Not wanting to continue discussing Konoha dispatching reinforcement teams, Rasa chose to end the dialogue and asked Shuji to leave.
Even after obtaining the Kazekage's verbal promise to maintain the alliance, Team Five's movements in Sunagakure remained strictly limited.
The only loosening came after Shuji made several requests. Suna reluctantly agreed they could go to designated commercial areas in the village, accompanied by shinobi.
"So strict, Sunagakure." Anko felt the gaze from behind and complained quietly. "When we receive envoys from other villages, we don't go this far."
"Modern Konoha has been replanned. Each clan's compound and key areas are off the main routes." While looking at items on Suna shop shelves, Shuji said, "The village's commercial areas are even open to outsiders, allowing trade with the outside world."
Suna's shelves had items. Rare luxuries like gold, high-grade spices and medicinal materials were plentiful, but daily goods were too expensive in variety and price.
Shuji's fingertips passed over those everyday items and finally stopped at a small bottle of finely packaged high-grade perfume.
He took it down. The accompanying Suna shinobi's gaze instantly softened considerably.
This can be reimbursed, right...
The jōnin thought this while paying.
"Does captain have someone he wants to give a gift to?"
Hearing the price of this perfume bottle, Anko could not help gasping. She leaned over to sniff. "That price... it really smells good."
"Sort of. A gift."
After putting away the item, Shuji had no more interest in looking and returned to their lodging.
After returning, he saw Ebizō was in their rest room.
The old man's head was bowed, his body rising and falling with light snores, as if he had been waiting a long time.
"Advisor Ebizō."
"Mmm... oh, Shuji boy, finally back?" Ebizō seemed startled awake and slowly raised his head, eyes squinting in an old and weary manner. "Old people cannot bear waiting."
His gaze passed over the small cloth bag Shuji carried. His nostrils moved imperceptibly.
"The boy knows quality." His face was full of smiles, but his attitude was like seeing a sucker. "Sunagakure has many good things. You can buy more."
"Speaking of which, after buying things, when are you leaving?"
"Konoha must be anxious too, wanting to know Suna's attitude. You staying here, do you want to eat back the money you spent?"
Shuji methodically set the bag aside, sat opposite Ebizō, and poured himself a cup of clear water.
Konoha naturally would be anxious not getting news at first, but several days had passed. Suna likewise had no abnormal movements spread out. That itself was a strong stability signal.
The village now should not be anxious.
"The Kazekage's formal reply has not yet been obtained. It would not be good to return empty-handed."
Ebizō's arm spread and a small scroll slid from his wide sleeve, landing on the table.
"This is it. Time to go back, boy."
"The Kazekage does not seem to want to see me." Shuji did not look, only said this.
"Sharp tongue too annoying. The Fourth does not have that leisure to trade words with you."
"Talking about reinforcements every day. What reinforcements. No empty talk." Ebizō slapped the table. "If what Konoha promised is not in place, Sunagakure will not move."
"I even let you kill the Iwa envoy. Is Suna's sincerity not enough!"
"Boy, you think your threats scare anyone? That old bastard Ōnoki, no matter how unreliable, if really fighting Konoha, can also pull out money."
"I chose Konoha because I know in the entire shinobi world, only Suna and Konoha have the best basis for cooperation. Not because I can only choose Konoha."
"You bastard boy, do you understand!"
Ebizō's voice grew louder and louder, looking worked up. Shuji picked up the water pot and filled the old man's empty cup.
The old advisor glared at him but still grabbed the cup and gulped it down. The water went down his throat and his emotions seemed to calm with it.
Only then did the young jōnin reach out to take the scroll, check it over, confirm the seal and signature were correct, and put it away.
Ebizō coldly watched his movements, snorted through his nose, stood and prepared to leave.
"Leave tomorrow. Sunagakure will send three teams of shinobi to escort Konoha's envoy back."
"Advisor Ebizō." Shuji, who had not spoken just now, suddenly said, "Since we both understand we are the best partners for cooperation, why can't we work together sincerely?"
"In this shinobi world, the one with the least desire to attack Sunagakure, besides Kirigakure, is Konoha."
"The one who most hopes to achieve permanent peace with Sunagakure is likewise Konoha."
"And now is the moment for Konoha and Suna's friendship to go further. It is also the best chance to weaken our common enemy Iwagakure."
Ebizō said nothing. Without Iwa's pressure, would Konoha still give Suna such good terms? He did not believe it. Rasa did not believe it either.
Permanent peace? When the day comes that the people of wind and sand no longer worry about survival, then talk about it.
Watching him leave, Shuji was puzzled.
Why was Suna suddenly in such a hurry?
Was there some movement from the village? Or had some change occurred?
Team Five could not hear any news in Suna. He also could not know the current state of the shinobi world.
But it was time to return. What an envoy could do had reached this step.
—
Ebizō's ultimatum quickly became reality. Early the next morning, Team Five left Sunagakure under the protection of three full squads, a total of twelve Suna shinobi.
There was almost no pause along the way, much less any incidents.
These Suna shinobi's role was less protection than strict guarding, ensuring Team Five did not wander and bringing them straight to Fire Country.
Good news was that because the protecting Suna shinobi were numerous enough, Team Five could rest relatively long during the journey.
Bad news was they were truly rushing. So much that even Shuji found it strange. His doubts grew.
But with so many Suna shinobi, he could only set aside those probing thoughts.
A day and night later, Fire Country's familiar lush forests came into view. The border post's fence and watchtower were clearly visible. Only then did Suna's escort stop.
The lead Suna jōnin gave Shuji a simple salute. "Jōnin Shuji, we were ordered to escort you this far. Ahead is already Fire Country territory. Then, farewell."
As soon as he finished, the twelve Suna shinobi turned without hesitation and quickly vanished in the direction they came.
The Konoha shinobi on watch at the border tower had already noticed them. Several Konoha shinobi cautiously approached. After verifying each other's identities, the middle-aged shinobi who looked like the captain quickly came forward.
"Jōnin Shuji! You finally returned. That's great. The village has been worried about you at Suna's side..."
His gaze swept urgently over Shuji, carrying inquiry.
Shuji nodded, brief and to the point. "Mission complete. Suna is fine."
"I have the Kazekage's reply here. It needs to be returned to the village immediately and presented to the Third."
Hearing this, the chūnin let out a long breath. His face instantly broke into a smile. He turned and shouted loudly to his companions behind,
"Did you hear! The alliance is fine! Suna is still our ally!"
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild