In the blink of an eye, the night passed!
Early the next morning, Tsunade set out with her team.
Besides the medical ninja, the team had an extra hanger-on: Naruto Uzumaki.
He was eager to tell Sasuke Uchiha the good news. His troubles were over, and he could now move freely.
In truth, Naruto needn't have bothered. The village had already notified the Field Hospital.
Although the Allied Shinobi Forces had been disbanded, communications with Headquarters hadn't been cut off, so the news had already reached the hospital. Naturally, Sasuke knew about it too.
But Naruto still couldn't rest easy. He insisted on seeing Sasuke's expressionless face for himself before he could relax.
"Even after hearing the news, that guy's bound to look as full of himself as ever." Naruto walked beside Sakura Haruno, muttering into the morning breeze, though the corners of his mouth were lifted high.
"Don't you think, Sakura?"
Sakura Haruno smiled happily too. "Now Sasuke can return to the village without any trouble."
"It's just... he won't be able to stay long before he has to leave to search for the enemy. What a shame."
She actually really wanted to join the Search Team with Sasuke. Whatever they went to do, she would be willing.
But only the village's higher-ups could decide who joined the Search Team. She had no say in it at all.
"Don't worry. The Search Team can't stay out on missions all the time," Naruto reassured her.
"Big Brother Naraku said the ninja on the Search Team could return to the village for a break every so often."
"We'll get to see Sasuke often."
Naruto wasn't stupid. He also knew why Big Brother Naraku had assigned Sasuke to the Search Team.
Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha had killed and wounded countless ninja