"The negotiations with Sunagakure are over. You can leave now. The people escorting you are already at the entrance," the medical ninja repeated, urging Pakura along.
Pakura's heart sank. Sasori hadn't explained what his plan actually was yet. The medical ninja had interrupted him, leaving Pakura, who had lost Scorch Release, confused and at a loss.
Almost instinctively, she looked at Sasori. Her lips moved slightly, wanting to ask what that "approach" of his really was.
But Sasori had already put away his parts and Chakra Threads and risen from the bed. His expression was impassive, as if leaving the hospital where he'd been imprisoned for half a month were no different from stepping outside for a walk.
Pakura gritted her teeth, forcing down her doubts and unease for the moment. Now wasn't the time for a detailed discussion.
Escorted by Konoha Ninja, the two left the hospital room and walked through the corridor she'd traversed countless times, with its sharp smell of disinfectant.
Sunlight streamed through the hospital entrance, dazzling Pakura and leaving her, after so long cooped up in a hospital room, momentarily dazed.
A familiar figure stood quietly at the hospital entrance. Her back was slightly stooped, but her posture remained as straight as a pine tree.
"Lady Chiyo!" Pakura cried out.
The person slowly turned around. It was Chiyo, the advisory elder of Sunagakure—and Sasori's grandmother.
She seemed to have aged considerably. Her face was covered in wrinkles.
Why was she here?
Where was the Third Kazekage? What about their leader, Rasa?!
Pakura hurried forward and asked, "Granny Chiyo! What happened to Teacher Rasa and Lord Third Kazekage?
"How badly were they injured? How could they have lost?"
Though she'd spent a long time in the hospital, Pakura had started reading the papers over the last