In the Kazekage's office, the two sat across a table, engaged in a game.
"I'm very sorry, Kazekage-sama, the mission failed."
Pakura bowed slightly, her face calm as she spoke.
"Hmm?"
Rasa said nothing, merely narrowed his eyes, looking at the person standing before him and nodding.
"What happened?"
"I was ambushed before I even reached Hidden Mist Village. Although I managed to escape, I sustained some injuries."
Pakura said, raising her left arm, which was wrapped in white bandages, and continued, "It seems they have no intention of seeking peace, Kazekage-sama."
"Hmm."
Rasa nodded after hearing this, a slight smile appearing on his face.
"It's good that you're alright. Go rest now. Let everyone see you; the previous intelligence made everyone sad for days."
"Yes, I'll take my leave then, Kazekage-sama."
Pakura bowed slightly, then turned and left the office, closing the door behind her.
Rasa was left alone in the office, sitting quietly. He reined in the smile on his face, looking at the spot where Pakura had stood, lost in thought.
Although both of them wished the other dead, on the surface, they maintained a harmonious superior-subordinate relationship.
"Lady Pakura!"
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the commotion outside interrupted Rasa's thoughts. He stood up, went to the window, and immediately saw Pakura surrounded by a crowd below. The streets in front of the Kazekage Building were packed.
Seeing this, Rasa's expression immediately darkened. He turned and returned to his desk, sitting down and looking at the documents on the table, muttering, "Hidden Mist Village, truly useless..."
He had thought that with the strength of one of the Five Great Villages, it wouldn't be difficult to kill Pakura with some preparation. He truly hadn't expected them to be so useless.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Pakura was dispersing the surrounding crowd, as the mission hall was just behind her.
"It's alright, I'm fine."
Looking at her disciple, whose tears wouldn't stop falling, Pakura felt a bit helpless. She could only pat her back, constantly comforting her, while a warm feeling rose in her heart.
Although those who betrayed her truly deserved to die, most people in the Village were still kind. It was indeed better for her to lead them than Rasa, that hypocrite who betrayed his comrades.
Thinking this, Pakura raised her head, looking at the Kazekage Building before her, a cold light flashing in her eyes, but it vanished in an instant. Lowering her head, she pulled her disciple along and walked away.
Now was not the time for her to have too much contact with them. It was better to quietly wait for news from that side.
On the other side, in the desert tens of thousands of meters from Sunagakure, Ren sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly closed, while Ryufeng stood beside him, acting as his protector.
In the spiritual space, Ren sat on the ground, conversing with the two beasts.
"Then let's give it a try."
Ren nodded to the two beasts not far away, assenting.
"Mm. X2"
The two beasts responded in unison, a look of anticipation in their eyes.
When Ren opened his eyes again, Ryufeng, who was nearby, noticed the situation, casting his gaze over and nodding, "Done?"
"Yes, let's test it first."
After Ren finished speaking, he stood up and began to form hand signs. As the signs changed continuously, the enormous Chakra within Ren's body also became restless.
"Hmm?"
Ryufeng, who was on alert, quickly noticed Ren's abnormality. Under his gaze, a large amount of Chakra began to flow out from Ren's body, then gathered in the air, forming a huge ball of Chakra. The power contained within it made Ryufeng secretly astonished.
After about another half minute, the Chakra from Ren's body stopped flowing, and the Chakra ball above his head had become extraordinarily massive.
Under their gaze, that ball of Chakra began to condense, to transform...
This is!
Ryufeng's pupils immediately widened as he watched the Chakra ball gradually transform into a familiar creature: a spiky shell, a single eye slowly opening, and Three-Tails dancing wildly behind it.
Three-Tails Isobu!
"You..."
Looking at the familiar Tailed Beast and Ren beside him, Ryufeng was truly bewildered. He recalled all the ancient texts he had read in Uchiha, but he had never heard of such a situation.
He had known about Ren being a Perfect Jinchuriki during their journey, but didn't a Jinchuriki die once their Tailed Beast was released?!
Yet, looking at Ren, who was lively and well, there was no sign of him dying.
"Ahahahahaha, it worked!"
Seeing this, Ren immediately became excited, and his idea of calling Kakuzu for help was instantly dismissed.
With this lineup, it was enough to fight the Third Raikage, let alone a weakling like Rasa. There was no need to call Kakuzu, and it would save some money.
"Ren, I'll go first then."
Isobu lowered his head, looking at Ren, and said in a deep voice.
He was accustomed to living in water, and suddenly coming to this desert area, although it wouldn't harm him, it was still somewhat uncomfortable.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Isobu Bro."
Upon receiving the response, Isobu did not return to Ren's body. Instead, he turned and walked towards the distance. In his perception, there was a slightly denser water-attribute Chakra over there, which should be an oasis.
Watching Isobu's retreating figure, Ryufeng turned to Ren and said softly, "Then, let's act."
"Mm."
If they delayed any longer, Rasa might pull another trick. After all, no matter what, he was currently the Kazekage. To avoid complications, it was best to act immediately.
At night, the brightly lit Kazekage Building suddenly darkened. A weary Rasa emerged from it, and a cold wind blew against him, instantly invigorating him.
"Phew, is it that late already?"
Looking at the dark houses on both sides of the road and the solitary streetlights in the middle of the road, Rasa sighed a couple of times, then turned to the darkness beside him, smiling, "Alright, you all go back and rest. I'll walk by myself."
After a moment of silence in the darkness, a voice spoke up, "Kazekage-sama, please let one of us stay."
Rasa waved his hand, chuckling, "No need. This is in the Village; what danger could there be? Besides, I'm just going home. You all go back and rest. Consider it a holiday I'm giving you."
At this point, Rasa paused, not forgetting to crack a joke, "Of course, don't forget to be at work on time tomorrow morning."
With these words, the few people found it difficult to refuse and had no choice but to leave.
"Then we'll be going now. Be careful on your way, Kazekage-sama."
"Mm, alright."
Watching their figures disappear from his sight, the smile on Rasa's face immediately vanished. He walked expressionlessly into the distance.
Pakura's return made him feel vexed. Walking alone was true, and not wanting his subordinates to see his dark side was also true.