The Land of Wind.
Inside the Kazekage's office.
The Third Kazekage, still at his post, looked at the letter sent by the Third Tsuchikage and couldn't help but say,
"A joint attack on Konoha? Ōnoki… who in this ninja world would actually believe him?"
The two people with the worst reputations in the ninja world were none other than Ōnoki and Shimura Danzō.
"Then, sensei, should we refuse Iwagakure?"
Rasa, serving as the Kazekage's assistant, asked from the side.
"No need to refuse. Reply to Ōnoki—Sunagakure agrees. As long as Iwagakure and the Cloud Village make a move against Konoha, we of Sunagakure will definitely follow."
The Third Kazekage said.
"Alright… but sensei, didn't you just say the Third Tsuchikage isn't trustworthy?"
Rasa was confused. Why cooperate with someone who couldn't be trusted?
"Rasa, when it comes to cooperation, finding someone trustworthy is naturally best. But sometimes, even those who aren't trustworthy can still be worked with. As long as our interests align, we can cooperate with anyone."
The Third Kazekage patiently explained, just as the Second Kazekage had once taught him.
"So complicated… digging for gold is much simpler."
Rasa looked a bit unwilling to listen. Right now, he just wanted to go mine gold. At least every bit he dug up meant more income for Sunagakure.
Completely unaware that he had already driven down the price of gold across the entire ninja world.
Along with silver.
"Rasa, you don't have to understand these complicated matters. But you must ensure that someone you trust does. If you don't want to learn, then Karura will have to."
"Huh? Then I'll learn. Karura can just live her life peacefully, even if she's a little silly."
The moment he heard Karura might have to suffer, Rasa immediately backed down. The hardest burdens should be borne by men.
"Hahaha. Karura's child should be born soon, right?"
"Four… four more months."
At the mention of the child, Rasa blushed.
After all, they weren't even married yet, and being asked about it by his own teacher was a bit embarrassing.
Smack.
The Third Kazekage slapped him.
"You're a grown man—what's there to be shy about? Our Sunagakure may be poor and unable to give a grand wedding, but you must treat a girl well. Do you understand?"
"Don't worry, sensei. I'll treat Karura well for the rest of my life."
"Good boy."
The atmosphere here was warm and harmonious.
But elsewhere in Sunagakure, things were very different.
"Sasori, you must never touch forbidden techniques like Human Puppet again. It's a bottomless abyss."
An aging Chiyo was trying her best to persuade her grandson.
"Got it. I've already stopped messing with that stuff."
"Good… as long as you stay away from that taboo, everything will be fine."
After saying this, Chiyo spoke again, her tone humble,
"Sasori… will you have a meal with grandma? It's been a long time since we ate together."
Hearing this, Sasori's busy hands paused for a moment—but he continued assembling his puppet.
"I don't have time. I still have a lot of tasks to finish. Eat by yourself. Stop bothering me."
"Sasori…"
"Get lost."
"…Alright. Grandma will go now."
Chiyo turned and left, her back looking especially lonely.
After she left, Sasori also stopped what he was doing.
After a while, he swept all the parts from the workbench onto the floor.
In a cold, inhuman voice, he said,
"Third Kazekage… Hatake Sakumo… everything is because of you. I'll take my revenge, one by one."
After speaking, Sasori returned to calmness.
He continued assembling a puppet arm—except this arm was being attached to his own body.
...
On Kirigakure's side.
Ōnoki's letter first reached the Third Mizukage.
Then, it ended up in the hands of Uchiha Madara.
After reading it, Uchiha Madara said,
"Ōnoki, huh? You've got some schemes. But do you really have the courage to attack Konoha? Last time in the great ninja war, not a single Konoha ninja fled in panic—you made quite the fool of yourself."
Uchiha Madara summoned a White Zetsu.
He possessed it, temporarily regaining the ability to move.
"What a weak body…"
"Ōnoki… I'll give you a little more confidence."
Madara rose and headed toward Kirigakure.
...
A few days later.
Ōnoki received a reply from Kirigakure.
After opening it, he was shocked.
"What?! The Three-Tails and Six-Tails can actually participate in battle now? And they're saying the tailed beasts have been much easier to control lately? Why would Kirigakure reveal such critical information to me?"
Ōnoki was full of doubts.
"Could it be… Kirigakure has finally produced someone intelligent?"
"Or are they still insane, just that their madness is now directed at Konoha?"
"Forget it. None of that matters. What matters is whether Iwagakure can deploy the Four-Tails and Five-Tails. If we can… then this is the perfect opportunity to destroy Konoha."
Ōnoki's eyes gradually lit up.
Ōnoki immediately summoned the Four-Tails jinchūriki, Rōshi, and the Five-Tails jinchūriki, Han, to the Tsuchikage's office.
"Why did you call the two of us here?"
That was Rōshi speaking.
He had long been dissatisfied with Ōnoki's conduct—especially after the Second Great Ninja War, when not a single Konoha ninja fled in panic.
"Tsuchikage-sama, is there an important mission?"
Han, the Five-Tails' jinchūriki, remained respectful.
"I've heard that the tailed beasts have been very obedient lately—much easier to control?"
Rōshi and Han exchanged a glance.
Was it you who leaked the information?
Not me.
Well then… the old man's intel network is impressive.
As expected of the Tsuchikage—unfathomable.
"That's right. The tailed beasts are indeed easier to control… it's like they've seen something terrifying."
Rōshi said.
"Terrifying? Is there really something in this world that could frighten tailed beasts?"
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path: Sorry, that would be me.
Senju Hashirama: Sorry, me too.
Uchiha Madara: Mere tailed beasts.
Ōnoki then looked at Han, hoping for a different answer.
But Han nodded as well.
"I feel the same."
Ōnoki frowned deeply.
There was yet another unknown factor in the ninja world.
But that could wait for now.
"Can you use full tailed beast transformation?"
"If we push our bodies to the limit and lose rationality… yes."
"Same here."
"Isn't that the same as before?"
"Before, my body would collapse the moment the tailed beast emerged—I'd have no combat ability at all. Now, I can fully release it. Even if I can't control it, at least it has fighting power."
"Same here."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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