[When Naruto heard that the Ghost Army was being controlled, he immediately suggested taking out whoever was controlling them. Tsunade explained, "The one controlling them isn't human—it's a demon from another world named Mōryō."]
[At her words, Naruto trembled and turned pale. "I can't handle that kind of scary topic."]
[Ignoring Naruto's dramatics, Tsunade explained Mōryō's origins: "In the past, a ninja tried to conquer the continent by using the power of the demon Mōryō to create an immortal army. Mōryō led his army, rampaging through the nations and nearly destroying the entire continent. That's the true face of the Ghost Army that now threatens the world.
"At that time, the priestess Miroku of the Land of Demons used powerful ninjutsu to seal Mōryō's soul and body separately in the Land of Demons' underground palace and the Land of Swamps' shrine. That's how the world survived. Now, the revived Mōryō is leading his Ghost Army out of the Land of Demons and heading for the shrine where his body is sealed. If Mōryō's soul and body reunite and he's fully resurrected, it'll be a catastrophe."]
["What kind of catastrophe?" Naruto asked nervously.]
["The world will be destroyed," Tsunade answered flatly, making Naruto tremble a little.]
[Tsunade took out a map and pointed to the Land of Demons and the Land of Swamps. "Other than getting the priestess to the shrine and resealing Mōryō's soul, there's no other way to save the world."]
["So that's the truth about Mōryō."]
["Mōryō's immortal army was really that strong—almost destroyed the whole ninja world?"]
["That was at the end of the Third War. Every nation was exhausted after years of fighting, so Mōryō took advantage. But Tsunade's making it sound too dramatic! The Ghost Army only made it into the Land of Fire and got sealed soon after."]
["Maybe the Hokage thinks that if the Land of Fire falls, the whole world is doomed!"]
["Hilarious. They think just because they're weak, everyone else is too. If it was the Raikage, Mōryō wouldn't be a threat at all!"]
["Joke's on you—Third Raikage lost to us in Iwagakure, remember? Mōryō would be no problem for our Tsuchikage."]
["Wow, impressive. We in Kirigakure will just watch you guys kill each other, then swoop in and rule the world."]
["Alright, alright, enough boasting. At this rate, even Konoha's Genin could defeat Mōryō."]
["Hahaha, everyone's strong enough to kill puppets! Right on the sky screen!"]
Sakura was visibly frightened by this explanation of Mōryō. The thought that she might face such an enemy in the future shook her confidence. "Destroy the world? Will I really fight that kind of enemy in the future…"
Not everyone has the mental strength to instantly become a great ninja. Growth often comes from experience, and fresh graduate Sakura had very little of that.
Still, since future Sakura would become a Chunin at fifteen or sixteen, it proved she had the potential to be an excellent ninja. Kakashi saw this and said nothing to comfort her—after all, learning to manage emotions was part of being a ninja. This would be a good test.
["Listen up—this mission is to protect the VIP," Neji said at Konoha's main gate, assigning roles to the team. "Sakura, stay with the VIP at all times. If anything happens, you can give immediate medical aid."]
Kakashi rubbed his chin. "Medical ninja… that's a good career path."
Sakura, calming herself, asked, "Kakashi-sensei, do you think I'd make a good medical ninja?"
Kakashi nodded. "Medical ninjutsu requires excellent chakra control. From what I've seen, you definitely have that potential—or you could develop genjutsu, too."
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Of course she's amazing—way better than some people who always need me to save them."
Sasuke just scoffed. He was still in his "must gain power" phase, so he didn't care much about Sakura's future as a medical ninja.
[Neji assigned Lee next. "Lee, you'll intercept the enemy."]
["Got it!" Lee saluted. Neji continued, "Given the unpredictable enemy, your taijutsu—with no chakra signature—makes you versatile."]
["Leave it to me! I'll protect everyone with all I've got!" Lee replied confidently.]
["So taijutsu specialists—every country's intel team, take note. You'll be tested on this later!"]
["Didn't need you to remind us. The village's intel team already has images ready."]
["Hahahaha! Konoha must be panicking now—so much info leaking out for free, and it's about the future!"]
["Damn it!"]
["It's a conspiracy against Konoha—someone's trying to discredit them!"]
["From this angle, it doesn't look like Konoha did this themselves."]
Someone pointed that out, but the Third Hokage wasn't any more relaxed. The sky screen was still playing, and Konoha's secrets were still flowing out.
["Alright, let's go." Neji turned and started off, but Naruto wouldn't accept being ignored. "Wait… hold on! Don't you have anything to say to me?!"]
["Ah, same as Lee—your job is to intercept the enemy," Neji said dismissively. Naruto didn't notice his tone at all and perked right up. "Alright! If the enemy shows up, I'll chase them to the depths of hell and punch them out!"]
["That dismissive tone—and the clueless idiot who didn't notice!"]
["To be fair, Neji's assignment is fine. Chunin get individual tasks, and Genin are support."]
["Naruto's got ADHD or something—he's way too hyper!"]
Seeing the comments, Naruto glared at Neji. 'This guy—he just looked at me once, then went off to glare at Sasuke like they're both so stuck-up!'
Neji felt no discomfort at Naruto's stare, staying still as he kept watching his own future on the sky screen.
(To be continued)