"Proceed as planned."
Teizawa's voice was not loud, yet it landed in everyone's ears with perfect clarity.
Chiyo's body, just about to launch forward, jolted to a stop.
Ebizo's hand froze in midair, two fingers still pinching his beard.
Even Gaara, those emerald eyes of his, showed a flicker of disbelief.
Planned?
What plan?
Chiyo whipped around.
Her cloudy eyes locked onto Teizawa, hard and unblinking.
That wrinkled old face was filled with confusion.
And a sharp, offended anger, twisting into something ugly and complicated.
"You… you knew there would be an attack?!"
Her voice trembled.
Whether from fury, or…
From a chill she refused to admit was fear.
From the moment the explosions started until now, she had been in combat mode, mind racing through responses, through defenses, through how to protect the village.
Even how to chase down those traitors.
She thought she was fighting.
She thought she was in control.
But now…
Teizawa's casual, airy "proceed as planned" was a bucket of cold water dumped over her head.
So from start to finish…
It had all been inside his script?
Swish swish swish…
Behind Teizawa, several figures appeared out of nowhere.
Chiyo's gaze swept over them, and her pupils tightened.
Otofu, Satetsu, and several other familiar faces…
She knew them.
They were the core shinobi who had stood at Teizawa's side during the coup.
The foundation of his power in Sunagakure.
Later, whether it was her, or Ebizo…
Even Temari and Kankuro, those younger ones…
In certain ways, they could not match the loyalty those people had for Teizawa.
That bond had been forged in blood and fire, unbreakable.
"Yes!"
They answered in unison.
Low, neat, disciplined. Not a shred of extra emotion.
They split apart at once, each racing in a different direction.
In a blink, they vanished into the ruins.
Only a few remained behind.
Chiyo opened her mouth.
She wanted to say something, but her throat felt dry.
Ebizo stepped forward, lowering his voice.
He looked at Teizawa the same way, those cloudy eyes carrying a light that was complicated and hard to name.
"Teizawa…"
He paused, voice hoarse and deep.
"From the very beginning… you knew today would come?"
Teizawa met his gaze, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a slow curve.
He did not answer.
But that smile said everything.
Chiyo's hand clenched around her cane so hard her knuckles went white.
Something indescribable surged in her chest…
Anger at being used, stubborn resentment buried in her eyes.
And a trace of something else…
Awe, maybe, that she did not want to admit even to herself.
"You…"
She opened her mouth, ready to accuse him, to explode, to—
"Elder."
Teizawa's voice cut in, breaking her train of thought cleanly.
He looked at her, calm and gentle, yet carrying a certainty that did not allow refusal.
"Now isn't the time to ask."
He paused, then tilted his head slightly, looking toward a certain direction.
"Your grandson is waiting for you."
Chiyo froze.
Grandson.
Those two syllables were like a key turning in a long-sealed lock.
Memories of Sasori flooded up all at once…
That child who had been obsessed with puppetry since he was little.
That child who had ultimately defected from the village…
It all hit her at once.
Her eyes reddened slightly.
"Go."
Teizawa spoke again. This time there was a rare warmth in it.
"Some things… one has to do it yourself."
Chiyo fell silent for a beat.
Then…
She drew a deep breath and looked at Teizawa, long and hard.
That look churned with too many emotions to name.
In the end, she said nothing.
She turned and left.
Two Sand shinobi immediately followed to guide her.
"Kankuro."
Teizawa's voice rose again.
Kankuro jerked like he'd been shocked and spun around.
"Huh? I'm here!"
"You're going too."
Teizawa looked at him, gaze calm but deep.
"A clash between top-tier puppeteers is something you should see."
Kankuro blinked, then snapped into it.
Top-tier puppeteers…
Sasori?
He shouted his reply without thinking.
That was the legendary Sasori of the Red Sand!
The most gifted puppeteer in Sunagakure's history!
A living legend every puppeteer dreamed of seeing…
"Got it!"
His voice shook with excitement he could not hide.
Then he hurried after Chiyo's direction.
"Gaara-sama."
Another Sand shinobi stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Gaara.
"Please come with me."
Gaara did not move.
He looked at Teizawa.
Those green eyes of his held no obvious emotion.
But they still seemed to ask a question.
Teizawa met his gaze and gave a slight nod.
"Go."
His tone stayed calm, but it carried certainty.
"He's the kind of opponent you can really enjoy."
Then, softer, colder:
"Don't disappoint me."
Gaara was silent for a moment.
Then he turned and followed the Sand shinobi.
He disappeared into the ruins.
No extra words.
But his back looked straighter than it ever had.
Teizawa watched him go, the curve of his mouth deepening.
Good.
Everyone's moving.
"So what about me?"
A low, almost amused voice slid in from his side.
Teizawa turned, meeting Ebizo's cloudy yet razor-sharp eyes.
This elder, usually taciturn—
Now he was looking at Teizawa with a half-smile, fingers stroking his beard in an unhurried rhythm.
"And how are you arranging me?"
Teizawa smiled.
"Elder, you'll hold the Kazekage Tower."
Ebizo's movement paused.
"I'm not going to fight?"
There was genuine surprise in his tone.
Teizawa's smile widened.
"Someone is fighting for you already."
Ebizo froze, then realization hit him.
His gaze slid past Teizawa to a far-off direction.
To the place where…
Konoha's group was stationed.
"Ko… Konoha?"
Teizawa did not answer.
He only let that smile grow more and more meaningful.
Ebizo was silent for a beat, then let out a long sigh.
"You little brat…"
He shook his head, and it was hard to tell if it was admiration or helplessness.
"You even calculate your allies into it?"
Teizawa shrugged, grinning without a hint of guilt.
"Hey. Konoha's friends can't exactly pretend they didn't see it."
Ebizo stared at him for a few seconds, then waved a hand in resignation.
"Fine, fine. If it's just for the fun of it, I'm not sitting here 'holding down the fort.'"
He paused, looking toward the smoke-stained sky in the distance, voice dropping.
"Just don't make my 'holding down the fort' turn into 'collecting bodies.'"
Teizawa did not answer.
He simply lifted his head and looked at that same sky.
Far away, faint silhouettes could be seen trading blows.
Explosions, shouts, the screech of metal on metal, all braided into a chaotic chorus.
Kakashi. Guy. Asuma…
He ran through those names in his head.
Don't disappoint me.
His gaze shifted to a distant direction, and the curve of his mouth slowly deepened.
That was where Konoha was most likely to appear.
They should have already met the opponents fate had lined up for them by now.
(End of Chapter)
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