Chapter 334: Team 7 Takes Turns
Naruto was still training. After being "captured by Orochimaru", Jiraiya was released, but instead of returning to Konoha, he went wandering around the ninja world.
In Jiraiya's view, there was nothing more he could teach Naruto at this point. He might as well focus on improving his own strength.
As for Naruto, it was true. After achieving the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode by reconciling with the Nine-Tails, his raw power had temporarily reached its peak. What he needed now was "skills."
After all, Naruto hadn't even developed the throwable version of the Rasenshuriken yet. There was clearly a gap between his stats and his techniques.
If he hadn't mastered the Rasenshuriken, then something like a Tailed Beast Bomb was even further out of reach.
However, Shiromo had already directly or indirectly helped Naruto achieve Sage Mode and Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. Now it was time for Naruto to return the favor and play his part.
That is, to serve as a combat sparring partner.
At the same time, this was also a good opportunity for Naruto to gain combat experience.
Due to the changes in the ninja world, many of Naruto's classic battles would no longer happen. From Zabuza to Pain, those fights were gone. Aside from sparring with Sasuke internally, his combat experience had dropped significantly.
This time, the ones who came to find Naruto were Team Ajisai.
Well, not the original team, but a Flying Thunder God transport squad like the Sound Four.
Ajisai was joined by three of Hiruko's subordinates.
After first obtaining approval from Hokage Tsunade, who thought Naruto should be informed about Sakura running away, an ANBU accompanied Ajisai to find him.
They wanted to see if Naruto had time. If he decided to chase after Sakura upon hearing the news, then he might not be able to help them.
But Tsunade reconsidered.
If this was misunderstood by the Second Hokage's side as her causing trouble, and Shiromo was sent over to "discipline" her, that would be a problem.
So Tsunade decided to cooperate instead and gave Ajisai something to assist with.
"What? Sakura left Konoha without saying anything too? Just like Sasuke, she went to the Otogakure Village?"
Naruto looked completely confused.
That "too" was used very precisely.
If it were someone with a worse temper, they might have said, "Are you all messing with me? One after another making me chase after you. Who's next, Kakashi-sensei?"
"I wouldn't say she left without a word. She left a letter at home saying she wanted to follow Uchiha Sasuke's example and go study abroad."
The ANBU, Uzuki Yūgao, paused awkwardly midway through speaking.
"But according to Tsunade-sama's analysis, her main goal is to find that drug from Orochimaru that can… well, accelerate her development."
She had almost said "secondary development", but then realized Sakura hadn't even properly gone through her first yet.
Well… maybe she just started?
Compared to that, Shizune, who went along with Sakura, was the one truly aiming for "secondary development."
"Ah… I see."
Naruto shrank back slightly.
He imagined what would happen if he ever called Sakura flat-chested.
"Hmm?"
Yugao frowned, "You're not going after her?"
"Why should I? Sakura went to get that drug, right? She'll come back after she gets it."
Naruto scratched his head and replied.
"This is just an excuse. Before leaving, she even argued with her parents. In the past, this kind of behavior would be considered defection. Do you understand?"
"Oh."
Naruto remained unmoved.
Yugao suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
Of course. When it's Uchiha Sasuke, he chased after him. When it's Haruno Sakura, he didn't.
So when he says he likes Sakura, it's just talk.
If we're talking about true love, it's definitely Uchiha Sasuke, isn't it?
And that drug… as if the entire ninja world is full of it.
"Oh right, you said her main reason was the drug. What about the secondary reason?"
Naruto asked curiously.
This question wasn't out of concern like when asking about Sasuke. It was pure curiosity and gossip.
"The secondary reason is that Sakura believes she might not be her parents' biological child. She wants to investigate her origins there and verify her bloodline."
Yugao replied with a complicated expression after calming herself.
"What? Sakura isn't their biological child?"
Naruto was shocked, as if he had just heard some huge gossip.
But when Yugao mentioned searching for biological parents, Naruto suddenly thought of something.
Back when Orochimaru kidnapped the "Pervy Sage", he seemed to have mentioned Naruto's mother.
Now that incident had been proven to be staged to push him to train, so was the story about his mother being revived with Impure World Reincarnation real or not?
Naruto, being simple-minded, had completely forgotten to ask.
Or rather, he had just pushed it to the back of his mind.
If it hadn't come up now, he wouldn't have remembered at all.
"No, I have to… uh, go after Sakura."
Naruto turned around, preparing to pack his things.
Ajisai immediately realized this situation would interfere with her mission.
Fortunately, the ever-resourceful strategist had already prepared a Plan B for her.
Tsunade had also provided something to assist.
The first person who needed to spar with Naruto was Sasori of the Red Sand.
After Shiromo's guidance, Sasori realized that losing emotions made one rational, which seemed beneficial, but also stripped away uniquely human qualities like inspiration, creativity, and competitive drive, things essential for growth.
After seeing a swimsuit photo of Granny Chiyo, Sasori came to a realization and began restoring his emotions.
Restoring emotions was actually simple.
Turning his body into a puppet had caused him to lose emotions, but the root of that lay in chakra. As long as he adjusted his chakra properly, his emotions could return.
After all, this world had souls.
Compared to Sasori, who only had a heart left, even the dead had no hearts, yet they still retained rich emotions.
So the physical body wasn't the key factor.
After regaining his emotions, the first thing Sasori felt was competitiveness.
Seeing what Orochimaru had accomplished made Sasori uncomfortable, especially since they hadn't gotten along before.
Looking at Orochimaru's creations, then at his own puppets, his work felt like mere toys.
So he began making bold innovations and improvements.
Only after regaining emotions could Sasori have this kind of drive and creativity.
The old Sasori, who felt nothing, wouldn't have cared at all, nor would he have had any desire to surpass himself.
"Wait."
Ajisai stopped Naruto.
"Who are you?"
Naruto glanced at the Amegakure Village forehead protector on her head, but he couldn't recognize other villages' symbols.
"I came with her to inform you. Your team leader, Kakashi, has been captured by the Sunagakure Village."
Ajisai delivered the prepared excuse.
Yes, that's right.
Tsunade and Shiromo had the same idea.
If one runaway Sakura wasn't enough, then add a Kakashi in danger.
As for the real Kakashi?
He was locked in a room handling paperwork.
"What? The Sunagakure Village? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Gaara is the Kazekage now, right? Why would they capture Kakashi-sensei?"
Naruto shook his head in disbelief.
"It's entirely possible."
Ajisai shattered his assumption.
"Hatake Kakashi's father, the White Fang of Konoha, killed Granny Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law during the war."
"This time, Kakashi was captured because Granny Chiyo declared that since the Hatake family took her son from her, Kakashi must repay her with a son."
(End of this chapter)