The Expected Attack
Sakura was momentarily at a loss for words after Tsunami's words.
From a ninja's perspective, Sakura believes that if a country has the resources, it is best to cultivate a ninja village, or at least have a ninja force.
It's difficult to say whether the Land of Waves' decision not to employ ninjas was courageous or foolish. At least in the decades of frequent world wars, the Land of Waves' choice kept the country away from the flames of war, making it a secluded paradise. For major powers, this isolated country had little strategic or economic value and posed no threat; occupying it would bring more trouble than benefits, so they naturally wouldn't divert their forces to attack it when their own strength was stretched thin.
However, such an undefended country also became a coveted prize in the eyes of ambitious individuals. After the war, Gato, having Gato out that the Land of Waves had no powerful backers, used his gangsters and hired wandering ninjas to monopolize the Land of Land of Waves' Land of Waves lines, turning it into a plaything for his exploitation.
Sakura was curious to know what the leader of the Land of Waves, who had established the rule against ninja villages, would think upon witnessing this scene.
Only ninjas can fight ninjas—this is common knowledge in the Hokage world. Sakura felt embarrassed because, during Gato's control of the Land of Waves, the rogue ninjas he hired must have played a disgraceful role, contributing crucial strength to dismantle the Land of Waves' defenses. Rogue ninjas are still ninjas, and ninjas have always been the source of chaos in this world. Sakura wondered if Tsunami would harbor resentment towards the entire ninja community because of this.
After some consideration, Sakura decided to give a moderate answer.
"Don't worry, Tsunami! With our protection, Uncle Tazuna will definitely finish building the bridge! Once the bridge is built, everything in the Land of Waves will be better!" Sakura smiled, her eyes narrowing.
Regardless of why Sakura calls 9-year-old Tsunami sister" instead of "auntie," Sakura genuinely believes that Ohashi can help the Land of Waves out of its predicament.
Of course, the reason isn't that the bridge can restore the courage of the people of the Land of Waves. While it's certainly a good thing to inspire the people, if Gato Zabuza hired a ninja like Zabuza, what use is it for ordinary civilians to muster any courage? They'll just be throwing their lives away. Against an elite ninja like Zabuza, sheer numbers are meaningless.
What truly deterred the Land of Waves and protected it was the intervention of the Konoha Ninja and the close connection established between the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire after the bridge was built. The Land of Waves was already heavily reliant on resources from the mainland. With the bridge completed, resources from the Land of Fire could be easily transported into the Land of Waves, and the Land of Waves' specialties could be shipped out in large quantities. The bridge would become the economic artery of the Land of Waves Land of Waves, tightly linking it with the Land of Fire.
Sakura could even foresee that in the not-too-distant future, the Land of Waves would officially become a vassal state of the Land of Fire.
Is this outcome good or bad for a country? As a Konoha Ninja, Sakura has no right to judge the Land of Waves' actions. Perhaps some people will think the Land of Waves is groveling before a powerful nation, but at least the people of the Land of Waves will be freed from the shadow of people like Gato, and their lives will be much more stable.
The world depicted in the original work always seems so passionate and optimistic compared to the real world. However, since she has come to this real world, Sakura cannot take that passion and optimism as the whole truth. The real world can sometimes be so cruel and ruthless.
The leisurely life of an ordinary person cannot last long.
The following morning, the eighth day, the bridge was nearing completion, Zabuza and his gang could attack at any moment. Kakashi and his two companions were protecting Tazuna at the construction site, while at Tazuna's house, Sakura was helping Tsunami with housework.
"Wow, Sakura! It's so convenient for you ninjas to get things done!" Tsunami looked at Sakura with envy.
Sakura smiled slightly and continued to control her Chakra, making the water in the wooden tub spin wildly, stirring the clothes inside. The wooden tub had now transformed into a washing machine, washing the clothes with extremely high efficiency.
"Actually, most ninjas can only honestly wash by hand," Sakura said proudly. "There aren't many ninjas who can do it like me! Don't be fooled by how simple it looks; it's actually quite technically difficult!"
Of course, any ninja capable of this, with even a modicum of pride, wouldn't waste their Chakra on housework! Perhaps only Sakura wouldn't care about this so-called pride of the strong; that kind of pride is ultimately just a pointless sense of superiority. Moreover, Sakura's housework is essentially a way of using spare time for training—that's true, making the most of every second!
As they were talking, Sakura suddenly frowned; she sensed an enemy approaching. Although she wasn't a sensory-type ninja, within a sufficiently close range, Sakura's senses were even sharper than those of a sensory-type ninja!
Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly.
Two enemies, no disguise, no trace of Chakra, are they samurai...? There's also a faint Chakra source behind them, it seems the person in front was just testing them.
"Shh, don't talk!" Sakura shielded Tsunami and Inari behind her, glancing calmly at the doorway. In her perception, the two undisguised samurai had already arrived there.
Thud! The wooden door was mercilessly cleaved in two by a sharp samurai sword, turning into large, uneven planks. Two arrogant samurai walked to the doorway, coldly staring at Sakura and her companions. "So you're Tazuna's daughter. Well then, please come with us! As for the remaining two..."
The shirtless man beside him, revealing hideous tattoos, grinned bloodthirstyly and said in a cruel tone, "Just a useless ninja and a child, I'll take care of them. I was just thinking of chopping something to vent my frustration!"
"Frogs in a well!" A calm voice rang out from behind the two arrogant samurai. The arrogance and sneers on their faces froze instantly, turning into terror. They were then knocked to the ground, stunned, by Sakura's Water Clone as if they were trash, with a casual punch.
At the same time, several Kunai smashed through the window and attacked Sakura and her two companions. It was the ninja hiding behind the two samurai who launched the sneak attack while Sakura's attention was drawn to the two samurai!
"Heart!" This level of sneak attack posed no threat to Sakura. With a wave of her right hand, she used the water from washing clothes to create a water shield to block the Kunai. However, she saw that the Kunai inserted into the water shield, actually turned the water a light green color!
It's poisonous! But the toxicity is moderate. The enemy launched a probing attack and then stopped. Was they testing my patience, or simply stalling for time? Ying Xiu frowned slightly, pondering this.
Whatever the reason, it proves they lack the confidence to face me head-on. Moreover, if I've been attacked, then Kakashi must have encountered enemies at the same time, so I must act quickly and go to their aid! Sakura quickly realized this.
With a slight movement of her fingers, she transformed the water shield into water-based Kunai, which she then froze into hard ice Kunai. Although she couldn't yet use any Ice Release Ninjutsu, she could still do things using ice -Nature Transformation.
Whoosh! Dozens of light green ice Kunai, controlled by Sakura's Chakra, shot out towards the direction she sensed the enemy.
After a crisp sound of clashing weapons, a masked ninja burst through the window and into the room. The Kirigakure Forehead Protector a cut on his forehead was clearly visible, and his hands had already formed Hand Seals the moment he landed!
Water Release: Wild Water Wave!
He can launch Release Techniques attack while moving at high speed! Compared to him, Sasuke and Naruto are far inferior!
Sakura secretly admired it. However, having witnessed the overwhelming and unmatched power of Kakashi and Zabuza's B-rank and even A-rank Water Release, and even having directly confronted Kakashi's Ninjutsu, Sakura now felt that this Water Release launched by a nobody was full of flaws, had no power, and was completely inadequate!
Sakura calmly conjured a crystal-clear longsword in her hand, its blade emanating a chilling aura that hinted at its unparalleled sharpness. She infused the blade with wind-style Chakra, and the transparent ice blade instantly emitted a burst of blue Chakra light. Then, she leisurely waited for the Wild Water Wave to reach her before swinging the sword in a straight strike!
Whoosh! The air seemed to be torn apart by the sharp longsword, making a sound like tearing silk. With Sakura's swift slash, the longsword, with its astonishing sharpness, forcefully cut the Mist Ninja's Ninjutsu in two!
The rogue missing-nin from the Mist Ninja stared wide-eyed at the long sword infused with wind -Nature Transformation Chakra, unable to comprehend its terrifying power!
Without pausing, Sakura shattered the Water Release with a single slash, then strode forward and unleashed another horizontal slash. The icy blade gleamed with a blinding blue light as it slashed irresistibly towards the Mist Ninja!
Seeing the long sword, capable of shattering even Ninjutsu, hurtling towards him, the Mist Ninja retreated Kunai! The Kunai unsurprisingly sliced in two, but it still bought him a crucial moment. Whoosh! The long sword slashed across the Mist Ninja's waist, cutting Mist Ninja into a spray of water.
"Ninja Art: Substitution Technique!" Successfully activated!
The Kirigakure missing-nin from Kirigakure, who had just swapped places with his Water Clone, appeared outside in a disheveled state. But he forgot that Sakura also had a Water Clone outside! Before the shaken missing-nin could even regain his footing, the Water Clone had already silently appeared behind him, viciously stabbing his heart with Kunai!
The commotion caused by the Water Clone's sneak attack was noticed by the experienced Mist Ninja. He reacted extremely quickly, making the right choice without wasting a single millisecond. Instead of turning back in vain, he quickly leaned forward into an odd posture, narrowly dodging the attack. At the same time, without any vision, he used his left hand to deliver a vicious backswing, accurately stabbing the Kunai into the head of the Sakura Water Clone!
Even in such a disadvantageous situation, the Mist Ninja managed to turn the tide with his superb skills!
The crisp sensation of the Kunai piercing the Water Clone told the missing-nin that he had defeated Water Clone. An ordinary clone would immediately collapse after being injured like this. However, the moment the missing-nin relaxed his guard, --whoosh!! The Water Clone fell down, and the heart of the masked Mist Ninja was also pierced by a crystal Kunai!
Although he destroyed the Water Clone's head first, the remaining part of the clone still held on for 0.5 seconds, until the ice Kunai plunged into his heart. For Sakura now, it was not difficult to force the Water Clone to maintain its collapsing form for one more second at the moment it was defeated.
"How... how is this possible..."
Filled with endless doubt and regret, the unknown Kirigakure missing-nin from Kirigakure and Sakura's Water Clone collapsed to the ground simultaneously.