Three days later, the entire camp was draped in mourning white.
Shamon's remains had been carefully prepared and then sealed, ready to be sent back to Sunagakure.
Inside the main tent, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Plain white strips of cloth hung overhead, and everyone wore a solemn expression.
Sajie, the Third Kazekage newly appointed in this crisis, stood in the tent with an icy expression and declared in a low voice, "Hanzo of the Salamander murdered my teacher. Sunagakure cannot let such a blood debt go unanswered!"
"Hmph, that vile coward ambushed my teacher with poison. Otherwise, how could a mere ninja from a minor nation possibly have hurt him?"
"I hear his Summoning Beast, Ibuse, carries a deadly poison. As it happens, I have a venomous Summoning Beast myself. Once he loses Ibuse, I'd like to see how he survives my iron sand!"
With that, an immense Kage Level aura erupted from Sajie. In his prime, he was the strongest man in Sunagakure, and no one had yet been able to withstand his secret iron sand technique. He truly deserved his future reputation as the strongest Kazekage!
As Sajie finished speaking, the Sunagakure Jonin in the tent erupted in outrage, voicing their agreement. Many clamored to march immediately and drown Amegakure in blood.
Only Chiyo stood quietly to one side, remaining silent throughout.
Sajie turned to the woman his teacher had personally chosen as the Kazekage's aide and asked, "Elder Chiyo, what do you think?"
Chiyo considered briefly before speaking slowly. "In my opinion, we should not rush into war right now. We should pull back our forces and exercise restraint for the time being."
No sooner had she finished than Niuji, a Sunagakure Jonin beside her, interrupted with a dissatisfied expression. "Elder Chiyo, Hanzō is the