Hokage Tower.
Inside the Hokage Office.
Tsunade met the returning Naruto Uzumaki and Jiraiya.
"Did something happen?"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, her expression seemed a bit downcast.
"No, it's good news."
Tsunade glanced at the intelligence on her desk, sighed deeply, and said, "The information from the Root agents, Orochimaru was killed by Uchiha Sasuke..."
"!!!"
Everyone present widened their eyes!
Because back during the Konoha Crush incident, Orochimaru conspired to murder the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, and until now, he still planted a seed of fear in the hearts of the Konoha Ninja.
"Orochimaru... is dead?"
Jiraiya's expression became complicated, and he sighed softly and said, "Back then when Orochimaru took Uchiha Sasuke away, I was thinking that guy wanted to seize that kid's body. I didn't expect him to die at the hands of that kid..."
"This is at least a good thing."
Tsunade clasped her hands and pressed her elbows on the table, "Now, let's first check Naruto's training results. I'm planning to reassign Naruto and Haruno Sakura back to Team 7, and specifically prepared an opponent for you guys..."
"Of course."
After Tsunade finished speaking, she added, "However, Hokage Assistant Akihara Kagura, after hearing my idea, wants to insert a Root ninja into Team 7 to form a complete unit..."
"I refuse!"
Naruto Uzumaki waved his fist to reject the proposal!
Because Team 7 always belongs to him, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura, he doesn't want anyone else to join and replace Sasuke!
"..."
Haruno Sakura looked at Tsunade with worry in her eyes.
"I also rejected his proposal."
Tsunade fully understood Naruto Uzumaki's thoughts.
Because her disciple Haruno Sakura thought the same way.
Of course.
If the personnel proposed by Akihara Kagura was Karin, Tsunade wouldn't necessarily oppose it, but since Akihara Kagura just proposed an ordinary ninja, Tsunade immediately rejected the idea. She worried that Akihara Kagura wanted to take control of the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki.
However...
Akihara Kagura did not choose to give up.
Akihara Kagura expressed concern about the potential unpredictable events with the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki and hoped to dispatch a Root ninja to monitor Naruto Uzumaki. Tsunade had no way to refuse because this was approved at Konoha Village's Five Kage Conference.
This Five Kage Conference...
Specifically refers to Konoha Village's five Hokage.
These years, during the time Jiraiya took Naruto Uzumaki for training, it seemed deliberately to let Naruto Uzumaki liberate the Nine-tails' Chakra, and many dangers appeared in between.
No matter what, although Tsunade refused Akihara Kagura's request to insert personnel into Team 7, she couldn't refuse Akihara Kagura's decision to send someone to monitor Naruto Uzumaki to prevent unexpected events.
"Forget it."
Tsunade glanced at Shizune beside her and said in a soft voice, "Let me first test your results! I specially picked an opponent for you. In order to wait for Naruto to return, I specifically didn't let him go on a mission..."
"Who?"
Naruto Uzumaki was still a bit curious.
"Ahem... He'll come in the afternoon."
Tsunade gave a few light coughs and then said, "The opponent I prepared for you is Kakashi, but he was pulled away by the Hokage Assistant to first help Root test another person..."
That's necessary.
Because Akihara Kagura wanted to send a Root ninja to monitor Team 7, and Akihara Kagura and Team 7's leader Kakashi Hatake are old friends, definitely needing to get Kakashi Hatake's approval first.
So...
Kakashi Hatake accepted Akihara Kagura's invitation to first check the strength of that Root ninja and see just how strong they were and what kind of person they were.
Root's exclusive training ground.
When Kakashi Hatake arrived here, he was still a bit resistant to Akihara Kagura's approach. Seeing Akihara Kagura, he planned to complain a bit: "Hey, you, there's no need to monitor us..."
"This is also for your safety."
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakashi Hatake, spoke quietly, "Over the years, during training with Naruto and Jiraiya-sensei, a lot of trouble was stirred up, it's never wrong to be a bit cautious... I originally wanted to insert someone into Team 7, but it was rejected by Lady Tsunade, yet to prevent unexpected events for Naruto, let's just send someone to observe!"
"Your approach is becoming more like Danzo..."
Kakashi Hatake recalled the previous generation's Root Leader.
"Let's first see the person I'm picking..."
Akihara Kagura patted Kakashi Hatake's shoulder, speaking very amiably: "If you find their strength acceptable, I'll have them monitor Team 7, but if you feel their ability isn't up to par, I'll replace them with someone else..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake shook his head, remaining silent.
This Instructor Jonin of Team 7 had decided that no matter who Akihara Kagura sent out, he wouldn't agree to Akihara Kagura's proposal.
Of course.
Unless Akihara Kagura sent out Karin.
"Come out."
Akihara Kagura clapped his hands, looking towards the back of a big tree in the training ground: "Let your old superior test your strength to decide if you are qualified for the next task I assigned to you..."
"..."
A hooded figure walked out from behind the tree.
The figure gently removed their hood, revealing a face familiar to Kakashi Hatake: "Kakashi-sensei, long time no see..."