The Traitor in Konoha

"What?!" Naruto forgot all about the bump on his head and sprang to his feet.

Tsunade continued, "According to the preliminary reports, the killers were quick and thorough. They left no survivors, and the battlefield was deliberately cleared. There's almost nothing useful to go on."

"Sunagakure contacted us after they couldn't reach their escort team."

"The team had three Jonin and ten Chunin."

"Three Jonin!" Sakura drew a sharp breath, realizing how serious this was.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "To wipe out a team like that and clean up afterward, they're either a seasoned elite squad or an exceptionally powerful enemy with some unknown ability."

"Exactly." Tsunade nodded. "Your mission, Team 7, is to leave immediately and investigate the site."

"Find the killers and that shipment of gold dust. The village's finances and our alliance with Sunagakure are at stake. Understood?"

"Don't worry, Granny Tsunade!" Naruto thumped his chest, suddenly eager now that he had a real target. "I'll drag them out, whoever they are! I'm the man who's going to become the Seventh Hokage!"

Sasuke remained sullen, his thoughts impossible to read. Sakura nodded firmly. "We'll complete the mission, Lord Hokage!"

Tsunade swept a sharp gaze over Team 7, lingering on Naruto. Her voice left no room for argument:

"Listen carefully! This mission is serious. If you locate the enemy or the gold dust, do not act recklessly!"

"Return to the village and request reinforcements first. With so little information, charging in will only get people killed."

Her eyes fixed on Naruto. "Especially you, Naruto Uzumaki. Understood?"

Naruto looked ready to charge in anyway, but under Tsunade's stare and Sakura's threatening glare, he pouted and drawled, "I—get—it—"

Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke answered together, "Understood."

Several hours later, Team 7 reached the location named in the report.

Though the site