#112 - Chapter 112: Hokage Tsunade's Awakening and Reorganization of Team 7
Tsunade shook her head, dismissing the ridiculous guess.
How old was Naruto Uzumaki?
12 years old!
How much scheming could a child who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy have?
Besides, what benefit would his death bring to Naruto?
Tsunade couldn't understand the stakes involved, and she had read the reports that Naruto single-handedly dealt with the Sand Village's Jinchuriki during the incident!
The power of a Tailed Beast was no less than that of Orochimaru, so it was impossible to say that Naruto was slacking off!
“However, Naruto's next mission requires him to go to the Land of Snow for two years, which is not a good thing for Konoha.”
Tsunade was hesitant about whether to keep Naruto behind and send another team to the Land of Snow.
But the Land of Snow's Daimyo specifically requested Naruto to go, and replacing him might cause dissatisfaction.
Although the Land of Snow wasn't a major power, it was still worth befriending!
Once their Daimyo was willing to cooperate with Konoha, the people of the Land of Snow would prioritize hiring Konoha's ninjas, guaranteeing Konoha an increase of several million, or even tens of millions, in income!
Considering the current prices in the Land of Fire, that amount of money was definitely not small.
Of course, that money was only worth about a third of Asuma.
No one knew why someone would offer a reward of thirty million for a Jonin.
After hesitating for a long time, Tsunade ultimately decided not to change the mission's personnel.
She was the Hokage of Konoha!
From the day she became the Fifth Hokage, protecting Konoha and every one of its people was her duty!
Naruto was just a Chunin, and Konoha hadn't reached the point where it couldn't survive without him!
Tsunade was unwilling to kidnap Naruto to protect the village.
Although he was a Konoha ninja and had the obligation to protect the village, that wasn't a reason for her to imprison him in the village!
No matter what, Naruto had the freedom to live his own life and the freedom to accept missions!
Before the sky fell, she, the Fifth Hokage, would hold it up!
It would only be Naruto's turn after she died!
......
On the other side,
Naruto returned home with Karin, and after they both washed up, they sat down together to eat dinner.
Dinner was made by Karin.
She said she had secretly learned it in Root, but looking at the thing in front of him that was neither rice nor porridge, Naruto doubted whether Karin had really learned it.
Taking a bite, it was a little too sweet, probably because too much sugar had been added.
But at least it was still edible!
“I'm going to the Land of Snow on a mission in a few days, and I probably won't be back for two years.”
Naruto ate his meal and suddenly placed the key in front of Karin, “Whether you want to stay here or go somewhere else is up to you!”
Karin looked at the key but didn't take it.
The reason she stayed in Konoha wasn't because Konoha was so great, but because Naruto was in Konoha!
But if Naruto wasn't in Konoha, what was the point of her staying in Konoha?
After hesitating for a moment, she asked Naruto, “Can I go to the Land of Snow with you?”
“You're not a Konoha ninja, so you can't go on missions with me. But…”
Naruto looked at Karin, “If you want to go, I can help you solve these problems.”
No matter what, Karin was also a Genin of the Uzumaki clan, and she should be relatively loyal to him. Taking someone like that to the Land of Snow could help him run errands and deal with some troublesome matters.
Hearing that she could go with him, Karin immediately said happily, “I want to go!”
“Okay, after you finish eating, wash the dishes.”
“Yes!”
The next day,
Naruto, having received a message from Kakashi, went to the Hokage's office to find Tsunade.
“You wanted to see me?” Naruto asked.
“Yeah.”
Tsunade said without looking up, “Kakashi has left Team Seven. From now on, Team Seven will be led by you. Choose another member to go to the Land of Snow with you.”
Leading a team alone was what Naruto wanted. He had already planned to leave Team Seven, but he didn't expect Kakashi to beat him to it!
This saved him a lot of trouble.
But finding another member… Naruto thought of Karin!
If he didn't have Karin, he might have chosen from Hinata and the others, but Tsunade and those clans wouldn't necessarily let them go!
“I have someone in mind, but she wasn't a ninja from Konoha before.”
Naruto's words made Tsunade stop what she was doing.
She looked at Naruto with a serious expression, “A missing-nin from another village?”
“I don't think so. She was originally a ninja from Kusagakure, but she stayed in Konoha after the Chunin Exams and hasn't left,” Naruto said.
“A ninja from Kusagakure?”
Tsunade couldn't imagine that such a small village had anyone that Naruto would value.
And someone from another village… a missing-nin!
Although Kusagakure hadn't issued a wanted notice, a ninja who betrayed their village was a missing-nin!
After hesitating for a moment, Tsunade said, “Bring her over and let me see her. If there are no problems, I can register her as a Konoha ninja!”
No matter what, this person was recommended by Naruto, and she still had to give him a chance.
Naruto nodded and was about to bring Karin over, but he suddenly thought of something and stopped.
“I have a request,” Naruto said.
“A request?” Tsunade looked at Naruto with a puzzled expression.
“Yeah, I want to apply to become a Jonin!” Naruto said seriously.
To apply to become a Jonin in Konoha, one usually needed their parents or teachers to apply on their behalf, but Naruto didn't want to follow this troublesome rule!
He thought Tsunade would give him this face!
“Okay.”
Tsunade approved Naruto's application without any hesitation.
With Naruto's strength, he could have been promoted to Jonin long ago.
It was just that his qualifications and the number of missions he had completed weren't enough!
But Konoha needed Naruto, and Tsunade naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him with such a small request!
Besides, she had promised Naruto when he came back that she would give him some special treatment. She wasn't a person who went back on her word!
Naruto had helped her see Nawaki and Dan again, and had also helped her realize their dreams… This was a great enough favor for Tsunade!
“Wait until you bring that Genin from Kusagakure over and we'll take care of it together!”
“Okay.”
Naruto nodded, with a slight smile on his face.
He knew that this was Tsunade's special consideration for him. If the Third Hokage was still around, he would never have been able to be promoted to the Jonin rank so hastily!
Even Karin's matter would have been directly rejected!
After all, accepting a ninja from another country was a provocation to that country and would be detrimental to Konoha's peace and stability!
Tsunade didn't have so many concerns.
It was just Kusagakure, she would destroy it if it dared to show its face!
Moreover, this person was someone Naruto wanted, so she would let Naruto handle it if Kusagakure came looking for trouble.
A moment later,
Naruto returned to the Hokage's office with Karin, and he was also carrying a jar of wine!
“I'm treating you to a drink,” Naruto said with a smile, throwing the wine to Tsunade.
Tsunade caught it and took a sip.
Good wine!
Expensive wine!
She knew where this wine was brewed and how much it was worth with just one sip!
“You kid is really willing to spend money, are you bribing me?” Tsunade teased.
