Konohagakure
Hokage's Office
"Uchiha Hikaru?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, frowned deeply as he examined the report Sakura Haruno had submitted.
A Uchiha from centuries ago, who somehow slept through to the present inside a single coffin?
"So, Sakura, you're saying you want this… Uchiha Hikaru to stay in Konohagakure?"
Hiruzen glanced at the photograph of Hikaru Uchiha attached to the report, unsure how to proceed with his words.
After all, this individual's age was practically four or five times his own.
"Uh, is that okay? Hehe…"
Sakura Haruno flashed an awkward smile at the Hokage before her.
Bringing back a Uchiha great-grandmother from the Warring States period after a mission—and wanting to keep her in Konohagakure—was no small matter.
Konohagakure, no matter how you sliced it, was a military organization.
But Uchiha Hikaru's significance went far beyond that of an ordinary Uchiha clansman.
With the ninja world now thrown into utter chaos, a simmering pot of unpredictability, all the original storylines could be tossed out the window.
Even Kumogakure, a village that in the original timeline despised the Akatsuki, had somehow hit it off with them—like a tortoise eyeing a mung bean, inexplicably drawn together.
Who knew what would happen next?
Sakura needed to secure every possible ally.
Though Uchiha Hikaru had only settled in Konohagakure because of Sasuke, Sakura saw an opportunity to use Sasuke as leverage to sway her. If push came to shove, Hikaru would have no choice but to act, whether she wanted to or not.
What if Sasuke, wielding his mighty Susanoo, somehow shifted Hikaru's bystander attitude into action?
Looking at the pink-haired kunoichi's sheepish grin, Hiruzen let out a sigh.
In these war-torn times, Sakura had brought a stranger into the village, seemingly with plans for her to stay long-term.
If it were anyone else, they'd have been branded a spy suspect and dealt with swiftly.
"Very well, then…"
"Thank you, old man!"
Before Hiruzen could finish, Sakura bowed a full ninety degrees, cutting him off.
Hiruzen, faced with her preemptive gratitude, could only shake his head with a wry smile.
"Oh, one more thing."
Hiruzen called out to Sakura, who was already halfway to bolting out the door.
"Hm? What else is there?"
Sakura paused, puzzled. She was about to head to the Land of Rivers to deal with Kakuzu, while Iwagakure was dragging its feet. Despite the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, walking out due to disagreements with Onoki, they still had Loess and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han. Yet, three months later, they hadn't managed to take down Kisame Hoshigaki.
Clearly, even allies couldn't be fully trusted.
"It's about Kumogakure's Turtle Island. Naruto's training needs to get on track."
"I'm planning to have Jiraiya and Team Guy handle Naruto's security."
Hiruzen stroked his white beard, speaking deliberately.
"Alright, old man, you handle it. Why tell me?"
Sakura plopped onto the sofa, confused why Hiruzen had asked her to stay.
"Jinchuriki training carries significant risks."
"To prevent any mishaps during Naruto's training, I think it's necessary…"
Hiruzen didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.
He wanted Sakura to go along.
As Naruto's most important person, Sakura's presence was crucial. Even though Hiruzen's earlier hopes of pairing her with Naruto had fizzled, her importance to him remained undeniable. Not only could she call Naruto back from the brink if he lost control, but her own strength could suppress a Nine-Tails-transformed Naruto.
Sakura rubbed her furrowed brow, feeling a headache coming on.
They were really working her like a mule…
She was needed on the battlefield, needed for Naruto's training, and she still wanted to resurrect Tobirama Senju to study Yang Release…
"One thing at a time."
"Have Jiraiya take Naruto to Turtle Island first. Once I've dealt with Kakuzu and Sunagakure, I'll head over."
Sakura sighed, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
Hiruzen nodded, understanding her predicament. By some cruel twist of fate, everything had piled up at once.
Not to mention, the village still had the Two-Tails Jinchuriki situation to resolve…
"Old man, anything else?"
"If not, I'm out."
Without waiting for a reply, Sakura slipped out, wary of being saddled with yet another task.
Hiruzen chuckled softly at the vanishing pink blur.
He pulled a mission scroll from his drawer.
Client: Sandayu
Rank: B
Mission: Escort film star Yukie Fujikaze to the Land of Snow for a movie shoot.
It seemed like a relaxed, straightforward assignment.
But according to Konohagakure's intelligence network, Sandayu was a former vassal of the Land of Snow's daimyo from a decade ago, and Yukie Fujikaze was actually Kazahana Koyuki, the daughter of the previous daimyo.
Sandayu aimed to use Konohagakure's strength to eliminate the traitors who had usurped power—namely the current daimyo, Kazahana Dotou—and restore Koyuki to the throne.
If handled well, the Land of Snow could become a strategic foothold for Konohagakure, a thorn in the side of the Lands of Earth and Wind. In turn, the Land of Snow would benefit from Konohagakure's protection.
A mutually beneficial arrangement.
For Sakura, completing this mission would add another feather in her cap on her path to becoming Hokage. Though small, the Land of Snow's daimyo still held nominal equality with the Land of Fire's daimyo. With Koyuki's backing, Sakura's road to Hokage would be even smoother.
With her achievements in the Frost Country and the Land of Rivers, the support of a daimyo, Hiruzen's endorsement, and Naruto's influence, even if the Land of Fire's daimyo objected, it would amount to nothing.
But since Sakura was currently occupied, this mission would have to wait until she resolved the situation with Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers.
Still, to keep this so-called "former vassal" of the Land of Snow in line, a firm reminder was in order.
A stick followed by a carrot—a simple yet effective tactic Hiruzen had employed countless times.
"Summon Sandayu," Hiruzen said, tapping his desk as he addressed the ever-ready ANBU.
"Yes, sir."
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