In the early morning, standing on the balcony on the second floor, I looked up and saw a gray-white sky full of monotonous colors.

Pieces of snowflakes were flying down from the gray sky. In this kind of weather, it was basically impossible to see much sunshine.

The entire Konoha Village looks like a silver world.

From the balcony on the second floor, Sakura took a look at the road in front of her home. She could see that many store staff had gotten up early and started shoveling snow to keep the road clear.

Wearing heavy cotton coats and scarves under their necks, they put down their snow shoveling tools, looked up at the sky, rested there for a while, and then continued to shovel snow.

"I won't practice practice today. Let's go to the library and read."

Sakura felt the biting chill in the air, and for some reason, she felt that today's winter was colder than usual.

When you exhale from your mouth, the white gas spit out from your mouth starts to drag to one side like a shooting star when blown by the cold wind.

The roads on the street are still smooth, and you can keep walking. However, under the heavy snow for days, the Konoha training ground has probably become a no-man's land. There is a thick layer of snow on it. Even ninjas can't stand it.

It's not particularly convenient to move around there.

Besides, in such cold weather, she didn't really want to run outside.

Sakura stood on the balcony for a while, then left the balcony, walked back to the room, picked up the things she had brought with her, and was ready in less than five minutes.

"Mom, I'm going out."

Her father had been busy at the barbecue restaurant early, leaving her mother alone to look after the door. Sakura carried her backpack and walked towards the library.

Sakura looked at the scenery on both sides of the street. Most of the shops were open early, but a few shops had just opened.

However, looking at this familiar street, Sakura always felt that the pedestrians walking on the road were a little deserted than usual.

Is it an illusion?

Sakura did not think deeply about this and continued towards the library.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, we arrived in front of Konoha's library. All the books that can be seen in Konoha's market are gathered here, and there are even books imported from abroad. Ninjas often come here to learn knowledge.

important place.

Compared with the library established in the Ninja School, it is much larger and has a more diverse variety of books.

Walking to her usual bookshelf, Sakura habitually took out a book about medical knowledge and walked towards the reading area.

The reading area of ​​the library was very deserted in the morning, not many people came here at all, and it was visibly empty.

At this moment, Sakura spotted a familiar figure in a remote corner and couldn't help but call out his name.

"Sakai?"

Hearing Sakura's soft cry, Sakai, who was sitting in a remote corner of the reading area, raised his head in time and looked at Sakura who was walking towards him.

"It's Sakura, good morning."

Sakai squinted his eyes and smiled, giving the impression that no matter how you looked at it, it was fake and he was just smiling for the sake of smiling.

Sakura has long been used to this. These days, following Tsunade, she has grown not only in medical ninjutsu and strange powers, but also gained a lot of knowledge...

For example, during her break, she also asked Tsunade about the root organization and gained a deeper understanding of this organization.

At the same time, I also understood the circumstances under which Sakai's thinking that was so different from ordinary people was cultivated. It was not a problem with Sakai himself, but the darkness within Konoha.

It was that darkness that caused Sakai's current situation.

"Good morning, I didn't expect you to be here reading so early in the morning."

Sakura glanced at the book in Sawai's hand. It was about a third of the way through, and there was a notebook next to it.

The title of the book is "How to Communicate with People Correctly".

Seeing this, the smile on Sakura's face deepened.

"However, reading this kind of book, Sakai, it seems that you are just a talker. You don't say it, but in your heart you really want to integrate into the environment of Class 7."

Hearing what Sakura said, Sakai smiled and said: "No, I did this just to complete the task better."

"I knew you would say that, but Naruto is not here now. He is training in Miaomu Mountain. You don't need to play riddles with me."

Sakura sat down opposite Zuoi and put down the medical book in her hand, titled "The Effects and Reconciliation of Drugs."

"No, this is what I say sincerely."

Zuo Jing shook his head.

"I really can't stand you. Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore. Have you thought about the ending of your picture book? Can you tell me who won in the end between you and your brother?"

Sakura asked curiously.

Sakai pondered for a moment and replied: "About this, I haven't thought about how to draw a good ending. Because to me, no matter who wins, it can't be called an excellent ending."

Having said this, Zuo Jing's eyes flashed with a little loneliness. But soon, such loneliness disappeared from Zuo Jing's eyes.

"Really?" Sakura thought for a moment and continued to ask: "In other words, is it a tie?"

"I've thought about it too, but I still think it's a bit bad."

"In this case, when you think about the ending, please let me watch it."

"Well, let's talk about it then."

After ending this topic, Sakai took the initiative to talk about something else:

"Speaking of which, Sakura, have you ever felt that the situation in the village is a bit strange recently?"

"strangeness?"

Sakura looked away from the medical book and frowned slightly.

"Well, as for me, because I often move in the dark, I am very good at observing the dark atmosphere of Konoha... And recently, after returning from the Country of Chi, I feel that the atmosphere in the dark places of the village has changed a bit. This matter I

I asked Danzo-sama, but didn't get an answer. I thought Sakura, you might know something."

Sakai looked at Sakura, hoping to get some reference advice from her.

Sakura frowned even more tightly.

When she came to the library, she did notice that something was wrong with Konoha today. Now that Sakai mentioned it again, wasn't this her own illusion?

However, if there is really a major change in the atmosphere of Konoha, what will be the reason?

"I heard that the relationship between our Country of Fire and the Kingdom of Ghosts in the west of the mainland has become extremely bad recently. It has begun to affect the normal commercial exchanges between the two countries, and there are frequent diplomatic problems."…

Sakai expressed his opinion.

"Even at other times, the relationship between the two countries may not be harmonious."

Sakura said this.

The ruling class of the Demon Country are ninjas who left Konoha.

For this reason, the two countries naturally have some problems that they cannot get along with, and they dislike each other.

The Fire Nation regards the other party as a traitor.

The other party thinks that the Fire Nation is messy.

To solve such a complicated problem is obviously not something a genin like her can do.

"No, I feel something is different this time..."

Before Zuo Jing could finish speaking, a voice suddenly intervened:

"So it's here. Why, isn't that Naruto guy here?"

There were some casual sounds, and Shikamaru was seen slowly walking over with his hands in his pockets.

"Shikamaru?" Sakura looked at Shikamaru who came here in surprise, and then said: "Naruto is still practicing at Mt. Myoboku, not in the village. What, Shikamaru, do you have anything to do with him?"

Shikamaru scratched his head, glanced at Zuoyi with the corner of his eyes, and said in a lack of motivation tone: "It's not that guy Ino who woke Choji and me up early in the morning, saying it was for a discussion,

What gift is suitable for you to give tomorrow?"

"Gift?"

"Yes, tomorrow is Hinata's birthday."

Shikamaru sighed.

"That's right, I almost forgot. Fortunately, Shikamaru, you came to remind me. It seems that I also need to prepare some gifts."

Only then did Sakura realize that she had been busy with so many things recently that she had even forgotten about this matter.

"It's nothing. Speaking of which, we haven't gotten together for a long time. This time it happened to be Hinata's birthday, so I called Naruto back and we all came out to get together... Well, there is also this person named

Let’s go to Zuojing.”

Shikamaru's eyes fell on Zuoi and said in a positive tone.

"Yes, what's the matter?"

Sakai asked with a smile.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Eh? Can I do that too?"
To be continued...