Temari and Kankuro walked side by side down the village street.
The streets of Sunagakure weren't paved as thoroughly as those in Konoha, where every area was tightly covered with tiles. Here, only the central path was lined with flat stones, while the rest of the ground was simply packed down.
Both carried things in their hands—Kankuro held strips of meat strung together by threads, while Temari carried several cloth bags filled with fresh vegetables.
In the desert, growing vegetables wasn't impossible, but cultivation was limited to very small plots due to the high cost. Even in Saitama's original world, vegetables grown locally were among the most expensive commodities in the desert, not to mention in this world where production appeared so underdeveloped.
Because of scarcity and expense, vegetable prices were extremely high—often more than double the cost of regular meat. Yet they couldn't be skipped in daily life; after all, becoming a powerful ninja required proper nutrition.
"Could you pick up the pace already? You're acting so wishy-washy! Are all girls like this?"
Kankuro gripped the thin strings in his hand, continuously manipulating them with his five fingers, as if practicing his dexterity. His tone clearly showed his displeasure.
"All right, all right, I got it. I wonder what Gaara's been up to at home today. I hope he hasn't just been playing with sand in the yard all day again!"
Temari sounded resigned. If she hadn't insisted on dragging Kankuro along, he probably would've already locked himself in his room playing with his cold puppets.
Temari picked up her pace slightly—she missed her youngest brother being home alone, even though he was always responsible.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
A few sharp, urgent alarm bells rang from far away. The siblings stiffened mid-step, simultaneously lifting their heads to look toward the source of the sound.
The entire atmosphere of Sunagakure Village seemed to freeze along with that warning noise, and for one second, the heavens and earth fell silent.
"This… is an attack?" Temari felt uneasy, her face paling slightly, as if startled.
"Gaara!"
The next moment, she noticed many ninjas rushing in the direction of their house upon hearing the alarm, and a sense of foreboding struck her heart.
Kankuro also appeared tense, his fingers frozen mid-motion, his eyebrows knitted tightly together.
"Hurry back!" Temari shouted, already sprinting down the road toward home. The bag of vegetables swung back and forth violently in her hand as she ran.
Their house was just ahead—only a turn at the intersection away. It wasn't far!
"Wait for me!" Kankuro called out seriously. Having known about Gaara's unusual nature since childhood, Kankuro felt even more pity for his younger brother.
Now that something happened, both he and Temari immediately feared something had gone wrong with Gaara. Without hesitation, he sped up to chase after her.
...
"Who exactly are you?"
"A masked ninja knelt on one knee, blood continuously dripping from the edge of his mask onto the sand, forming a dark stain.
Whoosh! A tail composed of countless metal plates linked by intricate joints sliced through the air.
Rip! The metallic tail weaved skillfully through the air before suddenly piercing the chest of the ninja, impaling him completely and lifting his body high into the sky.
"I underestimated you guys!" Sasori's voice rang out. He had just momentarily let his guard down, allowing one of Gaara's Anbu guards to send out a distress signal.
Slash! Before the ninja could even cry out in pain, the tail flicked upward, cleaving his body in half. His corpse crashed to the ground with a dull thud, silenced forever.
"Deal with that kid quickly. We need to leave here fast," Sasori said, and with that, [Hiruko] slowly advanced toward several ninjas who had just arrived on the scene.
Underneath his straw hat, Saitama's face carried a faint smile, his entire body trembling with excitement.
Opposing an entire village felt dangerous—but addictively exhilarating.
The Anbu's earlier transmission had already drawn many people's attention. They indeed needed to escape quickly, or they'd be surrounded.
While Sasori blocked off the enemies, Saitama now faced no immediate threats. He shifted his gaze toward the child standing in the courtyard.
Ten ninjas had died protecting this courtyard, yet the boy showed no fear—he stood calmly, staring directly at Saitama.
"You must be Gaara?" Saitama approached the redheaded boy, observing the small figure barely over a meter tall through the torn fabric hanging from his straw hat.
"Who are you?" Gaara asked coolly, eyes filled with innocent curiosity.
"Just a runt after all!" Saitama muttered under his breath, not bothering to say anything more.
Electricity crackled around his right hand as he reached straight for Gaara, who didn't flinch, seemingly caught off guard.
Whoosh! Before his hand could touch Gaara, Saitama heard a sound and glanced sideways, spotting two figures approaching rapidly.
What's Sasori doing letting two kids through?
Swish! He sprang from his spot, landing aside just as multiple long Senbon embedded themselves into the place where he'd stood moments ago.
Half of the needles sank deeply into the sand with considerable force, their surfaces bearing faint black markings—clearly coated with poison.
"Gaara!" Temari rushed over and pulled him protectively behind her while eyeing Saitama warily.
"Tch!" Ignoring Temari, Saitama focused instead on Kankuro, who stood behind them controlling a Puppet.
"Stay away from my little brother!" With both hands raised before him, Kankuro extended ten Chakra Threads from his fingertips. A black Puppet floated about a meter in front of him, suspended in midair.
And those Senbon had been fired from the mouth of this very Puppet.
"How interesting!" Saitama watched the siblings, impressed by the strength of their bond even now.
Swish! Remaining stationary, Saitama suddenly vanished from Kankuro and Temari's sight, as though he had dissolved into space itself.
"Where'd you go…?" Kankuro controlled his puppet, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead as his shirt clung tightly to his back.
It was his first time using a puppet in real combat. Despite all his training, the pressure of actual battle made him anxious and threw off his rhythm for now.
"What are you looking for?" Saitama pressed one hand onto Kankuro's head, feeling his body stiffen immediately as he froze in place.
"When did you—" Kankuro didn't move, but his eyes flicked sideways, catching sight of a shadowy figure cloaked in black adorned with red clouds.
"Kankuro!" Temari also noticed her brother being controlled by the enemy. Quickly pulling Gaara aside, she shot a wary glance over, fists tightening.
The tension built steadily. Saitama could sense Kankuro's breath quickening—as if he were about to make a desperate move.
"Brats should know their place! Stay out of adult business!"
Suddenly, electricity burst from Saitama's arm, surging through his limb and into Kankuro's body.
"Agh!" Letting out just one pained cry, Kankuro's body went limp and slumped toward the ground.
Thud! A fierce kick slammed into Kankuro's back, hurling him away as if he were nothing more than a pesky insect.
"KANKURO! What did you do to him!" Temari cried out, her fists clenched tight while she glared at this trench-coated enemy wearing a hat that hid his true face.
"Could be he's dead—who knows?" Saitama shrugged nonchalantly before shifting his stance and heading toward Gaara and Temari.
"You…" Temari's pupils constricted. Glancing toward her younger brother lying motionless in the distance with thin black smoke rising off him, her chest heaved heavily.
If anything happened to Kankuro, she wouldn't be able to bear it—but their enemy clearly had his sights set on Gaara. She simply couldn't let anything happen to him either!
Resolve flashing in her eyes, Temari squared her shoulders, dropped low, and planted her legs firmly—readying herself for battle.
Electricity flared from Saitama's arm again. Smirking, he reached toward Gaara who stood beside Temari.
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