Anyako was the first to recover, quickly asking, "How long has he been gone? Was he alone?"
"I don't know either," Sakura replied, glancing at Anyako with a complicated expression. It was because Sasuke learned about his information that he had decisively decided to leave... but now wasn't the time to think about this.
Without hesitation, Sakura anxiously said to Tsunade, "Lady Hokage, please send someone to bring Sasuke back! He must've gone to Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru? Is it for power then?" Tsunade frowned slightly, "Almost all Jonins are currently on missions except those minimally necessary for village security. However, Sasuke's departure might very well have been guided by that dead pervert's subordinates."
"I'll go."
"No."
Everyone present, aside from Sakura, immediately and unanimously rejected the suggestion.
Hakuto spoke directly, "Hakuto, you're not even a ninja anymore. You don't qualify for mission assignments."
Sighing deeply, Hakuto approached Sakura, held her hand, and comforted her, "That boy must mean a lot to you for you to be this upset. Don't worry. As long as you keep him in your heart, one day you will definitely meet again."
Looking at the unusually beautiful Hakuto before her, Sakura was moved beyond words.
After some contemplation, Tsunade said, "Shizune, go find Shikamaru."
Anyako understood Tsunade's intentions, "You plan on sending a newly promoted chunin with a few genins? This mission might be much harder than you imagine."
Tsunade emotionlessly replied, "Maybe you should focus more on explaining things to your Miss Mikoto instead of worrying about them."
Helplessly, Anyako retorted, "Didn't I tell you a few days ago that my body was empty and urgently needed replenishment? With me around, bringing back ten Sasukes would be effortless. Now look, there's no one left!"
Enraged, Tsunade grabbed a document nearby and hurled it toward Anyako, shouting, "Get out!"
Stepping outside, Anyako felt uneasy. He had already decided to mentor Sasuke and even planned to use Sasuke to deflect some of the pressure coming from Mikoto. Alas, plans couldn't keep up with changes; this guy still ended up taking the old path.
As for safety concerns, during Sasuke's unconsciousness, Anyako had secretly infused [Sage Chakra] into the cursed seal implanted by Orochimaru, causing Sasuke's prolonged coma.
Even if Orochimaru attempted to forcibly consume Sasuke, the presence of this Sage energy would surely cause Orochimaru's soul to suffer counter-effects. Yet, passing Miss Mikoto would still be difficult, so retrieving Sasuke remained crucial.
The closest ally she could count on was Yugao. But Anyako quickly eliminated this option; she harbored deep hatred toward Orochimaru, and involving her might just backfire.
Who else could help? If Orochimaru deployed Kimimaro, there were only a handful of people qualified to confront him in Konoha right now.
If Neji and Tenten were still in the village, that would've been great. One had the perfect [Byakugan], and the other possessed a cheat tool gifted by Sasori. Unfortunately, they had already gone to Sunagakure as part of a peacekeeping team.
Oh right, how come I didn't think of that earlier? The trio from Sunagakure—Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari—are currently in Konoha. Gaara's strength had improved significantly after the Chunin Exams, making him a reliable ally.
With her target decided, Anya immediately headed toward the stronghold occupied by the Sunagakure group.
Although they were officially peace envoys, the three had essentially been ignored. After all, not long ago they had caused massive destruction in Konoha—especially when Gaara transformed into Shukaku, which led to widespread damage still under repair. Many Konoha ninja had witnessed the destruction. If not for the prior alliance treaty, some might have even come seeking revenge. Therefore, the three of them had become nothing more than decorative figures.
Anya was the first actual visitor since this trio had arrived in Konoha.
"It's you," Temari, who was wandering outside the door, immediately spotted Anya. Seeming to think of something, she instinctively took a couple steps back. "Even though you're really handsome and exactly my type, I won't go with you—I don't like men who are two-timing."
"What are you talking about?" Anya was somewhat confused, not understanding Temari's implication.
Kankuro, standing nearby, joked, "Aren't you the most talked-about Uchiha in Konoha recently? Your leaflets have been scattered all over the village—we've seen plenty of them too. Temari just thought you came to pick her up."
Hearing this, Anya finally understood and chuckled, saying, "I came here because I have something to ask you—it's a mission, nothing to do with my personal life. Where's Gaara?"
Temari's face slightly reddened as she realized she had misunderstood. However, upon hearing the word "mission," she immediately protested, "You're a Konoha ninja, and we're Sunagakure ninja. You can't give us missions."
"That's fine. Let's hear what the mission is about first."
A pile of sand appeared between them, and Gaara emerged from the sand. He now carried himself with a much calmer demeanor than before; the bloodshot veins around his eyes had faded, and he had also shed most of his former malice.
Anya didn't beat around the bush and directly said, "Recapture Sasuke."
"Sasuke?" Gaara, surprised since he once was Sasuke's opponent, asked, "Where did he go?"
"He's on his way to Orochimaru (the Legendary Snake Sannin) in search of power. There's already a Konoha team dispatched for this mission, but I don't think that's sufficient. That's why I hope you three will help me bring him back."
"This is an internal matter for Konoha..."
"Alright."
Before Temari could finish, Gaara had already agreed firmly.
"Gaara?" Both Kankuro and Temari expressed surprise simultaneously. Is this really the same cold-blooded killer they once knew? It was like he had completely changed.
Gaara calmly explained, "We came to Konoha as peace envoys in the first place. Since Konoha is in trouble, helping out is only natural. Consider it our compensation for attacking Konoha before."
Anya burst into laughter, clearly impressed. "Gaara, I like your attitude. No time to waste—let's move out."
Gaara never thought that such a simple act today would not only change Anya's view of him but also end up saving his life one day.
After leaving this place, Anya returned to the Uchiha compound. Since Sasuke's departure from the village couldn't stay a secret, they decided to inform Mikoto as soon as possible and wait for the final outcome.
Just arriving at the compound, they found a long line formed at the entrance. A quick glance showed they were all young and pretty women.
At the entrance, registration was being handled by a designated person.
Anya gave a bitter smile and vanished into the compound using Shunshin.
Inside, Anya saw several women chatting with Mikoto, who was checking them out carefully and asking quite personal questions. They were enjoying a lively conversation.
Seeing this, Anya could only let out a sigh. Miss Mikoto really went all out when it came to reviving the Uchiha Clan...
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>