Long Time No See

Sunagakure, Mission Reception Hall.

"Damn, the price is this high? Why don't you just rob me?"

The startled cry drew everyone's attention. A man with white cloth wrapped around his head stared at the quote sheet in his hand in disbelief.

Seeing the man's short stature, the crowd was slightly taken aback. In their eyes, a man with such a deep, powerful voice ought to have had a tall, imposing build.

As for what the man had shouted, they found it perfectly normal.

Anyone entering this mission hall for the first time would be surprised upon seeing the quote sheet handed over by the Sunagakure ninja. At most, this man's reaction was only a tiny bit more exaggerated than the others'.

"Sir, as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure has both the confidence and the ability to complete the mission you wish to commission," the Sunagakure guide said confidently.

"Is that so..." Naruto, disguised as a dwarf, muttered.

Although his body had developed fairly well compared to others his age, he still looked rather short beside an adult.

Overly elaborate disguises could feel unnatural, but disguises built on a reasonable foundation worked much better.

So, using his original appearance as a base, he made a few simple adjustments and dressed himself up as a short man with a distinctive voice.

He had wandered around all yesterday and had not even caught sight of a single hair on Gaara's head, much less found him.

So today, he had changed his approach and decided to hire Gaara directly as his bodyguard.

Gaara's genin Ninja Squad had an exceptionally good reputation. Their one-hundred-percent mission completion rate made them the choice of many employers with limited funds.

But it was precisely because Gaara's squad was so reliable that the cost of hiring them was somewhat inflated.

For an ordinary C-rank escort mission, a regular genin Ninja Squad would charge at most fifty to one hundred thousand ryo. Gaara's squad charged double that.

"Can it be cheaper?" Naruto looked around and asked quietly.

"Sir, you get what you pay for. Just look at Gaara's squad's mission completion rate—even chunin can't compare," the guide said with a faint smile, rejecting his suggestion.

Generally speaking, the normal mission process involved submitting a mission to Sunagakure, having it reviewed and ranked by the village, then accepted by a Sunagakure ninja. Payment would be made, and finally the mission would be completed.

Escort missions, however, were different. Every employer wanted to hire ninja they could rely on, even if it meant paying a higher price.

After all, money could be earned again after it was gone. But once your life was gone, it was truly gone.

Thus, the various shinobi villages had followed market demand and introduced escort teams at different price points and strength levels.

"Think about it, sir. The Land of Wind is vast. Sometimes, what you encounter won't just be wandering warriors or ninja—its harsh weather can be just as dangerous. A strong squad can ensure that you travel without worry and reach your destination safely. What does a little extra cost matter?" Seeing that he still seemed hesitant, the guide immediately pressed his advantage.

Naruto sighed inwardly.

Savings he had accumulated over so many years!

He seemed to understand a little better why old man He Yan despised ninja so deeply.

"When can we set out?" The moment he said those words, Naruto felt as if his body had been hollowed out.

In his first life, his finances had not been difficult, but he had never been close to wealthy either. In his second life, Ashina had been such a barren and harsh place, with social classes so rigid that there was no hope in sight; having money or not had made little difference. Things had improved somewhat in this life. After all, no matter how poor ninja reputations were among ordinary people, it was still a high-income profession.

He had worked so hard for so many years, only to return to square one because of a single mission.

Gaara, I'll remember this grudge...

Naruto could not help but feel full of resentment toward that perpetually bitter-looking boy with the gourd.

"Would tomorrow work?" The guide took out a small booklet, flipped through it, and asked.

"Why?" Naruto raised a brow. I paid good money here.

"Gaara's squad is currently on a mission." The guide got straight to the point and quickly explained the situation.

Normally, such information should not have been disclosed.

But not long ago, Sunagakure had once again been thoroughly beaten down by Konoha. Worse, Sunagakure had been the party in the wrong. Ceding territory was unrealistic, so they could only helplessly pay compensation.

If one had to ask why, there was only one word—poor!

That was right. Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, was broke.

Because of their defeat in the Third Shinobi World War, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind had been deeply disappointed in Sunagakure and, with a wave of his hand, cut nearly half of their military funding.

Things had been manageable during the Fourth Kazekage's rule. The Fourth Kazekage's Gold Dust Ninjutsu could occasionally dig them out of financial holes. Though they still struggled, they could at least get by.

But now?

The Fourth Kazekage had died at Orochimaru's hands, and they still had to pay Konoha a massive amount of supplies.

That only made the already impoverished Sunagakure even worse off.

Not long ago, their superiors had even issued an order: anyone who stepped into this mission hall had to be made to commission a mission.

Even letting a single customer walk away would make them sinners!

"Hurry up! I paid good money!" Naruto said resentfully.

"You can place your complete trust in Sunagakure!" the guide said with a smile.

Reluctantly handing over most of his savings, Naruto stormed out of the mission hall.

"Ah!" Naruto looked at the sun, which had only recently risen, and sighed softly. No wonder he had searched everywhere yesterday without finding him. So he had been out on a mission.

"The sand baths in the Land of Wind seem pretty nice. Since I have the whole day free, I might as well take a look..."

The next day.

Knock, knock!

Naruto opened the door. A man about the same height as him, his face painted with red dye, stood there with his arms crossed.

"I'm Kankuro. She's Temari, and he's Gaara. We'll be responsible for escorting you on this trip." Kankuro pointed at the other two behind him and gave a brief introduction.

"Can we leave now?"

Naruto nodded slightly. Everything he owned was what he was wearing, so there was nothing to pack.

The three followed closely behind Naruto. As Temari looked at the back of her employer, the sense of familiarity in her heart did not fade with time. Instead, it only grew stronger.

"Don't you think this person's back looks a little familiar?" Temari asked in a low voice.

"Does it?" Kankuro asked doubtfully. "Just pay closer attention."

Temari nodded slightly. She was not certain either. It was more of an instinct than anything else.

Gaara remained silent as he listened to the exchange between the two siblings.

Though the siblings had lowered their voices, Naruto was no ordinary person and naturally heard their conversation clearly. He could not help but smile faintly.

Having been a ninja his whole life, he had gained some experience in disguises.

Perhaps his disguise methods could not compare to a ninjutsu like Transformation Jutsu, but they were still usable.

With his presence, voice, and appearance all drastically altered, Temari's sense of familiarity was more an instinct sharper than most people's. She could not identify him directly.

After walking through streets that were not as prosperous as Konoha's and passing through the long, narrow natural passage, once Sunagakure was no longer visible behind them—

Gaara suddenly asked, "What did you come to see me for?"

Temari and Kankuro: "???"

Temari even removed the Three-Star Fan from her back and watched their employer ahead warily.

There was not a single ordinary person Gaara would remember.

"Did Shukaku tell you? It seems the two of you are getting along rather well." Naruto smiled, then turned his head toward Temari, whose pretty face was tense with alarm. "Miss Temari, there's no need to be so wary. If I truly meant you harm, you would have died in that battle a month ago."

Hearing that, Temari became even more alert. She fully unfolded the Three-Star Fan, while Kankuro removed Crow from his back as well.

"Don't be nervous, Temari, Kankuro." Gaara stepped forward lightly and stood in front of the two.