Temari (Bonus chapter for [Let Go of That Odie])

It's been a long time since I've seen this guy.

Because of his quick wit and the fact that his father was Jonin Commander, Shikamaru was given important responsibilities as Chunin he was promoted to Chunin, and sometimes his life was even busier than Sakura's when she joined the Anbu.

So she hadn't seen him for two months.

But this person... hasn't changed much from before; he still has that lazy, lazy demeanor, looking like he hates trouble.

Walking down the street with a slumped gait and hands in his pockets, looking completely different from the energetic and vibrant Sakura Haruno.

If we have to say there's any change, would growing a centimeter taller count? He's probably entered puberty, his height has increased rapidly, and he's almost 160cm now. Hmm, but Sakura can still see the top of his head.

"Hey, Shikamaru, long time no see!" Sakura greeted him with a smile, then turned her gaze to the girl beside him.

Yes, it wasn't just Shikamaru; there was also a blonde beauty standing next to him.

Sakura blinked, taking a few more glances at the blonde girl's face; she looked very familiar.

It's Temari.

During the Chunin Ninja Exams, her match against Hinata left a deep impression on Sakura—the giant three-star fan on her back was truly an excellent tool for unleashing powerful Wind Release techniques.

Unlike Sakura and Hinata, who rely on themselves for everything, Temari is a Second official and a player who spends a lot of money!

"Hey, going on a date?" Sakura glanced at Temari a few times, then teased with a mischievous grin, "Shikamaru, you've managed to hook up with a beauty from another village without anyone saying a word!"

Shikamaru pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"Don't talk nonsense... I only came to Konoha as a staff member for this Chunin Ninja Exams." The blonde beauty Temari glanced at Shikamaru indifferently, then added, "I'm not interested in boys my age."

No, no, no, before Temari said that, Sakura still believed that their relationship was just professional, but after she said that, she felt that there might really be some feelings between the two of them.

The air was thick with an air of barely concealed malice!

"I'm just handling her reception, don't overthink it," Shikamaru said, hands in his pockets. "Let me introduce you, you should remember her, this is a famous figure in our class—"

" --Sakura Haruno, right?" Temari interjected, smiling and extending her right hand. "Of course I remember."

Temari still vividly remembers the first match of the Chunin Ninja Exams, the duel between Naruto and Sakura.

Especially the Ninjutsu they used, which far Genin. Naruto summoning Gamabunta already astonishing enough, but Sakura Haruno's ability to defeat Naruto using such techniques was even more amazing. Temari couldn't help but remember such a character, especially since it was thanks to Sakura that the three of them escaped Konoha...

Although more than half a year has passed, Ying has grown taller and her facial features have matured considerably. However, she did not undergo plastic surgery in South Korea, so she has not changed so much that she is unrecognizable.

"I am." Sakura smiled and nodded, shaking hands with Temari. "Temari from Sunagakure?"

Temari are unlike those of Konoha girls; they are not as delicate and soft, but rather have a rough and hard feel typical of Sand shinobi, even though she is only a Ninjutsu- type ninja.

Sakura Haruno shifted her gaze from the blonde girl's hands to her eyes. Temari smiled at her and nodded.

They clasped hands lightly for a moment, then released them. Sakura Haruno smiled and said, "Our Anbu will be going to your village to carry out a protection mission. We hope you will take good care of us."

"Welcome!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Sakura bid them farewell. Since she wasn't familiar with Temari, their chance encounter on the street resulted in only a perfunctory greeting.

She was interested in finding out about Gaara's recent situation, but it was extremely inappropriate to inquire about someone else's village's Jinchūriki, no matter how you looked at it.

After all, the two villages were enemies not long ago, and Temari had just fought them to the death a few months ago. If they suddenly became friends, even Sakura Haruno would find it hard to adjust. Of course, she didn't hate the Sand shinobi, she just felt something was strange, as if anything she said to them could easily cause misunderstandings.

This kind of sensitive reception work is definitely better left to a smart person like Shikamaru to handle.

It's clear that Temari is also hesitant to speak, but she's quite interested in the pink-haired girl in front of her.

Anyone who experienced the Chunin Ninja Exams will remember Team 7, who shone brightly during the exams. Their strength was a level above all the other teams... And Sakura Haruno, being a girl, was able to use Ice Release, making her even stronger than the other two boys in Team 7, which naturally drew a lot of attention.

However, this is, after all, the first meeting since the end of their hostile relationship; too many meetings would be undesirable...

As Sakura left, she winked at Shikamaru, signaling him to seize the opportunity, which earned her a big Byakugan from the latter. It seemed he really wasn't interested in Temari.

She didn't believe it...

Watching the two of them Earth Flow laughing, Sakura clearly felt that the two of them were bound to spark a romance.

However, since Temari has come, it means... the Chunin Ninja Exams are just around the corner. Besides the faint smell of sourness, Temari brings with her the bloody scent of a mission.

She had a premonition that her peaceful life was about to end.

The gossip was just a side note; Sakura's main life story remained the endless tasks.

The day after tomorrow at noon, on the platform of the Hokage Building.

Sakura, Shino, and the other Anbu squads stood in neat rows in front of Tsunade and one of the Anbu Ninja beside her.

"This lady beside me is Hotaru Hyuga, the captain of the Second Squad," Tsunade introduced casually. "She will be leading and commanding this mission."

Second Squad? Sakura, with her sharp ears, caught the word. According to the Anbu's ranking rules, Anbu that could be ranked this high were definitely veteran Anbu Ninja, and their strength was undoubtedly formidable.

Keep in mind that Sakura's team was only ranked fourteenth...

She looked over curiously, and the captain of the Second Squad took a step forward, removed his mask, revealing a young face and the Byakugan, the symbol of the Hyuga Clan.

The woman swept her Byakugan sharply over the Anbu before her, and said indifferently, "For this mission, we will be responsible for investigating potential security risks along the route to Sunagakure. The details are written in the mission briefing. Each captain will come up and collect their briefing in a moment..."

She took out the mission briefing.

"Due to the requirements of the mission, each team must be equipped with a ninja proficient in Genjutsu. Now, the Genjutsu ninja whose names I call, please step forward first: Kakashi Hatake, Sasuke Uchiha..." She lowered her eyelids and read out the names.

As she called out the names, people stepped out of the queue one after another and stood in a row in front of Hotaru. The first one standing Jonin Kakashi, the Jonin who led Sakura's team.

He's a Genjutsu ninja too? Sakura couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Even with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Kakashi's Genjutsu skills were only so-so... at least they had never worked on her.

However, the names of Kurenai Yuhi, Kurama Yakumo, and others are much more well-known. As for Sasuke, he specifically trained in Genjutsu for a period of time during the last mission in the Land of Snow, and with his Mitsudomoe, his Genjutsu skills are quite good.

Sakura's assessment of "not bad" was based on the fact that Sasuke's Genjutsu could cause her a momentary daze.

Next, each of the Anbu) selected Genjutsu ninjas to temporarily join their teams. To balance the strength, the Anbu with the later numbers selected first. By the time it was the turn of the Fourteenth Squad to choose, Kakashi, Sasuke, Kurenai Yuhi, Kurama Yakumo, and others had already been snatched up.

"Fourteenth Squad, come up here to receive your mission briefing and select your Genjutsu ninjas," Hotaru Hyuga said calmly.

It was a selection process, and at this point, only two Genjutsu ninjas remained unselected.

As Sakura and Shino stepped forward, the Second Squad leader's gaze softened considerably as he looked at Sakura: "Although Yuzuki Terumi is a newcomer, her skills are quite good. Why don't you team up with her?"

"Yes, Lady Hotaru/Aunt Hotaru." Shino and Sakura nodded respectfully in reply.

Sakura calling her Aunt Hotaru wasn't just a random connection; this highly skilled female ninja is actually Hinata's aunt. She takes good care of Hinata in the Hinata Hyuga Clan. Sakura has met her a few times, but she never expected that she was actually a veteran Anbu Ninja.

The Second Squad then took the last Genjutsu ninja.

Hotaru Hyuga glanced around; all the Anbu squads were already in position. She then waved sharply, "Let's go!"

(Guaranteed minimum/, Bonus chapter 1/.)

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(An extra chapter for [Let Go of That Odie]!)