At Sunagakure Headquarters.
The squad led by Kakashi was resting in camp, conserving their strength for the fierce battle ahead.
Although they did not know exactly when Shukaku would revive, the Akatsuki, which had disrupted the Jinchūriki ritual before, would certainly not let the matter rest.
To prepare, they had joined forces with the Sand Ninja to lay a series of traps here.
But at the thought of potentially fighting the Masked Man, Kakashi felt both apprehension and a hint of anticipation. With his strength having improved considerably, could he now hold his own against the Masked Man?
After visiting Kumogakure and witnessing the Fourth Raikage training, he seemed to have found a way to use Lightning Release to improve his combat power, and had begun practicing Nintaijutsu to fight his enemies.
There was precedent for this. His father, Hatake Sakumo, had been a powerful Nintaijutsu practitioner and had once become the head of the ANBU. Kakashi himself was not far from that position now.
Reining in his wandering thoughts, Kakashi walked over to his companions and rested beneath the trees Yamato had created, watching the busy Sunagakure shinobi in the distance.
Beside him, Shisui sighed. "Compared with last time, the Sand Ninja's proficiency has dropped quite a bit."
Kakashi shook his head at that, saying nothing.
Sunagakure had once been the strongest shinobi village besides Konoha. But as time passed, its own circumstances had gradually reduced it to dead last among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Just then, Guy returned from his outing in search of youth, bringing a boy with him.
Looking at the boy, who had dark circles around his eyes and looked young enough to still be in the Ninja Academy, Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly. *There are even children in the force assembled to fight