Chapter 50: Even If She Turns to Ashes, Sakura Would Still Recognize Her!
Hokage's Office
"So that's how it went…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his short beard thoughtfully as he listened to Sakura's solo mission report.
Dazna had falsified the mission's rank. Originally, Hiruzen had planned to casually assign someone to deal with it, but since Sakura had already taken on the task, he simply let her handle it.
Now that she had completed the mission and notified the Land of Waves' Kado to handle Dazna, that outcome seemed quite reasonable.
"Alright, I understand."
"Other than that—was the Executioner's Blade brought back after you dealt with Zabuza?"
Hiruzen didn't care much about Dazna's fate and quickly shifted the topic to Zabuza.
Sakura's abilities were something he had witnessed firsthand—there was no need to dwell on trivial matters.
"Yes. I plan to have Sasuke contact the Ninneko Clan to reforge it."
"I want the blade melted down and remade into several standard ninja swords."
"I've heard the Ninneko Clan are second to none when it comes to crafting ninja tools."
Sakura reached into her ninja pouch, pulling out a scroll and setting it on the desk before Hiruzen. After unrolling it and forming a hand seal, a massive sword—practically the size of a door—appeared atop his desk.
The Executioner's Blade, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist, was said to be indestructible.
It could absorb the iron in human blood to regenerate itself.
But in Sakura's view, aside from having an eternal shelf life and saving on maintenance costs, the blade had no real advantages. It was practically the most worthless among the Seven Swords.
Hiruzen gave the giant sword a quick glance and nodded. He then resealed the blade into the scroll without comment.
"Sakura, here's the list of participants for the upcoming Chūnin Exams. Have a look."
Hiruzen smiled kindly at the efficient and decisive young girl, retrieving a file from a folder and placing it in front of her.
Sakura gave him an exasperated look.
Seriously, old man? You're the Hokage, not me.
Why do I feel like I'm doing your job for you? If that's how it's going to be, maybe you should retire and let me take over~~~
Despite her complaints, Sakura slumped onto the couch and picked up the file.
"Hm?"
Her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Did you notice something?" Hiruzen asked, reaching for his pipe.
"This damn couch has been here for who knows how many years. It's uncomfortable as hell. Replace it tomorrow—it's a pain to sit on."
The pink-haired girl leaned lazily against the couch, one leg crossed over the other as she flipped through the document in her hand.
Hiruzen twitched slightly at the sight of her treating the Hokage's office like her own living room.
Come to think of it, that couch had been around since the Second Hokage's era. It was considered trendy back then.
Decades had passed—it probably was time for a change.
"Hahaha, alright then."
Hiruzen didn't mind at all.
Most of the people he dealt with on a daily basis—Koharu, Homura, Danzo—were all rigid and formal. Everyone else treated him with near-worshipful respect.
But Sakura had been around him long enough not to be a troublemaker like Danzo, nor a bootlicker like the others.
She reminded him a bit of Jiraiya and Tsunade in their younger days…
As Hiruzen drifted into memories of his youth, Sakura quickly scanned the document in front of her.
Her attention was first drawn to the teams from Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
Sunagakure was sending their Kazekage Rasa along with his three children, and besides the jōnin Baki, the rest were essentially small fry.
But the teams from Iwagakure were far more interesting.
Only a few participants were listed from Iwa: Tsuchikage Ōnoki, elite jōnin Kurotsuchi's father Akatsuchi, and just three genin teams.
Among them, one team's members stood out:
Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi, Haitsuchi.
Sakura didn't recognize Haitsuchi, but the other two? She knew them very well.
These two were future members of Ōnoki's elite guard!
They would even accompany him to the Five Kage Summit!
It was clear that Ōnoki, just like Hiruzen, had come to the Chūnin Exams to "fish for weaklings."
Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi were already fourteen years old. At a minimum, they had chūnin-level strength.
Possibly even special jōnin.
Especially that Kurotsuchi!
Even if she turned to ashes, Sakura would still recognize her!
---
"Achoo!"
A short-haired girl in a red ninja uniform sneezed loudly.
"What's going on?"
"I feel like someone's talking about me behind my back."
Next to her, a well-built, honest-looking boy chuckled and said, "Maybe you caught a cold last night?"
"Don't worry, though. We're almost in Konoha. They've got the best medical-nin in the entire ninja world."
Akatsuchi scratched his head and looked at the black-haired girl with a slightly worried expression.
"Idiot."
"How could I possibly catch a cold?"
Kurotsuchi gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
But Akatsuchi didn't mind her rough behavior. He just smiled warmly, without a hint of irritation.
"Alright, enough horsing around. We're nearly in Konoha."
"Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, remember your mission."
Their squad leader, a sturdy man with a commanding presence, reminded them while glancing at his daughter.
"Relax, Dad."
"Isn't it just beating up a bunch of genin? I've got this!"
Kurotsuchi grinned excitedly, cracking her knuckles.
She was clearly looking forward to stirring up trouble at the Chūnin Exams.
Her father, Akatsuchi's superior and Kurotsuchi's dad, glanced at her and said nothing more.
This girl was always energetic and unruly, especially since she was spoiled by the current Tsuchikage—her grandfather.
She didn't take anyone seriously.
She had a kekkei genkai—Lava Release, and had recently mastered her grandfather's Light-Weight Rock Technique, making her even more fearless.
Combined with her Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears, she was practically a tyrant in Iwagakure.
---
"Chūnin Exams?"
Naruto looked at Kakashi in shock.
"That's right. This is a joint Chūnin Exam between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth."
"It's the first of its kind—a large-scale event."
Kakashi's single exposed eye curved into a crescent moon as he smiled at the blond-haired boy in front of him.
"Eh?!"
Naruto's interest was piqued immediately.
"Not only that—Lord Hokage will be attending the third exam in person."
"And so will the Kazekage of the Sand and the Tsuchikage of the Rock!"
Kakashi dropped another bombshell, and Naruto practically lit up with excitement.
Sakura stood off to the side, speechless, watching Kakashi tease the kids.
Naruto wasn't the only one getting fired up—Sasuke clenched his fists in anticipation.
The Chūnin Exams… a chance to see the best genin from every village.
A real opportunity to measure his strength.
"Sakura, you don't seem all that excited?"
Kakashi, of course, didn't forget to prod her too.
Hearing him, both Naruto and Sasuke turned to look at her.
"Wow."
"How thrilling~," Sakura replied sarcastically, her tone utterly unenthusiastic.
---
(End of Chapter)