Seeing Uchiha Shinji also recruited by Tsunade, Naruto nearby asked, "Shinji gets to go too?!"
Sakura glanced at Sasuke's darkened expression and said cautiously, "M-Maybe it's because Shinji knows medical ninjutsu?"
Naruto muttered, "Isn't Granny Tsunade the best medical shinobi? Why bring Shinji along? Could it be because of his Sharingan? But Sasuke's Sharingan is clearly stronger!"
At that, Sasuke's face grew even gloomier.
Sakura, exasperated, punched Naruto. "You big idiot, stop saying weird things!"
Naruto scratched his head. "Sakura, aren't you curious too?"
"Of course I'm curious…" Halfway through, realizing Naruto had dragged her into it, Sakura fumed.
"Shut up! Maybe Lady Tsunade will come recruit Sasuke any second now!"
No sooner had Sakura spoken than Tsunade left the academy with Shizune.
"Uh…"
Watching Tsunade's retreating figure, Sakura looked embarrassed.
Naruto let out a surprised, "Huh? Granny Tsunade didn't come to recruit Sasuke?"
"Naruto, this is all your fault!"
Sakura chased after Naruto, smacking him.
Naruto, bewildered, fled while shouting, "Granny Tsunade not recruiting Sasuke has nothing to do with me! Sakura, why are you hitting me?!"
As Sakura and Naruto noisily chased each other across the training field, Sasuke, both anxious and angry, felt countless eyes on him, making him even more humiliated.
At the village gate.
Uchiha Shinji quickly packed his gear and arrived at the rendezvous point.
He knew exactly what this urgent mission was about. Just yesterday, Tsunade had announced in the research team that the village planned to capture an 'Upper Moon.' For a mission to be launched today, the objective was obvious.
As for why even Sasuke wasn't deemed qualified to join while he was, it wasn't because Tsunade considered him stronger than Sasuke. It was simply because Koharu Utatane had placed him in the team to serve as the Elder Council's eyes.
Even if Tsunade was a hundred times unwilling, she couldn't openly defy the will of the entire Elder Council.
Swish.
At that moment, with a gust of wind, a shinobi wearing sunglasses and a hooded cloak landed beside Shinji.
The newcomer sized Shinji up before introducing himself, "Shibi Aburame."
Shinji nodded politely. "Uchiha Shinji."
He naturally recognized Shibi Aburame, the father of Shino. The formal introduction indirectly showed that Shibi acknowledged Shinji's strength, treating him as a comrade.
This wasn't surprising.
An Uchiha who had awakened the Sharingan was rarely weak. Even through seniority alone, they could reach jonin level. Since publicly revealing his Sharingan, Shinji's status had subtly risen.
Many in the village even speculated that Shinji had the potential to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Moments later, Tsunade, Shizune, Gai, and Yakumo arrived at the rendezvous point together.
Seeing Shinji and Shibi Aburame already there, Tsunade nodded to them and said, "Since everyone's here, I'll briefly explain the mission. Our objective is to capture one of the 'Upper Moon' monsters, ideally a true 'Upper Moon.'"
Most of the team already had an inkling, so no one raised questions.
"Move out!"
Seeing no questions, Tsunade, ever decisive, led the team to depart.
After the great battle in the Land of Grass, many demons were scattered across the shinobi world. Aside from the few top-tier 'Upper Moon' demons, there were also numerous weaker ones.
Compared to the 'Upper Moons,' other demons were noticeably inferior in both strength and willpower.
At the very least, the 'Upper Moon' demons knew to lie low after the mysterious figure was repelled, biding their time. Ordinary demons, even those bred in the Land of Grass who had reached the 'Lower Moon' level, couldn't suppress their instinct to feed on humans. After the battle in the Land of Grass, they continued to prey, leaving traces that led to their pursuit by various shinobi factions.
Tsunade's team was now headed to a village in the Land of Fire suspected of harboring a demon.
Almost simultaneously with Shinji's team's departure, Haku and Karin, each leaving a shadow clone at the academy, slipped out of the village, racing toward another location in the Land of Fire.
After a day of travel, Tsunade's team reached the outskirts of the village by evening.
Standing on a cliff, Tsunade gazed at the village in the distance, where faint wisps of smoke rose. She said, "According to intelligence, the target is hiding in that village!"
Yakumo asked, "Teacher Tsunade, is the target an 'Upper Moon'?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Witnesses didn't see the 'Upper Moon' marking in its eyes, so it's likely not a true 'Upper Moon.' However, through it, we might gain intelligence on the real 'Upper Moons.'"
Shinji looked toward the distant village.
He knew better than anyone present that the demon hiding in this village was just an ordinary one, weaker even than the one in the lab.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have exposed itself so easily.
Gai asked, "Do we move now?"
Tsunade shook her head. "No rush! Shibi, confirm the target's location first!"
"Understood."
Shibi Aburame nodded slightly and raised his arms.
Instantly, a swarm of parasitic insects silently flew from his sleeves, heading toward the village.
For this mission targeting demons, Shibi had brought insects highly sensitive to blood, so Tsunade hadn't included any Hyuga with Byakugan.
Soon, the sun set, and night blanketed the land.
Though the team knew nighttime was the demons' domain, they weren't worried. Yakumo and Shinji had a record of defeating the 'Upper Moon Six' together.
With Tsunade, Gai, Shibi Aburame, and Shizune—jonin-level shinobi—in the team, even if they faced the 'Upper Moon One,' who had once gravely injured the Fourth Kazekage, they had the strength to fight!
After some time, a single parasitic insect returned to the cliff.
Shibi sensed it and reported to Tsunade, "The target's location is locked."
"Remember, this mission is to capture it alive!"
After reminding the team, Tsunade led them charging toward the distant village.
In a forest not far from the village.
Karin and Haku blocked the path of a demon. Unlike others, this demon had the words 'Upper Moon Five' etched in its eyes.
Undoubtedly, this was the 'Upper Moon Five' giant demon that had survived the great battle in the Land of Grass.
Back then, the mysterious figure had used a 'summoning technique' to gather all demons in the 'Infinite Castle' for a showdown with the Akatsuki.
However, the 'Upper Moon Five,' having been shattered by the Fourth Raikage and losing nearly all its chakra, escaped as a small clump of flesh. Unable to be summoned by the mysterious figure, it had survived by sheer luck.