The following week saw Kakashi-sensei, Yamato-sensei, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke assembled in the Hokage's office to submit their reports on the subjugation of the Mōryō and the battle fought on the front lines against the Ghost Army.
"Come on, Granny Tsunade, can't you make me at least a Chūnin?" said Naruto coaxingly. "I did well this mission, didn't I, ya know?"
He slid a package in the shape of a brick across Tsunade's desk with a knowing wink.
"A bribe, is it?" said Tsunade drily. "I'll have you know the Hokage is above such petty corruption."
Sakura watched as Tsunade slipped the package into her sleeve without so much as a flicker of expression. Perhaps the Hokage's words might have carried more weight had she not accepted the bribe, but Sakura held her tongue. After all, she had been the one to tell Naruto about Tsunade's love for high-quality sweets, such as roasted chestnut-flavoured mizu yōkan.
"So, about my promotion…" said Naruto hopefully.
"Kakashi, report," said Tsunade lazily, interrupting him.
Naruto stepped back, sulking, as Kakashi-sensei launched into his account of what he'd been up to during Sakura's expedition to the Land of Demons and Swamps.
"I took command of Deep Infiltration and Recon Teams 5 through 8 and intercepted the enemy in the Land of Woods, where Yamato used his Wood Style to block the advancing army's path to great effect," reported Kakashi. "Lightning Style was also fairly effective against the Earth Style Terracotta soldiers."
"Casualties?" prompted Tsunade.
Kakashi shook his head.
"None," he replied succinctly. "A few sprained ankles and broken bones at the most."
Tsunade seemed satisfied with Kakashi's report. After asking a few questions about the performance of the Medic-nin assigned to the four Chūnin-led four-man squads he had commandeered, she dismissed Kakashi and Yamato.
"…You had to resort to that Akimichi imitation Kinjutsu of yours?" Tsunade asked, her eyes flicking pointedly to Sakura's washboard chest. "How long until you're back to full strength?"
Sakura was not entirely certain of the answer.
The last time she had been forced to use the Breast Diet Technique, she had managed to recover fully within a few months; but that was when her breasts used to fit snugly in an I-cup bra. By comparison, merely a few days ago, her bust size at O-cup was roughly one and a half times greater in volume than it had been back then.
Perhaps it was just Sakura's imagination, but her recovery time was slower this time around— perhaps due to the fact that she had used the Breast Diet Technique in conjunction with the Mitotic Regeneration Technique, which both put a heavy strain on her cells. It had already been five days, and she was still barely filling an A-cup bra.
They were so small and perky that they didn't even jiggle like pudding any more…
"I see," said Tsunade, nodding slightly at Sakura's theories. "I'll give you a check-up once I've finished hearing your report. You may continue."
Sakura went on to recount the events of the mission.
Tsunade was pleased to hear that her disciple had managed to befriend the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons, but her expression darkened at the mention of the kunoichi from Iwagakure who claimed her breasts had been stolen. She opened her mouth to ask for more details, but Sakura gave a barely perceptible shake of her head, so Tsunade held off— for now, at least, until she could speak with her in private.
"You've done well, the four of you," said Lady Tsunade at last. "So, if you've any special requests, I'll hear them now."
"I'd like a promotion!" Naruto chirped at once. "It's embarrassing being the only Genin in a team of Jōnin, ya know!"
"Out of the question," said Tsunade firmly. "Wait for the next Chūnin Exams."
Naruto scowled.
"…are there still Ichiraku Ramen discount vouchers?" asked Hinata timidly.
Tsunade gave her a pitying look.
Ramen was Naruto's favourite food! Was poor Hinata really planning on using this super rare opportunity to ask a favour of the Hokage for the sake of a Sakura simp who wouldn't even give her the time of day?
"Tell you what," said Tsunade, sounding comforting. "I'll foot the bill for your Ichiraku Ramen tab for a month— how's that? But no paying for others, understood? I'm only covering what you eat."
"Really…?" Hinata said shyly. "Thank you so much, Milady…"
Little did Tsunade know, she would come to regret making this offer. Hinata was no ordinary girl, but a black hole disguised as a ninja. Even if Tsunade didn't foot the bill for Naruto's meal, Hinata's appetite alone could bankrupt a small country.
Sakura wasn't sure what she wanted to ask for, so she decided to let Sasuke go next.
"I want clues to the location of Ryūchi cave," said Sasuke decisively.
Tsunade thought for a moment before nodding. Giant summoned beasts were few and far between, so it would be beneficial for the village if Sasuke could improve his ability to face colossal threats.
"I'll try to remember Team Sarutobi's itinerary up to the point that white snake bastard first started summoning snakes," she said. "I'll have a map drawn up for you. Come back tomorrow."
Then, much to Sakura's surprise, Naruto asked the Hokage for something rather mature.
Well… more or less.
"I want to develop a new super cool killer finishing move," he said, sticking out his chest proudly. "Something suuuuper flashy that'll take down bad guys in one blow and make Sakura think I'm really cool and stuff, ya know."
"Not a bad favour to ask of the Hokage," said Tsunade appreciatively. "Though you formulated it in a profoundly stupid way. Sure, why not— I'll have Kakashi help you out."
Knowing Kakashi, she thought to herself, he'd drag Yamato into doing his job for him.
"And what about you, Sakura?" said Tsunade, turning to her. "Anything in particular, or will it be a new Jutsu from the Scroll of Secrets again?"
Sakura hesitated.
What did she need most right now? In her current state, she was incredibly vulnerable, so she urgently needed to restore her breast volume— but she didn't have time to wait for her brassiere's contents to be replenished naturally. It would take more than healthy portions of Curry of Life to fill up these sweater puppies in time for the Akatsuki Suppression Mission.
"I'd like some time off, Milady," she said at last. "I need to make a trip to Takumi Village to commission a new katana."
"Granted," said Tsunade. "In that case, Team 7 no longer has a medic, so I might as well give the lot of you the remainder of the week off— to practise your new techniques, go sword shopping, find snake holes, or what have you. Hinata, Naruto, Sasuke, you're dismissed— oh, and you too, Shizune."
It was high time Sakura had some freedom beyond the village, not least because she needed to post a bounty on the black market for information about Swift Style kunoichi, so that she could steal her breasts and have the System properly derive a Lightning Style Chakra Mode she could actually use without fainting.
After all, what self-respecting transmigrator wouldn't go behind their superiors' backs to get things done in secret?
"Come over here, Sakura," said Tsunade, beckoning to her as the others left the room. "Take off your clothes so I can get a better look at you."