Raikage A's coal-black face turned a deep purple.
His thick finger trembled in midair, but he couldn't force out a single word.
Up above, Sasuke was in no shape to stage some grand revolution.
He couldn't even scrape together the strength to roll his eyes.
The scorching sun had baked him alive for three whole days.
His lips were cracked like old tree bark, with bloody scabs peeling outward.
Hearing Sen's mocking taunts from below,
Sasuke let out a wheeze like a leaking bellows.
"Sen Senju... fuck your whole damn family..."
His voice was too faint to scare away even the flies beneath his nose.
Not a trace remained of that crazed determination to slaughter the Five Kage and build a new world.
"All right, was that supposed to be a threat?"
Sen dug a finger into his ear and grinned broadly at the Raikage.
"Hey, big guy, did you hear that? He just cursed my family."
"This little punk's too quiet. Why don't you fly up there and press your ear against his mouth?"
The veins in the Raikage's neck throbbed with fury.
"Sen Senju! I didn't come here to watch your circus act!"
"He helped seal Kaguya, for crying out loud!"
"What the hell are you doing hanging them outside the Konoha Gate like strips of dried meat?"
Sen rolled his eyes hard and casually kicked a pebble with his leather shoe.
"Hero, my ass. These are two deadbeats who smashed up a valley and won't pay for it."
"Never figured you leaders would be so protective of your little brats."
"What, Uncle Raikage? You paying their fine for them?"
"That'll be fifty million ryo. No credit. Hand over the money, and I'll release them right away."
Gaara took half a step forward, dark circles ringing his eyes.