Chapter 211: Epilogue (Part 2): Yugao's Getting Married?
The master and disciple chatted idly about this topic for a few sentences.
The bizarre secret techniques and powerful strength of the Akatsuki duo had set off alarm bells in Tsunade's mind.
It seemed that the village, which had just emerged from the Konoha Crush plan, was about to face a fierce storm again.
This made Tsunade a little worried, but she did not show it in front of her disciple...
She nonchalantly exchanged her thoughts with Haruno Sakura about the battle with the Akatsuki.
After the battle with Kimimaro, Sakura's understanding and mastery of the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and Sakura Rush - Phase Two had clearly reached a new level. Her effortless Ice Body Flicker seemed to have shed its flashy aura, becoming faster and purer.
This time, when fighting a "Kage"-level ninja, the routine of Body Flicker plus nin-taijutsu attack had repeatedly achieved miraculous results, which showed that Sakura had gradually caught up with the rhythm of that level of combat. She no longer had the feeling of having powerful ninjutsu but being unable to use it, as in the past.
The Haruno Sakura of before had felt more like a child holding a gun—although the Naruto world did not have guns, that was the meaning—what was intimidating was the gun in her hand, not her as a person.
This situation was not uncommon. When Kakashi had just developed the Chidori back then, he had also been unable to control that ninjutsu and had almost died on the spot the first time he had used the Chidori charge.
Tsunade knew that with Sakura's talent, as her experience and knowledge grew, this predicament of her ninjutsu's power not matching her own strength would soon be overcome, and she would eventually truly integrate the ninjutsu into her own combat system. It was just that she had not expected that Haruno Sakura would cross this threshold so quickly, and would fight so brilliantly in the battle against Kakuzu, even suppressing the opponent at one point.
The girl, who had been evaluated by Tsunade as an elite Jonin, now seemed to have signs of transforming into the "Kage" level. As long as she truly made up for her shortcomings...
I heard that Kakashi has recently started to train normally again, and seems to be very diligent. The Fifth Hokage had been gratified but also a little puzzled before. Now, she was beginning to understand Kakashi's feelings.
Konoha's new generation has shown vigorous vitality, and the middle generation is also striving to improve. All these are changes that I have brought! The new Hokage thought to herself with a bit of smugness. Thinking this way, she actually felt that it was a good thing that they had not finished off the Akatsuki organization. Letting them escape also allowed Konoha to avoid a direct confrontation with the Akatsuki.
It was not yet appropriate for Konoha to face the Akatsuki head-on. If Jiraiya's intelligence was correct, there were nearly ten "Kage"-level ninja in the Akatsuki whose strength was no less than Orochimaru's. This was truly an alarming number. Before, just Orochimaru alone had caused havoc in Konoha's heartland. If the Akatsuki organization were to invade Konoha to rescue their comrades, the village would probably suffer a truly devastating blow...
Only when the generation of Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke had grown up, and a few more people from Kakashi's generation had broken through, and Konoha had five or six more Kage-level and a number of elite Jonin and Jonin-level ninja, would her confidence truly grow.
At that time, she wouldn't have to worry about the Uchiha Itachi who had mixed into the Akatsuki, whether he still identified with himself, whether he was still loyal to Konoha...
As long as she ran Konoha well, and then pulled out this lineup of powerful ninja, the rest would be a simple steamroll... She wouldn't be afraid of any enemy that stood in her way. With such a huge advantage, how could you lose when your dragons were already swarming their face!
Hn... from this point of view.
Not only was Tsunade beautiful, but her thoughts were also beautiful.
Even if everything went smoothly, as she had imagined, at that time, in terms of high-end combat power, the Akatsuki and Konoha would only be on par.
The Fifth Hokage, while chatting with Sakura, was also happily looking forward to the grand occasion of Konoha developing and expanding in her hands and returning to its status as the number one ninja village.
This kind of behavior... seemed to be called wishful thinking, right?
"...In short, that's how it is with the Akatsuki matter. Don't worry, the village will handle it well," Tsunade cleared her throat and said with a serious expression. "As for your matter in the Land of Snow, just do it when you're ready. But you'll have to figure out everything over there by yourself. I can't help you."
"As for Yūgao's problem... you don't have to be in too much of a hurry either. She will be on leave for at least the next year."
Haruno Sakura tilted her head and asked, "Why?"
"Hayate Gekkō and she have decided to get married soon and have a child," Tsunade said, calmly delivering this surprising news, a faint smile in her eyes. "They feel that they can't drag it on any longer."
"M-married?"
The girl cried out in surprise. Her psychological age had already surpassed the age of late marriage, so her sensitivity to this word was a little higher.
One of the benefits of transmigrating was that now she didn't have the trouble of being forced into marriage or being pestered about whether she had a partner...
Tsunade was a little surprised by the pink-haired girl's overreaction. She raised her delicate brows and said strangely, "Is there a problem? They are at that age where they should be getting married. I think that after a while, in a year or two, if Yūgao can smoothly return to duty, then I'll just have Hayate step down. We can't have both of the child's parents working on the front lines."
(Note: Tsunade was thinking of Konohamaru's parents, the son and daughter-in-law of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Both were elite Jonin of the Anbu, with high strength. They later sacrificed themselves in a mission, leaving only Konohamaru as an orphan. During her reign, she wanted to have as few such tragedies as possible...)
Then again, ninja of Yūgao Uzuki and Kakashi's generation were actually already of marriageable age, but one by one, they were holding back from getting married, or even from falling in love. What was this all about!
Yūgao and Hayate's wedding had to be a grand affair, to give others a sense of urgency. She couldn't let the excellent genes of these elite ninja be cut off... How could the ancestral DNA not be passed down!
In addition, the relationship between Asuma and Kurenai Yūhi also needed a little push from her. A child born of two Jonin would definitely be a good seedling. With time, he would be another Jonin. An elite Jonin would also be just around the corner, and even Kage-level could be looked forward to. And the Third only had that one son left. He had to get him to start a family and have a child quickly. In any case, Kurenai's team was doing quite well now, and there was no need for her to keep a close eye on them anymore.
In a word, she couldn't let these ninja continue to be so carefree anymore. She had to coax them to fall in love, get married, and have babies!
Otherwise, without newborns, how could Konoha develop and grow? The Fifth Hokage was anxious in her heart.
In short, the matter of Hayate and Yūgao's marriage was settled!
The matchmaker Tsunade's mind was diverging greatly at this moment, already thinking very far ahead...
Seeing that Haruno Sakura still wanted to say something, Tsunade waved her hand and said, "This is a family matter decided by Hayate Gekkō and Yūgao Uzuki. You don't need to say any more... For the two of them to be able to form a family is a matter worthy of blessing."
This is not just a family matter for Hayate and Yūgao. This is related to Konoha's hundred-year plan, Tsunade's ambitious human creation plan. How can a mere Chunin like you stop it!
The unromantic Haruno Sakura clearly did not understand the grand ambitions behind Tsunade's words.
"Hn..."
The girl bit her lower lip. Her light pink lip color was squeezed into a pale white by her pearly teeth. She hesitated, not knowing what to say.
In fact, she didn't have a clear idea in her own heart either.
Her teammate wants to pursue her life's happiness. Should she stop her?
But in a blink of an eye, the squad she's in is going to be disbanded and reorganized again... She had only just gotten familiar with her two comrades who had been through life and death with her!
"So even if Yūgao wants to return to the team, it will be after she has a child, which will take about a year or more," Tsunade said, twirling the pen in her fingers with a good mood. "Just right. If you want to solve Yūgao's heart problem, this period of time is also just enough for you to produce results."
"It will take more than a year?" Sakura asked with confusion.
She had Orochimaru's materials. Even if she just followed them blindly without seeking a deep understanding, it wouldn't take her more than a few months to create a usable heart for Yūgao!
"What do you think?" Tsunade put down her pen, rolled her eyes at her, and asked back, "You're not thinking of staying in the Land of Snow for a whole year to do experiments, are you? I'm telling you, the follow-up mission for the Land of Snow, I'll give you a month and a half at most! If you exceed this time, you can just put a line through your own forehead protector."
Tsunade glared at Sakura with her beautiful almond eyes.
Haruno Sakura let out a few awkward laughs and said, waving her hands, "I won't, I won't."
A month and a half was enough time for her to complete some of the preliminary content, including Yūgao's problem. The subsequent work could be left for next time.
"In short, you're only allowed to go for that long in the first half of the year. Also, go early and come back early. After all, during this period, there are still many things that need you to do!" Tsunade counted on her fingers for her. "For example, your Tokubetsu Jonin assessment, and the preparations for this summer's Chunin Exams will also be starting soon when you get back. You'll have to help then... and so on. Of course, you can't stop the development of your own ninjutsu either."
"Oh..." Sakura answered wearily. By this calculation, her schedule was also packed.
After the first half of the year was busy, she would have to find an excuse to continue to go to the Land of Snow in the second half...
"Oh right, one more thing... find some time recently to learn the Summoning Jutsu from me. Using a reverse summon to return to Konoha can save a lot of time on the return trip. The slug's medical ability will also be of great help to you. You don't have a problem with mollusks, do you?"
"Uh? A slug?" Sakura was stunned. "Of course not. No problem."
In any case, she wouldn't be summoning a slug to fight.
"Alright, I won't chat with you anymore! You're tired too. Go back and rest."
The Fifth Hokage rubbed her temples. She had been busy for half a day and was also a little tired.
"Oh right, Shino's hospital room is Room 2017 on the second floor. You can go and see him by the way. He's basically fine. If he's quick, he can rest here for a night and be discharged tomorrow."
Sakura nodded, walked out of Tsunade's office, and gently closed the door behind her.
With a thud, the door was locked tight. The girl leaned against the wall, her mind in a mess. For a moment, she was too lazy to move.
End of Volume Seven.
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