After registering with the Chunin sunbathing at the gate, the group entered the village.
The first order of business upon returning was naturally to submit their mission report. However, Guy had already taken Lee off in pursuit of Youth, and they could be racing through the sewers for all anyone knew, so the tedious task of debriefing fell to Kakashi alone.
"We're really sorry!" "Kakashi-sensei, we've caused you trouble."
Amidst Tenten and Neji's earnest apologies, Kakashi wiped his sweat and assured them it was fine.
Team 7 walked toward the Hokage Tower. The streets bustled with pedestrians, lined with shop windows adorned with elegant decorations and craftsmen calling out their wares in simple, honest voices… a scene of peace and prosperity.
Naruto rubbed his head with an aggrieved expression, occasionally stealing glances at his pink-haired, superhumanly strong teammate, hesitating to speak.
"You have something to say, Naruto?" Sakura smiled sweetly as she adjusted her gloves.
"Haha, no way, absolutely not."
Kakashi in the middle was holding a stack of report documents in his hand. Feeling the dangerous aura emanating from the female of their group, he looked ahead and wisely pretended not to see it.
Before entering the village gates, they had all been lost in thought, which was understandable, since Logan's matter was the same as Sasuke's, as they had been in their hearts for a long time.
They walked in silence for a while, tacitly agreeing not to mention it again.
"Cough." Kakashi thought of something and said, "By the way, everyone took quite a beating on this mission. Sakura, I'll handle the mission report to Hokage-sama. You take Naruto to the hospital first."
Both teams had faced hardships, with Team 7 suffering more severe injuries. While they had done some basic first aid, Konoha's medical facilities were renowned across the nations, so proper examinations and treatment were a must.
Hearing this, Naruto touched the bandages on his right arm, "I'm fine, really. If anything, Kakashi-sensei, you should go to the hospital."
"Me…"
"Naruto is right." Sakura said with a seriou face, "Guy-sensei said you overused your Sharingan."
During the fight with Deidara, Kakashi had collapsed after using his Mangekyo and had to be carried back by Guy for half the journey.
"Alright, alright..."
Treatment was necessary, but so was protocol. Kakashi assured them he'd head to the hospital as soon as he finished his duties, and only then did Sakura agree to leave with Naruto.
After a moment's hesitation, she even helped support Naruto as they walked.
"Hey, no need to go that far, Sakura-chan." The nervous Naruto quickly forgot about the punch that had sent him flying. Though he protested at first, he soon basked in the rare attention, grinning like an idiot. After all, opportunities for Sakura to treat him gently were few and far between.
Sakura huffed and said, "When we found you, you were lying on the ground, completely unable to move."
Naruto scratched his cheek and muttered, "Hattori-sensei is quite strong."
"..."
Silence fell between them. After a few seconds, Sakura tugged at Naruto's bandaged arm several times and asked, "How does it feel now?"
Naruto lifted his hand and flexed it, "It's okay."
Then, he raised it higher, letting the slightly worn bandages catch the sunlight filtering through the trees, "Next time, I'll win."
Sakura nodded, "Yeah."
…
When they arrived at the hospital, Sakura first tended to Naruto's injuries. Despite the enhanced healing he got from having Kyubi inside his body, Naruto's wounds still needed cleaning and medicine.
As the direct disciple of Tsunade, Sakura naturally received preferential treatment in the hospital, where Medical Ninjutsu was commonplace. She had tried to refuse such special privileges a few times, but after seeing no change, she gave up.
It wasn't necessarily bureaucracy, as some people were just genuinely kind.
After settling the restless Naruto in his hospital room, Kakashi arrived, and another round of busywork followed, with examinations and treatment plans. Only when everything was properly arranged did Sakura finally turn to her own injuries.
Among the team, her wounds were the lightest, and now that things had calmed down, she could handle them herself.
Having studied Medical Ninjutsu for so long, even earning praise from Tsunade, Sakura was more than capable of treating herself. Finding an unoccupied examination room, she got to work.
Hospitals were never quiet places. The clamor of patients, nurses, and doctors filled the air. Even at night, the sudden rush of an emergency could make the place busier than ever. The walls here had likely heard more prayers, and more sincere ones, than any church.
Amidst the organized chaos, Sakura tidied up the alcohol swabs on her tray. Then, in a perfectly ordinary moment, the door opened, and she caught sight of a familiar figure.
"Senpai!"
"Mai, why are you here?"
Sakura was surprised at first, and then smiled. The soft expression on her face was completely different from when she treated Naruto.
The newcomer was a petite, adorable girl with beautiful eyes and a pure smile. The moment she stepped into the messy examination room, it was as if a refreshing breeze had swept through, instantly lifting the mood.
Mai had been spending another ordinary, somewhat boring day in Konoha. She no missions, no desire to go shopping, and as for playing with her dear brother, Kazuya? That would be the stupidest choice. After all, brothers were one of the most troublesome creatures in the world.
So, with nothing better to do, Mai decided to head to the hospital to practice Medical Ninjutsu and maybe torment some poor rabbits or mice.
"I came to practice medical ninjutsu, but the head nurse mentioned you were injured, so I thought I'd check on you." Mai said with a gentle smile.
Then, seeing the instruments in Sakura's hands, she approached with concern, "Senpai, is this from your mission? It doesn't look too serious..."
"Hahaha..." Sakura was amused and waved her hands, "Yeah, it's nothing now."
Mai was another one of Tsunade's disciples, making her Sakura's junior. Since they had spent a lot of time together, they naturally got along well.
With her high charm, pleasant voice, and sweet words, how could anyone not like her? It wasn't like she was the complete opposite...
A well-mannered girl from humble beginnings, Mai had always been the beloved 'model child' whether in her fishing village, on her journey away from home, or later in Konoha.
She even had talent as a Ninja, though she occasionally spouted mischievous remarks out of nowhere… And no one knew where she picked that up. But when it came from someone as adorable as Mai, it could only be described as Gap Moe.
"We just got back from a mission. Just some minor injuries."
"Mhm, mhm."
As a Medical-nin, Mai had her own way of assessing wounds, so she wasn't entirely joking.
After talking with Mai for a while, Sakura's spirits were lifted considerably.
As they chatted, the topic shifted to the mission itself. Sakura recalled the dangerous opponents and heart-pounding moments, then carefully selected parts to share with Mai while keeping confidential details to herself.
However, this only piqued Mai's curiosity further, 'An S-Rank mission? I was bored out of my mind right now!'
With a few soft, pleading words, Sakura couldn't resist. After all, Mai was Tsunade's disciple just like her, and she should have the clearance. So, indulging her, Sakura gave a rough outline.
Sakura actually wanted to brag a little too about her battle with Sasori.
But Mai barely paid attention to the intense 'action scenes'. Instead, her expression gradually dimmed when she heard a certain name mentioned.