Konoha's Genius is a bit Ordinary?

After finishing everything, Sasuke walked toward his teammates, with Jūgo silently following behind him.

The sight made both Hyena and Fox curious, and Sasuke briefly explained the situation.

"I see. You'll need to report this to the captain later. But I think keeping this big guy around will require the Hokage's approval," Fox said, glancing at Jūgo's towering figure.

"That won't be a problem," Sasuke said calmly. Although he wasn't particularly close to Tsunade, he had a good relationship with Natsuro.

As Sasuke spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted to a strong Anbu member he had noticed during the fight. The person seemed a bit flustered when Sasuke looked over, glancing around awkwardly.

On their way back, Sasuke quietly approached this person.

"Kakashi, it's you, isn't it?" Sasuke finally asked in a resigned tone.

"Haha, you still managed to recognize me, huh?" Kakashi scratched his head and removed his disguise, revealing his familiar appearance.

He smiled warmly at Sasuke, particularly at his now-ordinary black eyes. During the battle, Kakashi had been observing Sasuke while lying low.

Sasuke's performance had already exceeded Kakashi's expectations. Although he wasn't quite at jōnin level yet, he was certainly qualified to be a special jōnin.

What surprised Kakashi even more was that Sasuke had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan during the fight, it was a remarkable feat!

"Did the Hokage send you to follow us?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, pretty much. The Hokage was concerned that this hideout might be a trap set by Orochimaru, so she sent me to secretly watch over you. Tenzo was aware of it too," Kakashi explained.

"But Kakashi, you're not a match for Orochimaru, are you?" Sasuke asked bluntly, not bothering to spare Kakashi's feelings. While he knew Kakashi was strong, his encounter with Orochimaru had left a much deeper impression.

"You're right, but I could at least hold him off for a while. After all, you're all improving, and I'm not exactly standing still either," Kakashi replied with a chuckle, unfazed by Sasuke's remark.

"Oh." Sasuke nodded.

"Honestly, Natsuro would've been the best choice for this mission, but he's been away from Konoha for quite a while now, and no one's been able to reach him," Kakashi added with a sigh.

"Huh? Natsuro isn't in Konoha?" Sasuke frowned. He hadn't known this.

"Yeah. He said he needed to go into secluded training for an extended period and left. He hasn't returned since."

"I see," Sasuke said, nodding. He didn't press further.

Soon after, Tenzo and Sasuke arrived at the Hokage's office and reported everything to Tsunade.

Everyone at the hideout had been wiped out, with the sole exception being Jūgo, whom Sasuke brought back.

Sasuke explained his reasons for keeping Jūgo alive, sharing his story and highlighting his potential value.

"Hawk, are you sure you can suppress his rampages?" Tsunade asked after a moment of thought.

"I'm certain. To be precise, the seal Natsuro placed on my Curse Mark specifically targets the energy that triggers rampages. As long as I'm nearby, I can absorb that energy and prevent him from losing control," Sasuke replied.

"Ah, if it's a seal set up by Natsuro, then there shouldn't be an issue," Tsunade said with a nod at the mention of his name.

"In that case, he'll be temporarily assigned to your squad. However, for him to officially join, he'll need to atone by proving that the new hideout he's reported truly belongs to Orochimaru and isn't a trap."

"Yes," Sasuke agreed. Although he hadn't seen such information in Jūgo's memories, he trusted the man wouldn't lie to him. Memories didn't lie.

"Also, while I trust Natsuro's seal, don't take any risks. If you notice any issues with your body, stop immediately," Tsunade said sternly.

Sasuke froze briefly before nodding.

"Yes."

...

A few days later.

Tsunade rubbed her temples as she listened to Tenzo and Sasuke report on the southern hideout.

The mission had been successfully completed. But what left Tsunade speechless was that Sasuke had brought back yet another person.

At this rate, Sasuke was rivaling Naruto in his ability to pick up strays.

The difference was that the people Naruto picked up never stayed, while the ones Sasuke brought back seemed to be on the verge of joining Konoha.

"So, this Karin girl you brought back was someone you rescued during the Chūnin Exams? And she chose to join Orochimaru to escape Kusagakure, but now that she's run into you, you brought her here?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes." Sasuke didn't know what else to say. This mission had been bizarre.

As soon as he entered the hideout, Karin spotted him and rushed over, eagerly recognizing him without hesitation.

Sasuke did remember the incident, he had saved her during the Chūnin Exams.

When he asked why she had joined Orochimaru, she explained that although she had wanted to find him, she couldn't join him in Konoha.

Konoha, as a major nation, would likely hand her back to Kusagakure if they demanded her return. To escape Kusagakure, her only option at the time had been to join Orochimaru.

Killing her wasn't an option, so Sasuke had no choice but to bring her back.

"Bring her in. I need to ask her some questions," Tsunade said, rubbing her aching temples. She had thought Sasuke would be more reliable than Naruto, but now she wasn't so sure.

"Yes," Tenzo replied and had Karin brought into the office.

"Let me go! I can walk by myself!" Karin yelled as she entered.

The moment she saw Sasuke, her demeanor changed completely. She ran over to him, her fierce expression replaced by a lovestruck look.

"Sasuke! If I can't stay, then let Sasuke kill me himself!"

Sasuke immediately took a step back. Tsunade, meanwhile, glanced at Karin's red hair and thought back to how Sasuke had been spotted so quickly. A thought crossed her mind.

"Your fate hasn't been decided yet. First, explain why you left Kusagakure," Tsunade said.

"Who are you…" Karin began impatiently but, noticing Tsunade's annoyed expression, quickly relented. "Fine."

Karin then explained her reasons.

In Kusagakure, she was never treated as a person, let alone a ninja. Her only purpose was to help others recover their chakra and injuries.

Her mother had suffered the same fate, eventually dying from chakra exhaustion due to overuse.

If she stayed in Kusagakure, she would share the same end.

Her chance to escape came during the Chūnin Exams, which Kusagakure couldn't interfere with. It was her best opportunity.

She had even intentionally separated from her teammates, but her lack of combat strength nearly got her killed by a bear, until Sasuke saved her.

"So, if you plan to use my abilities, go ahead. As long as I can stay by Sasuke's side, you can use my body however you want," Karin said impatiently. She didn't believe they would ignore her abilities, and if her fate was to return to her old life, she would at least bargain for the one thing she desired.

After hearing everything, Tsunade sighed. "So, you're a survivor of the Uzumaki clan." She guessed that Sasuke must have used something similar to her grandmother's Kagura Mind's Eye to locate her.

"The Uzumaki clan?" Karin asked, puzzled.

Beside her, Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of that surname, as it reminded him of his teammate, Naruto Uzumaki.

"That's right. The Uzumaki clan came from a country called the Land of Whirlpools, which was once very close to Konoha. But because their sealing techniques were too powerful, they were feared by every nation and eventually wiped out. I didn't expect there to still be survivors outside of Konoha," Tsunade said with a sigh.

"If they're already destroyed, then what's the point?" Karin said dismissively.

"Heh. Little girl, have you seen the uniforms worn by Konoha's jōnin?" Tsunade asked with a smirk.

"Of course," Karin replied, confused.

"The red spiral pattern on the back of Konoha's jōnin vests is the symbol of the Uzumaki clan from the Land of Whirlpools. So, what do you think that says about the connection between the Uzumaki and Konoha?" Tsunade asked with a smile.

"So, if Kusagakure comes to demand my return, you won't hand me over?" Karin asked, cutting straight to the point and focusing on her own interests.

"Of course, we wouldn't hand you over. But…" Tsunade paused.

"But what? Don't tell me you want to exploit my abilities? Well, if Sasuke is involved, I might be okay with it…" Karin said, eyeing Tsunade skeptically, mocking her inwardly as just another self-serving leader.

"That won't be necessary," Tsunade replied. "There might be occasions where your abilities are needed for injuries that medical ninjutsu cannot heal. Even then, it would only be with your consent."

"Really?" Karin asked, her expression skeptical. Such an offer seemed too good to be true.

"Of course. I only mentioned that to make one thing clear: You've discovered a distant relative in Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki. That's why you've come to join him. From now on, your name will be Karin Uzumaki. With that, even if Kusagakure demands your return, we'll have every reason to keep you here," Tsunade said with a sly smile.

"Oh? That works for me. From today, I'm Karin Uzumaki!" Karin's eyes lit up, and she readily agreed without hesitation.

Her tone softened, as she realized her future might genuinely be different. Though still cautious, she began to believe that Tsunade's words might actually be true, such a kind person surely wouldn't deceive her!

Shizune, observing the exchange, chuckled. She knew Tsunade would never hand over Karin. But if this had happened in the past, Tsunade wouldn't have added the clever justification.

Clearly, Tsunade had been influenced by Natsuro's approach which was standing on a moral high ground where no one could criticize her actions.

"Sasuke, since Karin Uzumaki's identity is still under review, the person you brought back will be your responsibility for now. You'll monitor her for a while," Tsunade instructed.

"Wait, Lady Hokage?! My identity has always been under review, so can we remove the 'for a while' part? Let Sasuke monitor me indefinitely!" Before Sasuke could respond, Karin's eyes sparkled as she looked at Tsunade, who suddenly seemed much more agreeable in her eyes.

For the first time, Karin was willing to believe everything Tsunade had just said. How could such a nice person possibly lie to me?

Sasuke was at a loss for words. Looking at Karin, he couldn't help but feel she might end up being even more troublesome than Sakura.

Still, she was someone he had brought back, so Tsunade's assignment made perfect sense. In the end, Sasuke could only nod in resignation.

"Yes," he replied.

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Currently on Chapter 240 - Konoha's Hero