The Land of Rivers was a relatively large-sized country, nestled between the two behemoths that were the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Just like with its neighbour the Land of Rain directly to the north, it had been forced into the unenviable position of having to act as a buffer state between great powers… but at least it only had to contend with two of them, rather than three!
That being said, the Land of Rivers was quite prosperous. It was rich in mineral resources and fertile arable land, and very conveniently, the neighbouring Lands of Wind and Fire either had no interest in their riches, or were too poor to dare covet them, knowing their strategic importance as a buffer state! As such, no major conflicts had erupted in the Land of Rivers ever since the days of the Third World Shinobi War.
Apart from the secret Akatsuki base, the extrely minor Village Hidden in the Valleys, and the mafia family that Kurosuki had founded here after running away from the Land of Water, almost no shinobi were to be found within its borders.
"…and that's why we're here, although, I have no idea why the villagers didn't go to Tanigakure for help," Sakura explained patiently, though she omitted the bit about the Akatsuki. "Did you get all that, Naruto?"
"Er…" said Naruto, scratching his head.
Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke were currently travelling southwards through the Land of Rivers, in order to provide backup to Lee and Tenten, who had left the Hidden Leaf assuming they'd only be facing ordinary bandits, or Genin-level rogue shinobi, at the very worst.
Originally, when the Katabami villagers had submitted their request to the Mission Assignnt Desk, the clerks who'd assigned the mission to Team Guy had failed to make the link between the Kurosuki family described by the villagers and Kurosuki Raiga, the Thunder of the Hidden Mist.
After all, it had been a long ti since the Seven Ninja Swordsn of the Mist had last been relevant. Ever since a lone Genin by the na of Might Duy had eradicated them, they had mostly faded into obscurity…
Unfortunately, the truth had co to light too late. Since Duy's son Guy had almost been killed by the Seven, he had never forgotten their nas, but by the ti he'd rembered where he had heard the na Kurosuki, his two disciples had already left the village, and he'd been chosen to protect the diplomatic delegation to the Land of Wind, making it impossible for him to join them…
'Which makes Tenten's and Lee's disappearance all the more worrying,' said Inner Sakura. 'Tenten's already been on this mission, so she should have known what she was getting into from the start…'
"Anyway, Lee's got Tenten with him, so even without Neji, they should be fine," said Sakura uncertainly. "At least, I think…"
Sakura had a bad feeling about this mission— her breasts hadn't fully recovered yet, and the Kirigakure no Jutsu, the Hiding in Mist Technique, completely countered her best Genjutsu, since the enemy needed to see her for the Breast Illusion to work…
"That mountain over there should be Mt Katabami," Sasuke suddenly said, looking up from his map. "We're nearly there— I propose we ditch this loser and conduct reconnaissance on our own."
"I can be stealthy if I want to!" said Naruto indignantly. "And don't call loser, you bastard!"
"Ah," Sakura sudddenly blurted out.
As they were making their way to the village, walking at a leisurely pace along a well-trodden path, Sakura had spotted a lone house in the distance— and unless she was mistaken, its true identity was the Curry of Life Shop! As an avid fan of spicy food, Sakura had always wanted to have a taste of this legendary curry!
"Why don't we use that restaurant over there as a staging area to plan our attack?" Sakura suggested. "We could also ask the owner about the lay of the land."
Sakura's stomach growled audibly.
"Are you just saying that because you're hungry?" asked Sasuke, glaring at her accusingly.
"Curry?" Naruto complained. "Why couldn't it have been a ran shop…"
The wind suddenly turned, carrying with it the enticing aroma of a complex blend of spices… and Sasuke's and Naruto's bellies growled in turn.
"Maybe just a bite," said Sasuke begrudgingly.
…
And just a few minutes later, the three mbers of Team 7 were sitting on the floor around a table, and a wizened old lady was placing plates of pitch-black curry with white rice in front of them. And the mont she had returned to the kitchen, behind the counter…
"Is this stuff actually edible?" Naruto whispered loudly in Sakura's ear. "I don't eat a lot of curry, but I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to be black, ya know…?"
"Maybe it's got squid ink in it— it's like a delicacy in so countries, or sothing, I think," Sakura whispered back. "Just eat up before it gets cold, Naruto!"
Sasuke poked at a blackened piece of sliced carrot apprehensively with his spoon, before looking up from his plate at Sakura in disbelief, unable to maintain his usually aloof expression.
"Well, here goes nothing," said Sakura, raising a bubbling spoonful of curry to her mouth.
"WAIT…!" ca a familiar girl's voice from behind Sakura. "…don't eat that!"
"Tenten?" Sakura gasped in astonishnt, as she turned around in her seat. "You were okay all this ti?"
Tenten absolutely did not look okay— her ordinarily fair complexion had turned ghostly pale, and her face was covered in a film of greasy sweat… and there was also a piece of toilet paper sticking out from under her sandal.
"I have been stuck in the bathroom for the past week," moaned Tenten, shivering slightly. "Don't eat that curry, or you'll regret it…!"
Indeed, rembering the curry of life's amazing virtues from her past life, Tenten had decided to match Lee plate for plate when they had first arrived a week ago. And as a result, she had spent the past seven days doing unspeakable things to the Curry of Life Shop's toilet, having developed irritable bowel syndro from consuming excessive amounts of extra-extra-extra-spicy curry…
"That's why you were MIA?" asked Sasuke in disbelief. "What about Rock Lee!?"
"Lee's just been running laps around the village, waiting for to get better," said Tenten miserably. "Oogh… hang on, need to head back to the toilet…!"
Sakura turned her gaze back towards her raised spoon, its spicy fragrance beckoning to her tantalisingly… was the curry's divine taste worth excreting molten lava for the rest of the week…?
'Absolutely!' Inner Sakura cheered. 'Eat it!'
"Wait, Sakura, don't!" shouted Naruto.
Naruto lunged across the table, knocking Sakura's spoon out of her hand, but it was already too late—the miasmic curry was already making its way down her throat and to her stomach.
"Are… are you feeling okay, Sakura?" asked Naruto worriedly.
A warm sensation blood in Sakura's stomach, which began slowly spreading outwards throughout her body, before finally settling in her chest…
Sothing… sothing was coming!
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