"Ok, now that everyone's here…" Tsunade said, getting everyone's attention. Only now, as all shinobi were lining up in front of the Hokage's desk to receive their orders, did people begin noticing the presence of 'Yamato'. Most surprised of all were Neji and Kakashi, for different reasons.
"We have a situation that I feel only the people in this room are equipped to deal with, of those currently present in the village." She began, pulling up mission scrolls that she had written during this period of waiting. "These are S-rank missions, two of them, that have relatively similar parameters."
"We have been informed of the movement of a highly dangerous nukenin organization that would become extremely detrimental to the village, and to the Elemental Nations as a whole, if ignored." Passing the mission scrolls to Kakashi and Guy, she continued. "Safe sources have informed us that two pairs of S-Class nukenin are moving to apprehend the jinchuuriki of the One-Tail, Gaara, from Suna and the jinchuuriki of Taki."
A gasp was heard from the younger crowd, minus Naruto, who already knew. Kakashi noticed that but remained quiet, waiting for the briefing to finish before posing his own questions.
"We'll send two teams immediately, and we're going to have two other teams ready for backup, in case it's needed tomorrow morning after arranging the roster and, hopefully, receiving back some teams that should be arriving from missions tomorrow." She breathed in, knowing her next statement would shock people all around. Well, except Yamato. "Kakashi, you and Sakura will travel to Suna and reconvene with Chunin Nara Shikamaru and Tokubetsu Jonin Aoba Yamashiro and Suna's forces to accomplish this mission."
"Tsunade-sama…!" Sakura began to protest but was silenced by the woman herself, who continued to explain the situation.
"Meanwhile, Team Guy, Jonin Yamato, and Genin Uzumaki Naruto will be heading towards Takigakure to try and assist Takigakure in keeping their jinchuuriki away from Akatsuki's hands at any cost. We CANNOT afford to let this mercenary bunch get their hands on such a powerful resource, especially the Seven-Tails, if my information is right."
"Tsunade-sama, why…? I thought Naruto would come with us?" Sakura tried again when the Hokage finished.
"Sakura, Naruto, I understand you're eager to come back together as a team, but I feel that with the situation the way it is, it's safer to place Naruto with Yamato, for several reasons that I'm not going to disclose. And the team that'll be heading to Takigakure is the one that'll need more assistance. Takigakure is NOT allied with Konoha and is rather wary of us or any other big village."
"I'm not sure if this mission to Taki won't become a three-sided battle at one point, so it's important to send a couple more heavy hitters and capable shinobi with them. Besides, we already have our own people stationed in Suna, which is perfect."
The Jonin in the room were already aware of such implications, which was why none of them were that surprised, but with the explanation, the chunin seemed to finally understand, though Sakura didn't feel good going out on a mission without Naruto with her back. It was like a bad omen.
"Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan, it's going to be fine." Naruto, who was standing by her side, gave her a little pat on her lower back, comfortingly. "We'll team up after we get back."
"You're right, I just… wanted for us to be together again…" She whispered, feeling she could show a little vulnerability when she was close to Naruto after so long.
"Naruto is right, Sakura. He just came back and isn't going to be leaving our sight for long. Soon enough, we'll be together again." Kakashi added his own two cents, placing his hand on her shoulder from the other side.
"Okay, no time for dilly-dallying. Meet at the front gate in ten minutes; you are dismissed! Yamato, stay a minute." Tsunade called, clapping for attention.
"Hai!"
And then they all went their way to get ready. None of them were rookies anymore, long past their inexperienced years. Even Naruto, who was still officially a genin, didn't need anyone to instruct him on what to do in such missions. He'd done plenty of travels and even missions in Jiraiya's place before, taking some of the old man's load to increase his field experience.
Nearly ten minutes later, Naruto showed up at the meeting point in front of the gates, the last one to arrive. Having come back to the village just the day before, one would think he had everything ready for travel still, but he still had to resupply many of his things from his hidden stock in his apartment. Nonetheless, he wasn't late.
"Ready to go, Naruto-kun?" Guy confirmed, Kakashi and Yamato standing by his side.
"Yep, let's go; I'm ready." He fixed his bag over his shoulder, nodding.
"Then good luck to you, Kakashi. Let's see who finishes their mission first! HAHAHA" Guy-sensei said and, immediately after, ran ahead of everyone, closely followed by Lee and an exasperated Neji and Tenten.
Naruto just shook his head, amused. "Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei. You be careful out there. Say hi to Gaara and Shikamaru for me. See you later!" Following Yamato, who had not spoken a word yet, he shot past the towering gates right to his mission.
"Akatsuki, I'm finally coming for you…"
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