Hokage's Office
"Is that so..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his short beard as he listened to Sakura's individual mission report.
Tazuna had misreported the mission's rank, and he originally planned to have him dealt with casually. However, since Sakura had taken the initiative and preemptively booked the mission, he had let it go.
Now, Sakura informing Gato from the Land of Waves to handle Tazuna seemed reasonable.
"Alright, I understand."
"By the way, has the Executioner Blade from Zabuza been returned yet?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was more concerned with the situation involving Zabuza's sword. He wasn't particularly bothered by Tazuna's fate, as he knew Sakura's capabilities well enough that such matters could be settled with a word.
"It's here. I'm planning to contact the Inuzuka Clan through Sasuke to remold the Executioner Blade," Sakura said, rummaging through her ninja tool pouch. She retrieved a scroll and placed it on Sarutobi's desk.
With a quick seal, the blade, as large as a door, appeared on the desk.
The Executioner Blade was one of the Seven Ninja Swords, known for its remarkable ability to regenerate by absorbing iron from human blood.
However, in Sakura's eyes, aside from its perpetual state of repair, it was almost useless—just one of the weakest among the Seven Ninja Swords.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the blade, nodded, and sealed it back into the scroll.
"Sakura, here is the list for the upcoming Chunin Exams. Take a look."
Sarutobi smiled as he placed a folder in front of her.
Sakura gave him an exasperated look.
"Old man, you're the Hokage, aren't you? Why do I have to do everything? Maybe you should just retire and let me take over."
Despite the grumbling, Sakura leaned back and opened the file.
"Hmm?"
Sakura furrowed her brow as she scanned through the document.
"What did you find?" Sarutobi asked, preparing to light his pipe.
"This old sofa has been here for ages. It's uncomfortable. You should get a new one tomorrow," Sakura said, reclining on the couch, her legs crossed as she lazily flipped through the papers.
Sarutobi couldn't help but twitch at the sight of Sakura making herself at home in the Hokage's office. The couch was indeed an old relic from the Second Hokage's time.
"Ha ha ha, alright," Sarutobi chuckled, unconcerned.
For years, most people he interacted with were respectful and formal—except for Sakura, who was more like an old friend, never trying to please him like others did.
It reminded him of Jiraiya and Tsunade from their youth...
As Sarutobi drifted into memories of his younger days, Sakura's eyes quickly scanned the document.
The first notable names were from Iwa and Suna.
Aside from Suna's Kazekage, Rasa, and his three children, the rest were not much to note.
The Iwa ninja roster intrigued Sakura, especially the small team of three from Iwa.
Two were well-known: Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi—members of the future Tsuchikage Onoki's shadow guard. These two were already formidable and had accompanied Onoki to the Five Kage Summit.
They were both 14, with strength on par with Chunin, if not Special Jonin.
Especially Kurotsuchi, whose strength was well known in the Hidden Stone Village.
The Iwa Ninja Team
"Ah-choo!"
Kurotsuchi, a young woman with short black hair and a red ninja outfit, sneezed.
"What's wrong?"
"I feel like someone is talking bad about me behind my back," she muttered.
Beside her, a good-natured boy with a stocky build, Akatsuchi, scratched his head.
"Maybe you caught a cold?"
"Don't be stupid, Akatsuchi," Kurotsuchi said, playfully hitting his shoulder.
"Relax, we'll be in Konoha soon. They have the best medical ninjas in the world."
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about me," she replied, flashing a smile.
"Alright, enough goofing off. Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, remember your mission."
The large man leading the group gave his daughter a stern look.
"Don't worry, Dad," Kurotsuchi grinned. "I'll beat up all those Genin in no time!"
Her carefree attitude and natural strength made her seem like the dominant force in Iwa, especially with her Kekkei Genkai: Lava Release. She had recently mastered her grandfather's Light-Weight Rock Technique, making her even more dangerous.
Back at Konoha
"Chunin Exams?"
Naruto looked at Kakashi in surprise.
"That's right," Kakashi replied, his eye crinkling into a crescent smile. "This is a joint Chunin Exam between the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Konoha—something unprecedented."
"Whoa!"
Naruto's excitement was clear, his eyes lighting up.
"At the final stage, not just the Hokage, but also the Kazekage of Suna and Tsuchikage of Iwa will make an appearance."
Kakashi dropped this bombshell, causing Naruto's enthusiasm to explode.
Sakura, standing nearby, could only roll her eyes at Kakashi's antics.
Naruto was thrilled, and even Sasuke clenched his fists, eager to test his strength against some of the best ninjas from other villages.
"Seems like you're not that interested, Sakura?" Kakashi teased.
Naruto and Sasuke looked at her expectantly.
"Oh, wow," Sakura said sarcastically, "how exciting..."