The Third Kazekage: Sasori, I Can Forgive You

"Yes."

Minato Namikaze nodded.

Just as they were about to negotiate, several figures suddenly appeared from the surrounding area.

Immediately, a series of Wind Blade whistled through the air.

The Water Wall isn't very effective against these Wind Blade, but--

The four figures moved in a flash, immediately retreating.

Kyohiko the fastest.

His figure flashed past, and in the blink of an eye, he was beside someone, his blade swiftly drawn.

When!

The opponent blocked with Kunai, and then one Kunai after another was manipulated and attacked him.

However.

The next second, Kyohiko drew a short sword from his waist with his left hand, Chakra into it, and swiftly slashed forward like flowing water.

At that moment, a puppet rose up in front of him.

The blade sliced through.

Whoosh!

With Chakra, a swirling vortex shattered the puppet's core. Taking advantage of the opponent's moment of shock, Kyohiko released his right hand from the hilt of his sword and formed a hand Hand Seals.

In an instant, the clone caught the blade and slashed Body Flicker Technique.

Sunagakure, die!

At the same time, Might Guy and Kakashi worked together to kill one person.

"Walk!"

Minato threw out several Explosive Tag.

Immediately--

Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!

A massive influx of Chakra created a howling wind and a fierce hurricane that whipped up sand and dust, swirled leaves, and sent Explosive Tag hurtling towards the Sunagakure ninja.

Immediately.

Iron spikes extended from the ground, quickly transforming into a large wall.

Magnet Release · Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall.

Boom!

After a deafening roar, the Third Kazekage turned around, his eyes filled with anger. "Who gave you permission to act on your own?"

"Lord Kazekage, that guy is White Fang's son!"

Chiyo's face was grim, her gaze fixed on Kakashi and Andre beside him like a hawk.

It looks so familiar!

If Kakashi were younger, she would have mistakenly thought that White Fang had been resurrected.

but.

This didn't stop her from wanting to kill them; besides, these people were there for her grandson, how could she not fight to the death?

Elder Chiyo.

The Third Kazekage frowned.

"He's White Fang's son! He's got White Fang's weapons, and that damn dog..."

Chiyo's eyes flashed with a fierce light as she quickly gave chase.

The number of Sunagakure around them increased, numbering roughly a dozen, though it was difficult to determine how many of them were Jonin or Chunin.

They all gave chase.

The Third Kazekage considered the situation for a moment, then continued the pursuit, but whispered, "Remember, we are here representing the village, not just you!"

Chiyo remained silent.

Iron Sand gathered behind the Third Kazekage, transforming into a pair of wings. The next moment, the Third Kazekage swiftly flew into the air, heading towards the location of Minato Namikaze and the others.

Soon, the Third Kazekage caught up with Minato Namikaze was walking at the very back.

"Does Sunagakure want to start a war?"

Minato Namikaze's expression was serious as he retreated step by step.

Regardless of whether the other party has malicious intent, the current situation makes it impossible for both sides to sit down and have a peaceful exchange.

Minato realized that people from Sunagakure were also coming.

but.

He hadn't expected so many people to come.

The Kazekage, Chiyo, and a dozen or so other ninjas.

If such a large-scale attack were to suddenly strike the border, the few small teams stationed at Konoha's border would be completely unable to handle it.

Minato Namikaze knew there was no way to escape this way.

His Chakra was accumulating within him.

"I can summon Gamabunta through my psychic powers; you'll all have to run then."

"I can also communicate with a spirit."

Kyohiko said in a low voice.

While the Strong Toad isn't as big as Gamabunta, it's definitely not weak and can also be of help in the current battle.

The two exchanged a glance.

Then...

Summoning Technique!

Both of them bit their fingers at the same time.

A short while later.

Boom!

Two Toad, one large and one small, stood before the battlefield, surrounded by smoke and dust.

Gamabunta and the Strong Toad stood in the middle of the two sides.

Gamabunta took a puff of cigarette.

Minato and the others were hanging on him at that moment, while only Kyohiko was standing on the back of the Strong Toad.

The Strong Toad glanced at it and said, "What a grand display!"

"So, you guys from Sunagakure, do you want to fight?"

Gamabunta drew the blade from his waist.

He's not afraid of fighting!

The Third Kazekage narrowed his eyes slightly, and finally said calmly, "Step back!"

"Lord Kazekage..."

"Step back!"

The Third Kazekage rebuked him sternly.

The Sunagakure ninja had no choice but to retreat.

He flew through the air, looking at Minato Namikaze on Gamabunta's body. "Konoha ninja, we've come here to pursue missing-nin, we have no intention of clashing with you."

"Furthermore, based on our investigations over the past few days, Scorpion has most likely already left this area."

With the Third Kazekage ahead, the Sunagakure ninja dared not pursue any further.

Minato Namikaze scanned the area.

"Two of our ninjas went missing after he attacked them. We must find their bodies no matter what; we can't let our village heroes be lost."

He was neither humble nor arrogant, and he was not intimidated even though the other party was the Third Kazekage.

The Third Kazekage looked left and right, then turned back, fixing his gaze on Chiyo, who was rushing over to him from a tree below.

Then, an iron pillar rose up, lifting Chiyo up.

Chiyo said, "We didn't see a body or any remains. When we got there, many traces had been cleaned up. We searched for a while before finding some clues."

What clue?

Minato Namikaze immediately inquired.

Chiyo's face was filled with resentment, but she still took out a piece of cloth and a puppet arm.

"This is what we found at the scene."

The Third Kazekage took a piece of cloth from it.

Then, he slowly walked towards Minato. When he was only a dozen steps away, he conjured an iron spike in his hand and extended it all the way to Minato's front.

"We're not sure if it was left by Scorpion, but perhaps we can provide you with some information."

The Third Kazekage.

Minato Namikaze didn't dare to be careless. He wrapped the cloth around the piece of cloth and handed it to Kakashi.

Andre sniffed it and confirmed it was non-toxic...

Only then did they accept it.

"Our Sunagakure has no intention of clashing with Konoha. Sasori defected last year, and we have been tracking his whereabouts ever since. His poison and Puppet Technique are very powerful and could potentially cause casualties to you. If you have any leads, please contact us."

The Third Kazekage was quite rational and didn't speak arrogantly.

More.

He still hoped to find Sasori of the Red Sands.

"We understand your request. If we have any information, or if we find the body of your ninja, we will definitely transfer it through compliant channels."

"Thank you, Kazekage."

Minato Namikaze politely returned the gesture, then watched the other party leave with his entourage.

He breathed a long sigh of relief.

Next, they thanked Gamabunta and Strong Toad, and Kakashi also thanked Andre.

The three sent all the summoned beasts back.

Minato finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness for Gamabunta's help, otherwise we would have been in danger this time."

The atmosphere immediately relaxed.

but.

He then added, "Chiyo is very hostile towards us, so we can't go with them. I plan to meet up with Shikaku first. What do you all think?"

I also think we should go back first.

Kyohiko strongly agreed with Minato's decision.

With the Third Kazekage around, moving forward felt like sitting on pins and needles, constantly at risk of being stabbed in the back. It was better to play it safe and take a step back.

after all.

Once a person falls into the hands of a scorpion, they are basically dead; all they want is a corpse.

It wouldn't be worth risking your life for this.

"Lord Kazekage."

"Chiyo, you were too impulsive."

The Third Kazekage.

Then, he sighed softly.

He was also aware of the feud between Chiyo and Hatake Sakumo.

Sasori of the Red Sands's current predicament is indeed largely due to Hatake Sakumo, but there is currently no war between Konoha and Sunagakure. As the Kazekage, if he were to actually take action, it would mean the start of a war.

But.

Chiyo made great contributions to Sunagakure; her entire family died for the Sunagakure. How could he possibly criticize her?

The Third Kazekage sighed, then frowned. "Have you taken note of their strength?"

"That blond guy is very strong; he should be Minato Namikaze, the Konoha genius who has gained considerable fame in the last year or two. As for the other three..."

Chiyo didn't pay much attention.

At that moment, her gaze was entirely fixed on Kakashi and Minato Namikaze; she paid no attention to Kyohiko.

"Hmm... let's look at the body."

The Third Kazekage walked towards the two corpses.

The two stepped forward.

Judging from the knife marks, the knife paths and styles are quite different.

but.

Even those three children were still very strong.

The Third Kazekage closed his eyes, recalling the scene from that time.

"Have you noticed that black-haired guy who's skilled with a sword? His speed and swordsmanship are even more terrifying than those of the Hatake Clan. He seems more like a disciple of Hatake Sakumo. But strangely, he can also summon Jiraiya's Toad."

The Third Kazekage couldn't understand it.

Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship style, Jiraiya's Summoning Contract inheritance.

When did the apprenticeship system in Konoha become so arbitrary?

"Regardless of whether he is Hatake Sakumo's successor or not, I will kill him and that Hatake Clan!"

Chiyo's eyes turned bloodshot.

That damned thing even took on a disciple and passed on his swordsmanship?

But what about myself!

The family was destroyed, and even the grandson betrayed the village and ran away. They were tracked down for a year but could not find him.

She was even more unsettled.

Chiyo was grinding her teeth to powder, only regretting that the other side had summoned Gamabunta, forcing them to hesitate before acting, otherwise they would have surely killed all four of them here!

She was reminiscing when something suddenly came to mind.

"By the way, that kid's Water Style techniques are very fast, somewhat Second Hokage Tobirama Senju!"

Water Style, swordsmanship, Toad...

The Third Kazekage frowned.

Why are the ingredients getting more and more complex?

Suddenly, he remembered some intelligence.

"Isn't there a genius in Konoha recently named Kyohiko Yoshimine who performed very well in the Chunin Ninja Exams in Yugakure?"

It's him!

Chiyo also remembered.

She met the gaze of the Third Kazekage.

He was proficient in swordsmanship, Ninjutsu, and Taijutsu.

An absolute genius!

If this person can be eliminated, it would be worth risking war.

after all.

Once the war begins, there will be many who target Konoha.

The Third Kazekage had some regrets.

pity.

Thinking about it now is useless.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Scorpion is the most outstanding genius of Sunagakure. Konoha's previous team suffered a great loss, so they won't be so easily killed this time. Let them go look for him; there will be another chance, and besides..."

Giving Sasori the opportunity to kill his enemy's son with his own hands might allow that child to return to the village and become a pillar of Sunagakure's future.

Sunagakure desperately needs talented people!

The Third Kazekage sighed inwardly, but did not tell Chiyo his thoughts.

"Yes!"

Border of the Land of Fire.

The Kyohiko squad returned to the Land of Fire, where they waited and rested, without rushing to search for Sasori of the Red Sands's whereabouts.

"Senior Minato, should we send a message back to the village first?"

"Yes, I've already sent it."

Minato Namikaze nodded.

Upon hearing this, Kyohiko immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Except for slow rescues in critical moments, Minato is quite reliable and doesn't require his attention at all.

A moment of silence fell over everyone.

The mission didn't get off to a good start, and everyone suddenly lost their direction.

Kyohiko then considered the map.

They were in the middle of the Land of Rivers, and judging from the location of Sunagakure, it seemed they were sweeping northwards from where Hizashi had fought.

So, which direction did Konoha's previous team search?

We still have to wait for the Ino-Shika-Cho team.

They arrived earlier to provide support and perhaps know more.

A moment later, the Toad returned with the message.

Konoha's stance is to Nara Shikaku at the border.

In the evening, the sun sets and the moon rises.

Chirp chirp!

At that moment, a bird's chirp rang out.

Kyohiko looked up and saw only a dark black crow circling and hovering in the air.

"They may have arrived."

"Um?"

The others woke up immediately.

Minato Namikaze looked at Kyohiko in surprise.

How did you know?

"This bird is watching us, and I heard three footsteps."

In the quiet of the mountain forest at night, all sounds can travel very far.

Even with the mountains nearby, Kyohiko could still hear clear "swish" sounds.

Soon after, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio arrived. Nara Shikaku and Choza Akimichi had met once before, while Kyohiko had only met Yamanaka Inoichi.

At this moment, Yamanaka Inoichi Hand Seals to dispel the evil spirits.

The crows overhead quickly flew away.

"Shikaku."

"Minato, you've arrived? I saw the marks you left along the way. What happened?"

"We encountered the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure..."

Minato then recounted the situation.

Kyohiko, standing to the side, added some details.

After they finished sharing their intelligence, Nara Shikaku also revealed the information they had gathered.

During this time, they searched south along the previous location, but didn't find much along the way. The ninjas there had mostly retreated, but then they saw the signal they had left behind.

Sit down on either side.

Around the campfire, everyone discussed their next move.

So you mean north?

Choza Akimichi stuffed a Military Ration Pill into his mouth.

Nara Shikaku moment, then looked at Minato and Kyohiko, and said with a smile, "You're probably considering whether or not to continue the mission, right?"

"Yes."

Minato Namikaze retrieved Jiraiya's handwritten letter. "This is Konoha's reply."

Nara Shikaku glanced at it, his heart heavy.

This is tantamount to handing over the decision-making power to him.

What do you think?

"Sunagakure's attitude is unclear, and we can't be sure if they really came for Sasori of the Red Sands. I don't think we can leave."

Minato Namikaze.

Nara Shikaku nodded.

He agreed, but what about staying?

This is a problem.

After pondering for a moment, Shikaku had some ideas and was about to share them when he caught a glimpse of Kyohiko out of the corner of his eye. A thought immediately struck him, and he asked, "Kyohiko, do you have any ideas?"

"Minato- senpai is right, we can't leave. If we leave, who knows what Sunagakure will do next?"

Kyohiko said, revealing his thoughts. "I think we should send a fast, elite team with reconnaissance capabilities to follow them. If they return to the Land of Wind, we'll escort them back politely. If they find Sunagakure, then we'll wait until we've dealt with that before demanding an explanation."

The search for Sasori of the Red Sands is not just for the corpses of their own people, but also for Sasori himself.

The poisons and puppets that Sasori is researching pose a significant threat to Konoha, and Konoha is currently unsure of his motives for attacking Hizashi.

The answer will be found if you catch the scorpion.

"Follow them..."

After hearing Nara Shikaku's eyes gradually brightened.

What he was thinking was--

They waited at the border for an opportunity, occasionally sending out a reconnaissance squad to investigate the movements of the Sunagakure ninja.

Clearly, Kyohiko's method was more effective.

If they protect each other, the other party won't be able to find fault, but the premise is that the "elite team" that Kyohiko mentioned can really do reconnaissance and escape quickly.

"Our two teams will move together!"

Minato.

Nara Shikaku waved his hand. "No! Me, Choza, and... who among you will stay?"

"I."

Might Guy raised his hand.

He forced a smile and said, "Kyohiko has good hearing, Kakashi can summon Ninja Hound to help with tracking, so I can't be of much help."

A moment of silence followed, then--

"Good."

Before Minato could speak, Kyohiko agreed, "If we encounter any trouble, we hope you can provide cover and support us quickly."

"Must!"

Shikaku smiled and nodded.

Kai paused for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

The four men tracked him down under cover of night.

The next day, the Sunagakure quickly discovered that there were two more people on their tails.

The other party didn't hide anything at all.

This is outrageous!

Chiyo was so angry she was trembling.

She acted impulsively yesterday, but has calmed down considerably today and understands that she cannot kill Minato Namikaze and the other three directly.

but.

Two of the group left and then returned, openly following her, which she found somewhat unbearable.

The Third Kazekage controls the Eye of Sand.

A moment later.

"There are more than two; there are at least two more behind them, and perhaps even one or two smaller teams."

What is Konoha trying to do?

Chiyo frowned.

She was skilled in poisons and medicine, but in these areas she was far inferior to her younger brother, Ebizo.

The Third Kazekage pondered for a moment, then frowned.

The opponent is very tough!

This distance is safe for both parties.

The fact that neither side is hiding anything means that there is no intention of a surprise attack or assassination; whoever strikes first is trying to provoke a war.

Although Konoha has suffered a great war and is not yet fully recovered, Sunagakure is in the same situation. Moreover, the Land of Wind is not as wealthy as the Land of Fire, and the village receives fewer requests and funds than Konoha. Therefore, its current strength is definitely inferior to Konoha's.

Unless he wants to start a war with Konoha right now, otherwise...

The Third Kazekage was already considering retiring.

"They're waiting for us to find Sasori of the Red Sands, then they'll come up and demand something, or they'll kill Sasori then."

"You wish!"

Chiyo snorted coldly.

"Elder, what I mean is, why don't we go back to Sunagakure and stop looking for Sasori for now? Let them do the searching."

The Third Kazekage said, "I believe in Sasori's abilities; Konoha shouldn't be able to do anything to him."

"This..."

Chiyo hesitated.

Having finally obtained a clue about the scorpion, she was unwilling to give up.

After a long silence, she gritted her teeth and said, "Please, Lord Kazekage, give me a small team. I want to follow them. If I can find Scorpion, I will bring him back to the village!"

Chiyo paused, then said decisively, "When the time comes, you can do whatever you want with me!"

"Scorpion is a genius; his defection didn't cause too much damage. I can promise you that as long as Scorpion returns to the village, the past will be forgiven."

"Thank you, Lord Kazekage!"