The Mission

A few days later.

The Hokage's office.

"Lady Tsunade, an urgent letter from the Sunagakure!" An Anbu rushed in and handed a letter to the Lord Fifth Hokage.

"Oh?" Tsunade took the letter, already having a guess in her mind.

"As expected, that panda-eyed kid became the Fifth Kazekage..."

Tsunade put down the letter and pondered for a moment.

"Yamato, could you please go and call Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha here?" she said loudly.

Before long, the bewildered girl and boy were led in by Yamato.

"Master, what can I do for you?" Sakura asked as soon as she entered the door.

Sakura Haruno's Team training is in full swing; she was just watching Hinata train three students!

Then she was dragged away and taken all the way to the Hokage's office; she was still a little dazed.

Has anything major happened recently?

Seeing the slightly confused look in her eyes, Tsunade smiled and explained, "The Fifth Kazekage's inauguration ceremony is in a few days, and I have a task for you two. You'll represent Konoha at that ceremony!"

"Why us?" Sasuke stepped out from behind the girl and said calmly.

"Because right now, you two have the closest personal relationships with the new Kazekage in the village..." She continued, observing their thoughtful expressions, "The new Kazekage is Gaara."

"It really was him."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a glance. To be honest, his relationship with Gaara was so-so, but since Naruto and Sakura were on good terms with him, he was also considered Gaara's friend.

"Is Sakura Haruno's Team going too?" The girl frowned slightly and said, "They're about to Chunin Ninja Exams and are currently undergoing intensive training. It seems a bit inappropriate for them to accept a mission outside the village at this time."

"Didn't you find some top-tier fighters to spar with?" Tsunade twirled the pencil in her hand and said, "Let them stay in the village to train; it won't delay them."

"If all else fails, have Hinata take over your class. She's on vacation right now and doesn't have any missions in the Anbu."

"Alright, then I'll take this task..." Sakura bit her lip, thought for a moment, and nodded in agreement. "Is the task to attend Gaara's inauguration ceremony?"

"And give them the Chunin Ninja Exams invitations too. The Sand Ninja can finally send out a proper Kazekage." Tsunade pulled two letters from the table and tossed them to Sakura Haruno. "The other letter... is the Chunin Ninja Exams invitation for the Land of Waterfalls. Don't get them mixed up."

"Do we have to deliver the invitation letter from the country too?" Ying frowned, a little impatiently.

Is it a waste of their talents to give such an insignificant task to two Anbu? She has no interest in wasting time on low-level missions.

"Yes. This is because..." Tsunade slightly, her sharp eyes fixed on Sakura Haruno, and said in a deep voice, "The Seven-Tails is very likely in their hands."

"What?" Sakura was suddenly shocked. A country could also have Jinchūriki?

Isn't this a nuclear weapon from the Hokage world? She thought Tailed Beast were only the domain of powerful nations!

It's as shocking as a certain country in my past life also possessing a hydrogen bomb.

Tsunade nodded solemnly.

"We suspect them because we recently discovered traces of Akatsuki there..." she said slowly, "This village is suspicious, so I hope you can confirm this while we're submitting the invitation!"

"Just to confirm..." Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly, "Lord Hokage, to what extent do we need to go?"

The Lord Fifth Hokage paused slightly, sensing a dangerous undercurrent in Sasuke's eyes. "Ahem," Tsunade, her eyes flickering, and said, "Sasuke, don't get the wrong idea... As a responsible great power, Konoha cannot bully weaker nations, much less use Sharingan Genjutsu on ninja from other villages for no reason..."

This is a crucial time to forge a closer alliance with Mist Ninja and Sand Ninja. Rumors of them bullying neighboring countries would be disastrous. On a deeper level, Jiraiya dedicated his life to peace, and influenced by him, Tsunade also intends to make Konoha a peace-loving ninja village. Moreover, Konoha occupies a prime location and has little interest in invading neighboring impoverished areas. As a frequent target of envy, jealousy, and hatred, they would much rather other villages not bother with Konoha...

Tsunade's words, however, sounded rather abrupt.

Even in the world of the past, there were cases of countries waging war over laundry detergent... let alone the ninja world, which has only emerged from the chaos of the Warring States period and whose ninja village system has only been developing for sixty years?

It is commonplace in any world for powerful nations to bully other countries and act selfishly towards their neighbors, relying on their military strength.

However, in that world, starting a war required at least a pretext; while in this world, everything seems more direct and brutal!

Tsunade's declaration of not bullying other nations is probably rarer than dinosaurs in the Shinobi World...

Sasuke's eyes showed a hint of doubt, feeling that he could no longer keep up with the Lord Hokage's train of thought.

"That's right," Sakura Haruno, having grasped the point, nodded with a sheepish smile, patted Sasuke on the shoulder, and said, "Our Konoha is a peaceful and friendly great nation! As Konoha Ninja, we must treat our neighboring countries with courtesy and respect..."

She hadn't heard or seen the word "should" in a long time, so when she spoke, her expression wasn't quite there, and she couldn't tell her sincerity at all...

What do words like peace, friendliness, politeness, and decorum have to do with ninjas? Sasuke immediately looked at her with a skeptical gaze.

Surprisingly, Tsunade seemed to really like those two words: "Yes, peace, friendliness, politeness, and decorum! Yes, that's how it should be!"

You agree with that? If the other person weren't the current Hokage, Sasuke would probably be looking at him like he's pitying an idiot.

That makes sense. In the ninja world, for a leader of a major power to care about the feelings of his nation's ninjas is simply idiotic! Aside from the First Hokage, that freak who could single-handedly crush the rest of the Shinobi World, who else could do that?

However, Tsunade had her reasons for doing this.

Seeing his expression, Sakura Haruno knew that Sasuke had completely misunderstood Tsunade's meaning, so she explained, "If we shout about peace while treating neighboring countries as objects to be bullied at will, what kind of country is that?"

Tsunade's appeasement approach stemmed from a desire for peace in the surrounding region and a reduction of instability, which was largely driven by Konoha's interests.

Sakura Haruno herself could better understand the feeling of being bullied by a powerful nation when one is from a weaker country... Putting herself in their shoes, if it weren't unrealistic, she genuinely hoped that everyone could live in peace.

The girl also hopes for world peace. The Shinobi World is in the midst of a world war every ten years or so, each lasting for several years. Nobody likes that kind of life! All her friends are ninjas, and if war breaks out, they will all have to go to the battlefield. Sacrifice is absolutely unavoidable. Sakura Haruno doesn't want to hear news of her friends' deaths every few days!

However, it's hypocritical to call for peace while simultaneously sowing hatred.

That being said, Sakura Haruno trains so hard not only to protect herself and her family and friends, but also occasionally to dream of becoming as powerful as the First Hokage, surpassing the entire Shinobi World, and then intimidating the whole world so that no one dares to start a war.

A ninja reaching that level is pretty much the limit most people can imagine.

Of course, Sakura dared to dream even higher, like the stars and the sea. When it comes to fantasizing, having read many online novels over the years, she dared to call herself invincible in the Shinobi World... However, thinking too much about unrealistic things is just being overly ambitious.

"Respecting neighboring countries as much as possible without harming the village's own interests is the example Konoha should set for leading everyone in cooperation against Akatsuki." Tsunade nodded solemnly. "Konoha is not afraid of war, but it should not become the source of war, or the ninja village that starts war."

"Alright," Sasuke thought for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "I'll try my best..."

"Of course, I try not to use overly forceful methods," Tsunade added. "If we don't get any useful information, your Sharingan Genjutsu is still our last resort. We should use it when necessary, which is one of the reasons I sent you and Sakura together."

The blonde woman said earnestly, "Sasuke, now that you've returned from this mission, it's time for you to be promoted to Jonin. Jonin are the pillars of the village, so from now on, you must learn to shoulder responsibility!"

"I understand." Sasuke nodded solemnly.

"I'm sending you two out because I intend to reorganize Team 7..." the Lord Hokage chuckled. "Given the current situation in the Shinobi World, the village desperately needs you two, plus an elite fighting force like Naruto!"

"Oh, right, about him," Tsunade aching, "Sakura, don't send him clothes next time. The technology for miniature scrolls is still unstable. When the Ninja Hawk sent them before, the technique broke, and it had to carry over ten kilograms of clothes for several flights, almost dying of exhaustion on the mission!"

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." The pink-haired girl scratched the back of her head and smiled awkwardly, "It won't happen again!"

The Fifth Hokage shook his head, unable to bear watching his disciple who always caused all sorts of trouble, and finally said, "Anyway, Naruto will return to the village in six months. Before that, you two should try to find some common ground!"

"Hurry up, we'll set off tomorrow. First to Sunagakure, then on the way back we'll investigate Takigakure. Understand?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Sakura Haruno and Sasuke exchanged a glance and nodded.

Afternoon, Training Ground 9.

That's the situation. I'm sorry, I can't be with you for the next few days.

Sakura Haruno explained to Konohamaru and the other two with a somewhat apologetic expression.

"However, I've already arranged your training plan. If you don't understand anything, just ask Hinata- neechan!" she said, putting her arm around the Byakugan girl beside her.

"What the hell! The teacher has abandoned us again!" Konohamaru shouted, looking annoyed.

"I'm done, I have a mission to carry out... I can't stay with you all," the girl bent down and ruffled Konohamaru's hair. The latter turned his head, and his proud expression made her chuckle. "Please forgive me, teacher!"

"Hmph! Whatever, Hinata- neechan is amazing anyway!" Konohamaru pouted.

"That's the best way to put it." Sakura stood up and said to her three subordinates, "Anyway, you must train hard while I'm gone! When I return and find anyone not working hard, they'd better prepare for my hellish training!"

After slapping you, she offered you a Sasuke, saying, "If you behave well, how about I introduce you to the Ninja Cat Clan as a reward? You can even learn the Combination Transformation!"

The Ninja Cat Clan currently only Sasuke a contractor. Given that the large clan's lack of human contractors is detrimental to its development, they are actively seeking more contractors. Sakura Haruno's Team's three subordinates would be good candidates.

"Hmph, I want to inherit the powerful Summoning Technique of the Enma Clan under my grandfather's command, so I don't need Ninja Cat!" Konohamaru scoffed at this.

But Udon was full of interest. "Great! That's awesome, I can have a summoning beast too!"

For a commoner ninja, having Ninja Cat as a summoning beast is quite a good thing, as most ninjas have to fight alone!

Moegi was also very excited. "After I transform with the Ninja Cat, will I also grow cat ears and be as cute as Sasuke- san?"

"Well?"

Moegi, your focus... is a bit strange!

"She'll probably be even cuter than him..." Sakura Haruno chuckled dryly.

(First update! Guaranteed update 1/! I have a foot injury, it won't affect my writing... It's just that I was planning to do a lot of updates at the beginning of the month, so I kept putting off going to the hospital, and as a result, the wound got infected, and now it's a bit troublesome...)

(It's almost the end of the month, and monthly tickets will expire if you don't vote now! Please vote! I'll add one chapter for every 00 monthly tickets you vote~ I can only update twice today.)