Actually, none of this is hard. Sakura just doesn't understand it yet.
Take Ino, for example. Sure, she's always wanted to land a handso guy, but she's never forgotten her responsibilities. She works hard to get stronger, shoulders her clan's burdens, and contributes to protecting the village.
Or take Hinata. She's timid, and she's been quietly in love with Naruto forever.
But Hinata would never let her feelings for Naruto make her ignore everything else. She trains like her life depends on it to protect the Gentle Fist, and it's not just for Naruto. It's for everyone she cares about: her little sister Hanabi, her cousin Neji, even her father Hiashi. Her sense of responsibility is no weaker than anyone's.
People might criticize her for being timid in day-to-day life, but when it truly matters, she'll still step forward without fearing death.
Just that alone makes Hinata stronger than Sakura by who knows how many tis.
Only then did Sakura finally realize it. "So when Sasuke-kun said what I should learn most from Tsunade-sama… he ant responsibility?!"
Ino answered like it was obvious. "Yes! You seriously didn't get it? You beca Tsunade-sama's student and you only learned dical ninjutsu and super strength? Tsunade-sama's strength has never been about those techniques. Honestly, she rarely even needs to fight. Her determination to protect the village, protect everyone, protect the shinobi world… that's what makes her the most captivating, isn't it?"
Sakura opened her mouth, but not a single word ca out.
She was burning with sha, and even more with regret.
The answer had been simple. Everyone knew it. The only one who didn't was her.
Her world was nothing but Sasuke. If soone asked her to choose between Sasuke and the village, she wouldn't hesitate. She'd choose Sasuke, because he was everything to her.
But for Sasuke, restoring the Uchiha, protecting the village, and protecting the shinobi world were what mattered most.
The all-consuming love she thought was devotion… in Sasuke's eyes might be worth nothing. It might even run directly against his beliefs.
So that was why Sasuke never accepted her.
"Waaah… I'm so stupid! Ino, I'm really stupid! Why didn't I understand this sooner?!" Sakura broke down sobbing.
"Alright, alright. It's not too late. It's ti for you to grow up."
Ino hugged her best friend and patted her head to comfort her, finally letting out a breath. Thank goodness she'd run into Sakura today. Otherwise Sakura might have walked straight into a dead end.
Still… Sakura really was a girl who hadn't truly grown up yet.
After that, Konoha noticeably changed.
Naruto threw himself into office busywork. When he saw Sakura, he wasn't a lovesick puppy anymore. Instead, he'd call out to Hinata, who was hiding in the shadows, and the two of them would go off together, flirting and fooling around.
Minato was all smiles about it. He didn't go play third wheel, and he threw himself into work with even more energy.
Sakura seed to pull herself together, too. She trained hard every day, and she also took her hospital work seriously and responsibly. She earned a lot of praise, grew more confident, and carried herself with a brighter, more magnetic presence. She really did gain a bit more charm.
She had to. Because her looks weren't top-tier and her figure was pretty average. If she didn't rely on charm, what else did she have?
Otherwise, how would Sasuke ever look at her twice?
Ti passed without anyone noticing, and soon the three-month deadline arrived.
Tenten's due date was close now, which made Natsuki even more irritated at that Ōtsutsuki. If he had to go out on a mission at a ti like this, he might miss Tenten giving birth.
He wanted to be outside the delivery room the mont it happened.
But Natsuki also knew wiping out the enemy mattered more, so he didn't complain. He just carried a killing intent so sharp it felt like he wanted to punch every Ōtsutsuki straight out of existence.
At that mont, everyone gathered in the Hokage's office.
Natsuki, Neji, Sasuke, and Naruto, the four Six Paths. Tsunade, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Minato, the four Hokage. Jiraiya and Kakashi as support. Shino, Shikamaru, Hiashi Hyuga, the three clan heads of Ino-Shika-Cho, Shibi Abura, Tsu Inuzuka, and more. Practically the entire upper echelon was there.
Not everyone would be fighting. So would stay behind, but everyone had to be inford.
If the group went to another dinsion and couldn't return quickly, the village needed people who could keep everything running. Otherwise things could fall into chaos.
Tsunade said solemnly, "I originally wanted to go too, but everyone shot it down, so I won't force it. I only ask that you all return safely, and that the subjugation goes smoothly. Next, Second Grandpa, Minato, Natsuki, Sasuke. The four of you will each go pick up the fighters from the Four Great Villages. Once everyone is here, we depart imdiately."
"Yes!!!"
The four answered, then vanished in a flash.
Over the past month, Sasuke's strength had increased drastically. He could even use Flying Thunder God to transport people casually. It was honestly ridiculous, but it also made him even more reliable.
Having one more person who could use Flying Thunder God only made the battle plan stronger.
Natsuki flashed to the Raikage's side and found the Raikage, Killer B, Darui, Samui, Atsui, and the rest already gathered in the Raikage's office. Every one of them was a heavy hitter.
"Raikage, you ready?" Natsuki asked.
"Hah! Been ready a long ti. I've been waiting on you!" the Raikage cracked his knuckles, itching to go.
"Good. Leave whoever you're keeping behind. Everyone else, co with ."
Natsuki held out his hand. One by one, they placed a hand on his. After confirming the headcount, he flashed back to the Hokage's office in an instant.
Not long after, Sasuke, Minato, and Tobirama returned as well, bringing Ōnoki, Akatsuchi, i Terumi, Chōjūrō, Gaara, Kankurō, and more.
Natsuki even went to the lab and dragged Orochimaru along.
Orochimaru licked his lips like he was washing his face, more excited than anyone. "Hehehe. Is it ti to depart? My collection tools are already prepared. Next cos the harvesting of experintal materials."
Everyone stared at Orochimaru, more than a little speechless.
They were heading off to fight the Ōtsutsuki, and he was thinking about collecting lab samples. Truly unbelievable.
But they had to admit: Orochimaru had real skill. The new chakra batteries he'd developed earlier had let everyone experience what it felt like to spend chakra like it was free.
With those new batteries as support, dragging out a prolonged fight with the Ōtsutsuki wouldn't be a problem.
Tsunade's expression was grave. "Alright. We're leaving. Everyone, advance with us!"
Sasuke didn't hesitate. He imdiately opened a space-ti portal, and he opened it at maximum size. The group filed through one after another. In the next mont, they were all inside a different dinsion.
The portal closed, and everyone looked around.
It seed barren, but there were still plenty of structures, and they could sense the presence of many powerful figures. It had to be Kara's headquarters.
And the intrusion of outsiders imdiately drew the attention of the dinsion's residents.
Alarms blared.
Jigen personally arrived with his people. When he saw the elite of the shinobi coalition, his face sank.
(End of Chapter)
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