pertwk Chapter 391 Defeat
Chapter 391 Defeat
"Hey kid, are you going to refuse my power at a time like this?!"
"......" It's so noisy! Can't this guy speak at a normal volume? No, he can't be distracted. Sand... quickly get the sand out of the village...
"Speak up, you brat! Are you in so much pain that you can't speak?"
"......So even pain can be shared? That's really...sorry."
"Release me now! You want to be arrested, but I don't!"
“…Sorry.” Gaara finally replied, then fell silent. He silently used his last strength to move the sand. It was quite difficult at first, but it seemed to get easier later? How strange…
"The Kazekage has lost." It was Tobirama who reported the battle situation. He looked up at the sand that was barely maintaining its shape and decisively ordered several Senjus skilled in Earth Release to lend a hand.
The earth dragon, circling in the sky and then pushing against the sand, was so conspicuous that it couldn't be hidden at all. After this attack, Sunagakure's attitude towards Dongfeng will definitely change, after all, they sensed Izuna's burst of chakra.
However, whether the change is good or bad is no longer important; what matters is how to deliver the message to Konoha at the perfect time.
Gaara must live, no matter what.
"I understand." The reply from the other end was neither unexpected nor as exciting as expected; rather, it conveyed a sense of helplessness. Only on very rare occasions would that kid reveal such emotions, such as... when that Uchiha kid defected.
What exactly was he lamenting? Was he feeling too weak to make the outcome satisfactory, or... was there some other, more specific reason?
Tobirama is a researcher whose subjects can be ninjutsu, technology, or even people. Since returning to the human world, he has never stopped researching "Naruto." This "child" has greatly shocked him, but also presents countless unsolved mysteries. When the spaceship appeared, he thought he had probably found the answer, but that answer still seemed incomplete.
While Naruto Uzumaki is intimately connected to the world, he is also completely out of place within it. No one would truly believe that a child could possess such a complete and upright set of values, such clear understanding, and such rich knowledge.
They all had some doubts, but these doubts did not prevent them from getting what they wanted.
As long as the path doesn't deviate, they will continue to follow that "child".
The messenger from Sunagakure will need at least a day and a half to reach Konoha; there's no need to accelerate the communication speed.
Here it comes again, that lingering sense of unease.
Okay. What else do we need to do?
Check the medical supplies and be ready to assist in treating the wounded. Sasori of the Red Sand likes to poison his weapons...
"Tsk, I see. I'll send someone to check it out right away."
The floating sand finally left the sky above Sunagakure completely. Gaara breathed a sigh of relief and finally closed his weary eyes as he fell from the sky.
The sun rose as usual the next day, and Konoha welcomed a new day with the chirping of birds.
Early in the morning, Sakura, unusually, didn't head straight to the hospital but instead went to the Hokage Building to greet her master. Most people only get common illnesses, and repetition can greatly improve their experience in dealing with such illnesses. But there are also many difficult and complicated cases, and even though she can handle things on her own, Sakura still occasionally encounters problems beyond her experience, so she has to come to her master for advice.
The Hokage's work was very busy, so Sakura tried to keep things brief, filling her little notebook with notes. The time the master and apprentice spent together studying medical records always seemed so short. When Shizune brought over documents instead of breakfast, Sakura had to take her leave.
It's easy to spot Naruto in the Hokage Building. He occasionally shows up at the mission allocation department, but spends most of his time in the secretary's office, helping with paperwork that his master can't keep up with. The Naruto I remember always greeted each day with boundless energy, a bright, sunny smile on his face. But today the office seems a little too quiet; everyone is working quietly and deliberately, afraid to make a sound.
Sakura looked at the only two familiar faces, somewhat confused. The one with the bright, sunny disposition sat expressionlessly, seemingly unaware of Sakura's arrival, his eyes fixed on the table. The calm and reliable one frowned, shrugging to indicate that he didn't know what was going on either.
So Sakura went over herself, and the closer she got, the more she felt that Naruto's complexion was off. The guy who could recover from minor injuries and illnesses after a nap actually looked... haggard? Even his round face had flattened out, and there was a slight shadow under his eyes.
"Naruto, didn't you sleep well last night?" Sakura blurted out her concern. As a doctor, she hadn't even noticed her companion's health, which was quite derelict of her duty.
"It's rare to see you here, Sakura~" Naruto looked up and gave her a flawless smile, as if his momentary lapse in concentration had never happened.
Sakura frowned. Anyone who knows Naruto knows that he likes to get away with his cute smile!
"Did you stay up all night again? Even your master isn't as dedicated as you."
"What do you mean?"
"My dark circles are about to appear, but they're still not there!"
"...It's not because the village is having another big event soon, I've just been a little busy lately. I'll definitely catch up on my sleep once I'm done!"
"Catching up on sleep won't save you from staying up all night! You'd better come with me for a checkup; you're the least frequent one!"
"Um... in a few days, I really don't have time right now."
Naruto innocently pointed to a tall stack of things on the corner of the table, finally managing to quell Sakura's anger.
"It's a promise. As soon as Temari-neechan leaves, you'd better go to the hospital right away, you hear me!"
"Yes, yes, I'll definitely go!"
After receiving repeated assurances, Sakura finally left satisfied. This little commotion, however, caused the others, who had been startled by Naruto's unintentional chakra aura early that morning and assumed he was in a bad mood, to become a little more lively. One of the bolder ones even forgot the initial shock and started teasing Naruto.
"That's a very affectionate way of addressing him, Naruto-sama~ Could it be...?"
"No, it's a comrade. Go and distribute your files." Naruto's smile vanished in an instant, and even his aura began to flicker.
The guy was so startled that he quickly scurried away.
It seems Naruto-sama has been in a bad mood lately; he's even showing his imposing aura. He always reacts this way when I try to tease him. Isn't Sakura nice enough? She's clearly wonderful; she even cares about his health. Why doesn't he like her?