Long-Distance Communication

Long-Distance Communication

"Hey, monk, you're going too far. Why am I the one researching all the ninjutsu while you only meditate and practice Zen?"

With a rumbling sound, streams of quicksand surged up from the ground before Bunpuku, gathering into a gigantic tanuki nearly the size of a small mountain.

Shukaku looked at Bunpuku with impatience. He felt he was getting the short end of the stick. He worked tirelessly to research ninjutsu while this monk went out to show off and speak on his behalf, leaving him to do all the hard work without complaint.

"The heart and strength are different. I cultivate the heart, while you cultivate strength. Everything I have is built upon you."

Bunpuku opened his eyes and answered calmly.

He was like a still, deep pool.

"Besides, Lord Kazekage promised to build you a statue for all the world to admire."

Bunpuku knew him far too well. Shukaku was nothing more than a king of empty talk.

"Fine, fine. Let's continue today's sutra lesson. It's not like I can outargue you anyway."

The moment Shukaku heard that Yunqing would build him a statue for people to admire, he immediately perked up.

Bunpuku had no issue with Shukaku's reaction.

After living together for decades, there was nothing they did not understand about each other.

The Four-Tails and Rōshi had managed to become an almost perfect Jinchuriki pair after decades together.

He and Shukaku had also spent decades together, with Yunqing's "guidance" on top of that. There was nothing they did not understand about each other.

Not long afterward, waves of sutra chanting echoed through this mental space. Shukaku and Bunpuku sat facing each other, looking exceptionally harmonious.

Several days later, Ebizo looked over the cleared-out harbor and nodded in satisfaction. He gave Bunpuku a hand signal, and Bunpuku immediately summoned a patch of Floating Sand, carrying Ebizo and four Jonin out over the sea.

As the Floating Sand rose into the air, faint wisps of sand and dust, nearly invisible to the eye, drifted outward in every direction from the Floating Sand carrying Bunpuku and the others.

"Ha, monk, what do you think? This is the newest ninjutsu I invented. Even at sea, we can maintain tremendous combat power.

"Most importantly, I can reassemble my true body at any time, and it can also be used for reconnaissance and attacks."

As soon as the Floating Sand reached the sea, Bunpuku sat down and began conversing with Shukaku.

More accurately, Shukaku had begun a one-sided display of bragging.

The four fully armed Sunagakure Jonin stood in the four directions, vigilantly guarding Bunpuku and Ebizo with eyes and ears alert to everything around them.

"Don't be too nervous. The odds of encountering Kirigakure are very low. Besides, we never concealed our departure.

"Kirigakure should already know about it."

Wisdom gleamed in Ebizo's eyes as he reassured the four Jonin.

Glancing at Bunpuku beside him, who had his eyes closed in meditation, Ebizo felt even more confident.

Before they came, Yunqing had guaranteed that Bunpuku might not be able to kill a Kirigakure force led by Hozuki Gengetsu, but if Bunpuku wanted to flee with them, Hozuki Gengetsu could chase himself to death and still fail to catch up.

The four Sunagakure Jonin looked at Ebizo helplessly. They felt that Lord Ebizo had violated the iron rules of shinobi. Shouldn't shinobi remain hidden in the shadows? Why had it become a matter of informing the enemy of their itinerary under his command?

"Lord Elder, wouldn't that put us in great danger?"

A young Sunagakure Jonin spoke up in confusion.

"Danger? How could we be in danger? Besides, what shinobi mission isn't dangerous?

"And right now, the ones worried about danger aren't us. It's Kirigakure."

Ebizo grinned as he glanced at the young Jonin and began lecturing him.

Without a Kage-level Bunpuku, they would indeed be in considerable danger, and death could come at any moment.

But with a Kage-level Bunpuku present, the situation was entirely different.

If they caused trouble, merely harassing without attacking outright, wearing Hozuki Gengetsu down to death would only be a matter of time.

Most importantly, if Hozuki Gengetsu attacked them, it would trigger a war between the two great ninja villages.

The young Sand Shinobi wanted to say more, but the moment he opened his mouth, an experienced Jonin beside him stopped him.

Arguing was not a good habit, especially arguing with one's superior.

"Young man, learn a little more. When you have time, read more of the books Yunqing wrote. They'll be very helpful in changing the way you think."

Ebizo smiled at the young Sand Shinobi, who had been reminded by his companion.

Born during the Sengoku period and having lived through the First Kazekage and Second Kazekage, Ebizo was not exactly an old-fashioned conservative.

Years of slaughter on the battlefield and political struggles among the major ninja villages had forged strong nerves in him, allowing him to readily accept the changes Yunqing had brought.

"The Sand Shinobi sent to the Land of Whirlpools should have arrived by now."

Ebizo murmured to himself.

For people of his and Bunpuku's standing to make a diplomatic visit, someone needed to notify them in advance, and the Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village also needed time to prepare.

"Yes. The sand I left on him shows that he has already reached the Land of Whirlpools. The Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village should have begun making preparations."

Bunpuku opened his eyes and replied.

Not taking precautions was not in their nature.

Elsewhere, in the Land of Water, Kirigakure's fleet.

One Mist ninja after another piloted swift little boats around the fleet, while the many ninjas aboard stood firm at their respective posts.

Kirigakure's emblem flag flew from the leading ship.

Inside the captain's cabin, Hozuki Gengetsu sat across from Mizunaki Kuchiki, his face dark.

"Ebizo really played a good hand."

Hozuki Gengetsu gritted his teeth.

He had guessed that Sunagakure would make a move, but he had not expected them to be so direct.

"Ever since the Third Kazekage took office, everything Sunagakure has done has been reckless and forceful. It looks barbaric, but it actually contains great wisdom. They are exceptionally skilled at driving a wedge between others and using one force to strike another."

As the brains of the group, Mizunaki Kuchiki carefully analyzed Sunagakure's actions.

He firmly believed that a leader's style would influence the style of those beneath them.

"They're troublesome, but what do they want?

They must be after something—something whose benefits far outweigh the price they are paying.

I truly can't imagine what benefit could be greater than the cost of going to war with Kirigakure."

Hozuki Gengetsu furrowed his brow deeply. He had to consider many things; he saw more than others, and thus had more to weigh than anyone else.

Sunagakure did not lack Sealing Techniques; they all knew that. Nor did Sunagakure lack people—or rather, their food supply limited their population.

Sunagakure should have been recuperating and building up its strength, quietly waiting for the next great war to begin.

"Sunagakure's current slogan is economic development. Their relationship with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind is extremely poor, and the Third Kazekage publicly recruited people in the Land of Rain before.

"I think what draws them to the Land of Whirlpools is its population, especially those with specialized skills."

Mizunaki Kuchiki connected this with Sunagakure's recent actions and offered a reminder.

"Now that's interesting. But it doesn't matter. If that's really the case, Ebizo and the others probably won't help much.

Sunagakure doesn't want to take in a batch of people who expect to be waited on, either.

The land and the Sealing Techniques—those things will ultimately still be ours."

With that reminder, Hozuki Gengetsu gave a cold smile and immediately understood.