Chapter 490: Tsunade
"My clone did transplant a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan..."
Haruno Sakura didn't hide anything, nor could she hide this matter; it would only hurt Sasuke's trust in her.
Sasuke walked in front, silent.
Haruno Sakura looked at him burying his head in the journey, feeling a little uneasy in her heart.
Logically speaking, he should have questioned her angrily; Sakura was ready to explain, but Sasuke stopped talking.
The girl hurried two steps, rushed to a position side by side with Sasuke, and turned to look.
The black-haired boy was burying his head and walking fast. His face was calm, his eyes clear. Seeing her catch up, a pair of dark eyes naturally glanced over.
"Um... Sasuke."
"That..." Haruno Sakura murmured, said two words and got stuck, speechless for a moment.
"What?"
Sasuke moved his gaze away from the girl's face, looking ahead, speaking as if impatient.
"...That, don't you want to ask something? About me."
Sakura said cautiously.
"I can explain."
Sasuke turned his head and looked at her steadily for a few seconds. "That pair of Mangekyo Sharingan of yours, are Shisui's eyes, right?" He sighed and said.
"I know, you got this pair of Sharingan from Danzo. Because you met him twice in different worlds." The boy said lightly, "The first time was after repelling Itachi, you repelled him when I was unconscious. The second time was in that world, you killed him..."
As an Anbu ninja, Sasuke knew a lot of intelligence about Danzo. When he took Danzo's Sharingan at that time, the intelligence clearly stated that Danzo had Shisui's Mangekyo, but in the end, Sasuke only found ordinary Sharingan.
Thinking calmly for a bit, where Sakura's pair of Sharingan came from, the answer was obvious.
"Oh..."
The girl pouted. "You already guessed it."
Then there seemed to be nothing more to explain.
She turned her head to look again. Sasuke's calm expression didn't look like he was angry.
Strange, Sasuke obviously cared about the Sharingan so much, almost falling out with the village for this...
Really not angry?
"Then Shisui's Sharingan..." She hesitated, emboldened herself and said, "Can I return them to you a bit later?"
Not long ago, she thought the Sharingan was nothing.
But after experiencing the power of the Mangekyo personally, Haruno Sakura had to admit...
It smells so good. (T/N: Internet slang meaning something turned out to be surprisingly good/appealing after initial rejection.)
Susanoo, especially the Majestic Attire form, was really useful!
Using it on her clone could forcibly raise the clone's combat power to close to the main body—even surpassing in some jutsu.
For the current Haruno Sakura, the ability of the Eternal Mangekyo was indeed a quite useful supplement.
At least before the next stage of Sage Mode, Star God Mode and Yang God Mode were developed, she was reluctant to discard the Sharingan...
But considering Sasuke's attitude...
If he resolutely opposed, then Haruno Sakura could only painfully give it up.
Haruno Sakura blinked, looking at Sasuke eagerly, waiting for his answer.
Like a prisoner waiting for the verdict, feeling anxious.
Sasuke just rolled his eyes at her and said grumpily: "Return to me for what? Aren't you using them quite well?"
"Eh?"
Haruno Sakura was stunned.
Looking at the girl's blank face, he sighed and said: "You keep them. I never asked Kakashi to return his Sharingan either."
As for the different origins of the two's Sharingan, Sasuke deliberately ignored it.
Perhaps for this Uchiha boy, the more essential question was not why the Sharingan was lost outside, but who was using it.
Danzo, absolutely not; unknown fellow village ninja, also not allowed.
"So... you're not angry?"
Haruno Sakura leaned close to Sasuke, her expression relaxed, and asked.
"Hmph," Sasuke's straight face could almost not hold it anymore. He snorted, turned his head away, and accelerated, "Angry... of course angry!"
Angry... a little bit.
Looking at his expression, the girl laughed lightly.
Sending Sakura to the Hokage's office, after Tsunade gave him a few instructions, Sasuke left.
"I'm planning to call Naruto back." Tsunade sat behind the desk and said lazily.
Only the master and disciple were in the office, so Haruno Sakura sat casually on the desk.
Laughed: "Were you scared by the intelligence we brought back?"
In private without outsiders, the conversation between master and disciple was much more casual.
"Part of the reason." Tsunade didn't deny it.
"But more importantly, Naruto's training is basically over, Akatsuki's intelligence is collected enough, so why continue wandering outside?" She shook her head and said, "Naruto has traveled for more than two years, time to come back."
"Just Naruto?"
Haruno Sakura blinked, looking at the Fifth Hokage.
"I think you are more worried about Jiraiya, Shishou!" She laughed meaningfully, "You are afraid he will go to the Land of Rain to investigate intelligence again... and then sacrifice there!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes and scolded: "The stories you make up are getting more and more ridiculous. Returning to the past might be possible, but saying traveling to the future, Jiraiya dying in the Land of Rain or something, only ghosts believe you..."
Of course, Tsunade didn't deny that if Jiraiya really found extremely important intelligence and clues in the Land of Rain, that man would indeed risk sacrifice and rush into the dragon's pool and tiger's den...
This was indeed the character of that rough man.
Tsunade had known him for so many years and understood his nature very well—
On the surface, he was an ordinary lecher;
In fact, he was a hopeless lust demon, a hungry ghost in sex!
So he was commonly known in the world as the Gallant Jiraiya (Raging Ghost Jiraiya).
Well, apart from the lecherous nature inherited from Sarutobi, this man with a rough and unkempt appearance indeed had extremely noble qualities.
Perseverance, courage, fearlessness of sacrifice.
And for Tsunade, there was another very special point—Jiraiya always loved her.
As Hokage, Tsunade wouldn't act emotionally; recalling Jiraiya to the village was because Haruno Sakura had brought back enough data, no need for Jiraiya to risk his life to explore intelligence anymore.
But this didn't mean that this decision made by Tsunade was purely out of public interest.
"In short, I only called them back out of consideration for protecting the village ninja and not sacrificing top combat power." Tsunade said seriously.
"Hehe."
Haruno Sakura didn't believe it at all.
In private chat, she didn't need to shy away from anything, so she said directly: "Shishou, have you decided to accept Jiraiya's feelings?"
Tsunade was startled, standing up abruptly from the chair.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" The blonde woman shouted with shame and annoyance. However, seeing Haruno Sakura's matter-of-fact look, her expression suddenly became somewhat stunned.
"You guys... misunderstood something again..."
Tsunade sighed and said helplessly.
"Between me and Jiraiya, there really isn't anything."
The woman shook her head.
Even if occasionally the two drank a few cups together and poured out their hearts, in most cases, it was just Tsunade complaining to Jiraiya about the exhaustion and depression after becoming Hokage, occasionally reminiscing about the past and chatting about the current situation.
But being lovey-dovey with Jiraiya as others guessed never happened.
Just everyone's misunderstanding.
Tsunade emphasized to herself in her heart.
"We just want to care about you." Haruno Sakura shrugged and said, "After all—"
She stopped the death-seeking words mentioning Tsunade's age in time, turning abruptly: "After all, Jiraiya really cares about you."
"Don't be curious about my private matters."
Tsunade kept a straight face, pushed her waist grumpily, and pulled a stack of documents from under the girl's butt: "Move your butt for me."
"Let's talk business."
"First, after Naruto comes back, it is estimated that he will often form Team 7 with you and Sasuke again, responsible for completing some highly difficult missions... especially the confrontation with Akatsuki. Be mentally prepared."
Haruno Sakura jumped down from the table and nodded solemnly.
"Second, there is a mission for you to complete." She shook the stack of documents in her hand, "Cloud Ninja Village sent people to visit Konoha some time ago, inviting us for a 'friendly return visit'... You know about this, right?"
"Hn." Haruno Sakura nodded, "I happened to come back from Shikkotsu Forest at that time and met them."
Because they weren't important figures, after more than half a month, her impression of those Cloud Ninja, apart from being dark and strong, was that fair-skinned, beautiful, and great-figured female ninja.
"You mean..."
Haruno Sakura's expression moved slightly.
"That's right, at the end of the month, I hope you lead the team to visit Cloud Ninja Village."
Tsunade looked serious and said in a deep voice.
"Let's make it clear beforehand, this mission has certain dangers. Because... we don't know if the Raikage's invitation harbors malicious intent. After all, there isn't much trust between Cloud Ninja Village and us..."
"Originally, you shouldn't be responsible for this mission, but since you recently mastered Sage Mode, and..." Tsunade blinked several times continuously and said meaningfully, "And Shizune will also participate in this mission."
"With your strength, even if the Raikage personally leads the team, he can't do anything to you, right?"
Tsunade smiled slightly.
Haruno Sakura nodded reservedly.
Tsunade paused and added: "In case, I mean if a 'in case' situation really happens, under the premise of self-preservation, try to take care of your senior sister as much as possible."
Because Haruno Sakura's brilliance was too dazzling, Shizune was completely overshadowed by her, and many people didn't even notice that besides Haruno Sakura, Tsunade had such a senior disciple.
But as Dan's niece, a subordinate and friend who followed Tsunade for many years, Shizune always held a special place in Tsunade's heart. Therefore, Tsunade also hoped she could make some achievements and contributions, which was why she let Shizune join this mission.
On the other hand, Tsunade's two disciples visiting together was enough to show the Hokage's sincerity to the Raikage.
Haruno Sakura took a deep breath and said seriously: "I understand, leave the mission to me, Shishou!"
"Very good."
Tsunade nodded with satisfaction.
"What I want to remind you last is..."
"If things are impossible, including Shizune, everyone is a sacrificable object. As long as you can return safely, the mission is considered successful!"
Tsunade lowered her voice, her tone cold and decisive.
Haruno Sakura was slightly stunned, widening her eyes to look at the Hokage.
"Don't be surprised..." Tsunade said with a sombre face, "I have already told everyone participating in this mission about this matter."
"People without enough resolve will not be put on the list by me."
❃❃❃
⤑ Show your support with Power Stones!
⤑ Unlock a Bonus Chapter every time we hit 400 Power Stones!
❃❃❃
♕ Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
💬 Enjoying the story? Drop a review!
Your support really helps the series grow—thank you!