Raiga's words pushed Sakura into despair.
She had already witnessed Zabuza's strength during their previous encounter.
Back then, if it hadn't been for Yoruha assisting Kakashi, even Kakashi might not have been able to defeat Zabuza.
If Yoruha was held up here, Kakashi might lose against Zabuza, and Tazuna would be killed.
And Yoruha might also lose his life trying to save her.
Even if he managed to survive here, by the time Zabuza finished assassinating Tazuna and came back, Yoruha would have to face two jonin. There was no way he could win.
It was a hopeless situation.
Sakura's face contorted in anguish. "No way... Yoruha definitely won't fall for your trap. He'll see through your plan!"
She desperately tried to convince herself that Yoruha wouldn't simply walk into Raiga's trap.
Raiga burst into laughter. "Little girl, even if he sees through my plan, does he really have a choice?"
Raiga's words left Sakura speechless.
He was right—did Yoruha even have a choice?
Could he really abandon her and go to Kakashi instead?
Seeing Sakura's silence, Raiga smirked. "Will he choose to complete the mission or save his comrades?"
"From what I've observed over the past few days, that kid is most likely going to choose saving you."
"He'll definitely go to Kakashi-sensei!"
Sakura shook her head, praying Yoruha wouldn't come. This was a deathtrap.
If he came here, he'd only die along with them.
More than anything, Sakura didn't want Yoruha to come.
On a normal day, she might have wanted to feel important to Yoruha, to hold a closer bond with him—even as just a friend.
But in a matter of life and death, she wanted Yoruha to live. She didn't want him to die with her.
She couldn't bear the thought of Yoruha stepping into this blatant trap.
Just imagining Yoruha arriving, only to die alongside her in a fiery explosion, brought tears to her eyes.
Even though she was the only ninja among the three, Sakura couldn't stop herself from crying.
She didn't want Yoruha to come.
"Yoruha, you're not coming, right? You're a brilliant ninja. Surely you'll prioritize the mission, right?"
"We're just temporary teammates... I can't possibly mean that much to you, can I?"
Sakura sobbed as she spoke.
Watching her cry, Raiga sneered, "Why are you crying? Isn't it a good thing to have a talented comrade accompanying you on your way to hell?"
Sakura ignored him, staring out the window and silently praying Yoruha wouldn't come.
She even wished he hadn't found the letter.
"Did you forget what Kakashi-sensei told you during the test, Sakura?"
Just as Raiga finished speaking, Yoruha's voice echoed from outside the cabin.
"You actually came, kid," Raiga said, his tone laced with mockery.
The moment Yoruha's voice reached her ears, Raiga instantly moved behind Sakura.
The twin Lightning Blades rested against her neck.
At the same time, the two chunin appeared behind Tsunami and Inari, holding kunai to their throats.
For a fleeting moment, Sakura felt a spark of joy upon hearing Yoruha's voice, but it was quickly replaced by utter despair.
Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, "Yoruha, no!"
"Why did you come? You must have known this was a trap. Why did you still come?"
Yoruha stepped slowly into the cabin, his gaze sweeping across the room with calm composure. He spoke lightly, "I know it's a trap, but as that guy said, I don't have a choice."
He spread his hands nonchalantly.
Yoruha's demeanor was calm, but to the two chunin from the Hidden Mist Village, he exuded an overwhelming sense of danger.
It felt as though he could end their lives at any moment—even though he was just a genin.
Recalling their observations over the past days, the two chunin swallowed nervously, their eyes fixed on Yoruha in trepidation.
They didn't dare treat him like an ordinary genin.
The boy in front of them was incredibly dangerous, capable of defeating them in an instant.
Even Raiga Kurosuki wasn't taking him lightly.
Sakura, tears streaming down her face, stared at Yoruha. She hadn't wanted him to come.
Yoruha glanced at Raiga. "Looks like your strength is on par with Zabuza's."
"You're a jonin, right? Hidden Mist sure has a lot of rogue ninja. And powerful ones at that," Yoruha quipped, seemingly unaware of his precarious situation.
Raiga's expression grew solemn. "Kid, you're only here to die with that foolish girl. What a pity."
Yoruha chuckled lightly. "What makes you so sure I'm the one who'll die?"
Raiga laughed mockingly. "Haven't you noticed anything strange about this area?"
"I've been observing you for quite some time. Do you think I'm unaware of your abilities?"
"I'm not foolish enough to confront you head-on. Even if I won, it would be exhausting."
"I've set up a massive trap. Within a hundred-meter radius of this cabin, I've planted countless explosive tags. Especially inside this cabin, there are hundreds of them. It's enough to ensure you and that girl are reduced to nothing."
Yoruha listened to Raiga's words without any surprise.
He had already sensed it the moment he stepped inside.
Within a hundred meters of the cabin, steel wires rigged with explosive tags were everywhere.
If detonated, they could obliterate all life in the area.
But with Sakura, Tsunami, and Inari here, what could he do?
Could he just walk away?
"With so many explosive tags around, wouldn't you also get caught in the blast?" Yoruha asked.
Raiga sneered. "Kid, do you really think I'd be stupid enough to place myself in the middle of the trap?"
Yoruha clapped his hands. "Not bad. Looks like you've done your homework on me."
"You've set up a trap I can't avoid."
"Enough talk, kid. Take your foolish decision and go to hell!"
Raiga didn't want to waste any more time with Yoruha, fearing the longer he delayed, the greater the risk.
At that exact moment—
Yoruha's eyes narrowed, and his chakra surged instantly.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Web."
"Wind Release: Airburst."
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
With Raiga's command, all the explosive tags detonated simultaneously.
The violent explosion obliterated the cabin entirely, creating a mushroom cloud dozens of meters high.
The shockwave uprooted massive trees hundreds of meters away, while smoke and dust filled the sky. The ground trembled as if a major earthquake had struck.
After a long time, the smoke finally cleared, revealing a landscape riddled with craters.
Raiga, along with the two chunin, emerged from behind a large tree several hundred meters away.
Raiga chuckled, "What a beautiful explosion. It's just a shame about the loss of such a young talent."
"Well then, let me give you a grand funeral and send you off with dignity."
Read Advanced Chapters at:
[email protected]/ChakraMaster