The Sakura Legend

Red Shoal Island

By afternoon, Sakura's ship finally approached Red Shoal Island. Just like Ise Town, the harbor here was choked with boats that looked like they hadn't seen the open sea in ages.

"Captain Haruno, this is Red Shoal Island," Ryuichi announced as Sakura stepped off the boat.

"Seriously? This place doesn't look any different," Kiba grumbled, gazing towards the town in the distance.

"While it might look like an ordinary town, it's far removed from the conflicts elsewhere. Some merchants from Ise Town have even settled here. If you head further inland, there's some rather nice scenery," Ryuichi explained.

"Huh. Guess it could be a good spot," Kiba conceded, sniffing the air.

"How is this place managed? Does it fall under Ise Town's jurisdiction?" Sakura asked, watching the people bustling around the docks. Most of them wore worried expressions.

"No, it's not under our administration. They govern themselves," Ryuichi clarified. "Lord Chino simply has an envoy stationed here permanently to liaise with their village head. Let's go pay our respects to the headman first. They were the ones who initially discovered the monster. When they couldn't handle it, they appealed to us for help. At first, the creature only appeared around Red Shoal Island, but then it started showing up at sea as well. We had no choice but to issue the mission request."

Ryuichi instructed his subordinates to stay behind and guard the ship, then led Sakura and her team into the town.

They followed a main road leading into the settlement. Before long, Sakura spotted an old, somewhat decayed torii gate standing by the path. Right in the center of the upper beam was a plaque, surprisingly new, which clashed with the weathered wood of the gate itself. On it were the characters for "Red Shoal."

"This torii is the only old structure they refused to let us tear down," Ryuichi explained as they walked. "That plaque is a recent replacement; the original was too worn to make out any writing. According to the locals, this place has always been called Red Shoal Island. We put the sign up after teaching them how to read." He paused, adding, "It's strange, really. They were willing to dismantle their old ritual site, but they adamantly refused to let this rotting gate be touched. Since we needed their cooperation, we let it stay."

"Is that so? Is there a story behind this gate?" Sakura reached out, tracing the grain of the unknown wood. The decaying surface seemed to hum with the weight of ages, a feeling that transcended time.

"I'm not entirely sure," Ryuichi admitted. "If you're interested, you could ask the village head shortly. He's the oldest person here; he might know something." Seeing Sakura pause, Ryuichi stopped beside her.

Sakura channeled a thread of chakra into the torii's wood. There was nothing inherently special about it, but she could sense the wood was incredibly dense. Despite the decay on the surface, the core remained remarkably solid.

Shaking her head slightly, Sakura pulled her hand back. "Let's go. We should meet the village head first. The mission takes priority."

"Ah, yes. Right this way," Ryuichi said, looking slightly relieved. Since that morning, he'd noticed Sakura seemed quite preoccupied with Red Shoal Island's history and had worried she might lose focus on the task at hand.

As they continued, Sakura observed the town. It was just as Ryuichi had described – an ordinary settlement. If not for his earlier explanations, she might have dismissed it entirely.

Her heightened interest in this small island stemmed from Hinata's earlier comment about the fish growing larger and more numerous the closer they got. Then Ryuichi had mentioned how exceptionally delicious the local fish and beef were, reminding Sakura of the Ise Beef, which supposedly only achieved its top quality when raised on this island. She also recalled him saying that the local grass, if planted elsewhere, grew normally, but here, it developed properties that altered the quality of the meat.

Connecting these points, Sakura formed a tentative hypothesis: perhaps something inherent to Red Shoal Island itself influenced the growth of living things. Maybe the secret to the Ise Beef's quality wasn't solely the grass.

Her subsequent questions about the island's history had only deepened the mystery. Ryuichi's vague answers made the entire place feel shrouded in fog. She'd initially assumed an isolated island wouldn't have much history worth uncovering, but his words hinted at something more significant. Perhaps descendants of refugees from the Warring States era had settled here? Or maybe... maybe this island had simply never been recorded in the annals of the shinobi world.

Following Ryuichi, they arrived at a residence nearly as large as the Uchiha compound back in Konoha. Well, Sakura thought wryly, I guess the original inhabitants didn't leave everything behind after all.

Ryuichi led them inside. In the reception hall, Sakura caught sight of the low table and cushions arranged for seating. Oh, for crying out loud, she cursed inwardly, her expression tightening as she knelt awkwardly on the cushion. She took a moment to study the village head seated opposite them.

He was indeed old, his face more deeply lined than even the Third Hokage's had been.

"So, these are the so-called ninja, Ryuichi," the village head spoke, his voice raspy with age.

"Yes, Headman," Ryuichi replied respectfully.

"Greetings. I am Soga Kazuo, headman of Red Shoal Village," the old man continued, his voice echoing slightly in the spacious room. "I trust you are aware of the reason we requested your presence. However, as we have never ventured beyond this island, we know very little about ninja. Perhaps... you could demonstrate your abilities for us?"

What kind of name is Soga? Sakura mentally grumbled. She'd encountered plenty of odd surnames, but that one just sounded incredibly awkward to say.

"Greetings, Headman So...ga," Sakura began, pausing slightly. "I am Haruno Sakura, the leader of this mission. Before we proceed to anything else, I would like to get a more detailed understanding of the situation you're facing."

"Very well," Headman Soga nodded slowly. "Actually, this isn't the first time this... monster... has appeared."

"Oh? So this has happened before?" Sakura asked, surprised.

"Yes. Long before your people discovered Red Shoal Island. Much longer ago," the headman said, closing his eyes as if sinking into memory. "The monster invasions are actually why we started raising cattle in the first place. When I was very young, cattle were solely used for labor in the village; we rarely ate them. But one year, terrible monsters appeared in the sea, making it lethally dangerous. Anyone who sailed out simply never returned. Out of desperation, forced to find a way to survive, we focused all our efforts on breeding the cattle faster. Many people died, but we managed to endure those years. That event changed everything – cattle became our primary food source. Much later, you outsiders arrived. It was because of that past crisis that we were willing to accept you."

He certainly doesn't mince words, Sakura thought. "I see. Do you know what the monster looks like?"

"No. Back then, no one who saw it lived to describe it," Headman Soga stated flatly. "The situation now is similar to those times, though perhaps not quite as severe. Still, we cannot afford to be unprepared. I heard from the outsiders that there is a profession called 'ninja,' people who possess the power to move mountains and overturn seas. That is why I asked Ise Town to request your assistance. Now, could you show us what you can do?"

"Is there truly no further information?" Sakura pressed. This is exactly what Lord Chino told me.

"None," the headman shook his head. "Even if you ask others, they won't know more than I do."

"Alright then," Sakura conceded, pushing herself to her feet. "If you wish to see a demonstration, find us an open space. The stories from Ise Town might be a bit exaggerated – moving mountains is beyond us. But dealing with the kind of monsters you describe should be manageable."

"Please, follow me," Headman Soga said, rising slowly and heading towards the door.

Based on their descriptions, Sakura mused as she followed, these monsters can't be overwhelmingly powerful. If they were, how could these villagers have possibly survived until now?

"Kiba, you're up," Sakura called back to her teammate. "Go show them a few tricks." There was no way she was going to be put on display like some circus act for this old man.

"Huh? Why me?!" Kiba protested, Akamaru barking in agreement.

"Because I'm the captain," Sakura stated lightly, tossing the words over her shoulder as she walked out after the headman.

"Damn it! Just you wait, Sakura! I'll definitely make Jonin before you do!" Kiba swore under his breath, glaring daggers at her retreating back.

"Give it up, Kiba," Shino stated bluntly from beside him. "Based on current progress, Sakura will almost certainly be promoted to Jonin first."

"Ah... haha, Kiba, I believe in you!" Hinata offered, attempting to console him.