"Coo... coo-coo..."
The Ninja Hawk, enormous and powerfully built even among hawks, spread its wings to their fullest extent and landed steadily on Rasa's outstretched left hand. After fluttering its wings a few times and using its beak to tidy the feathers at their roots, it blinked its bright eyes, folded its wings, turned its head, and swept its sharp gaze over the surroundings before crying out several times.
"Thank you. Go on."
Rasa seemed to thank it as he removed the letter from the message tube fastened to its leg.
Then, with a flick of his left hand, he sent the Ninja Hawk aloft. Amid the flapping of wings and a piercing cry, the hawk soared upward, wholly unaffected by the rain. Before long, it vanished from everyone's sight once more.
"Lord Fourth Kazekage..."
At that moment, the four guard ninjas could not help speaking again.
"Grandma Chiyo was worried, so she had people scout the safety of our route beforehand. Naturally, once we enter the Land of Fire, we can no longer conduct such reconnaissance. That is the most basic show of respect toward Konoha."
As he spoke, Rasa unfolded the letter and began reading it.
They had scouted the route's safety in advance?
So that was it. Just as expected of Grandma Chiyo!
Hearing this, the guards immediately grew solemn. At the mention of safety, they remembered their duties and promptly turned around to begin keeping watch.
...Sigh.
Although these were already the most experienced guards available, their reactions in every respect still fell somewhat short.
Noticing his guards' actions, Rasa could not help sighing inwardly.
What the guards had just done was clearly unqualified, but they were already the best guards the village could spare. Aside from a faint dissatisfaction, all Rasa felt was deep helplessness.