Konoha Hospital
A lesson on the responsibilities of medical ninjas in battle had been canceled halfway through, just over an hour after it had begun.
Without giving any explanation, Tsunade left a group of confused students behind and walked away.
The turbulent emotions suppressed in her chest felt as if they were about to burst at any moment. After holding them back for some time, Tsunade could no longer endure. She had no choice but to abruptly end the lesson, which had originally been scheduled in advance.
If Kushina were in the village, she could have taken over the lesson. But unfortunately, Kushina wasn't in Konoha, and there was no one else suitable to take her place.
With her head lowered, she walked in large strides, quickly making her way out of the hospital and toward her home.
This kind of hurried and bold demeanor was characteristic of Tsunade, but no one knew how deeply saddened she felt at this moment.
When she arrived at her empty home, Tsunade sat down at the entrance, staring blankly at the corner beside the shoe cabinet.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a tear fell. Tsunade was startled. She lowered her head slightly and looked at the tearstains on the floor, biting her lip with some force.
Drip.
The sorrow that she had struggled to contain finally broke free, becoming the key that unlocked the floodgates.
There was no sobbing, no words, only endless tears sliding down her face.
That idiot she had known for decades… had died so easily.
...
Jiraiya's death cast a shadow over Konoha.
After organizing the intelligence reports, Shikaku, accompanied by Chōza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka, set out on their journey. Their first destination was Sunagakure in the Land of Wind.
Among the four major villages, Sunagakure was likely the only one that would agree to this alliance since they shared the same goal.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio traveled across mountains and rivers, crossing the Land of Rivers before reaching the sandy terrain of the Land of Wind. A direct visit carried more sincerity and persuasive power than a mere letter.
After trekking across the vast desert, they arrived at one of Sunagakure's outer guard posts. The stationed Suna-nin, upon seeing their Konoha forehead protectors, remained cautious and signaled their comrades to prepare for potential combat. Then, one of them swiftly moved forward, stopping about 200 meters away from the trio.
"Halt." The Suna-nin spoke in a deep voice.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio stopped in their tracks. Inoichi, being a sensory-type ninja, had already detected the guard post before they even approached.
Shikaku looked at the Suna-nin blocking their path and said, "We are Konoha ninjas. We have an important matter to discuss."
"Wait here," the Suna-nin replied. Though he hadn't received any prior notification, he couldn't make things difficult for the Konoha trio due to the existing alliance. He quickly returned to the outpost and instructed one of his comrades to relay the message to the Kazekage in Sunagakure.
This guard post wasn't far from the village, but it would still take some time for the message to be delivered and a response to be received.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio patiently stood on the yellow sand, waiting. But unfortunately, the weather was not on their side.
Out of nowhere, strong winds swept through the desert, carrying vast amounts of sand and creating a swirling sandstorm that quickly engulfed their surroundings.
From the vantage point of the guard post, only the vague silhouettes of the trio could be seen, standing firm amidst the raging sand.
"Take this opportunity to enjoy the harsh environment of our country," one of the stationed Suna-nin muttered, smirking. If there was any land he truly envied, it was the Land of Fire.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio remained silent, enduring the sandstorm. If the urgency of the situation hadn't been so high, they would have sent a letter first before visiting in person.
Had they sent prior notice, they wouldn't be stuck waiting like this, they would have been granted immediate passage.
Fortunately, they had prepared for this before arriving in the Land of Wind, bringing along protective gear, including goggles. Even in the midst of the swirling sand, they could still barely see.
Time passed by the second.
No response came from the guard post, but the three remained unbothered, standing still in the sandstorm.
Even though the two villages had an alliance, it was clear that hostility between their ninjas had not been fully erased.
Under normal circumstances, the Suna-nin should have invited them inside to take shelter from the storm, but they didn't. This proved that despite the formal alliance, the underlying antagonism accumulated over generations could not be eliminated so easily.
If this was how Sunagakure, an allied village, treated them, then what could be expected from the other villages?
This was the biggest obstacle to forming an alliance.
Even if the Kage of each village agreed, it would be meaningless if the lower-ranked ninjas couldn't set aside their grudges. The so-called "alliance" would be nothing more than a fragile, divided coalition.
And changing this situation was not something that could be done with just a few words.
After ten more minutes, the Suna-nin messenger returned with a response from the Kazekage.
Within seconds, another Suna-nin emerged from the guard post and walked toward the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
"This way, please," he called out loudly before turning around and heading back.
The three exchanged glances before following him.
As soon as they stepped inside the guard post, it was as if they had entered an entirely different world.
Outside, the environment was harsh, with raging sandstorms, while inside, it was a quiet and sheltered space. The structure of the building, made of some unknown material, effectively blocked out the deafening howls of the wind.
The Suna-nin in charge provided the Ino-Shika-Chō trio with water and simple food, speaking in a calm tone, "This sandstorm won't be ending anytime soon. Although the village isn't too far from here, there is still some distance to cover. You can wait for the storm to subside before heading out."
Shikaku did not immediately consume the offered water and food. While he knew this might seem impolite, he also believed in being cautious. Besides, they had brought enough water and supplies in their packs. Had the Suna-nin not presented the food, they would have simply taken their own provisions to replenish their energy.
"Relax, there's no poison in it." Seeing that the trio hesitated after accepting the water and food, the Suna-nin in charge smirked slightly with a hint of sarcasm. His attitude was not outright hostile, but it was far from friendly.
Shikaku sighed inwardly. He had assumed that Sunagakure, the village they were most confident about persuading, would be the easiest stop. Yet, this encounter already gave him a glimpse of the difficult road ahead.
The major villages had been in conflict for far too long. Each war had cost thousands of lives, leaving behind deep-seated resentment that could not be resolved overnight.
Though several years had passed since the Third Shinobi War, it would take even longer periods of peace to let these old grudges fade.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio exchanged glances before picking up the water and food, consuming them without hesitation. In less than a minute, they had finished their provisions.
The Suna-nin in charge withdrew his mocking smirk and said calmly, "You three may rest here for the time being."
With that, he turned to leave.
"We appreciate your hospitality, but we must depart immediately," Shikaku said as he stood up, followed by Inoichi and Chōza.
The Suna-nin in charge stopped in his tracks and turned back, looking at the trio with a hint of surprise. His gaze then shifted toward the window, where the sandstorm outside raged with full force. Leaving at this moment was nothing short of challenging the might of nature.
"As someone from the Land of Wind, I advise you to wait until the storm weakens before setting out," the Suna-nin said plainly.
Shikaku smiled. "We appreciate the warning, but this matter is urgent and cannot be delayed for even a moment."
The Suna-nin was briefly stunned before responding in a calm voice, "Follow me."
Moments later, under the watchful eyes of the Suna-nin, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio braved the relentless sandstorm and headed straight for Sunagakure.
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