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"Remember when you were releasing your green chakra to a full extent? It somehow affected your ability to perform one of your healing technique, which leads you to collapse," Tsunade explained firmly.
"So, then? What?" The pink-haired kunoichi urged her to go on talking.
The fifth Hokage looked at her directly and said carefully. "Sakura, it appears that all of your powers are... no longer exist."
The pink-haired kunoichi' some eyes widened in a trauma and began to glisten nervously at her words. She breathes out with a gasp of astonishment and stuttered. "Ho-how... it can't be?! No... It's not... It's not possible!" She bowed her head down as her tears started to fall down on the white sheet of the blanket was clutching on tightly.
"I'm sorry... But the good news is that you still have an amount of chakra left within you," Tsunade reminded gently.
"When... When will they return, granny?" Naruto asked concernedly and continued on to rant. "Because it's not fair that she would lose them all and all of her hard work is for nothing! I mean, don't you think it's a little too much for her to handle-"
"Hey, calm down!" Shikamaru scolded him with a slight punch on his shoulder.
"Look, I know this may be frightening to you, but we do not know when your powers will return. As long as you have your physical strength back, then there is nothing for you to worry about, alright?" The fifth Hokage noted with a war, smile and walked up to the door, saying. "I have to go. I have an upcoming meeting in a few minutes. After that, I will be discussing a few things with you and the boys."
With that said, she closed the door and left quietly, whereas Shizune was preparing breakfast for Sakura.
"Here, you need to eat, so you could regenerate your energy," she said, bringing up the tray beside her.
"Thank you," the pink-haired kunoichi muttered with a curt nod as she started to chew a Veggie-Ham sandwich and drank water slowly.
"Wow. It's like you haven't eaten for months. I'm glad you're back," the blonde-haired ninja said chuckling and asked blankly. "So, are you feeling okay now?"
"Hmm. I'm fine," Sakura answered softly when she looked away from them. "I'm still shocked and..."
"Disappointed with the outcome? Yeah," Shikamaru guessed correctly and continued on. "Yesterday, it didn't turn out what we expected it to be. Although, we already saw it coming."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked curiously.
"I'll explain it to you about everything on the island," the jounin leader cleared his throat and sat on the stool while he was talking across from the bed.
Naruto and Shizune, on the other hand, was listening intently at the details he was saying, much to Sakura's dismay.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya was finishing up a few drinks he ordered and stepped out of the bar building, saying cheerily. "Alrighty, see you again! Thanks for the good service!" He then glanced around with a smile and saw Kakashi leaning against the wall, reading one of the latest Make-Out tactics that he purchased. "Ah, good morning. What brings you here?"
The copy ninja closed the book with hand and answered. "Nothing. Just want to know how much you've been training with Naruto these past weeks. I haven't been with one of my students, except Sakura, Lee and the others."
"You miss him, eh? Well, I can tell that the kid has been very energetic and eager to master some of the jutsu that I know. One thing that he lacks is patience, but you know. It's alright since he is still learning how to control himself from lashing out. And by lashing out, I mean, unleashing the power of the nine-tailed fox... Aside from that, I heard that one of your strongest kunoichis went under the examination over the loss of powers," the white-haired legendary sanin said, remembering the memory.
"Yes, Sakura. She really had to experience that worst encounter. Luckily, Naruto and the rest of the squad were there to support her. But how is that possible that right after she collapsed, her prowess suddenly vanished for no reason?" Kakashi questioned in speculation.
"Aren't you aware by the fact that someone else was following them while they were on their way to the island of the Green Fantasia? It would be none other than the Akatsuki themselves," Jiraiya pointed out sternly while gazing off the distance as other people were passing by them.
"Well, Guy told me about the incident there. I'm just wondering how could a kunoichi lose their own powers while releasing an exact amount of chakra inside her body? Sakura's been training for these past two years in her life and all she ever wanted was to become stronger like Tsunade. She has goals and dreams for the future," Kakashi said quietly.
"Yeah. I know. It's very tough to go through all of those hardships at such a young age, especially Naruto. Those two surprisingly remind me of Tsunade and I back in the olden days," Jiraiya said smiling.
"No wonder why they've been raised a lot like from you both. As for Sasuke and Orochimaru, there's no doubt that they do not have similarities. They are almost like one and the same," Kakashi noted at that.
The white-haired legendary sanin sighed tiredly and said. "What can I say? It's astounding. They both left their home village and seeking revenge and power. You know, Team 7 wouldn't be the same if there's no fourth member."
The copy ninja asked curiously in deep thought. "If that's the case, are you suggesting that we should have a new member to join us? Tsunade hasn't made her decision yet."
"Duh. I know that. Sheesh. That woman gets on my nerves, sometimes. I even tried helping her to send messages to the other villages, but she refused since it's not my job to do so," Jiraiya said in exasperation and continued on. "Anyway, about Sakura, I'm certain that she will be fine."
Kakashi nodded in agreement silently as he pushed himself forward to stand up. "Well, I have to go meet up with the rest of the jounins. I'll talk to you later after Naruto's training."
"Okay. See you then! Oh, by the way, I forgot to give you this," Jiraiya said as he pulled out one of the light pink scrolls and tossed it forward to him, which Kakashi caught in his hand.
"What's this?" He asked in puzzlement.
"I'll tell you about it the next day. Toodles!" The white-haired legendary sanin waved in a gesture and started to walking away from the area and disappeared in a big puff of smoke.
Kakashi watched him drift apart and sighed lazily while looking down at the scroll upon his hand. Then, he shoved it inside his pouch and flashes out of the sight.
Later on in the afternoon at 2:00 pm, Sakura and the boys were standing in front of the fifth Hokage's desk after being summoned in her office.
"Awww, come on! Granny Tsunade, please give us a good one! That mission is too boring!" Naruto whined out loud while his both hands were gripping his head.
"Ugh! Stop complaining, will you?! She hasn't said anything, so hear her out!" Sakura nudged her elbow onto his right shoulder.
"Tsk. Hehe. Yeah, Naruto. You got to relax, man," Shikamaru chuckled as he shook his head and placed his left hand inside his pocket.
"You may have changed your height, but you haven't changed the level of your maturity," Tsunade clenched her teeth in annoyance when she folded her hands firmly together in front of her face, which includes a small vein popping in the corner of her forehead.
"Hehehe..." Shizune closed her eyes and laughed nervously while holding onto her pet pig.
"Anyway, what's the mission?" Shikamaru asked the fifth Hokage.
"Right. Well, recently, there's a news about a poisonous gas circling around the sand village and many citizens and shinobis have been infected by the toxic polluting the air. Now, I'll be assigning you three to head there and investigate further on that issue. The fifth Kazekage informed me about it while you were all away on the vacation trip," Tsunade described.
"Poison gas? Whoa, wait a minute. Isn't that strange that it also happened to Kiba's dog, Akamaru during our fight with the Akatsuki?" Shikamaru asked for clarification. "It mostly rings a bell, don't you think?"
"Yes. That is why you three must do everything you can to figure out the root of the problem. I'm also not surprised that they will be attacking two places on the same day unless they have some sort of backup," the fifth Hokage thought out logically.
"Hold on! Does it mean they're after me or they are just messing around just to scare us?" Naruto asked anxiously, gesturing his hands out.
"Possibly, but again, Naruto... We do not know what they are planning, so if I were you, I wouldn't underestimate them. They can outsmart you in any kind of situations," Tsunade ordered straightforwardly.
"Yeah, Naruto. Don't be reckless and I understand your frustration. But please..." Sakura touched him lightly with her left hand on his shoulder for reassurance. "You don't want to lose everything you have in you, do you?"
The blonde-haired ninja stared at her deeply into her eyes sadly and sighed, saying with a smile. "Okay... Fine. I won't hasten myself. But still, I just want to do better and I know I cannot do it alone. I'm sorry if you don't have your powers. I promise you, it will."
The pink-haired kunoichi paused for a moment while looking at him and gave him a curt nod. "Right."
Tsunade spoke out gently with encouragement. "Then, we are all set. You guys know what to do, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am," they replied formally in unison.
"Good, you can now leave," the fifth Hokage slammed her hands down and leaned back in her chair to relax.
"Okay, see you, Lady Tsunade," Sakura waved farewell as she walked towards the door.
"Thanks, granny," Naruto grinned and followed along with his best friend on the way out.
"Oh, by the way, is there something you want to give me, Lady Tsunade?" Shikamaru asked blankly.
"Yes. Shizune," the fifth Hokage commanded near her right side.
Her assistant walked up to the jounin leader and hands him the light pink scroll.
"What is it, though?" Shikamaru asked curiously, examining it.
"Jiraiya will be explaining it to you and Kakashi about these. They are very risky once you will be using it later on," Tsunade said smiling and continued on. "Trust me."
Shikamaru looked at the scroll awkwardly and said. "Alrighty, I don't know, but I'll do what you instructed."
"Excellent. That is why I chose you to join Kakashi's team for a temporary emergency. Remember, be careful on the way to the village because I know someone there couldn't wait to see you," Tsunade smirked secretively at him.
Shizune giggled and tries not to laugh along with her boss.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, blushed in embarrassment and huffed. "Ugh, jeez. Don't even bring that up! I'm leaving. This is going to be such a drag."
He then quickly walks away with his cheeks tinged in pink and left the office as soon as possible.
"Wait, Tsunade. Are you sure that those kids will succeed and come back home safely?" Shizune asked worriedly.
"Hey, I've known them for quite decades now. Of course, they are strong and I know for a fact that Sakura will gain something much, much better," Tsunade smiled at the thought of her student. "As her mentor, I believe in her. She has a potential and is capable of doing everything she can to protect her loved ones."
Shizune nodded in agreement and beamed happily at that. Both of them know that the pink-haired kunoichi and the group will not fail the mission this time.
TO BE CONTINUED...