Chapter 41 Sakura - 3

Sakura was caught off guard by the question, and her heart clenched as memories of that tragic day resurfaced. It pained her every time she remembered those moments.

"Everyone believes Naruto died in his final battle against the Ten-Tails," she began, her voice somber, "and that's the story we let the world believe.

But the truth… his death wasn't because of that. Something happened after we defeated Kaguya."

She paused, her eyes growing distant. "A man appeared. He was tall, light-skinned, with a shaved head except for a long black mohawk that reached down his back. His face was harsh—thick eye ridges, a broad nose, and these haunting black eyes. After some time, he gained a strange diamond-shaped mark on his chin, and a Roman numeral 'IV' tattooed below his left eye."

Shoi listened carefully, trying to grasp the gravity of what she was saying.

"This man, Jigen—though I'm not sure if that was his real name or a title—fought against both Naruto and Sasuke. Kakashi-sensei tried to intervene, but he was defeated in seconds. I even tried to help, but I was nearly killed." Her voice wavered for a moment before regaining strength. "Naruto gave everything he had… but it wasn't enough."

Her hands trembled slightly as she continued, "The man who faced us wasn't just strong—he was beyond anything we'd ever seen. It felt like he was playing with us, like we were just pieces on a board. His techniques were unreal.

He had a strange black staff that he could summon at will. It wasn't an ordinary weapon. When he struck Naruto and Sasuke with it, they were immobilized, like their chakra was being drained or suppressed."

Shoi leaned forward, captivated by her words. Sakura's voice grew more intense.

"He had the power to shrink objects, even people, and then disappear and reappear as if space didn't matter to him. It was like he could bend reality itself. Sasuke tried to escape using his space-time jutsu, but Jigen followed him effortlessly. He could move between dimensions like it was nothing."

Sakura took a deep breath. "And that mark he had on his chin, the diamond-shaped one—it wasn't just a tattoo.

When he fought, it glowed, and at one point, those markings spread across his body in intricate black patterns. His power surged, unlike anything we've ever faced.

Even Naruto's Sage Mode couldn't match him. And then… no matter how many times we struck him, he would heal instantly. It was like fighting a ghost. Nothing we did made a difference."

Shoi's brow furrowed, the gravity of her words sinking in. "He could heal, manipulate space-time, and shrink objects? And that mark—what was it? Some kind of seal?"

"Yes," Sakura said softly. "But it wasn't just that. He could absorb chakra too. At one point, he summoned these massive black cubes out of thin air, distorting gravity and trapping Naruto inside. Sasuke could barely stand.

Even the Sage of Six Paths' power couldn't help. Naruto's chakra was cut off, and Sasuke… I've never seen him struggle like that. It was like Jigen knew their every move before they even made it."

Shoi's fingers drummed against the table, a deep frown forming. "So, he wasn't just strong—he was nearly invincible."

Sakura nodded, her expression grim. "Naruto was brutally defeated. I thought we lost him for good… and Sasuke barely made it out alive.

We were forced to retreat, and even then, Jigen let us go. Like he had no interest in finishing us off… as if it was all part of some bigger plan."as she finished she looked at shoi who was thinking something.

"So, Sasuke fell into a coma after fighting Jigen, or was it Kaguya? Earlier, you mentioned Kaguya, but now you're saying Jigen," Shoi asked, a hint of confusion in his tone.

Sakura's expression tightened as she clarified, "It was because of Jigen… Kaguya's power was immense, but this Jigen... he was different. He was the one responsible for Sasuke's condition."

"Do you know who this Jigen might be?" Sakura asked, her voice edged with both hope and frustration, needing to grasp the truth.

Shoi leaned back in his seat, a slow, deliberate smirk spreading across his face. "Maybe I do," he said, his tone casual, as if they were discussing something trivial.

Sakura's heart pounded, and she took a step forward, fists clenched. "Then tell me! This isn't some game—this is about Naruto!"

Shoi's eyes gleamed with something darker, something more sinister, as he slowly shook his head. "You don't understand, Sakura. Knowledge like this—it's not something I give away so easily. There's a cost."

`Her stomach dropped at the implication, but she kept her composure. "What do you mean? What could you possibly want from me in exchange for the truth?"

He stood up, taking a step closer to her, invading her space just enough to unsettle her. "You're desperate for answers, aren't you?" His voice dropped to a murmur, almost a whisper, as his gaze lingered on her. "The question is… what are you willing to offer?"

Sakura's breath caught in her throat as she realized what he was insinuating. Her fists clenched tighter, nails digging into her palms. "You can't be serious," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shoi's smirk widened, the predatory glint in his eyes unmistakable. "I'm very serious. You want to know who took Naruto away from you? What happened that day? Then give me something in return. Something… intimate."

Her heart raced, not from fear but from anger. The room felt suffocating, her mind spinning as she weighed her options. How far was she willing to go to find the truth? Could she even trust him? But the thought of Naruto—of the truth being so close—kept her frozen in place.

Shoi watched her with amusement, clearly enjoying her internal struggle. "The choice is yours, Sakura. But if you want the truth… you'll have to make it worth my while."

the moment stretching on painfully as Sakura stood there, torn between her desperation for answers and the moral line she was being forced to cross.

Would she give in? Or would she walk away from the only chance she had to uncover what really happened to Naruto?

Sakura's mind raced, battling with the tension rising in the room. Her heart pounded as her thoughts swirled in a storm of anger, disgust, and desperation.

She looked up at Shoi, his smirk widening, eyes glittering with amusement as if he could already sense her turmoil.

He leaned forward, waiting for her to break, for her to cross that line. But Sakura wasn't so easily cornered.

Her voice was low but sharp as she spoke. "What kind of 'intimate' are we talking about?" Her words came out like daggers, cutting through the sickening tension in the room.