"My prophecies have never failed."
Shion withdrew her gaze, her tone calm.
"Since I saw it, that future is already set."
At her words, Ino and Sakura immediately exchanged a glance, shock flashing in both their eyes.
"Marry our teacher?"
"Could Hinata and Mr. Xuandou be..."
Sakura blushed before she could even finish.
Hinata nearly fainted outright, waving both hands frantically in the air.
"What about me? What about me?"
Ino leaned toward Shion excitedly, completely forgetting that she was the priestess of the Land of Demons.
"Can you see who I'll marry in the future?"
Not to be outdone, Sakura shoved Ino aside and leaned forward herself, her voice even louder than Ino's:
"Look at mine first!"
Shion's expression remained indifferent.
She was just about to say something.
Boom!
A violent explosion suddenly erupted, shaking the entire hall.
Wood splinters and rubble fell from overhead.
The blast knocked everyone present off balance.
Shion swayed and fell back into her seat.
"Lady Shion!"
Taruho immediately stepped in front of Shion to protect her, drawing the short sword at his waist.
Four figures burst from the thick smoke like phantoms.
Their target was clear: Shion, who had fallen to the floor.
"Protect Lady Shion!"
Taruho shouted.
Sakura, Ino, and Hinata reacted swiftly.
Almost instinctively, all three entered combat mode.
Ino formed hand seals, her mental energy spreading like ripples:
"Yin Release: Heart's Divergent Gate!"
The black-clad ninja in the lead suddenly stiffened, a struggling expression crossing his face as his steps stalled.
Sakura seized the opening to close in, concentrating chakra in her fingers and rapidly striking another enemy's acupoints:
"Yin Healing: Acupoint-Passing Finger!"
The man's arm went numb, and the kunai in his hand fell to the floor.
Hinata retreated behind a pillar and activated her Byakugan, her field of