After Hatake Satoru made his request, he left the Hokage's office.
Tsunade looked after him thoughtfully. Since he specifically asked for it, she had no reason to refuse.
Besides, Hatake Satoru would normally take three Anbu with him when he went to Sunagakure. With Tenzo's strength, one person should be enough.
Surveillance and protection are the usual reasons for assigning Anbu.
The somewhat tricky thing is that Tenzo is the only Wood Release ninja in the village.
Sending him feels a bit difficult to decide on.
Just do as he says.
After thinking it over and not finding any major problems, Tsunade issued the order.
Naruto was lying in the hospital room, still wrapped in several ropes.
Most of the injuries he got from Sasuke had been self-healed by the power of the tailed beast. Other than weakness from overusing his chakra, he was fine.
He needed to rest and was forbidden to leave.
Kakashi returned near noon. As soon as he got back, he learned from Shikamaru that Hatake Satoru had been there before.
Kakashi went to Naruto's room. But when he touched the door, he heard Hatake Satoru's voice inside.
"No food until 3 p.m. tomorrow, because your insides were damaged? But you seem to be doing okay."
Hatake Satoru didn't have x-ray vision. He could only see that Naruto had basically no external injuries.
Hatake Satoru was holding a medical record. There were lots of snacks and fruit on the table next to the bed.
"Ah!!! If that's the case, Satoru, please don't eat in front of me, believe it!!"
Originally, Naruto was feeling down because he didn't bring Sasuke back.
But Hatake Satoru, acting annoying, was eating a lot next to him while he was fasting.
He turned Naruto's sad feelings into wanting to scream.
It seems like they have a pretty good relationship.
Kakashi sighed, then knocked on the door and called Hatake Satoru outside.
"I asked Shikamaru and the others. You were the one who took Naruto to find Sasuke, right?"
"Well… do you know where Sasuke is?"
After all, Hatake Satoru doing this might mean he knows where Sasuke really went.
But asking directly like that feels a bit awkward.
He wasn't suspecting that Hatake Satoru intentionally let Sasuke go. But with Hatake Satoru's strength and personality…
…if he really wanted to keep Sasuke, Sasuke couldn't have left.
And now, the big problem is that no one knows where Sasuke actually went.
Shikamaru and the others fought the Sound Four. But from what they said, the Sound Four were also looking for Sasuke.
They don't know if Sasuke was really taken by Orochimaru or kidnapped by someone unknown.
Neither is good, but at least they can figure out Sasuke's situation later.
"Yeah, I know~."
"But you guys will find out sooner or later, so I don't want to tell you~!"
Hatake Satoru gave Kakashi a playful smile, then touched his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, it might not be good news for you, but Sasuke shouldn't die."
"..."
Kakashi almost choked with frustration, and couldn't think of anything to say.
He felt it was a bit awkward to ask Hatake Satoru this. Whether Hatake Satoru knew or not, he wouldn't complain to Hatake Satoru about letting Sasuke leave.
But that assumes his brother would hide his feelings a bit!
At least make Kakashi think he might have something he couldn't say.
But nothing, he just admitted it so directly!?
He openly showed a look that said, "Yes, I know everything, but I won't tell you."
"You… I don't mind asking you, but what if Tsunade or others find out you intentionally let Sasuke go?"
"What will Naruto think?"
Kakashi was frustrated for a while, then pinched his nose and pulled his mask up, cheering himself up.
Although it's not good for them, since Hatake Satoru knows the inside story and said that, Sasuke's safety is basically guaranteed.
"Thinking too much might make you age faster. I'm not at the point where I need you to worry about me~."
"Stop worrying about this. Otherwise, you'll be running around all the time and die from overwork."
Hatake Satoru cheerfully spread his hands.
Naruto had already said when he brought him back that he didn't drag Sasuke back himself. He'll just be down for a while.
As for Tsunade or the higher-ups knowing, whether they want to investigate is one thing.
On the other hand, just now, Hatake Satoru was asked to go to Sunagakure as a diplomat to maintain the alliance.
They wouldn't let one person's actions affect the village's diplomacy, right?
"Eh? Yeah…"
"I don't like how you always know everything, always like this."
"But whatever, I'm going back."
Kakashi had been working non-stop for three or four days. If he didn't go back to rest, he might actually die from overwork.
Dying from overwork is understandable, but what's 997?
...
In a cold, damp cave, several blurry images gradually appeared.
"Everyone's here."
Although the Projector Technique meeting doesn't require people to show up in person, these weird S-rank rogue ninja will also avoid meetings.
It was rare that everyone was here today, because they received a very interesting message internally.
"Hey, Itachi, I heard you brought your brother? Is that true?"
Deidara didn't like Sharingan eye techniques in the first place. One Uchiha Itachi was annoying enough. Now the number of Sharingan eyes is +2.
"Your brother must want to kill you even more now that you brought him here."
A mocking laugh came from inside the Akasuna no Sasori doll.
"Does your brother want to join the religion of Jashin Cult…?"
"..."
Itachi, who only showed his Sharingan eyes, remained silent. He was used to being quiet. He couldn't explain things to these strange people.
In the end, these people don't care about Sasuke or Itachi. They just want to watch the gossip.
After all, they're looking forward to Sasuke and Itachi doing a brotherly fight-to-the-death drama about the Uchiha clan's destruction.
"Bringing your brother back is better than him staying with Orochimaru."
The only remaining Sharingan eyes are now with Akatsuki. Even if Sasuke and Itachi's relationship is complicated, it's a win for them.
Besides, Sasuke can't deal with Itachi at all right now. He's not a potential threat.
"Control him. I don't want to see you guys fighting unnecessarily."
Pain's eyes went to Uchiha Itachi, who was standing to the side.
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