Chiyo, Are You Scolding Me?

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

Whoosh—

In the vast desert, smoke rose in isolation as sandstorms swept through the air, so heavy that it seemed even the sunlight was swallowed whole.

Yet, in such harsh conditions.

A Sunagakure squad leader stood silently at the village gates with several sand ninja, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.

Time slipped away slowly, until suddenly.

"Look! Is that the people from Konoha?" one sand ninja pointed in a direction, ecstatic.

Everyone hurriedly turned their gaze toward it.

There, on the desert horizon in that direction, four figures slowly appeared, gradually growing larger.

However, the way one of those figures was walking seemed to be limping?!

Perhaps it was a unique method of training!

Thinking this, the sand ninja immediately went to meet them.

These four figures were none other than Team 7, who had arrived to provide support.

As for why there were four, they had happened to run into Temari on the way to Sunagakure and decided to travel together.

Sakura noticed this scene and spoke up.

"Kakashi-sensei, Sunagakure has spotted us!"

"Mm, let's pick up the pace," Kakashi nodded, then rubbed his backside, casting a resentful glance at Naruto.

"What a nice day! Can I be a 'plucker' today?" Naruto, however, turned a blind eye and whistled as he walked straight toward Sunagakure.

The two groups met.

"Everyone from Konoha." The leading sand ninja squad leader immediately cupped his hands, then caught sight of Temari on the side, looking surprised. "Lady Temari, you are here too!"

"Mm," Temari nodded.

"Then everyone, please follow me!" The squad leader spoke again, his gaze shifting to the person behind Kakashi.

In an instant.

Hum—

He was struck as if by lightning, his body stiffening, cold sweat dripping down his back as he stammered.

"Uzumaki... Naruto..."

"What? That Konoha killing star who wiped out hundreds of Root members?!" The other sand ninja were shocked upon hearing this.

One must never underestimate the speed at which intelligence spreads; Naruto's deeds and portrait had long since circulated throughout the major nations.

Thus, they truly felt fear toward this terrifying existence who had destroyed Root single-handedly!

"Don't be nervous, he was sent by Konoha to provide reinforcements!" Temari, having grown accustomed to him during the journey, hurriedly explained.

"Apologies, apologies..." The squad leader snapped back to reality, apologizing profusely. "It is just that Lord Naruto's reputation is so illustrious, I hope you will forgive us."

With that, he led the way.

Kakashi and the others followed.

The other sand ninja did not follow, instead staring at the backs of Naruto and the others as they walked away, until they disappeared from sight.

Afterward.

"Hiss—" One of the sand ninja had cold sweat pouring down his forehead, and he hurriedly spoke to the others.

"As expected of a ruthless character who wiped out Root single-handedly; even without intentionally releasing killing intent, he still makes my blood run cold..."

"And I heard that if anyone else in Konoha insults him, they don't even get a chance to apologize—they just get blasted away!" another sand ninja nearby chimed in.

"Too terrifying... is this guy mentally unstable?"

"Silence! Send word down immediately: no one in the village is to speak ill of him!"

On the way, the squad leader recounted the incident involving Kankuro.

"What?! Even Kankuro?!" Temari was struck as if by lightning, her expression changing in alarm.

The squad leader continued, "That's right. Furthermore, Lord Kankuro has been struck by an unknown poison, and there is currently no antidote! If this continues..."

"Damn it!" Temari shouted in frustration.

Sakura, listening from the side, looked grave and spoke up, "Let's hurry, Temari! Perhaps I can cure the poison!"

Temari looked at Sakura, as if grabbing onto a final straw of hope, and said gratefully.

"I'm counting on you!"

Soon, the group arrived in the corridor of the Sunagakure hospital.

At the same time.

A wail that sounded as if it had risen from the depths of hell reached everyone's ears.

"Ughhhhhhh..."

"That's... Kankuro's voice." Temari's complexion turned ghastly, as if she had been covered in frost.

Finally, the group arrived at the entrance of the operating room.

Inside the room, the scene was dire.

"Ugh..." Kankuro was wailing incessantly on the hospital bed. His limbs appeared to be eroded by a demon, manifesting various symptoms that looked excruciatingly painful.

All around, the medical staff and prominent figures of Sunagakure were frantic, completely at their wits' end.

Seeing this, Temari rushed forward immediately, her voice trembling with anxiety.

"Kankuro?! Are you alright?!"

Unfortunately, Kankuro was on the verge of death and naturally could not respond to his sister.

"Temari?! And...!"

With Temari's entry, the others in the operating room snapped back to reality.

A look of joy instantly appeared on Baki's face: "The reinforcements from Konoha have arrived!"

"Let me see!" Sakura did not hesitate for a second, immediately rushing forward to examine Kankuro's injuries.

Meanwhile, Chiyo and Ebizo fixed their gazes upon Kakashi and Naruto.

In an instant, "Buzz—" A deafening ringing sound erupted in Chiyo's head. Her body froze in place, and the veins on her forehead bulged.

The figure of the White Fang from the past appeared in her pupils like a ghost, constantly overlapping with Kakashi's appearance!

Gradually, the two merged into one.

It was him, the White Fang of the Leaf.

The heinous man who had driven her son and daughter-in-law to their deaths!

Chiyo's face instantly twisted into a ferocious mask of hatred. Her hair stood on end, and she let out a furious roar.

"Damn you, White Fang of the Leaf! How dare you show your face in my Sunagakure? Today, I will tear you to pieces!"

As the words fell, "Whoosh—" Chiyo leaped into the air, swung her arms, and lunged fiercely toward Kakashi!

Rage had completely clouded Chiyo's mind; she hadn't even considered that if this were truly the White Fang of the Leaf...

For a puppeteer like her to engage in close-quarters combat with the White Fang would be nothing short of suicide.

The others were struck with horror at the sight.

"Grandmother Chiyo!" Temari's pupils dilated violently as she cried out, attempting to intervene.

But it was already too late.

"Die! White Fang of the Leaf!" Chiyo's fist, carrying a terrifying momentum, had already struck out.

Kakashi, for a moment, was caught completely off guard and stood frozen in place.

However, at that critical juncture, Naruto stood forward unhurriedly with a smile on his lips, reaching out a hand toward Chiyo.

Without a shred of suspense, "Snap—" Naruto caught Chiyo's fist firmly in his grip, bringing her body to a dead halt in mid-air.

"What?!" Chiyo was shocked. Her gaze shot toward Naruto as she barked angrily, "Who are you?! Brat! Do you intend to be buried alongside the White Fang of the Leaf?!"

Chiyo had been living in seclusion and had only just been brought out of retirement by Baki to treat Kankuro; naturally, she knew nothing of the recent events in Konoha.

"Grandmother Chiyo, stop!" Baki, who had recognized Naruto, felt his heart jolt and shouted anxiously.

That man was the Killing Star of Konoha!

According to the intelligence reports, he was so ruthless that he would even kill his own people!

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Naruto looked at Chiyo, a playful glint flickering in his azure eyes as he bared his white teeth and smiled.

"You? Insulted me?!"