"It's been a while, Kiyoshi."
Pakura, whose very silhouette was enough to stir one's imagination wild, turned around.
She emphasized Kiyoshi's name, staring intently at him.
Beside her were several Sunagakure ninjas. This was the only way to Sunagakure, so they had come to greet them early.
"Yes, it has been some time."
Kiyoshi looked at Pakura and said.
Pakura was the oldest of their group participating in the Chunin Exams, right in the stage of rapid development.
And her attire was becoming more and more like the original.
The sleeveless, backless outfit revealed her fair back and arms, shimmering in the sunlight.
A waist-cinching sash further accentuated the rounded curves of her figure under the white fabric.
'Truly wonderful.'
Kiyoshi's eyes flickered again.
Wasn't this a ripe leek ready to be harvested?
And the ninja world didn't have cosmetic surgery yet, so almost everyone's appearance was completely natural.
The Transformation Technique's disguise is just false, and it will return to its original form once the chakra is exhausted.
Even Orochimaru's B-rank ninjutsu Vanishing Face Copying Technique is just a more advanced disguise, sticking the facial skin of others to his face, so that he can disguise himself well without chakra.
"It is quite good, seeing you, my wish can also be fulfilled." Pakura's lips curled into a smile.
Friendly sparring, promoting "Konoha-Suna" friendship, is normal, right?
She had thought of many ways to deal with Kiyoshi's taijutsu skills.
"You're quite something."
Tsunade looked at the two, as if thinking of something, and patted Kiyoshi's back with a smile.
Even with Kiyoshi's current physique, he could feel the pain. Anyone else would probably be knocked to the ground immediately.
"You misunderstand, Tsunade-sama."
"Oh, who hasn't been young once?"
Tsunade's light brown eyes narrowed with laughter, and her exaggerated figure swayed up and down.
Young people these days are really capable. Kiyoshi even has a connection with the beautiful geniuses from other villages.
Asuma and Kurenai were fighting Baki during the Chunin Exams, so they didn't know what had happened between Kiyoshi and Pakura.
They only knew that Kiyoshi had driven Pakura away.
'Kiyoshi is actually flirting with Pakura.'
Asuma was secretly delighted.
Wouldn't that mean no one would be competing with him for Kurenai?
Taking the lead for a moment doesn't count as winning, the one who laughs last is the winner!
Unlike Asuma's almost smiling expression, Kurenai's expression was much more gloomy.
Before, Kiyoshi was holding the priestess, and now he's a bit entangled with Pakura.
Aren't they enemies?
"Pakura, is that the Konoha genius, Uchiha?"
The one who spoke on Pakura's right was a red-haired, handsome young man.
"After the death of Konoha White Fang, another relay of geniuses are continuing to emerge."
Sasori, who looked harmless, said mercilessly.
This made Tsunade frown immediately.
"Sasori!"
Pakura shouted, telling Sasori to restrain himself.
Sasori's parents were killed by Konoha White Fang, Sakumo, so it's normal for him to hate Konoha ninjas.
But today Konoha, were envoys to Sunagakure, a little carelessness could lead to a serious diplomatic incident.
Sasori didn't speak. He just turned his head and looked at the empty desert.
Pakura suddenly understood why Sasori, who was usually very withdrawn, couldn't control his emotions today.
It was because the object he had always wanted to hate was already dead, leading to no revenge to be had.
It was like he was using all his strength to hit a ball of cotton, leaving him unable to make use of his strength, very aggrieved.
Pakura sighed and looked at Tsunade, who was in the lead.
"Sorry, you had to see that, follow me, the village is still a distance away."
Pakura continued to turn around and lead the group towards Sunagakure, leaving a string of footprints in the desert.
Tsunade looked at Sasori's red hair, remembering that Sakumo seemed to have killed a couple famous for their puppet technique.
Could this child be their descendant?
Tsunade told Kiyoshi and the others to follow, walking in the vast desert.
Kiyoshi glanced at Sasori in front of him, already having a plan in mind.
Sakumo is already dead, Sasori will definitely poison the Third Kazekage, it's just a matter of time.
Sasori blames the Third Kazekage for the death of his parents.
He thinks that the Kazekage, as the leader of Sunagakure, was negligent and incompetent, which led to Konoha attacking and forcing his parents to die.
This logic was very abstract, but Sasori thought so.
That's why Kiyoshi thought that there are extreme elements and mental patients everywhere in the ninja world.
Konoha does not have a department responsible for caring for children's mental state.
Sunagakure does not have it either.
Looking at the ninja world, no ninja village has established an institution to care for Children's mental health.
The first such institution would only be built about half a year after the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
It was mainly due to Sakura's proposal, and it took a lot of time and effort.
Children have long been quietly distorted under the ninja system.
'I have to find a time to try to guide Sasori.' Kiyoshi thought to himself.
The distorted Sasori can be used by him. And listening to him would be good for Sasori himself.
After all, Sasori in the original story hadn't done anything good.
…
The group quickly arrived at Sunagakure.
This is the very center of the desert, and also one of the few oases in the desert.
Sunagakure ninjas rely on this difficult geographical condition to create their home.
Kiyoshi looked at these strange buildings. Looking at it for a long time gave him a sense of oppression.
Here, all the buildings haven't been painted and were built into the shape of a fortress.
Even a little color is a luxury.
Pakura noticed Kiyoshi's eyes and snorted. She felt that Kiyoshi must not be looking with appreciative eyes.
He probably had a superiority acquired from being born in a rich land.
Kiyoshi turned to look at Pakura's proud expression.
Patriotic education is the top priority in every village.
Pakura, who has lived here since childhood, naturally does not feel oppressed, she is used to it.
In Gaara Hiden, it is said that most of Sunagakure ninjas are not interested in luxurious life.
In Kiyoshi's view, it's just trying to find joy in suffering.
If you don't understand the spirit of contentment, you will suffocate in this desert sooner or later, and become a meal for the vultures in the desert.
Those ninjas who want to live a good life are probably living in hell every day.
They walked in Sunagakure, and from time to time, curious Sunagakure people cast their eyes over.
Obviously, they had discovered the Konoha mark on the ninja headbands on Kiyoshi and others' heads.
"We're here."
Before long, Pakura stopped under an imposing building.
The office, diplomacy, and mission assignment building are of course more magnificent than other buildings in any ninja village.
After they went in, the man who was working raised his head.
"Welcome, Konoha ninjas, to Sunagakure."
The Third Kazekage had light blue hair, narrow eyes, and was wearing a blue suit that was darker than his hair color.
"Lord Third Kazekage, I am here on behalf of Konoha to discuss the alliance matters with you."
Tsunade's casual expression became serious.
She took out a paper, which was filled with densely packed words from a sealing scroll.