Chapter 217: Tobirama Leads the Team — Hunting the Akatsuki!
Konoha Hospital
Sakura, still in her Hokage robes, lifted her hand away from Kakashi's eye.
The warm, gentle golden glow faded as her hand withdrew.
"There. Open your eyes and take a look."
Sakura watched him, waiting.
Slowly, Kakashi's eyes opened. Familiar light flooded his vision — and beneath fluttering lashes, a dark yet luminous pupil looked back at the world.
The white-haired man instinctively reached up to touch the eye — familiar, yet foreign.
Rin...
The moment Kamui had burned out completely, Kakashi had immediately stabilized the chakra surging through his body and gone straight to Tsunade for the eye transplant.
Kakashi...
Do your best from here on, okay?
For a fleeting instant, he thought he saw a girl with short brown hair and purple face paint standing before him, smiling gently.
"Mm."
Kakashi felt the eye in its socket — ordinary, yet precious beyond measure. Under Sakura's Yang Release, it felt exactly like his own. No sense of wrongness at all.
"I want to try something."
Kakashi clenched his fist.
"Try what?"
Sakura asked.
"I want to see exactly what I'm capable of now."
Kakashi's eyes locked on Sakura, his meaning unmistakable.
"Ohoho — looks like someone's gotten a bit full of himself, Kakashi."
Tsunade, standing nearby, smirked teasingly.
"I'll pass on that one. But I know someone who'd be more than happy to oblige."
Sakura waved a hand, declining Kakashi's challenge outright.
"Who?"
Kakashi stood, feeling the abundant chakra coursing through his body.
This feeling...
I haven't experienced this in over a decade.
"Me."
The office door opened, and another white-haired man walked in — bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Kakashi.
"Grandfather!"
"You—!"
Tsunade stared, stunned, at Tobirama Senju — brimming with vitality, indistinguishable from any living man.
Her great-uncle... wasn't he—
"Heh. All thanks to Sakura."
"I've been revived."
Tobirama wore plain black clothing today, rather than his usual deep-blue armor. He'd even removed his forehead protector.
Feeling the vigorous flow of blood and chakra through his restored body, Tobirama genuinely wanted to test himself against someone.
Right now, Tobirama needed to move his body, and Kakashi needed to rapidly adjust to his newly unleashed chakra reserves — especially since losing the Sharingan meant his old combat style no longer applied.
"Sakura..."
Tsunade stared at Pinky, dumbstruck.
"If you're feeling grateful, you could always consider giving me Shizune."
"Keeping her stuck by your side is such a waste of talent."
Sakura teased.
"Hmph. Dream on!"
Tsunade crossed her arms and looked away, making it abundantly clear that was never happening.
Watching Tsunade's reaction, Sakura simply chuckled.
Grown woman, acting like a stubborn little kid.
Training Ground Three
The Revived Tobirama Senju VS. Chakra-Replenished White Fang Swordsman Kakashi
Not just Sakura and Tsunade — even Jiraiya showed up to watch this sparring match between a previous-generation Hokage and his successor.
The two men faced each other in the center of the field, each raising a single-handed sword seal before their chest.
The seal of confrontation.
"Ready."
"BEGIN!"
Sakura, standing between them, raised her hand and swept it down. In the same instant, she vanished.
The moment Sakura cleared the field, both men moved simultaneously!
Tobirama stepped back and began forming hand seals at blinding speed!
Kakashi's hand reached for the White Fang short sword at his hip — reforged three years ago by the Ninja Cat clan — as lightning wreathed his body and he rocketed toward Tobirama!
"Water Release—"
In an instant, Kakashi had already closed the distance!
Both men's intelligence on each other was essentially transparent. Kakashi had grown up hearing legends of Tobirama; Tobirama, since his reanimation, had made a point of studying Kakashi specifically.
The blinding flash of the White Fang short sword unleashed peerless brilliance, cascading down like a waterfall to engulf Tobirama entirely!
"WHAT—"
Tsunade's eyes went wide.
For a moment, she thought she was looking at a man she hadn't seen in twenty years!
Konoha's White Fang!
Hatake Sakumo!
"Ohh!"
"He really does resemble Lord Hatake."
Jiraiya spoke with genuine admiration.
Back when Sakumo had been alive, he'd once outmatched Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru together.
Twenty years later, he was seeing that same familiar form once more.
"Well done, boy!"
Facing imminent danger, Tobirama remained utterly composed, offering genuine praise.
But by this point, his technique was already fully prepared.
"Water Release — Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Tobirama's improved version needed only four hand seals. Just as the blade descended, a colossal water dragon erupted from the ground, meeting the strike head-on!
The short sword's momentum stalled against it — but in that fleeting instant, Tobirama, a true powerhouse of the Warring States era, seamlessly retreated.
The moment he broke away, the water dragon shrieked and collapsed into a torrential downpour, drenching the entire field!
Amid flashing lightning, Kakashi had already closed in again!
Unfazed, Tobirama flipped his wrist — a kunai materialized in his hand, and steel met steel in a fierce exchange!
Flashing blades, dark shadows twisting through the rain — Kakashi found himself in increasingly precarious footing.
Yet just as Tobirama seemed to be gaining the upper hand, his brow furrowed. Something felt wrong. A wave of danger surged up from somewhere deep within — and, as though he had eyes in the back of his head, he spun instinctively, his kunai arcing behind him in a graceful sweep, driving toward whatever was there!
A ringing clash of steel!
Another Kakashi!
"I see. So you deployed a clone the moment you severed my water dragon?"
Tobirama parried the White Fang short sword while speaking, a note of genuine excitement in his voice.
"That's right. You are the Second Hokage, after all."
"I couldn't hope to win without a few tricks up my sleeve."
Kakashi met Tobirama's gaze evenly.
A spar was a spar. Even against the legendary Second Hokage, Kakashi had no intention of holding back.
"You're not the only one who knows how to play tricks."
"Junior."
Tobirama's crimson eyes gleamed with amusement.
As he spoke, three figures rose from the puddle where the severed water dragon had collapsed.
Water clones!
Kakashi's expression darkened.
Deployed at the same moment he severed the dragon? Just like me?
Worthy of the Second Hokage.
But—
Kakashi forced Tobirama back with a strike, then retreated at full speed from the pursuing water clones.
His hands flew through seals at lightning speed!
"Lightning Release—"
A kunai came whistling toward him!
Kakashi had to abandon his seals and dodge the blade.
But—
Tobirama's figure flashed into existence, seizing the kunai mid-air and slashing it directly at Kakashi!
Flying Thunder God Slash!
With both Sakura and Tsunade present, as long as a wound didn't take his head off, any injury could be healed. Tobirama could afford to unleash every trick in his arsenal without restraint.
Wait — is this guy getting way too into it?
Sakura pressed a hand to her face, watching Tobirama deploy even the Flying Thunder God Slash.
Kakashi's chakra had been massively replenished, sure — but he'd only just lost the Sharingan. Every tactic he'd ever relied on needed rebuilding from scratch, an entirely new combat style forged from square one.
This man has absolutely no sense of fair play...
"Show some respect for my great-uncle!"
Tsunade shot Sakura a glare at the comment.
"Yah, yah, yah~~~"
Sakura raised her hands helplessly.
Under Tobirama's relentless barrage of techniques, Kakashi had no choice but to concede.
He needed to rebuild his entire combat philosophy from his current baseline.
Tobirama pulled the fallen Kakashi to his feet.
"I have a good sense of your situation now."
"You need to familiarize yourself with your chakra as quickly as possible, and develop a personal style that combines swordsmanship with elemental techniques."
Tobirama regarded the young man with satisfaction.
In Kakashi, Tobirama saw the future of a Konoha still rising.
"Understood. But I'll need some time."
Kakashi nodded. Tobirama's advice, coming from one of the shinobi world's most renowned powerhouses, was genuinely sound.
"Maybe consult the old man's combat style for reference?"
Sakura walked over and spoke up.
"Hm? Hiruzen?"
"That's not a bad idea."
Tobirama considered this thoughtfully.
As his own direct student, Tobirama knew Hiruzen's fighting style intimately.
Taijutsu. Ninjutsu. Genjutsu.
Virtually no weaknesses across the board.
Hiruzen's ability to probe an opponent's capabilities in real-time and construct winning strategies on the fly stemmed precisely from that lack of any glaring gap.
And Kakashi, like Hiruzen, was a shinobi with mastery over all five chakra natures.
Sakumo's swordsmanship had already made Kakashi an exceptional taijutsu practitioner.
Though rusty from disuse, skills once mastered were quick to reclaim.
As for genjutsu — Kakashi's prior experience countering it with the Sharingan meant he already had a working approach.
"Then Kakashi, take some time to go consult Hiruzen."
Tobirama fully endorsed Sakura's suggestion.
"I will."
Kakashi spoke firmly.
Losing the Sharingan, he'd assumed his combat effectiveness would take a serious hit. Instead, through this strange twist of fate, over a decade of suppressed chakra had exploded free all at once — forcing him onto a path similar to, yet distinct from, his father's.
Kakashi looked down at the White Fang short sword in his hand, eyes lowering slightly.
Father. Rin...
I won't let you down.
And... Obito...
I will kill you with my own hands.
As an offering to my teacher's spirit.
Thinking of the figure who'd stood against Konoha's shinobi three years ago, Kakashi tightened his grip on the sword's hilt.
Sarutobi Residence
"OLD MAN!"
"I'M HERE TO VISIT!"
"TIME TO GET UP AND WORK!"
The moment she stepped through the door, Sakura kicked off her shoes as though this were her own home and padded barefoot into the house.
Kakashi, following behind her, chuckled wryly.
Sakura was probably the only person on earth who could get away with this level of casual disrespect in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"No need to shout. I could hear you from ten streets away."
Hiruzen emerged from within the house in comfortable house clothes, moving at an easy pace.
Retired now, freed from the burdens of administrative work, Hiruzen spent his days drinking tea, tending flowers, and occasionally coaching Konohamaru. He seemed to be in decent spirits.
His combat strength had cratered dramatically, but there was no longer any need for a seventy-something old man to fight on the front lines.
"Where's Old Horse?"
"I don't see him anywhere."
Sakura searched the entire house without finding any trace of Asuma.
"Oh, he moved out. Living with that girl from the Sarutobi—er, Yuhi clan."
At the mention of Asuma, Hiruzen's face brightened with a smile.
After more than a decade, Asuma had finally won Kurenai Yuhi's heart. He'd moved out and was now living with her.
Kakashi's generation's village belle had finally been caught by Asuma.
"Tch..."
Sakura made an ambiguous noise.
"What's that attitude for?"
"You don't want them to be happy together?"
Hiruzen pulled out his pipe and tapped it lightly against Sakura's head.
"That's not it. Just — Asuma with that full beard, and Kurenai actually likes THAT?"
Sakura scratched her head.
"Who cares what she likes. What about you, anyway?"
"You're not exactly young anymore either. Time to find someone."
Hiruzen packed his pipe with tobacco leisurely, reaching for a match — only for Sakura to snatch the pipe right out of his hand.
"Me?"
Sakura tossed the pipe in the air, feigning total indifference.
"Leftover fighter."
???
Hiruzen had no idea what "leftover fighter" meant, but right now he just wanted his pipe back.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't you know smoking is bad for you?"
"Old man, if you smoke, that means I'm inhaling secondhand smoke."
"For my physical and mental wellbeing, you should really quit."
"Might add a couple years to your life, you know."
"Oh, right — Kakashi's here to see you."
Tossing the pipe casually, Sakura walked right past Hiruzen, leaving the old man with a distinct toothache.
Before he retired, this brat only ever told him to smoke a little less.
Now that he's finally home with nothing to do, she wants to ban it outright?
This is definitely payback for suggesting she find someone.
With a sigh, Hiruzen tucked the match back into his pocket, an amused smile tugging at his lips despite himself.
That kid. Not changed one bit.
"Konohamaru!"
"I'm here to quiz you on your studies!"
"If you haven't hit my target today, you're copying 'The Fifth Hokage's Will of Fire' one hundred times!"
Hiruzen watched Sakura march off toward Konohamaru with a resigned sigh, then turned his attention to the man before him.
Kakashi...
He glanced at those familiar dark eyes and said nothing at first.
He knew about Tobirama's resurrection, but as a retired man, he hadn't asked too many questions.
Seeing Kakashi's missing Sharingan now, something clicked into place.
So he needed to use it, did he...
"Come along, then."
Hiruzen beckoned Kakashi over.
"Yes, Lord Third."
Night
Haruno Residence
Mist curled through the warm, amber glow of the bathroom lights, falling softly across the bare shoulders of the pink-haired girl in the tub.
Sakura lay back in the water, eyes closed, mulling over recent events.
One of Kamui's Mangekyō was permanently burned out.
Which meant Obito's ceiling had just been dealt a serious blow.
After all, two Kamui eyes combined would have been absurdly overpowered. Even without achieving the Eternal Mangekyō, in the original series Kakashi's single Kamui had been enough to hold his own in a battle at the Six Paths tier.
With this development, Sakura no longer needed to worry about Obito getting desperate enough to try reclaiming his eye from Kakashi.
Now that the Three-Tails had revived, the Akatsuki would certainly begin moving.
Sakura gazed at the light diffusing through the steam and her eyes drifted thoughtfully.
Tobirama had been revived. He could easily lead a targeted hunt against the Akatsuki.
Akatsuki's intelligence had already been comprehensively sold out by Itachi. Combined with Konoha's Intelligence Division, they'd assembled detailed profiles on these notorious rogue ninja.
Sinking fully into the water, Sakura watched the ripples and had a sudden thought.
Should I handle this personally?
If Sakura went herself, and they had the location of any two-man Akatsuki team, none of them would escape.
The thought was tempting.
Or lead the team myself straight into the Akatsuki's stronghold — Amegakure?
That...
Wouldn't work.
Setting aside Pain and Konan's combat capability — the mere fact of the Hokage personally leading Konoha's top fighters into a forced assault on Amegakure would be something no other village could ignore.
Suna and Kumo certainly wouldn't sit still, and neither would Iwa or Kiri.
The Land of Rain sat at the crossroads of Wind, Fire, and Earth. Whoever controlled it held the initiative.
Neither Suna nor Iwa could afford to watch Amegakure fall into Konoha's hands.
That would mean enemies on every side.
If it were just her, back before she'd taken the Hokage's seat, she'd have simply charged in alone. But now, as Hokage, she had to answer for everyone else.
It wasn't that other Konoha shinobi couldn't die. It was that they shouldn't die for nothing.
Sakura slowly rose from the tub. Wet pink hair fell over her shoulders, concealing her chest.
Within moments, she'd made her decision.
Ignoring the Akatsuki's Tailed Beast hunt entirely wasn't acceptable — but a full-scale assault on Amegakure wasn't either.
So: let the newly resurrected Second Hokage lead a squad — Kakashi, Sasuke, Might Guy, Asuma — a four-man elite team dedicated to precisely targeted eliminations of Akatsuki members.
One Hokage, plus four elite jōnin bordering on Kage-level strength.
More than enough respect to pay the Akatsuki.
Watching her reflection in the mirror, Sakura's lips curved into a cold smile.
For the time being, Konoha shinobi would need to reduce unnecessary outside activity, to avoid giving the Akatsuki any opening for retaliatory targeted strikes of their own.
Would this stunt the growth of Konoha's younger generation?
That, Sakura wasn't worried about. The war three years ago had already given every other promising young talent the growth a shinobi needed.
Except for Naruto...
"Sis!"
"Are you done bathing?!"
Mirai's voice from outside the door interrupted her train of thought.
"Almost done. What's the rush, Mirai?"
Sakura called back to her little sister.
"Mirai wants a hug~~~"
Sakura pressed a hand to her forehead.
Is this kid developing a sister complex or something?
Chakra shimmered around her, evaporating every drop of moisture from her body in an instant — even her damp pink hair dried completely.
She slipped into her pajamas and opened the bathroom door.
The moment it opened, a small figure launched itself at her.
Sakura caught her easily.
"Sis smells so good~~~"
The little pink-head wrapped her arms around Sakura's neck, giggling.
"Mm-hm. And Mirai's very cute too."
Sakura ruffled Mirai's hair — nearly identical in shade to her own.
"Sakura, remember to pull the drain plug when you're done!"
Her mother's voice carried in from the living room.
"Got it."
Holding Mirai, Sakura pulled the bathtub plug and watched the water swirl down the drain, her thoughts drifting back to the problem of Naruto.
Everyone else had gotten the chance to grow.
Sasuke especially — arguably the strongest of her generation aside from herself.
Only Naruto, sidelined by his status as the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, had missed out on the war three years ago.
The prophesied protagonist of destiny, reduced to little more than Konoha's mascot — what a waste that would be.
"What's Sis thinking about?"
Mirai pinched Sakura's cheek.
"Thinking about a certain blond idiot."
Sakura laughed and poked Mirai's forehead, then handed the little girl off to her mother.
Ignoring Mirai's protests, she walked back to her room alone.
Naruto, huh...
What should I do about that guy?
Sitting at her desk, Sakura stared at the scattered notes and papers before her.
Should I...
Swap out Asuma and let Naruto join the elite squad under Tobirama instead?
For some reason, her mind drifted back to the original story.
Asuma, caught off guard by an intelligence gap, had been killed by Hidan in their first encounter.
Forget it...
Let Naruto take Asuma's place.
That way, Tobirama and Kakashi could mentor him along the way too.
Naruto was reckless by nature, but his talent was undeniable.
Leaving him as nothing more than a mascot would be a genuine waste.
The next day
Hokage Building, Hokage's Office
Sakura sat behind the Hokage's desk, regarding the assembled group with an even expression.
"That's the situation."
"Any questions?"
Sakura tapped the desk lightly.
"So this old man is leading the team?"
Tobirama crossed his arms, a curious light in his eyes.
"OH!"
"Another mission!"
"Watch me, Sakura! I won't let you down!"
Naruto, hearing about the assignment — and that he'd be teamed with Sasuke and Kakashi — practically vibrated with excitement.
"That's right!"
"NARUTO!"
"LET US SHOW OUR YOUTHFUL SPIRIT!"
The green bowl-cut was clearly cut from the same cloth as Naruto, chiming in with equal enthusiasm.
Tobirama, who had been feeling rather confident a moment ago, felt his mouth twitch.
Wait a second...
THIS is the team Sakura assembled for me?
Why does Kakashi seem like the only reliable one here?
"Come on, Kakashi!"
"Let's see who comes out on top in this mission!"
Guy immediately challenged his best friend.
"Sure."
Kakashi nodded, no objection whatsoever.
Tobirama retracted his earlier assessment. Kakashi, who seemed so composed most of the time — how did HE turn unreliable the second this bowl-cut showed up?
Which just leaves that wicked little Uchiha brat...
"Sasuke!"
"Watch out, don't let me outshine you!"
"Hmph. As if you could, Naruto."
Tobirama: ...
You're supposed to be the WICKED UCHIHA BRAT!
Where did your cold, aloof persona go?!
☆☆☆
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