Sakura, just like her name, was like a cherry blossom.
"I think so too! The moment I saw it, I decided to buy it," Sakura said happily.
At the same time, she took something out of her handbag, clenched her fist, and extended it in front of Aoba.
Her slender, white fingers opened, revealing a pink cherry blossom pendant.
"This hairpin actually comes in a pair, but I turned this one into a pendant. I tied this knot myself."
"For me?", Aoba asked.
"Hm!"
"Then put it on me."
———
The four of them arrived at the event venue.
The place was bustling, and a long line had already formed.
At the same time, they also saw a few familiar faces.
"Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, you guys came too!", Naruto started shouting from far away.
The four of them walked over, and Shikamaru's group looked over too.
"Didn't expect you, Shikamaru, to come to this kind of event too?", Aoba sounded surprised. Considering the other party's 'troublesome' personality, he probably even found going out to be a drag.
Shikamaru had a numb expression, "I was forcibly dragged here to make up the numbers."
He looked around and became a little confused, asking in a low voice, "Why is it only Sakura here?"
"Because this event can only be attended in pairs. Ino and the others are afraid of ghosts…"
Shikamaru instantly understood. After looking around the scene, he noticed that there were indeed fewer girls, and most of them came with boys.
He also didn't ask why it was Sakura that Aoba came with. Girls' emotions were too much of a drag for him.
"By the way, Shikamaru, with the three of you, how are you going to team up?", Naruto asked from the side.
"Are you an idiot?"
Kiba gave him a dead-fish stare, then pointed behind him, "Didn't you see Shino behind me?"
Naruto looked blank, rubbed his eyes, and pointed behind Kiba as well, "But that's not Shino behind you?"
"How's that possible!"
Kiba turned around and looked, only to find a stranger, "Huh? Where's Shino?"
He immediately looked around and indeed didn't see Aburame Shino anywhere.
"Strange, where did Shino go?"
"Pfft! Haha!", Naruto couldn't hold back his laughter, "Kiba, you're the idiot here."
"You idiot!"
Kiba glared at Naruto, then looked at Shikamaru and Choji, "Shino came with us, right?"
Shikamaru and Choji nodded, though they looked a bit confused too.
"Could he have gotten separated on the way?", Aoba guessed.
"No, he was still with us while we were lining up," Shikamaru replied helplessly.
Sometimes, having a friend with low presence was quite troublesome.
"Then you guys line up first. I'll go look for Shino," Kiba said, just about to move.
"No need, I'm back," Aburame Shino suddenly appeared in front of them, wearing sunglasses and holding some snacks.
Aoba was a bit worried if he could see the road clearly.
"Shino, where did you go?"
Kiba was overjoyed, he thought he'd be too late to join the event.
"…"
Stare—
Kiba was stared at by Shino for quite a while, and it made him a bit embarrassed.
"Wha… What's wrong?"
"I seem to recall telling you I was going to get some food?"
"Uh…"
The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment.
Shikamaru finally broke the awkwardness.
"Aoba, if you're going to participate, you better go line up quickly."
"Otherwise when there are more people, the line will be even longer."
Aoba glanced at the growing crowd and realized how serious the situation was, smiling as he said, "Then we'll go line up first, see you later."
"Mm, see you later."
———
Meanwhile.
In the forest.
A ring of flames surrounded an area.
This was a barrier that Uchiha Obito had prepared in advance.
Its name, Uchiha Flame Formation!
This was originally a defensive barrier technique, but at this moment, Uchiha Obito used it to prevent the Uchiha clan members present from escaping.
Puchi!
Uchiha Obito stabbed a kunai into the chest of a Uchiha member. Before the other lost his life completely, his eyes still held fury as he looked at him.
But in Uchiha Obito's eyes, there was only contempt.
"No need to hate me like this. Leaving this false world is a release for you."
As time slowly passed, one after another, the Uchiha members were killed by Uchiha Obito.
His actions of killing and taking eyes were done in one smooth motion.
Even Uchiha Fugaku, who had mentally prepared himself long ago, was now genuinely furious, not pretending at all.
"UCHIHA ITACHI!"
Uchiha Fugaku roared in anger, moving even faster, now fully pressing Uchiha Itachi.
Facing his father's offensive, Uchiha Itachi was surprised. He hadn't expected his father to be this strong.
A long time passed.
Only three people were left alive in the field: Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Fugaku.
"Huff!"
"Huff!"
Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi had both stopped moving, panting heavily.
"Uchiha Itachi, looks like you still can't bring yourself to do it."
Although Uchiha Itachi seemed to be fighting with all his might, he had never used his Mangekyō Sharingan's eye techniques.
Techniques that could end the battle instantly.
Uchiha Itachi was also somewhat surprised, he didn't understand how Uchiha Obito could keep using his eye techniques like there were no side effects.
"I'll leave him to you. I'm going to handle the people at the clan grounds."
"Do you not need help with the elderly, weak, women, and children?", Uchiha Obito's tone carried a trace of contempt. A man who couldn't even cut off his bonds could accomplish nothing.
Uchiha Itachi sheathed his blade and gave him a cold glance, "No need."
"Uchiha Itachi, what are you trying to do? Are you really going to attack the clan's civilians?", Uchiha Fugaku cursed furiously and threw a kunai toward Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi merely tilted his body slightly, and all the kunai landed on the tree trunk.
Uchiha Obito waved his hand to release the barrier.
Uchiha Itachi said no more, using Body Flicker Technique to head for the Uchiha clan grounds.
"YOU BASTARD!", Uchiha Fugaku's eyes were bloodshot, and he was about to chase after him.
But Uchiha Obito blocked his path, "Sorry, I can't let you go."
"You bastard, who the hell are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is, you're going to die here."
Uchiha Obito crossed his arms, his tone full of contempt, clearly not putting Uchiha Fugaku in his eyes.
"HMPH! THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO DIE HERE IS YOU!"
Just as Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Fugaku were at a standoff, a loud and powerful voice rang out.
Wearing combat gear, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped out from the darkness, his eyes flashing with intimidating light.
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't look at all like an elderly man in his seventies. The aura of a seasoned shinobi was fully revealed on him.
As for Uchiha Itachi, after leaving the battlefield, he had changed his target and was rushing toward the Root's location.
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