Yanbai had been very welcoming, but he had left the Third Kazekage anxious.
At last, he had escaped the Land of Fire.
As he watched the sunset glow outside the carriage, the Third Kazekage heard the Ninja Beast up front announce that they had reached Ishinomaki City. Once they passed the checkpoint, they would enter the Land of Wind.
It was a dog that could speak human language.
The Land of Fire's Didi Beast-Ride service usually used several Ninja Beasts to pull each carriage. Some kept watch over the surroundings, some handled more of the running, and others specialized in chatting with passengers.
Over the past few days, the Third Kazekage had spoken more to the Land of Fire's dogs than he usually spoke in a month.
The dogs seemed specially trained. Perhaps because they traveled so widely, they were knowledgeable and remarkably chatty.
The dog assigned to conversation could speak human language and was called Aik. He claimed to have a contract with the Hatake Clan of Konoha Shinobi Village, while two of his colleagues came from the Inuzuka Clan.
Many of the Inuzuka Clan's dogs could not speak human language. Their owners traveled with them and naturally handled the conversation.
As a result, the dogs that offered passengers a conversation service were generally contracted to the Hatake Clan.
Noticing the faint melancholy in the Third Kazekage's eyes, Aik said quietly, "Was this your first time meeting Lord Hokage, Lord Kazekage?"
The Third Kazekage remained silent.
Aik continued, "Actually, a lot of people are like this when they first meet Lord Hokage."
The Third Kazekage's brow furrowed at those words. "What are you trying to say?"
"Last time, we had an honored guest whose identity I can't disclose," Aik said. "He was terribly anxious after meeting Lord Hokage, too.