Reorganization

It's no wonder some girls see gay people through a BL (Boys' Love) lens.

When male friends get close, they become inseparable, almost glued together, much closer than ordinary boyfriends and girlfriends.

Think about it carefully—boys can have a lot of fun with anything except going to a hotel, but in a more mundane relationship, the only thing that can excite a guy is going to a hotel.

The same applies to the world of ninjas.

Our time-traveling protagonist, for the first time from a girl's perspective, discovers this problem: Naruto and Sasuke seem to be cold and warm, and their conversation seems like it might die at any moment, but in reality, once they start talking, Sakura has no chance to interrupt at all.

According to the principle of opposites attracting and likes repelling, her relationship with Naruto and Sasuke should be closer than that with Naruto and Sasuke, but in reality—

"Hehe, I haven't been idle these past two years. I've even mastered several new special moves!"

Naruto proudly showed off to Sasuke.

"Tch. You've probably just upgraded the Rasengan into some other Rasengan, calling it a new technique, right?" Sasuke scoffed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Me? I'm the one who's mastered a new ultimate move. Hmph, it'll definitely exceed your expectations!"

"Hey, wait a minute," Sakura Haruno squeezed in, grinning sheepishly, "Actually, I have a new trick up my sleeve! I'll show you in a bit--"

Before she could finish speaking, Naruto interrupted her with a perfunctory laugh, "Yeah, yeah, I got it, Sakura."

Because the two exchanged letters from time to time, Naruto knew a lot about Sakura's training progress, knew many of the girl's techniques, and was aware that she had mastered Sage Mode —something Naruto would need to train for in the next stage.

Therefore, Naruto understands that the gap between him and Sakura has not narrowed, and he has no interest in Sakura in the short term; his goal is still to catch up with and surpass Sasuke.

Naruto immediately turned to Sasuke, his interest piqued, and said, "Sasuke, it's been a long time since we sparred! Let's have some long-awaited real combat training this afternoon! Don't think my special move is just the Chakra Rasengan!"

"The training grounds in the village aren't big enough," Sasuke casually. "I recently discovered that the training grounds in the Forest of Death are quite spacious, and there's almost no one there usually. Let's go there this afternoon!"

The girl raised an eyebrow.

That training ground was arranged by her and Kakashi; how could you Sasuke, have found it?

She wanted to argue, but couldn't get a word in edgewise. Her oval face puffed up with anger, turning into a round face, and she was left out in the cold.

Are you two really not a couple?!

In most situations, Sakura Haruno is the center of attention, or at least one of the people who pay attention to her: because of her outstanding strength and her status, which leaves much to the imagination. Even ordinary people who don't know these things will take a second look because of the girl's delicate face.

The two boys present were the only exception.

They were already used to her formidable strength and didn't care much about her status as Hokage disciple. Her appearance was also not something the young man was interested in—even a celestial being would become aesthetically tiring after a while; besides, the girl's looks were merely outstanding, far from reaching the fantastical level in online novels where a single smile or frown could astound the world.

Sakura Haruno hesitated for a moment, but seeing that the two showed no sign of stopping, she forced her way between them, forcing a smile as she said:

"I'm so hungry, let's go eat!"

"Oh." "Hmm."

After taking a moment to express their opinions to Sakura, the two of them continued their conversation without even glancing at her.

"Hey, me," the girl blinked and followed after the two who had finished speaking and walked forward in perfect unison. "Where are you going?"

"Let's eat."

Sasuke finally turned around and gave her an explanation.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Sakura Haruno quickly went to Sasuke's side and said with a smile, "Where shall we go to eat? I know a new hot spring buffet restaurant opened a few months ago. Last time, Hinata and I—"

"Of course it's Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto didn't hear what she said after that; he just reflexively answered when it came to food. "Hehe... I haven't eaten at Ichiraku Ramen for a whole year, I miss it so much!"

Sasuke glanced at him, and upon hearing this expected answer, smiled slightly, then shook his head helplessly.

"Hmph, I knew you'd do this."

He said in a conciliatory tone, "Then let's Ichiraku."

--If Sakura herself hadn't often indulged Naruto's obsession with Ichiraku Ramen, she would definitely have seen the doting look in Sasuke's eyes.

"... Let's Ichiraku then."

The girl sighed, her voice weak and feeble.

"Naruto has remained devoted to Ichiraku all these years, he's really a man of unwavering love!" Sakura Haruno raised her eyebrows and said.

"Hehe, once I've made up my mind about something, I won't easily change it!" Naruto grinned smugly and said, "That's my Ninja Way!"

"Don't use your Ninja Way on food!"

"But Ichiraku Ramen is really delicious!"

After lunch.

Training Ground 9, outside the Forest of Death.

"Let's leave aside the small talk and get back to business."

Sakura Haruno stood in front of the two of them and said seriously.

"Well... the three of us will now reorganize into Team 7, also known as Team Kakashi," she said solemnly.

Although Sasuke and Naruto already knew the news, they still couldn't help but feel excited.

"Great!" Naruto clenched his fist, jumped up, and shouted.

"Calm down, Naruto," Sakura Haruno shook her head and smiled.

She paused for a moment, then her smile faded as she said, "I need to remind you that the reason we're reorganizing Team 7 isn't because we want to be together, but because the village needs us to form an elite team."

"You all have some understanding of the current situation in the Shinobi World, and I've already explained the parts you don't know in detail."

"We formed Team 7 to counter Akatsuki's aggressive stance and resist their unbridled collection of Tailed Beast and Jinchūriki."

"Of course, there's another important role: to protect you, Naruto, who is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki' Jinchuriki," the girl said, pointing to the fox spirit.

"... Understood."

Naruto's smile faded, and he answered with a serious expression.

Sakura Haruno nodded and continued, "You're welcome. Team 7 is currently the strongest team in the village, and even the entire Shinobi World... This also means that we need to face the most ferocious and powerful enemy in the entire Shinobi World!"

"That is, 'Xiao'..."

"I want to emphasize that those are undoubtedly extremely dangerous and extremely difficult tasks!"

"Hmph." Sasuke smiled faintly, placing his left hand over his eye socket, and calmly said, "I'm ready."

"My Sharingan has been waiting for a suitable opponent for a long time!"

Sasuke gazed intently at the girl, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

The last time, in that world, when he fought against his counterpart from another world using his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke didn't consider it a real battle.

Besides, Sasuke didn't even unleash the true power of his Mangekyō at that time.

Now that Susanoo has mastered powerful Sasuke such as Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, he is eager to face a formidable enemy and demonstrate his strength.

This mentality is similar to the eagerness to share one's feelings with a friend after receiving a new toy.

Sakura Haruno calmly looked back at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"There will definitely be an opportunity, Sasuke," she said calmly, "And it won't be long."

"Therefore, we need to seize the time to cultivate before that."

Sakura Haruno said that, but even she herself didn't expect the request to launch an attack to come so quickly.

The Land of Water, the Kirigakure.

Mizukage Mei Terumi stared at the man on the hospital bed in front of her, bandaged like a mummy, her face extremely gloomy.

The few medical-nin from Kirigakure were busy attending to the man, constantly using Medical Ninjutsu to keep Jonin; the piercing sounds of the instruments indicating his critical condition kept screeching, making the Mizukage increasingly agitated.

After a while, the medical equipment finally stopped flashing its glaring red light, and the leader of the medical team breathed a sigh of relief.

"How's the situation?"

Mei Terumi asked with a cold expression.

"They've survived for now and are out of danger..." The captain took off his mask, wiping away sweat and panting, "But whether they'll regain their ninja abilities, or even their normal mobility, or even when they'll wake up... that's worrying."

"Hmph!" A flash of anger crossed Mizukage's face, but she forcibly suppressed it and snorted coldly, "So, Chojuro might never wake up? He might be bedridden for the rest of his life?"

"Isn't Konoha's Medical Ninjutsu supposed to be able to bring someone back to life as long as they have a breath left?! What are you all good for?!"

The voice, laced with anger, crashed down on the medical-nin like a tidal wave. The captain's face paled instantly, and his body trembled violently.

"I'm so sorry, Mei Terumi!" he said in a trembling voice, "We only trained in Konoha for a year, and we haven't fully mastered the essence of Medical Ninjutsu yet. We can't reach the level of Konoha's medical-nin..."

Mei Terumi gritted her teeth.

She knew that a year was far from enough time for her family's medical-nin to grow up properly.

She knew she was angry at her own powerlessness, yet she was taking it out on others, while the medical-nin had already done their best.

She knew even better that the root of the problem lay in the overall decline of the Mist Ninja, something that couldn't be remedied in a short time.

If it weren't for the promise from Konoha to train some medical-nin after the Mist Ninja allied with Konoha, Chojuro would probably have died in front of her long ago.

Mei Terumi took a deep breath.

There's no need to hesitate any longer; the current situation is beyond what the Mist Ninja can handle alone.

"Qing, bring me paper and a pen."

The woman's face was gloomy and her expression was ashen.

"Once I finish writing, deliver my letter to the Fifth Hokage as quickly as possible!"

[First update. I spent yesterday and the day before at the hospital. Being a full-time writer means sitting for long periods; I don't have any major health problems, but I have a host of ailments. Yesterday I had a full set of scraping, cupping, and moxibustion treatments, so I'm really too exhausted to write. I'm heading out now; I'll update again tonight when I get back.]