"Lord Fourth Hokage, what is it?"
In the boundless night, having already crossed the border of the Land of Rain and entered the Border Line of the Land of Fire, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had been racing across a grassland and was about to enter the forest ahead when he suddenly halted.
Four figures immediately sped past him, but they quickly stopped as well. They turned back in astonishment to look at the youngest among them—the Fourth Kazekage they were meant to protect—and asked in confusion.
"Come back!"
Rasa's expression was grave as he stared fixedly at the forest. His words were nearly a sharp shout.
"Yes!"
Though they had received no explanation and had not understood immediately, seeing their Kazekage's stern expression and tone, the four men promptly retreated. They formed a defensive formation and enclosed the Fourth Kazekage within it.
"No! Get behind me."
However, Rasa rejected their attempt to protect him.
"Lord Fourth Kazekage?"
The four guards were stunned again, gazing blankly at the man they were supposed to protect.
"Stop talking and get behind me!"
At this moment, Rasa's face had tightened. His hands lowered slightly, and yellow sand spilled from his sleeves onto the ground. By the time his words fell, two piles of glittering, gold-like sand had appeared at his feet.
Whoever's coming isn't easy to deal with!
"But..."
Upon hearing this, three of the four could not help speaking up.
They had been assigned to protect Lord Fourth Kazekage. How could they retreat behind the person they were meant to protect? They might not have been the village's most elite guards, but they understood a guard's duty and had sworn to carry it out to the end.
Now that an enemy was clearly approaching, how could they retreat?
"Enough! Follow Lord Fourth Kazekage's