Sakura's Inner World {1}

Three days passed in a flash, and Sasuke's injuries were healing rapidly.

During this time, battle reports arrived from both the River Country front and the Frost Country front.

To Sakura's surprise, Sunagakure actually managed to withstand the dual offensive from Shimura Danzo and Kitsuchi's Iwagakure forces.

Regardless of Danzo's character, his battlefield tactics bore an undeniable resemblance to those of Senju Tobirama—strategic, ruthless, and highly efficient.

Both men shared the same... cunning—cough, rather, an element of unpredictability.

During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's military operations were primarily handled by him and Mitokado Homura.

Now, the moment Danzo stepped onto the battlefield, his exceptional military prowess stabilized the situation and put pressure on Sunagakure.

On the other side, Kitsuchi, leading Iwagakure's forces, had practically carried Iwa through the Third Shinobi World War single-handedly.

He excelled in utilizing Iwa's joint jutsu techniques, executing a slow but steady advance. It wasn't flashy, but his strategy—building fortifications at every step of the conquest—left little room for effective countermeasures beyond brute force.

Both of these men were formidable battlefield commanders.

So how had Sunagakure managed to hold out?

Chiyo took charge against Danzo, while Ebizō faced Kitsuchi.

Chiyo's leadership was commendable—she could hold off Danzo.

But what about Ebizō? How was he managing to resist Kitsuchi?

Sunagakure's elite policy essentially boiled down to one thing: poverty. They couldn't afford to maintain a large force.

And as for their famed puppet brigade? Against Kitsuchi's steady, unyielding offensive, it hardly seemed like an effective countermeasure.

Hokage Office, Konohagakure

Sakura frowned slightly as she examined the battle reports Sarutobi Hiruzen had handed her.

Two names stood out.

Kakuzu, the rogue ninja from Takigakure.

Kisame Hoshigaki, the rogue ninja from Kirigakure.

Sunagakure had hired them as mercenaries.

These two were well-known figures in the ninja world. Kakuzu had been one of the underground black market's top enforcers for decades. As long as the money was right, he would take on any target.

After all, in a way, he had even fought against Senju Hashirama—those who knew, knew.

As for Kisame, Sakura was even more familiar with him—she had fought him not long ago.

"According to our intelligence, these two belong to the same mercenary organization."

"And they wear matching black cloaks with red clouds."

Hiruzen's voice was grave, his eyes dark with contemplation.

Sakura hadn't relaxed her furrowed brow for a moment while reviewing the report.

She wasn't surprised that these two appeared on the battlefield.

But the fact that they had openly revealed themselves—did it mean that Akatsuki no longer feared exposure to the Five Great Shinobi Villages?

Or perhaps... it no longer mattered.

With the nations of Fire, Earth, Wind, and Lightning practically tearing each other apart, what did they have to fear?

Sakura massaged her temples, sighing.

The prospect of uniting the Five Great Shinobi Villages against a common enemy, as in the original timeline, seemed increasingly unlikely.

At this rate, within three years at most, Akatsuki would begin capturing the Tailed Beasts.

Even if the villages managed to halt their wars by then, could they truly set aside their grudges and unite?

Meeting on the battlefield without immediately trying to kill each other would already be a miracle.

"So?"

"What now?"

Sakura finally spoke, looking at Hiruzen, who remained deep in thought.

Though Hiruzen was concerned about Kisame and Kakuzu, he wasn't overly anxious.

After all, Danzo still had Aburame Torune on standby—nano-scale poisonous insects, ensuring certain death for any enemy.

As for Iwagakure's problems?

Not his concern.

Hiruzen was preoccupied with something else—Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi belonged to the same mercenary organization as Kisame. After massacring the Uchiha clan, he had claimed that a certain organization had invited him to join.

He had gone undercover for Konoha—or so he said.

Seven years.

Seven years of deep cover.

Not a single piece of valuable intelligence had come back!

Even a random Root operative would have been more reliable!

Hiruzen had every reason to believe that Uchiha Itachi could no longer be trusted.

But with his Mangekyō Sharingan—on par with Uchiha Madara's—it was a situation that required careful handling.

"Hey, old man, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm talking to you!"

Sakura leaned in and shouted when she saw Hiruzen lost in thought.

Hiruzen sighed, pressing the pink-haired girl back into her seat before replying:

"There's nothing more to discuss."

"Let Danzo handle Kisame himself."

"If I have to deal with everything, why bother having him as a commander?"

His tone made it clear—Kisame, the so-called Tailless Tailed Beast, was insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

After all, when Itachi and Kisame had infiltrated Konoha, they had merely taken advantage of the village's weakened state after the attack.

"Fine, then."

Sakura frowned slightly at Hiruzen's nonchalant attitude but held her tongue.

"We should send more Hyūga to the Frost Country battlefield."

Kumogakure seemed to have intel on Jiraiya's movements. The moment Sakura left, they split into multiple elite squads, targeting weak points in Konoha's defenses with precise strikes.

And each time Jiraiya deployed a counter-attack squad, the enemy would withdraw just before reinforcements arrived.

Their intelligence seemed... too precise.

Jiraiya was beyond frustrated—his forces had pushed forward dozens of kilometers, only to be beaten back halfway.

Something was off.

Sakura was almost certain that Akatsuki was involved.

Such uncanny surveillance capabilities could only mean one thing—Zetsu.

In large-scale warfare, Zetsu was far more valuable than mercenaries like Kisame or Kakuzu.

"I was thinking the same," Hiruzen admitted, frowning. "Kumo's intelligence-gathering is too precise. Our only options are deploying more sensory units or locating and eliminating their informant."

Sakura's eyes gleamed with an idea.

"Should I..."

Before she could finish, Hiruzen cut her off sharply.

"No."

"Not until you deal with your second personality."

Sakura's expression twitched.

She had planned to bring Karin and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio to the battlefield.

With Karin's sensory abilities, covering the entire combat zone would be easy. And with Ino's Mind-Body Switch Jutsu, they could establish a real-time communication network—like a massive, interconnected chatroom with built-in radar.

Of course, this would also expose Karin to Zetsu's detection.

Which could draw assassins.

Possibly even the Raikage himself.

But with Sakura guarding Karin—and Jiraiya there as well—

Unless Pain, Obito, or Ōnoki personally intervened...

Anyone who came would die.

Of course, Karin and Ino might start fighting the moment they met...

But since Hiruzen wouldn't let her go, Sakura wouldn't risk their lives recklessly.

People were selfish, after all. These two were important to her.

If she wanted to join the battlefield, she had to suppress Inner Sakura first.

"Fine, fine, you win."

Sakura waved a hand in defeat.

"So when do we start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Good."

Hiruzen truly had high hopes for Sakura.

With Jiraiya and Tsunade still in Konoha due to the war, he knew them well.

One was a pervert.

The other, a gambling addict.

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