Early December, Konoha Year 60 – Konohagakure
Seven days had passed, and Tsunade still had received no word about Sakura. The only update was Jiraiya's message stating his intention to infiltrate Amegakure and requesting she handle diplomatic contact. Drafting the letter to Hanzo was torture. Based on intel, Hanzo might have fought Sakura; the girl could even be his prisoner. Tsunade couldn't afford to anger him. But if Sakura wasn't with Hanzo, implying suspicion in the letter could also anger him, hindering cooperation. Diplomacy between nations was infuriatingly complex; one misstep could lead to war. If she weren't Hokage, Tsunade fumed, yawning from the stress, she would have stormed over there herself long ago.
Just then, a knock sounded at the office door.
"Come in," Tsunade called, straightening her posture.
Click.
The door opened, and three figures entered. Seeing them, Tsunade's expression hardened. Trouble has arrived.
"What brings the three of you here so early in the morning?" Tsunade asked gravely, looking at the newcomers.
It was the two village Elders and Danzo Shimura. The Elders looked displeased; Danzo's face was impassive.
"Recall the Jonin immediately!" Koharu Utatane stated bluntly, wasting no time.
"Do you realize what you're doing, Tsunade?" Homura Mitokado demanded, his face grim. "Six Jonin and ANBU operatives! Do you understand what that signifies? Are you trying to provoke a war?"
"As advisors to Konoha, it is our duty to ensure you exercise the Hokage's responsibilities properly," Koharu stepped forward. "Dispatching so many elite ninja merely to search for a single Chunin, without authorization… If an enemy nation exploits this information, war could reignite. As advisors, we cannot stand by while you jeopardize Konoha's interests."
Listening to their relentless back-and-forth accusations, a vein throbbed in Tsunade's temple. Her patience reached its limit.
Bang! Tsunade slammed her hands on the desk, standing abruptly. She glared at the Elders, spitting out each word, "You don't need to tell me how to do my job! I know exactly what I'm doing!"
The two Elders flinched but weren't intimidated. Homura met her gaze without yielding. "Recall the Jonin at once. Your actions risk war."
Tsunade glared back, refusing to give an inch.
"Regarding the mission, Chunin Haruno Sakura violated regulations," Danzo Shimura spoke up suddenly from the side, breaking the tense standoff. "She interfered in Takigakure's internal affairs without authorization. Her failure to return upon mission completion constitutes grounds for being labeled a missing-nin, potentially treason. While Konoha has a responsibility to rescue its shinobi if unforeseen circumstances arise, dispatching multiple Jonin was inappropriate."
Tsunade's gaze snapped towards Danzo, sharp and furious. This man sent assassins after me, and I haven't even settled that score yet. Now he dares interfere?
Danzo seemed oblivious to her glare, continuing impassively, "The Hokage must consider the bigger picture before acting, even concerning your own disciple…" Danzo's visible eye opened a mere slit as he stared at Tsunade, uttering words designed to ignite fury: "When it's time to abandon someone, you must abandon them!"
CRACK! This time, Tsunade didn't just slam the desk; she vaulted over it, marched up to Danzo, grabbed him by the collar, her face contorted with rage, and snarled, "Say. That. Again!!!"
"Tsunade!" Koharu and Homura cried out simultaneously.
Danzo remained calm under Tsunade's fury. He gently pried her hand off his collar and stepped aside. "Do not prioritize personal feelings. You are the Hokage. You must consider the village's interests."
As furious as Tsunade was, she knew they weren't entirely wrong. Still, she refused to back down. Just as the atmosphere reached a breaking point, another knock echoed at the door.
Tsunade turned, walked back behind her desk, took a deep breath to compose herself, and called out, "Enter!"
The Hokage's office door opened, and six figures filed in. Seeing the pink-haired girl among them, Tsunade's eyes lit up with relief, only to immediately darken with sternness.
"Lord Godaime, mission complete," Kakashi reported, noticing the Elders' presence with mild surprise. "We came straight here as we hadn't reported in advance."
"No matter, Kakashi. Sakura, stay. The rest of you may leave," Tsunade said grimly, cutting off the other Jonin who were about to speak.
Seeing Sakura return had initially brought Tsunade joy, but the early morning confrontation with the council had soured her mood completely.
Sakura saw her master's thunderous expression and knew she was in trouble. Noticing the Elders were also present, she guessed Tsunade-sensei had been dealing with their complaints.
"Who is she?" Tsunade asked, her gaze falling on the dark-haired girl beside Sakura.
"Her name is Junko. She… uh… she saved me. Her family is gone now. So, um, I wanted to bring her back to Konoha," Sakura answered carefully.
Danzo's eye narrowed slightly as he scrutinized Junko. Though their political views differed, protecting Konoha's security was a shared priority. Junko stood impassively beside Sakura, uncomfortable under the bandaged man's gaze but showing no fear.
"Kakashi, report on the mission," Tsunade ordered, steepling her fingers under her chin, her voice regaining its serious tone.
"Yes, ma'am." Kakashi then delivered a detailed account of the search mission, including the interception by Kusagakure forces. He concluded, "Hayama Shirakumo has gone to contact Jiraiya-sama. They should be returning soon."
Hearing Kakashi's report, Tsunade breathed a small sigh of relief. At least no major disasters had occurred, aside from the incident with Kusa – which she would deal with later. Now, she needed Sakura's side of the story.
Her gaze shifted to Sakura. "Your report," she commanded curtly.
"Huuu…" Sakura took a deep breath. Here it goes. During the journey back, Kakashi had asked, but the matter was too significant to discuss lightly. Looking around the room, Sakura stated, "This matter is for the Godaime Hokage's ears only."
"Chunin Haruno Sakura!" Koharu immediately snapped. "Unauthorized actions, failure to return after mission completion – these could already be considered acts of treason! If you don't provide a satisfactory explanation, do you think Tsunade can protect you forever?"
She then turned to Tsunade. "As a Konoha advisor, I believe Haruno Sakura lacks the qualities required of a Chunin. I request the Godaime Hokage revoke her Chunin status."
Hearing Koharu's words, Sakura ground her teeth in frustration, though she knew Koharu had a point. She had repeatedly broken the rules, all because she thought dealing with two Ame-nin would be simple, never expecting such a massive complication due to her curiosity.
Besides, Sakura knew her own limitations. She wasn't a genius; her high score relative to her age just made others think she was. As she grew older, that gap would shrink, perhaps even reverse. This incident was a harsh reminder: she wasn't a prodigy, just someone with a high stat number.
"I agree," Homura stated, supporting Koharu. "Haruno Sakura no longer demonstrates Chunin-level competence. I believe she requires further tempering as a Genin. If allowed to lead missions, she would not only fail but also cause unnecessary losses."
Sakura glared inwardly at Homura but held her tongue. Unlike Danzo, these two weren't entirely wrong. Fine.
Actually, thinking about it, demotion didn't sound so bad. It would free up time to research the Mystical Palm Technique. Genin life was much simpler than Chunin life, fewer responsibilities, fewer missions… Unconsciously, the girl found herself almost hoping for a demotion.
"We'll discuss that later. Sakura, these are the village advisors. Speak," Tsunade ordered, interrupting Sakura's wandering thoughts. Tsunade would have preferred a private report, but clearly, the advisors wouldn't back down without a satisfactory explanation.
"Alright." Since you insist. Sakura wasn't truly hesitant, just felt she should have discussed it with her master first. "After tracking the two Ame-nin, I encountered Hanzo of the Salamander." Sakura paused deliberately.
"And?" Tsunade prompted. Based on earlier intel, she had suspected this. No surprise there.
"Then Hanzo and I fought. I killed him," Sakura stated, her expression deliberately nonchalant.
Yes, Sakura was showing off, and the effect was spectacular.
Absolute silence descended upon the office. A pin drop would have echoed. Even Danzo, who had been observing Junko, snapped his single visible eye wide open, staring intently at the seemingly delicate girl.
Everyone in the room, except Junko who didn't grasp the significance of the name "Hanzo," turned their stunned gazes upon Sakura.
Homura and Koharu froze, mouths agape, utterly speechless.
After a moment, Homura finally found his voice, demanding, "What proof do you have that you speak the truth?"
"Indeed, I have no proof," Sakura admitted calmly. "Because after I killed him, I lost consciousness. I don't know what happened next. When I woke up, I was in Junko's home." She gestured towards the dark-haired girl beside her.
"Is this true, Kakashi?" Koharu asked sharply.
"It likely is," Kakashi replied, having recovered from his own shock. "There were indeed large patches of withered plants near the Rain-Grass border. Jiraiya-sama had already deduced those were traces of Hanzo's techniques being used in battle."
"How did you kill Hanzo? A mere Chunin like you!" Danzo questioned, his eye narrowed suspiciously.
"A full-strength Hanzo? Naturally, I couldn't beat him. But he was already injured when I encountered him. I essentially had to trade my life for his to take him down," Sakura answered. She disliked Danzo, but he seemed uninterested in her personally, so she saw no reason not to answer. She couldn't afford to antagonize everyone in Konoha just because she disliked them.
"Sakura, report the details to me, from beginning to end," Tsunade ordered, realizing the gravity of the situation. News of Hanzo's death could destabilize the entire region. Without him guarding Ame's borders, Iwagakure would surely become restless.
"Yes, Sensei." Sakura then recounted everything, starting from the pursuit out of Takigakure all the way to meeting Kakashi's team. The detailed explanation took a full fifteen minutes.
When she finished, everyone wore grim, thoughtful expressions. Sakura could sense Hanzo's death would have negative repercussions, though she couldn't grasp the full extent.
"Ah, that's right, Lord Godaime," Kakashi suddenly remembered. "Asuma captured the Ame-nin Sakura was pursuing."
"Was it Hisame?" Sakura immediately recalled the beautiful, venomous kunoichi she had healed and left in the cave.
"That seems to be her name," Kakashi nodded.
"Where is she now?" Tsunade asked.
"After interrogation, she was dealt with," Kakashi stated matter-of-factly.
Dealt with. Sakura felt a complicated pang. She thought of the woman cursing her as a demon in the cave, remembered being moved by the bond between the Ame-nin. She had treated her wounds out of compassion… but in the end, Hyouu couldn't escape her fate.
"According to her interrogation," Kakashi continued, "Amegakure is undergoing a civil war. Her last intel was that Hanzo was engaged in fierce battles with the rebels."
"It seems Hanzo lost," Tsunade concluded, rubbing her forehead and reviewing the earlier message from Jiraiya. "So he fled towards the Land of Grass, only to run into Sakura. Who could possibly have forced Hanzo to flee?"
"Regardless of who it is, we can establish an alliance with Amegakure's new leader. This would give us an advantage," Homura proposed.
"Exactly. If Iwagakure makes contact first, we'll be at a disadvantage," Koharu added. "Isn't Jiraiya in Amegakure now? He should stay, assess the situation, and forge an alliance before Iwa does."
"Let's not rush into an alliance," Danzo interjected, surprisingly advocating caution.
Both Elders looked at him, puzzled.
"This civil war in Amegakure happened suddenly, apparently quite recently. Hanzo held absolute control there, yet he was overthrown and forced to flee in a short time. Until the situation becomes clearer, we should remain passive," Danzo explained.
The Elders exchanged surprised glances. Danzo was usually the hawk; why was he being so conservative now?
"We'll discuss this matter later," Tsunade declared, cutting off further debate. "Kakashi, Sakura, you two are dismissed for now."
"Yes, ma'am." Sakura knew this was her cue to leave while they discussed Amegakure strategy. No reason to linger.
"Wait," Tsunade called out just as Sakura reached the door with Junko.
"Is there something else, Lord Godaime?" Sakura asked cautiously.
"What do you plan to do with her?" Tsunade gestured towards Junko.
"Um, could she possibly get Konoha citizenship? Sensei ?" Sakura asked meekly.
Seeing Sakura's suddenly docile expression, Tsunade rubbed her temples and waved a hand dismissively. "Take her to see Yamanaka Inoichi. If there are no problems, go to the records office and get her registered."
She pulled a scroll from her drawer. "This is a Hokage directive."
Danzo and the Elders didn't interfere further regarding Junko. A much larger problem now demanded their attention. Sakura's minor transgression was no longer important.
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