While the other four great nations were exhausted from dealing with the supply cuts of their respective bulk commodities, internal adjustments within the Land of Fire began one after another.
With the capital destroyed, Konoha remained the only fully functional political organization in the Land of Fire.
After obtaining Tsunade's Hokage order, Sakura, besides leading the Anbu to intercept commercial activities of other nations within their borders, did a second thing… organizing personnel to gradually take over the capital's previous functions of taxation, public security, diplomacy, administration, justice, education, etc., for the entire nation.
Personnel and institutional structures were fully integrated with Konoha's six departments.
Later, ordinary people from various regions were introduced to participate in governance, allowing the chaotic Land of Fire to gradually form a new pattern centered around Konoha!
Ninjas, with their unreasonable power of Ninjutsu invested in production, causing the already resource-rich Land of Fire to erupt with immense production capacity. The outline of material abundance began to appear.
Then, she made the two old-timers in the Political Department work overtime until they were practically peeing blood, building a new administrative system for the ninjas. The organization and order of the entire Land of Fire slowly recovered.
Time passed in the Land of Fire's rapid construction, until a bombshell piece of news spread throughout the Ninja World.
"You really called it?"
In the office, Tsunade looked at the intel Konoha's spies in other villages had sent back, raising her head in surprise.
Just as various villages were also struggling with inflation, incidents of Jinchuriki being captured broke out one after another.
"Normal. The Akatsuki was already after the Tailed Beasts' power. Even if we did nothing, they'd take advantage of the chaos." Sakura, lying on the sofa, took a cushion as a pillow, comfortably snuggling against it.
Regarding Akatsuki, she had done only one thing over the past month: officially listing a certain Uchiha Ninja with a spiral-patterned mask as a Missing-Nin in Konoha's name, also revealing the abilities of his remaining Mangekyo Sharingan.
Then, as she predicted, the Akatsuki erupted into conflict, ultimately suppressed by Nagato, the leader of the militant faction, with absolute force.
Feeling someone targeting Akatsuki and the Land of Rain, Nagato became anxious. His actions in collecting Tailed Beasts were no longer as meticulously planned as before, noticeably more brutal.
Yet, this unplanned approach surprisingly achieved repeated successes. From the Three-Tails to the Six-Tails, Iwagakure and Kirigakure couldn't react before their Tailed Beasts were taken.
"But this way, the Akatsuki already possesses seven Tailed Beasts!" Sitting at the Hokage's desk signing administrative orders, worry appeared in Tsunade's eyes.
"Yeah, the Akatsuki must be guarded against. So..."
Sakura sat up, returning the order Tsunade had issued earlier. "I'd like to ask for some leave. I want to leave the village to train at Shikkotsu Forest!"
"I won't approve it. If you're not managing the Anbu, won't my workload skyrocket?" Tsunade rejected without hesitation, her voice resolute.
Finally having a disciple capable of taking on significant responsibilities, sharing part of her duties...
Now if the disciple left, finding someone absolutely trustworthy and powerful enough to handle the Anbu's work would be impossible. It would ultimately fall back on her.
"Haven't we already established the Konoha Affairs Department? Your daily administrative tasks are now just guiding the direction of major issues, right?"
Sakura helplessly held her forehead. "Besides, isn't Shizune-nee still in the village to help you? Don't be stubborn, Tsunade-nee!"
After a long, reluctant delay, Tsunade finally let out a sigh. "Sigh... fine, go ahead."
As a fellow contractor of Shikkotsu Forest and Sakura's master, she also hoped to see her disciple advance further on her foundation, truly learning Sage Mode from Katsuyu.
"Hehe, thanks, Tsunade-nee!"
Sakura stepped forward to hug her, winked at Shizune beside her, then pushed the door open and left.
Exiting the Hokage Tower, she saw Naruto approaching with Jiraiya.
The blond boy, upon seeing the girl's emerald-green eyes, instinctively hid behind Jiraiya.
"Yo, Jiraiya-sensei, and Naruto!" Sakura, meeting them face-to-face, raised a hand in greeting.
"Sakura, hmm?" Jiraiya, seeing her fully equipped, stroked his chin. "What's up? Another mission outside the village?"
"No. I plan to go to Shikkotsu Forest!" Sakura formed a hand seal right in front of Jiraiya.
Seeing the hand seal and hearing 'Shikkotsu Forest', Jiraiya immediately understood what Sakura intended to do next.
"What a coincidence! I was planning to take this kid to Mount Myoboku!"
Jiraiya reached back, pulling Naruto out from behind him.
"Hi, what a coincidence, Sakura-chan." Naruto offered a sheepish smile, his gaze still evasive.
It seemed this unlucky kid was still blaming himself for the incident in the Land of Fire's capital. For a whole month, he'd been trying to avoid Sakura while walking in the village.
"Alright, the capital incident wasn't your fault or your responsibility. All the blame is on me, so don't blame yourself."
Sakura smiled, raising a hand to ruffle Naruto's somewhat prickly blond hair.
"That thing you did... well done." Jiraiya glanced around, secretly giving Sakura a thumbs-up.
Sakura glanced sideways at him, wiggling her eyebrows teasingly, 'I didn't expect you to be that kind of teacher, Jiraiya-sensei.'
"Ahem, let's not talk about that. I need to take him to get Tsunade's approval for leaving the village, or she'll be off duty soon." Jiraiya cleared his throat, raising a fist to his mouth.
"Alright then. Wishing you both success in your training." Sakura waved at the two, turning to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, Naruto took a few steps forward and shouted, "Sakura-chan, I'll train hard! I'll make that power protect you and the village!"
Sakura didn't turn back, just raised her hand and gave Naruto a thumbs-up before disappearing into the crowd.
Evening. Bearing her mother's concerned instructions, Sakura packed her clothes and other belongings.
In the backyard of the Haruno Residence, she used the Summoning Technique to call forth Katsuyu's clone.
"Ah, Sakura-chan, it's been so long since you summoned me!" The giant slug, as tall as a person, wriggled its waist and complained to Sakura the moment it emerged from the smoke.
"Alright, it's just because there's been too much village business recently, so I'm too busy to summon you." Sakura raised a hand, gently pressing down on the mischievous Katsuyu. If you didn't give Katsuyu an excuse at times like this, she'd probably hold it against you all day.
"Hmph hmph, sly Sakura. You know what I'm talking about!" The somewhat sly Katsuyu clearly didn't believe Sakura's explanation, and the conversation took a dangerous turn.
Patting Katsuyu's soft body, Sakura urged, "Enough, stop fooling around. I need to go to Shikkotsu Forest to find your main body. Summon me over!"
"Eh? Could it be?!"
Katsuyu's two small eyes on top of its head stood erect. Recalling the bleached bones beneath the mist of Shikkotsu Forest, it let out a sharp shriek.
"Don't go! Please don't!"