Sakura Haruno is Usefull

When Sakura and her team finally returned to Konoha, three days had passed. Unlike their light and swift departure, their return was burdened with the care of the wounded and the addition of carriages, inevitably slowing their pace.

As the gates of Konoha came into view, Kakashi let out a small sigh of relief.

They were finally back, and safe.

The moment Sakura stepped into the village, she noticed the unusual atmosphere.

There were significantly fewer pedestrians on the streets, and even the smiles of vendors seemed tinged with worry and sorrow.

Kakashi, seemingly expecting this, calmly arranged for the wounded to be taken care of. Afterward, he and Sakura headed straight for the Hokage's office to meet with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Sakura, did you notice?" Kakashi asked as they walked, his hands in his pockets and his eyes fixed ahead.

"Yes," Sakura replied evenly.

"The village's forces have already left for the battlefield."

Sakura's tone was calm as she acknowledged his words.

The changes in Konoha were too apparent—so much so that even someone as dense as Naruto would have sensed it.

Kakashi glanced at the young girl beside him. From the moment he first met her—a genin at the tender age of eight—he had realized she was no ordinary child.

The events that followed only confirmed his suspicions.

The Land of Fire, and perhaps the entire ninja world, had been altered by her actions.

Kakashi found it hard to believe that this war had nothing to do with Sakura.

"Sakura," he said thoughtfully, "to change something—whether it's a situation or a state of being—you need more than just intelligence and wit."

"You need the strength to overcome everything in your way."

His voice was lazy, even as he spoke words that should have carried serious weight.

Sakura raised her hand, staring at her palm, before casting a glance at the Hokage's office, which was now just ahead.

"Sometimes, no matter how much you want something to go your way, it simply won't."

"If everything happened as we wished, there wouldn't be so many regrets in this world."

When she first arrived in this world, Sakura had known that failing to resolve the problem with the Yin Seal would lead to one of several grim outcomes.

At best, she would have been imprisoned in some hidden location, unable to take a single step freely.

A worse possibility involved Yamanaka clan members delving into her mind.

And the worst...

Sakura had refused to accept such fates. That was why she had schemed so meticulously to play a grand trick on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Back then, she had pressed forward, even with no retreat in sight.

She never imagined things would escalate to their current state.

Kakashi was momentarily stunned by her words.

As a teacher, he had instinctively seized the opportunity to impart a lesson, only to find himself on the receiving end of her wisdom instead.

If the world could truly unfold according to one's desires, then...

Kakashi's thoughts wandered to memories of his father, his comrades, his teacher...

"Kakashi, what are you standing around for?"

Sakura's voice snapped him out of his reverie. She turned to look at him, her expression curious.

"It's nothing. Let's go."

"For quite some time, it seems rest won't be an option."

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen Sarutobi's furrowed brow finally eased as he reviewed the war report in his hands.

Although the outcome was as expected, seeing it confirmed in writing brought him a measure of relief.

"Well done, Kakashi. Sakura."

Hiruzen praised the two standing before him, but his tone shifted almost immediately.

"Though I'd like to let you both rest, the current situation is far too urgent."

"The Sand Ninja from the Land of Wind have already reached the Land of Rivers. Right now, Elder Danzō Shimura has taken forces to confront them."

Hiruzen paused at this point.

He had not wanted Danzō to engage with the Sand Ninja, but the elder's insistence, coupled with the sudden threat from Kumogakure, had left Hiruzen with no choice but to send him.

He could only hope that Danzō, once a celebrated shadow in the First Shinobi World War, could swiftly neutralize the Sand Ninja with Iwagakure's cooperation, allowing Hiruzen to redirect forces to confront Kumogakure.

Kumogakure was far from easy to deal with.

As a village that worshipped strength, their standing army was almost on par with Konoha's—a fact reflective of their resource allocation and militaristic policies.

Unlike the Sand Village, Kumogakure's forces boasted unparalleled combat effectiveness.

Recalling the Third Raikage's legendary stand against Iwagakure during the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel the weight of the challenge ahead.

Looking at the pink-haired girl beside Kakashi, Hiruzen deliberated before speaking:

"Sakura, would you go to the Sand Village battlefield?"

"No."

Her response was immediate and firm.

The Sand Village might be an easier target, but their hidden daggers posed too great a risk.

Sakura harbored deep mistrust toward Danzō Shimura, always assuming the worst of him.

The late-night visit from Root members years ago had only intensified her disdain for the elder.

Hiruzen sighed, unsurprised by her reaction.

"As expected."

"In that case, Sakura, prepare to head to the Frost Country battlefield."

"Jiraiya will be commanding there. Make sure to cooperate with him."

Sakura nodded at the assignment without inquiring about Tsunade's involvement.

In any war, no one would throw all their cards onto the table. Such a move might surprise the enemy, but if the opponent withstood the blow, they could exploit their remaining resources to launch a counterattack deep into enemy territory.

"Kakashi," Hiruzen said, turning to the white-haired man.

"You'll accompany Sakura to the Frost Country battlefield as Jiraiya's support."

"Though Jiraiya is reliable, he sometimes needs guidance."

"Shikaku is currently occupied with the Sand Village front, so I'm counting on you for this."

Hiruzen's tone was tinged with the concern of a worried father.

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi had no objections.

Given his reluctance to deal with Danzō due to his time in the Anbu, working alongside Jiraiya was a far preferable option.

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