"I'm the kind of person who treasures everything, whether it's useful or not. Keeping it never hurts," muttered Kabuto Yakushi, holding a candlestick as he rummaged through the room.
He opened an old, dusty freezer that had been sealed for years. Inside, cold air billowed out, revealing three small bottles, each labeled with the names "Sasuke," "Naruto," and "Sakura Haruno."
"Found them~," Kabuto said with a smirk. "These were collected back during the Chūnin Exams in the Forest of Death."
Taking out the bottle labeled Sakura Haruno, Kabuto carefully drew a summoning circle on the ground. He then poured the blood from the bottle onto the circle and used a White Zetsu as a living sacrifice to perform the Edo Tensei technique!
"One like you, one like Naruto—you're all the same, a bunch of lowlifes! Ughhhh!!!"
The White Zetsu let out a tortured scream as its body became enveloped in dust, transforming into the form of Sakura Haruno!
In a spacious training hall within the hideout, Sasuke Uchiha was practicing a new technique.
"Sasuke, look who I've brought!" Kabuto's voice echoed as he entered the room.
"Sakura!?" Sasuke froze upon seeing Sakura trailing behind Kabuto. His expression quickly turned cold. "What are you doing here again? Haven't you caused enough trouble already?"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses with a sly grin. "Don't misunderstand, Sasuke. Take a closer look—she's been brought back using Edo Tensei."
Sasuke scrutinized her carefully, noticing the cracks on her skin and clothing, as well as her dull, lifeless eyes—all telltale signs of the Edo Tensei.
His gaze darkened. Then, with a mocking tone, he sneered, "Sakura, you foolish woman. In the end, you were stupid enough to get yourself killed!"
To his surprise, Sakura remained unusually calm in the face of his ridicule. "You're right, Sasuke. I died because of my own foolishness."
Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly.
Sakura continued, her tone melancholic. "My biggest mistake was holding onto the past and hesitating when I should have ended things decisively. If I had been as resolute as someone else, none of this would have happened. This outcome... is my own doing."
Sasuke let out a cold laugh. "Hah! Realizing this now? It's far too late."
Sakura's voice trembled. "My parents... they died during your attack on Konoha."
Sasuke's pupils contracted, but he quickly resumed his cold demeanor. "So, you finally understand what it's like to lose your loved ones, huh?"
"Yes, I do," Sakura replied.
She suddenly charged at Sasuke, clenching her fist. A Byakugō no In mark reappeared on her forehead, glowing with power.
Sizzle! Sasuke's eyes morphed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, and a skeletal frame of Susanoo ignited around him.
Crack!
But Sakura's punch shattered the skeletal frame and struck Sasuke squarely in the chest!
"What!?"
Boom! Sasuke's back slammed against the wall, several ribs broken. Blood dripped from his mouth as he stared at her in shock. "How does she have such strength!?"
"Do you get it now? This is how it feels!!!" Sakura roared, launching another assault. She leapt into the air, raising her leg high above her head, ready to bring it down with crushing force.
Whoosh!
Sasuke narrowly evaded her attack.
Boom!!!
The ground beneath them shattered, and the entire training hall trembled.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Her killing intent... she's serious!"
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Kabuto prepared to use Edo Tensei to restrain Sakura.
"Don't interfere. Let her come," Sasuke commanded, his voice cold but firm.
Kabuto hesitated but ultimately stepped back.
Fwoosh!
A blade of Amaterasu flames slashed through Sakura, disintegrating her upper body. Yet, the dust quickly reformed, and her body regenerated.
Sakura's expression turned sorrowful. "So this is the Edo Tensei body—trapping the soul in a living sacrifice. There's no pain, and even if you're destroyed, you regenerate. All the sensations of being alive are gone. My parents must have pretended to enjoy the food I cooked for them, even though they couldn't taste it anymore... I was so selfish."
"She's nothing but an indestructible, brute-force monster now!" Sasuke's eyes sharpened as his Susanoo evolved into its tengu form.
"Perfect. I'll use you as a punching bag to test my new powers!" he declared, laughing maniacally as he charged at her.
Time and time again, Sakura's body was destroyed and reformed. Each time, her perception of Sasuke grew colder and more distant.
"Why did I ever like someone like him?" she thought bitterly.
"Was it just because he was good-looking and aloof? How shallow could I be?"
Finally, Sakura muttered, "Thank you, Sasuke, for shattering my first love into pieces."
Sasuke sneered. "It was always just your one-sided fantasy, you annoying woman!"
Boom!
An arrow from Kagutsuchi pierced through Sakura, sending her crashing through the training hall's wall and out into the open.
When she regenerated again, she didn't return.
"Hmph. Trying to escape?" Kabuto frowned and began forming hand seals.
"Let her go," Sasuke interrupted, panting heavily. He stared at the broken wall and muttered, "Just let her leave."
By the next evening, Sakura appeared before Naruto Uzumaki.
"Hey, Sakura! What happened to you? You've been brought back with Edo Tensei! Who killed you!?" Naruto exclaimed in shock.
Behind him, Violet, wearing her mask, broke into a cold sweat. "What!? I thought I disposed of her body! How is this possible? This is bad!"
But Sakura replied calmly, "No one killed me. I accidentally fell off a cliff, and Kabuto used my body for Edo Tensei."
Naruto clenched his fists, his expression dark. "Listen, Sakura. Edo Tensei can be undone if you know the hand seals. I'll teach you the technique right now. Break free from his control!"
"Alright."
Sakura formed the seals as instructed.
"Edo Tensei: Release!"
Snap! The connection between her and Kabuto was severed.
"Naruto," Sakura said, her voice filled with guilt. "I've made too many mistakes. I can't face Lady Tsunade or return to Konoha. Can you... take me in?"
Naruto hesitated.
"Don't worry," Sakura continued. "I won't ask you to revive my parents. I just want to atone for my past mistakes. Your village, Amegakure, doesn't have a proper medical ninja, right? If you take me in, I'll do my best to help."
Naruto looked at her intently before nodding. "Alright, you can stay. I'll explain everything to Granny Tsunade later."
Sakura bowed deeply. "Thank you so much!"
Late at night, Violet confronted Sakura privately.
"Why didn't you expose me? If you told them what I did, I'd be finished. So, what are you planning?" Violet demanded.
Sakura's gaze was calm. "At this point, what would be the point of saying anything? Your decisiveness taught me the true nature of being a ninja. I genuinely want to join Naruto. You're his trusted ally; I have no reason to burn bridges."
"If you insist on calling it a 'plan,' then yes, I have one. I want to improve my medical ninjutsu to restore the face of a girl who was scarred because of me."
Violet fell silent.
Sakura looked her in the eye. "So let's keep this secret buried forever, just between the two of us."
After a moment, Violet removed her mask and extended her hand. "Fine. My name is Violet. Welcome to Amegakure, Sakura Haruno."
Sakura shook her hand firmly. "Thank you. Please take care of me."
From the rooftop, a summoned parrot flew away.
In a high tower, Naruto stood watching the rain.
"So that's how it is," he murmured.
Konan approached him from behind. "Perhaps this is the fate of your Team 7—an unbreakable bond, even in another life."
Naruto's voice was complicated. "Where will we go from here?"
He donned his mask once more. "Time will tell."
Author's Note:
The portrayal of characters in this story is serious and nuanced. Different experiences shape different personalities. Team 7 will rebuild itself from the ashes, creating an unprecedented dynamic.
From this moment, Sakura Haruno will face everyone with a renewed spirit. Stay tuned!
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