Most of the higher-ups in Konoha were happy about this change, except for a faction led by Danzo. Those clans who benefited from the Uchiha stepping down from their policing duties were especially pleased.
The Third stood by the window of his office, deeply satisfied. Relations between the Uchiha and Konoha had begun to slowly improve, and just moments ago he received urgent news that Kumogakure had started withdrawing its forces. Overjoyed at these two fortunate developments, the Third eagerly took out his Crystal Orb to settle his racing hormones.
Back in Konoha, Sakura and the others were unaware of these changes. After several days had passed and they received the ceasefire agreement from Kumogakure, Sakura and her companions finally packed up to return home.
"Please do me a favor and discipline Shikamaru properly! Try to make him more diligent!"
Shikaku Nara chuckled as he gave his request. He still needed to stay behind to deal with some follow-up matters, so he couldn't accompany Sakura and the others back.
"Well…that might be a bit difficult," Sakura couldn't help but think dryly. Shikamaru's personality was such that even while working as a cashier at a noodle stand, it was clear that "a leopard can't change its spots." Trying to get him to become energetic would be no easier than convincing Black Zetsu to abandon reviving Kaguya Otsutsuki.
"Ah…please watch over Ino carefully too! Don't let any strange little boys approach her!" Inoichi Yamanaka wore an anxious expression on his face. During the time he had been away from Konoha, could someone odd have made moves on his beloved daughter?
"Honestly, Uncle Inoichi, Ino is only four years old!" Sakura replied with a face full of dark lines across her forehead. What was he talking about? Ino was only four—how could anyone possibly have romantic intentions toward her?
"What if there's some kind of weirdo?"
Inoichi frowned deeply, wishing he could take a smoke like Asuma. But knowing how much his daughter would disapprove, he quickly dismissed the idea.
"Hahaha, Inoichi, you really worry too much. The village is quite safe," Akimichi Choza laughed heartily while rubbing his big belly. "As for my own son, I'm not worried at all—he eats and drinks well enough!"
"Well then, it's getting late. We should head off."
After exchanging a few more words, Kakashi, Sakura, and the others finally set off on their journey back. No sooner had they left Shikaku Nara's sight than the team instantly switched gears: Shisui pulled out a mountain of snacks and started munching away, Might Guy grabbed two dumbbells and began working on his biceps, and Kakashi pulled out his Make Out Paradise book and sat aside to read.
This peaceful journey proceeded without a hitch until noon the next day. At Might Guy's insistent demand, everyone landed on the ground and slowly continued forward. Unlike when they had rushed to arrive, now nobody was in a hurry, and walking relaxed suited them just fine.
"Kakashi! Come on, let's have ourselves a youthful competition!" Guy energetically bounced around Kakashi, visibly displeased at Kakashi's seemingly lethargic state.
"No thanks," Kakashi didn't even look up, completely absorbed in his book.
"Kakashi, how can you waste your youth buried inside a book like that?"
"You should be as passionate and energetic as I am!"
"There's someone—"
Before Guy could finish his sentence, Kakashi cut him off. Where was the usual laziness in Kakashi now? Right after warning Guy and the others, he had already tensed his muscles and taken a battle stance.
"There are many enemies! Be careful!"
Shisui's Sharingan slowly rotated with its three tomoe. The tanto behind his back had already been drawn, and together with Kakashi and Guy, they formed a triangle, back to back, protecting Sakura in the center.
"My youth is already burning with excitement!"
Guy let out a strange shout but wore a serious expression. He might seem laid-back, but he definitely wasn't foolish; when facing enemies, he would never underestimate them.
From the woods, one black-cloaked figure after another leaped out. They were wearing masks that covered their faces, though behind those masks, their eyes brimmed with coldness.
"These people are Root ninja!"
Sakura slightly furrowed her brows upon sensing the familiar spiritual fluctuations from the enemy. This cold, lifeless aura reminded her of the dead. Only Root ninjas could emit such a vibe. More importantly, the malice from these people clearly targeted her. If she hadn't guessed wrong, it must've been Danzō who had set sights on them. And the reason probably had something to do with the Uchiha clan.
"Shisui, your Shifting Body Technique is the strongest. Later, Guy and I will hold them off—you take Sakura and escape first!" Kakashi said, his eyes filled with seriousness. So many Root ninjas had come. It seemed that Danzō really wanted to kill them all here.
Chapter 38: From Simplicity to Luxury—Kakashi [Part 1] [Second Update]
"You don't need to be so tense. Don't you guys remember? I can fly!"
Sakura reminded them gently. After all, regardless of whether they could win or not, if things got too dire, all she needed to do was take flight into the sky—who could catch her then?
"Eh..."
Only now did Kakashi recall this fact. Generally speaking, during past missions, there truly hadn't been many opponents who could fly. Habitual thinking had driven him into a mental dead-end.
"Uncle Kakashi, may I ask a question—if you continuously used various Ninjutsu techniques for a blanket fire attack, how long could you sustain it?"
Sakura asked curiously, she had just developed a new technique and couldn't wait to test it on Kakashi.
"A few seconds maybe!"
Kakashi answered directly without even needing to calculate. Actually, his chakra reserves weren't that low, but unfortunately, the Sharingan was an enormous chakra consumer. The Sharingan constantly drained his chakra nonstop, leaving only limited amounts left for releasing other jutsu. If he kept casting techniques nonstop, he'd probably exhaust his chakra after just a few.
"Please extend your hand for a second!"
Without saying a word, Kakashi stretched out his right hand. Sakura touched her fingertip against Kakashi's wrist, and green light coalesced into strange glyph-like markings on his right wrist.
"Uncle Kakashi, you just keep bombarding them with techniques. As a Copy Ninja, you surely won't run short of jutsu techniques, right?"
"I'm not short on jutsu techniques, but my chakra isn't sufficient enough!"
Kakashi studied it for a while but couldn't figure out what the green rune actually did, so he could only admit the truth.
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