55: Chapter 55 The Wind Shadow is Captured and His Allies Plead for HelpTsunade's figure vanished from the spot and reappeared by the broken window the next second.
She didn't look at the convulsing, lifeless falcon, but instead grabbed the glaring red scroll, stained black with blood, from its leg.
She unfolded quickly.
The writing on the scroll was somewhat messy due to the bumps and bloodstains, but every word carried a burning anxiety.
Tsunade's facial muscles tightened abruptly, and the Hokage's dignity and composure cracked the moment she saw the contents.
The new Kazekage, Gaara, has been kidnapped by members of the Akatsuki organization.
The air in the office felt as if it had been sucked out.
Jiraiya walked in, and after just one glance at Tsunade's reaction, he understood the seriousness of the situation.
When his gaze fell on the two characters with the heaviest ink stains on the scroll, his usually somewhat frivolous face completely darkened.
"dawn..."
He pronounced the name, each word carrying a heavy weight.
Kakashi and Sakura also arrived.
Kakashi was still reeling from the shock of the exercise, but when he saw the tense atmosphere in the office, he immediately suppressed his emotions.
Something terrible has happened.
Just then, the office door was violently slammed open with an almost savage force.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Temari rushed in, her golden braids disheveled from running, her face pale and filled with extreme panic and despair.
She had clearly come from Sunagakure at top speed, even arriving a step later than the hawk that risked its life to deliver the information.
Her appearance confirmed the authenticity of the information on the scroll.
"My brother… Gaara… he was killed by Akatsuki…" Temari's voice was broken by rapid breathing, mixed with an undisguised tremor, "Please, Konoha!Send reinforcements!"
[Ding!You have received 12,000 units of ultimate [Fear] from Temari!]
[Ding!You have received 11,500 units of Temari's ultimate [Despair]!]
Naruto stood at the door, calmly accepting this high-quality negative emotion.
Tsunade has regained her composure, or rather, she has forcibly switched herself into the state of the supreme decision-maker.
She walked to the huge map and placed her hands on the table.
"This is an open declaration of war against the Five Great Villages." Her assertion was cold and clear."The Akatsuki has finally started targeting Jinchuriki.This is not only a crisis for Sunagakure, but also a crisis for Konoha and even the entire ninja world."
She paused for a moment, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"But at the same time, this is also an opportunity to understand their strength."
Her gaze eventually settled on Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto.
Class 7.
"Kakashi's team has the most extensive experience in pursuit and teamwork," Tsunade made her initial decision.
But her gaze lingered on Naruto for a long time, filled with complex emotions.
Should we send Naruto?
He was also a Jinchūriki.
Sending him to hunt down the organization that kidnapped another Jinchūriki is tantamount to handing a piece of fat meat to a hungry wolf.
The risk is too great.
Reason told her that she should leave Naruto in the village.
"I'll go too."
A calm yet incredibly firm voice interrupted Tsunade's thoughts.
Naruto Uzumaki stepped forward.
He didn't shout or make any grand pronouncements.
He simply stated a fact calmly.
"Gaara is my friend."
This statement is more powerful than any rousing words.
It struck precisely at the softest part of Tsunade's heart, the part she was most willing to believe in.
Bonds.
The will to protect one's comrades.
She looked at the young man before her.In his azure eyes, the impetuousness of the past was gone, replaced by a reassuring reliability and steadfastness.
She recalled how, two years ago, this same will had saved her from the mire of the past.
Now, is she going to deny this will with her own hands?
[Ding!The Actor's Self-Cultivation module has been activated, with the [Firmness] emotional simulation accuracy at 98%!]
[Ding!You have received 8800 [Shakedown] from Tsunade!]
[Ding!You have received 4500 "Touching" points from Sakura Haruno!]
Tsunade closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only determination remained within them.
"good."
"Kakashi's team, depart immediately for Sunagakure!"
She abruptly changed the subject, issuing an order that surprised everyone in an irrefutable tone.
"Naruto Uzumaki will serve as the temporary team leader for this mission, and will have the highest decision-making authority.Kakashi and Sakura Haruno, you two will be responsible for providing him with full support."
What?
Kakashi and Sakura were both stunned.
Should Naruto be the captain?
Commanding his own Jonin teacher?
[Ding!You have received 7500 [Unexpected] items from Kakashi Hatake!]
[Ding!You have received 6800 "Shocking" items from Sakura Haruno!]
Naruto did not react to this.
It was as if this appointment was a matter of course.
He simply nodded slightly at Tsunade.
"I see."
Then, he turned around and looked at Kakashi and Sakura, who were still stunned, and said in a tone that was devoid of any emotion and was purely an order.
"Meet at the village entrance in five minutes.Travel light, carrying only essentials and three days' worth of rations."
After saying that, he turned around and walked straight out of the Hokage's office without any hesitation.
His decisiveness and composure, so unlike his age, made everyone present feel a little unfamiliar.
Five minutes later.
Konoha Village entrance.
The three members of Class 7, along with Temari, whose face was filled with anxiety, had assembled.
Naruto stood at the very front of the group, his orange training robe swaying slightly in the wind.
[Ding!Harvest has arrived!]Tsunade's [worries] x10500!
[Ding!You've received 9500 "Expectations" from Jiraiya!]
[Ding!Received 15,000 points of "Comprehensive Judgment" emotion from Konoha's high-ranking officials!]
A nice gift for your departure.
Naruto calmly filed out these honor points.
"Set off."
He uttered two words and was about to take a step.
Bang!
A small puff of white smoke exploded in front of them.
A messenger frog from Sunagakure appeared before the group, looking disheveled, its voice sharp and panicked.
"Temari-sama!Something terrible has happened!"
Kakashi stepped forward and took the more urgent intelligence scroll from the mouth of the communication frog.
He glanced at it quickly, and his eyes narrowed sharply at the only eye that was visible.
He raised his head and looked at Temari with difficulty; he could barely speak of the contents of that intelligence report.
"Kankuro's squad, which was responsible for the pursuit.was wiped out."
"Kankuro.he's been poisoned by a scorpion's venom and is on the verge of death."
Kakashi didn't finish his sentence.
But Temari already understood.
The last trace of color in her face vanished completely in that instant.
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