Board Thread:Episode Discussions/@comment-1181222-20160204113143/@comment-25632268-20160205192050

Thekillman wrote: Since naruto knew about it, it was likely planned beforehand. We also don't know what mission it was, it could be critical enough to be cleared by Minato.

There were two missions, Sakura is surprised when she sees Hinata, so the girls were not on the same team. Now, considering Minato chose to sent a single chunin on each, despite the fact that Team Kurenai were available as well as some powerful Jonins like Guy, I don't believe the missions were anything above C rank. No, Studio Pierrot needed Sakura and Hinata outside the village so they just forgot about whole lock down, destroying consistency in their own arc...