Part 3 (Searching)

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"It was all according to Shizuma's plan, huh..."

A cold chill ran down Sarada's spine as she listened to Hachiya's story. They were still running through the fog in search of Boruto.

Shizuma's plan killed two birds with one stone: first, obtaining Kagura as a symbol and launching a coup d'état, and second, acquisition of the powerful and unrivaled ninja swords to use as their weapons of war. Like his approach in gathering the new seven ninja swordsmen, he intended to rally citizens who were dissatisfied with the current way of life and rise against the current Mizukage in a ridiculous attempt at war. His goal was to return Hidden Mist back to the bloody mist era.

It wasn't like she could say they had no chance of winning. The village would likely fall into chaos, panicking citizens left and right.

"That being said, to think Kagura-san was actually that cornered..."

After hearing the story, Sarada finally put together the missing pieces of her mental puzzle. The reason why Kagura loved and appreciated the changes in the village so much. Why he felt responsible for the past ways of his people. 

Kagura was likely cornered into believing that he had to atone for their past. For the lives that were lost during the Bloody Mist era. The blood that was shed by Tachibana Yagura.

Sarada understood that he felt responsible for all of it. But his feelings were unfairly manipulated by Shizuma.

"When Kagura fights, he loses sense of his surroundings. Everyone around him says it's Yagura's blood flowing through him... A long time ago during training at the academy, Kagura was about to slash a classmate. But Shizuma blocked the blow."

Shizuma sustained severe injuries, but he said he wasn't afraid of Kagura and even agreed with him.

...It should be that way... Slash until you cut down your opponent. That is the way of those belonging to the Blood Mist Village.

Kagura felt indebted to Shizuma for protecting him. For sticking up for him. Shizuma took advantage of that to win over Kagura's emotions during his fight against Boruto.

Hachiya, who was watching the whole thing from the shadows, ended up shielding Boruto from an attack. The rest was already known to Sarada.

...How did Shizuma...

Sarada couldn't afford to think about it anymore. She ran after Hachiya through the thickening fog.

"...Boruto!"

Please somehow be okay, be alive when I find you, She repeated over and over again in her mind. 

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