something beyond his control. I want to protect him."

With a resigned sigh, Rasa remarked, "You seem to have formed an unbreakable bond with my children, despite their overwhelming power. What was it that my son urgently requested of me before the exams?"

Choosing not to engage in further argument, Sakura simply responded to his question, "Gaara asked for troops to be mobilized in three days."

"Thank you for the information. And, Sakura, do not bother pursuing such an impossible dream. You'd be only wasting your time," Rasa admitted, and Sakura continued on her way, descending the stairs.

She hurried out of the building and returned to the tall tower. The two shinobi from earlier were in conversation with Mikoto.

"Thanks, I'll see if I can find a location for him," one of the shinobi said as they departed.

"Ah, Sakura! Let me give you something as thanks. I sent out the letters you wrote when you left," Mikoto said. 

"I have another letter for you to write. Inform the Raikage that his Jonin have been arrested, and request someone to pick them up."

"Okay."

Sakura swiftly picked up her brush and wrote the simple letter on a small sheet of paper. Typically, letters like these were attached to the birds' legs due to their small size. Mikoto handed her a legal book documenting the committed crime and the ensuing proceedings. She rolled it up and gave it to Mikoto.

"Good work."

He opened a cage and retrieved a hawk, placing it on a stand and attaching a note with a non-urgent sticker. The bird soared on its way, and Sakura headed for the door.

"It'll be nightfall in a few hours, so I'm heading out. My sister should be back by now."

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't forget to read the books I gave you."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I'll bring one home with me."

Sakura picked up the first book from the pile on the floor and hurried out the door. She reached her home, removed her shoes, and entered. Sakura traversed through several sliding doors to get the outdoor bath, where she enjoyed a long, relaxing soak. Her sister returned and found her Sakura sprawled out on the floor. She unrolled Sakura's bedding and gently placed her on the bed, as the day had drained Sakura's energy. Shijima then left the room with a smile.

The morning light streamed through the sliding doors, rousing Sakura from her slumber. Outside, a young ninja was already in training as the sun ascended. Shijima opened the door and playfully kicked Sakura's leg.

"Time to wake up! The birds won't wait for your sleepy self."

"What are you talking about?" Sakura groaned.

"Today is your first full day of work, and you need to train as well."

"I didn't realize I had to wake up this early."

Her sister chuckled and walked out the front door, waving goodbye before heading to the next village. Sakura swiftly dressed in a clean outfit and rushed to the top of the tower. The room was empty, with a note left on the table.

Sakura,

Today, I'm away on a critical mission, and I regret that I won't be able to join you. You'll have to manage on your own. Best of luck! Your tasks include cleaning the cages, responding to, and dispatching messages as instructed. Please refrain from sending arbitrary letters, as we need to keep a few hawks available for emergencies. And remember to continue your studies!

A bird glided in through the window, perching on a hook. It seemed to gaze directly at Sakura, almost as if it recognized her. She carefully removed the letter from the hawk's leg and began to read. The bird let out a caw and tapped its feet on the banister.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can reward you for your hard work," Sakura told the bird. She removed the 'Not Urgent' sticker and unfolded the letter slowly.

"The Raikage is requesting assistance on a mission. Are the two Kages close friends?" Sakura pondered, glancing out of the window toward the Kazekage's building. "What should I do? I can't leave my post. How do I notify the Kazekage? What if another bird arrives? Wait!"

Sakura pulled out one of her books, ' Running Like a Ninja'.

"This is a bit ridiculous."

She perched herself on the window frame and began to read the first few chapters, accompanied by the bird, which had taken a liking to her. Suddenly, Jonin appeared at the door and gasped in astonishment at seeing her lounging at such a crucial moment. He clenched his fist and forcefully struck the doorway, startling Sakura. The birds inside their cages squawked and flapped their wings, some even hitting themselves against the cage frames. Sakura's small feathered friend let out a crow in response.

"You imbecile! Who left you here to handle this place by yourself?"

"Mikoto did."

"Where is he?"

"He's on an important mission, it seems."

"Tsk, we'll see about that. He'll face consequences for abandoning his post."

The man swiftly bolted out the door before Sakura could utter another word or inform him about the message. She was left behind, slightly flustered. The bird turned to face her and let out another crow. Sakura needed to be in the mood for theatrics.

"What do you want?" she asked the bird. She observed the bird tilting its head, directing her gaze underneath the table. Sakura squinted to see what had caught the bird's attention and noticed a tiny birdseed stuck to the underside, just above bags of colossal bird food. Her eyes lit up as she finally spotted a task she was supposed to complete. She grabbed a handful of seeds and berries, holding them up to the hawk, which eagerly pecked and ate until it could eat no more. Sakura carefully placed the hawk back into its cage and returned the leftover bird seeds to the pouch beneath the table.

"Let's see what else I can do now," Sakura mused.

She started by delving into her books and honing her skills by throwing kunai knives at the target for practice. The Jonin reappeared at the door, accompanied by an elderly gentleman who appeared to have seen his fair share of the world. Sakura pointed her head in their direction, silently wondering if this stern man had brought the elder to bolster his case against her work environment.

"You haven't had any training, have you?" the old man remarked. 

"No, well, this is only my second day here, and I've been managing quite well so far."

"I'm not referring to the job. I'm talking about your shinobi rank."

"Oh, I'm practicing and learning as I go, I suppose."

"Throw the kunai at the target!" the Jonin barked.

"My sister assigned me this job. There's no need to yell at me."

"Now, now, let's not quarrel! I'll take care of this. I'll stay with her today."

"Fine."

"By the way, the Raikage requires backup for a mission. I tried to inform you earlier, but you stormed off in anger."

He departed with a growl, leaving as swiftly as his legs could carry him. The old man chuckled at the hot-headed nature of some shinobi in the office building. 

He smiled as he glanced around the room, noting how well-kept it was. "You've been doing a fine job so far, I see."

"Yes, I'm managing here."

Another bird fluttered in through the window, but it wasn't a hawk this time. It was a large, black crow with a fierce look in its eye. The old man retrieved the note from the crow and unfolded it over the table, his expression quickly turning to one of concern.

"What's wrong?" Sakura inquired.

"Orochimaru has requested a meeting with the Kazekage in person. This is an emergency; I must inform him immediately," the old man declared, hurrying out as fast as his frail legs would carry him toward the Kazekage's office.

"Come back when you're finished. I don't want that irritable guy causing trouble with me," Sakura called after him.

Sakura waited patiently for his return, watching the world outside the window. She contemplated how everyone else seemed capable of leaping from the window except her. Eventually, she clambered over the counter, out of the window, and onto the roof. There, she dangled her legs over the edge, observing the hustle and bustle of daily life. Sakura then hopped back inside to retrieve her kunai knife and threw it a few times at the target. However, she missed every attempt. Frustrated, she sighed and angrily stabbed the knife into the window frame.

"Sakura, how are you doing?" Shijima greeted her.

"Not great," Sakura signed again, "They're talking about kicking me out of here."

"I already spoke with them. They just think you can't handle this alone, that's all."

"This job isn't that difficult. I don't see what the fuss is about."

"Sometimes people don't indicate whether the letters are urgent or not, so you won't know the severity of the situation."

"The old man received a letter from a blackbird. It said Orochimaru wanted to meet the Kazekage. The old guy ran off before I could ask who Orochimaru was."

"Orochimaru? Are you sure?" her sister exclaimed.

"Yes."

"He's a malevolent man, more potent than the Kazekage himself."

"How horrifying. I hope I never meet him."

"Something grave is happening. I hope the Kazekage isn't placing the village in danger without informing anyone."

"Are we in danger?"

"I won't allow anything to harm you, I promise."

Sakura glanced down at her kunai knife, gripping it firmly. She then tilted her head back up to face her sister. She recalled Gaara saying he would protect her from Konoha. She said, "I promise I'll be strong. I'll confront Orochimaru myself!"

"It's been a long day. We should head home."

A young Chunin approached the door to speak with the two of them, "Don't worry, Shijima, we have this under control."

"What happened to the old man?" Sakura asked.

"He passed away after reading the letter. It was one of Orochimaru's twisted tricks."

Shijima gasped, "Shit, that could have been Sakura. I'm sorry, sis. I can't allow you to be here by yourself anymore. Someone will have to look out for you from now on."

Sakura frowned as she tried to unravel what had transpired over the past few hours, contemplating how the elderly man had seemingly perished from reading a letter from Orochimaru. Could it be some kind of Jutsu? Her musings were disrupted when she woke and realized her sister had left through the window.

"Wait!" Sakura screamed.

Without hesitation, she leaped out of the window, facing the ground. She stared at the unyielding earth below, unable to help herself in this precarious situation. Shijima ran up the wall and leaped out to catch her, then landed on the sand below their feet. 

"You could have died. Do you understand how high up that is?"

"Sorry, I thought it was a good idea," Sakura admitted. She followed her sister in silence back to their home.

In the following weeks, Sakura returned to the tall bird tower, where she found Mikoto cleaning the cages.

"You wake up really early just to do this all day?" Sakura inquired.

"Oh, hey, Sakura. I'm sorry about yesterday; I had a family emergency. I apologize for what happened."

"It's okay."

"I'm glad it wasn't me, to be honest."

"Me too."

"Sakura, I'd like you to answer a few letters that just arrived. Today's going to be a busy day for me; I have to write out a few letters as well."

"No problem. I'll take care of them."

Sakura removed the letters from both hawks and fed them. She then assisted the two birds in a cage before opening each letter.

One of the letters from Gaara read: 

"Since our departure for the Chūnin Exams, we completed the first stage without issues. We have now entered the second stage, famously known as the Forest of Death. I saw this as an opportunity to eliminate several teams within the forest, a necessary step to advance to the third stage. Consider this a mission update, and I will continue to send messages until we execute our plan to invade Konohagakure."

She crumpled the letter in her trembling hand and rushed down the spiral staircase. 

"Sakura, what happened? Where are you going?" Mikoto exclaimed.

"I need to inform the Kazekage that his son is on the verge of attacking the Konoha. He has already taken lives, and I fear our village may impose more harm than good," Sakura said urgently.

"Don't concern yourself with that right now. You're still very young and might not fully grasp the situation yet. Take a moment to catch your breath, and I'll ensure the Kazekage is informed. I'm not sure of his whereabouts, but I'll figure it out."

Sakura thrust the crumpled letter into his hand and hastily darted out the door, her mind racing to recollect all the snippets of information the siblings had shared with her. Among them, she vividly remembered them referring to the Chunin exams as a "mission" on occasion. A chilling thought began to take root in her mind – could this be part of the Kazekage's covert strategy to infiltrate Konoha, securing more resources for Suna? It was a grim notion but one she couldn't ignore.

Desperation fueled her sprint, her legs pumping with every ounce of strength they could muster. She dashed relentlessly towards the village's entrance gate, each step propelling her closer to her destination. Along the way, she spotted Granny Chiyo conversing with unfamiliar figures in the distance. While her initial instinct was to halt and seek guidance from the elder, Sakura knew that, given the circumstances relayed by the Kazekage, there was little that anyone could do to aid her. Thus, she pressed on, the gate looming ever more significant with each passing second.

However, upon reaching the gate, her stamina dwindled suddenly. Sakura halted, gasping for breath, her palms on her knees as she leaned forward. Shinobi on the wall observed her with puzzled expressions, akin to someone witnessing a bizarre sight. Her face turned red as a tomato as she clenched her teeth and attempted to run again. Strangely, her legs remained immobile, and her body hovered a mere foot above the ground. She tried to move her arms, but they were equally unresponsive. An invisible force yanked her backward, and she fell to her knees at the feet of Granny Chiyo.

"Why are you in such a rush, my dear?" Granny Chiyo inquired gently.

"Gaara is going to kill everyone in the Konoha, and the world will condemn him, even though his father only exploits him as a weapon of war. But Gaara is not just a tool; he's a human being," Sakura replied, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Granny Chiyo wiped away her tears and said soothingly, "It's nothing you should concern yourself with, dear."

"I won't sit here and wait for this to end. I'm going to fight!" Sakura declared with determination.

"Pause and consider your actions, dear. How do you intend to reach the Konoha without resources, and are you prepared to face the dormant scorpions during the day?"

"I'll figure it out somehow..."  A young boy stood just behind Sakura, his dark brown hair spiked in a striking resemblance to Kankuro's, and his vibrant green eyes scanned her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Like Kankuro, his face bore intricate face paint, forming a Kanji character ("wo") akin to the design etched onto Gaara's gourd. Draped over his lithe frame was a flowing black cloak of Iron sand. He wore the distinct black headband of a Suna shinobi. All signs pointed to him being from the village, yet Sakura was at a loss; she had never crossed paths with this young boy before.

Sakura attempted to voice her bewildered thoughts but found herself momentarily struck dumbfounded. "Who... are you?"

In response, the boy seemed momentarily paralyzed by the unexpected encounter. His cheeks flushed crimson as he stammered, "Uh, hey... mother."

Sakura's eyes widened in sheer astonishment, her mind struggling to process such a bizarre greeting. Tentatively, she replied, her words tinged with uncertainty, "I think you might be mistaking me for someone else."

With a calm shake of his head, the boy continued, his tone strangely composed despite the surreal circumstances, "I understand this is difficult to understand, but we've traveled from the future. My name is Shinki, and I am your son."

The revelation hung in the air, an almost palpable tension as Sakura grappled with the inconceivable. She tried to find her voice, her gaze shifting to the tall figure standing just behind Shinki, a man clad in a loose-fitting black ensemble adorned with purple makeup. The man regarded her with a mixture of concern and worry.

Sakura remained speechless, her mind whirling, and finally, she breathed out a single word, a name filled with disbelief, "Kankuro..."

Kankuro, now considerably older and bearing the wisdom that came with age, offered a warm, affectionate smile as he looked down at Sakura's petite and endearing figure. Her future suddenly grew brighter before her eyes.