Facing Reality

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This is an unedited chapter.

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Tsunade brought Tobirama over to another room, leaving Hinata lying on a bed since she had passed out.

"Great Uncle," Tsunade looked at Tobirama.

"Brat,"

"Did you have to force that young girl into such a situation?" Tobirama asked.

"You know why I did what I did back there…"

"Especially after the events of judgement day," Tsunade said.

"The Judgement day…" Tobirama recalled from what he had seen of Naruto's memories.

The judgement day was the most cruelest day in the history of the allied nations.

It was a biowarfare, something that even most experienced medical ninjas had failed to counter.

"But it's too early for the girl," Tobirama said.

"Sometimes, you have to play the card you don't want to…"

"This is the kind of risk medical ninjas take,"

"Even when it comes to Operating on people, every cut is life-threatening,"

"If people were to give up upon failing once, then there wouldn't have been any progress in this field at all," Tsunade explained.

"How will you explain this to the seventh?" Tobirama asked.

"Hmph, Naruto has been a Hokage for a long time,"

"He will definitely understand what we did today," Tsunade explained.

"You don't get it do you?" Tobirama asked.

"Hmm…?" Tsunade looked at Tobirama with a curious expression.

"Don't tell me you didn't recognize the boy who is outside right now," Tobirama said as he pointed to the door.

Tsunade stared at the door with a sense of foreboding that she had definitely missed out on something big.

—————————————

Hidden Leaf Training field…

Hah!

Hah!

Hah!

Sasuke panted heavily for breath as he stared at a tree that was charred from the trunk up…

(CRRRREEEEAAAAAKKKK....)

(BANG!)

The tree from the trunk up fell to the ground with more than half of it turning into black powder.

Sasuke looked at the steam of chakra that rose from his left hand.

("The Raikiri should most probably be complete by today evening…") Sasuke thought as he looked at the tree trunk that was destroyed.

"Not bad…" a voice interfered.

"Hmm…" Sasuke turned around to look at the person who spoke.

"Shikamaru, what are you doing here?" Sasuke asked with a smug look.

"Just wanted to see how well you are preparing," Shikamaru said as he got up from the tree, he was leaning on…

"The fourth ninja war is going to be on us young folk's shoulders in a few years," Shikamaru said.

"Hmph,"

"If you have the time to chat around you should go and train," Sasuke said with an arrogant look across his face.

"…"

"As troublesome as it is, I am already training at a good pace now,"

"Unlike you power types, I can only do so much training in a day," Shikamaru said.

"…" Sasuke stared at Shikamaru silently.

The wind blew between the two as the two contemplated the things that they had gone through and what waited in the future for the two,

"You wouldn't have walked this far unless you had something important to tell me," Sasuke said.

"Found out huh," Shikamaru scratched his head.

"Sasuke," Shikamaru called out.

"…" Sasuke stared at Shikamaru.

—————————

("It couldn't be…") Tsunade peeked at Ino chatting with Sai from the glass door of the room which she was in with Tobirama.

"It is him," Tobirama said from behind.

Tsunade's expression twisted.

"You are saying that boy is Sai from his younger days?" Tsunade asked.

"Indeed,"

"The kid has lost his brother and his emotions as well," Tobirama sighed.

"ch!" Tsunade gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly.

("What have I done…?") Tsunade thought.

"The Seventh considers his arrival in this time period precious,"

"He wished to save everyone,"

"Now that this has happened again, even I am not sure what his reaction would be…" Tobirama said.

Tsunade feelings were mixed, Tobirama, on the other hand, felt partly responsible as well.

"If it wasn't for me pushing Danzō into a corner,"

"This test wouldn't have happened…" Tobirama sighed.

Tsunade looked at Tobirama.

"Weren't we supposed to wait until Naruto had a chat with Uchiha Itachi?" Tsunade asked.

"That's only if Danzō was pushed to the extreme,"

"For now I have him under lock and key,"

"As long as we don't wrest away his only hope, Danzō wouldn't push himself to go on a rampage,"

"Besides, I have other ANBU teams investigating into Danzō's prior protocols in the cases where he ends in prison," Tobirama said.

"But, that would be impossible right,"

"After all, Danzō used the curse mark to have no information spill out from his subordinates in case they were captured," Tsunade said.

"I've already factored that in the equation,"

"Right now, the teams are on the lookout,"

"They are observing the situation silently,"

"As they say, 'Actions speak louder than words,'"

"So any slip-up on the ROOT's part is our gain," Tobirama said.

"I see…" Tsunade nodded.

Tobirama put on his ANBU mask and grabbed the door handle.

"I'll let the seventh know about what has happened here,"

"Since we are both guilty in this, it should be much easier on you to face him," Tobirama said.

"Mm!" Tsunade nodded.

…

Outside, in the corridors,

Ino and Sai were facing each other.

"What are they?" Sai asked.

Ino's eyes widened.

("I've never seen anyone be so clueless about what feelings are…") Ino thought.

"Listen,"

"Today might not be a good day,"

"But I think you should go ahead and take some rest,"

"Maybe after having a good nap you might become clear-headed,"

"After doing that, think about what those feelings of yours are," Ino said.

"…" Sai stared silently.

"Brat," Tobirama called out as he placed a hand on Sai's shoulders.

"Huh?" Sai looked over his shoulder to see Tobirama in ANBU outfit.

"Follow me," Tobirama said as he dragged Sai away.

"Huh," Ino's eyes followed Sai unconsciously, while Sai stared at Ino while being dragged away by Tobirama.

"Remember to take rest!" Ino shouted as Sai continued to be dragged.

"…" Sai stared at Ino silently.

However, before Tobirama and Sai left Ino's vision, Sai nodded back gently.

Ino was surprised.

"Ino," Ino felt a hand over her shoulder.

"Tsunade-sama," Ino called out.

"You need to take a rest as well," Tsunade said.

"Mm…" Ino slowly nodded after thinking back to what had happened in the Operation room.

"Is Hinata going to be okay?" Ino asked.

"Don't worry,"

"Leave Hinata to me," Tsunade smiled.

———————————————

Hidden Leaf Training Field No.3….

HYAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Lee charged around the field executing a huge variety of kicks and punches onto the person in front of him.

"Too slow…" Neji murmured with difficulty, yet he kept avoiding Lee's every punch and kick.

"Then how about this" a voice interfered.

"Tenten," Neji's byakugan extended to perceive Tenten's actions within its range.

Hah!

< Twin Raising Dragons! >

Two scrolls flew up into the air.

"Here, I come!" Tenten announced following which she jumped into the air appearing between the two ascending scrolls that coiled its way up like a coiling dragon.

(Poof!)

(Poof!)

A few weapons appeared around Tenten.

"Hya!" Tenten grunted as she sent two sickles flying towards Lee and Neji.

< Air Palm >

< Leaf Whirlwind >

Neji and Lee dodged the strikes completely.

However, Neji's eyes widened.

"Damn it!" Neji shouted as he started to spin around.

"Huh?" Lee was confused, but instantly understood Neji's actions.

< Kaiten! > Neji spun a protective Chakra barrier.

< First Gate > "Release!" Lee shouted following which he instantly teleported out of the spot he was in.

(BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!) Tenten's sickles had carried on a unique explosion tag made by tenet herself.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Neji asked.

"You told me you wanted a real battle experience,"

"Besides, I am only doing this for you two," Tenten complained.

"…" Neji stared silently.

(Whoosh!) Lee appeared beside Neji.

"Look," Lee pointed towards the entrance of the training field.

"Huh?" Neji turned back to see a person entering the field.

Sounds of footsteps echoed in the quiet atmosphere as the trio stared at the person entering the field.

"Uchiha Sasuke…" Neji stared at Sasuke.

"Neji," Sasuke called out.

"Sasu-" Lee called out only to freeze at the next set of words.

"Let's have a real match," Sasuke said.

"Wh…" Neji's eyes widened as he stared at Sasuke who was very determined.

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Elsewhere on a grassland….

(Whoosh!)

Two figures jumped past the meadows which transitioned into a forest path.

"How many god-damned hideouts are we going to go through?" Jiraiya asked.

"Hmph,"

"The way I see it, I should be the one sulking," Orochimaru smirked.

"Heh,"

"You're lucky that my student let you off," Jiraiya pointed with a proud expression.

"…" Orochimaru starred silently at the path in front of the duo.

"What is it, Orochimaru?" Jiraiya asked.

"It's been a long time…" A voice interfered.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru were stunned.

"Impossible…" Jiraiya starred at the man.

"Orochimaru-san, Jiraiya-sensei…"