Unlike in the Land of Fire, the monks of the Land of Wind maintained close ties with their country's shinobi. They were responsible for guarding the tailed beasts, and the history of the Sand Temple, which imprisoned the One-Tail, stretched back to before the Land of Wind was founded.
For all its long history, the Sand Temple's Sealing Jutsu was hardly powerful. It fell far short of the Uzumaki Clan's complete tradition and could only barely suppress a tailed beast. Such a seal was naturally unstable. Coupled with the One-Tail's exceptionally violent temperament, this meant he would periodically run wild and break free.
Suppressing a tailed beast was an exhausting task, paid for almost entirely in human lives. Whenever the beast rampaged, any delay in subduing him would inflict immense damage on the Land of Wind. The oases continually disappearing within its borders were the clearest proof.
The ninja beast possessed tremendous power and chakra, but Sunagakure had no way to turn that strength to its advantage. Instead, it suffered at every turn. Calling him more trouble than he was worth would be no exaggeration. That was the main reason Reto, after careful consideration, had ultimately decided to dump this enormous problem known as a tailed beast onto Konoha.
But claiming they felt no bitterness or resentment would have been impossible. Reto, Shamon, and the rest of Sunagakure's leaders secretly hoped the One-Tail would wreak havoc in Konoha. Their malicious wish, however, was doomed to fail.
When Konoha's Diplomatic Delegation stormed into the Sand Temple, the monks were waiting nervously outside. At their head, the Great High Priest stared at this band of ferocious-looking thugs with a face full of misery.
The Great High Priest was sick with worry. Watching Madara Uchiha stride toward him, he could not help recalling