"We're holding joint Chūnin exams with the Hidden Sand again?" asked Sakura in surprise. "After what happened last time!?"
"Like it or not, they're our allies again," said Tsunade calmly. "It's better to have more friends than enemies, don't you think?"
The citizens of the Hidden Leaf Village hadn't forgotten how the Hidden Sand had unleashed the One-Tail, Shukaku, right in the heart of their village. The Tailed Beast had rampaged through the city centre, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake as it barrelled towards the residential district. And perhaps most unforgivably, it had come perilously close to flattening the beloved institution that was Ichiraku Ramen.
For a time, it seemed as though the shinobi world would be hurtling towards the Fourth Great Shinobi War ahead of schedule, but fortunately, foreign invaders landed on the southern coast shortly afterwards— just in time to compel the Sand to renew the mutual defence agreement they had been coerced into signing following the Third Great Shinobi War.
"With friends like these," snorted Sakura, "who needs enemies?"
For viewers of the anime, it was all too easy to forgive and forget the harms they saw on their screens. But Sakura had witnessed the Sand's invasion firsthand— combatants and civilians losing their lives, their homes, and their livelihoods to blades and fangs. The damage the Hidden Sand had inflicted on the Hidden Leaf was far worse than in the original timeline, and such wounds didn't heal easily.
"Lady Tsunade's approach is wise," offered Shikamaru. "It's like this— keep your enemies close, and your friends closer, you see?"
"Isn't it the other way around?" retorted Sakura.
Although she wasn't very vengeful, she had a very long memory— courtesy of the original's brains. It was quite convenient for visualising fap material while out of the village.
"Enough!" shouted Tsunade, slamming down her fist on the long meeting table.
The two members of the Konoha Council had already left a few minutes ago, leaving Tsunade alone with Sakura and Shikamaru. They'd only stuck around to discuss matters with the Hokage following the Sand delegation's visit, and they weren't particularly interested in hearing how Tsunade intended to micromanage the two Chūnin.
Homura and Koharu were posh and important people, after all— they were far too busy for such things. They preferred using their time more effectively— such as doing old people stuff, like taking scalding hot baths, falling asleep in armchairs, getting in disputes with neighbours and telling children to step off their lawns.
"Now, you listen here— and not another word until I'm done explaining," said Tsunade warningly, noticing Sakura's mouth opening. "As you already know, the Akatsuki has been fairly quiet these past two years— which indirectly confirms our intelligence that they wouldn't take action for three years."
Sakura nodded. Jolly well done, Itachi!
"You think they're being a bit too quiet, then?" Shikamaru said thoughtfully. "Then, the purpose of opening up the village is to shake things up and gauge the international community's reactions?"
As always, Shikamaru was quick to deduce the true meaning hiding beneath the seemingly random decisions of the powerful. Following their appearance a few years ago, the Akatsuki had revolutionised warfare between countries by introducing the concept of War as a Service— cheap and effective mercenary work on a large scale, like some sort of Militaires Sans Frontières.
Amazingly, some of the stingier Great Villages occasionally employed their services— such as the Hidden Mist and the Hidden Stone— since hiring mercs was far more cost-effective than raising shinobi from scratch. The Mist was running out of people due to the Blood Mist policy, and the Stone couldn't produce competent shinobi to save their lives.
"That's right. There's more to it than that, though I won't get into the details right now," said Tsunade appreciatively. "We've naturally warned the other villages about the Akatsuki's true intentions regarding the Tailed Beasts, but so far, only the Hidden Sand has taken us seriously. Holding joint Chūnin exams will kill two birds with one stone— the reactions of the other Great Villages will help us verify their positions and allow us to monitor the Akatsuki's movements. Gaara is the One-Tail's Jinchūriki, as you might have already guessed."
That was all well and good, but what did any of this have to do with her? That's what Sakura wanted to know.
"We've already sent invitations to the other villages," Tsunade continued. "So far, we've had replies from all except the Hidden Rain, but we should be hearing from them soon. Sakura, you'll be pleased to know that Kakashi and Sasuke will return as soon as they return from Amegakure."
The Land of Rain's borders were tightly guarded— no information got in or out easily. Lately, however, rumours of a coup d'état had begun to circulate, and an increasing number of Rain missing-nin had been slipping into surrounding countries. For most, it was just hearsay, but Sakura knew better: at some point, the Akatsuki would assassinate Hanzō and quietly install themselves at the helm of Amegakure.
She just hadn't known exactly when— only that it would happen eventually. But judging by the rumours, it was happening now.
"You… you sent Sasuke and Kakashi to the Hidden Rain!?" stammered Sakura.
Tsunade looked at Sakura curiously.
"That reminds me," Tsunade said, her tone thoughtful. "You once had to cross the Land of Rain on your way to a mission in the western half of the continent. Kakashi mentioned in his post-mission report that you were positively terrified the entire time. Did you happen to notice something out of the ordinary, Sakura?"
Despite being a slacker, Kakashi took report-writing very seriously!
"Women's intuition?" said Sakura weakly.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, so Sakura quickly thought of a better explanation.
"Just before going on that mission, you sent us to hunt down Neji after he stabbed Hinata-chan," said Sakura slowly, thinking back to that moment two years ago. "That's when we ran into two Akatsuki members near the border. I remember thinking at the time that it looked like they'd come from the Land of Rain."
Tsunade rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Oh, and I can definitely confirm their cloaks are waterproof," Sakura added wryly. "I got a nice close look while Kakuzu was trying to murder me."
"The Land of Rain, eh?" murmured Tsunade. "Jiraiya told me he heard those three kids had died…"
The Second Great Ninja War was a distant memory by now, like a half-forgotten dream.
"Ahem," Tsunade coughed. "In any case, the following villages have confirmed their participation: Sunagakure will be sending nine teams, Kirigakure three, Takigakure one, and Kusagakure two."
That meant 27 Sand Genin, 6 Mist, 3 Waterfall, and 6 Grass. As for the Rain— their participation was still pending until Sasuke and Kakashi came back with Hanzō's answer. Hopefully, they'd still be alive to deliver it.
"Oh, and we sort of forgot to put forward our own Leaf Genin— which is why we're doing it now," Tsunade added sheepishly. "Team Asuma is set to participate, but since you're already a Chūnin, Shikamaru, you're not eligible. So, I'll have Sakura enter the exams as a Genin and fill in for you. Sakura, you will ensure that Chōji and Ino make it to the end, because your job will be to keep an eye on the Akatsuki situation from the inside."
"Hang on— I'm a Chūnin too!" Sakura exclaimed in alarm. "Don't tell me I got demoted and I didn't even notice!?"
Tsunade shook her head.
"Due to your Kekkei Genkai, your official records are sealed— just like an ANBU member's," she explained. "So, as far as the world is concerned, you might as well be a Genin… Actually, you've stayed in the village so long that most black-market outposts don't even bother updating your bounty picture in their bingo books any more, so it's safe to say most people will have forgotten you."
"That's not really fair to the other villages, is it?" Sakura ventured. "This is an exam for Genin, and I'm already a Chūnin. With Jōnin-level strength. Speaking of which, when can I expect a promotion?"
Tsunade and Shikamaru shared a knowing look.
"Oh, Sakura, you sweet summer child," said Tsunade, her eyes full of pity. "You don't actually believe the other villages are going to play fair, do you? That's adorable."
"Obviously, they'll play every dirty trick in the book to look impressive in front of the audience," replied Sakura irritably. "I just thought we were supposed to hold ourselves to higher standards, that's all."
"Yes, yes," said Tsunade dismissively, waving her off. "Well, off you go, then— I suggest you start training with Team 10 as soon as possible. And as for you, Shikamaru, I'd like your help designing the first part of the exam…"
And with that, Sakura was unceremoniously ejected from the room before she could hear any more. It looked like she'd have to make amends with Ino sooner than she'd hoped— and that, she grimly thought to herself, was going to be very awkward indeed.