Chapter 42: The Darkness Welcomes The Faintest of Hearts

Baki's voice echoed through the arena, announcing the next match with authority. "Our next battle will feature two promising young future Shinobi. First, Ayami!"

Ayami stepped forward from one side of the field, her long blonde hair styled in sharp spikes. Her spider-like puppet, made of dark wood and metal, skittered beside her, its many legs clicking ominously on the ground. The puppet's eyes glowed faintly with electrical chakra, and thin web strands sparked as they drifted in the air. She commanded it with precise hand movements, and the crowd murmured in awe at the complexity of her technique.

"And her opponent," Baki continued, "Hiroyoshi!"

Hiroyoshi entered from the opposite side, his bald head gleaming under the desert sun. A black stripe of paint stretched across his eyes, giving him an intense, focused look. His puppet, a perfect replica of himself, floated eerily above the ground, dressed in tattered dark robes that blended with the sand. 

The battle began, and the two competitors wasted no time. Ayami's spider darted forward, spewing webs of crackling electricity that tore through the air. Hiroyoshi's puppet parried with its swords, deflecting some attacks, but he was clearly struggling. Ayami's puppet was faster and more robust, and its electrical webs forced Hiroyoshi's puppet into a defensive stance, barely able to keep up. Each movement from Ayami was fluid, as if she had mastered the dance with her puppet, while Hiroyoshi fought with grit but with less precision.

Sparks flew as Ayami's spider pinned Hiroyoshi's puppet to the ground with an electrified web. The crowd held its breath, sensing the end of the match. But just as Ayami was about to deliver the final blow, a massive black hole formed beneath the battlefield. It was like quicksand, spreading across the arena faster than anyone could react. The ground crumbled away, and both Ayami and Hiroyoshi, along with their puppets, were sucked into the abyss.

Panic erupted. The audience screamed, and parents in the stands rushed to the arena's edges. Gaara stood up instantly, his eyes widening in disbelief. Sakura gasped, her heart racing as she watched the children disappear into the black void. It happened so fast, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

As she gripped the sand bars on the ledge, Sakura's breath caught in her throat, her knuckles white with terror. "Gaara!" she shouted, scanning the arena. But Temari and Kankuro were nowhere to be seen, leaving only the two of them.

Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes darted back to Gin's seat—empty. He had vanished without a trace.

"Where is he?!" she hissed through clenched teeth, her dread mounting. 

Gaara stood motionless beside her, surveying the chaos below with piercing eyes. The weight of the decision hung between them for what felt like an eternity. Then, Gaara turned to her for the first time and gave a slight nod, his usually stoic face etched with concern. "Go. Save the children. We will take care of the rest here." 

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked. She watched him reply to her with a gentle nod. Without hesitation, Sakura leaped from the balcony, her heart racing as she soared. She aimed directly for the black, oozing sinkhole. In an instant, she dove headfirst into the swirling darkness, holding her breath as the black ink engulfed her body. The world above disappeared as she was pulled down into the void.

The sensation of sinking was suffocating, the thick ink pressing against her skin, but Sakura kept her mind focused. Then, just as suddenly as it began, she felt herself land on solid ground, the darkness of the ink lifting around her. She gasped for breath, her lungs burning as she stood in a dimly lit cavern, the walls dripping with moisture and the echo of distant footsteps reverberating around her.

The black ink had transported Sakura far from the arena into a dark, unfamiliar underground labyrinth. The air was thick with the stench of blood and rust, and the distant sound of children screaming and eerie, gurgling laughter echoed through the cavern.

Sakura gasped and shouted, "The children!"

Alone in the pitch-black tunnels, she sprinted, her heart pounding. The winding paths seemed endless, but she pushed forward, desperate to find them. Her breath hitched as she stumbled into a large chamber, only to find her way blocked by thick metal bars. She gritted her teeth, frustration boiling in her veins as she realized she couldn't pass through. There had to be another way.

She continued down the tunnel and soon spotted Ayami lying motionless in a barren, dimly lit room. The young girl's long blonde hair was slick with black ooze from the transportation jutsu, and her spider puppet stood guard at her side, its legs twitching weakly.

Sakura extended her arm and shouted, "Ayami, I'm coming!"

She rushed into the room, dropping to her knees beside Ayami. Grabbing the girl's hand, she squeezed it tightly, only to hear the cold clank of metal as the bars slammed shut behind them, trapping them both inside.

"It was a trap," Sakura growled, her mind racing. "He knows I'm here."

She gently pushed the spider puppet aside, watching it crumble lifelessly to the dirt. Without the blue chakra strings to animate it, the puppet was little more than a husk.

Ayami's eyelids fluttered open, her voice weak as she whispered, "I know you…"

Sakura blinked, taken aback. "You do?" she asked, puzzled. Today was the first time she had looked at the young girl, and she couldn't imagine what Ayami might know about her.

"You're Sakura, the Princess of the Sand who fights alongside the Kazekage. I've seen you in action—I could never hope to match your strength or power," Ayami whispered, her voice filled with awe.

Sakura waved her arms in protest. "No, no, it's not like that. I'm not as strong as you think. Gaara and I grew up together—he's the one who taught me everything I know. I'm also his Advisor, so I'm always by his side, helping him with whatever he needs."

"An Advisor?" Ayami asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes," Sakura nodded. "The Kazekage isn't perfect, but he tries his best to protect everyone. I was an orphan, so I learned much about the village and its people. Gaara consults me on things like that while he handles the more Shinobi-related duties."

A flicker of admiration crossed Ayami's face. "So you work with him every day?"

"Twenty-four-seven," Sakura said with a light laugh.

"I'm an orphan, too," Ayami murmured, her voice fading. "I'm working hard to become a Shinobi like you so I can have a place to call my own someday." Her words were followed by a harsh cough, blood spilling into her hands.

Sakura gently patted her back, concern flashing across her face. "Hey, hang in there. Are you alright? I'm no medic, but you might have some internal bleeding."

Ayami squeezed her eyes shut, her body wracked with painful coughs. When the fit finally subsided, her eyes snapped open wide with fear. Her gaze locked onto a shadowy figure outside the metal bars.

Sakura turned swiftly, positioning herself before Ayami, her eyes narrowing. "Gin! I knew you were behind the kidnappings! What are you planning?" she shouted, her voice echoing in the chamber.

The figure stepped into the dim light of the surrounding torches. His skinny form was draped in a tattered brown cloak, and as he drew closer, the faint torchlight revealed his scarred face—twisted, burned, and almost unrecognizable. His dark hazel eyes gleamed, and his black hair spiked wildly around his head. He let out a low, unsettling laugh. "Gin? I've never heard that name before, but I assure you, I'm not him."

"Then who are you?" Sakura demanded. "And where are we?"

The man's crooked smile faded as he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. "You don't recognize me, do you?"

Sakura shook her head, her heart pounding. "Why would I?"

"I'm your father," the man said softly. "Kenjiro. And this… this is our new home. By the way, how's Gaara doing? I heard he wasn't too happy you became the next Jinchuriki of the sand." 

Sakura's stomach twisted, her mind racing. She remembered her father's death in a prison cell long ago. But now, he was—alive, standing in front of her. The weight of childhood trauma washed over her, and she realized she had to confront the nightmare that had haunted her all these years. She had avoided this battle for too long, and now there was no escape.

Nausea churned in Sakura's stomach as she struggled to understand what was happening. How could her father still be alive when both Kankuro and Gaara had confirmed his death? Granted, they had said his face was unrecognizable, but that didn't make this any easier. She felt compelled to ask the questions burning inside her, even if the answers terrified her.

Ayami looked disgusted at Kenjiro and muttered, "I always thought fathers were supposed to protect their children. I guess we're the unlucky ones—stuck with fathers who never deserved us."

Kenjiro's voice dropped to a sinister whisper. "That's a harsh thing to say. Especially to the man who gave you a home."

"We're not friends," Ayami snapped. "You're a monster. You killed my friends."

Ayami wrinkled her fingertips, ignoring her pain, summoning blue chakra strings that latched onto her spider puppet. The puppet surged to life, electricity crackling through its legs as it charged the metal bars. Kenjiro swiftly backed away just before it could shock him.

"Wait," Sakura murmured, her eyes narrowing. A new, unsettling thought formed. Kenjiro had never been able to conjure the kinds of powers they were up against—black holes, dark flames. Something else was at play. "Who's really behind the kidnappings, Dad? I know it's not you."

Kenjiro let out a low, mocking laugh. "You'll never know. It doesn't matter now. You're trapped in paradise—forever."

Sakura tightened her hold on Ayami, whose strength was fading fast. "Ayami needs medical attention. She might've fallen from a high point when she teleported here. Let her go, and you can keep me instead."

Kenjiro's twisted smile reappeared as he glided back to the bars, fingers caressing the rusted steel. "Come closer, let me see the wound," he purred. "I can help."

Sakura's gut instinct was to lash out, to call on her most powerful abilities. She considered transforming into Shukaku for a split second, but the risk was too significant—Ayami and the other children would be crushed in the chaos. She swallowed hard, trying to figure out how to stop him without destroying everything. Time was running out, and her choices felt heavier than ever.

The eerie sound of Kenjiro's laughter echoed through the cavern, making Sakura's heart pound. What could he possibly find so amusing now? Her pulse quickened as a faint whisper reached her ear.

"Sakura, help me... I don't want to die. Please, help me," Ayami's voice trembled, weak and full of fear.

Sakura whipped around, her breath catching in her throat. Ayami was sinking—her body being pulled into the ground like quicksand, the same black ooze from before creeping over her. Desperation gripped Sakura as she looked around wildly, searching for the source of the jutsu, but saw nothing—just Ayami disappearing into the earth.

Frantic, Sakura grabbed Ayami's arm and pulled, but the young girl only sank deeper. "Stop! Where are you taking her? You can't do this! She's just a child!"

Kenjiro's cold voice cut through the panic. "She chose the life of a Shinobi. Death is inevitable. It was only a matter of time."

Ayami clung to Sakura, tears streaming down her face. "Please... take Spider with you. The Kazekage and you... you both have lightning chakra. You can use Spider. Take care of him."

"What are you saying?" Sakura cried, her hands trembling as she fought to pull Ayami free. "We're getting out of here! Together! Do you hear me?"

But Ayami sank further, her body almost swallowed by the blackness. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, and only her head remained above the surface. She was suffocating, the crushing weight of the ground pressing down on her. And then it hit Sakura—this wasn't a teleportation jutsu. The Phantom Kidnapper was burying her alive.

"No! Please, stop! Let her go!" Sakura's voice cracked as tears blurred her vision. "Don't do this!"

"Sakura... I don't want to die. I'm scared... please..." Ayami's final words were barely a whisper as her eyes widened in terror. With one last desperate gasp, she vanished beneath the surface, swallowed whole by the earth.

Rage erupted inside Sakura like a storm. Her heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it would burst, her pulse racing out of control. Tears streamed down her face as she clawed at the dirt, trying to reach Ayami. But it was too late.

Kenjiro watched her collapse into grief, a twisted smile of satisfaction playing on his lips. He reveled in her agony, in the pain he had caused. But the moment was fleeting. That smile vanished as quickly as it had come.

Sakura's head slowly lifted, and when she opened her eyes, they weren't the soft emeralds he once knew—they were glowing with the fierce yellow of Shukaku. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy as she stood, her expression dark and menacing. Kenjiro staggered backward, his smugness dissolving into raw fear. He tripped, falling hard to the ground, his breath caught in his throat.

He had never feared her like this. And now, at that moment, he realized the terrifying truth—he had awoken something far more dangerous than he could ever control.