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Sakura turned to Inoiki, her voice tinged with urgency. "Inoiki, with your status as a Special Jonin, can't you speed up the search for Sasuke? Or maybe… you have a way to track him down yourself?"
At her words, a hush fell over the group. All eyes turned toward Inoiki, their gazes filled with expectation. He had accomplished the impossible before—time and time again, he had defied the odds and made things happen when no one else could. If anyone could find Sasuke, surely it was him.
But Inoiki simply shook his head, his expression grim. "No," he said. "Being a Special Jonin doesn't give me any authority to accelerate the search. And even if it did, now isn't the time. We're still recovering from Orochimaru's attack. The village is vulnerable, and our borders are under siege from rival nations. We barely have enough forces to hold them back." He exhaled, his voice laced with exhaustion. "I just returned from a mission dealing with that crisis, and the situation is far from over. My mission isn't even complete yet."
His words cast a heavy silence over the group. The reality of their situation was clear—no matter how much they wanted to bring Sasuke home, the village had other battles to fight.
Inoiki sighed, crossing his arms as he continued, "Let's say I go all out and start searching for Sasuke. Even if I did, do you really think it would be that simple? Orochimaru isn't a fool—he knows exactly how to hide from Konoha's shinobi. My sensory abilities have limits; I can't track everything."
His gaze darkened. "And even if—by some miracle—I do find Sasuke, do you honestly believe he'll just come back willingly? No. He won't. He's chasing strength, and he's not willing to wait for it. He wants power now, by any means necessary, because revenge is all that drives him. Deep down, he knows he's still far beneath his brother's level. Particularly following his recent confrontation with his brother Itachi."
Inoiki's voice dropped, laced with something between frustration and understanding. "Sasuke's brother was a true genius—his accomplishments were comparable to mine, perhaps even greater. Sasuke has lived in his shadow, always falling short. And the moment he used Orochimaru's cursed mark, I knew it… That small taste of power would be enough to tempt him. He's willing to take the shortest, darkest path to get stronger—no matter the cost."
A heavy silence settled over the group. Their hopes had been pinned on Inoiki, believing that if anyone could do something, it would be him. But hearing his words, they realized the truth—if even Inoiki found it impossible, then the situation was far worse than they had imagined. Still, no one resented him for it. Deep down, they knew he was right. Their emotions were clouding their judgment, and what they had been hoping for was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Noticing the weight of disappointment hanging over them, Inoiki straightened and spoke with firm resolve. "Alright, listen up. There's no need to feel down. If you really want to change this situation, there's only one thing you can do—become stronger. Whatever you wish to achieve, whether it's bringing Sasuke back or protecting the village, you can only do it if you have the strength."
His gaze swept over the group, determination burning in his eyes. "Sasuke isn't just chasing power—he's learning from a Sannin. No matter how twisted Orochimaru's methods may be, he was still one of the Legendary Three. Sasuke will grow stronger, far beyond what he is now. If you want to bring him back, you have to surpass him."
He let his words sink in before continuing, "Maybe, just maybe, if we're strong enough, we can even help him get his revenge… But more than that, we need to bring him back before it's too late. If we don't, he'll fall even deeper into the darkness, and when that happens, even the village won't be able to protect him." Inoiki's voice grew solemn. "And if that day comes… Sasuke will be branded a rogue ninja. If that happens, you all know what it means."
A grim understanding passed between them. The moment a shinobi was marked as a rogue, they were no longer just a lost friend—they became an enemy.
Everyone nodded, their expressions firm with newfound resolve. Inoiki's words had ignited something within them—a determination to grow stronger, to take control of their own fate.
Then, a voice cut through the air, laced with amusement. "You really are good at speeches, aren't you?"
Heads turned toward the source of the voice. It was unfamiliar to most of them, but Inoiki recognized it immediately. He didn't even need to look—he already knew who it belonged to.
Kurotsuchi.
Turning toward her, Inoiki met her gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Kurotsuchi crossed her arms, smirking slightly. "It's not like I'm a prisoner. I'm staying in the guest house, not locked up in a cell. My movements aren't restricted—I can go wherever I want." She glanced over her shoulder. "Of course, I do have company following me everywhere."
Inoiki nodded in understanding. His senses had already picked up on them—three separate teams of shinobi, carefully trailing behind her. If his guess was right, they were all ANBU. It made sense. Given who she was, Konoha wouldn't take any chances.
Before he could respond, Shikamaru's voice interrupted, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity—and something else. "So… Since when do you know this girl? And why is it that we, your so-called friends, have never even heard of her?"
His sharp eyes flicked between Inoiki and Kurotsuchi. The girl was wearing a beautiful frock—one that only made her stand out even more. It wasn't lost on him that she looked stunning, nor did he miss the familiarity between her and Inoiki.
His question hung in the air, and suddenly, all eyes were back on Inoiki—this time, not with expectation, but intrigue.
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