Chapter 198: Conviction

Takigakure Village, November, Year 60 of Konoha

"The Hero Water is something entrusted to the Takigakure Village Head to protect..." Shibuki began, his voice low.

"Shibuki-sama..." Senji started to interrupt.

But Shibuki held up a hand, stopping him. "There's no point hiding it anymore, Senji. Suien-sensei is down there. The truth will come out sooner or later anyway."

Sakura wasn't sure if it was just her impression, but after saying this, Shibuki seemed visibly relaxed, the trembling in his body finally ceasing.

"Takigakure is surrounded by the Five Great Shinobi Countries," Shibuki continued, his voice steadier now. "To survive, we must possess considerable power, but Takigakure lacks that advantage. However, the First Village Head discovered this sacred place, and along with it, the Hero Water. Drinking the Hero Water can temporarily increase a ninja's chakra tenfold. It is only by relying on this Hero Water that we have managed to survive, caught between the great nations."

Sakura hadn't expected such an extraordinary substance existed. Incredible, she thought. If I drank that, I wouldn't have to worry about my chakra reserves again! The Yin Seal is a temporary solution, but more chakra is always better. She immediately asked, "Where does this Hero Water come from?"

"The Hero Water is generated by this God Tree," Shibuki explained, noticing Sakura seemed intrigued. "Only once every century. If you can help us resolve the situation in Takigakure, I will offer you a portion of the Hero Water."

"Unthinkable, Shibuki-sama!" Senji exclaimed in alarm. "The Hero Water is something each Taki Village Head must protect! It cannot be given to an outsider! Even if these Konoha ninja deal with this situation, simply compensate them as per the mission request!"

Hearing Senji's protest, Shibuki suddenly exploded, seizing the old man by the collar. "Protect! Protect! Protect! How am I supposed to protect it?!" he shouted, anguish twisting his features. "Because of this thing, my father died! Because of this thing, Suien-sensei turned traitor! And because of this thing, this burden falls on the Village Head! I only became Village Head because my father died and I was forced into the role! I never wanted this! Why don't you be the Village Head then!!!"

Shoving Senji away, Shibuki fell to his knees before the old man, performing a deep, formal bow. Senji, utterly flustered by Shibuki's outburst and action, also bowed low in return, murmuring desperately, "You mustn't say such things, Shibuki-sama! You are Hisen-sama's son! I understand Hisen-sama's death was a devastating blow, but Takigakure needs your protection now!"

Sakura watched Senji, thinking the old man was both bound by duty and torn. Fiercely loyal to Shibuki, undoubtedly. But also rigid – even facing annihilation, he clung to the tradition surrounding the Hero Water. Conflicted, because he wanted to protect both the village and the sacred water, but seemed bound by the ancient rule forbidding it to fall into outside hands.

Shibuki slowly stood up, his face devoid of expression. He fixed his gaze on Senji for a long moment. "Since you still acknowledge me as the Village Head," he stated quietly but firmly, "then my word is final."

Senji remained prostrate on the ground, silent, seemingly accepting his fate.

"Sakura," Shibuki said, turning to her, his face composed now, with none of his earlier fear. "I can give you a portion of the Hero Water right now. But you must help us solve Takigakure's problem."

"Agreed," Sakura accepted without hesitation. Then, as if a thought occurred to her, she asked, "The effects of this Hero Water... are they permanent?"

"No," Shibuki clarified. "The Hero Water only temporarily boosts a ninja's latent potential to increase their chakra output."

Clank. Sakura felt as though a giant boulder had struck her chest – metaphorically, of course, but the disappointment was keen. Figures. Gotten my hopes up. There were no miracle cures in this world; basic principles of chakra and energy still applied. This Hero Water sounded like a powerful, temporary boost, achieved by burning through latent potential at great cost to the body. Her interest plummeted.

With a dismissive wave, she said, "We'll discuss that after dealing with the enemies. First, give me the intel on Suien."

Seeing she didn't press for the Hero Water immediately, Shibuki wasn't bothered. He settled down cross-legged and related what he knew about his former teacher.

After hearing Shibuki's assessment, Sakura rubbed her chin, running a quick mental calculation. Likely around Special Jonin level... Definitely manageable. Defeating him shouldn't be impossible.

"If that's the extent of his abilities, he shouldn't pose a major problem," Sakura concluded aloud. "The complication now is the villagers. When the fighting breaks out, I can't guarantee their safety."

"The space inside this God Tree is vast," Senji spoke up, turning to Shibuki. "And only you and I know the passages in and out. I can go first and act as a decoy to draw Suien's attention. Then, Shibuki-sama, you can take the opportunity to evacuate the villagers deeper into the God Tree's hidden routes. However," Senji added heavily, "Shibuki-sama, I will need a little Hero Water. Otherwise, I probably won't be strong enough to serve as an effective decoy."

"Use the Hero Water as bait?" Sakura questioned, shaking her head. "A decoy vial should suffice. If Suien manages to seize the real water and drinks it, that would create a serious problem." Any ninja with tenfold chakra endlessly spamming powerful jutsu would be a massive headache. How could they fight a walking artillery piece like that? Only by weathering the storm, and Suien was already a formidable ninja in his own right.

"No," Senji said firmly, shaking his head again. "This old man is also a ninja."

"WHAT!!!" Sakura exclaimed, surprised. "You're a ninja too?" Focusing her senses, she indeed detected a flicker of residual chakra from Senji, faint but undeniably present.

"I was once a ninja," Senji explained, his expression filled with resolute determination. "But alas, my talent was lacking, so eventually I left that path. But now... to be able to make one final contribution for Takigakure... I can die without regret."

Remembering Shibuki's words about the Hero Water boosting latent potential, Sakura realized that if Senji consumed it at his advanced age, he would almost certainly perish from the strain. Although she wasn't as soft-hearted as Naruto, she had been genuinely touched by the old man's fierce devotion throughout their journey and felt reluctant to let him sacrifice himself needlessly.

"You don't have to do this," she urged. "I can take care of Suien. During the fight, I'll draw him away from the village center. You take the chance then to evacuate the villagers."

Senji shook his head stubbornly. "Suien won't be fooled. The Hero Water is his primary objective. Until he obtains it, he won't abandon his leverage over the hostages. Haruno Sakura-dono," he addressed her respectfully, "please say no more. For me to contribute even a little to saving the village with my meager abilities is a worthy sacrifice."

Sakura looked into Senji's steadfast gaze and didn't argue further. Everyone has their own convictions, she thought, but whether one can stay true to them is tested over a lifetime. Watching Senji's quiet resolve, she briefly wondered if, when her own time came, she could remain true to her own convictions.

Pushing aside such philosophical thoughts, she brought her hands together, forming the Ram seal.

"Storm Release: Clone!"

A clone forged purely of Storm Release chakra, identical to Sakura, materialized beside her. "You two should get ready quickly as well," Sakura instructed Senji and Shibuki.

Senji gazed, stunned, at the swirling energy clone, his mouth slightly open in astonishment. "So you... you are a user of a Kekkei Genkai!" he breathed, then muttered almost to himself, "Wonderful... Wonderful..." The power of Kekkei Genkai was well known; even a Genin possessing one could wield strength far beyond the norm. Seeing Sakura possessed such an ability gave Senji a surge of hope.

"Enough talk. Move quickly," Sakura said crisply, paying no mind to Senji's reaction. She directed her Storm Release clone to move stealthily towards where Naruto and Sasuke were being held, while she herself used Earth Style ninjutsu to approach Suien's position undetected from below, waiting for the moment Suien was distracted by Senji's ploy to strike the decisive blow. As for those three Rain ninja, she decided, I'll get some information out of them later.

Down below, near the base of the God Tree, the villagers had been herded back together by the three Rain ninja.

"Suien-sama," Hisame purred, stepping closer to the bandana-clad leader. "It's taking too long, and the Takigakure Village Head still hasn't shown himself. Could he have already fled?"

Suien shot a sideways look at Hisame. "No. I know Shibuki. I was his teacher, after all. He must be hiding somewhere nearby."

"What about those two brats?" Kirisame spoke up, gesturing towards where Naruto and Sasuke lay bound securely nearby. "They're Konoha ninja. Killing them could cause trouble."

"Hmm..." Suien considered for a moment. The brats had seen him, and they'd seen the Rain ninja involvement. While he wasn't particularly concerned about Amegakure's reaction, he fully intended to silence all the villagers after this was over anyway. Letting the Konoha kids leave alive would undoubtedly land him in their Bingo Book. Killing them, however, might invite Konoha's scrutiny... After a moment's consideration, he made a ruthless decision. "After we get the Hero Water," he stated coldly, "kill them."

"Although our Amegakure doesn't want any involvement with Konoha at this time," Murasame sighed internally, "the current situation is unavoidable." Why did we have to encounter Konoha shinobi here? Amegakure's situation was difficult; antagonizing Konoha was ill-advised. But for the future of the Rain Village, it was necessary.

Waiting longer with still no sign of Shibuki, Suien finally lost patience. Projecting his voice again via Wood Spirit Jutsu, he declared, "Since you won't come out, then I will execute one hostage every five minutes! Let's find out just how long you can hide!"

Saying this, Suien stepped forward, seized the little girl, Fu, from the crowd, and pressed a kunai against her throat. "The clock is ticking, Shibuki! If you don't come out, this child will have you to thank for her death!"

"Fu!" A middle-aged woman dashed out crying from the crowd, trying to pull the girl away, but Suien rudely kicked her aside.

Unexpectedly, Fu showed no trace of fear on her small face. She glared defiantly at Suien. "You just wait! Shibuki-sama will definitely come out and take you down!"

Suien sneered contemptuously at the girl, increasing the pressure of the kunai slightly. "Oh~ really? Then have him show himself."

Fu, struggling for air in Suien's grasp, face turning purple, voiceless, her eyes beginning to roll up— Just then, a hoarse shout echoed from the lake's edge:

"Release her, Suien!!!"

Suien heard the voice come from the lake. He turned towards the sound and chuckled darkly. "I believe I called for Shibuki, Senji. Or is he too cowardly to face me?"

Senji emerged fully from the water, his face grim. "Let her go. The Hero Water is here." He produced a crystal vial from within his robes, filled with a shimmering liquid.

"Oh? So Shibuki actually was too afraid to come out and sent you to deliver it instead? Hahaha!" Suien laughed mockingly. "Now, bring it to me."

"Release the child first," Senji replied, holding his ground.

"Tch. Troublesome," Suien clicked his tongue in annoyance but shoved the girl away. "Now, hand it over."

Fu collapsed, sucking in air desperately. Seeing this, her mother immediately rushed forward and pulled her into a protective embrace.

Senji watched Suien, his heart hammering against his ribs. Just one chance. The Hero Water in my hand is a fake. May this jutsu create an opening for Haruno-dono to strike the decisive blow.

Thinking this, Senji hurled the vial towards Suien with every ounce of his strength. Then, without a second's delay, his trembling, aged hands flew through seals. Everything hinges on this!

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"