Everyone fell silent after hearing Sakura's decision. This was the second time she had proposed this.
"Can I know why? We're also part of this mission," Kiba spoke up.
"Do you really think Orochimaru, the man who nearly destroyed our village, would hesitate to kill you?" Sakura retorted.
"Your mission is over. All you had to do was help me track Sasuke's whereabouts," she continued.
"But—"
"No buts," Sakura interrupted, her tone severe. "Why do you think the Fifth Hokage sent you on this S-rank mission? Why do you think she appointed me as the captain?"
Silence fell again. No one spoke.
"Don't be foolish. The only reason you were sent is because I'm here. This was originally my mission alone. Your role was just to help me find the Bikochu. I promised you I would help, so now don't you dare hold me back," Sakura scolded sharply.
Sakura was their age, but her strength and vast experience made her act more like their teacher or a senior.
But that couldn't be helped. After all, this was a world where strength determined everything.
Sakura had just made it crystal clear: they were too weak, and if they ran into an enemy, they would be more of a liability than an asset.
Kiba wanted to retort with a show of bravado, but he wasn't a hot-blooded idiot like Naruto. He knew Sakura was speaking the truth. Their strength was nothing in the face of Orochimaru. If they really encountered him, they would most likely become a burden to Sakura.
"If you all understand, then it's decided. Once the Bikochu finds Sasuke, you can either stay here or return to the village," Sakura added.
"Understood." Shino was the first to nod in agreement. "We'll be counting on you then, Sakura." Shino knew that everything Sakura said was true. He had always been a calm person who thought before acting, so he had no objection to Sakura's proposal.
Kiba didn't speak, but he seemed to have tacitly agreed, knowing it was the best course of action.
Seeing both her teammates agree, Hinata had no choice but to assent as well. The atmosphere instantly grew heavy, and everyone ate the rest of their meal in distracted silence.
In the Leaf Village, inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade was leisurely enjoying the view from her window, a small sake cup in her hand. She was clearly sneaking a couple of drinks while Shizune was away. Since becoming Hokage, her opportunities to drink had become fewer and fewer, forcing her to be sneaky every time.
Just then, the office door was slammed open with a bang. The sake cup in Tsunade's hand was instantly crushed to powder, and the liquor spilled onto the floor.
Tsunade whipped her head around. She had expected Shizune, but instead, she saw the face she least wanted to see these days.
"Granny Tsunade!" Naruto burst in. Seeing Tsunade's flustered expression and smelling the alcohol in the air, he immediately shouted, "Aha! You're secretly drinking on the job again!"
"Shut up! What are you doing here again?" Tsunade's eyebrows shot up. "How many times have I told you? Not back, not back, not back! You idiot!"
"Aww!" Naruto whined in dissatisfaction. "But I can't just wait here! It's been two weeks already!"
"Huh?" Tsunade paused. "Has it really been that long?"
"What's with you, Granny Tsunade? You're being so irresponsible," Naruto grumbled.
"Quiet!" Tsunade snapped. She began to look over a map. The location where Shino said the Bikochu might be wasn't too far from the village.
She had sent Sakura mainly to deal with Orochimaru. After all, this mission wasn't to capture Orochimaru, but to bring Sasuke back. With the help of Team 8, who specialized in tracking and reconnaissance, and the Bikochu, they should have been able to easily bypass Orochimaru's spies.
In fact, in Tsunade's mind, with Team 8's assistance, it was highly unlikely they would even run into Orochimaru. Even though they were genin, tracking and reconnaissance weren't heavily dependent on raw power.
Coupled with Sakura's strength, they should have been able to retreat safely even if a fight broke out. And Orochimaru's main base was in the Land of Rice Paddies. If they had found the Bikochu, they should have been back by now, even after a trip to the Land of Rice Paddies. If they hadn't found it, they should have returned even sooner.
But now there was no word at all. This gave Tsunade a bad feeling. Could it be...
A possibility instantly flashed through Tsunade's mind. Could Sakura have run into people from the Village Hidden in the Mist? Although the Mist Village was temporarily allied with the Leaf due to internal and external pressures, such an alliance was fragile—just a temporary truce for both sides to recuperate.
And Sakura had assassinated the Fourth Mizukage and killed Mangetsu Hozuki of the Hozuki clan, a jonin from the Mist. That kind of hatred could never be resolved. Although Tsunade believed Sakura hadn't done it, the Mist Village was now convinced she was the culprit...
Dammit. Tsunade's brow furrowed. Could they have run into a Mist assassination unit? But Sakura's strength was not to be underestimated; she shouldn't have been taken down so easily. Besides, the Mist Village shouldn't have the strength to do something like this right now.
But this was all speculation. Sakura still had the three members of Team 8 with her. If the Mist Village had taken Team 8 hostage... The more Tsunade thought about it, the more she regretted her decision. If she had known, she never would have sent Sakura on this mission...
"Granny Tsunade...?" Naruto, seeing Tsunade's furrowed brow and grim expression, couldn't help but prompt her.
"Hm?" Tsunade shot a stern look at Naruto, startling him. She then asked, "Where is Jiraiya right now?"
"Pervy Sage?" Naruto thought for a moment. "He's probably at..."
"I'm right here..." Suddenly, a somewhat sleazy voice came from outside the window. A figure appeared on the windowsill—it was Jiraiya.
"Aha! Pervy Sage, so you were hiding here peeping on Granny Tsunade!" Naruto exclaimed dramatically.
Tsunade shot a cold glance at Jiraiya, who immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He opened the window, came inside, and said awkwardly, "I really wasn't peeping on you, don't listen to Naruto's nonsense. I was just passing by... hehe..."
"This is the top floor, how could you be 'passing by'..." Naruto muttered under his breath, pouting.
"Shut up, you idiot!" Jiraiya quickly covered Naruto's mouth and hissed.
Tsunade had no time for their antics. Her expression turned serious. "Naruto, you can leave first. I have something to discuss with Jiraiya."
"I'm not leaving! Hmph, you always exclude me. You must be talking about Sasuke, Granny Tsunade. I'm not leaving," Naruto said stubbornly.
"It has nothing... to do with Sasuke," Tsunade said, shaking her head.
"I don't believe..." Naruto was cut off before he could finish.
"Naruto, just go out for a bit," Jiraiya said, his expression turning serious again. "If it's about Sasuke, I'll tell you. How about that?"
"Ngh..." Naruto scratched his head. After a moment, he said, "Alright then. Pervy Sage, you better not lie to me."
With that, Naruto left the Hokage's office.
"Alright, spit it out. What's so serious?" Jiraiya asked, looking at Tsunade's grave and slightly anxious face after Naruto had left.
"Sakura might be in trouble," Tsunade said. "I told you what happened in the Land of Water before, right?"
"Hmm..." Jiraiya stroked his chin, pondering for a moment. "I see. Where is she now?"
As expected of the person he had admired for decades. Tsunade didn't have to explain much for Jiraiya to understand what she was thinking.
"I don't know," Tsunade said helplessly. She spread out a map and pointed to a location. "This should be the last place they were seen. They were looking for the Bikochu here. If they got it, they would most likely head to the Land of Rice Paddies."
"What a hassle," Jiraiya said, looking at the map. "Although the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Paddies was founded by Orochimaru, he has quite a few bases in other places. We can't be sure Sasuke is there, which means we can't be sure Sakura and the others went to the Land of Rice Paddies."
"I know. That's why you need to start tracking their trail from here," Tsunade said, pointing to the insect paradise. "If they really encountered Mist ninja and a fight broke out, it should be easy to find signs of it."
"I understand," Jiraiya said. "Then I'll leave Naruto in your care."
"Thank you, Jiraiya," Tsunade said sincerely.
"Tch, since when did you get so sentimental? That's not like you," Jiraiya teased.
Then, without giving Tsunade a chance to reply, he quickly disappeared from the Hokage's office.
Tsunade stared blankly at the empty office, the words she wanted to say ultimately turning into a sigh.