Ise Town
The return voyage from Red Shoal Island wasn't just Sakura's vessel; numerous merchant ships, previously stranded by the monster threat, joined them. A large fleet sailed towards Ise Town, laden with cattle acquired from Red Shoal Island.
The journey itself was somewhat tedious, but the food was excellent. Eager to express their gratitude (and likely hoping to secure protection should the monsters ever reappear), the merchants lavished Sakura and her team with delicious meals and drinks daily. Chouji would have loved this, Sakura mused wryly.
She wasn't too concerned about the monsters returning, though. During the trip, she'd had Shino conduct thorough reconnaissance of the surrounding waters using his insects. No abnormalities were detected; the Kaiyuki seemed to have truly retreated.
After two days at sea, Sakura and her team once again set foot in Ise Town. The docks were bustling with activity, far more lively than before. With the shipping route reopened, merchants were optimistic about profits returning.
"Alright, Ryuichi-san," Sakura said, approaching the samurai. "Could we trouble you to take us to see Lord Chino again?"
"Yes, certainly," Ryuichi agreed. "Lord Chino will likely wish to speak with you as well. Please, follow me." He turned to Tatsuo, who stood nearby. "Tatsuo, you and the others maintain order here at the docks."
"Yes, sir," Tatsuo replied stiffly. He still seemed somewhat resentful towards Sakura, but after hearing about the aftermath of the battle—over a hundred monster corpses cleared from the beach—he couldn't help but respect her power. Even dealing with over a hundred ordinary wild animals would be a challenge, let alone these terrifying beasts.
Sakura followed Ryuichi back to the castle residence. Once they arrived, Ryuichi excused himself, leaving Sakura and her team alone with the Lord.
Looking at Lord Chino seated across from her, Sakura found it hard to believe he was over fifty years old. He appeared to be a man in his mid-thirties at most. Is this youthful appearance a trait of the Tsugami Clan? she wondered. And what about Headman Soga's ability to approach me undetected? Was that also a Tsugami ability? It seemed increasingly likely that her previous fatigue wasn't the sole reason Soga had surprised her; he must have genuinely bypassed her senses. That kind of stealth... if not for the curse binding them to the Ōkami Shinju, someone with that ability could make quite a name for themselves in the shinobi world.
"Thank you all sincerely," Lord Chino began, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You have resolved a great trouble for both Ise Town and Red Shoal Island."
"Save the thanks," Sakura replied bluntly, somewhat spoiling the mood. "Just make sure the payment reflects the mission's actual difficulty. You filed it as a C-rank mission, but in reality, it was easily A-rank."
"Haha, naturally, naturally," Lord Chino chuckled, not seeming to mind her directness. Of course, he wouldn't, Sakura thought. He's the richest man in Ise Town, secretly the son of Red Shoal's headman. Probably less than five people know the truth.
"Also," Sakura added brazenly, "we incurred some losses during the operation. I hope you won't be stingy with the compensation, Lord Chino."
"Losses? What did we lose? I don't remember losing anything," Kiba muttered under his breath nearby.
Sakura shot him a discreet glare. Easy for you rich kids from big clans to say, she fumed inwardly. You don't worry about money. I'm just a commoner! Lucky I wasn't orphaned, or I'd probably be worse off than Naruto.
"Kiba," Shino murmured quietly, adjusting his glasses, "three sealing scrolls are not inexpensive."
"Huh...?" Kiba looked at Shino, perplexed. Weren't those for our own use? Besides, they're reusable, aren't they?
"No problem at all," Lord Chino interjected smoothly, though Sakura could tell he knew she was shaking him down. "Rest assured, I will ensure you receive compensation that you find more than satisfactory."
Just like his father, Sakura noted. Very agreeable. Probably because they want to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.
"Ah, speaking of your father," Sakura said, retrieving the envelope Soga had given her. "Headman Soga asked me to deliver this letter to you."
"Oh? Is that so?" Lord Chino looked surprised that Soga would use an outsider as a messenger. He took the letter and began to read.
As he read, his eyes widened, and a look of intense excitement washed over his face. He lowered the letter, his hands trembling slightly as he looked at Sakura. "Is this... is this true?" he asked, his voice unsteady.
"I cannot guarantee I can break the curse," Sakura reiterated, giving the same careful answer she'd given Soga. "But I can try."
"Then, I entrust this to you," Lord Chino said, bowing low, his forehead nearly touching his hands clasped before him. "Since my father has told you everything, it means he trusts you implicitly. Please, I implore you, help us keep the secret of the Ōkami Shinju safe."
Seeing this deep, formal bow, Sakura was reminded of Headman Soga doing the same when he first pleaded with her to deal with the monsters. So that wasn't just about the Kaiyuki, she realized. That bow was for his son, for his grandson's life too. Understanding dawned on her.
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, however, were completely bewildered by the sudden intensity and talk of secrets. They looked helplessly towards Sakura for guidance.
"Lord Chino, please raise your head," Sakura said calmly. "You should know, this isn't entirely altruistic on my part. I also hope to gain something from studying the Ōkami Shinju." She saw no reason to hide her own motivations.
"Regardless," Lord Chino said, straightening up but his expression still earnest, "your willingness to help is a tremendous relief. Because of the Ōkami Shinju's nature, its power could attract... unwanted attention. We've never dared to seek help from ninja before because of the risk. Knowing that my father trusts you so completely allows me to finally feel a measure of ease."
The rest of Team 8 looked even more confused, clearly having no idea what Lord Chino was talking about. Sakura gave them a subtle signal to remain quiet. "You have my word, Lord Chino," she assured him. "Even if I fail to break the curse, we will not reveal anything about this matter."
Sakura felt a pang of sympathy for the man. If she were burdened with such a secret – a cursed artifact that also offered immense benefits – she'd probably go mad. The Ōkami Shinju wasn't just a curse; its life-enhancing properties were a beacon for anyone with malicious intent. If the wrong people found out, they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the Soga family and seize the Ōkami Shinju for themselves.
Leaving the castle residence, Sakura and her team finally began the journey back towards Konoha. The mission, though feeling longer, had taken roughly seven or eight days in total.
Once they were well on their way, the team's curiosity finally boiled over.
"Uh, Sakura," Kiba began hesitantly, "back at the castle... what was all that talk about 'breaking' something? It's okay if you can't tell us, of course," he added quickly, though the eager curiosity was plain on all three of their faces.
Sakura glanced back at her teammates. "Actually, it's fine," she decided. "There's no real harm in you knowing. I forgot to mention it on the ship. It's like this..."
Sakura then proceeded to tell them the story of the Soga clan's curse, focusing on their plight and connection to the Ōkami Shinju, while carefully downplaying the specifics about the Tsugami Clan and the true nature of Seijutsu.
Upon hearing the tale, her teammates' expressions shifted to ones of sympathy for Headman Soga and Lord Chino.
"Wow, I had no idea," Kiba admitted, looking thoughtful. "And I kept thinking that old man Soga was just being a jerk." He clearly recalled Soga's angry accusations after they had dealt with the monsters, feeling a bit guilty now that he understood the context.
"It seems this wood requires careful study," Shino remarked, gently touching the sample strapped to his back.
"Is... is there anything I can do to help?" Hinata asked quietly. "If there is, I'd like to contribute."
"Not right now, Hinata," Sakura said gently. "Currently, only Shino's insects seem able to perceive the energy within the wood. Even your Byakugan can't detect it, at least not yet."
"Oh... I see," Hinata murmured, her eyes showing a hint of disappointment. The story of the Soga family's suffering had clearly touched the kindhearted Hyūga heiress.
"We'll discuss it more once we're back in Konoha," Sakura concluded. "There's no immediate rush. For now, just remember not to mention this to anyone else. You understand the potential uses of the Ōkami Shinju now; if word got out, Headman Soga and his family could be in serious danger."
"Yes, understood!" came the unified reply from Kiba, Hinata, and Shino.
And so, the four ninja continued their journey homeward, running steadily along the path back to their village.