"I will!"
Kimimaro gritted his teeth and forced out the word. He heard commotion nearby and didn't want any more trouble.
"Great!"
Gaara, clutching his worn teddy bear, ran up to Kimimaro and the other two. He held out his hands and said, "Take me with you!"
"What are you doing?"
"Handcuff him."
"..." Suigetsu Hozuki immediately distanced himself from the two, his eyes darting between them. What was this plot? So proactive?
Kimimaro took a deep breath and said, "No need."
Handcuffs? Where would he get money to buy such things? Knocking him out and taking him wouldn't be easier?
"Hey! Are you guys going outside the village?"
卷 (Juan), ignored for a long time, finally couldn't help but speak. This might be her only chance to find her master.
"Who is this little beggar?"
"My name is 卷 (Juan)!"
Suigetsu Hozuki nodded, then made a face and said, "Not taking you!"
卷 (Juan) immediately puffed out her cheeks and shouted, "Then if you want to leave, you have to defeat me first!"
*Thwack!*
A lump appeared on 卷 (Juan)'s small head as she fell to the side. Who had struck her was unclear.
"We can go now."
Gaara cast a disgusted glance at 卷 (Juan) and then followed Kimimaro into the alley.
Women are so troublesome. Blocking his path to finding a boyfriend!
...
*Boom!*
"Art is eternal beauty!"
With a shout from Sasori, a puppet wearing a tattered brown cotton coat appeared in the sky above Sunagakure.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shower!"
"Magnet Release? It's the Third Kazekage! How is that possible!"
"Everyone run!"
Waves of fine iron sand shot down from the sky towards the Sand Shinobi below, the area of effect covering one-fifth of Sunagakure.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust!"
Overwhelming gold dust surged from the ground of Sunagakure, forming a barrier that blocked the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release.
"Sasori! You killed Lord Third!"
As Rasa was about to step onto the gold dust and fly into the sky to block Sasori's attack, Sasori voluntarily descended, accompanied by four familiar figures who surrounded him.
"Chiyo, Hayama, Kakuzu, and Pakura, are you really going to destroy Sunagakure?"
"I only want to kill you, Rasa!"
Pakura's killing intent towards Rasa was undisguised. Not only Rasa, but she intended to eliminate half of Sunagakure's high-ranking officials today!
"However, with just this, you will still fail today!"
As soon as Rasa finished speaking, three figures landed beside him.
"Sasori, it's not too late to turn back!"
A smile appeared beneath Sasori's hood, and he said softly, "Grandmother, you've grown old. Times have changed."
The newcomers were Chiyo, Ebizo, and the elite Jonin Baki. The former two, though retired, had been invited by Rasa.
Baki looked at Pakura and advised, "Pakura, you've worked hard for Sunagakure for so many years. Don't let this shame you for life."
"Ridiculous!"
Pakura pointed at Rasa and cursed, "Since you know how much I've contributed to Sunagakure, why did you sell me out with just one word? Don't tell me you didn't know, Baki!"
Baki remained silent. While he wasn't the decision-maker, he had heard whispers back then.
"Pakura, sacrificing for the village is a ninja's readiness."
"Nonsense! If it were to face a powerful enemy, I, Pakura, would not hesitate. But if it's for the interests of you higher-ups, I will never agree!"
"Is there any use in saying this now?"
Rasa interrupted the conversation and said to Suigetsu Hozuki and Kakuzu, "Gentlemen, this is an internal matter for Sunagakure. Could you give me, Rasa, some face and withdraw?"
"Is your name Rasa so famous? I don't see any face!" Suigetsu Hozuki showed no respect to Rasa and said disdainfully.
Kakuzu remained silent, but he already had thoughts of standing by. After all, this group had sold him out just two days ago. Who knew what other intentions they might have.
"Hmph! Then you die!"
As soon as the words fell, endless gold dust surged from underground, wrapping around Suigetsu Hozuki. With a hard clench of Rasa's palm, the gold dust contracted sharply, the immense pressure capable of crushing a person.
A stream of water gradually permeated the gold dust. Rasa felt the sound of wind rushing past his ear and quickly manipulated the gold dust to defend himself.
*Bang!*
Samehada, wrapped in bandages, was ensnared by the gold dust. With a powerful tug from Suigetsu Hozuki's right hand, the entangled bandages instantly scattered. A bloodthirsty smile appeared on his face.
"Your chakra has a truly cold-blooded scent."
The battle between the two instantly ignited. The other three also chose their opponents.
"The fruit I planted myself, I shall personally end." Chiyo took out a scroll from behind her, her wrinkled face filled with sadness.
Upon seeing the scroll in Chiyo's hand, Sasori fell silent and then controlled the Third Kazekage puppet to charge towards Chiyo.
Baki faced Pakura, the sound of kunai clashing non-stop.
"Pakura, don't forget you still have a disciple in the village."
"Don't try to threaten me with 卷 (Juan)!"
Upon hearing 卷 (Juan)'s name, Pakura's heart stirred, and her attacks became even more fierce.
"Lord Kakuzu, shall we begin as well?" Ebizo narrowed his eyes, his intentions unknown.
Kakuzu said nothing, the black threads on his wrists gradually unfurled, and he stood alongside Ebizo.
Both sides held back their full strength...
Sunagakure had descended into complete chaos, with people "water bombing!" everywhere.
Mangetsu Hozuki used his "Water Release: Water Gun Jutsu" in various places to hinder the reinforcements from Sunagakure. However, with his solitary strength, he couldn't possibly tie down so many Sand Shinobi. He could only do his best to cause destruction and delay the main force from providing support.
Kimimaro and the other two took this opportunity to sneak out of Sunagakure with Gaara.
And in a corner unnoticed by all, a masked figure leaned against a pillar, watching the battles with an expression of utter boredom.
"Teacher Lin Yu made me a tool again. My rare vacation is ruined!"
The masked figure sighed dejectedly. A hapless soul who accidentally stumbled in only saw a pair of blood-red eyes before falling unconscious.
While battles raged within Sunagakure, a white-haired ninja arrived outside the village.
"Should I go in now?"
Kakashi, holding the draft of the joint Chunin Exams, looked at the incessantly chaotic Sunagakure and quietly walked to the side of the cliff and squatted down.
Sigh!
His dead fish eyes were filled with helplessness. Why did such unlucky things always happen to him!
It would be troublesome if he couldn't explain himself and was mistaken for an enemy.
At this moment, Kakashi couldn't help but think of Obito and Might Guy. If those two were still by his side, he could have pushed this responsibility onto them.
Kakashi sighed again and quietly waited for the chaos to subside, with no intention of intervening.
After all, the two villages were not yet allies, and a rash entry would only be perceived as hostility.
...
In a cave somewhere in the ninja world, Lin Yu scooped up a handful of glowing spring water. The water flowed through his fingers but produced no sensation of wetness.
"This is it."
Without hesitation, Lin Yu plunged in with a perfect dive, creating not even a ripple.
(Drowned, The End! (*^▽^*) )
...
On the moon, Hamura Ōtsutsuki, having just bid farewell to his father, looked at the empty palace with a deep loneliness in his hollow eyes.
"I really want to find a companion..."