"Haven't you found it yet?"
Uchiha Fugaku asked somewhat dejectedly.
"No... Chieftain, it seems Hatake Sakumo is unwilling to come out and see us."
The Uchiha clansman bowed his head and spoke to Uchiha Fugaku.
"Fine, if he doesn't want to come out and see us, then forget it."
Uchiha Fugaku sighed deeply.
"Dismiss all ninjas searching for Hatake Sakumo."
Seeing that Hatake Sakumo was not going to see him, Uchiha Fugaku also decided not to continue searching for him.
However, he also informed his clansmen that if Sunagakure attacked again and they could not withstand the attack, they should retreat immediately.
At worst, it's just defection, what's there to be afraid of!
However, Uchiha Fugaku was deeply worried about his clansmen in the village.
With Third Hokage in the village, it wouldn't be easy for him to take his clansmen and defect.
Uchiha Fugaku had no idea that Hiruzen Sarutobi had already gone to the battlefield, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had even kept this a secret from Uchiha Fugaku.
A cave
"Huh? They're not contacting me anymore."
Hatake Sakumo frowned.
He was thinking that if Uchiha Fugaku insisted on looking for him, he would come out to meet him, but he didn't expect that he would stop looking after only one day.
This Hatake Sakumo completely confused about what the other party was trying to do.
"Fine, let's go see him."
After much deliberation, Hatake Sakumo decided to go and see Uchiha Fugaku to see what he was up to.
Hatake Sakumo packed his things and headed straight for the Konoha Earth Flow.
He wasn't afraid of being surrounded at all; even if Konoha wanted to capture him, they wouldn't be able to.
After packing his things Hatake Sakumo disappeared into the cave in a few Body Flicker Technique.
Sunagakure
dungeon
"Old man Bunpuku, come out here!"
A jailer opened the door to Bunpuku's cell and roughly pulled at Bunpuku.
"Ah! You can come out now!"
Shukaku emitted a sharp cry from inside Bunpuku's body and then spoke.
"What brings you to take me out, benefactor?"
Bunpuku, his hands trembling, pressed them together again after the jailer had pulled him closer and asked.
"Stop talking nonsense, you old geezer, get out here right now!"
The jailer gave Bunpuku a good scolding and then roughly dragged him out of the cell.
"He treated you like this, let me possess his body and avenge you..."
Shukaku whispered a bewitching message, urging Bunpuku.
" Shukaku, you're a good boy..."
Bunpuku suddenly spoke to Shukaku.
"What are you talking about? I'm way older than you!"
Upon hearing this, Shukaku instantly became enraged and immediately launched into a tirade against Bunpuku.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Bunpuku laughed in his mental space.
" Shukaku, of all the people I've ever met, you are the kindest. No matter how old you are, your heart is that of a child."
Bunpuku pointed to his heart.
"Old man, are you out of your mind? You think I'm kind?"
Shukaku gave a disdainful snort.
"Compared to other people, you are indeed very kind."
Bunpuku shook his head.
"I understand your pain, just as I am locked in this cell, you are also locked inside my body. But the difference is that you can only communicate with me, while I can communicate with other people."
"When it comes to suffering, I am far inferior to you."
Bunpuku lowered his head and spoke to Shukaku.
"Old man, why are you spouting this nonsense?"
Shukaku scoffed.
"They're probably going to send me to the battlefield, which means you have a chance to gain your freedom."
Bunpuku said calmly to Shukaku.
"Free!"
Shukaku's breathing faltered.
He had tried to seduce Bunpuku countless times, and even refused to Bunpuku be beaten.
But why, why are you willing to Bunpuku now?
"In this vast desert, as long as you don't come out and cause trouble again, no one will be able to find you. And I'm releasing you with only one request."
Bunpuku continued speaking to Shukaku.
"You say!"
Shukaku's expression also turned serious, no longer displaying his previous carefree demeanor.
"I instruct you to go straight into the desert after you emerge from the battlefield, and not to fight."
Bunpuku said.
He knew that if Shukaku fought, there was a risk of being captured.
The best way is to run away as soon as you get out.
The main reason he was unwilling to release Shukaku was because this was a village, Shukaku would not only be unable to escape, but would also cause enormous damage to the village.
From Bunpuku's perspective, this is meaningless.
Bunpuku had long Shukaku as his most important family member, and in the original story, he had been waiting for an opportunity.
However, in the original story, he didn't get to see that opportunity and died of old age.
"Okay, I'll do as you say!"
Shukaku's expression was complex.
"You old geezer, are you deaf?!"
The jailer punched and kicked Bunpuku, showing no regard for him as an elderly man.
"You bastard!"
Shukaku screamed, and then Chakra surged forth.
The Chakra broke through the seal, forming a Chakra hand that grabbed the jailer by the neck!
" Shukaku, you promised me."
Bunpuku said in a low voice.
After hearing what Bunpuku said Chakra Hand threw the jailer to the ground and then disappeared.
Let's go.
Bunpuku looked at the jailer.
The jailer stood up tremblingly, then led Bunpuku toward Kazekage's Office.
Kazekage's Office
" Lord Kazekage, the One-Tail Jinchuriki has arrived..."
The jailer knocked on the door and said.
" Bunpuku, Sunagakure needs your strength."
Rasa got straight to the point.
He didn't even bother with polite formalities with Bunpuku; in his eyes, the One-Tail Jinchuriki was just a tool of the village.
When the owner needs a tool, they can just use it directly. Do they need to ask the tool if they need it?
" Lord Kazekage, I understand."
Bunpuku said respectfully.
"Old man, Kazekage doesn't treat you like a human being at all!"
Shukaku mocked Bunpuku without restraint within the sealed space.
"How about I kill him after I get out?"
Shukaku was laughing for a while, but then suddenly stopped laughing, his eyes filled with intense killing intent!
"Just leave once you're free. Why let revenge only lead to more revenge? Forget your hatred and enjoy your freedom..."
Bunpuku sighed in his mental space.
"Since you're okay with it, you can set off with us in three days!"
Rasa nodded and then spoke.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage..."
Bunpuku said with his eyebrows lowered.
night
Konoha Garrison
" Uchiha Fugaku."
While Uchiha Fugaku was pondering something in bed, he suddenly heard a familiar voice!
" Sakumo- sama!"
Uchiha Fugaku saw the Hatake Sakumo and excitedly sat up!
"Oh? You actually call me 'sir'? I'm a missing-nin from Konoha."
Hatake Sakumo looked at Uchiha Fugaku with a half-smile, wanting to see how the other would respond.