Chapter 44 Sakura - 4

She quickly pushed those thoughts away, forcing herself to stay focused on the task at hand. This was just one kiss—a small sacrifice for Sasuke's safety.

But as Shoi's lips moved against hers with increasing urgency, Sakura found it difficult to maintain control. Her mind screamed at her to stop this madness, but her body seemed to have a will of its own.

Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, Shoi pulled away with a satisfied grin on his face. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" he taunted.

Sakura forced herself to remain composed as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "It was fine," she said coolly, trying not to let Shoi see how flustered she was.

Shoi chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I must say," he said in a smug tone. "You're quite skilled."

A surge of anger flared within Sakura. How dare he mock her like this? But before she could fire back.

"Now, tell me... what do you know about Jigen?"

Shoi let out a breath, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "Huff... not waiting a single second, huh?"

Sakura crossed his arms, watching him intently. "We don't have time for games. So, spill."

"Alright," Shoi began, adjusting her stance. "The Jigen you're referring to isn't who you think he is. His real name is Isshiki."

"Isshiki?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

"Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, to be more accurate," Shoi corrected her.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Ōtsutsuki?" Her heart pounded as she tried to connect the dots. "But… the only Ōtsutsuki I know of is Kaguya. How does this Isshiki fit into all of this?"

Shoi watched her intently, his expression serious. "You don't know the full story, do you?"

Sakura shook her head, her mind spinning. "I only know about Kaguya because we sealed her. Her power was… overwhelming."

Shoi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Isshiki was there long before Kaguya. They came to this world together, but she betrayed him, almost killing him. He survived by hiding in a human vessel—Jigen."

Sakura frowned, her thoughts still racing. "But why go after Naruto? Kaguya was sealed. I thought we stopped the Ōtsutsuki threat once and for all."

Shoi's eyes darkened, his voice heavy. "That's where you're wrong. Naruto and Sasuke were the only ones strong enough to stand in Isshiki's way. Once Kaguya was out of the picture, Isshiki knew he had to eliminate Naruto to move forward with his plans. And he did. Naruto's death..."

He trailed off, hesitating. Should he really tell her everything? The full story was known by almost no one—perhaps only that Amado guy, and now Shoi himself. The reason Isshiki targeted Naruto was still unclear, and it gnawed at him.

Did Isshiki have some kind of power to see the future? It was possible. Maybe Isshiki saw a future where Naruto would defeat him, so he decided to strike first.

He met Sakura's gaze, his tone sharp and urgent. "And a friendly reminder—no one, I repeat, no one is currently strong enough to defeat Isshiki.

If he ever uses his full power, there's no one left in this world who stands a chance."

Sakura felt a cold dread seep into her veins as the weight of Shoi's words hit her. "So… what are we supposed to do?" she asked, her voice softer now, tinged with vulnerability.

Shoi gave a dismissive shrug. "I don't know. Figure it out yourself." He turned to leave, tossing one last remark over his shoulder. "And by the way, one kiss only gets you so much information. If you want more, you'll have to do more. Oh, and your acting skills? Terrible. I could tell you weren't really into it."

"You—!" she sputtered, but he was already gone, leaving her seething.

"Arrogant prick!" Sakura huffed, wiping her lips, still disgusted by the lingering sensation of the kiss. Shaking off the frustration, she refocused on her mission and made her way to the Hokage's office.

She knocked on the door, hearing Kakashi's calm voice from inside. "Come in."

"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura began, her voice firm but carrying an unmistakable urgency.

Kakashi immediately picked up on her tone. With a quick hand sign, he cast a sound-sealing jutsu around the room to ensure their privacy. "Go ahead," he said, his demeanor calm, but his gaze sharp, anticipating something important.

Sakura took a deep breath, making sure they were truly alone before she spoke. "That guy, Shoi... I got some information from him, and it's bad. Really bad." She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in. "It's about an Ōtsutsuki who's still here."

Kakashi's expression darkened, his full attention now on her.

She explained everything Shoi had revealed about Isshiki Ōtsutsuki—the betrayal by Kaguya, Isshiki's survival inside a human vessel. She left out how she got the information, focusing solely on the critical details.

When she finished, Kakashi leaned back, processing everything. "Do you believe him? Could he be telling the truth?" His voice was low, cautious.

Sakura nodded. "I do. He knew things about Kaguya that aren't common knowledge. If he's right about her, then he could be right about Isshiki too."

Kakashi rubbed his chin, his expression thoughtful. "If Isshiki is still alive, we're dealing with something far more dangerous than we expected." He paused before continuing.

"We'll keep a close watch on Shoi, but he can't know we're onto him. I'll have someone investigate him quietly. In the meantime, we proceed with extreme caution."

Sakura nodded, feeling the weight of their next steps. The stakes were higher than ever.