Kiyoshi's mental energy far surpassed that of an ordinary person. At this stage, Sasori was not someone a normal two-tomoe Sharingan could control. The Hidden Sand ninjas, who dealt with Sasori day and night, were even more aware of this.
Looking into Kiyoshi's crimson Sharingan, Pakura immediately averted her gaze to avoid falling under his Genjutsu. At the same time, she felt a flicker of belief. The Leaf had no reason to do this. Such an action would only trigger a full-scale war.
"Kiyoshi."
In less than a minute, Tsunade arrived with Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi. Simultaneously, the Hidden Sand Anbu and several clan heads arrived at the scene. Chiyo's face was dark with suppressed emotion, while Ebizō stood beside her, his body hunched. Though he was the younger brother, he looked older than Chiyo.
"Take them down!"
Fujūro was a man of explosive temperament. After hearing from Chiyo that the Third Kazekage was missing, he wanted to strike immediately.
"Do you intend to tear up our alliance?" Tsunade shouted.
She leapt from the eaves, landing in front of Kiyoshi. Her powerful legs exerted sudden force, and her feet smashed a massive crater into the ground.
*Rumble!*
A cloud of dust rose as the earth shook. Ninjas with unstable stances were thrown directly to the ground.
Heavenly Foot of Pain!
By precisely gathering a massive amount of chakra into the chakra points and meridian system of the feet, she could exert devastating destructive power, causing the earth to shatter.
"It is your Leaf that wants to tear up the alliance! Where is the Lord Third Kazekage?" Fujūro was the strongest taijutsu ninja in the Sand; his temper was as fierce as fire.
"The Third Kazekage?" Tsunade frowned slightly and looked at Kiyoshi. Asuma and Kurenai ran to stand behind Tsunade, the group huddling together.
Kiyoshi took the cue and spoke up: "Sasori called me out earlier, saying he saw my interest in the scenery of the Sand and offered to take me to a good spot. Once we arrived here, he suddenly launched an attack on me."
"Where is Sasori?" Chiyo exhaled slowly. She wanted to know where her grandson had gone.
"He went toward the outskirts of the village." The one who answered this time was not Kiyoshi, but Pakura. She stepped forward and whispered everything she had seen and heard to Chiyo.
This matter was of grave importance; Pakura had to be cautious. If word got out that Sasori might have killed the Third Kazekage, the Hidden Sand Village would descend into immediate chaos. The Anbu and clan heads surrounding the Leaf ninjas were all powerful individuals with complex backgrounds.
"...Sasori."
A flash of grief crossed Chiyo's eyes upon hearing Pakura's report. Her inner suspicion was confirmed. Indeed, Sasori was a child who lacked love far too much. That void had allowed him to lose himself in hatred. In the Kazekage's office, besides herself, only Sasori had mastered the craft behind the toxins found in the blood. A brat from the Uchiha clan couldn't achieve such a feat.
A Chunin controlling Sasori to kill the Third Kazekage? No one in the ninja world would believe that. Even the powerful Sharingan had its limits, and Kiyoshi only possessed two tomoe. Any ninja with a bit of experience had studied the Sharingan and knew it evolved from one to three tomoe. Anything beyond that belonged to the realm once held by Madara Uchiha. Chiyo had taught her grandson how to guard against the Sharingan, and she believed Sasori wouldn't fall for it so easily. After all, Sasori was a genius whose prestige was no less than Pakura's.
"We believe there is a misunderstanding. Lady Tsunade, please stay so we can investigate for a time." Chiyo's tone softened significantly. On any other day, she would have called Tsunade "Slug Woman."
She had to keep them here. The news of the Kazekage's disappearance absolutely could not leak out until the Sand could internally select a successor.
"The Third Kazekage is dead. Why stay here for us instead of chasing Sasori?" Kiyoshi's startling words left everyone momentarily speechless. After a brief stunned silence, shock flooded their faces.
The strongest Kazekage in history was silently dead? And it involved Sasori? Even Tsunade's group was shaken by this revelation. Tsunade quickly realized that Sasori was trying to shift the blame onto the Leaf.
"Be sharp and ready in a moment," Tsunade whispered solemnly to the three behind her. She hadn't expected such an upheaval during a diplomatic mission. But they couldn't stay. Who knew if this was a play by the Sand? She and Kiyoshi both possessed Bloodlines, and Asuma and Kurenai were from prominent clans. Staying could lead to the leaking of secret techniques, causing immeasurable loss to the village.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Kiyoshi nodded slightly.
[Trait unlocked: Silver-Tongued Weaver (Green)]
[Requirement: Manipulate the truth in front of 10 high-status individuals.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: The probability of your lies being detected is reduced by 20%. Persuasiveness is further increased against those of lower status.]
[Note: Can be upgraded further.]
The Trait panel pinged, notifying Kiyoshi of his new acquisition. He glanced around at the high-ranking Sand officials and clan heads. It seemed they truly didn't believe a two-tomoe user could manipulate Sasori into killing the Kazekage. To any outsider, it was impossible. Only his Sharingan was this special.
"Stop them!" Ebizō ordered. This was for the sake of the Sand!
However, Kiyoshi's hand seals were faster. He had been waiting for the Sand to make their move.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Kiyoshi had pre-gathered [Fire] chakra in his chest and throat, spewing it out instantly while adding [Wind] chakra at the end.
*BOOM!*
The fireball expanded rapidly, forcing the dense crowd of Sand ninjas to scatter.
"Let's go!" Seeing the opening Kiyoshi created, Tsunade immediately led the retreat.
The Sand ninjas were no fools and began their pursuit instantly. These weren't even all of them; given the suddenness, only those nearby had arrived. More were streaming in from the darkness of the night.
"You think you can leave? Have you asked this old man?" Fujūro was the strongest taijutsu ninja in the Sand; he moved like a thunderbolt.
Tsunade let out a sharp cry and threw a punch at him. Fujūro crossed his arms, intending to take the blow head-on, as his speed made it impossible to dodge.
*BANG!*
Fujūro was sent flying backward, his eyes widening in shock. He hadn't expected Tsunade's strength to have improved so much since the Second Great Shinobi War.
This scene was exactly as Kiyoshi expected. The current Tsunade was not the rusty version she would become in thirty years. Even then, she could rival the Fourth Raikage in a test of arm strength and shatter Madara's Susanoo with a single punch. Her strength was peerless.
Whenever a fast ninja caught up, Tsunade would punch them away. Kiyoshi could keep up with her speed, but Asuma and Kurenai could not. He grabbed Asuma, tucking him under his arm, and then, amidst Kurenai's cry of surprise, hoisted her onto his shoulders with his other hand.
"Hold on tight," Kiyoshi said, accelerating.
Sitting on Kiyoshi's shoulders, Kurenai knew the gravity of the situation and obediently wrapped her fair legs around his neck. Asuma, hanging upside down, could only watch the yellow sand retreat beneath them.
"Lady Tsunade, we can go a bit faster," Kiyoshi said. Just moments ago, his [Fatigue Resistance] Trait had been completed. His endurance and ability to resist exhaustion had increased significantly; carrying two people was no problem.
"Strength of a Hundred Seal: Release!"
The diamond-shaped mark on Tsunade's forehead bloomed, spreading several black lines across her face and body.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Tsunade released all the chakra stored in the Strength of a Hundred Seal, using the massive volume to summon Katsuyu.
*BOOM!*
The massive body of Katsuyu descended where Tsunade struck the ground. Over a dozen Sand ninjas couldn't dodge in time and were crushed to death.
"Katsuyu, help me hold them back!"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Katsuyu spoke with a delicate voice that belied her massive size. She twisted her blue-and-white striped body and spat a highly corrosive yellow acid at the Sand ninjas, who looked like tiny insects to her.
"Aaargh! My hand is melting!"
"Watch out! That's the Slug Woman's summoning beast!" Chiyo warned the ninjas charging ahead. Ten chakra threads extended from her fingertips as she manipulated multiple puppets, though her own speed prevented her from catching up.
With Katsuyu's help, the group's speed increased again. The acid was Katsuyu's Leaping Acid, capable of dissolving even Orochimaru instantly. Anyone who underestimated her because of her supportive nature would pay a heavy price.
Thus, Tsunade and Kiyoshi ran through the night, occasionally dodging Wind Style techniques from the Sand ninjas. The Sand had also split a team to search for Sasori; they didn't fully believe Kiyoshi's words.
As long as they hadn't seen a body, they couldn't be certain the Kazekage was dead. Most of their main force was searching for traces of the Kazekage and Sasori. Still, the remaining pursuers were not to be trifled with.
Before they knew it, dawn had broken. The number of pursuers had decreased, but those remaining were the "tough bones" that were hard to chew.
"Lady Tsunade, take Kurenai and Asuma and go first. I'll stay behind to cover the rear," Kiyoshi said.
"You're staying to cover the rear?" Tsunade looked at him in surprise. Was this Uchiha's Will of Fire truly so pure? She remembered that the Third Hokage had become Hokage precisely because he was the first to offer to cover the rear for the Second Hokage.
"If we keep running like this, we'll be caught eventually," Kiyoshi said. Both of them had incredible endurance, but this was the Sand's territory; they had many ways to catch up.
They had stayed ahead for hours thanks to Katsuyu, but she had likely reached her time limit and returned to the Shikkotsu Forest. It was predictable that they would be caught within two hours. Furthermore, Kiyoshi was carrying two people; his physical consumption was much higher than Tsunade's.
"No, Kiyoshi! If you stay... if you stay to cover the rear, then you'll..." Kurenai sat on Kiyoshi's shoulders, her face filled with self-reproach. If only her stamina and speed were better, Kiyoshi wouldn't have to carry her. Her small hands touched Kiyoshi's face, not wanting him to go.
***
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