Sunagakure, Pakura's Home.
The air was cool, with the crisp dryness unique to the desert.
A few sand sparrows skimmed over the rooftops, their wings slicing through the silence as they left behind several clear chirps.
Thin wisps of white smoke rose from the village chimneys, mingling with the morning mist as they drifted slowly toward the sky.
"Meow—"
"Still sleeping? Still sleeping? Granny Chiyo's already started sealing Shukaku! And you're still asleep!"
In Pakura's room, Candy leaped onto Liao Wu's face and shouted at him as hard as she could.
But Liao Wu had been rather worn out the night before, and no matter how much Candy yelled, she couldn't wake him.
Candy had a sudden idea and meowed in his ear, "Wake up, there's a naked woman."
"A naked woman!"
Liao Wu woke up at once. "Where? Where is she?"
He looked around and saw only Pakura, sleeping beside him. Under the covers, she wasn't wearing a thing.
"So that's where she is!"
The early bird really did catch the worm.
Candy suddenly grabbed Liao Wu by the hair. "Meow—you're unbelievable. Is this really the time to sleep?"
"Have you forgotten what day it is? Granny Chiyo's sealing Shukaku today. You came to Sand Village to capture him."
"Get up and gather your weapons. You're going to capture Shukaku!"
Candy was nearly tearing her hair out over Liao Wu's mission.
She'd barely slept at all, spending the whole night monitoring Rasa and Granny Chiyo.
She'd even had Snow Leopard intercept a letter from the Leaf Village. The Third Hokage had urged Rasa to move the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beast as soon as possible.
The eunuchs were in such a hurry, but the emperor didn't care in the least.
Liao Wu hurriedly got up and started dressing. "Why is