Half a month later.
Ye Ning spotted Sasori and Shika at the gates of Konoha.
At first, when he saw Sasori, Ye Ning could hardly believe his eyes.
Just half a month ago, Sasori had been a bright, handsome young man. Now, he had dark circles under his eyes and looked utterly drained. Shika, on the other hand, looked radiant, her eyes sparkling.
Yikes...
Ye Ning couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.
He'd only been saying it offhandedly!
Had Shika... actually gone and done it?
Had she really pushed Sasori down?
Ye Ning couldn't help looking the two of them up and down, his gaze strange.
So Shika had really plucked that unattainable flower, Sasori?
After Ye Ning had stared at him like a monkey for quite some time, Sasori was clearly getting embarrassed and angry. He urged him repeatedly:
"Let's go already!"
At that, Ye Ning finally looked away. When Sasori wasn't looking, he quietly gave Shika a thumbs-up.
At the end of Konoha Year 42, the Third Kazekage disappeared within the Land of Wind. His disciple, Rasa, succeeded him as the Fourth Kazekage.
At the beginning of Konoha Year 43, Sunagakure declared war on Iwagakure.
And so, the Third Shinobi World War officially began.
Looking at the woman before him, whose face was cold and whose anger was barely concealed, Ye Ning couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
The Third Kazekage's disappearance had naturally been Sasori and Shika's doing.
As planned, Ye Ning had written a letter and delivered it to the Third Kazekage, luring him to a spot fifty miles outside Sunagakure.
Then Sasori and Shika had joined forces to kill him and bring back his body.
The problem was, the Third Kazekage hadn't come alone.
A girl who didn't look much