Target, Sunagakure!

Jūjirō fled in a miserable state, screams constantly ringing in his ears as his subordinates were slaughtered. The one hunting him down was none other than Kazekage Gaara.

Jūjirō was considered a fairly capable ninja, but he was still nowhere near a match for the Kazekage.

As for why Gaara was pursuing him, it was because he was a rogue Sunagakure ninja. Of course, that was merely his public identity; in truth, he was a spy the Land of Wind Daimyo had planted in Sunagakure.

However, his identity as a spy had been exposed over a minor matter, forcing him to flee Sunagakure.

After escaping Sunagakure, he had intended to return to the Daimyo's side. Who would have thought that the Daimyo would instead pay him to form a mercenary corps? He had no choice but to comply.

After forming the mercenary corps, he had followed the Daimyo's orders and plundered the smaller nations everywhere, committing countless evil deeds in the process. He never expected to attract Gaara's attention.

In fact, Gaara was also acting under orders. Jūjirō was a rogue Sunagakure ninja, and his crimes abroad had left the Land of Wind in a very difficult position within the United Nations.

Thus, the Land of Wind Daimyo ordered Gaara to wipe out Jūjirō. As for the message Jūjirō sent asking him for help, the Land of Wind Daimyo did not even spare it a glance.

A useless pawn naturally had to be removed as soon as possible. No—he should be put to good use first.

The Land of Wind Daimyo strung Jūjirō along and had him hold Gaara back, while secretly sending people to contact the leaders of other mercenary corps in Jūjirō's name. That was what led to the situation on Chongji's side.

The Land of Wind had