Konoha, Training Ground Number 34.
Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura looked solemn when they saw that their new teammate was the Sand Ninja Gaara.
Especially Haruno Sakura, who showed overt hostility. After all, she had become accustomed to Naruto, and suddenly changing teammates made her uncomfortable on a professional level.
On a personal level, the identity of Naruto, the Fourth Hokage's son, had greatly satisfied her vanity, despite her grudgingly submissive attitude towards him.
"Lord Yoru said that Uzumaki Naruto is going to train with Lord Jiraiya, and asked me to join Team 7," Gaara said.
This was the first time the usually aloof Gaara had spoken so much to someone, though his eyes were fixed on Uchiha Sasuke.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke's lips curved into a proud and tsundere smile. He extended his hand and said, "Welcome."
"Sasuke!" Haruno Sakura was shocked. How could the once proud Sasuke be so friendly to the Sand Ninja in front of him?
"Thank you," Gaara said, shaking hands with Sasuke, showing a rare expression of gratitude.
Uchiha Sasuke, though tsundere in personality, admired Gaara, a fellow strong ninja, especially since he had been visiting the prison for interactions.
The two had become acquainted over the past month and had developed a foundation of friendship.
"Sasuke!"
Just then, a passionate shout pierced the air, bringing a smile to Haruno Sakura's face. Naruto, with blond hair, excitedly waved his hand and ran over.
"I finally found you guys."
Breathless and excited, Naruto looked at Sasuke and Sakura, completely ignoring Gaara.
"Sasuke, Sakura, come on, let's go help Shikamaru, Choji and the others retrieve Teacher Asuma," Naruto said, asking for help without any embarrassment, as if it were natural.
"Naruto, you better explain yourself!" Haruno Sakura shouted angrily, venting her emotions.
In front of Sakura, Naruto maintained a carefree smile, oblivious to how subservient he appeared.
"It's like this, Sakura. Teacher Asuma…"
As Naruto explained, Gaara remained silent. Although he was bloodthirsty, he was not foolish. Leaving the village as a Jinchuriki was against the rules, and his identity was too sensitive. Leaving the village could easily be misconstrued as defection.
After listening, Uchiha Sasuke scoffed, "Naruto, you need to understand, even though Sarutobi Asuma is not listed as a rogue ninja, he is still considered extremely dangerous."
And more! Uchiha Sasuke sneered inwardly. He was well aware of the fate of the Sarutobi clan, as Lord Yoru had shown him the plan.
Although it was cruel, this was the life of a ninja! But he was shocked when he learned the original nature of the plan – it was the Uchiha Clan Massacre Plan.
So! How could he feel sympathy for the family of his enemy?
"Sasuke, how can you say that!" Naruto exclaimed, staring at Uchiha Sasuke as if seeing his teammate for the first time.
"We're teammates, Shikamaru, Choji, and Teacher Asuma are our teammates too."
However, before Naruto could finish speaking, Uchiha Sasuke impatiently waved his hand to interrupt.
"Naruto, you need to understand something. The grudges between the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Sarutobi clans and our Uchiha clan, and also! Sarutobi Asuma is not my teacher."
Sasuke's directly cold and rejecting tone filled Uzumaki Naruto with shock. "Sasuke, we are all from the same village, we should understand each other, how can you!"
Uchiha Sasuke sneered angrily, "I don't have the broad-mindedness of you, Uzumaki Naruto. You can even forgive the death of your parents."
"Sasuke! What do you mean!" At this moment, Uzumaki Naruto looked at Sasuke in shock.
But Sasuke was equally unyielding, coldly saying, "The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had the jutsu to seal the Nine-Tails, yet on the night of the Nine-Tails attack, he watched as the Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed themselves. Literally!"
After the Chunin Exam, many rumors came out, like how the Third Hokage had the Fourth Hokage's jutsu to seal the Nine-Tails, but on that night, he just watched the Fourth Hokage and his wife use this jutsu and die together.
As a result, the Fourth died in battle, and the Third came out of retirement to take back power.
"Sasuke, how can you say that!"
Naruto, rarely showing anger, and nearby Haruno Sakura also hurriedly shouted, "Naruto! Stop, stop it, don't fight!"
Just like that, Naruto grabbed Uchiha Sasuke's collar, and Sasuke looked at Naruto with increasing coldness, the tension between them palpable.
"Indeed, how can someone like you, who has never had parents, understand the feeling of having and then losing them? In your heart, the Third is a kind family member."
Uchiha Sasuke continued to speak coldly.
"Even! Your so-called comrades, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, joined forces with the Sarutobi clan to drive out our Uchiha clan and divide our resources. Why didn't you stand up then?"
"Now that something has happened, and Teacher Yoru generously let Asuma go, you actually want to bring him back, what are your intentions?"
"What do you want to do by bringing Sarutobi Asuma back? Have you thought about the consequences?"
An angry Uchiha Sasuke pushed Naruto away, "You idiot with a simple mind! What Sarutobi Asuma did! What the Sarutobi clan did, think about the consequences!"
"Since you're too dense to understand, then let me tell you what the consequences will be!"
Uchiha Sasuke, looking down at Naruto, who was sitting on the ground staring at him in anger, his eyes filled with disappointment, "Such an idiot, and yet I considered him a comrade, it's just ridiculous."
"I'll start with what Sarutobi Asuma did, he personally exterminated the Sarutobi clan. Regardless of the reasons, can such a person still be trusted? Can he be forgiven by others? Do you think Shikamaru and Choji just want to bring back their teacher?"
"I'm telling you, they want to ask Asuma in person, why he betrayed their clan, leading to their families suffering huge losses and countless relatives dying in the war."
"And what the Sarutobi clan has done! The Third plotted to kill the Fourth Kazekage, and now the Sand Ninja are part of our family. What do you mean by bringing back Asuma now? Do you want to plunge the village into internal strife? If Sarutobi Asuma and the Sand Ninja start a conflict, tell me! How are you going to solve it!"
Faced with the pressing Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto roared angrily, "Sasuke! I absolutely cannot forgive your selfish thoughts, just for your so-called possibilities, to make us give up our own comrades and teacher?"
"No matter what Teacher Asuma did, he is still our teacher, and the war is already over! I believe that if the Sand Ninja and us understand each other, we will all be one family."
Unconcerned with oil and salt, one's heart only seeks mutual understanding. Caught in a vortex of indifference to others' feelings, Naruto loudly proclaims.
Meanwhile, Gaara, as a bystander, remains silent, not uttering a word. He feels little for his father, the Fourth Kazekage, harboring more hatred than affection. However, his sister and brother, once they learn of this, might seek revenge.
"Sasuke, you're too selfish. I believe in Shikamaru and Choji," Naruto roars in anger, and in the next moment, his body turns into a puff of white smoke.
"Naruto!" Sakura exclaims in surprise, while Sasuke scoffs, "Idiot, using a shadow clone to ask for help for his so-called comrades. He doesn't even realize that Shikamaru is using him."
"Sasuke, Naruto must have gone to ask other comrades as well."
Sakura, being sensible, quickly deduces that Naruto must have sent other shadow clones to seek help from familiar comrades.
"Sasuke, let's intercept at the gates of Konoha. We can't let our comrades get dragged into this."
Sakura, who has a good head on her shoulders, understands that while Naruto can act recklessly due to his father being the Fourth Hokage, they cannot.
Getting involved would mean facing the wrath of the Sand ninja in the future.
"Hmph!" Sasuke snorts, his actions speaking louder than words.
But before leaving, Sasuke speaks to Gaara, "We'll intercept first. Go tell Teacher Yoru."
Sasuke, not yet consumed by endless hatred, makes a smart move, giving Gaara a task that could earn trust and favor.
In Konoha, Naruto, full of vigor, rashly seeks the help of familiar classmates, not considering the consequences.
Even Inuzuka Kiba turns pale upon hearing this, not wanting to get involved in such matters.
After all, Asuma Sarutobi's identity is too sensitive, already entangled in politics and issues with the Sand ninja.
Within the Land of Fire, shaded by green trees, four figures rapidly move through the forest. Naruto suddenly stiffens, his smile turning rigid.
This does not escape Shikamaru's notice, though he pretends to be unaware and continues running.
"Everyone, remember, Teacher Asuma's mood must be extremely unstable. Don't mention anything about the Sarutobi clan."
Nara Shikamaru is indeed intelligent, but he also has feelings, especially deep ones for Teacher Asuma.
Knowing the consequences, he still pursues the truth. What else do the clans of Ino-Shika-Cho have now?
During the Chunin Exams, Sand ninja rushed in, directly facing their clan territories. Then, a barrier was set, and elite Sand ninja began their attack within their lands.
Thus, their families are already filled with hatred towards the Sand ninja, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans don't care about this.
As for Asuma, Shikamaru is filled with complexity. He knows there's no return, but he wants to know the truth. With so many relatives lost, he seeks to understand everything.
It's also a time he acts selfishly.
In the original story, Nara Shikamaru seeking revenge for Asuma is also a selfish act. At that time, the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, considering the danger, explicitly forbade it. Even revenge needed planning.
Team 10 set out under the cover of night, which was essentially acting on their own. Tsunade, upon learning this, would have disagreed if not for Kakashi stepping in to join.
Naruto, in the end, couldn't convince anyone to join him.
In the office of the Hokage Building in Konoha.
Tsunade, Pakura, and Mei Terumi frowned as they looked at a group of Chunin who had come to report.
Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Sasuke Uchiha, among others.
"Lord Hokage, Mizukage, Kazekage, Team 10 has discovered the whereabouts of Sarutobi Asuma..."
As they listened to the report, Terumi Mei turned her head away, pretending not to hear, wanting no part in this troublesome matter.
Pakura and Tsunade exchanged glances, both feeling troubled by Asuma's sensitive identity.
"So, Team 10 consisting of Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Hi, and Uzumaki Naruto went, right?"
Tsunade crossed her arms, her rose-red nails prominent, her beautiful face stern as she awaited the group's report.
Then, Tsunade turned to Pakura and said in a deep voice, "According to the information, Sarutobi Asuma has been hiding within the Land of Fire since escaping Konoha, secretly in contact with a mysterious organization."
"This organization must be Akatsuki! The organization with the mysterious man who possesses both the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release."
Tsunade's words clearly outlined the dangerous nature of this mission. Pakura frowned upon hearing this, knowing well the internal details of this clan annihilation.
Sarutobi Asuma personally did these things to preserve some of the Sarutobi clan's bloodline. This time, apart from Konohamaru, a few families were also left behind.
"This mission might involve the mysterious person responsible for the Nine-Tails disaster, an existence of S-rank danger level."
After exchanging glances, Tsunade said solemnly, "I have decided to dispatch Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Yoru, Might Guy, Momochi Zabuza, Kurenai Yuhi, and Maki, six Jonin from the village, to bring back Uzumaki Naruto."
"Lord Hokage!"
At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke spoke, clearly wanting to join the mission. Seeing this, Tsunade rubbed her forehead and said, "This operation will be led by Kakashi. You all will follow Kakashi's orders."
"Yes!"
At this moment, the newly promoted Chunin showed firm smiles, perhaps their strong hearts not wanting to avoid confrontation.
Even if they face opponents from another dimension, they want to join in, preferring not to retreat as before.
Moreover, this time their classmates were involved, some wanting to rescue their own classmates.
Watching the departing group, Tsunade frowned, and Pakura said with a heavy voice, "The Akatsuki, huh!"
"Indeed, Asuma had mentioned before that Akatsuki had contacted him."
Tsunade nodded, and Terumi Mei's eyes flashed with killing intent when she thought of the mysterious masked man, "There might be a fierce battle in the future."
"But should we really let Sarutobi Asuma go?"
Just then, Uchiha Yoru appeared, looking at the three Kage with a casual smile, "He's just a pawn, and Sarutobi Asuma joining Akatsuki could even benefit the village's peace and stability."
The Sand Village of the Land of Wind had recently been incorporated into their territory. If there was someone the Sand Ninja hated the most, it would undoubtedly be Asuma.
But now that the Sarutobi clan was almost gone, with only a few members left and confined within the village, their hatred had to be suppressed.
At this time, Asuma, now a rogue ninja, became extremely important. The son of the Third Hokage, responsible for the death of the Fourth Kazekage and many others, had joined a terrorist organization.
A shift in hatred!
~~~
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