"I feel like sewing your mouth shut."
Sakumo instantly flew into a rage when he heard that. What kind of person was this, daring to mock a wounded man like that?!
What's there to be proud of? My wife prepared this medicine for me, you know!
Kawakaze struck a bossy pose, treating himself like the leader and Sakumo as his subordinate. He bullied him simply because he was injured.
What's wrong? Why don't you ask yourself what's wrong with you?
"I'll tell you right now—do you want to hear it?"
Sakumo also became rude and unrestrained. The two brothers immediately started fighting.
Kawakaze showed no mercy at all. Taking advantage of Sakumo's weakness, he pinned him to the bed and beat him mercilessly.
"Call me big brother and I'll let you go."
"Hatake Kawakaze, you must be dreaming."
At this moment, Sakumo felt so humiliated he was practically on the verge of tears.
Fortunately, Tsunade was too busy to deal with these two idiots, otherwise their baby-making plans might have been postponed indefinitely.
After a round of noisy bickering and mutual insults, the two finally separated.
After taking the detox pills, both Sakumo and Kawakaze stretched their bodies, their physical condition improving greatly.
After Kawakaze left, Sakumo enjoyed a hearty dinner. Setting aside his status, this was also special treatment for the injured.
Dai still hadn't woken up. He needed time to recover.
Medical staff hooked him up to nutrient infusions to replenish his energy, allowing him to avoid eating for now.
Kawakaze arrived at the wounded area. He didn't know when those two kids had shown up, but they were already helping Tsunade.
They cleaned wounds, applied medicine, and bandaged injuries with professional efficiency.
"Teacher (brother-in-law)."
Kawakaze silently nodded, saying nothing. He didn't want to interfere with treatment.
Returning to the house he had chosen, Kawakaze enjoyed a delicious dinner.
Only late at night did Tsunade, visibly exhausted, come to meet him.
"Finished?"
"Mm. There are still some lightly wounded, but I don't need to personally handle those."
Her voice was steady, but her fatigue was impossible to hide.
Although they had won the battle, Konoha had suffered heavy losses.
Kawakaze stood up and suddenly lifted Tsunade by the waist.
"Are you stupid?"
Tsunade thought he was about to do something improper and glared at him angrily.
"What are you thinking? Just rest here."
Kawakaze laid her gently on the bed. He had already changed the sheets to something comfortable.
"Sleep well. I'll come join you soon."
He tucked her in with a blanket and smiled softly.
"I'm sorry…"
Tsunade's voice softened, guilt appearing on her face.
"Good night."
Kawakaze gently kissed her forehead, then turned and left.
While the Konoha ninjas rested in their camp, a Sand ninja returned to Sunagakure with news of crushing defeat.
For the Third Kazekage, it was a sleepless night.
"Konoha… you're trying to destroy the very foundation of my village!"
Crashing sounds echoed from inside the room.
After venting his fury, he summoned the highest leadership of the village for an emergency meeting that very night.
Fengying Tower – Strategic Conference Chamber
The Third Kazekage stood on the platform. Below him were Sunagakure's elite.
"Reports from the front line confirm: we have been defeated."
"Konoha has already established itself inside the Land of Wind."
"The daimyō's supplies have yet to be delivered."
"Granny Chiyo and Ebizo are dead."
"So tell me—what should we do next?"
"Speak freely. If you don't, you may never get the chance again."
The Third Kazekage had blue hair and golden eyes. He wore the white Kazekage robe over blue ninja attire. The fury in his voice was impossible to conceal, and the ninjas below trembled in fear.
Chiyo and Ebizo had always been pillars of Sunagakure. Their deaths were nearly impossible to accept.
"If none of you speak, I'll decide myself."
"Don't look for excuses afterward, or don't blame me for being ruthless."
Did you hear me?
The Third Kazekage's stance was unusually hardline. Any further hesitation would mean Sunagakure's collapse.
This was the gravest crisis the Sand Village had faced since its founding.
"Yes, Third Kazekage-sama!"
Everyone in the chamber responded in unison, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
"Rin—send people to the daimyō's estate to demand supplies. If they delay again, tell him I will dissolve Sunagakure."
"Let Konoha deal with the consequences themselves."
The Third Kazekage was done cooperating with the daimyō. He would secure these resources at all costs.
"Yes, Third Kazekage-sama!"
Upon receiving the order, Rin immediately led his subordinates toward the capital.
"Ho, go inform Master Fuku. This time, we'll squeeze him hard."
"Konoha has mobilized their Jinchūriki."
The Third Kazekage would also unleash Shukaku's power.
"Yes, Third Kazekage-sama!"
Another ninja departed for Fuku's temple to request aid.
"Has Yecang not been located yet?"
"Lady Yecang was heavily wounded and is currently returning."
The shadow guard behind him answered. Yecang was now one of Sunagakure's strongest warriors.
"Treat her immediately and bring her to see me."
"Yes."
One shadow guard retreated after receiving the order.
"Now is the moment that determines whether our village lives or dies."
"Give everything you have. Don't think about conserving strength."
"If Konoha launches another offensive, not a single one of us here will survive."
Do you understand?!
The Third Kazekage roared, his words shocking everyone present.
"Yes, Third Kazekage-sama!"
Their reply came in trembling unison.
"Dismissed. Prepare for battle and await my orders."
With that, the Third Kazekage left the chamber without looking back.
His mood could no longer be described as merely bad.
Sunagakure already lacked strong foundations.
The Land of Wind was notoriously poor.
Now Konoha had shifted to the offensive, while several of his top commanders were dead.
He had no confidence in this war.
If he lost, the Land of Wind might survive—but Sunagakure would certainly be annihilated.
Returning to his office, he saw the shattered mess across the floor and didn't bother cleaning it.
He collapsed behind his desk, anxiety crushing him, clawing violently at his own hair.
After a sleepless night, the Third Kazekage met Yecang the next afternoon.
"Lord Kazekage."
Despite being wrapped in bandages, Yecang still looked exhausted.
She had withdrawn from the right flank, gathered what remained of the defeated forces, and retreated. She knew attacking the other lines would only end the same way.
The enemy's advance had far exceeded what ordinary manpower could withstand.
"Are your injuries serious?"
Dark circles weighed heavily beneath the Third Kazekage's narrow eyes.
"I've been treated. A few days' rest will be enough."
Her wounds were mainly from explosions caused by the clash of Scorch Release and sword techniques, so her recovery wouldn't be too slow.
"That's good."
"In the next battle, you will command my Shadow Guard."
"I hope you don't disappoint me."
The Third Kazekage entrusted her with this critical role, hoping she and the Shadow Guard could hold back Konoha's elite combat forces.
There was no other choice.
"I will do my best."
Yecang wanted to respond more confidently, but the image of Kawakaze's terrifying strength made her hesitate.
"What do you mean—"
"Never mind. When you have time, train coordination with the Shadow Guard."
The Third Kazekage had intended to scold her, but reconsidered.
With Granny Chiyo dead, scolding Yecang would change nothing.
For him, this war was unavoidable.
Many of Konoha's elites had yet to appear, yet they had already pushed him to this desperate brink.
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