The long-haired woman had a serene face and a gentle demeanor.
Sakura wasn't a particularly smart person, but her exceptional genjutsu talent and Chakra control allowed her to perceive the deep malice hidden beneath the long-haired woman's calm expression.
It was like a monster wearing human skin.
The woman was highly skilled at drawing. Sitting in front of her easel, she sketched a few lines, and the Hokage Rock, Hokage Building, and parts of the street directly in front of her began to take on a rough outline.
Even someone who knew nothing about art would understand she was drawing the scenery before her.
She didn't even glance at Sakura behind her, her movements unhurried. Dipping her brush in paint, she outlined a few strokes, and dense dark clouds immediately appeared above the Hokage Building on the paper.
At the same moment she put her brush to paper, Konoha Village, which had been clear and sunny, was also enveloped by dark clouds, with the heaviest concentration directly above the Hokage Building.
The sun was obscured, and visibility here in the back mountains became very low. The long-haired woman's eyes held blatant malice. She sat there motionless, yet her shadow seemed to suddenly come alive, thrashing wildly as if a bloodthirsty demon was hidden within it.
Just as she was about to make her final stroke, Sakura suddenly jolted awake, her Wide Forehead covered in sweat.
"Ah!?
What was she doing? How did the sky suddenly turn dark? Why was she standing here like an idiot?
As an honor student trained at the Ninja Academy, while she was proficient in Water Release, genjutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu, her horizons had been broadened by the First Hokage.
Realizing something was wrong, no matter what this long-haired woman intended, as a Ninja of Konoha Village, she had to stop her!
Sakura's reaction speed was nowhere near adjectives like "lightning-fast," but the distance between them was short. Gritting her teeth, she overcame the immense fear rising in her heart, reached into her waist pouch, and threw a Kunai, severing the paintbrush in the long-haired woman's hand.
She instinctively felt there was something wrong with the woman's painting and didn't dare to directly attack the painting or the person, so she chose the paintbrush.
The ordinary paintbrush was cut in half by the Kunai. The long-haired woman's final stroke was not completed, and the painting lacked the most crucial step. Three seconds later, the paper wrinkled, then, as if torn by an invisible hand, it split down the middle. The dark clouds gathered above Konoha Village also slowly dispersed.
This incredible method was beyond Sakura's comprehension. She braced herself to avoid falling, and questioned, somewhat feigning bravery, "Who are you? What do you want in Konoha Village!?
The long-haired woman put the broken paintbrush into a pen case nearby, then methodically packed her easel, paper, paints, and other items into her satchel.
She said calmly, "Thank you."
Sakura: "???"
"Thank you for stopping me. I know this isn't right... but I just can't control it..." The long-haired woman's words left Sakura utterly confused.
Is this person crazy?
The long-haired woman shouldered her satchel: "I have to go back now. They only give me an hour of activity time each day."
She bowed slightly, and before leaving, she looked at Sakura twice: "You are very much like me, but you are stronger than me. Your heart is full of power."
Sakura's face showed surprise, but inwardly, she was already cursing. Me, powerful? Nonsense, I'm a delicate woman!
There were quite a few eccentric people in Konoha Village. People like Lee and Might Guy, who would walk around the Village on their hands for no reason, were also considered crazy by ordinary people. Sakura hesitated, unsure how to handle this matter. When she encountered the long-haired woman again in the back mountains the next day and once more stopped her from painting a picture of Konoha Village being flooded, she felt that this matter had exceeded her capabilities.
The long-haired woman wasn't annoyed, being polite both times and repeatedly saying thank you for stopping her.
She appeared in the back mountains for two consecutive days, as if deliberately timing it and choosing a conspicuous spot for Sakura to stop her.
Sakura didn't know how to deal with this matter.
Kakashi, as the squad leader of the Jonin, was incredibly busy and nowhere to be found.
Sakura mentioned this to Sasuke, who was diligently practicing his sword techniques, but Sasuke merely replied with a simple "Oh," and there was no further discussion.
Naruto? Whether in her conscious or subconscious mind, Sakura automatically ignored Naruto's existence unless it was an emergency.
She could only go find Ino.
When she arrived at the Yamanaka Flower Shop, she saw Ino teaching Hinata how to develop her own Chakra affinity.
Hinata hadn't yet developed a single Chakra nature transformation. Her constitution was naturally inclined towards Fire and Lightning Release, perfectly avoiding Ino's Water Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release.
The Hyuga Clan believed that specializing in their clan's taijutsu was the correct general direction, but as a Ninja, not being able to perform a single Ninjutsu was truly a waste of her talent.
Currently, the Ninja World was full of individuals called Ninja who were actually more like magic warriors. Ino was a standard mage and warrior, while Hinata at most was a warrior with a bit of spell-like ability, too specialized.
Their ancestor, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, certainly didn't need Ninjutsu, genjutsu, or Sealing Technique; she didn't need these things. But are you Ōtsutsuki? You are not.
Naruto, in boruto, was able to use Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, and Sasuke could also use Shadow Clone Technique. The Ninja World was developing; one should learn a bit of everything, at least as a process of broadening one's horizons.
Ino taught Hinata how to develop her own Chakra affinity. It didn't matter if she didn't have an affinity in that area; the first Chakra affinity was the easiest to develop. She created a Water Release vortex with Water Release: Water Shockwave, trapping Hinata inside, allowing her to carefully experience the abundance and versatility of Water Release Chakra.
Hinata let the water currents toss her around, falling several times, getting up several times, continuously activating her Byakugan, and researching how to perform Water Release Chakra nature transformation herself.
Her arms were scraped, her knees to her calves were covered in blood, and her shoulders and back were bruised. She didn't cry out in pain, nor did she whimper and cry. She persevered with sheer tenacity.
Sakura arrived at the Yamanaka Clan and saw Ino continuously maintaining the Water Release: Water Shockwave, so she didn't disturb them but stood by and waited.
Hinata's perseverance seemed normal to her; wasn't that how all Ninja were? Ino had once jokingly told her that in some places, men needed anesthesia to get a haircut, and not crying out when their finger skin broke made them a tough guy. Sakura didn't believe it at all. How was that possible? It sounded like they were taking advantage of her inexperience and fooling her.
Once Ino stopped the Water Release: Water Shockwave, and Hinata expertly applied medicine to herself, Sakura brought up the matter of the long-haired woman.
Hinata's eyes widened, and she clutched her chest, indicating she completely couldn't understand.
Ino was startled, "Oh my god!"
Interfering with reality through a painting? There's someone this powerful in Konoha Village?
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