Returning to the Village

"Huh?!"

Sakura and Naruto were startled, but Kakashi remained much calmer, scratching his head and saying, "Is he dead...?"

"Speaking of which, whether Shimura Danzō truly deserves the title of Hokage is still a question..." he said sternly, "After all, he only gained the Daimyo's recognition, and hasn't yet passed the Jonin's vote of confidence."

The latter is actually more important.

"Danzo manipulated Mifune using Kotoamatsukami at the Five Kage Summit, attempting to become the leader of the Allied Shinobi Forces. This was a very serious matter, putting Konoha in a very passive diplomatic position," Kakashi continued. "Furthermore, Danzo's reputation is extremely bad, so he definitely won't pass the Jonin trust vote. The official Sixth Hokage will then be chosen again."

"There's a high chance they'll choose me," the white-haired youth silently added to himself.

However, I have absolutely no interest in the Hokage position... Kakashi thought with a bitter face.

"So?" Naruto wasn't interested in these political matters and asked directly.

"So Danzo is no longer Hokage." Kakashi knew Naruto wouldn't understand, so he went straight to the point, saying, "On the contrary, we should pursue his crimes of manipulating the Daimyo using Kotoamatsukami to fraudulently obtain the Hokage position... and other serious crimes."

"In short, Sakura Haruno killed him, which is somewhat inappropriate... but given the current tense situation, it's the only option."

The implication is— Danzo dead?

Well, he's dead. Good riddance.

Besides, no one can hunt down criminals across the globe.

"Over there, Danzo has already been captured by the Lord Hokage." Sasuke smiled and explained the whole situation, then listed many of Danzo's crimes. In the end, Danzo was arrested, and his Root was completely eradicated, a result that was very satisfying. However, it made him work many extra shifts in the Anbu and caused a rift—that's why he's here.

The ninjas from the two worlds jokingly started teasing Danzo.

The conclusion is that Danzo deserves to die, and Sakura-chan did a great job; of course, no one would be so foolish as to ask, "Why didn't they arrest him sooner?"

Sakura Haruno then recounted the battle that had just taken place, glossing over the fight with Danzo and focusing on the Ninjutsu used by Sasuke and the Masked Man.

"Susanoo and the 'Tenet'? It matches Gaara's description," Kakashi analyzed. "As for Madara Uchiha, judging from your description, his techniques are very dangerous..."

"As expected of Madara!"

The white-haired youth was somewhat intrigued by the mysterious man's Mangekyō ability—he had a strange sense of déjà vu with it, reminiscent of Kakashi.

"He claims to be Madara, but I don't really believe he is," Sakura Haruno said dismissively. "Even if his strength has declined, Madara Uchiha's domineering aura from back then should still be there. But I couldn't feel that aura during my battle with him."

She suspected the Masked Man's identity from the moment she first encountered him after traveling through different worlds.

Sakura Haruno found it hard to believe that Madara Uchiha, once a prodigy, would now be living in such a cowardly and secretive state.

Kakashi was deep in thought when suddenly several more people arrived.

"Kakashi, what happened?"

The Yamato people hadn't even arrived yet, but their voices came first.

Then, when he landed on the ground and saw who was on the field, he instantly reacted just like Kakashi and the others before him—

Stunned.

"Sasuke!" Kiba shouted, pointing at Sasuke, who was swaggering beside Kakashi, "You're here!"

"Two, two cherry blossoms?" Li rubbed his eyes hard, feeling like he was seeing things.

Yamato's thoughts were in disarray for a couple of seconds before he finally calmed down. "Kakashi, what's going on?"

I need an explanation.

The wooden object he had created using Wood Release seemed to spring to life, reaching out towards Sasuke with a solemn expression.

Sai also took out his paintbrush, staring intently at Sasuke.

"You don't need to be so nervous, he's not a dangerous person." Kakashi sighed. "Let me explain."

"You might not believe it when I come out..."

Blah blah blah.

Kakashi had to explain at length before the four of them reluctantly believed his story.

--After all, this method is indeed a bit mystical.

If it weren't for two identical Sakura Haruno standing in front of them, Yamato and Sai, both from the Anbu, would probably never have accepted the laws of this other world.

"Are you Sasuke too? You look quite different from our Sasuke." Lee walked up to Sasuke and said, "I've always wanted to spar with Sasuke, but unfortunately he defected... But Sasuke from another world would be nice, wouldn't it? Is that alright?"

"You're just like Lee from my side," Sasuke chuckled. "I've sparred with him a few times; he's a good opponent... If I have time, of course I'm ready. I wonder which gate you've opened yet?"

"You'll be very surprised," Li said with a mysterious smile.

Kiba, however, dragged Sai, who had been quietly playing the background role, over to the girl's side, sized up Sakura Haruno, and said, "She's definitely cuter than Sakura," before getting a hard stomp on Sakura's foot...

"Although we are convinced by you," Yamato said to Kakashi as he Sasuke the Yoru Uo back to Kakashi, "It's still uncertain whether others will accept your method."

"It seems we'd better keep our identities a secret... We'll have to wear masks, Sasuke," Sakura Haruno laughed. "Fortunately, we won't be staying here for long; we'll be back in an hour or two at most."

The ties to her original world still tugged at her, trying to bring her back; however, Sakura Haruno's strength had greatly improved compared to last year, so staying here a little longer wouldn't be a problem.

"Let's go back to Konoha. We can go as we please," Kakashi nodded and said.

After Sakura Haruno finished sharing her story and information, Kakashi and Naruto also learned about what had happened there.

Until the Chunin Ninja Exams, the stories in both worlds remained largely the same, until the biggest point of divergence occurred— Sasuke's defection to Orochimaru.

Next, Naruto went on a journey of training with Jiraiya. More than two years later, Naruto returned to the village, Team 7 Sai, and there were battles with Orochimaru, Hidan, Kakuzu. Then Jiraiya the Land of Rain, Pain invaded Konoha, and the Five Kage Summit was held.

"It seems the root of all this change lies in Sasuke's defection!" Naruto muttered on the way back.

"No, I think the root of the problem lies with Sakura Haruno, who has a different personality and strength..." Kakashi instinctively thought of this. He glanced at Sakura Haruno, who was listening quietly, but did not voice his guess.

Sakura Haruno listened attentively the whole time.

She only learned about the events of Shippuden here, which is quite unbecoming of a time traveler. Actually, she doesn't remember the part about Sasuke's defection in the original work very clearly now—after all, many years have passed.

"I don't quite understand... why here I would choose to defect. For strength?" Sasuke asked doubtfully, "But I can also practice in Konoha, right?"

Kakashi's Lightning Release and Sharingan are both suitable for a mentor to guide him.

Furthermore, isn't White Fang's strength no less than Orochimaru's?

In the previous battles, Sasuke hadn't noticed any significant difference in strength between himself and his counterpart in this world. Sasuke was fully confident that after a short period of training and becoming familiar with the power of the Mangekyō, he would surpass his older self from this other world in terms of power.

Therefore, he was completely baffled by Sasuke's choice.

"This is all my fault..." Kakashi sighed deeply, a rare occurrence for him, and said with a touch of melancholy, "As the teacher of Team 7, it's all my responsibility to have made things like this."

Mentioning Sasuke's dark turn weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Lee, Ya, and Sai glanced at Kakashi silently, speechless, unsure of what to say.

"I made false promises to you, but I was unable to keep them. I'm so sorry to have such an incompetent and terrible teacher as me..." he said dejectedly.

"No, Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke said calmly, surprisingly offering the first words of Sasuke. "Sasuke's defection in this world is his own problem... Kakashi-sensei, I've always thought of you as an excellent teacher."

Kakashi was taken aback, and his expression shifted slightly.

"Thanks."

"Sasuke's current state in this world isn't solely one person's fault. But discussing that now is pointless." Sakura Haruno glanced at them and commented calmly, "The key is to stop Sasuke's actions and avert his mistakes before he commits a grave error."

"Sasuke and I can only stay for a very short time, and we can't help you much... Although we defeated him a few times just now, it's uncertain how much effect his words will have. So, his matter is still up to you to handle."

Naruto was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said firmly, "Leave Sasuke's matter to me. You all don't need to worry about it."

"How do you plan to resolve this?" Sakura Haruno raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to challenge him to a duel and then die together?"

Naruto remained silent.

"Don't carry everything on your shoulders alone. You have companions! You need to know how to use their strength—" Sakura Haruno said, glancing at Sakura beside her who looked particularly delicate and weak, but her words caught in her throat.

"... At least you need to learn to trust the strength of your companions, and don't act impulsively or rashly!" Sakura Haruno sighed and said.

Kakashi and the others also turned around and looked at Naruto.

"I know, I know!" Naruto forced a smile. "I'll think it over carefully before I act!"

Sakura Haruno suddenly finds herself heartbroken for Naruto in this world.

She parted her crimson lips again, as if wanting to say something more, but then stopped herself; her two thin lips touched up and down, but in the end nothing came out.

As they walked, the group gradually shortened the distance between themselves and Konoha.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of masked people. These were Root of Root who had regained their freedom after Danzo's death and the extinction of the Cursed Seal. At Sai's suggestion, they were temporarily placed under the command of the next Hokage Kakashi, and returned to Konoha to await further instructions.

A few of Danzo's loyal followers, completely brainwashed by Root, rushed over aggressively after learning that the short, pink-haired Anbu had killed Danzo, and then—

With a few thuds, Sakura Haruno casually sent this Danzo's loyal dogs to meet Danzo.

These few moves only revealed the tip of the iceberg of Sakura Haruno's strength, yet they were enough to intimidate Yamato and several other ninjas who had never seen Sakura Haruno fight before.

The next day, Sakura Haruno and her group returned to Konoha.

"Is this... Konoha?"

Sakura Haruno frowned, staring at the scene before her, and gasped.

[Second update.]