Naruto blinked in confusion.
"Save him? But Gaara was already taken by the Akatsuki, right?" He stared at Tsunade, unsure what part he had misunderstood.
Sasuke let out a quiet sigh.
"Idiot, look at the date."
Only then did Naruto notice the small handwritten timestamp at the corner of the report. He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh… what day is this again? I lost track of time on Mount Myoboku."
Shizune stepped forward with a patient tone.
"Naruto, this report is from yesterday."
Tsunade nodded firmly.
"That is correct. Sand Village sent it through a night hawk courier. They are requesting support from the Leaf. Their forces are too depleted to rescue Gaara on their own."
The Hidden Sand had been pushed to its lowest point in decades.
Their own Kazekage had been kidnapped from under their noses. Worse yet, they lacked the power to chase the offenders down. Calling for help was their only option.
"If you leave immediately, there is still a chance to bring Gaara back alive." Tsunade looked at Naruto directly. "So? Will you accept this mission? Remember, even though you three are my personal guard, I will never force you."
Sasuke and Hinata both turned toward Naruto.
His decision would be theirs.
Naruto clenched his fists. The image of Gaara's lonely expression surfaced in his mind. That boy… he really had looked a lot like him once.
Even if Gaara had deceived him before, saving someone who had walked such a similar path felt like something he needed to do. And Gaara was now the Kazekage. Helping him meant helping an entire nation.
If Naruto wanted to achieve his greater unification plan one day, Gaara could become a valuable ally. Reducing unnecessary casualties was an important part of that dream. But giving up the revolution entirely? Never.
Every revolution required resolve. And he had it.
"Alright. I'll do it. I'll bring Gaara back." Naruto nodded with unshakable certainty.
Tsunade's lips curved into a faint smile. She clapped her hands, and the office door opened. Kakashi stepped inside with one hand in his pocket, eyes smiling.
"Tsunade. Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata. Long time no see."
"Kakashi Sensei?" Naruto and Hinata widened their eyes. Even Sasuke raised a brow, surprised.
Tsunade nodded.
"Kakashi will lead this mission. Team Seven may no longer officially exist, but your teamwork remains unmatched."
She crossed her arms under her chest.
"Your abilities are strong, but your experience is still limited. With Kakashi guiding you, I can rest easier."
"And Kakashi's summoning techniques will help track the Akatsuki. You should leave immediately."
The decision was made. In the next instant, all four vanished from the office.
As their presence faded, Tsunade rested her elbows on the desk, fingers interlaced beneath her chin.
This Akatsuki movement may reshape the entire world. Perhaps Naruto's dream… truly has a chance.
Outside the village gates, Kakashi was completing departure records when Naruto turned to Hinata.
"Hinata, maybe you should stay behind and have Granny Tsunade examine your eyes."
Hinata shook her head lightly.
"I can feel that nothing is seriously wrong. They just itch sometimes after using Sage training. And with my Byakugan, tracking will be easier."
Naruto didn't respond right away.
Hinata lifted her left hand and raised three fingers like she was making a childish oath.
"If my eyes get worse, I promise I'll tell you immediately. Naruto… let me go with you."
Her soft pleading voice made his shoulders relax. He finally nodded.
Kakashi walked back toward them, catching the tail end of their conversation.
"Hinata, your eyes are bothering you?"
"It only happens during Sage training, Sensei. It won't affect my sight." Hinata answered quickly, almost too quickly.
Kakashi saw right through her desire to stay by Naruto's side, yet he merely nodded. She was a trained medical ninja, after all.
"Alright. If you say you're fine, I trust you."
He closed the register with a thump.
"Everything is in order. Let's move."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata nodded at once.
Their figures blurred, then vanished in a whirl of dust.
Four shinobi trained heavily in taijutsu could travel at terrifying speeds. The distance between the Leaf and the Sand, normally a journey of days, could be crossed in less than half a day without rest.
That was the advantage of physically conditioned shinobi. Ninjutsu specialists might match their speed temporarily through chakra bursts, but in a long-distance sprint, they simply could not compare.
Not long after leaving the village, they spotted someone else running toward the Sand.
Her speed was nowhere near theirs.
"Isn't that a Sand ninja? I remember she was in Gaara's team." Naruto narrowed his eyes at the large folding fan on her back.
"Good time to gather intel." Kakashi decided instantly.
The group accelerated and closed the distance within seconds.
Temari felt a gust of wind sweep past her. Before she could blink, four figures surrounded her from different angles. Shock surged through her, and she instinctively reached for her three-star fan.
"Stay calm. We're not enemies." Kakashi said.
Only then did Temari see their faces clearly.
And once she recognized them, her fear didn't lessen; it grew.
The Uchiha boy who forced Shukaku into a corner.
The blond boy who knocked Shukaku flat with a single blow.
And the Hyuga girl whose Byakugan gaze felt as if it pierced the soul.
She and Kankuro had once been defeated by these same children.
Temari swallowed hard.
Naruto saw her fear and raised both hands casually.
"Relax. We're not fighting you. We're allies now, remember?"
Temari blinked.
He was right. They weren't enemies anymore.
She exhaled, slowly lowering her fan.
"What do you want?" she asked, voice steadier now.
Kakashi stepped forward.
"We're heading to the Sand. Is there any new information about Gaara?"
Temari clenched her jaw and nodded grimly.
"Follow me. I'll tell you everything on the way."
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