Sakura's unease finally came true when she saw the dozens of 'patients' lying inside the room — without exception, all showing signs of pregnancy.
Before Sakura could even react, Sasuke took a swift step forward, lightning seeming to crackle around her.
Bang!
Intense sparks exploded violently.
Only then did Sakura suddenly become alert, noticing a sharp sword blade pressed against her neck, holding back a pair of malicious hands.
The attacker was none other than Shinnō!
The kind and compassionate expression from moments ago had completely transformed into a chilling, blood-red cold glare that sent shivers down the spine.
"Ah, so I've been stopped after all."
Shinnō seemed a bit surprised that Sasuke noticed his move, but after seeing Sasuke's eyes, he understood.
"I see, no wonder you could stop me. From the very beginning, you never believed a word I said, right?"
"Heh, you showed too many flaws, old man!"
Sasuke sneered, pulling Sakura back while maintaining a vigilant stance.
"From the first moment you looked at me, I guessed you were far from simple. Your eyes are disgusting. If you have someone to blame, blame yourself for such a poor disguise — even the kids at the ninja academy could see through it!"
Hearing Sasuke's words, Sakura felt a strange pang of guilt, her face burning with embarrassment.
In truth, she hadn't noticed anything suspicious about Shinnō at all. Even with Sasuke's warning, she almost fell into his trap. It was utterly shameful!
Shinnō paid no mind to the girl's taunts. Calmly wiping his hands, he smiled and said, "What a pity. Looks like I'll have to be more careful next time."
"What exactly is going on here?"
Sasuke tightened her grip on the sword, the three tomoe in her eyes slowly spinning. "Why have so many pregnant women been captured? And what about those men?"
It was simply shocking!
Yet this strange scene unfolded right before their eyes, impossible to deny even if they wanted to.
"Don't you think this is the true embodiment of great power?" Shinnō suddenly became unusually excited, waving his arms as he shouted, "What a magnificent miracle this is — the power of the sacred Mother Goddess who nurtures thousands of offspring!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Sasuke and Sakura were both shaken to their core by his words, their worldview almost shattered.
"It's okay. It's normal that you don't understand it yet," Shinnō said, seeming to slip into a kind of madness, his face burning with fervor as he stared at them. His eyes revealed naked, unhidden greed and desire.
"Once you experience it yourselves, you'll understand just how great this power truly is!"
"He wants to turn us into that too?" Sakura asked, horror flashing across her face as she covered her mouth. "No, I'm only sixteen. I don't want to get pregnant!"
"Watch out!"
Sasuke's three tomoe on her Sharingan spun rapidly as she kicked Sakura away and then vanished instantly with a Body Flicker Technique.
Boom!
Where she had just been standing, thick and strange blood-red vines suddenly erupted!
Those crimson vines grew at an astonishing speed. In just a few blinks, they spread wildly all around, as if out of control, trying to grab both Sakura and Sasuke.
Sakura was trapped, about to be dragged away by the vines when she cried out, "Ah, help me!"
Whoosh!
Like a divine warrior descending from the sky, Sasuke's blade, wrapped in blinding lightning, cut through every single vine.
But Shinnō's smile grew even wider. Raising his hand, he pressed it firmly onto the ground.
In an instant, more vines burst out from the earth, dense and countless, forming a wave of plants surging toward the two.
"Chidori!"
Violent, roaring lightning instantly covered over ten meters around them.
The searing heat burned all the vines to ashes. Seizing the moment, Sasuke grabbed Sakura's shoulder and leapt hard, flying up to the rooftop beam of the courtyard.
Yet, just as they were about to leave, Sasuke and Sakura collided with a strange, soft scarlet barrier.
The barrier felt thin and fragile, but Sasuke used all her strength. Blessed by her dragon bloodline, she punched the barrier—and only faint ripples appeared!
"This is... a barrier?!"
Sasuke thought to herself, This is bad—this guy actually set up a barrier in advance!
"Hahaha, you can't escape!" Shinnō laughed wildly from below. "Once you step into this courtyard, no one can leave without my permission!"
As he spoke, he threw out a large number of seeds again. A surge of powerful life energy burst forth from his body, raining down like a heavy storm.
The seeds that touched the overflowing vitality quickly took root and sprouted.
"Be careful. This guy's ability should be similar to the First Hokage's!" Sasuke analyzed based on their brief fight just now. "He can probably control vines and plants. Just watch your step carefully. I'll deal with him, but whatever you do, don't get caught!"
"Got it. Don't worry!"
Sakura confidently patted her chest. "Last time I was careless, but this time won't happen. After all, I'm already a qualified Chunin!"
By the time they finished speaking, the seeds Shinnō had spawned had already grown.
But to Sasuke and Sakura's shock, what emerged from the seeds wasn't ordinary plants.
Instead, they were fierce-looking, grotesque flesh monsters with both plant and animal traits. They looked like skinned wolf-dogs, twisted beyond recognition.
What was even more disturbing was that their exposed brain tissue was clearly visible, slowly pulsing and flowing!
"Ugh!"
Sakura couldn't stand to watch.
Although she had assisted Tsunade in a few surgeries, this scene was so disgusting it was beyond normal understanding.
"What... what are these things?!" Sasuke was equally horrified. No matter how she looked at these creatures born from the seeds, they radiated an eerie, terrifying evil!
"The pink-haired girl doesn't matter. Kill her."
Shinnō gave the order, his tone carefree and arrogant.
The next moment, more than a dozen flesh-and-blood monsters born from the seeds all aimed their targets at Sakura.
"Why is everyone looking at me?!"
Sakura was almost in tears. Even if she wasn't as pretty as Sasuke, she didn't deserve this kind of discrimination, right?
But unfortunately, those monsters didn't understand her words. Or rather, even if they did, they wouldn't answer.
In an instant, blood-red streaks of light shot along the courtyard walls.
From all directions, they surrounded Sakura. Their ferocious roars made one's heart tremble with fear!
Sasuke wanted to help, but she was suddenly stopped by Shinnō who appeared right in front of her. "Little girl, you belong to me!"
Boom!
Shinnō's seemingly ordinary punch contained astonishing power.
Even Sasuke barely blocked the blow, but she was knocked back more than ten meters, her arms numb and aching.
"What a heavy fist!" Sakura was a bit surprised deep down. She knew well how strong her own body was, but the opponent's strength seemed even greater!
*******
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