Bab 139: 139. Sunagakure's situation
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After leaving Konoha and walking for a while, Kakashi leisurely closed the book in his hand, the familiar creak of the spine breaking the silence.
"There's no need to keep staring at me like that," he said, with a casual smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's just an ordinary task about finding a small animal."
Naruto, walking with his arms folded behind his head, let out a loud groan. "What kind of 'ordinary' small animal makes us go all the way to the border? And it's the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers!"
Kakashi defended, his tone still as relaxed as ever, "It's a caravan, Naruto. It's normal for them to lose things anywhere. Besides, we've been handling so many C-rank missions over the past few months, haven't we? All of them turned out fine."
Naruto wasn't satisfied. His brow furrowed, and he huffed, "Yeah, but what if something goes wrong?"
"If something does go wrong," Kakashi said with a nonchalant shrug, "I'll practice one-handed rock climbing with Gai all day."
Naruto gave an exaggerated sigh, knowing full well nothing would likely faze Kakashi. Still, he stood tall, ready for anything that might happen.
…
This time, the mission had been commissioned by a caravan that had lost its pet ferret on the treacherous border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers.
The caravan couldn't afford to linger in the area for long, so they posted the mission in Konoha, hoping that a team would be able to retrieve the missing animal.
The mission wasn't anything extraordinary at first glance just find the ferret and deliver it to a nearby village. The caravan would collect it on their way back.
However, the distance to the border and the dangerous location elevated the task to a C-rank mission.
As the group continued walking, Sakura spoke up, her brows slightly furrowed in thought. "Kakashi-sensei, if the pet was lost on the border of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind, why did they come to Konoha to post the mission?"
Kakashi adjusted his headband, his one visible eye gleaming with amusement. "Good question. Well, Konoha was on their way, for one. But more importantly, Sunagakure's situation has been unstable lately."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Unstable? Is it because of the Chūnin Exams?"
Kakashi nodded, his tone turning slightly more serious. "That's part of it, but there's more. It's been nearly six months since the Fourth Kazekage's death, but they still haven't chosen a new Kazekage."
"How is that even possible?" Sasuke, who had been quiet up until now, spoke with a sharp edge in his voice. "Has Sunagakure weakened so much that they can't even choose a new leader?"
Kakashi sighed softly. "It seems unbelievable, doesn't it? But apparently, the higher-ups in Sunagakure have been arguing about the selection. Right now, Baki is acting as the temporary Kazekage. He's brought in two retired elders to assist him, but it's far from a stable situation."
Naruto, who had been listening intently, suddenly brightened. "One of those elders has to be Ebizō, right? And the other… Granny Chiyo! The one who likes fishing and pretending to be dead!"
Kakashi smiled under his mask, amused by Naruto's enthusiasm. "That's right."
Sakura, still concerned, asked, "Is it safe for us to head to the Land of Wind during all this turmoil?"
Kakashi gave her a reassuring nod. "There's no need to worry. We're still allies with Sunagakure. We just need to show our mission certificate when we get there. But be aware there have been reports of bandits attacking villages and kidnapping villagers near the border, so stay alert."
Naruto's mind immediately went to Gaara. "Any news about Gaara?"
Kakashi thought for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "Nothing out of the ordinary. I've heard he's been taking on a lot of missions in the Land of Wind lately."
Naruto sighed, a mix of relief and concern flickering in his eyes. Not satisfied with Kakashi's answer, he decided to consult Kurama:
"Hey, big fox, have you talked to Shukaku lately?"
Kurama, who had been resting lazily inside Naruto's mindscape, stretched out and flicked his massive tail. "Why? Picking a fight already? Why not go ask Kushina directly?"
Naruto laughed, "Nah, I'm just curious if he likes his new home. Haven't you guys stayed in touch over the years?"
Kurama, propped on his paws, gave Naruto a knowing look as if he had seen through everything. "You're worried about that boy with no eyebrows, aren't you?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "A little. I wonder if his dark circles have faded. Can you check?"
Kurama let out a small chuckle, amused by Naruto's persistence.
[The administrator has invited Naruto Uzumaki and Shukaku to join the group chat]
As soon as Shukaku entered, his voice boomed, "You stinking fox!"
Naruto couldn't help but laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not this again! You really need a new way to greet people."
Kurama grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming. "Who's surprised? Little Tanuki, not only has your strength stagnated over the years, but your vocabulary hasn't improved either."
Shukaku bristled, his temper flaring. "You two!" he snarled, still bitter from waking up after a long slumber.
It wasn't the defeat that stung. He was used to losing to Kurama, but the sealing technique Naruto had applied.
When Shukaku woke up in the desert, he was overjoyed at first, thinking he was free.
But it didn't take long for him to realize that it was a trick a desert-themed seal had been slapped onto him, restricting his powers.
"You brat! Was this your doing?!" Shukaku growled, remembering the little blonde who had pulled off such a large-scale Water Release. He knew the brat was behind the new seal.
"Yup! The desert-themed Four Symbols Seal was made just for you," Naruto said with a smug grin. "How does it feel?"
Shukaku's tail twitched with irritation. He wanted to smash Naruto into the ground. It was true the seal was better than his previous one, but now he couldn't influence Gaara as easily, leaving him unable to roam freely.
"I'll crush you next time!" Shukaku threatened.
Before Naruto could respond, Kurama spoke up, his voice deep and firm, "Don't get too ahead of yourself. You know full well who's stronger between us."
Naruto blinked, momentarily thrown off by Kurama's competitive tone. "Wait, what?"
"Anyway," Naruto said, steering the conversation back, "Shukaku, do you know what Gaara's been up to lately?"
Shukaku huffed, his pride still stinging. "Why should I tell you?"
"How about I convince Gaara to let you out for a while? You know, for old times' sake?"
Shukaku and Kurama exchanged looks, considering the offer. "Fine. That kid's been working nonstop. He's aiming to become Kazekage. Lately, he's been taking missions day and night, and if I don't keep bothering him, he wouldn't even sleep."
Naruto's face softened, remembering Gaara's determination to change Sunagakure. "His dark circles are still there, huh?"
In the anime, Gaara had protected his village from Deidara and ended up paying the price.
Despite the initial indifference from Sunagakure's higher-ups, the villagers later recognized him as the hero who saved them.
"Where is he now?" Naruto asked.
"He's dealing with bandits at some seaside village."
"I see. Thanks, Shukaku."
Naruto exited the group chat, deep in thought. He had a feeling this mission would soon involve the legendary Gelel Stone.
The Gelel Stone was rumoured to contain immense life energy, capable of incredible feats, including granting immortality.
However, if the body couldn't handle it, the stone's power would lead to death or mutation.
Naruto wondered if it might be worth sending those involved to Amegakure, to keep the stone's dangerous secrets from falling into the wrong hands.
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