Filled with specially made coins, the Ninja Tool Pouch engraved with a special Sealing Technique formula on his wrist, draped in a windbreaker embroidered with the Uchiha Clan Crest, and grasping the Kusanagi Sword he'd swiped from Orochimaru, Sasuke set off on his journey to find Itachi.
Naturally, Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura, who was back visiting family and happened to be there, were traveling with him.
This was Team 7's long-awaited collective outing.
In recent years, Kakashi had been busy expanding his Chain Hot Pot Restaurant business. Although he hadn't neglected his training because of it, taking Genin out on missions, including his own, was something he hadn't done in a long time.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had a lot of opinions about this, but with the high tax revenue brought in by Kakashi's Chain Hot Pot Restaurant, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
Through Naruto, Kakashi had found a direction to move forward. His business and personal strength were also constantly improving, and he could be said to be riding high on success lately.
Naruto and Sasuke were also in good spirits. Among the group, the only one feeling depressed was Sakura.
After leaving Konoha for quite a distance, Team 7 continued to maintain their formation: Sasuke walking ahead alone with a serious expression, carrying his sword, while Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura followed behind.
Until Naruto spoke, breaking the silence, "Hey, Sasuke, do you even know where Itachi is?"
"No!" Sasuke turned his head and answered with righteous confidence.
???
The three behind him looked at him with question marks all over their faces. You don't even know where the target is, so what road are you leading us on?
Looking at your composed expression, we thought you knew.
Sasuke wasn't ashamed of this, but instead said with a very matter-of-fact tone, "It's simple. We can go to the nearest Exchange Shop, spend some money to inquire about Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts, and after finding his general area of activity, we can use Chakra Sensing for a carpet search to pinpoint his location."
These words fully demonstrated what it meant to be a wealthy and arrogant nouveau riche.
Then, he turned to Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, take me to the nearest Exchange Shop. You should know where that is, right?"
Kakashi's lips twitched. You don't even know where the Exchange Shop is, yet you're so calm and composed. He really didn't know how to respond.
Watching the interaction between the two, Naruto thought for a moment, but ultimately didn't say that he knew where Itachi was.
After all, revenge was Sasuke's own business, so he should let him struggle on his own. Some things can't be done for him, otherwise they wouldn't even be brothers anymore.
If Sasuke really couldn't find Itachi, then Naruto could help.
Thus, Team 7 ultimately stopped in Maple Leaf City, and Kakashi, the old driver who knew everything about the Ninja World, disguised himself and took Sasuke, who was also disguised, to the Exchange Shop to inquire about information.
As soon as the two left, Sakura, finding an opportunity, quickly came to Naruto.
The girl's expression was miserable, with tears in her eyes, "Naruto-kun, do you remember that before I went to learn from Lady Tsunade, I asked you to keep an eye on Sasuke-kun for me? I never thought... I never thought... that recently, there are more and more girls around Sasuke-kun!"
More than a year ago, Sakura had asked Naruto to keep an eye on Sasuke so that he wouldn't be taken advantage of by other girls.
Naruto had promised her at the time.
As a result, Sakura had recently gotten a few days off, a rare opportunity to return to Konoha to reunite with her family, and also a rare opportunity to spend more time with Sasuke. Then, she discovered that the number of girls surrounding Sasuke had increased exponentially.
Not only Ino, but also many cute Ninja Academy upperclassmen and lowerclassmen that she had seen but couldn't name.
Judging by their appearances, they all had a good relationship with Sasuke, at least not worse than her relationship with Sasuke.
Faced with Sakura's questioning, Naruto's expression was calm.
Not to mention that he had just casually agreed at the time, it couldn't even be considered a promise.
Sakura should have been able to hear it, but she was still self-deceptively placing her hopes on Naruto.
Moreover, Sakura's request was inherently unreasonable; even if purely based on closeness, he would help Sasuke, not Sakura.
He sat down at the table and gestured for Sakura to sit down as well so they could talk slowly.
"You should know that the Uchiha clan now only has Sasuke and Itachi, the two brothers, right?" Naruto said in a calm tone.
Hearing this, Sakura roughly understood what Naruto was going to say.
Sure enough, Naruto's next words confirmed what she had thought: "And soon after, the Uchiha clan will likely only have Sasuke left, and his goal is to revive the Uchiha clan, which you know, right?
And the most basic condition for reviving a clan is a thriving population. Sasuke himself has realized this, which is why he is actively trying to get in touch with girls and increase mutual affection."
Naruto glanced at Sakura's downcast expression and continued, "Sasuke is my friend, and Sakura, you are also my friend.
What I can do is not use violent means to help you stop Sasuke from contacting other girls, but to call you back to Konoha to date him when you are free, so that he doesn't completely lose your place in his heart before you have made your final decision."
Hearing this, Sakura's expression softened slightly. It could be considered that Naruto had done his best to this extent.
If Naruto was unwilling to help her, he could completely not bring her back to Konoha when he was free. Then, after a few years when she returned after completing her studies, it was estimated that Sasuke would already be married to some girl.
"As a friend, I can now offer you my advice on this matter, if you are willing to listen," Naruto added, looking at Sakura's complicated expression after a moment of silence.
"Please speak."
Sakura raised her head and looked at Naruto seriously.
At this moment, her heart was in chaos, and she didn't know what she was thinking at all. Naruto's words were like a life-saving straw to her.
"Actually, you have two choices now, and you have to ask your own heart to make a choice," Naruto said slowly.
"First, it is to keep your distance from Sasuke while you haven't fallen too deeply yet, so that no matter which girl he gets intimate with and marries in the future, it will have nothing to do with you, and you won't be hurt."
"Although it will be very uncomfortable at first, a long pain is ultimately worse than a short one, and time will change everything."
The moment she heard this choice, Sakura's heart instinctively resisted.
She had fallen in love with Sasuke from the first time she saw him as a child, and had loved him for so many years. This feeling had never changed, so how could she give up just like that!
"No matter what happens, I will not give up on Sasuke-kun!"
Before Naruto could say the second choice, Sakura opened her mouth anxiously, as if to strengthen her own thoughts.
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