Chapter 547: Attitude Problem

Sand Ninja Village, five minutes after the explosion.

A pungent smell of gunpowder smoke permeated the air. A large number of buildings on the edge of the Sand Ninja Village collapsed, and the surrounding circular mountain walls were full of cracks.

"Help... help me."

"Someone, my leg."

A giant rock trembled and was pushed aside with a boom.

"Temari, are you okay?"

Kankuro extended chakra threads from his ten fingers; he was carrying out post-battle rescue work.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Temari coughed dryly repeatedly. When she raised her head to look around, her first thought was: where is this? Is this really the Sand Ninja Village?

Several charred corpses were scattered near Temari, and the ruined walls around her were all stimulating her nerves. She seemed to suddenly think of something and grabbed Kankuro's arm.

"Where is Gaara?"

Hearing Temari's question, Kankuro lowered his head, his teeth clicking together.

"Lord Kazekage was... was captured by the thieves of Akatsuki."

A female Sand Ninja whose lower body had been blasted away gasped with difficulty. Her blood-covered hand reached toward Temari. Temari walked up quickly and grabbed the female Sand Ninja's hand.

"Must... rescue... Lord Kazekage..."

As she spoke, this female Sand Ninja lost her breath, her arm dropping weakly. This was Temari's close friend, her best friend.

"Ah!!"

Temari shouted toward the sky, tears sliding down her cheeks. A long time later, her emotions calmed down.

"Kankuro."

"What?"

Kankuro seemed to notice that Temari was a bit off.

"Find a way to ask Konoha for reinforcements. Any request they make can be satisfied. The thieves of Akatsuki must pay the price."

"Hmm, Master Baki has already asked for help. With the peace treaty, Konoha won't sit idly by."

A light of hatred also emerged in Kankuro's eyes. That figure holding a long blade in the night, standing in the high sky, had already been imprinted in his mind. The moon behind the other party seemed to have been dyed blood-red, dyed red by the blood of the Sand Ninjas.

Konoha Village, inside the Hokage office building.

Two hours after the Sand Ninja Village asked for help, the Fifth Hokage Tsunade learned of this news.

"Shizune, did the Sand Ninja Village provide any other information?"

Tsunade wore loose green clothing, but her ample bosom couldn't be hidden. Although she was no longer young, her appearance showed no signs of aging, looking like a mature woman in her twenties or thirties.

"Lord Tsunade, this is the specific information on the three people who attacked the Sand Ninja Village."

Hokage secretary Shizune handed over three files.

"This wouldn't be a trap, would it?"

Tsunade had participated in the Second Shinobi World War, and her impression of the Sand Ninja Village wasn't very good.

"These three guys..."

A white-haired man sitting opposite Tsunade spoke; it was Jiraiya, who had just returned to Konoha not long ago.

"What's wrong, Jiraiya?"

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with suspicion.

"I fought these three before."

"What!"

Tsunade sat up straight and picked up the three files on the desk to examine them carefully.

At this time, there were others in the Hokage office: a blond youth, a pink-haired female ninja, and a white-haired masked ninja.

The three were: the plot protagonist Uzumaki Naruto, medical ninja Haruno Sakura, and finally Kakashi, known as the Copy Ninja.

None of the three spoke, just watching quietly.

Naruto at this time was a bit different from his youth. Although he was still a bit impulsive when encountering things, he wouldn't make a fuss. After three years of training with Jiraiya, he was obviously more mature.

"Sand Ninja Village missing-nin Sasori, Rock Ninja Village missing-nin Deidara, and also... the ninja Bai Ye who doesn't use ninjutsu? Is this guy a candidate member of Akatsuki?"

Tsunade tossed aside Su Xiao's file and began to carefully examine the files of Sasori and Deidara. These were all famous missing-nin.

The information the Sand Ninja Village sent to Konoha only mentioned the attack and the Kazekage being captured; specific information wasn't introduced because it was too shameful.

Jiraiya picked up Su Xiao's file on the table.

"Tsunade, this guy is not some candidate member."

Tsunade raised her head to look at Jiraiya. Although a ninja who uses a 'ninja blade' isn't weak, ninjutsu and taijutsu are the mainstream combat methods for ninjas.

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, unbuttoned his clothes, and revealed the wound still wrapped in bandages.

Unwrapping the bandage, a terrifying wound over half a meter long and deep to the bone appeared. This wound was ferocious, and there were faint bloodstains on it.

"This is what that guy left me. If I hadn't dodged in time, my heart would have been slashed open."

Seeing the wound on Jiraiya's chest, Tsunade's brows furrowed. Green light flickered on her hand, and she pressed one hand onto Jiraiya's chest.

"This kind of wound..."

Haruno Sakura on the side was horrified after seeing the shocking wound on Jiraiya. She was a medical ninja and knew how serious this kind of wound was. Jiraiya not dying only meant his vitality was tenacious.

"The ribs are broken too, why didn't you tell me earlier."

Tsunade's expression was a bit displeased.

"It's already mostly recovered. You've been too busy since becoming Hokage, so I didn't want to trouble you."

Jiraiya gave a bright laugh and scratched his head.

"Idiot."

Tsunade cursed lowly, her hand movements not stopping. A long time later, Jiraiya's complexion was a bit more ruddy, and the blade wound had recovered somewhat.

"Tsunade, how do you plan to handle this matter?"

Jiraiya was hesitating whether to go support the Sand Ninja Village himself; he had other important matters to attend to.

Seeming to see Jiraiya's thoughts, Tsunade whispered to Jiraiya: "How is the investigation into that previous matter going?"

"There are already some clues. The lair of the Akatsuki organization is very likely in the Rain Ninja Village. Of course, this is just my inference."

"Rain Ninja Village?"

"Yes."

Tsunade's expression was thoughtful. Directly dispatching troops to the Rain Ninja Village was unlikely; that would cause diplomatic conflicts.

"This mission..."

"No."

Tsunade interrupted Jiraiya's words.

"Continue investigating Akatsuki. As long as the Akatsuki organization exists for one day, there is a possibility of attacking Konoha. I always have a feeling that this matter in the Sand Ninja Village is just the beginning, and our support is just a gesture; the distance is too far."

Jiraiya nodded. Tsunade and he thought the same. Even if they supported the Sand Ninja Village, it wouldn't necessarily lead to combat; this was an attitude problem.

"Understood."

Jiraiya got up and left. Although supporting the Sand Ninja Village was important, he had more important things to do. The Sand Ninja Village being an ally was true, but that was just an ally; it wasn't as important as their own affairs.

"Support must go, but..."

Tsunade's expression was difficult. Currently, most Jonin squads in the village were out on missions, and those who hadn't left had to guard Konoha. After all, the neighboring Sand Ninja Village had just been attacked, and Konoha had to strengthen its guard, not to mention that many mysterious forces had appeared out of thin air in the Land of Fire recently.

"Granny Tsunade."

Naruto spoke. A hashtag seemed to bulge on Tsunade's forehead. That gaze seemed to be saying: 'If you dare call me Granny again, I'll hang you up and whip you.'

Women care very much about age, and the Hokage is no exception.

"What is it?"

Tsunade's tone wasn't very good. Naruto gave a bright laugh, seeming to know he had said the wrong thing.

"Let our Team 7 go."

Naruto hadn't been back in Konoha long, having been out training for three years, and was just preparing to show off his skills.

"This..."

Tsunade hesitated. She had heard Jiraiya say before that the Akatsuki organization seemed to be plotting against Tailed Beasts. Judging from the fact that the One-Tail Jinchuriki had been kidnapped, this news had been confirmed.

A problem was placed before her eyes. Now there was no one available in the village, many Jonin squads were out and hadn't returned, and Team 7 seemed to be the best choice.

Tsunade knocked on the desk, making a bang.

"Fine, you go as the advance force to support. Rush to the Sand Ninja Village now."

"Yes."

Kakashi nodded and left the Hokage office with Naruto and Sakura.

"Lord Tsunade, is this really no problem?"

Shizune seemed a bit worried.

"What is no problem?"

Tsunade looked at Shizune with suspicion, a smile on her face.

"It's letting Naruto go to support."

Hearing Shizune's words, Tsunade shook her head.

"It takes three days to rush from Konoha to the Sand Ninja Village. Even if Kakashi's squad rushes without sleep or rest, it will take about two days. Sending people to the Sand Ninja Village is just an attitude. After capturing the Jinchuriki, the Akatsuki organization won't be arrogant enough to stay near the Land of Wind." ===== CHAPTER 548 =====