Let It Begin

19. The Village of the Wolfs Cry Part 3

"Sasuke, are you truly certain about your conclusion?"  Sakura asked worryingly while following him through the gate of the Hypericum Shrine.

He informed her of the hunch he had after monitoring the situation. He was also looking after Kina as well, though he would never admit that. After five days, things took an unexpected turn; Reishi got hurt and Sasuke carried him back to Sakura for healing.

He had gone to the mountain to pick up some medicinal herbs when he was shot by a long cylinder. The sound of the explosion echoed violently through the forest. The stone managed to hit Reishi's feet while he was climbing a cliff. The rocks crumbled, causing him to fall for sixty feet or so, down to a creek bed covered in colorful flowers.

Luckily, he hadn't sustained serious injuries, just a light brain concussion. Everything else was easily healed by Sakura. She warned him to get some rest and to be careful for the rest of the day. He thanked her happily but adamantly left to gather more herbs.

"You heard what Kina said, right?" asked Sasuke. As he had imagined, just now, Kina rushed over to him and told him what he already knew; some new corpses had been found.

Sasuke glanced around the garden and noticed Reishi preparing an infusion of medicinal herbs in a pot. When Reishi saw them appear out of nowhere, he was slightly surprised.

"It smells good. Are you brewing a medicine?" Sakura asked.

"No. I'm extracting a perfume from some insects called 'shogun fireflies,'" he answered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"I'm almost done with Sasuke's eye drops."

"Kina came to me before and told me about last night's murder," he continued. Reishi's eyes betrayed a sign of worry.

"I came here to thank you and to return this," Sasuke pulled the waxed paper bag out of his pocket. Reishi immediately went pale and was surrounded by a dark and ominous atmosphere.

"I found it at the Mausoleum of the Thorny Mount when the corpses were discovered. It contains your notebook and the piece of paper we handed you with Itachi's handwritten note about the eye drops he received from you guys."

"Don't worry. We told no one..." said Sakura. Reishi held his breath for a moment, then said;

"Then, it wasn't a coincidence that you were the one who helped me yesterday."

"No, I had you followed," Sasuke replied.

"Even last night?"

"Yes. Let's just say it's because I don't want you to be caught. That's all."

"Why?" Reishi was confused.

Maybe because I understand your disposition. Even though you hate this village to death, you've always endured it for Kina. The individuals you eliminated yesterday were the ones who attacked you on the mountain, and I assume that all the people you've killed thus far have committed something heinous against you or your brother," Sasuke explained.

Sakura waited for Reishi's response. Sasuke informed her of what he had uncovered so far, but she found it difficult to believe that Reishi was the murderer. While it made sense, she felt like there was more to the story than she and Sasuke knew. Reishi kept his head bowed, and his shoulders started trembling. Sakura thought he was crying at first, but she was mistaken.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

A chill ran down not only her spine but also Sasuke's. He found himself lost in thought. Even though he would honor Itachi's wishes, he knew he could never forgive the Leaf Village. Returning there to live as if nothing had happened? He realized that he, like Reishi, would pretend to be one of them and likely, every night, kill someone