Hello wonderful readers! Well September has been a monsoon of a month for me, how about you guys? And now we're about to enter into the month of pumpkins, treats and tricks. Hope these chapters gives the best kick into the new month. Enjoy!
Eri's peaceful slumber granted Sakura a temporary respite from the emotional turmoil that consumed her. While the young girl found solace in dreams, Sakura remained restless, her mind racing with thoughts and plans. She wore a persistent smile throughout the day, ensuring that Eri's fragile heart remained at ease, while deep within her, a storm brewed.
The weight of Eri's past and the darkness that engulfed her soul was like festering wounds. Sakura couldn't fathom the extent of the atrocities the young girl had endured. It resonated too closely with the horrors she had witnessed under Orochimaru, the suffering of those subjected to his cruel experiments. It was a haunting reminder that sometimes this world might reflect a little too closely with hers at times, and that wasn't a good thing at the moment.
As Sakura engaged in the activities that distracted Eri, she was unable to find a moment of peace for herself. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions, her heart ached with anger and determination.
Revenge, a concept she had once admonished, now resurfaced in her thoughts. The primal urge to obliterate the darkness that plagued Eri, embodied in the form of Overhaul, consumed her.
Every smile she bestowed upon Eri was accompanied by a clandestine construction of her next move. Sakura knew that her actions carried great weight and consequences. She had witnessed firsthand the devastating toll revenge had taken on Sasuke, and yet, at this moment, she was willing to abandon all caution and heed the call of her fury.
Despite the turmoil that threatened to engulf her, Sakura understood that she couldn't afford to lose her composure. Eri's delicate existence rested in her hands. She had become the girl's protector. Sakura knew that any misstep on her part would have dire consequences.
So she vowed to be the calm within the storm, to gather her thoughts and formulate a plan that would rid Eri of the horrors that plagued her.
The original looked at her with a sharp glare, "You know what to do,"
Sakura's clone gazed at her reflection in the mirror, contemplating her next move. The air in the small cabin was thick with tension as she weighed the risks and benefits of her plan. She knew she had to act, to draw out and bring an end to Chisaki's reign.
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Arriving at the underground fight clubs, Sakura's clone knew she would find what she was looking for here. The dimly lit room was filled with a cacophony of voices, the air thick with the smell of sweat and anticipation. She blended into the crowd, her presence like a phantom among the boisterous fighters and eager spectators.
News of Nemesis had spread like wildfire through the underground network. Whispers of her exploits had reached the ears of those hungry for blood and glory especially since Shie Hassaikai had put a bounty on her head to be brought back alive.
The crowd murmured in excitement, their eyes fixed on the enigmatic figure in the black suit.
The arena was shrouded in darkness, the only source of light emanating from the spotlight that illuminated Sakura's clone standing in the center of the ring. The silhouette of her opponent, another fallen victim to her devastating punch, loomed on the other side. This time, the prize money held no allure for Sakura; she sought something far more precious—notoriety. Fighter after fighter had succumbed to her skill, eager to claim the reward awaiting the victor.
"Another one bites the dust! Nemesis hasn't lost his touch!" roared the announcer, his voice reverberating through the arena.
Hours had passed since Sakura had entered the ring, fighting through the night with unwavering determination. Each opponent proved futile, unable to withstand the force of her initial blow. As Sakura continued her assault, her eyes darted across the audience, observing their reactions. If Giran's information held, she wouldn't need to search the city for Kai Chisaki's men; they would come to her. Perhaps this battle would even serve as the bait that would draw the elusive snake out of his hideout.
For Sakura, this was more than just a fight; it was a crucial step toward putting an end to the chaos. As much as she yearned to charge headfirst into the enemy's lair, she knew the importance of cornering Kai. There could be no room for escape, no chance for him to slip through her fingers. Eri's future depended on it, and Sakura refused to let her live in the shadow of fear any longer.
Time was slipping away, and Sakura's restlessness grew with each passing moment. She longed for a swift resolution, but she understood the importance of patience and strategy. Fishing for her prey would take time, and she had to be prepared. Impulsivity could lead to failure, and Sakura couldn't afford to let that happen.
Her patience was finally rewarded when she glanced up at the commentator's stand. Though she couldn't discern their words, the distinctive plague mask worn by one of the commentators confirmed their affiliation with Shie Hassaikai.
"Well, unfortunately, folks, that concludes tonight's events. Thank you for joining us, and don't forget to come back for the next thrilling installment! Good night!" announced the commentator, his voice laced with an air of finality.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, some questioning the early conclusion of the event. Speculation arose, but many assumed that the absence of repeat fighters was the reason behind the abrupt ending. Nemesis had emerged from the shadows, leaving a lasting impression on the spectators.
As Nemesis was summoned to the backstage area to collect her well-deserved reward, Sakura couldn't help but smirk. Oh, she intended to collect. This was merely the first step towards her ultimate goal, the showdown that would bring her face to face with Kai Chisaki and his twisted organization.
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Sakura chuckled, listening to the pained groans like it was a melody. "And here I thought I would have something to worry about. I'm surprised you are this foolish,"
"P-Please," The stage owner stammered, "I'll give you the money, whatever you want!"
The moment Sakura had darkened the halls of the spectator-free area, they tried to jump her. The leftover opponents for the night were waiting for their share of blood. Eager to ambush her. With lightning speed, she launched herself into action. Her fists and feet moved with calculated precision, a symphony of violence. The sound of bones breaking and bodies hitting the floor filled the room. Each strike was fueled by her desire, for an end to the suffering caused by Chisaki and his twisted experiments.
As the dust settled, Sakura's clone stood victorious amidst the fallen foes. There was likely a heavy deal struck here for that to happen. It didn't matter as long as Sakura could get what she wanted. And right now what she wanted was writhing in pain, backed against the wall, with unconscious bodies scattered along the hallway that was now a mass of blood and shattered bones.
"Luckily, you've already brought me what I need," Her eyes were now fixed on the man who was trembling in the corner.
"What- what are you going to do?" He stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
A cold smile played on Sakura's clone's lips as she replied, her voice laced with determination, "Make you talk."
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Torture was not a skill Sakura took pride in, but because this circumstance was brought about for Eri's sake, she knew she had to do whatever it took to get the information she needed. Overhaul's loyal henchman had proved to be a formidable adversary during the interrogation. His resolve to protect his organization or rather his boss, was almost unyielding, but Sakura was equally determined to uncover the truth.
She led the yakuza member to an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city, far from prying eyes and the chance of anyone hearing his screams. The desolate structure loomed ominously, its walls bearing witness to secrets and suffering. Sakura pushed aside her emotions and focused on the task at hand.
The room inside was devoid of any comforts, its walls with tearing paint and cracks were soon covered in blood splatters.
She began her interrogation with calculated precision, applying pressure to the yakuza members ' pressure points and inflicting pain in strategic areas. She knew the human body like a master sculptor knows their clay, and she molded the man's suffering to her advantage.
As the pain intensified, so did the yakuza members ' resistance. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to Sakura's tactics. But she was relentless, a force of nature driven by the need to protect Eri and put an end to Chisaki's malevolence.
With each passing moment, the man's facade began to crack. His voice wavered, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The room echoed with his muffled cries, the agony of his torment manifesting in every fiber of his being.
"Please, I'll tell you nothing!"
Sakura remained stoic, her eyes unwavering. "Your loyalty is commendable, but I must protect someone. I need to know everything about Shie Hassakai."
The man gritted his teeth, trying to suppress his pain, but Sakura's expertise made it almost impossible for him to withstand. She applied pressure to strategic points on his body, inducing discomfort that rapidly escalated to searing pain.
"Argh! You won't break me!" he shouted defiantly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"We'll see about that," Sakura replied calmly.
Sakura knew she couldn't rely solely on physical pain. She needed to dig deeper, to unearth the buried secrets that lay within the yakuza member's mind. And so, she delved into the recesses of his psyche, using her medical knowledge to induce hallucinations and nightmares.
The man's resistance faltered further as his mind became a battlefield of terror and despair. He could no longer differentiate between reality and the twisted visions Sakura had conjured. His mind became a canvas, painted with the horrors of his own making.
"I-I can't... please, no more," he pleaded, his spirit finally breaking under Sakura's unwavering pressure.
Sakura paused, "I need to know about Shie Hassakai's leader Overhaul. Where he is and what he is going to do next,"
In his weakened state, he finally broke, his body trembling with exhaustion and fear.
He spilled the secrets of Shie Hassakai, divulging their relentless pursuit of Nemesis and Eri, whom he needed to use to create the quirk-canceling drug. In hopes that he would be able to revive the yakuza and stand on top as the new number-one villain.
Sakura listened intently, her heart heavy with the weight of the information she had uncovered.
"He will never let her go….."
The man's confession left a bitter taste in Sakura's mouth...
With the knowledge she had gained, Sakura knew that her next move had to be strategic and swift. She had to be one step ahead of Chisaki's men, to anticipate their every move. The safety of Eri depended on it.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura looked at the yakuza member before her. He was a broken man, a mere shell of his former self.
She took out her phone and dialed a number quickly, "Here's what I got,"
As she left the abandoned building, the night air embraced her like a cloak. The moon cast a pale glow over the world, it's light a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was still hope.
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Sakura sat under the futon, her fingers gently playing with Eri's soft hair as the girl continued to sleep beside her. The soothing rhythm of her touch seemed to have a calming effect on Eri, and Sakura hoped that her dreams would stay pleasant amidst the turmoil that surrounded them.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from Eri for a moment. It was from her clone, reporting on the information she had obtained from the yakuza member they had interrogated.
"I see... Good work," Sakura murmured to herself. The clone had managed to find one of Kai's men who knew the location of their main base. But that was just one of many bases scattered around, making the task of taking down Shie Hassakai all the more challenging. "Why did you call though, I get all the information when the jutsu is….oh clean up huh? Alright, make it quick, and don't get spotted….Alright do a quick scope but don't make a move,"
Sakura turned off her phone and returned her focus to Eri. The girl's fever seemed to have worsened after her quirk almost lost control. Sakura knew that Eri blamed herself for not being able to control her power, but the truth was that she had been a victim of circumstance, manipulated by Kai so that she would be more complacent in his twisted experiments.
As a medic, Sakura tried to assess Eri's condition as best she could, but the girl herself didn't fully understand the extent of her quirk. All she knew was a small extent of the damage it had caused and the guilt that burdened her young heart.
UA. gave lessons on quirks, and it was explained that sometimes individuals weren't able to control their own powers, especially children, it was like an infant learning to crawl and then walk. There were phases. Most of the time a quirk would grow with a person, so it would have an infancy phase, toddler, and so on. But other times the full extent of its power was granted. Like how the first incident recorded was of a newborn would emitted a light. While others waited until they were four to develop one.
In that vulnerable state, Kai decided to step in and use Eri for his ambitions.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura formulated her plan. She knew that taking down Shie Hassakai needed to be executed flawlessly. Kai was the leader of this group, but he likely had a few close henchmen, and Sakura had experience in dealing with the type. They also formed their ideas that stemmed from their leader's and there was no chance she would allow Eri to fall into that situation again.
The weight of the task ahead pressed on Sakura's shoulders. She wanted nothing more than to erase the darkness that had cast its shadow over Eri's life. If it meant painting everything in red to achieve that, she was prepared to do so.
Her thoughts turned to her friends, the ones she could trust with her life. If they were with her, she would be able to formulate the best counter. But it was just her. She would need to be the one to protect Eri while working towards taking down Shie Hassaikai.
Sakura glanced down at Eri, with a sense of protectiveness. She couldn't let anything happen to the young girl, not when she had already suffered so much. The moment she stepped in to save Eri, she decided that she would be the shield that stood between Eri and any harm that may come her way. Now she was going to have to make good on that.
As the night wore on, Sakura's mind buzzed with plans and strategies. She knew the path ahead would be risky considering her own position in this world right now, but she was ready to face whatever came her way.
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The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm embrace over the house in the forest. Sakura sat by Eri's side, her hand gently brushing through the girl's tousled hair. Eri had developed a fever and flu-like symptoms, leaving her feeling weak. As if she hadn't endured enough already.
"Here, sweetie, let me check your temperature," Sakura said softly, reaching for the thermometer. She placed it under Eri's arm, holding her close as she waited for the reading.
Eri looked up at Sakura with tired eyes, her cheeks flushed with fever. "Sakura... what's wrong with me?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing," Sakura reassured her. "You're just not feeling well, that's all. It's normal for kids to get sick sometimes."
There were plenty of reasons Eri had fallen sick, the emotional turmoil alone was enough to cause physical symptoms. High stress, shocking her nervous system to this point. And it could just as easily be her quirk losing control as well.
Sakura gently wiped Eri's forehead with a damp cloth, hoping to alleviate some of the discomforts. "Shhh, it's okay. I'm here with you, and I'm going to take care of you. You'll feel better soon, I promise."
She brought a bowl of simple broth to Eri's bedside, encouraging her to take small sips. "You need to stay hydrated, Eri. It'll help you feel better."
Eri nodded weakly, obediently sipping the warm broth.
After finishing the broth, Sakura made a cup of soothing tea for Eri. She knew that the herbs in the tea would help alleviate some of the flu symptoms and provide a sense of comfort.
"Here, sip this slowly," Sakura said, holding the cup to Eri's lips. "It'll help soothe your throat and calm your body."
Eri nodded, taking small sips of the tea. Sakura sat beside her, gently rubbing her back in soothing circles. She could feel the girl's body relaxing under her touch, her breathing becoming steadier.
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As the day wore on, Sakura continued to care for Eri, bringing her blankets and making sure she was comfortable. She stayed by her side, holding her hand and whispering words of comfort and reassurance.
"It's going to be alright, Eri," Sakura said softly. "You're strong, and you'll get through this. I won't leave your side until you're feeling better."
Eri looked up at Sakura with tearful eyes, her small hand gripping onto Sakura's tightly. "Promise?"
"Promise," Sakura replied, her voice filled with sincerity. "I'm right here."
Eri closed her eyes, a small smile forming on her lips.
When night arrived, Eri had already drifted off to sleep, her fever starting to break. Sakura remained by her side, keeping a watchful eye on the girl.
"You're going to be just fine, Eri," Sakura whispered, her voice a gentle lullaby beneath the moonlit canopy. "I promise."
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The air inside the dimly lit bar was thick with the scent of smoke and heavy cologne. Nighteye sat at the counter, his keen eyes scanning the room as he patiently waited for his target to appear. He was not accustomed to being on the front lines, preferring to handle matters through his sidekicks with the aid of his powerful quirk, Foresight.
Tonight, however, the delays in their current project had forced him to take matters into his own hands. The weight of responsibility pressed upon his shoulders, but Nighteye was resolute. He was willing to adapt to a circumstance if it would get this cold case thawing out.
As the minutes turned into hours, he endured the rambling drunks and the noise that filled the establishment. The patrons around him were unaware of the grave purpose behind his presence, merely seeing him as just another customer in a sea of faces.
Finally, his keen senses picked up on the subtle shift in the atmosphere as his target made his entrance. The man was well intoxicated, his steps stumbling and his laughter boisterous. Seizing the opportunity, Nighteye approached him with a feigned expression of concern.
"Are you alright, sir?" he asked, his voice laced with a facade of kindness.
The man blinked, his bleary gaze focusing on Nighteye's face. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just had one too many, you know?" he slurred, gesturing to the half-empty bottle of whiskey in his hand.
Nighteye knew better. His quirk allowed him to peer into the future, glimpsing the threads of fate that weaved around every individual. What he saw was a chilling vision, a future none too bright for this individual. But finally, the lead he may have been looking for.
Nighteye's demeanor did not falter, as his glasses hid the true reflection of his eyes that flashed whenever he used his quirk, but he had to keep his facial expression in check as well so as not to startle him.
This target of his was a patron of Shie Hassaikai and had been recorded in repeat dealings, he was also part of a group that had a history of dealing. Nighteye had come out, hoping to find one of the direct members but this was also a fruitful discovery and good use of Foresight.
Though not in the manner he was expecting.
He called one of his sidekicks immediately after leaving the club, "I've got something…..a location. Yes on Shie Hassaikai but also the girl,"
He could hear his sidekick blubbering a bit with questions, but he answered swiftly in turn.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes…" Nighteye looked up at the stars through the cities filter, "Get ready; because according to the future, he will also make an appearance,"
He turned off his phone, and moved through the streets, readying for another long night in the office. "Nemesis, this ends now,"
That's all folks! Don't forget to check out my Tumblr where I have new shoutouts for new members and where you'll be able to keep up with the new schedule for next month and upcoming fanarts that bring my stories to life in a new medium.
Okay Bye-Wait I've got a SNEAK PEEK for you!
CHAPTER 51
"Ryukyu!"
The villain laughed menacingly, swinging the beam again, "IT'S OVER HEROES!"
"Dammit!" Sakura cursed under her breath.
Without hesitation, she jumped in and caught the beam just in time, preventing Nighteye from being crushed. The heavy winds stopped immediately after Sakura caught the beam, her small arms wrapped around them.
"Who is that!?" Rocklock asked, astonished by her intervention.
"Nemesis," Nighteye said calmly, a tone Sakura found peculiar given his close brush with disaster. Why was he so calm, he didn't even attempt to move out of the way when he saw the beam coming towards him or at least flinch.
Nighteye reached out and touched her shoulder from behind instead of going for her mask as she assumed.
"Where is Overhaul's daughter?" Nighteye asked, his quirk activated, his eyes changing subtly.
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-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter 51, 52, 53
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter 18, 19, 20
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 13, 14
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 17, 18, 19
-Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4
Public post 15 th October
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes Movie part 2
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter 18