Sakura Haruno, under Killer Bee's predatory gaze, pulled a small scroll from her ninja tool pouch. Right in front of him, she sealed the Raikage's corpse into it.
"Here—three days from now, at noon. Right here."
She waved the scroll at Killer Bee.
"Fine. I hope you'll keep your word when the time comes."
Dodai spoke in a low voice as he looked at Sakura.
Then he turned back toward the Eight-Tails before him and sighed.
"Bee, release your Tailed Beast Transformation."
Killer Bee clenched his teeth tightly, staring at the Konoha group not far away. Then he looked at "Dodai" beside him once more before silently reverting from that towering, colossal form to his human shape.
"We're leaving."
After giving "Dodai" one last glance, Sakura turned and walked away.
If this "Dodai" were to survive, Kumogakure might recover its strength in less than twenty years.
She had to find an opportunity to kill him.
…
Konoha Camp
"Sakura!"
Ino saw Sakura and the others approaching from afar and was about to rush over—but someone beat her to it.
"Sakura!"
A red blur shot past her, the gust it created whipping her hair wildly.
Eh?
No way!
Why does this scene feel so familiar!?
Damn it!
Naruto wasn't even here, and now someone else was stealing Sakura from her!
Gritting her teeth, Ino charged after them in frustration.
Sakura only saw a red blur crash into her. On instinct, she opened her arms—just in time to catch Karin as she slammed into her chest.
"Well, well, you two are really close, huh~~~"
Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes at the sight before her.
This ruthless pink-haired girl actually had someone so clingy with her?
Was this intentional on the pink-haired one's part? Or an accident?
After witnessing Sakura use the Raikage's corpse as a bargaining chip, Mei no longer believed this seemingly harmless girl to be any sort of innocent.
If anything, Kakashi standing beside her was far more intriguing~~
In more ways than one.
Thousands of Konoha shinobi surrounded Sakura and her group. Their gazes were a mix of restraint and excitement—an emotional tension betraying the storm in their hearts.
Many among them were wounded, wrapped in bloodstained white bandages, leaning on crutches and supported by medics as they arrived to greet the returning heroes.
Jiraiya looked at the familiar scene and couldn't help but be reminded of Konoha's victory in the past.
"Everyone... we've won."
Just seven words—but they caused a surge of emotion to erupt in that moment.
The war had lasted barely two or three months, but no one could love a battlefield that felt like a meat grinder.
Many had sacrificed comrades, brothers—had themselves been gravely wounded by this war.
They cried tears of joy. Once again, they had protected Konoha—protected the Land of Fire.
But for even more people, cheers erupted—the joy of victory echoed through the skies above the Konoha camp. Even the bitter wind and snow no longer seemed so cold.
In the crowd, Sasuke stood watching Sakura beside Jiraiya, his dark eyes holding no room for anyone else.
He wanted to go up and ask if she was hurt, but now clearly wasn't the right moment.
Shikamaru stood next to Sasuke and couldn't help but glance at him.
Sasuke's gaze was so intense that even someone uninvolved like him could feel it.
He sighed inwardly. Talented people often had an unconscious charisma that made others want to be close to them.
But man… this situation is too troublesome. Hopefully, Sakura won't set her sights on him.
He just wanted to live quietly as a regular shinobi.
Urgent Report!
Hokage Tower – Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the intelligence report from the front lines, and his aged face bloomed into a delighted smile.
Good!
Excellent!
Shortly after Sakura arrived on the front lines with Karin and Ino, she dismantled Kumogakure's guerrilla tactics—and in the decisive battle, Sakura herself took down the Raikage!
That little sapling of Konoha had now grown into one of its core branches!
"Someone!"
"Send out the order—total victory at the Frost Country front!"
"Three days of celebration throughout the village!"
"Dispatch negotiators to the Frost Country at once!"
Hiruzen barked out orders without hesitation.
Just then, an elderly man slowly pushed open the office door—and happened to hear Hiruzen's command.
Hiruzen's smile immediately faded when he saw who it was.
"Danzo. What are you doing here?"
His gaze settled on Shimura Danzo, and the joy on his face instantly turned calm and guarded.
Danzo's earlier blunders had led to heavy casualties on the River Country front. That debt wouldn't be settled by a mere suspension.
Once the dust settled, rewards and punishments would be fairly meted out.
"Hiruzen,"
Danzo's once-confident expression had vanished, replaced by something far more unreadable and ominous.
"I wanted to—"
"No."
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