Our Journey (Sasusaku)

Chapter 19: "The Real Culprit"

       Sasuke and Team Morio entered the scientist's laboratory. There were still shinobis inside doing an investigation of the murder.

"According to the forensic team, the man was studying the substance we got from the monster during the attack on the infrastructure when somebody murdered him."

      Sasuke checked the scientist's desk and noticed a scroll stained with blood. He looked at it closely and saw that it contained information about the zetsus.

"How did he die Sensei?" Koishi asked.

"According to those who performed the autopsy of his body, he died from choking and then there is a possibility that his chakra was extracted after."

"Extracted?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes..." Captain Morio nods.

         Sasuke pulled out Kankuro's letter from his bag and handed it to Captain Morio. "This might help. Suna also had the same incident wherein a prisoner's chakra was sucked out from their bodies."

      Captain Morio took the letter.

"I have a feeling that this has something to do with us. The culprit might be following us. If it's a creature that extracts chakra then there is a possibility that it's targeting Sakura because she has a tremendous amount of chakra stored in her body. I can't let her go alone." Sasuke said. 

"I understand. We will coordinate with Suna for further information." Captain Morio said.

      Sasuke walked towards the door but before he went out Captain Morio called him.

"Lord Sasuke. Please take good care of her. You are a lucky man to have a woman like her. Good luck to the two of you!" Captain Morio smiled at him.

"You are a good man and an honored shinobi don't worry I will take good care of her." Sasuke said. He went out of the laboratory.

      Sakura was touching her forehead that has the Strength of a Hundred Seal on it. She remembered when Sasuke poked her forehead last night. Her face blushed and she smiled to herself. She put on her black gloves and white cloak. When she opened her door she saw Sasuke waiting for her.

  "What are you doing here? I thought you were with Team Morio?" she asked.

"I will go with you. We are a team so we should be together." Sasuke said.

Sakura smiled at him, "Okay."

      One of the councilors of Iwa told them that the Daimyō would be in a temple outside Iwagakure. They rushed to go to the temple.

       The sanctum was in an isolated area and the highest mountain of Earth Country. It had more than a hundred steps before Sakura and Sasuke reached the temple. There was only one shinobi monk at the temple who looked over the place during the daytime.

  "The Daimyō already departed this afternoon. I heard he will have a week's vacation in an inn near Earth's western border."

  "I see..."Sakura whispered.

"If you wish to catch up with him I suggest that you take the night first because there is a storm coming. You can stay inside the temple for the night." the shinobi monk looked at the east area. The sky was dark on that part.

  "That is very kind of you but we wish to catch up with the Daimyō as soon as possible." Sakura said and she smiled at the Ninja monk. The monk smiled back at her.

"Perhaps you can spare some minutes to pray and give respect to the temple." the monk said.

"Sure!" Sakura said and followed the monk inside the temple. He gave her a stick of incense. Sasuke refused to get one.