"Go sowhere chill and waste away. You're just useless."
Kawakaze rolled his eyes, frustration clear in his expression. Seven-Tails should just stay content being an assist device—this hanging around wasn't working out. He suddenly regretted giving Tsunade such a chatterbox.
"It said that Chakra it's enough, and whether or not I can win depends on ."
Tsunade was impressed with the Seven Tails and how it could say sothing like that. Where had the arrogance from their first eting gone?
"Don't mind it. Just ignore it," Kawakaze muttered angrily. With no way to let him out and beat him up again, he resorted to venting through words.
"Haha, it's cursing you."
"I can't hear it anyway," Kawakaze replied coolly.
Kawakaze glanced at Tsunade, guessing that whatever Seven-Tails had said wasn't too bad. Deciding it wasn't worth caring about, he let it go. One still needed to maintain so grace.
"Don't worry. I've already asked Duy for the practice thod of the Eight Inner Gates," Tsunade said, her determination evident. She had personally sought out Duy to enhance her strength.
Duy, ever grateful to his lifesaver, had cheerfully handed over the training thod without hesitation.
"Don't open the Eight Gates," Kawakaze warned imdiately. His first thought was the danger—opening the Eight Gates could kill.
"Don't worry," Tsunade reassured him, her tone calm. "Not to ntion that I'm far from reaching that level. Even if I did, I haven't lived long enough to take that risk."
She looked at Kawakaze with tender eyes. How could she bear to leave him?
"I'm relieved," Kawakaze said softly.
...
After chatting for a while, Kawakaze and Tsunade left the eting room, as Tsunade had other matters to attend to.
The next day, under Tsunade's leadership, the Konoha army set off once again. Their goal was the heart of the Land of Wind, the location of Sunagakure.
"Lord Third, the Konoha army has already set out," an intelligence officer reported in the office of the Kazekage.
"They ca fast, not giving any chance to catch my breath," the Third Kazekage muttered. Then, his tone turned decisive. "Inform the troops that supplies will be sent directly to the front line. Assemble the village's ninja and set out imdiately."
"Yes, Lord Third." The intelligence officer bowed and swiftly left to carry out the orders.
Two hours later, the Third Kazekage led the Suna ninja army out of the village. By his side were Bunpuku, Pakura, and Rasa.
"Sister Pakura, is that Kawakaze Hatake really that strong?" Rasa asked, his curiosity evident. He had heard Kawakaze's na ntioned countless tis, often in jest. So even joked that encountering Kawakaze Hatake ant you might as well run, as no punishnt would follow.
"Very strong. If you et him, just run," Pakura replied, her expression serious. She paused briefly before adding, "Though if you do et him, you might not even get the chance to escape."
The mory of Kawakaze's gaze still haunted her. To him, she felt like nothing more than a larger-than-average mouse—a prey of no consequence.
"Is it really that ridiculous?" Rasa asked, confidence brimming. His teacher had always praised him for his talent and strength.
"Kawakaze Hatake is my problem. Don't worry about it," the Third Kazekage interjected, his tone firm. A battle at their level was not sothing Rasa could handle.
"Understood, Sensei," Rasa replied obediently, choosing not to press further.
The group fell silent again as they marched, Bunpuku maintaining a faint, serene smile the entire ti. Shukaku, sealed within him, remained uncharacteristically quiet.
Based on the Intelligence Division's information about Konoha's route, the Third Kazekage had already selected an ideal location for their camp.
anwhile, in the harsh desert of the Land of Wind, Tsunade led her forces forward. The further they went, the more difficult the journey beca. The flying sand and arid conditions grew worse by the hour.
Kawakaze, trudging along, grumbled, What's so good about fighting for a place like this? It's not like the Hokage plans to start an oil business here.
Fortunately, Shinku Yūhi had co prepared. He distributed face masks to the entire group and ensured they had ample supplies of clean water. Without these precautions, they might not have survived the desert long enough to face their enemies.
"What's the point of taking this place?" Kawakaze muttered, his tone unclear whether it was sarcasm or genuine curiosity.
"I'll tell you when I beco Hokage," Tsunade replied, brushing off the comnt. She felt Kawakaze was overthinking it. He wasn't the type to ask such philosophical questions seriously.
Sakumo silently moved a little further away from the two, not wanting to get dragged into the conversation. He didn't have an answer either. At this point, all he wanted was to take off his mask and go ho to his wife and child.
"Big Brother—" Kawakaze started.
"I don't know," Sakumo interrupted before Kawakaze could finish.
"That's not what I'm asking," Kawakaze replied, exasperated. "There are giant scorpions around at night, so everyone should be careful."
Sakumo glanced at him, unimpressed. "I already knew that." Having carried out many missions in the Land of Wind, Sakumo didn't need a reminder about the dangers of the desert.
Kawakaze sighed in defeat. He had only ant to make a casual comnt.
After two days of trekking through the barren desert, the group still hadn't seen any sign of human habitation. The Land of Wind was vast, but Kawakaze couldn't help but wonder: What was the value of all this emptiness?
Suddenly, Tsunade stopped in her tracks.
"What's wrong?" Kawakaze asked, stepping up beside her.
"The Seven-Tails has sensed Shukaku's presence," Tsunade said, her face growing serious. This revelation ant the Suna ninja army was close.
"Stop advancing and set up camp," Kawakaze ordered imdiately. The Konoha ninjas sprang into action, preparing for what they knew would be a major battle.
On the other side, within the Suna camp, Bunpuku interrupted the Third Kazekage, who was reviewing troop arrangents in the sand-covered command tent.
"Lord Third, Shukaku told he sensed the power of the Seven-Tails," Bunpuku reported.
"Seven-Tails?" The Third Kazekage wasn't angry but frowned deeply. The revelation was troubling. Konoha had managed to acquire another Tailed Beast.
"Yes," Bunpuku confird. The sensing between Tailed Beasts was never wrong.
"Konoha's troops are not far from us. Has any news co back?" the Third Kazekage asked the intelligence officer.
"Not yet. I'll go ask again," the officer replied nervously before hurrying out, clearly afraid of being blad for poor intelligence.
"Let's continue," the Third Kazekage said, addressing the room. "Konoha is on our ho turf, and their supply lines are stretched thin. As long as we cut off their supplies, these Konoha forces will have no choice but to retreat in disgrace. I'll lead a team to attack the supply lines. Can you hold them off in the anti?"
The Third Kazekage's plan was clear—avoid costly direct combat and focus on logistical sabotage. If Konoha couldn't sustain their forces, they'd collapse in the harsh desert.
"We will resist to the death," Pakura declared firmly. The other Suna ninjas echoed her determination. Despite their agreent, Chiyo's death still cast a heavy shadow over the troops, and their morale was far from ideal.
"Lord Third, the Konoha ninja have set up camp and seem to have noticed our presence," the intelligence officer reported upon returning, relaying information from a scout.
"Well then, locate Konoha's supply routes. I need the most detailed map possible. Can you do it?" The Third Kazekage stared intensely at the officer, making it clear this task had to succeed, regardless of the cost.
"Yes," the officer said quickly, bowing before rushing out. Gathering intelligence on Konoha's supply routes would undoubtedly cost many lives, but it was essential.
"That's it. Everyone, go. Double the night watch posts," the Kazekage commanded.
"Yes, Lord Third." The ninjas in the room dispersed, leaving only Bunpuku behind.
"Master Bunpuku, I'll leave this place in your hands while I'm gone," the Third Kazekage said sincerely. Bunpuku, as a perfect Jinchūriki, was one of the few remaining Kage-level individuals who could shoulder such responsibility.
"I'll do my best," Bunpuku replied humbly. anwhile, Shukaku stirred within him, shouting gleefully, "Co one, I'll kill one! Co two, I'll kill a pair! That winged brat with the Seven-Tails is no match for at all. It's more like a battle between and that stinky fox!"
How Bunpuku and Shukaku's polar opposite personalities coexisted so harmoniously was a mystery. Was love really that powerful?
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