[On the screen, the older, short-haired Sakura appeared, grabbing the future Naruto by the arm. "Come on, Naruto! Lady Tsunade is waiting!"]
[The scene shifted to the inside of the Hokage's office. The future Naruto burst in, pointing an accusatory finger. "Hey! What's the big idea! Why are Neji and Bushy Brow here? And where's Kakashi-sensei?!"]
[The camera panned to the Hokage's desk, where a familiar blonde woman sat, the Fifth Hokage's hat placed prominently behind her. It was Tsunade.]
*["Lee is here," Tsunade said, her voice laced with authority, "to take Sasuke's place."]
In the Land of Tea, Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh. "Hah! So the old slug actually took the hat!"
Beside Tsunade, Shizune was beaming. "Lady Tsunade, look! You really did become Hokage!"
Tsunade just groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Don't remind me. I never wanted that damn job."
In Konoha, the Third Hokage smiled, a genuine look of relief on his aged face. So, you finally came home, Tsunade. You finally put the past behind you.
The barrage lit up with chatter about Konoha's new leader, recalling her legendary strength and her even more legendary gambling debts.
[After Tsunade becomes Hokage, I wonder if the village's treasury will be used to pay off her debts! Hahaha!]
The playful, familiar tone of the comment made Tsunade's eye twitch. That feels suspiciously like something Grandpa would say, she thought, filing it away.
[On screen, the mention of Sasuke's name had a devastating effect. The boisterous energy vanished from the future Naruto. He and Sakura both flinched, their faces clouding over as they stared at the floor in shared, heavy silence.]
[Seeing their reaction, the on-screen Shizune leaned in and whispered to Tsunade, "My lady, perhaps it is best not to mention Uchiha Sasuke around them."]
["They're still dwelling on it?"] Tsunade sighed, looking more weary than annoyed.
In the waiting room, the real Sakura stared at the screen, her heart freezing. "Dwelling on what? What happened?"
[What's with that reaction? He's not on the team anymore?]
[Maybe he's on a long-term solo mission?]
[Or maybe... he was sacrificed. A companion who was with them day and night is gone. That kind of grief doesn't fade easily.]
"Sacrificed?" The word escaped Sakura's lips in a horrified whisper. Her head whipped around to look at Sasuke, her eyes wide with terror. "Sasuke-kun... dead?!"
The implication hit Sasuke like a physical blow. He stared at the profound grief on the faces of his future teammates, and a cold dread washed over him, quickly consumed by a hot, furious wave of indignation.
Me? Dead? He clenched his fists, his knuckles white. How can I be dead? Did I... Did I get my revenge?!
[No way! How could Sasuke die? He's the top graduate of our year!]
[Hmph. Naive. The brightest flame burns out the fastest. The best shinobi get the most dangerous missions. They become targets. Sacrifice is part of the job description.]
The cold logic of the anonymous comment silenced the genin in the room. All except one.
"Don't be stupid!" Naruto snapped, though a flicker of fear for his rival crossed his face. "I don't believe it for a second! Sasuke's not dying, and neither am I! And if he gets in trouble, then I'll just have to save him, believe it!"
The raw, unwavering loyalty in his voice startled Sasuke, who quickly scoffed to hide his reaction. "Don't make me laugh, dead last. I'd never need saving from someone weaker than me."
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!" Naruto lunged, only to be firmly planted back in his seat by Kakashi's hand on his head.
Far away, Itachi Uchiha watched the screen, his face a calm, unreadable mask. But his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched tight.
[On screen, Naruto shook off his grief. "Okay, then what about Neji?! Why is he here?"]
["He's replacing Kakashi," Tsunade explained patiently. "Kakashi and Guy have already deployed to the front lines with the main assault force. Neji will be your team's acting captain."]
[Wow, that Hokage has the patience of a saint. In my village, a genin questioning orders like that would be thrown out on his ear.]
[She lacks a Kage's authority. Konoha really is getting soft.]
[What you call soft, we call camaraderie! Our bonds make us strong! Your villages treat shinobi like disposable tools!]
[Feelings are a liability. That's Ninja Rule #25. Don't you Konoha ninja read your own handbooks?]
["Why HIM?!" Naruto yelled, glaring at Neji.]
*[Tsunade delivered the final blow with a deadpan expression. "Because Neji is a Jonin. You, by the way, are the only Genin in this room, Naruto."]
The silence in the waiting room was broken by a strangled cry.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Naruto shrieked, clutching his head in disbelief. "I'M STILL A GENIN?!"
Next to him, Rock Lee's eyes filled with tears of pure joy. "That means... I am a Chunin! A full-fledged shinobi!"
Might Guy burst into a waterfall of tears and snot, grabbing his student in a bone-crushing hug. "LI! YOU DID IT! Your hard work has blossomed! Your youth is eternal!"
"GUY-SENSEI!!"
As the two green-clad shinobi sobbed in each other's arms, Sasuke, Sakura, and Neji stared at them with matching expressions of sheer bewilderment. Kakashi simply closed his visible eye and sighed, a profound weariness washing over him.
[On screen, Neji looked down his nose at Naruto, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hmph. Those are the facts."]
[Frustrated, Naruto tried a new tactic. "Then send us to the front line! I'll wipe out that whole Ghost Army myself!"]
["Your team has a different assignment," Tsunade countered. "You'll be on protection duty."]
["WHAT?! I'm not some bodyguard—"]
["NARUTO, SHUT UP AND LISTEN!"] the future Sakura roared, shaking her fist. Naruto instantly quieted down.
[Tsunade continued the briefing. "It's been several days since the initial attack. The enemy is pushing through the border, and we've confirmed the 'Ghost Army' are a form of puppets."]
["So they're just mindless dolls," Sakura mused.]
[Wait, the Land of Demons is right next to the Land of Wind... and the Sand Village is famous for its Puppet Brigade. Could that Huang Quan guy be a Sand ninja in disguise?]
[Don't just blame the Sand every time you see a puppet! Lots of shinobi use them!]
[For the last time, stop speculating! The leadership of the Great Nations knows this isn't the Sand Village. Drop it!]
(To be continued...)