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In an awkward silence, Naruto's firm declaration broke through:
"Sasuke... is our comrade! I will bring him back! When the ti cos, I'll plead for him with Granny Tsunade. Everything will go back to how it was. It will!"
"That's right!" Sakura, whose thoughts had grown heavy monts ago, nodded emphatically in agreent.
"Is that even possible?" Sai asked, looking genuinely surprised.
But seeing Naruto pounding his chest in assurance, he could only admit his own ignorance. Just then, a chuckle echoed from nearby. Naruto turned to look and saw it was Kurotsuchi. Compared to their encounter during the Five Kage Summit, she had grown taller.
However...
Although Naruto had ghostwritten for Jiraiya's popular Icha Icha novels, becoming a rising star among male readers, and had even developed the Harem Technique, he had no indecent thoughts towards girls other than the one he liked.
Looking at Kurotsuchi, he was simply confused and asked, "What's so funny, Shirotsuchi? Oh right, with such fair skin, your na is Shirotsuchi, right?"
Kurotsuchi's face darkened instantly.
'This guy hasn't changed at all since the Five Kage Summit. Still just as clueless,' she thought, taking a deep breath before responding, "Although I appreciate the complint about my fair skin, my na is Kurotsuchi, Naruto."
Realizing his mistake, Naruto quickly apologized, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Seeing his genuine apology, Kurotsuchi's expression softened slightly. Answering Naruto's earlier question, she said, "I was just laughing at how naive you all are, like little kids."
"Calling a kid again..."
Naruto was about to respond, recalling how Kurotsuchi had called him the sa thing during the Five Kage Summit, when her next words made his expression change.
"It's been two years, and you're still so naive, Naruto. Do you really think this is so kind of ga? Uchiha Sasuke is now an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, and that fact won't change. He's not coming back with you."
"If you're not prepared to kill him the mont you see him, I'd advise you Konoha brats to turn around and go back to the village. Otherwise, you might lose your lives and drag us down with you."
Kurotsuchi's words were blunt.
She didn't understand how Konoha had trained Naruto and his friends to be this way. But now, they were her teammates. If they couldn't face reality and hesitated in battle, it would only lead to disaster for her team.
"Kill Sasuke..."
Naruto was about to protest when Yamato suddenly appeared by his side, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. With a serious expression, Yamato said, "Don't forget that our main mission is to investigate Jōmae Village. We should avoid unnecessary fights if possible. As for Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, as Konoha shinobi, I hope you focus on the mission."
Faced with Yamato's rare stern gaze, both Naruto and Sakura nodded silently.
Seeing this, Yamato turned to Kurotsuchi and said, "Rest assured, Kurotsuchi, the Konoha shinobi know what they need to do."
"Alright then." Kurotsuchi shrugged, letting the matter drop. After all, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki was a powerful ally, as long as he knew his role.
Though she had teased Naruto for his naivety, in truth, if she had a friend like him, she would be happy too.
Unfortunately, her childhood friend, Deidara, had abandoned everything, including the prestigious position of Tsuchikage's disciple and even her, for his obsession with art. To this day, Kurotsuchi found it unbelievable and often wondered if Deidara's head was filled entirely with explosives.
With that brief internal conflict resolved, the joint team of Konoha and Iwa continued their silent advance toward Jōmae Village.
As they passed over a steel bridge spanning a canyon, both Naruto and Sakura rembered this place from when Sasuke had passed through and fought alongside Kakashi-sensei. They also recalled Kakashi's rumored girlfriend and, most importantly, their ti fighting side by side with Sasuke.
Crossing the bridge, Naruto, who had been deep in thought, approached Yamato and spoke in a low voice, "Captain Yamato."
Yamato turned to look at him.
Naruto asked quietly, "Is that really how the village feels about Sasuke?"
Yamato was silent for a mont before replying, "Naruto, rember, you're a Konoha
shinobi."
Naruto hung his head.
Naturally kind-hearted, Yamato couldn't help but feel for Naruto. After thinking for a mont, he patted Naruto on the shoulder and smiled warmly, "Naruto, if you don't want to have any regrets, then keep growing. Grow until you're so strong that no one can ignore you. Then, when you speak, people will listen."
Though he had only been with Naruto for a short ti, Yamato quickly grew fond of the boy who had been shunned and hated by so many in the village but had never succumbed to darkness. Naruto had remained cheerful and slowly but surely changed the perceptions of those around him through his actions.
As the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Yamato believed Naruto had the potential to achieve what he
had just said.
"Yeah!!" Naruto nodded firmly, his determination reignited.
Returning to Sakura's side, Naruto raised his hand, clenching it into a fist, and declared, "I won't give up on bringing Sasuke back. That's my nindo! Of course, like Kurotsuchi and Captain Yamato said, for everyone's safety, if I have to break Sasuke's arms and legs, I'll do
it."
"Naruto..."
At that mont, Sakura realized how much Naruto had truly grown.
He had grown to a level that even she couldn't reach.
But she was no longer the girl who only cried.
So...
"Naruto, let's both do our best."
Sakura tightened her gloves and smiled brightly.
Beside them, Sai, watching Naruto and Sakura's shifting emotions, couldn't quite
understand. Human emotions were so complicated.
'Maybe I should buy a book on emotional intelligence when I get back,' he thought.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The team swiftly crossed the steel bridge, moving through the forest and over hills with
stealth and speed.
Ten minutes later, a glimpse of a building belonging to the secret village of Jōmae ca into view, nestled within the forest and hills.
As the nominal leader of this mission, Yamato raised his hand, and the team instantly ca to
a halt.
With everyone watching, Yamato approached a large tree, pressing his hand against it. Using Mokuton, he began to sense everything within the surrounding forest.
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