By now, Habara knew that the "future" he once foresaw was no longer guaranteed to happen, not down to the last detail. His "precognitive ability," if you could call it that, was limited to grasping the general currents, the broad strokes of how the shinobi world might develop. He could no longer pinpoint exactly when a specific event would occur.
This wasn't simply a matter of the butterfly effect. Imagine if the timeline reset at some point in the past; even without deliberate interference, who could say with certainty that it would return to the exact same present?
People's thoughts were volatile, uncontrollable. Especially when certain individuals, known for being "full of schemes" and possessing the status and power to enact them, were involved... individuals like Shimura Danzo.
Of course, Habara had no way of divining Danzo's thoughts or actions. One operated in the light, the other in shadow; theoretically, their paths rarely crossed. If Habara could somehow deduce every secret plot Danzo was hatching, he'd truly be omniscient.
Fortunately, with his current strength, Habara didn't feel the need to strangle every conspiracy in its cradle. That seemed a bit much to ask, frankly. He could simply wait for the plots to unfold and deal with them then. After all, Danzo's actual power and abilities were... limited. Even if he somehow tried to overthrow the entire shinobi world, he wouldn't succeed.
As for more direct methods, like cutting the weeds and digging up the roots? Again, Habara felt obligated to play by the rules. He wasn't a terrorist.
He sought neither political power nor military command. As long as Danzo didn't provoke him, Habara had no reason to target Danzo. That was the principle, anyway. Unfortunately, not everyone shared his magnanimity.
And so, Habara received a new mission dispatching him outside the village. The mission's nature was simultaneously mundane and utterly absurd, so much so that Habara was momentarily stunned when he heard the details.
"You want me to go to Sunagakure?" he asked Kushina Uzumaki, who had delivered the mission scroll. "I mean, I don't mind, but isn't that poking the hornet's nest a little? Officially, Suna is still our ally. What happens if another... explosion... occurs while I'm visiting?"
To put it bluntly, Habara going to Suna was akin to him dancing on the graves of their deceased relatives right in front of the bereaved family. They might very well try to kill him out of sheer principle, even knowing they couldn't win. As the saying went, some things were simply intolerable.
The fact was, although the Fourth Kazekage had died at the hands of Hatake Kakashi, the people of Sunagakure seemed unanimously convinced that Habara was responsible. It was, frankly, a rather stubborn and illogical conclusion. Habara had merely provided an assist; at absolute most, he bore maybe 0.7% of the responsibility for the Kazekage's unfortunate demise. Regardless, Suna harbored deep animosity towards him.
But the strange thing was, despite this hostility, even after the Kazekage's death, Suna officials had formally contacted Habara several times. Honestly, if they weren't clearly incapable of defeating him, Habara suspected he might have already met with some sort of 'unfortunate accident'.
"Their routine intelligence reports to Konoha have been interrupted twice this year," Kushina explained. "According to the terms of our alliance, that shouldn't happen. Konoha is concerned that the situation in Suna might have changed significantly."
"Furthermore," she continued, " Sasori's return to the village could introduce unknown variables. We need to ascertain his status and intentions... We hope Suna's political situation stabilizes as quickly and smoothly as possible. Ideally, they need to select a new Kazekage who can command respect soon."
So concerned about the Kazekage selection – was Konoha interfering in Suna's internal affairs? No, Kushina's explanation framed it as the legitimate request of an ally. Konoha simply desired a more stable Sunagakure.
Habara mused on potential candidates. Sasori had the power, but he was the one who assassinated the Third Kazekage – fit for a weapon, not a leader. Elder Chiyo, Suna's respected advisor, likely had no interest in the position. Being Kazekage was a high-risk occupation, and Chiyo probably preferred to enjoy her remaining years in peace.
There had been a suitable candidate before, the young woman known as the "Hero of Suna," but she had vanished without a trace. Perhaps she'd unfortunately been disposed of by bandits somewhere and dumped in the sea.
"What's the official pretext for my visit?" Habara asked.
"We'll use the upcoming joint Chunin Exams," Kushina said. "The next one is scheduled to be held in Sunagakure. You'll be going to discuss the preparations, assess their readiness, and ensure Suna has the capability to host the exams smoothly, preventing any potential issues."
That was a perfectly legitimate reason. The Chunin Exams were held twice a year, providing a convenient excuse to observe Suna's current state.
"Understood. When do I depart?"
"Two days from now. We'll contact Sunagakure ahead of time."
Proper communication was essential. Otherwise, this wouldn't be Habara's diplomatic mission to Suna, but Habara's surprise attack on Suna.
"Do you require a squad assigned to you?" Kushina asked, seeking his input.
"Unnecessary, I think. I operate more efficiently alone," Habara replied after a moment's thought.
Kushina nodded. She agreed; Habara alone was more flexible – capable of advancing, attacking, or retreating swiftly. Assigning teammates might actually hinder his reaction time and effectiveness.
And so, Habara's departure was set. The two-day window was ostensibly for Suna to prepare, allowing them ample time for psychological adjustment.
Honestly, facing Habara's impending arrival, Suna certainly did need preparation – both physical and mental. Upon hearing the news, their internal monologue likely went something like this:
Day One: The man-eating demon king advances towards the Land of Wind! Day Two: The Kazekage's mortal enemy reaches the border of the Land of Rivers! Day Three: Jonin Habara enters the Wind Country's desert! Day Four: The decorated envoy of our allied nation approaches Sunagakure, bearing goodwill...
It wasn't a joke. Suna was clearly still reeling from significant losses. There were certain individuals they desperately wanted to avoid provoking, certain burdens they could no longer bear. Letting Habara into Sunagakure and then trying to ambush him? Did Suna not understand the concept of a "blossoming from the center" tactic? Did they not know why nuclear bombs were detonated mid-air? Did they not grasp the messy outcome of stuffing a firecracker into dog droppings?
One always had to consider the cost.
Habara himself wasn't particularly worried about encountering danger. Who was Suna's strongest asset currently? Perhaps Sasori? Elder Chiyo? Or maybe the One-Tailed Shukaku? Even if all three attacked him simultaneously, Habara felt reasonably confident he could escape unscathed. Only if Suna declared "total war," mobilizing the entire village against him alone, might he succumb to exhaustion. But that scenario was ludicrous; it would never happen.
Since this was an official visit, there was no need for excessive haste or clandestine travel methods. Habara didn't bother with any rapid-transit techniques; he traveled overland at a standard pace.
After crossing a vast stretch of desert, Habara finally arrived within sight of Sunagakure. From a distance, he could see someone standing at the village entrance, clearly waiting for him.
As he drew slightly closer, he recognized the figure – a familiar face. It was the Suna Jonin and Puppet Master, Zaemon Matsuyo. Habara had actually worked alongside her on a mission not long ago.
"Jonin Habara, welcome back to Sunagakure," Matsuyo said, stepping forward as Habara approached.
Back? Habara felt a flicker of suspicion. Why emphasize the "again"? Was there a hidden meaning in her words?
"Matsuyo-san," Habara greeted with a polite smile. "Indeed. All for the benefit of the alliance between Konoha and Suna."
They exchanged a few brief pleasantries. Maintaining a professional demeanor, Matsuyo began leading Habara towards the village proper.
As they passed through Sunagakure's natural defensive entrance, the narrow canyon known as 'Ichijōten' – A Line of Sky – Habara noted the visible and concealed guard posts. These shinobi remained still, undoubtedly under orders not to make any sudden moves that could cause a misunderstanding. Having been here before, Habara still found the terrain fascinating. He could almost hear an internal monologue captioning the scene, *'I laugh at Chiyo's incompetence and Suna's lack of wisdom! If only they'd stationed a few hundred Jonin in ambush here, then I...' * No, better not finish that thought.
As they neared the end of the narrow pass, where the village buildings became clearly visible, Habara spotted another figure waiting to receive him. This time, he felt a genuine jolt of pleasant surprise. Standing there was the primary person of interest for this mission: Sasori.
Habara grinned and quickened his pace, approaching Sasori directly. He extended his left hand.
Turning his head slightly back towards Matsuyo even as he addressed Sasori, Habara remarked cheerfully, "See? This is what they call 'not knowing each other until you fight.' After a good bout, you can become the best of friends!"
Sasori's face remained impassive, cold. He clearly had no intention of shaking Habara's hand. The problem was, his own hand didn't seem to agree. With the distinct clack-clack of puppet joints, Sasori's left hand rose autonomously and met Habara's in a firm handshake.
"See?" Habara said, still looking at Matsuyo. "Just like that."
…
After breakfast, Uchiha Shisui had to head to the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters. He needed to deal with the case of a clansman involved in a village brawl. The ninja in question had already been detained by the Police Force for two weeks, and there was still no sign of his imminent release. Shisui needed to go retrieve him; how to handle the disciplinary action afterward could be decided later, but the man couldn't remain locked up indefinitely.
However, when Shisui arrived at the headquarters, the attitude of the Uchiha officers there towards him was clearly hostile. The more restrained ones simply ignored his presence completely. The less restrained ones stopped just short of spitting directly in his face.
They obviously considered Uchiha Shisui a traitor.
Shisui had faced this kind of chilling reception many times before. Yet, each time the undisguised malice and misunderstanding hit him squarely, he still found it difficult to accept, difficult to let go.
If you have walked through the same evening breeze as I have,Does that not mean we have embraced?
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