Trust

"Fellow members of the Konoha delegation!" The Fourth Raikage's gruff voice rang out even before he arrived.

With a loud bang, a large hole was smashed in the brick wall surrounding the courtyard.

Sakura Haruno's eyes widened as she saw a burly man burst in.

"You guys..." Ai, covered in dust, stopped in the courtyard and stared blankly at Sakura Haruno, who was in Sage Mode and ready for battle.

"Are you all alright?"

The members of the Konoha delegation stood behind Sakura Haruno, their expressions either solemn or calm. They showed no signs of battle and appeared to be unharmed.

But the way she looked at him was very strange.

"It looks like nothing happened."

Being stared at with such rude looks by the people of Konoha, the Raikage couldn't help but frown. Suppressing his slight displeasure, he said in a deep voice.

"Fourth Raikage." Sakura Haruno stepped forward, about to speak, but suddenly stopped and looked behind Ai.

More people have arrived.

"Fourth Lord," several figures pushed open the gate beside the gap in the wall and walked in, a complaining voice coming from within, "Couldn't you just come in through the proper gate?"

"It's you!" Shizune's body jolted, and she blurted out.

Those who entered the courtyard were Killer B and Shi, among others.

There weren't many people, but the Kumogakure Ninja were all tall, strong, and robust. They crowded together in the courtyard, forming a dark and imposing mass.

Coincidentally... the way they looked at us was also quite strange.

Most of their gazes were fixed on the girl's beautiful face—as if they were looking at some kind of monstrous beast.

Sakura Haruno shifted her body uncomfortably.

Having just received the treatment from the Raikage, and after being showered with the gazes of the Kumogakure Ninja, she immediately felt extremely uncomfortable.

Although neither group had ill intentions, they stood on opposite sides, staring at each other with bizarre expressions, and the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became somewhat strange.

"Ahem." The girl coughed twice, feigning nonchalance, and said, "Lord Raikage, in fact..."

"We did indeed encounter an attack."

The Kumogakure Ninja looked quite surprised.

"Attack?"

Raikage raised his short, thick eyebrows, a hint of surprise in his voice.

His eyes darted around, and then he exclaimed in realization, "You also encountered that elusive Masked Man?"

The word "also" is used very well.

The girl raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, yet also somewhat taken for granted.

"It seems you've also encountered that man. No wonder you're here." Sakura Haruno smiled faintly, then described the features of the Masked Man she had met in the corridor.

The clothes, body shape, and especially the techniques and Chakra used, all matched the Raikage's memories.

"Clearly, we were attacked by the same person..." Sakura concluded.

"Hmph." Raikage snorted coldly, "The one hiding their head and tail must be from Akatsuki!"

Although the mysterious man failed to enter the core area of Kumogakure Ninja clan or break through Kumogakure Ninja great barrier, the fact that he was even able to get close to them was already terrifying.

Ai Qing couldn't help but touch her shoulder.

If it weren't for his exceptionally quick reflexes and speed, which are among the best in the Shinobi World, he would probably have been completely swallowed up by that bizarre Space-Time Ninjutsu long ago.

Then, during the chase, he was suddenly drawn into a Genjutsu by the person's glare...

"You guys weren't also hit by some strange, super Genjutsu, and pulled into a surprisingly realistic world, were you?" Sakura Haruno's heart skipped a beat, and she blinked, suddenly realizing something.

The Raikage nodded.

"You too?"

His expression shifted, as if he had realized something.

Thinking about the people and events she encountered in the Genjutsu world, and then looking at the strange looks the Kumogakure Ninja were giving her, Sakura Haruno chuckled dryly, "Heh heh... the me you encountered in the Genjutsu world..."

Could it be... that his personality has changed drastically?

She scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed.

"How dare you!" Kumogakure Ninja the Sakura Haruno side, Karui jumped out, pointing at Sakura Haruno and shouting, "You were a demon over there! I—"

"Alright, Karui!" Killer B walked over, restrained the agitated Karui, and pulled her back. "That happened in the Genjutsu world, it's not real!"

Sakura Haruno recognized the person.

Sakura had met her a few times.

She was the one who impulsively attacked Raikage a few days ago.

Just now, in the Genjutsu world, this woman with a chest even flatter than Sakura sought revenge for her master Killer B, only to be instantly defeated by the Water Release girl. However, in the Genjutsu world, she suddenly became incredibly voluptuous, which is highly illogical—there's no reason why her personality would change and her figure would follow suit!

"It's alright, just watch," Sakura Haruno said calmly. "What did I do in that Genjutsu?"

Karui broke free from his master's large hand, stared at Sakura Haruno for a long time, and then snorted.

"In the Genjutsu world, you suddenly launched a sneak attack without any reason, slaughtering everyone in the village..."

She recalled what happened during the Genjutsu.

Sakura Haruno in the Genjutsu world has a personality exactly like that in the real world: cold-blooded, ruthless, cruel, and takes pleasure in torturing and killing others.

So what they experienced was quite simple: Sakura Haruno went on a killing spree and brutally abused the villagers in Kumogakure.

Karui was particularly agitated because Sakura had slashed her into a human stick with her Water Blade Technique right from the start, and then the girl kindly used Medical Ninjutsu to stop her bleeding, forcing her to watch helplessly as the other Kumogakure Ninja were defeated and tortured while she was unable to move!

Just as I expected...

The girl Chunin but roll her Byakugan.

After she finished, Sakura Haruno patiently explained, "The Sakura Haruno in the Genjutsu has a completely opposite personality to the real me... so you don't need to worry about it."

"Hmph! Who knows!" Karui crossed her arms, raised her eyebrows, and snorted. "You can't just cut your heart out and show it to us. Who knows what you Konoha Ninja are thinking? Who can guarantee you won't act like you do in Genjutsu?"

Sakura Haruno frowned.

Karui's point is not entirely without merit.

The Genjutsu cast by the Masked Man wasn't just about realistic models. The characters inside, though possessing opposite personalities, acted with logic. In fact, setting aside their twisted personalities, everything that happened within might well be a possibility for the future.

Who can guarantee that the Raikage hasn't had any ulterior motives?

Even if Sakura Haruno believed that Ai was upright and honest, didn't she still enter Sage Mode and become wary of the Kumogakure Ninja?

Conversely, even if the Raikage trusted Konoha's character completely, didn't he still lead a team to investigate this area?

Trust is very fragile.

Especially since the relationship between the two villages wasn't very good to begin with.

Sakura Haruno sighed.

[First update, making up for last night's update, two chapters posted back-to-back, more to come.]