Chapter 415 – The Hokage’s Mission

Chapter 415: Chapter 415 – The Hokage’s Mission

HOKAGE’S OFFICE

The office window suddenly swung open, and a gust of wind swept through the room. Tsunade didn’t even need to lift her head from the documents to know who had just arrived.

"Can’t you come through the door like a normal person?"

Riser calmly walked over to the chair in front of her desk and sat down as if he were coming home.

"That would ruin all the fun."

Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh before resting her elbows on the desk.

"So why did you send for me?" Riser asked.

"I have a mission for you."

A mission was already more interesting than wandering around Konoha doing nothing. At least it meant something was finally happening.

"I hope it’s interesting."

"I’m sure it will be." Tsunade kept her eyes fixed on him for a few seconds before continuing. "I want you to bring Naruto and Sasuke back to Konoha alive."

Riser remained silent as he absorbed the request.

’Alive? What a pain.’

He had expected that sooner or later someone would ask him to deal with the two of them, but capturing them alive was far more difficult than simply defeating them.

"They’re both extremely powerful ninja. You’re putting me in a difficult position by asking me to bring them back alive."

Tsunade lowered her gaze for a few seconds before answering.

"I know."

Her voice came out quieter than usual.

"Just try, please."

Riser frowned slightly when he noticed tears gathering in the Hokage’s eyes.

"I don’t want Naruto to die." Tsunade clenched her fists on the desk as she tried to control her emotions. "I’ve already lost too many people. I’d rather see him locked inside a prison cell than dead somewhere in the world."

That caught Riser by surprise.

All this time, Tsunade had remained strong through wars, invasions, betrayals, and losses. Seeing that woman show such vulnerability made it clear that even the Hokage had her limits.

"Alright, Tsunade."

She immediately raised her head.

"I’ll bring Naruto back alive." Riser rested an arm on the chair as he spoke. "But I can’t promise the same about Sasuke."

Tsunade slowly released the breath trapped in her lungs.

"Thank you."

"You don’t need to thank me." A faint smile appeared on his face. "I’m a ninja of Konoha now."

Tsunade watched the young man sitting in front of her while organizing her thoughts.

Ever since arriving in the village, Riser had done more for Konoha than many shinobi who had spent their entire lives serving the Leaf. If there was anyone capable of finding Naruto and surviving a confrontation with Sasuke, it was probably him.

"Is there anything else?" Riser asked. "Any clues or information about where they might be?"

"Unfortunately not." Tsunade shook her head. "That’s exactly why I’m entrusting this mission to you."

She opened one of her desk drawers and pulled out an official village scroll.

"This mission has no time limit. I want it completed as soon as possible, but I’m not setting a deadline. Do whatever is necessary."

Riser took the scroll and put it away without even opening it.

"Alright."

He stood up from the chair and walked toward the window.

"I think I can solve this sooner than you imagine."

Tsunade watched as he disappeared through the same window he had used to enter.

This time, however, she didn’t complain.

For the first time in a long while, she felt there was a real chance Naruto would come home.

Then an unpleasant memory surfaced in her mind.

Sakura had stood in that very room begging for a second chance for Sasuke. At the time, Tsunade had refused without hesitation.

’What a hypocrite I am.’

She rested her head on one hand while staring at the documents scattered across her desk.

’I asked Riser to bring Naruto back, but I denied Sakura the very same request for Sasuke.’

The difference seemed enormous to her, but she knew that from Sakura’s point of view, it might not be so simple.

’How many times did I criticize the old man for not being able to let Orochimaru go?’

Tsunade let out a long sigh.

’I think I took my anger out on her.’

The image of Sakura leaving that office with tears in her eyes continued to weigh on her conscience.

’Tomorrow I’ll fix that.’

If Riser really found Naruto, Sasuke’s chances of surviving were minimal. After everything she had heard from him, Tsunade already considered the last Uchiha practically a dead man.

’At least Sakura doesn’t deserve to be punished for that.’

___

KAMUI DIMENSION

Riser appeared inside the house and found Hancock sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed. The irritated expression on her face made it perfectly clear that Tsunade’s conversation had interrupted something she considered important.

"So what did that woman want that was important enough to interrupt our time together?"

"She made a request."

Riser sat down beside the two of them as he relaxed.

Hancock let out a grumble.

"You shouldn’t obey anyone. Especially someone who keeps stealing time away from my husband."

Merlin merely shook her head.

"May I know what the request was?"

"I need to find two people. One of them I’m going to kill, and the other I’ll bring back alive."

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"And when do you plan to do that?"

"For now, I don’t."

Riser rested his arm on the back of the sofa before continuing.

"I want to receive more information first. There are still a few things that need to happen."

Merlin accepted the answer without pressing further.

Hancock, on the other hand, seemed much more interested in another subject.

"Well, now that you’ve come back and don’t intend to leave again, I think we can enjoy the rest of the night together."

"You really never get tired?" Merlin asked.

"Why would I?" Hancock answered immediately. "He’s my husband. You should already know that."

"That’s probably because you’re a vampire."

’It would be interesting to study that someday.’

The thought naturally crossed Merlin’s mind.

"Even if I were still human, I’d feel exactly the same way."

Riser ended up laughing.

"Leave her alone, Merlin. I’m a Devil, and I’m always in the mood too."

He stood up from the sofa as an idea began to form.

"I think I just had an interesting idea."

Merlin noticed his smile immediately.

"This never ends well."

"Come with me."

Riser pointed toward the stairs.

"You too, Hancock."

Merlin already imagined that meant trouble.

Hancock, on the other hand, smiled with satisfaction without asking a single question.

A few seconds later, the three of them disappeared upstairs.

___

HOKAGE’S OFFICE — THE NEXT MORNING

Sakura remained motionless in front of the desk while waiting for Tsunade’s decision.

The unexpected summons that morning had kept her heart racing the entire way to the Hokage Tower.

"I’ve thought a lot about everything that happened."

Sakura took a deep breath.

"And?"

"I’ve decided you’re going to be my student again."

For a few seconds, Sakura simply stood there, unable to react.

Then the tears began to fall.

"Tsunade-sama..."

"That’s enough." Tsunade raised one hand before the situation got any worse. "You’re a kunoichi, not a faucet."

Sakura tried to wipe her face quickly, but that only made even more tears appear.

"Thank you so much."

"Don’t thank me yet."

Tsunade crossed her arms before continuing.

"But I want you to stop bringing up that subject."

Sakura immediately understood.

Sasuke.

"My decision hasn’t changed. I don’t want to discuss it anymore."

Sakura lowered her head.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. I understand."

This time, the answer came without any argument.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance. I won’t disappoint you."

"Good."

Tsunade picked up a few documents from the desk again.

"Now go back to the hospital. There’s work waiting for you."

Sakura nodded and left the room with a smile she couldn’t hide.

After the door closed, Tsunade remained staring into the empty room for several seconds.

She still believed she had made the right decision regarding Sasuke.

But that didn’t mean she needed to keep taking that frustration out on Sakura.

Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22

Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next Chapter!