Konoha Village - Barrier Department
The expansive headquarters of Konoha's Barrier Department buzzed with intense activity. Throughout the cavernous room, countless complex sealing scrolls were carefully organized on tables and shelves, while dedicated shinobi moved purposefully between workstations, each focused on their specialized tasks.
"Alright, take these scrolls to the preparation chamber," called out one of the senior technicians, gesturing toward a stack of freshly completed barrier formulas.
"Yes, sir!" A subordinate quickly gathered the substantial pile of scrolls and hurried from the room, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
"I need someone over here!" another voice rang out across the busy workspace.
"Coming!" came the immediate response.
"What's the current status on the talisman production?" the supervisor inquired, wiping sweat from his brow as he reviewed the extensive checklist in his hands.
"Reporting, sir! The talisman manufacturing process is proceeding smoothly. We're maintaining our projected timeline and should definitely complete all required units within the specified deadline," the technician responded with confidence, though his exhausted expression betrayed the long hours everyone had been putting in.
"Excellent work. Are we experiencing any shortages in materials or supplies?" The supervisor's tone carried both relief and continued concern.
"Reporting, sir! Establishing the new village-wide barrier system requires a total of two thousand seven hundred and thirteen different types of supplies and materials. Our procurement teams have successfully gathered one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine of these items. The remaining seven hundred and twenty-four materials are currently in various stages of collection and acquisition."
The supervisor nodded thoughtfully before issuing his next directive. "Assign someone to post mission requests immediately. We need to mobilize the village's ninja forces to assist with gathering these remaining items. Time is of the essence."
"Yes, sir! Right away!"
The various subordinates working under Shihouin Naraku's supervision offered respectful salutes before quickly dispersing to carry out their assigned tasks, their movements reflecting the urgency that had gripped the entire department.
Naraku surveyed the bustling activity filling the wide room with a mixture of satisfaction and mild amusement. He casually tossed a scroll up and down in his hand, caught it smoothly, then let out a small yawn. The constant pressure and sleepless nights were beginning to take their toll, even on someone of his capabilities. Deciding it was time for an update, he headed toward the Hokage building.
Thanks to Naraku's comprehensive barrier project, the normally busy Hokage building had become even more chaotic, with ninja constantly coming and going, carrying reports, requests, and updates.
Hokage's Office
"The funding allocation will be processed shortly. Make sure to maintain detailed records of all expenditures," Tsunade's voice carried across the office as she simultaneously reviewed documents and issued rapid-fire instructions to the stream of subordinates moving through her office.
"Bring Shikaku here as soon as possible..."
"The deployment schedule for our Jōnin needs to be accelerated! We can't afford any delays!"
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade worked tirelessly, her desk covered with stacks of papers requiring her signature while she coordinated the complex logistics of the village's defensive preparations. Her subordinates moved with practiced efficiency, understanding the critical nature of their current situation.
"Tsunade-sensei?" Naraku's voice cut through the organized chaos as he stepped forward and carefully placed his scroll on the already cluttered surface of Tsunade's desk.
The moment Tsunade's eyes fell upon Naraku, a flash of irritation crossed her features. This young man had single-handedly created enough work to keep her busy around the clock, robbing her of proper sleep and relaxation, yet here he stood looking perfectly composed and well-rested.
She quickly signed the document before her and handed it to a waiting subordinate, motioning for him to leave before turning her full attention to Naraku. "Look at my face!" she complained, gesturing dramatically. "I'm developing wrinkles from all this stress and lack of sleep. If it weren't for these ambitious plans you proposed, would I be suffering through this exhaustion right now?"
Naraku smiled awkwardly, recognizing the genuine frustration behind her complaints, then quickly shifted to a more serious and flattering tone. "Wrinkles? Who dares to spread such ridiculous rumors? Tsunade-sensei is so beautiful and youthful - there couldn't possibly be a single wrinkle on your face. Anyone suggesting otherwise must be either blind or jealous!"
Despite herself, Tsunade found her irritation softening at the earnest compliments and enthusiastic thumbs-up gesture. "Fine, fine. You're forgiven this time. Now tell me, what brings you here today?"
"Sensei, I've completed the site selection for the new barrier system. I'd like you to review the proposed locations and confirm there are no issues with my choices," Naraku explained, his tone becoming businesslike as he indicated the scroll on her desk.
Tsunade's demeanor immediately shifted to complete seriousness upon hearing this. She reached out to unfurl the scroll, spreading it across her desk and carefully examining each marked location with the practiced eye of an experienced leader.
"Hmm... most of these positions look excellent, but I think we should modify the sixth location to use the alternative site instead. Although there are no longer any members of the Uchiha family remaining in the village, there's no need for us to completely reclaim their entire clan compound at this time."
Naraku nodded in understanding, having anticipated this exact response. He had deliberately prepared the alternative location specifically for Tsunade to choose, knowing her thoughtful and compassionate nature.
With Uchiha Sasuke's defection from the village, no member of the Uchiha family remained in Konoha. According to standard village policies, the Uchiha family's extensive land holdings, including Sasuke's personal residence, should theoretically be reclaimed by the village administration.
This would mean that even if Uchiha Sasuke ever decided to return to the village in the future, he would be forced to find alternative housing arrangements, either renting or purchasing property like any other civilian or returning ninja.
Naraku found himself briefly contemplating the ironic situation this created. This policy was actually the reason why, in the original timeline, Sasuke and Sakura had struggled financially after marriage, with Sasuke frequently away on missions while Sakura bore the heavy burden of mortgage payments as the family's primary breadwinner.
It seemed that regardless of which world one inhabited, the burden of mortgage debt remained an inescapable reality.
Uzumaki Naruto had been considerably more fortunate in this regard, eventually marrying Hyūga Hinata and benefiting from the considerable financial resources of the prestigious Hyuga clan, allowing them to afford any residence they desired.
However, this time, at Naruto's specific request, Uchiha Sasuke's personal residence had been preserved, and the village would not completely reclaim the Uchiha clan's ancestral lands.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... this is what they call the power of bonds," Naraku mused to himself with amusement.
"Uzumaki Naruto is already making preparations to ensure his rival's future comfort and stability."
"Haruno Sakura won't have to worry about mortgage payments this time around. Though, given her incredible physical strength, she might accidentally destroy the house during an emotional outburst. In that case, they'd definitely end up paying for repairs regardless."
As Naraku departed the Hokage building with the modified scroll in hand, a sudden thought caused him to glance back thoughtfully.
It appeared that his current teacher had no immediate plans to accept Haruno Sakura as her medical apprentice. Additionally, Naraku hadn't heard any mention of Sakura enrolling in any medical institution. Was this perhaps a butterfly effect resulting from his presence and actions?
"What would happen if Haruno Sakura never becomes a medical ninja..." he wondered aloud.
Compared to the strong dislike he had felt for Haruno Sakura while watching the anime in his previous life, Naraku now regarded her with complete neutrality. He neither harbored negative feelings nor felt any particular affection for her - she was simply another ordinary kunoichi among many.
Therefore, Naraku's primary concern was whether any changes in Sakura's life trajectory might potentially interfere with his own carefully laid plans for the future.
"Let me think this through carefully..."
"Setting aside other considerations, Haruno Sakura's most crucial contribution should be that decisive punch against Kaguya, which created the opening necessary for Naruto and Sasuke to successfully seal her."
However, that particular scene had been crafted primarily to showcase Team 7's unity and emphasize their unbreakable bonds, so it was questionable whether such a specific scenario would actually occur in reality.
Naraku considered the matter further. If he truly had to face Ōtsutsuki Kaguya in the later stages of the timeline, by that point his own strength would have developed to unknown heights. There would likely be no need to worry about Haruno Sakura's contribution or lack thereof.
Perhaps by then, even Naruto and Sasuke's intervention wouldn't be necessary - he might be capable of dealing with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya entirely on his own!
From this perspective, there seemed to be no compelling reason to pay excessive attention to Haruno Sakura's current situation.
Having reached this logical conclusion, Naraku dismissed his concerns about the matter. Whether Haruno Sakura eventually became Tsunade's student would depend entirely on her own efforts and circumstances. It was no longer his responsibility to worry about.
Land of Thunder - Turtle Island
A white-haired elderly man, supporting himself with a walking cane, accompanied by Dodai, carefully crossed the treacherous waters of the Truth-Seeking Falls. They proceeded into the secret facility hidden behind the thundering cascade of water.
This was the highly classified training ground where Cloud Village's Tailed Beast Jinchūriki underwent their most intensive and dangerous preparation. It was here that both Yugito Nii and Killer Bee had achieved their remarkable reconciliation with the tailed beasts sealed within their bodies, becoming truly perfect Jinchūriki. Well, Yugito had achieved harmony with the Two-Tailed Nekomata, though due to the power differential between them, she wasn't considered a completely perfect Jinchūriki in the truest sense.
This secret installation was constructed upon the massive shell of an ancient sea turtle. Since the turtle could carry the entire facility while wandering freely throughout the ocean, very few people outside of Cloud Village knew of its existence or location.
Even within Cloud Village itself, the number of individuals who had ever been granted knowledge of this place could be counted on the fingers of two hands.
"Roooooar..."
The sound of rushing water echoed around them as Dodai carefully supported the elderly man, guiding him forward through the facility. Soon they reached a building that had obviously been constructed quite recently.
The few medical ninja that Cloud Village possessed were all gathered here, working desperately around a bed where their patient lay unconscious - the legendary Killer Bee!
The elderly man and Dodai approached closer to the medical area when a Cloud ninja immediately dropped to one knee before them, his expression grave and respectful.
"Elder! Lord Dodai!"
The elderly man's voice carried both anxiety and the weight of his advanced years as he asked, "How is Killer Bee's condition? Has there been any sign of him regaining consciousness?"
"Reporting to the Elder, Master Killer Bee remains completely unconscious. Despite our medical team's exhaustive efforts and every technique at our disposal, we have seen no improvement whatsoever."
"Several days ago, we even took the desperate risk of potentially triggering the Eight-Tails' rampage by directly stimulating Master Killer Bee's chakra system, but even that extreme measure produced no results."
The elderly man's face darkened with fury as he processed this information. "A bunch of worthless trash!!!"
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