A look of contemplation appeared in Naruto's pupils.
If that was really the case.
Then Naruto absolutely would not return to Konoha Village so obediently.
The Land of Waves storyline in the original work was exactly the kind of "lively event" Naruto wanted to take part in. Originally, Naruto thought that the huge treasure left behind by Gatō would be far away from him, but now, with such a heaven-sent opportunity placed right in front of him, Naruto would never miss it. After all, this matter was closely related to his own future "financial plan."
A part-time job?
Impossible in this lifetime.
If he wanted money.
Then it had to be the fastest method.
Just thinking of this.
Naruto made up his mind inwardly.
"Uh… Sasuke, you and Sakura go back to the village first to submit the mission. I suddenly remembered that I still have something to do with Kakashi-sensei."
Naruto turned around and tossed the mission scroll in his hand toward Sasuke.
According to Kakashi's earlier instructions, Naruto was almost repeating them verbatim to Sasuke. However, something unexpected happened.
Sasuke did not catch the mission scroll.
Instead, he raised his right hand slightly, blocked it, and slapped the scroll back into the air. His expression remained indifferent as ever, and he spoke calmly.
"Go together."
Three extremely concise words.
With an unquestionable tone.
Naruto's expression froze slightly.
"Huh? Ah? This…?"
In an instant.
Naruto stared at Sasuke in a daze.
This really did feel like something Sasuke would say.
But this was not the outcome Naruto had anticipated at all.
Second Pillar.
Your answer is not the standard answer.
Naruto looked at Sasuke's cold face with a helpless and amused expression, then rubbed his forehead lightly. After going through what they experienced last night, there seemed to be an additional layer of tacit understanding between Naruto and Sasuke. On a spiritual level, the two no longer needed excessive words. Often, just a single look was enough to understand each other's thoughts.
Just like now.
Those three words.
Especially the look in Sasuke's eyes at this moment.
It appeared calm and indifferent.
Yet Naruto could clearly see the determination hidden within it.
"Then… Sakura, how about you go back to the village by yourself?"
Knowing that it was pointless to reason with the Second Pillar at this moment, Naruto shifted his gaze toward Haruno Sakura.
Whether they would encounter Momochi Zabuza again, or face other enemies along the way, was still uncertain.
But since a Konoha ninja had already sent out a distress signal.
And it was enough to make Kakashi split up from them—
Which clearly meant that Kakashi was concerned that they might become a burden, or worse, be put in mortal danger—
The level of risk was obvious.
Based on this, Naruto naturally hoped that Sakura would return to the village first. It was not that he looked down on her. Rather, from both a strength perspective and a psychological perspective—especially seeing that Sakura's complexion was still rather pale—Naruto felt that her best choice was to return to Konoha and rest for a while.
Naruto could roughly imagine how terrifying he and Sasuke must have looked last night.
It might have even left a deep shadow in Sakura's heart.
At this moment, Naruto deliberately put on a bright smile and spoke to Sakura in a gentle tone.
Looking at last night's events from another angle.
At the very least.
Naruto could understand Sakura's current mental state quite well.
If Sakura had been able to accept everything as calmly as he and Sasuke did, Naruto would instead have doubted whether her mentality was normal. Different childhoods, completely different growth environments, and the relatively peaceful atmosphere of the ninja world in recent years—combined with the absence of a "special" childhood like Naruto's or Sasuke's—meant that Sakura had grown up in a fairly ordinary way.
Under such circumstances, it would be strange if she could accept scenes like last night's.
So now, Naruto's tone was especially gentle and restrained.
No matter what.
They were teammates.
Even if his future self might make more ruthless decisions, that was something for the future, not the present.
However, Sakura's reaction clearly exceeded Naruto's expectations.
Originally, Naruto thought that Sakura would want to distance herself from the two of them. Being told to return to the village first should have been something she readily agreed to.
But instead, Sakura shook her head lightly.
Although traces of fear still lingered on her face, she glanced at Naruto and Sasuke somewhat timidly, then quickly lowered her head and replied in a soft voice.
"I'll go too."
Even now, Haruno Sakura still felt a great deal of resistance toward what had happened last night.
And toward Naruto and Sasuke, her emotions were extremely complicated.
But no matter what.
Naruto and Sasuke were still her companions.
They were classmates who had studied together in the Ninja Academy for six years.
They were now teammates.
The cruel reality she witnessed last night was something Sakura could not accept, and perhaps could not fully understand yet. Still, she had begun to vaguely realize what a "real ninja" was. Toward Naruto and Sasuke, what she felt was not rejection or disgust, but a lingering sense of fear mixed with familiarity.
It felt as though the Naruto and Sasuke she knew had become somewhat unfamiliar.
But not to the point of wanting to avoid them or abandon them.
Moreover, after experiencing something like last night, the idea of returning to Konoha Village alone made Sakura feel instinctively uneasy. Compared to that, staying with Naruto and Sasuke felt safer.
Naruto snapped out of his brief daze and, after a moment of hesitation, nodded lightly.
"All right, then."
Sakura's mental state was clearly unstable right now.
Although she was a ninja.
After what happened last night.
Naruto genuinely felt that Sakura did not quite fit the definition of a frontline ninja.
If Sakura were to return to the village alone in this condition.
Any unexpected situation along the road would be dangerous. Although the distance did not seem far, it would still take several hours to reach Konoha. In addition, Sakura's appearance could be considered quite outstanding. After some consideration, Naruto felt it was safer for her to stay with them.
As for Sasuke.
There was nothing more to say.
Such matters did not concern him in the slightest.
From the very beginning, Sasuke had little interest in Team Seven. His only real objective was Kakashi himself.
As for his teammates?
Even Naruto.
Although Sasuke acknowledged Naruto's strength after the survival exercise, that was as far as it went. The special experience they shared last night had deepened their connection somewhat, but for now, that was all.
Haruno Sakura did not even enter Sasuke's consideration.
Naruto was the only one he paid even a little attention to.
As long as it did not hinder him.
Or as long as it was not detrimental to his own gains.
The rest?
Sasuke could not be bothered to care whether it was her or anyone else.
If you want, next I can:
Seamlessly transition this into the Land of Waves rescue
Strengthen Naruto's internal calculation and greed logic
Adjust Sakura's reaction to align even tighter with early Part I canon
Just tell me how you'd like to proceed.
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