Chapter 284: Kitsuchi, Cloud Ninja (cont.)

Otherwise, there might not be much time to rest for a while."

Early in the morning on the second day, the Konoha group met up with Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro of the Sand Ninja, led by Baki.

To be honest, the Sand Ninja were quite pitiful. No matter what happened, it seemed that only Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro could truly hold their own.

That was why, in the original story, Gaara had so easily become the Kazekage at such a young age.

Although the two sides were cooperating and assisting each other, Naruto and Gaara made the atmosphere in the team seem rather awkward.

However, with Kakashi and Baki holding things down—and more importantly, with Gaara seeming very rational—he clearly found Naruto somewhat annoying.

But since he knew they were in the middle of a mission, he appeared to restrain himself.

Naruto was different. Perhaps he was simply young and reckless, making him the most conspicuous one of them all.

If Sakura had not occasionally been unable to resist giving him a punch, Naruto might have cocked his tail all the way up to the sky.

Naturally, news of these two teams was immediately passed on by informants belonging to other factions within Sunagakure.

Under such circumstances, the major powers were all bewildered by this show jointly put on by the Kazekage and Konoha.

Bewildered though they were, it ultimately did not change their decisions. Having come this far, clearly no one was willing to give up.

In truth, this time was even livelier than imagined.

Aside from the various Great Ninja Villages, some smaller ninja villages had also sent people out, who then disguised themselves in various ways, either as ninjas from other countries—

—or as wandering ninja. Basically, they were all taking a chance, hoping to see whether