Tsunade's Headache

No one expected that a simple memorial service would turn out like this.

She went to the Land of Waves, encountered Orochimaru and fought him, and then brought back Zabuza's coffin along with his Kubikiribōchō. When she returned to Konoha, Sakura Haruno's actions during her vacation left everyone speechless.

"Sakura, Shiro, you two really know how to give me a tough time!" In the Hokage's office, Tsunade rubbed her head, looking a bit of a headache.

"Is there a problem, Lord Hokage?" Haku asked, puzzled.

Looking into her innocent eyes, Tsunade knew she truly didn't understand the problem, and sighed.

"Konoha's cemetery has never buried foreign ninjas." She thought for a moment and explained, "Besides, Demon Zabuza... was a rogue missing-nin from Kirigakure."

"But the Mist Ninja don't apply to Konoha, do they?" Yuki Haku blurted out in his anxiety.

Tsunade glanced at Haku, raised an eyebrow, and was pleased that she had subconsciously used the word "we," but then displeased that Haku had interrupted her. Her beautiful eyebrows were expressing such contrasting emotions in such a continuous way that Sakura couldn't understand it, but she could definitely see what Tsunade meant.

"In the past, that would certainly be the case..." Tsunade said, deftly twirling her pen. "However, we are currently striving to cooperate with the Mist Ninja, so in some matters, we hope to avoid touching their sensitive spots as much as possible."

Sakura Haruno frowned. Had the ninja world, which always preferred brute force, now started favoring gentler approaches?

The art style is a bit off.

"The Mist Ninja has been closed off from the world for a long time; nobody knows what they're thinking!" the Fifth Hokage said solemnly. "If we were to move Zabuza's grave into the Konoha Village's cemetery in a grand manner, it might not have a good impact."

She glanced at Shiro, who was biting her lip and remaining silent. The black-haired girl's eyes reddened slightly, and Tsunade said helplessly, "Alright, we can study that further; however, even if we move her to the cemetery, there's another more practical problem."

The grave issue isn't a major problem. In order to win Haku's loyalty to Konoha and firmly establish the Ice Release clan in Konoha, this matter can be accommodated. No matter how much we use appeasement, Konoha won't be subservient to the Mist Ninja.

Tsunade's seriousness was nothing more than her trying to curry favor with Haku.

The real problem lies with the Kubikiribōchō.

The Fifth Hokage pointed at the large sword Sakura was holding and asked, "What should we do with the Kubikiribōchō? Should we continue using it as a tombstone?"

Using it as a tombstone is a terrible waste.

Tsunade has set her sights on it again: how about Konoha start a new Ninja Blade inheritance?

Previously, when Haku left the Kubikiribōchō in the Land of Waves, she had no objections; now that the blade has returned, the Lord Fifth Hokage's mind has suddenly become active.

However, the same problem remains: the Kubikiribōchō is too conspicuous and too important.

Konoha left behind the Kubikiribōchō, whether as a tombstone or a Ninja Blade, and the Mist Ninja couldn't possibly ignore it; in the past, when everyone was estranged, Konoha could still proudly declare, "The Ninja Blade is ours, come and take it if you dare!"

Now...

Times have changed. If we want to cooperate with the Mist Ninja on issues related to Akatsuki, we can't ignore Mist Ninja feelings.

When Haku nodded in agreement that he would leave it as a tombstone, Tsunade was already in a bind. Well, compared to her plan to establish a Ninja Blade style in Konoha, Haku's approach was clearly more low-key and more palatable. The loss of the Mist Ninja Blade tradition and the loss of the Ninja Blade itself both appear to involve losing the Kubikiribōchō, but in reality, the former is a far more serious problem.

Get up, it's been a long time since the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist Ninja have all been assembled!

The Fifth Hokage slapped his forehead, frowning, and said, " Of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist Ninja, some are dead, some have defected, and apart from the twin Ninja Blade Hiramekarei, the other six have long been scattered all over the world. However, they are all secretly kept by people. Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha is the first to openly possess Ninja Blade..."

Losing Ninja Blade is one thing, but if the Mist Ninja can collect it back eventually, it becomes a very complicated problem if it falls into the hands of other major ninja villages.

"Does the Kirigakure want to take back the Kubikiribōchō? But the blade is Zabuza's keepsake!" Haku said indignantly.

"Strictly speaking, the ownership of the Kubikiribōchō belongs to Kirigakure. Zabuza only acquired the right to use it..." Tsunade rubbed her temples and explained with her eyes lowered, "Of course, now that it belongs to you, you have the right to dispose of it. But if we want to cooperate with Mist Ninja, we can't ignore their feelings."

She looked up at the black-haired girl. "From their perspective, the Kubikiribōchō originally belonged to them, but it was stolen by a missing-nin and ended up out of reach of them. Therefore, the blade in your hand should be considered stolen property and should be returned to its rightful owner!"

Bai bit her lower lip hard, turning her thin, cherry-red lips deathly pale.

The black-haired girl remained silent, but Sakura Haruno suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Have we made contact with Kirigakure? Are they willing to cooperate with us?"

"Yes, Kakashi and the others have already returned." Tsunade nodded.

Sakura was a little surprised when Kakashi, Sasuke, Shino, and Hinata went out on a mission. She wondered what kind of mission required their involvement— the Byakugan and Sharingan, plus two top- Jonin as escorts, was an incredibly luxurious setup that would make anyone envious. It turned out they were on a mission to the Hidden Mist Ninja Village.

Sending a mission to that country with an unclear situation certainly requires such a top-tier elite team.

"The Bloody Mist Village?" Sakura said with a touch of melancholy. If she hadn't been leading the team, she probably would have been the one going on that mission. "How's the situation there?"

"They've got a new Mizukage, and it seems they're going to end the name and policies of the Bloody Mist Village," Tsunade, raising an eyebrow. "They plan to open the closed village and seek to deepen their connections with the outside world."

"That's exactly what we were thinking."

Sakura Haruno shook her head, a cryptic smile playing on her lips, "Finally, some good news! This is the first time Mist Ninja has extended an olive branch instead of a sword to the outside world!"

The return of peace to the Bloody Mist Village signifies its growth into a stronger nation. While it may pose a new threat in the future, it remains friendly for now. With one less mad dog-like nation gone, peace in the entire Shinobi World has taken a significant step forward.

"Will the Mist Ninja demand the return of the Kubikiribōchō?" Haku asked. "If they came for peace, they shouldn't make such a demanding request, right?"

Tsunade didn't answer her directly, but instead asked, "If it's for the sake of peace in the ninja village, I hope you'll return Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō to the Mist Ninja. Are you willing?"

Bai opened his mouth, stunned.

After a while, there was silence in the Hokage's office. Tsunade, without waiting for Bai's reply, shook her head and said, "Alright! Don't worry about this now. You two have just been through a great battle, so go back and rest! Don't worry, no matter what happens, the village will always be your strong support!"

The Fifth Hokage gazed at Yuki Haku with gentle and warm eyes.

After leaving the Hokage's office, Sakura waved goodbye to Haku; then she went to the Training Ground 9.

Her three students from Sakura Haruno's Team were indeed still training there.

"YH~ Long time no see, cuties!" Looking at their childlike figures, Sakura Haruno smiled brightly.

Seeing them train with such energy, the mental fatigue from fighting Orochimaru, who exuded an aura of death, seemed to vanish instantly.

Upon seeing her, the three students in Sakura Haruno's Team were also pleasantly surprised. Moegi exclaimed "Teacher!" in surprise and ran over excitedly.

Udon waved vigorously and greeted her with a smile.

Only Konohamaru, that arrogant brat, crossed his arms and pouted. "Hmph! You're late! A whole day late!"

"Oh dear, I'm sorry, Konohamaru," the pink-haired girl scratched the back of her head, offering no real apology, "I've lost my way in life~"

"Aaaaaah!" Konohamaru yelled in frustration, staring at Sakura Haruno's completely unapology. "That's Kakashi's line! Naruto taught it to me! Don't try to fool us! Don't imitate Kakashi!!"

"Oh, right," Udon sniffed habitually, "The teacher is usually very punctual, why is he late this time?"

"They didn't really elope, did they?" Moegi blinked her bright, clear eyes and asked, tilting her head back.

"Of course not." Sakura flicked Moegi's forehead lightly, scolding the mischievous student, and explained, "Alright, I'll tell you what happened during your trip to the Land of Waves."

"Perfect timing. Using this battle as a case study, I'll also give you a tactical lesson."

Sakura Haruno's Team, led by Sakura, arrived at a river outside the village, the place where she and Naruto trained during the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"Watch closely, I'll first review the entire battle. Observe carefully, and ask questions if you have any."

She formed hand Hand Seals and used Earth Release and Water Release techniques to alter the environment, simulating the environment of the Land of Waves at a scale of 100:1.

"This is where the battle took place," Sakura said, pointing to a ten-meter square area in front of her. The valley, river, and sea were all recreated by her superb Chakra control, and the rocks and trees were lifelike, making the scene extremely exquisite.

"Wow! How beautiful!" The three students focused on the wrong thing.

Sakura Haruno clapped her hands, drawing their attention back to the main point, and said, "At that time, Orochimaru and I were fighting at sea. This environment is especially suitable for Water Release ninjas to unleash their fighting power. I had the advantage of terrain, so Orochimaru was defeated by me as expected. Hmm, let's start the whole battle from here!"

She created two water spirits, one in the shape of Sakura and the other Orochimaru, also to a 100:1 scale, only the size of Sakura's fingernail; however, both could jump, making them true clones, not delicate dolls!

As she manipulated the situation, the two on the field began to review the battle.

(Third update! Bonus chapter for [Tiger-Skinned Cat Soldier]! There should be another chapter tonight, I'll try my best to write it!)

(I'll be updating at least 10,000 words every three times during this period!)

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