Chapter 96 (Patreon)

Time passed, and the sweltering heat of summer gradually faded as autumn began to settle over the Land of Fire.

During the past two months, Kirigakure and Kumogakure had successively delivered enormous quantities of supplies to Konoha.

Just as Yujiro had predicted, neither village dared to tamper with the shipments.

After all, Mei Terumī of Kirigakure and Yugito Nii of Kumogakure were still being held in Konoha. However, the shinobi delegations responsible for transporting the supplies were permitted to see them. Once they confirmed that neither woman had been mistreated, the people of both villages were able to breathe a little easier.

As for Konoha, receiving such a massive amount of resources allowed the village to begin rebuilding and expanding on an unprecedented scale.

The first change was the doubling of wages, mission compensation, and benefits across several major departments. The treatment of ANBU operatives and ordinary shinobi alike improved considerably, while the village’s administrative system became far more organized.

With the benefits becoming increasingly attractive, more and more shinobi began applying to join the ANBU. In response, the ANBU established a clearer rank structure and promotion system to properly manage its growing numbers.

There was no possible way for Konoha to conceal such a vast quantity of supplies, nor was there any reason to do so. Most of the resources were immediately invested into the village’s reconstruction and development.

Konoha’s expansion plan had officially begun.

All matters related to medicine and healthcare were entrusted to Tsunade.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, had almost nothing to do. Every now and then, he would visit Yujiro’s home for a free meal before slipping away to Konoha’s hot springs in search of what he shamelessly called “inspiration.”

Over the same two months, Itachi frequently trained alongside Shisui. After once again being pushed to the brink between life and death, he finally awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan.

His combat ability had risen dramatically, and his current strength was estimated to be no weaker than Kakashi’s.

That evening, after everyone had finished eating, Yujiro turned toward Pakura.

“Pakura, make your preparations. You’re coming with me to Sunagakure tomorrow morning.”

Pakura clenched her teeth slightly before nodding.

“Understood, Yujiro-sama.”

She had already placed herself under Yujiro’s command. All she had to do now was follow his orders.

Yujiro gave a brief nod.

The following morning, he assembled the members of his team.

Shisui, Itachi, Kakashi, and Might Guy.

Guy was the newest addition.

Despite his age, Guy was already capable of opening the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates. That alone was enough to prove how formidable he had become. Once he opened the gates, he was capable of displaying strength far beyond what his ordinary appearance suggested.

However, the burden of the Seventh Gate was still too severe for his current body.

Including Yujiro and Pakura, the group consisted of six people.

Once everyone was ready, they departed.

Near Konoha’s main gate, Minato and the others watched as Yujiro’s group disappeared into the distance.

Jiraiya let out a long sigh.

“I wonder whether Sunagakure will survive this.”

He genuinely felt sorry for the village.

During the Third Shinobi World War, nearly every one of the other Four Great Shinobi Countries had made a move against Konoha.

This time, Yujiro seemed determined to bring all four of them to heel.

Had anyone suggested such a thing in the past, no one would have believed it possible.

Yet Minato, Jiraiya, and the others could no longer dismiss the idea.

Two of the Four Great Shinobi Villages had already chosen to submit.

Moreover, forcing the other villages into obedience was far more practical than occupying their territories outright. Konoha simply did not possess enough personnel to directly govern several major countries at once.

After leaving Konoha and passing through the surrounding forest, Yujiro’s group emerged onto a vast grassland that stretched toward the horizon.

“Kakashi!”

Guy suddenly turned around, his eyes burning with enthusiasm.

“Let’s have another youthful competition!”

Ever since the energetic and endlessly talkative Guy had joined the group, the journey had become far livelier.

“Guy…”

Kakashi looked at him helplessly.

After witnessing Guy’s relentless effort and determination, Kakashi had already acknowledged him as a true friend. Anyone capable of raising their taijutsu to such a level through sheer perseverance deserved that recognition.

Guy pointed toward a distant mountain and flashed a brilliant smile, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.

“That mountain will be the finish line!”

He raised one thumb.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

Guy did not even wait for Kakashi to agree. The moment the countdown ended, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

“That Guy…”

Kakashi pressed one hand against his forehead, completely speechless.

Yujiro walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Kakashi, if you keep taking things easy, Guy really will surpass you.”

Kakashi’s visible eye sharpened with determination.

“You’re right.”

He immediately launched himself forward.

“Guy! I’m coming!”

Perhaps this was where the lifelong rivalry between Kakashi and Might Guy truly began.

Yujiro watched them disappear into the distance before turning toward Pakura.

“Tell me about Sunagakure’s internal situation before you left.”

Pakura gathered her thoughts before answering.

“The current Fourth Kazekage is Rasa. He possesses the Magnet Release kekkei genkai and can control Gold Dust.”

She continued in a measured tone.

“His Gold Dust is extremely powerful, both offensively and defensively. Nearly every major decision in Sunagakure is made by Rasa himself.”

“In addition, to bring the One-Tail, Shukaku, under control, Rasa had it forcibly sealed inside the body of his youngest son, Gaara.”

“There has also been considerable friction between Sunagakure and Kumogakure.”

Pakura relayed all the information she knew.

“I see.”

Yujiro nodded thoughtfully.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, possessed the Magnet Release kekkei genkai and could manipulate Gold Dust.

Yujiro found the ability rather interesting.

The gold mixed into the desert sand might not have been particularly pure, but it could still be processed and refined. If Rasa ever decided to abandon his position as Kazekage and spend his time mining instead, he could probably earn an enormous fortune.

Yujiro moved closer to Shisui.

“Did we deliver Konoha’s message to Sunagakure?”

“Yes. It should have arrived yesterday,” Shisui replied after briefly calculating the time.

Even Shisui was somewhat shocked by Yujiro’s approach.

Their mission was to pressure Sunagakure into submission. If they launched a surprise attack, they could potentially catch the village unprepared and settle the matter immediately.

However, Yujiro had no intention of attacking from the shadows.

Instead, he was openly marching toward Sunagakure after sending them a message in advance, telling the village to prepare a proper welcome.

Still, Shisui knew that Yujiro must have his own reasons.

All he needed to do was trust and support him.

As for Itachi, who walked quietly on Shisui’s other side, his loyalty toward Yujiro was even more absolute.

The group continued toward Sunagakure without slowing down.

At that same moment, a secret meeting was taking place inside the Kazekage Building.

“What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Seated at the head of the table, Fourth Kazekage Rasa looked toward the assembled council members with a grave expression.

The seven or eight senior officials exchanged uncertain glances. For a while, none of them offered an answer.

The meeting room soon fell into a heavy silence.

Rasa lowered his gaze toward the document in his hand and released a troubled sigh.

“We still don’t know what kind of agreement Konoha reached with Kumogakure and Kirigakure.”

He paused before continuing.

“However, judging by the actions of those two villages, I suspect they have already reached some form of settlement with Konoha.”

Rasa lightly tapped one finger against the table.

“That means there is at least a fifty-percent chance that Konoha’s representatives are coming here to negotiate peace with us.”

One of the senior council members frowned.

“Kazekage-sama, why only fifty percent?”

“Because the letter merely stated that someone from Konoha would soon arrive in Sunagakure and instructed us to prepare a proper welcome.”

Rasa’s expression gradually became more serious.

“It never mentioned peace negotiations.”

He placed the document on the table.

“That means there is still another fifty-percent chance that Konoha has no intention of negotiating at all.”

“In that case, we need to deploy our elite shinobi immediately!” one of the elders hurriedly said.

“That’s right. What will we do if Konoha intends to start a war with Sunagakure?” another added.

“Enough. Quiet.”

Rasa swept his gaze across the room.

“Strengthen Sunagakure’s outer defenses over the next few days.”

“Deploy one thousand shinobi near the village entrance and have them remain concealed. The moment Konoha’s shinobi appear, surround them and prevent them from advancing.”

“Once they have been contained, I will arrive personally.”

Rasa narrowed his eyes.

“I also want to see what Konoha is planning.”

“Yes, Kazekage-sama!”

Over the following week, the defenses around Sunagakure became increasingly dense.

All Sunagakure shinobi carrying out missions beyond the village were recalled.

Although most of them had not been told what was happening, they could feel the oppressive atmosphere spreading through the village.

Time passed slowly.

Then, one morning, six figures gradually appeared on the distant horizon.

It was Yujiro’s group.

The Sunagakure shinobi stationed at the outer observation post immediately sent word to the Fourth Kazekage.

“What?!”

Rasa shot to his feet after hearing the intelligence shinobi’s report.

“Are you certain? You didn’t mistake her for someone else?”

A terrible feeling began to rise in his chest.

“I’m certain, Kazekage-sama!” the intelligence shinobi hurriedly replied. “I saw Pakura with my own eyes! She was traveling alongside Konoha’s shinobi!”

He hesitated for only a moment before declaring, “She has clearly betrayed Sunagakure!”

“That’s enough!”

Rasa’s voice thundered through the room.

“Leave.”

“Yes, Kazekage-sama!”

Once the intelligence shinobi withdrew, Rasa’s expression became exceedingly ugly.

What was happening?

Hadn’t Sunagakure already reached an agreement with Kirigakure?

Why was Pakura still alive?

More importantly, why was she traveling with shinobi from Konoha?

Rasa could not understand it.

According to the secret arrangement, Pakura should have died during the mission to Kirigakure.

Could it be that the truth behind his deal with the Hidden Mist had been discovered?