Shizune had been suffering from a bit of a headache lately. Her original job was merely to assist the Hokage with office work. But recently, she had been doing the work that Lady Tsunade herself should have been doing – for example, negotiating with the Kirigakure envoys.
Ever since Lady Tsunade learned the truth from Sakura that day, she had consistently avoided meeting with the Kirigakure envoys. Since Shizune couldn't make decisions on Tsunade's behalf, she ended up just relaying Kirigakure's messages to Lady Tsunade, and then Lady Tsunade's words back to the Kirigakure envoys. This back-and-forth naturally slowed down progress considerably.
So, the Kirigakure envoys had been growing rather impatient these past two days, their words inevitably becoming somewhat pushy. But with the Hokage consistently refusing to meet them, Shizune was helpless. In the end, she was the one who had to bear the brunt of their frustration.
"Lady Tsunade, they're here again. Would you like to see them?" Shizune said, pushing open the door to the Hokage's office, her voice tinged with resignation as she addressed Tsunade.
"Knock before entering!" Tsunade frowned, reprimanding her. "How have you become just like Sakura?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Shizune said, an apologetic yet helpless expression on her face. "But we really can't delay this any longer. The Kirigakure envoys said that if they don't see you this time, they will return to their village and prepare for war."
When mentioning war, Shizune's face showed none of the tension it had when war was first brought up. The Kirigakure envoys had been here for some time. Although she didn't know why Lady Tsunade was unwilling to meet them, she could tell that Kirigakure didn't actually want to start a war either. Otherwise, they wouldn't still be here after being repeatedly rebuffed.
Suddenly, Shizune remembered the day Lady Tsunade had returned to the village with Sakura. When she had first learned that the Kirigakure envoys had come to negotiate, Tsunade had shown no fear at all in the face of Kirigakure's threat of war. So, Lady Tsunade had seen through their true intentions from the very beginning. As expected of Lady Tsunade.
"Oh," Tsunade said playfully. "It seems they're reaching their limit too, are they?"
"Yes, I think you must see them this time. If you continue to delay, it might backfire," Shizune advised.
"I know..." Tsunade frowned, biting her lip in silence for a moment before asking, "What has Sakura been doing during this time?"
"Sakura?" Shizune thought for a moment. "I haven't seen Sakura during this period. However, Karin has been acting a bit abnormally."
"Hmm? What's wrong with Karin?" Tsunade asked. Tsunade hadn't paid as much attention to Karin. It wasn't that she was biased, but after returning to the village, her Hokage duties left her with little time for teaching. So, initially, she had just let Sakura guide Karin's studies.
"She hasn't been coming to the hospital lately. Instead, she's been spending all her time studying at the sealing class," Shizune said. "I did ask her once. She said she felt her sealing techniques were lagging behind her medical ninjutsu and wanted to catch up. But I always feel there's more to it than that. However, I got busy later and didn't pay much attention. To be honest, her progress in medical ninjutsu has indeed been quite fast."
"Is that so..." Tsunade steepled her fingers, resting her chin on the back of her hands, her brow furrowed with an unresolvable question.
She knew the Third Hokage's policy regarding Karin. As a survivor of the Uzumaki clan, Konoha had an obligation to take her in, both officially and privately. Although her grandfather had wanted to treat the entire village as one family, and had acted accordingly.
But for Tsunade, standing at the pinnacle of medical ninjutsu in the ninja world, she naturally knew that if a bloodline was diluted, its abilities would inevitably weaken. If the other bloodline was also relatively strong, it might be acceptable. If not, for a clan with a bloodline limit, it was practically self-destruction.
However, this policy had been established by her grandfather, and Tsunade herself was a product of a diluted bloodline. So, she wouldn't negate her grandfather's philosophy of governing the village for a small benefit.
But if there was a chance for the Uzumaki clan to regain its former glory, Tsunade wouldn't refuse it.
"Has Sakura been living with Karin during this time?" Tsunade asked again.
"Mm, yes," Shizune replied. "I think Karin's change is probably related to Sakura. I think you should talk to her and find out what she's planning to do."
"This..." Tsunade hesitated. After a long moment, she let out a lengthy sigh. "Let's put it aside for now. Come, let's go meet the envoys from Kirigakure."
Saying this, Tsunade stood up from her seat. Seeing this, Shizune could only exit the office and lead the way.
Tsunade felt responsible for what had happened to Sakura. Ever since Sakura woke up, she could clearly sense a distance from Sakura towards her. This distance made her feel inexplicably flustered, yet she didn't know how to bridge it.
So, she could only silently care about Sakura's condition, but she didn't dare approach rashly. She still hadn't figured out how to face her, how to face the Sakura who had lost her home due to Tsunade's own mistakes.
Strength was not built overnight, and the Mangekyo couldn't be awakened with a single stimulus. For Sasuke, who didn't have the Mangekyo, Sakura Haruno felt his usefulness was even less than Karin's.
However, Sasuke hadn't agreed to help her, which surprised Sakura Haruno slightly. But after thinking about it, she could understand. He wasn't her follower; his personality was very independent. Although he might be manipulated by certain events, he would never willingly remain subservient.
What she had done this time was indeed a bit excessive. Although she had explained the cause and effect, it had also made Sasuke realize his own insignificance. And her desire for the Mangekyo to capture the Tailed Beasts had once again struck a blow to Sasuke's already scarce self-esteem.
"Did I act too hastily after all...?" Sakura Haruno lay on a tree branch, staring blankly through the leaves at the azure sky, images of Sasuke rejecting her flashing through her mind.
Sasuke's resolute expression had shown Sakura Haruno his determination, and at the same time, allowed her to taste the bitterness of rejection. It truly wasn't a pleasant feeling. This incident might become a rift between the two of them.
But Sakura Haruno had no other choice. No matter what method she used, the Tailed Beasts had to be captured. Perhaps I should go apologize to him, Sakura Haruno thought.
"Sakura."
A young woman's voice came from beneath the tree. Sakura Haruno looked down and saw it was Ino. She then did a backflip and landed from the branch.
"Hey, long time no see, Ino," Sakura Haruno said with a smile, greeting her.
"Hey, Sakura." Ino's somewhat nervous expression immediately relaxed upon seeing Sakura Haruno's smile.
"No mission today?" Sakura Haruno asked, leaning against the tree trunk as she looked at Ino.
"Just finished a mission," Ino explained. "I heard you woke up. Everyone happens to have some free time tonight, so we were thinking of having a dinner gathering. Are you free tonight?"
"Tonight, huh..." Sakura Haruno thought for a moment and found she didn't seem to have anything else to do. "No problem," she said. "Can I bring Karin?"
"No problem," Ino said. "Tonight at eight o'clock at Yakiniku Q. You have to come."
"Mm," Sakura Haruno said, then hesitated for a moment. "Ino..."
"Hmm? What is it?" Ino, who was about to leave, turned back to look at her upon hearing Sakura's voice.
"Um... thank you for what happened before," Sakura Haruno said slowly.
"Haha... what are you talking about? Aren't we comrades? I still want to surpass you, you know," Ino said to Sakura Haruno with a brilliant smile.
Looking at Ino's radiant smile, Sakura Haruno was taken aback and murmured to herself, "I didn't really hang out with you guys much before. To be honest, I didn't feel like our relationship was that good. Yet, for my sake, you all went so far as to defy the village's rules..."
"But we know that you, Sakura, are someone who cares for her comrades," Ino interrupted Sakura Haruno's murmuring. "Although the old you seemed cold, we all actually knew you cared a lot about everyone. Maybe you've forgotten, but we all still remember..."
"Is that so..." Sakura Haruno fell silent. Had she cared about them? Perhaps. But she herself didn't remember.
Actually, it wasn't surprising that Sakura Haruno didn't feel it. Although she had only been at the academy for three years, a soul with an adult mindset would inevitably behave differently from a group of children. At that time, she was number one in both academics and practical skills. Every move she made attracted extra attention, and Sakura's mature personality added to her personal charm.
Moreover, Sakura also had no habit of bullying children. Even an unintentional act of help could leave a deep impression on these children. It was just that she herself wouldn't remember these things.
Eight o'clock in the evening, Yakiniku Q.
When Sakura Haruno arrived with Karin, she saw Ino waving at her from a booth not far away that could seat over a dozen people.
Familiar faces were all there. Sakura Haruno found a seat and greeted them one by one. Lastly, she noticed Sasuke wasn't there.
"Where's Sasuke?" Sakura Haruno asked, a hint of unease in her eyes. Is he really angry?
"Oh, him? He said he has an ANBU mission and can't make it," Ino said, somewhat dejectedly.
"I see," Sakura Haruno replied, her voice flat.
"Welcome back, Sakura," Shikamaru said, raising his glass to Sakura.
"Welcome back." "Welcome back." ...
Then, one by one, everyone raised their glasses and spoke to Sakura Haruno.
"Thank you, everyone," Sakura Haruno said, also raising her glass. However, her eyes held a touch of melancholy. It would be even better if the juice in this glass were alcohol.