The familiar gates of Konoha, sturdy and reassuring, came into view after his sixteen-day absence. The journey back had been swift, unburdened by the need for stealth or further conflict. A sense of quiet satisfaction settled within Sasuke as he passed through the checkpoint, the Chunin identification tag on his flak jacket a tangible reminder of his progress.
His first priority was to deliver his mission report. The Hokage Tower loomed ahead, a symbol of Konoha's enduring strength. He made his way through the bustling village, nodding to familiar faces, a subtle acknowledgment of the peace that had settled over Konoha long since the Konoha Crush incident.
He stood before the imposing doors of the Hokage's office and gave a respectful knock. "Enter," Tsunade's voice, firm and authoritative, echoed from within.
Sasuke slid the door open and stepped inside. Tsunade sat behind her large desk, a stack of paperwork before her. She looked up, her sharp gaze meeting his. He presented the scroll containing his mission report.
Tsunade took the scroll, her eyes scanning the contents with practiced speed. A few moments passed before she set it down, her expression unreadable. "The extermination of a bandit group… a C-rank mission," she stated, her tone neutral. Then, a hint of her characteristic bluntness crept in.
"This mission should have taken approximately ten days, Sasuke. You returned after sixteen. You certainly took your sweet time on this simple task." There was a slight arch in her eyebrow, a silent question hanging in the air.
Sasuke offered a respectful bow. "There were unforeseen circumstances that required additional time, Hokage-sama," he replied, keeping his explanation concise and avoiding any mention of Raiga or the Kiba blades.
"And this is the B-rank Earth type jutsu that i borrow from the leader of bandits after completing mission.", said Sasuke while passing the scroll.
When was about to take his leave, a thought struck him. He turned back to Tsunade, a slightly concerned look on his face. He gestured towards his neck, tilting his head to show the faint markings that remained. "Hokage-sama," he began, "I've noticed that my… curse mark… seems to be fading. It no longer activates as it once did." He remembered the subtle shift after the System had dealt with Orochimaru's influence, granting him full control, which had now seemingly led to its gradual disappearance.
Tsunade's gaze sharpened as she focused on his neck. She leaned forward, her medical expertise kicking in. She observed the markings, noting the significantly lighter shade compared to the dark, ominous black it used to be. After a moment of contemplation, a small nod escaped her lips. "Yes, I do see it," she confirmed. After a brief pause, she added, her tone surprisingly matter-of-fact, "It's a good thing, Sasuke. That mark was a dangerous and volatile power source even without Orochimaru's soul remnant in it. Its disappearance means good thing so don't worry."
Sasuke, who hadn't been particularly attached to the curse mark despite its power, simply nodded in understanding. "I see. Thank you, Hokage-sama." He offered another respectful bow and turned to leave the office.
As he walked through the corridors of the Hokage Tower, a brief internal monologue played out. 'Konoha feels…completely stable,' he observed. The rebuilding efforts were complete, the atmosphere was positive, and the village seemed to have truly moved past the trauma of Orochimaru's attack.
Elsewhere, in the windswept lands of Sunagakure, the situation was far more precarious. The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Gaara's father, had fallen victim to Orochimaru's treachery, leaving the Hidden Sand Village without a Leader. The village elders, particularly Chiyo and Ebizo were struggling to maintain order and navigate the complex political landscape. They had approached Konoha many times, their plea for a formal alliance met with Tsunade's pragmatic scrutiny and continues refusal.
After some time Tsunade finally agreed, an agreement had been reached, a fragile bond formed out of mutual necessity. Now, Sunagakure's focus had shifted to nurturing their young Jinchuriki, Gaara, grooming him to eventually take on the mantle of the Godaime Kazekage, hoping to secure their future.
Stepping out of the Hokage Tower and into the bright afternoon sunlight, Sasuke's attention was immediately drawn to two familiar figures. Sakura and Ino were standing near the entrance to the Konoha Hospital, their medical ninjutsu duties for the day seemingly completed.
They were engrossed in conversation, their laughter echoing softly in the air, a clear indication that their earlier rivalry had indeed softened into a genuine friendship.
A warm smile touched Sasuke's lips as he approached them. "Well, look at this," he said, his voice light and friendly. "Did you two finally patch things up and become friends again?"
Sakura and Ino both turned at the sound of his voice, their initial smiles widening at the sight of him. However, a faint blush crept onto both their cheeks at his direct question.
"Of course, we did, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura replied brightly, nudging Ino playfully with her elbow.
"Yeah, forehead," Ino chimed in, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. "Unlike some people, we can actually resolve our differences." She shot a teasing glance at Sasuke, but this time it was laced with affection.
Sasuke chuckled, enjoying their playful banter. "Glad to hear it. It's much better seeing you two getting along." He paused for a moment, his gaze softening as he looked at them both.
"We missed you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said softly, her green eyes meeting his with a sincerity that made his chest feel warm.
"Yeah, you were gone for ages!" Ino added, stepping a little closer. "What took you so long on a simple bandit mission?" Her curiosity was evident, but there was also a hint of concern in her voice.
Sasuke offered a vague smile. "Things were a bit more complicated than initially anticipated," he replied, deliberately keeping his answer ambiguous.
A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment, the unspoken feelings hanging in the air. Then, Ino, ever the more direct of the two, tilted her head and gave Sasuke a playful look. "So, now that you're back, maybe you can finally settle this once and for all. Who do you think has better hair?" She winked, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.
Sakura gasped dramatically. "Ino-pig! That's not the point!" She turned to Sasuke, her expression earnest. "We were just talking about… well, about how much we both value your friendship, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke found himself genuinely enjoying their attention, a stark contrast to the isolation he had often felt in the Uchiha Compound. He appreciated their open affection, the way they bickered over him yet remained steadfast friends. He decided to play along, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
"Hmm, that's a tough one," he said, pretending to consider Ino's question seriously. "Ino's hair is certainly… striking." Ino preened, a triumphant smirk on her face. "But Sakura's has a certain… elegance." Sakura's eyes widened slightly, a hopeful blush returning to her cheeks.
"See, forehead? Even Sasuke-kun—" Ino began, but Sakura cut her off with a playful shove.
"Oh, shut up, Ino-pig!" Sakura retorted, though her tone was lighthearted. She turned back to Sasuke, her gaze softer now. "We were actually on our way to get some dango. Would you like to join us, Sasuke-kun?"
Before Sasuke could answer, Ino looped her arm through his. "Of course, he would! Come on, Sasuke! My treat!" She began to pull him in the direction of the village dango shop, Sakura laughing and following close behind.
Sasuke allowed himself to be led along, a genuine warmth spreading through him. He glanced at the two girls beside him, their smiles bright and their affection evident. He still wasn't sure where his feelings truly lay, the complexities of romance still somewhat foreign to him. But in this moment, surrounded by their genuine care and playful rivalry. For now, he would simply enjoy the pleasant company and the sweet taste of dango under the Konoha sky.