The moment the race began, everything shifted. Idate exploded off the starting line, but not in the direction of the others. While the rest of the runners followed the marked path toward the official route, he cut left, sprinting down a narrow side trail that wound through tall grass and sloped toward a different port entirely.

"What's he doing?!" Naruto shouted, squinting through the morning glare as Idate vanished down the off-road trail.

"Not dumb," Sakura muttered, already moving. "He found the better current." Her sandals barely touched the ground as she launched into pursuit, her body humming with quiet control. The scent of dew-soaked grass rose up beneath her feet, mingling with the salt tang riding the wind as they neared the coast. Sasuke followed close behind, quiet and sharp-eyed, and Naruto huffed next to them, wind already tugging at his jacket as they tore across the docks. The land sloped hard toward the sea, and there, rocking gently in the tide, waited a long narrow boat, sails unfurled, hull carved for speed. The crew aboard barely had time to register them before Idate leapt in, not missing a step. They boarded in unison, Naruto stumbling slightly, Sakura fluid and sure-footed despite the weighted wraps coiled tightly beneath her clothes. The boat groaned against the tide as the crew pushed off, and then they were slicing through the choppy water, wind howling in their ears. The sky above had grayed, clouds layering like bruises. The air had a metallic edge to it, sharp and electric. Salt sprayed across their faces, stinging their eyes and clinging to skin, but Sakura didn't flinch. She stood near the center mast, one hand gripping the edge of the boat for balance. Up front, Idate stood with his arms laced behind his head, utterly unfazed. The storm breeze tore through his sleeves and tousled his hair, but he wore that same infuriating grin, like he'd planned this from the beginning, like he was dancing on the edge of the storm and loving every second of it. His gaze drifted to Sakura, full of that same unreadable spark. She didn't return it. Not this time. 'He's reckless, but not careless. He knew this shortcut. Knew the currents. He's more than he wants us to think.' The sails snapped sharply overhead, the boat leaning into the wind as waves slapped against the hull with rhythmic force. The whole sea felt alive, like it might tip them over at any moment, but somehow, Idate never lost his footing. Sakura narrowed her eyes at him, the taste of salt thick on her tongue. 'You're hiding something behind that grin. And I'm going to figure out what it is before this race ends.' She turned her face into the wind, letting it whip her hair back from her cheeks, heart steady despite the storm ahead.

"You really do have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen," Idate said, for the fifth time in twenty minutes, his voice lilting just enough to make the words dance on the sea breeze. "And that hair? Looks like spring itself decided to become a kunoichi." Sakura sat rigidly on the bench bolted to the side of the boat, arms folded tightly across her chest, eyes locked on the gray horizon ahead. The wind tugged at the ends of her sleeves and whispered through her bangs, cooling the faint heat blooming across her cheeks. She didn't answer him. But the soft blush creeping up her face betrayed the otherwise steeled calm she wore. It wasn't warmth, not exactly. More like the sting of frustration, embarrassment, and a very reluctant awareness. 'If he compliments me one more time, I'm going to throw him overboard.'

Naruto glanced at her, frowning immediately. "You okay, Sakura-chan?" She didn't answer, because no, she wasn't, and the heat on her face was only encouraging the idiot. Sasuke, already leaning against the mast with his arms crossed, shot Idate a sharp glance before looking away with an annoyed twitch of his brow. But Idate, unshaken and clearly delighted by the tension he was brewing, leaned casually against the ship's railing. His posture was relaxed, like this wasn't a high-stakes escort mission but some leisurely cruise he'd personally invited them all on.

"After this mission," he continued smoothly, "we should go get tea. Just the two of us. You can tell me all about your training, though I'm more interested in your hobbies." He tilted his head, grinning again with that practiced charm. "You don't happen to like romantic walks by the ocean, do you?" He finished the line with a wink that should have been punishable by law.

Naruto gagged loudly, dramatically clutching his chest like he'd been poisoned. "Ugh, he's doing it again. Make it stop." The wind slapped against the sails and the boat creaked as it pitched slightly, the sea swelling beneath them. Salt spray cooled Sakura's burning cheeks, but her eyes didn't shift from the horizon. She just breathed through it. 'Ignore him. He's baiting you. Focus on the mission. On the storm. On anything else.' Still... her fingers twitched once, the urge to throw her sandal at him barely resisted. 'Maybe just a small punch. Nothing that would break anything... vital.' She exhaled slowly and closed her eyes for half a breath.

"Idate," she finally said flatly, voice clipped and calm. "The only walk we're going on is the one that ends at the finish line."

His laugh rang out across the boat like wind-chimes caught in a gale. "I like a girl who keeps me on my toes." Sakura didn't answer this time. 'I like a boy who shuts up. Guess we both have high standards.'

"Can we throw him overboard?" Naruto muttered, slouched against the side of the boat, glaring daggers at Idate.

"Not yet," Sasuke replied under his breath, the words cool and clipped, barely audible over the groaning of the mast and the hiss of seawater against the hull. The banter fizzled there, not because Sakura finally snapped, but because the air itself changed. It wasn't wind. It wasn't movement from the sea or the sky. It was a presence. A low pulse rolled through the mist ahead, too dense for natural fog, too still to be shaped by breeze. It crept along the surface of the water like oil, slow and deliberate, curling around the bow of the boat and stretching toward them like long fingers. Sakura's head lifted sharply. Her heartbeat responded before her mind did, instinct roaring to the surface. She stood at once, the bench creaking under her as her muscles tightened, the weighted bandages at her limbs pulling against her skin like anchors suddenly necessary. 'That's chakra. Cloaked. Controlled. Someone's coming.' Her eyes narrowed, and the salt-laced wind stung against her cheeks. Her voice cut cleanly through the tension, firm and focused.

"Get ready," she said. Every trace of softness bled from her tone. Idate blinked from where he still leaned near the mast, his easy smile faltering as he followed her gaze into the shifting area ahead. Sasuke was already moving toward the front, eyes sharp, one hand drifting toward his pouch. The fog pressed closer, unnaturally cold now, coiling at their feet. It didn't roll like weather, it crawled, and every breath of it tasted faintly metallic. Sakura's stance widened as she adjusted her weight, knees bent slightly. The chakra beneath her skin simmered just beneath the surface, hot and steady. 'No more flirting. No more distractions. Whoever's out there is hiding behind this mist. And they don't want us reaching that shore.' She didn't speak again. She didn't need to. The storm ahead was no longer in the clouds. It was already here.

"What is it?" Naruto asked, but the answer came before Sakura could open her mouth. Three figures rose from the water like shadows shedding their shape, silent, uncoiling, their soaked cloaks clinging to their frames as the fog warped around them. Half-masked faces emerged beneath dripping headbands: Team Oboro. Former Chūnin Exam flunk-outs, now hired blades. Their movements were no longer sluggish with inexperience. They'd learned how to kill. The first volley came fast, shuriken sliced the air, followed by flickering distortion clones that splintered and reformed in the mist like oil in water. The boat rocked with the sudden weight of conflict. But Sakura was already moving. Before either boy could step in, she pivoted low, her chakra grounding her through the slick wood. A blur of movement, she spun and kicked one clone square in the chest, the impact sharp and dull all at once as it shattered into mist. A blade came from her right, but she caught it mid-swing with her palm, chakra flaring at the edge of her skin like a pulse of sunlight. 'Chakra dampened. Redirected. Good. No break in rhythm.'

The glow around her hand was soft but unmistakable, controlled chakra made for reinforcement. The kunai barely nicked her glove before it fell from the attacker's fingers. Despite the weighted bandages dragging at her limbs, 150 pounds on each, the motion was fluid, like her body no longer obeyed gravity, only intention. Another clone lunged. Sakura sidestepped, dropped her stance, and surged upward with a compact punch directly beneath the ribs. No wasted motion. No need to send him flying. The strike landed with surgical precision, bone buckled inward, chakra focused in a tight, circular burst. The clone didn't scream. He simply crumpled, his breath gone before he hit the deck. Water splashed across her boots. The boat heaved. She didn't falter.

Naruto froze, his stance half-drawn, eyes wide. "Woah..." Sasuke didn't speak, but his gaze narrowed, not at the enemy. At her. There was something behind his eyes that wasn't surprise. It was calculation. Idate, crouched behind a crate near the rear sail, blinked like he'd forgotten how to breathe. His earlier grin was long gone.

"...Okay," he muttered, stunned. "She's terrifying. But thats okay, cause that's... kind of hot." Sakura didn't respond. She didn't flinch. 'One more clone behind me. Two more to the left. I feel their chakra pulses, weak. Illusions only last if you let them.' Her fingers sparked again, chakra curling at her knuckles with a hum. Her eyes never left the mist. 'Let them come. I'm done waiting.'

"Idate," Sakura called over her shoulder, her voice slicing clean through the chaos, shuriken, wind, and the slap of waves against wood. It wasn't loud, but it carried. Commanding. Inevitable. He flinched from behind the crate, half-crouched, half-hiding, his expression twisted between doubt and panic. "Swim for the shore. Now." Her gaze cut through the fog as she turned slightly to glance back at him, eyes blazing, not with fury, but something colder. Absolute control. No room for hesitation. The look she gave him hit harder than any explosion tag. It wasn't a request.

"We'll handle this," she added, turning fully into a defensive stance just as another figure lunged from the mist, the sound of rushing water sharp in her ears. Her chakra surged into her legs and arms with a clean, radiant pulse. "Go." 'He's not built for this fight. He's the mission. And I'm not losing it, not to a clone, not to a memory.' Idate hesitated for only a second longer, then swallowed hard, gave a frantic nod, and vaulted over the side. The splash was swallowed by the wind as he hit the sea, limbs flailing awkwardly before he steadied himself and began swimming hard, strokes pulling him toward the jagged shoreline in the distance. The boat rocked hard again beneath Sakura's sandals, the wood groaning with the promise of more violence. The mist curled thicker, the temperature dropping by degrees. She could feel the distortion chakra shifting again, new clones preparing to strike. Sakura's stance widened, her body adjusting instinctively under the drag of her weighted bandages. Her knuckles cracked once as chakra rolled to the surface, humming like a heartbeat made of light. 'He'll make it. Because we'll clear the path.' She didn't look back again.

The boat cracked behind them in a sudden bloom of orange flames, the boards shrieking as fire hungrily devoured the wood. The heat blasted Sakura's face, sharp and biting against the salt air, mixing with the acrid smoke curling into the sky. The mast groaned and splintered, tumbling with a thunderous crash as the flames swallowed the deck. Sakura didn't hesitate. With the last clone evaporating into mist at her feet, she spun on her heel, muscles coiling beneath the weighted wraps like steel springs. Her hands grabbed Naruto's collar and Sasuke's arm in one swift motion, her voice sharp and urgent.

"Off the boat, now!" Before either could protest, she yanked them both off balance and plunged them into the cold, briny water. The impact slammed against their chests and stung their lungs, but Sakura's body kept moving with deliberate precision, every stroke measured, every kick purposeful despite the weight dragging at her limbs. 'No time to think. Only to act. Keep moving. Keep them alive.' Behind them, the burning wreckage hissed and snapped, glowing embers rising like angry fireflies into the darkening sky. Somewhere beyond the flames, the silhouette of the island loomed, a jagged promise of safety, or at least solid ground. Naruto was the first to surface, coughing and sputtering, his wild hair plastered to his forehead, eyes wide and alive with panic.

"Warn us next time!" he gasped, spitting out saltwater. Sasuke emerged next, water sluicing from his damp hair as he shook his head, a scowl darkening his features.

"You could've said something before throwing me into open water," he muttered sharply. Sakura's lips twitched with the barest hint of a smirk as she kicked away from the wreck, voice low and a little breathless.

"You're welcome." 'They might complain, but they trust me to keep them alive. That's enough.' Her eyes remained fixed on the faint silhouette of Idate struggling against the rocky shore, but before they could reach safety, the sea beneath them churned with an unnatural pulse, cold, heavy, charged with hostile intent. Shadows shifted just beneath the glassy surface, dark shapes coiling like serpents ready to strike. Sakura's breath caught, eyes widening in alarm a fraction of a second before a cold, clammy hand shot up from the depths and clamped tightly around her ankle, its grip like iron chains dragging her down. Another figure emerged swiftly behind Naruto, silent and ruthless, the Ame-nin had tracked them underwater, invisible hunters in the murky depths. Panic bubbles burst around them, filling their ears with muffled crackles as Team 7 was yanked beneath the waves, the weight of water pressing on their chests like a living force.

Sakura twisted sharply, every muscle screaming against the weighted bandages. She slammed her heel hard into her attacker's temple, the sharp contact reverberating through her leg, but before she could break free, another pair of hands closed in from behind, cold and unrelenting. Sasuke moved with lethal precision, a blade cutting through water as he kicked free from one grasp, only to be seized instantly by another's iron fingers. His dark eyes flashed with defiance, teeth clenched against the biting chill of the water. Naruto's limbs flailed for a brief, desperate moment, panic flickering in his wide eyes before instinct and hard-earned training took hold. 'Step one... chakra rotation...' he thought, gathering focus like a spark gathering flame.

The water around him began to swirl, first tiny eddies twisting softly at his fingertips, then widening into spirals, the currents thickening with power and purpose until a fierce vortex erupted beneath the surface. The whirlpool roared to life, a summoned tide of spinning water that caught the Ame-nin off guard, ripping them from their hold and flinging them backward in a tangled spray of bubbles and stunned silence. 'Focus. Control. Protect. We survive together.' Sakura broke the surface first, lungs burning as she gasped for air, the cold seawater clinging to her skin and soaking her hair, which plastered itself in wet strands across her face. Salt stung her eyes, but she blinked it away and scanned the roiling waves. There, at the heart of the swirling currents, Naruto hovered, chakra still shimmering faintly around his arms like a glowing veil, the energy humming quietly even as the danger faded. Sasuke emerged next, breaking the water with a sharp cough, droplets flying from his dark hair as he wiped his face with a gloved hand. The last of their attackers slipped silently beneath the waves, retreating into the abyss with nothing but the faintest ripple to mark their passage. Words were unnecessary, there was no time for them. The furious whirlpool had carved a clear path to safety, and beyond the water's edge, the island's jagged silhouette loomed large, promising refuge. The chill of the sea bit at their limbs, but the sight of solid ground pushed them forward. Together, they surged through the final stretch, hands scraping against the rough sand and jagged rocks beneath the breaking waves. Their muscles burned with exertion, hearts pounding a fierce rhythm against their ribs.

One by one, Team 7 hauled themselves ashore, soaked and panting, silence hanging thick between them. Their wet clothes clung heavily, weighed down by salt and exhaustion, but their eyes were sharp, already scanning the horizon for what came next. 'We survived the waves, the shadows, the fire. But the race isn't over. Not yet.' They found Idate sprawled near the foot of the cliff steps, unmoving, face pressed into the damp earth. The air around him was thick with tension, the scent of salt and wild grass mixing with the faint metallic tang of blood. His breaths were shallow, barely stirring the dust, and sweat clung to his temples in fine, cold droplets. Sakura dropped to her knees beside him, heart hammering in her chest as her fingers pressed against his neck, searching for that stubborn pulse. It fluttered faint but steady. Naruto's voice broke through the heavy silence, calling Idate's name with growing urgency.

Before Sakura could answer, a sharp whistle sliced the wind, a cold, deliberate sound that set her nerves on edge. Then came the unmistakable snap of spring-loaded steel. The umbrella burst open midair above them, sleek and spinning like a deadly flower, releasing a flurry of poison-laced senbon that rained down with brutal precision. The needles caught the fading light, glinting like wicked stars as they streaked toward Team 7. Without hesitation, Sakura shoved Naruto aside, her body twisting instinctively to meet the attack. A pulse of chakra surged through her arm, radiant and fierce, deflecting the bulk of the senbon in a sparkling arc of light. The sharp clatter of needles striking chakra barriers echoed like raindrops on stone. But a few found their marks despite her defense: one piercing Sasuke's thigh, a sharp sting spreading through his muscles; another grazing Naruto's shoulder, searing like fire against skin. 'Not fast enough. Not perfect, but we're still standing. We have to be.' Her breath hitched, eyes narrowing as she assessed the wounds, ready to act. 'There's no room for mistakes. Not here. Not now.'

"Poison," Sakura hissed, eyes narrowing as she caught the faint shimmer clinging to the senbon, the subtle heat blossoming beneath their skin like a silent fire. The air grew heavy, thick with the bitter scent of betrayal and damp earth. From the edge of the trees, a figure stepped forward, a shadow wrapped in arrogance, his posture relaxed but his presence sharp, like a blade concealed beneath a velvet glove. Aoi. The traitorous shinobi marked by the Rain insignia, his face still holding the cruel smile of a man who once hid lies beneath charm. Sakura had met him on a mission she had gone on with Guy-Sensei, Neji, and Tenten in the Amegakure village.

The rain hadn't stopped since they crossed the border into Amegakure, thin and needling, soaking through their cloaks no matter how tight the seams. Guy-Sensei walked with his usual boisterous stride, though even he kept one hand near his pouch, wary. They'd been summoned to aid a local feudal lord, a minor figure, reportedly overwhelmed by insurgent factions. His name hadn't carried much weight in Konoha, but the request was stamped and sealed through official channels, and the Hidden Leaf couldn't afford to ignore diplomatic entreaties. They met him in a rain-slicked courtyard, flanked by armed guards. The man introduced himself as Lord Masaki, and though his robes were pristine, there was something too casual in his stance, too easy in his grin. He had the smile of a man who hadn't earned it. Still, his chakra signature was subdued, cloaked beneath the haze of the mist. No alarms went off, not yet.

"You must be Sakura," he said, eyes lingering on her just a moment too long. "The cherry blossom of Konoha. They said you were impressive, but I think they undersold it." Sakura's jaw tightened slightly. 'Flattery disguises rot too well in this place.' Tenten elbowed her as if encouraging her. Neji didn't blink.

Guy laughed, oblivious or playing the fool as usual. "That's our Sakura! Bright, blooming, and bursting with potential!" They followed "Masaki" through shadowed halls and gave their support, strategizing, mapping threats, even treating wounded. But things unraveled when Neji, eyes lit by the Byakugan, spotted something hidden beneath a false panel in the man's chambers: a Konoha forehead protector, scarred through the leaf symbol with a deliberate gash. They confronted him that night.

"It's you," Sakura whispered, stepping forward, voice quiet but cold. "Aoi." The smile fell. Just for a second. Then returned, thinner now, edged with something darker.

"So, the girl has a memory. I wondered if you'd recognize me, Sakura-Chan."

Guy stepped forward, serious now. "You're a traitor to Konoha. And worse, a coward who hides behind forged names." Aoi's tone turned almost persuasive, directed at Sakura.

"I left your village because I saw what it really was. A gilded cage. You're better than them. Stay in Amegakure. I can give you more than they ever will, respect, power, freedom and you don't have to work nearly as hard for it."

Sakura didn't hesitate. She stepped between Aoi and her team, her stance firm. "You don't understand a thing about me, and I don't follow men who run from their oaths." His expression soured, and the ambush came seconds later, kunai from the shadows, mist warping into motion. But she'd already expected it. Her fists lit with chakra.

She cracked the floor open beneath them and shouted to Guy, "We're leaving, now!" She cleared a path through the ambushers with brutal precision, dragging Tenten clear of a collapsing wall, forcing chakra into Neji's lungs when poison grazed his ribs. And when Aoi moved to block the exit, she hit him, not to kill, but to send a message. Her palm struck his chest with enough force to throw him through the doors. "Don't follow," she said coldly. "Next time, I won't miss." They vanished into the mist before reinforcements could trap them.

He let his gaze linger on Sakura, eyes glinting with cold amusement. "Still playing the hero, Sakura-chan?" His voice was smooth, a teasing edge threading through the threat. "I always wondered if I would ever see you look this fierce again. So quite the surprise you were sent on this mission. I think we could call it fate." He gave a lazy wave, the gesture mocking. "You were meant to become more under my mentorship but you refused to leave Konoha."

Sakura's jaw tightened. "Your games end here, Aoi. You won't win by hiding behind tricks."

He chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Oh, but I don't need to finish the fight," he said, stepping back toward the mist, his smile widening just enough to reveal teeth sharp as daggers. "I've already won, by breaking trust, by poisoning hope. Consider this my gift." Then, with the faintest trace of amusement, he vanished into the swirling fog, leaving only the echo of his words behind. 'Coward,' Sakura thought, the taste of venom in the air mixing with the bitter sting of his betrayal. 'But this isn't over. Not by far.' Naruto collapsed first, his breath ragged and uneven as one knee slammed into the rough dirt. The air around them was thick with tension, mingled with the sharp scent of salt and pine from the nearby forest. Sasuke muttered a curse under his breath, staggering toward the cliff wall, his palm pressed hard against the cold stone for support. His dark eyes flickered with pain and frustration. Sakura didn't hesitate. Her fingers trembled just slightly as she tore open the flap of her pouch and withdrew the small vial Tsunade had entrusted to her, clear liquid swirling faintly inside, bitter-smelling and sharp like winter herbs, potent enough to counter most poisons that lacked chakra infusion.

"Stay awake," she commanded softly but firmly, her voice steady despite the pounding of her own heart. Tilting Naruto's chin gently, she poured the antidote past his trembling lips, feeling the faint pulse of his faltering life beneath her touch. Sasuke resisted at first, his jaw tight, but when her gaze locked with his calm, unwavering, he gave a quiet nod and took the vial without a word. The taste was bitter and biting, but he swallowed it down with the same quiet determination she recognized in him. Sakura pressed her palm briefly to both their foreheads, feeling the clammy sweat and the feverish heat burning beneath their skin. Her eyes scanned the horizon, sharp and alert. 'We're not out of this yet. But I won't let them fall, not now. Not ever.'

They were vulnerable, exposed to the elements and enemies alike, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on them like a storm cloud. Idate lay still, unconscious, his breathing shallow and uneven. The sharp tang of salt and earth clung to the air, mixing with the faint scent of damp stone from the nearby cliffs. Sakura's voice was low but firm, cutting through the heavy silence. "We need cover." Without waiting for protests or hesitation, she slipped her arm under Idate's shoulders, steady and sure despite the strain. His weight was a heavy reminder of their fragile state, but she refused to falter. Supporting him, she led Naruto and Sasuke toward the nearest cave, its mouth dark and narrow, a small refuge carved into the cliffside. Inside, the cool, damp air wrapped around them, a stark contrast to the biting sea breeze outside, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Idate finally stirred, eyelids fluttering as consciousness returned like a slow tide. Sakura stayed close, watching the rise and fall of his chest with quiet determination. 'We're not safe yet. But this, this is our moment to catch our breath. To fight back.' He blinked slowly, the dim light of the cave painting soft shadows across the damp stone above him. His breath hitched as he turned his head, the motion sluggish, eyes falling on Naruto first, then lowering, unable to hold the gaze.

"You shouldn't have followed me," Idate muttered, voice hoarse and brittle. The shame hit before the words, already coiled in his throat like it had been waiting for years to be spoken aloud. His fingers dug weakly into the dirt. "You don't understand. I was one of you. A Konoha shinobi." He swallowed hard, eyes cast low.

"I failed the Chūnin Exams. I couldn't pass, no matter how hard I trained. And Aoi... he saw that. Said there was another way. A shortcut, just until I proved myself. He told me if I could retrieve the Sword of the Thunder God, the one that belonged to the Second Hokage, he could guarantee I'd be promoted. That I'd finally earn respect." He laughed once, bitter and dry. "I was stupid enough to believe him." The silence after that was heavy. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

"I stole the sword. And the scroll. The one that held its full technique." He didn't look at them. Couldn't. "But the second he had them, Aoi ran. Left Konoha behind and dragged me with him all the way to Amegakure. Said we were free now. Said the village never cared about me in the first place." His voice cracked. "And part of me believed him. I wanted to believe I wasn't just a failure. But the truth is... I didn't just run away. I betrayed everything I was supposed to stand for." He finally looked up, shame written in every line of his face. His voice cracked, the last syllable slipping like a stone through water. He turned his face halfway to the wall, as if retreating from the weight of his own admission."Maybe I don't deserve to win. Maybe I never should've started running this race." Sakura sat nearby, her hands resting on her knees, silent. The musty cave air pressed down on her lungs, cold against her sweat-damp skin. She watched the way his body seemed to fold inward, like the apology itself was cutting deeper than any blade. 'It's not a weakness to fall. It's staying down that makes it permanent. I've been there too... not with traitors, but with silence. With feeling small. With thinking I didn't matter, but he does matter. And if he forgets that, we remind him.' She didn't speak yet, but her eyes softened. She knew this kind of pain. And she wasn't going to let it swallow him. Naruto, half-sitting with his back braced against the cold cave wall, stared at Idate with something caught between pity and fire. His damp clothes clung to his frame, dirt and seawater drying slowly in the chill, but none of that dulled the edge in his voice.

"You made a mistake. So what?" he said flatly, the words sharp and bare of softness. "You're not the only one who's been tricked. Or lost faith. Or thought the village gave up on them. But you have a chance to fix it now." His eyes narrowed, glowing with that stubborn, unshakable light that always appeared when it mattered. "Are you really gonna lie down again just because it's hard?" The silence that followed wasn't heavy, it was piercing. Idate's breath hitched. His eyes filled, and his jaw clenched tight enough to shake. But the words hit. Naruto hadn't shouted, hadn't even raised his voice. But there was something in his tone, raw and scarless and so painfully real, that cracked the defeat just enough to let something else in. Resolve, maybe. He nodded slowly, the motion stiff but honest. Sakura watched from her place across the fireless cave, her fingers curled around her knees. The moment hung like a still breath between storms. 'That's who Naruto is... not the loudmouth or the prankster. He's the one who speaks when it counts. Who believes even when others have given up. He doesn't just inspire people. He dares them to change.' She felt her throat tighten, just a little, pride swelling quiet and fierce in her chest. 'That's why we'll win. Because even when we fall... someone like him is still standing.'

He nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's finish this."

Naruto stood first, adjusting the strap of his bag, his movements stiff from the cold and exhaustion. "I'll carry him up the steps if I have to."

"No," Sakura said, rising smoothly to her feet. Her voice was calm, steady. Certain. "I'll do it. I'm faster."

Sasuke turned toward her, one brow raised, his tone edged in doubt. "You?"

Even Idate looked up, wincing as he clutched his ribs. "Are you sure you can?"

"I said I'll do it." Her answer was quiet, but it landed with finality. She didn't flinch, didn't elaborate. She didn't need to. The damp air clung to her skin as she stepped forward, the weight of her soaked bandages familiar now, grounding. Her muscles ached beneath them, but she welcomed the sensation, it reminded her how far she'd come. 'They still think I'm the girl who stood back and watched. Who waited to be rescued.' She walked past them toward the mouth of the cave, each step measured, quiet, but laced with something unmistakably resolute. Her hands reached down, fingers working with precision at the knots around her ankles. The white cloth unwound slowly, damp and dirt-stained from sea and battle, revealing not bruised skin, but steel. Thick bands of it, fused into heavy cuffs, dull silver etched with faint seals, chakra-worn and battle-tested.

Naruto blinked, staring. "You wore weights?" His voice cracked around the disbelief. The cuffs hit the ground one by one with a low, seismic thud, the sound carrying deep into the rock around them. Even the floor beneath cracked faintly beneath the force. Sasuke didn't speak now. He didn't need to. His silence was a different kind of acknowledgment. Sakura knelt beside them, calm and unrushed. From her pouch she pulled a small scroll, unrolling it with the ease of repetition. She pressed her fingertips to the inked center, and with a gentle pulse of chakra, the weights vanished into smoke and seal. The bandages fluttered in her hands, now light and hollow. 'This is who I am now. Not because I was chosen. Because I chose myself.' She stood, wrapping the empty cloth slowly back around her ankles, her chakra already circulating to balance the sudden shift in weight. Her pulse barely quickened. Her breath stayed even. 'I trained to carry what others couldn't. So I could be the one to move when no one else could.'

She turned back to them with steady eyes, her voice soft but unshakable. "Let's move." The first stone step rose before her like the base of a mountain, wide, uneven, slick with mist, but Sakura didn't pause. She knelt beside Idate, his breathing still shallow, and murmured, "Brace yourself." Her arms slid beneath him, one behind his shoulders, the other beneath his knees. With a single breath, she rose. He wasn't light. His weight bore down like a second pack of steel, but her body didn't tremble, didn't yield. Idate's eyes widened in silent disbelief. It wasn't just the strength, it was the calm in her movement. The stillness in her gaze. 'I've carried worse. Carried my own shame. My own weakness. He's nothing compared to that.' Her boots struck the first step with clean precision. Then another. And another. Her chakra flowed evenly through her limbs now that the weights were gone, every movement sharpened by restraint rather than adrenaline. The incline pulled at her thighs, the burn familiar, welcome. 'One step. One breath. One heartbeat. That's all it is.' Behind her, the others followed in stunned silence. The rhythm of her climb never broke, never faltered. Wind picked at the strands of hair that clung to her temples, but she didn't slow, she never slowed. 'Not until we reach the top. Not until I prove I belong there.'

Idate stared up at her in mute amazement, eyes wide, chest rising unevenly against the press of her arms. His pride thinned into silence, and a faint flush crept up his neck, not from exertion, but from realization. She carried me like I was nothing... and still moved faster than I ever could. The shame settled in his stomach like a stone. Sasuke, silent as ever, trailed just behind. His eyes never left her. Not her hands, not her footing, not the seamless flow of chakra that moved with rather than against her. There was something unreadable in his gaze now. 'She wasn't like this before. She was... watching us. Learning. Waiting.' Naruto, for once, didn't say a word. His usual chatter faded into the sound of their steps, his breath coming a little harder as he pushed himself up each stone rise to keep pace. When he looked up and saw her silhouette above him, straight-backed, unmoving even as the wind swept through her hair, he just grinned. Quiet and proud. 'Told you you'd surprise everyone, Sakura-chan.' The air thinned as they neared the summit, the mist curling into ghostly trails around their legs. But Sakura didn't falter. Her skin glowed faintly with heat, but she didn't sweat. Her pulse remained steady. It was like her body had already risen to meet the strain before she'd begun the climb. 'Not pain. Not fatigue. Just motion. Just purpose.'

At the top, she knelt once more and set Idate down with practiced grace. Her hands never shook. Her breath was still even, her spine unbent. Idate stood on wobbly legs, blinking against the rush of altitude and awe. Before he could speak, she gave him a single, clear nod. "Go." Her voice carried not just weight, but certainty. The kind that couldn't be questioned.

Idate didn't need more than that. With a final glance at her, something between gratitude and disbelief, he sprinted forward, his footsteps echoing over the stone path as he grabbed the ceremonial orb from its pedestal. The lacquered surface caught the sunlight and glinted with the finality of a goal reached. For a breath, it felt like everything had worked. The weight of the mission lifted just slightly. But the moment fractured. Standing at the edge of the trail, as if he had always been part of the horizon, stood Aoi. No longer hidden by mist or distance, he waited with a casual slouch, one shoulder dipped, the Sword of the Thunder God gleaming in his hand. The metal curved like a crescent smile, arcs of blue chakra crackling from its hilt to its tip in erratic bursts. It didn't hum, it growled, low and alive, eager for violence. The wind shifted, pulling his scent to them, ozone, metal, and something burnt. His cloak rustled faintly in the breeze, but his expression remained unchanged, as if none of them were worth more than passing amusement. 'He wanted us to see him now. Not as a warning. As a promise.' Sakura took a slow step forward, already lowering her center of gravity, eyes narrowing as her hand brushed her hip. Her knuckles tightened with anticipation.

Aoi tilted his head, grin slanted like a blade. "How touching," he drawled. "Little miss weights-for-jewelry carried the whole team, huh? You've gotten stronger, I'll give you that." He raised the sword just slightly, the chakra flaring along its edge like lightning cracking through a stormcloud. "But you're still shinobi. And shinobi bleed." Sakura didn't blink. Her heart beat steady, cold, ready. 'So do traitors.' She stepped in front of Idate without looking back. "Going somewhere?" Aoi drawled, voice thin and sharp like wire being pulled taut. The malice in his tone was almost lazy, but it slid into the air like a blade unsheathed. Idate froze mid-step, one foot still lifted from the stone. The orb trembled slightly in his grip.

Naruto moved first, hot-blooded and fearless. His sandals scraped against the stone as he launched forward, arms sweeping back, the Rasengan blooming into his palm with a familiar roar of spinning chakra. "You're not stopping us this time!" he shouted, every muscle tense, eyes blazing. Sasuke wasn't far behind. He moved like a knife drawn cleanly through the air, lightning already laced down his arm in violent coils. The Chidori shrieked as it charged, blue-white and wild. He didn't speak, but he didn't have to. His intent was unmistakable. They came at Aoi from both sides, coordinated through sheer instinct, chakra pressing against chakra as their jutsu collided toward the center. Aoi didn't flinch. His smirk deepened. The Sword of the Thunder God crackled like a storm striking ground, absorbing the lightning, deflecting the spinning chakra, and erupting in a burst of electric backlash. The blast hit like a thunderclap. Naruto was the first to fall, the Rasengan evaporating in a puff of smoke as he was hurled sideways across the clearing. His body skidded through the dust, limbs flailing, a choked grunt torn from his lungs as he hit the ground and rolled to a stop.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and slid back several meters, boots digging trenches into the stone. Sparks danced across his skin where the sword's energy had grazed him, but he managed to hold his stance, barely. 'That sword... it cancels chakra. Or worse. It eats it.' Sakura's breath caught as she stepped forward, her hands already pulling the wraps tighter around her wrists. Her fingers itched for Astra, but she didn't summon it yet. Not until she understood what they were dealing with. Her heartbeat stayed level. 'He waited until we were exhausted. Until we burned chakra on the climb. And now he wants us to break ourselves against him.' Idate staggered back behind her, clutching the orb like a shield.

"Stay behind me," Sakura said evenly, her voice calm but weighted. Her eyes never left Aoi, who was now slowly raising the sword again, its edge gleaming in the fading light like a promise. She could feel it now, not fear, but the familiar heat of something old and coiled rising in her bones. Not chakra. Something deeper. 'He thinks this fight will go the way it always has. That we'll come at him with loud jutsu and reckless strikes.' She stepped forward once more, slower this time. 'He doesn't know I'm not here to prove anything. I'm here to end this.' Sasuke lunged again, his Chidori hissing through the air like a living bolt of vengeance, sharp and electric. The fiery red of his Sharingan burned fiercely, blazing with a fierce determination that seemed to ignite the very air between them. But Aoi's blade met him mid-strike with a deafening clang that echoed across the gorge, the Sword of the Thunder God glowing ominously, its unnatural energy crackling like a storm unleashed. The lightning met steel, sparks flying, and though the blade held firm, a thin hairline crack slowly spread along its edge, deep and threatening. Aoi grunted, stepping back with a grimace, but a cruel grin spread across his face when his eyes locked onto Sasuke.

"Of course," he sneered, voice dripping with venom, "an Uchiha. I expected more. You're a disappointment to that blood-soaked name. The last of your clan and all you can do is sputter like a dying ember."

Sasuke's breath hitched, his jaw clenched tight as hatred flared up behind his ribs like wildfire, scorching every nerve. His heart hammered with a fierce pulse that seemed to fuel his limbs. "You don't know anything about me," he spat back, charging forward with renewed ferocity. "I'm not done!" But Aoi was relentless. He met Sasuke's charge head-on, his sword parrying with bone-crushing force that rattled through Sasuke's arms and shoulders. The violent impact sent shockwaves up Sakura's spine, her breath caught in her chest. Then, with brutal precision, Aoi twisted his grip and flung Sasuke off the edge of the bridge like he was nothing more than a ragdoll, disappearing instantly from sight into the shadowed depths below.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sakura dove after him, heart pounding in her throat like a war drum. The wind screamed past her ears, cold and fierce, as she plummeted like a falcon, eyes narrowed to slits. Chakra surged through her veins, sharp and precise, pooling in her feet and palms as she prepared for the catch. 'Hold on, Sasuke. I won't let go.' Her arms shot out, muscles coiling like springs as she caught him mid-air. The weight of his body pressed against hers, heavy and unyielding, but she braced herself, legs kicking hard against the jagged gorge wall to slow their descent. The river below erupted in a thunderous splash as they hit the water, cold and unforgiving, the impact jolting through her bones with a crackling shock that numbed and burned all at once. She didn't falter. Twisting with fluid grace born of countless hours of training, she spun them toward the shallows, fingers gripping tightly as she dragged them free from the raging current before Sasuke could even catch his breath. 'I caught you. I always will.'

"You're okay," she whispered, voice low and steady, not waiting for thanks or questions. "Don't move. I'm going back." Her words barely hung in the humid air before she was gone, chakra humming beneath her soles like a living current, propelling her up the cliffside with effortless speed. The rough stone scraped beneath her fingers and boots, but her focus was sharp, every sense heightened as adrenaline sharpened her movements into a blur. Above, Aoi had already turned toward Idate, blade raised high, steps fast and merciless. His breath was harsh, eyes narrowed with intent, but he hadn't noticed the shifting light, the sudden weight of inevitability descending on him. Then came the crash, Astra striking the earth like thunder, its impact shaking the ground with a deep, resonant boom that rolled through the trees and sent birds scattering into the gray sky. The weapon was no longer the monstrous obsidian of old, but a radiant golden form that seemed to drink in the fading light, glowing without source, both lightless and gleaming all at once. Its crescent head towered impossibly, etched with faint, delicate lines of chakra pathways that pulsed once in a slow, heartbeat rhythm, carrying Sekhmet's memory like a whisper sealed in stone. The handle shimmered with divine markings, ancient and mysterious, glowing faintly before falling silent, as if waiting. Sakura stood beside the majestic weapon, unflinching, her fingers reaching up to grasp the haft. The instant her palm closed around it, the very air thickened, charged with an electric hum that vibrated through her bones and spread out like ripples on a still pond. The world seemed to hold its breath, shadows deepening, the wind pausing, time stretching thin.

Aoi staggered back a step, eyes wide with disbelief and something like fear. "What the hell is that?" he spat, voice cracking. Sakura didn't answer. 'This is mine now. And I will wield it to protect what matters.' Her gaze was steel, unwavering as the golden blade pulsed softly in her grip, alive with promise and power. She dragged the axe free from the earth with a low, grinding scrape, muscles coiling beneath her skin like a living force. Then she brought it down with a thunderous crash that split the bridge's wooden surface, shards flying as the shockwave slammed into the air, knocking Aoi back a full meter. His eyes widened in shock as he barely managed to brace himself against the sudden assault.

"Impressive," Aoi sneered through gritted teeth, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "But that won't be enough." He lunged forward again, blade swinging with lethal intent to maim, the gleaming edge cutting arcs through the heavy air. But Astra met him mid-swing with a resonant clang that rolled across the valley like a temple bell, deep, heavy, and final. The sound lingered, echoing in the silence that followed like a portent. Sakura pressed forward, her eyes ignited with a steady, fierce inner fire, her feet barely touching the ground as they glided with effortless grace. Each strike was deliberate, carved from years of unseen training, her entire being focused like a sharpened blade. She didn't just push Aoi back; she unravelled his defenses, chipping away at his balance and will. Her posture was flawless, every movement refined to perfect economy, no wasted motion, no falter. Aoi growled, striking again, his sword aimed at her side with a brutal, slicing intent. Sakura twisted, a fluid dance of defense and counterattack, blocking the blow with the haft of Astra before whipping around with a heavy arc that scraped a shallow but stinging cut across his shoulder. He stumbled, the shock forcing him to one knee. Behind her, Naruto stood frozen at the edge of the bridge, eyes wide as saucers, breath caught between shock and awe. Sasuke climbed up beside him, muscles taut, face unreadable but every muscle wired to move. Idate, still breathless, remained rooted, barely daring to breathe. None of them had seen Sakura like this before, not just strong, but something beyond. Something divine. Burning with the calm fury of one reborn, a warrior forged anew. 'This power is mine to wield,' Sakura thought, feeling Astra pulse like a heartbeat in her hands. 'I will protect them all, no matter the cost.'

"I'll handle this," she called, her voice steady and low, never breaking eye contact with Aoi. "You two, stay with Idate. Better yet, run. I'll catch up." The words were sharp, a command edged with quiet resolve. She swung Astra with a force that rippled through the air, a powerful thunderclap echoing across the clearing as axe met sword. The wooden bridge beneath them trembled under the weight of their battle, splinters flying like brittle snow. Aoi staggered, his breath catching, as Astra sliced through the air. The axe's weight was deceiving, guided not by brute strength but by Sakura's finely honed chakra and unyielding will. Her movements flowed with eerie precision, eyes glowing faintly emerald, every strike sharper, more fluid than before, as though the weapon was an extension of her very soul. Each blow was a test, probing, calculating, waiting for a flaw in Aoi's defense. He swung back with vicious arcs, but Astra met each with a cascade of sparks and flashes of light, the air humming with energy.

"Get back," she called over her shoulder, voice calm but urgent. Naruto scrambled behind the bridge railing, wide-eyed but trusting. "I'm not letting him lay a finger on Idate." She twisted her grip, planting her feet firmly against the rough stone beneath her, grounding herself like a storm ready to break. The next clash rang out louder, heavier, a ringing bell that resonated through the mountainside. Aoi's arm buckled beneath the assault, the crack in his sword widening, spiderwebbing like ice across fragile glass. Yet Sakura hadn't even begun to channel a single one of Astra's Forms. Her breath was steady, sweat slicking the curve of her brow, but her mind was fierce and clear.

"You think power is cruelty," she said through gritted teeth, voice low and fierce, "but you've only ever borrowed strength. Let me show you what it looks like when it's earned." Her stance narrowed, muscles coiling like springs, and she pivoted with perfect balance. Astra rose overhead in a final, gleaming arc, pure chakra sharpened to the edge of divinity. The golden axe met the Sword of the Thunder God with a thunderous crash that shook the very mountainside. Metal screamed in protest, the sound raw and electric, then spiderweb cracks raced across the blade, splitting it apart like brittle ice shattered by the sun. The sword shattered completely, shards clattering onto the stone as Aoi staggered back, eyes wide with disbelief. 'This is my strength,' Sakura thought, heart pounding in rhythm with Astra's lingering pulse. 'Not borrowed. Not stolen. Earned, carved from every struggle, every moment I refused to break.' The shockwave tore through the air with a violent roar, hurling Aoi into the sky like a broken marionette, his limbs flailing helplessly as gravity claimed him. He vanished beyond the cliff's edge, swallowed by the thick treeline far below, swallowed by silence. Sakura didn't glance down. There was no need. The fight had ended, no more threats, no more shadows looming. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, each inhale and exhale a slow tether to calm. Astra's glow faded, the golden light dimming into quiet stillness, but the weight in her hands remained undeniable, a tangible testament to power earned through hardship. She exhaled deeply, smoothing the sharp rhythm of her pulse beneath her skin, grounding herself in the aftershock. Her gaze swept over Naruto and Sasuke, both wide-eyed, caught in stunned silence that neither tried to hide, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. Nearby, Idate sat frozen, speechless, eyes locked on her like he was witnessing something beyond mortal understanding, a goddess made flesh. 'This is not just strength,' Sakura thought, a quiet fire burning deep within her. 'It's the culmination of every sacrifice, every moment I chose to rise. They see it now. They don't have to say it.' Her shoulders squared as the weight of her legacy settled around her like armor, heavy, unyielding, and undeniably hers. Without a word, Sakura slid behind Idate, bending slightly to lift him piggyback style. His arms clung loosely around her neck, weight settling against her back with a quiet heaviness that only sharpened her focus.

"Let's finish this," she said, voice calm but edged with steel, then surged forward. Not just fast, beyond fast. She became a streak of motion, a blur that bent the very air around her, like light skipping across rippling water. The faint slap of her sandals against the rocky path was nearly swallowed by the thunderous rhythm of her pace, heartbeats pounding in sync with her steps. Leaves whipped past in a swirling dance, scents of damp earth and wildflowers fleeting in the wake of her passing. Sasuke's narrowed eyes tracked her with quiet frustration, a silent challenge in his gaze. Naruto's grin split wide, part disbelief, part fierce pride, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as he struggled to keep up. Idate's head rested briefly against Sakura's shoulder, breaths shallow, mind struggling to comprehend the impossible velocity propelling them forward. 'This isn't the girl who laughed at my teasing over noodles,'

Sakura thought, muscles coiled and precise, every movement sharp and deliberate, 'This is something fiercer, born from fire and resolve. I carry more than just you now, I carry everything I've fought for.' The wind tugged at her hair, cool against flushed skin, and she pushed harder, the finish line drawing closer, unreachable for anyone but her. Despite Fukusuke already nearing the shrine, Sakura's speed carved through the air with terrifying ease, each stride swallowing the distance like a force of nature. She eased just enough to set Idate down a few steps before the finish line, her breath ragged but steady, chest rising and falling in a controlled rhythm. Idate, wide-eyed and panting, stumbled forward, then found strength in his own will, bursting ahead with raw determination. Naruto's cheers rang out, vibrant and infectious, as Idate crossed the line first, collapsing to his knees, breaths jagged but triumphant. The Wasabi family erupted into a joyous uproar, voices swelling like a rising tide. But the victory's sweetness was fleeting. The sharp voice of the daimyō's minister sliced through the celebration, thick with accusation and disdain.

"Disqualify him! He was carried, clearly a violation of the rules!" A hush rippled through the crowd, smiles faltering on Team 7's faces as eyes flicked uncertainly. The minister's smug posture said he thought the race, and their chance, was lost. Then the daimyō raised a steady hand, silencing the murmurs like a stone dropped in still water. 'This was never going to be easy,' Sakura thought, steadying herself, feeling the weight of the moment settle deep in her chest. 'But we fought with honor. That's what counts.'

"There is no such rule," the daimyō said coolly, his voice like the crack of flint striking steel. From his sleeve, he produced a single photograph, glossy, undeniable. It showed the minister mid-handshake with a Wagarashi elder, a fat envelope exchanged between them. The crowd gasped, the weight of the proof sucking the air from the clearing. "You have acted without honor," the daimyō continued, "and for that, the Wagarashi shall be disbanded. Permanently." The minister's face blanched. He stumbled a step back, mouth open in horror, but no words came. Only silence. Then a wave of noise crashed over the scene, cheers, applause, the thunder of a people finally given justice. The air shifted. The tension dissolved. Sakura exhaled, hand loosening from the scroll of her weights tucked at her side. 'So it's done.' A strange weight peeled off her shoulders, not exhaustion, but a quiet ache in her chest. 'Not every battle ends with a sword. Sometimes it's just standing long enough to see the truth win.'

Idate turned to her, eyes wet with disbelief. His legs still trembled beneath him, but his voice was sure. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for carrying me, literally." He laughed shakily, breath still ragged, and turned to Naruto. "And thank you for not giving up on me."

Naruto grinned wide and punched him lightly in the arm. "Told you, didn't I? You just needed a push."

Sakura's lips curled into a soft smile as she stepped closer, brushing dust from her sleeves. "You ran the last part on your own," she said gently. "That's what they'll remember. You finished the race." Her voice dropped a little, not stern, but grounded. "Just make sure you don't run from yourself again." Idate looked at her like the words struck something deep, and for once, he didn't try to flirt. He simply nodded. Respectfully. Quietly. As the crowd carried on behind them, Sakura stood still in the middle of it all, composed, a little tired, but deeply steady. 'We weren't just protecting a runner,' she realized. 'We were protecting what it means to get back up.' By then, a ship drifted into the dock, its sails snapping in the afternoon wind, ropes creaking as it moored. The wood was old but sturdy, sun-bleached and scuffed by years of quiet war and ferrying secrets. From its shadow stepped Ibiki Morino, trench coat stirring slightly, face unreadable, eyes like flint under the shade of his brow. He gave no greeting, only lifted a hand and gestured them forward. Sasuke, still pale and moving stiffly from the fight, was helped aboard first by Naruto, who hovered close despite the Uchiha's irritated glares. Idate followed a moment later, his feet heavy on the gangplank. But halfway across, he paused, his eyes fixed on the broad scarred back of the man ahead.

"Oniisan..." His voice was soft, hoarse, half-hope, half-memory.

Ibiki didn't stop. Didn't turn. "I have no brother," he said flatly, and walked ahead. The words hit like cold water, sharp and immediate. Idate's shoulders sank, but he didn't fall apart. He just stood there for a moment, watching the distance between them grow, the silence heavy. Then he nodded to himself, slowly, lips pressing into a thin line.'I get it now,' he thought. 'The tenth question... it wasn't about strength. It was about resolve.' From the shadows of the deck above, unseen by any of them, Ibiki paused near the railing. He glanced over his shoulder once, brief, but real. 'You've grown, Idate,' he thought. 'Thanks to them. Especially that loud one.'

Sakura stood at the dock's edge, her arms crossed lightly over her chest as the wind stirred her hair. She watched Idate climb the last step off and exhale quietly, the tension in his back slowly releasing. She then unsealed her weights putting them back on while thinking to herself. 'Family doesn't have to forgive you to change you,' her eyes narrowed. 'Sometimes you just need someone to believe you're still worth walking forward.' The ship pulled away from the dock. Behind them, the land faded into horizon and sea mist. Ahead, Konoha waited, scarred, chaotic, imperfect, and somehow still home.

Onboard, Sasuke sat at the far edge of the deck, the planks beneath him worn smooth by time and salt. He didn't speak. The ocean churned quietly beneath the hull, and the wind pulled at his collar, brushing cool against skin still flushed with the heat of failure. His eyes were locked on his own reflection in the rippling water below, blurred, fractured, almost unrecognizable. He had used the Chidori. Twice. Lightning had screamed through his arm like a living weapon, the Sharingan had burned at full strength... and yet none of it had been enough. He hadn't protected Idate. Hadn't stopped Aoi. Hadn't even managed to stand his ground. Naruto had unleashed a whirlpool with raw instinct. Sakura had dragged him out of freefall and shattered a legendary blade with her own hands, and him? He had been tossed aside like nothing. His hand curled slowly into a fist, nails digging into his palm. It trembled, just slightly, but enough for him to notice, enough to infuriate him. Power. That word churned in his gut like a curse. I still don't have enough. I never did. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind, Orochimaru's voice lingered like smoke. Smooth. Patient. Promising. And for the first time, Sasuke didn't flinch away from it. Across the deck, Sakura watched him. She didn't approach. Not yet. Her arms were folded, eyes quiet with thought. 'He's retreating into himself again.' Her stomach twisted at the set of his shoulders, tense, closed off. 'He blames himself, saying he isn't strong enough... even though we all nearly broke.' The sea wind tangled her hair as she stepped slightly closer, pausing only when she was sure he could hear her if she spoke. But she didn't, because she knew this silence wasn't hers to break. 'He thinks he's the only one who fell short.' Her gaze softened. 'But if he keeps chasing power for the sake of not losing... he'll lose something else more important first. Himself... The Sasuke threat we know.'