Inuzuka Ryoha found Sakumo.
"Sakumo-san, we need to change tactics tomorrow. The Sand Village's puppet corps is too disgusting to deal with."
"Can your Inuzuka unit keep up with their puppet corps?"
"We used to be able to. But this time, their puppet corps runs the moment they see us. Our hit-and-run tactics are completely useless, and once we chase them, we walk straight into countless traps."
Ryoha gritted his teeth as he spoke.
These Sand shinobi were way too cowardly.
"I see. By the way, where's your partner? I haven't seen it in a long time."
"Eimaru? I was planning to keep him as a trump card. Do we really have to use him now? That feels like overkill."
"These are special circumstances. We can't worry about that. Overkill or not, the key issue is that we simply lack effective ways to deal damage to the Sand Village right now. If only Tsunade were here… at least we wouldn't have to worry about poison."
Sakumo sighed.
You don't truly understand a field's hardships until you're in it.
In the last ninja war, the Sand Village's puppet corps didn't feel nearly this troublesome. The Inuzuka clan could kite them endlessly, and Tsunade could handle all poison-related issues on her own.
But now, the Sand Village had learned to avoid the Inuzuka clan and instead target everyone else.
And with Tsunade gone, they had become like a hedgehog—
Untouchable, covered in spikes.
Even a scratch could be fatal.
"Alright. Tomorrow, you'll get to see Eimaru and the others."
"Them???"
Sakumo wanted to ask more, but Ryoha had already left.
...
Sand Village Camp
Ebizo was analyzing the battlefield situation.
"At present, our top-tier combat power is roughly on par with the Hidden Leaf Village. However, in mid- and low-level engagements, the Inuzuka clan has caused us tremendous trouble."
"The Inuzuka clan moves like the wind—fast, agile, and with sharp senses. They are indeed a difficult enemy."
Rasa, dressed in tattered clothes, calmly acknowledged the Inuzuka clan's strength.
Facing the enemy honestly was the only way to defeat them.
Although Rasa himself had been beaten badly, his perspective was gradually rising to that of a Kazekage.
Personal honor meant nothing compared to the village's interests.
"Rasa, I think we need to deploy Shukaku. A Tailed Beast could be the key to breaking the stalemate."
Ebizo said.
"Bunpuku may not agree."
Rasa replied.
"He doesn't have a choice. The Sand Village's situation is already extremely dangerous. As time passes, the impact of the Third Kazekage's disappearance will only grow. Our morale will collapse. Right now, it's not the Hidden Leaf Village racing against time—it's us. In this battle, we must produce a Kazekage who can win the trust of all Sand shinobi."
Ebizo spoke with a hint of shame.
After all, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage was connected to Sasori.
But he still laid out the Sand Village's greatest dilemma—
They had no Kazekage.
"Ebizo makes sense. In that case, notify Bunpuku. Shukaku has plagued the Sand Village for years—it's time it contributed something for once."
Rasa agreed.
But no one present noticed—
At the mention of Kazekage, a female ninja's eyes lit up.
The first female Kage in the ninja world… that will be me, Pakura.
...
The next day,
The battle between the Sand Village and the Hidden Leaf Village reignited.
But this time, neither side attacked immediately.
The Sand Village pushed forward a frail, bald monk.
On the Hidden Leaf side,
Inuzuka Ryoha stepped forward carrying a massive scroll.
As if by prior agreement, the two sat facing each other.
Both armies behind them were stunned, yet neither side's leaders made a move.
"So what, the Sand Village's run out of people? You're sending a monk to fight?"
Ryoha naturally knew the monk before him was Shukaku's jinchūriki. But on the battlefield—praising your enemy? That's just helping them and sabotaging yourself.
"Not at all. This humble monk has come to stop the war."
"Stop the war? Monk, I don't doubt your heart—but I do doubt your ability."
"I may not have such ability… but there is a guest temporarily residing within my body who does."
"I know—Shukaku, right? But it's just the One-Tail. You really think it can handle the Sand forces behind you?"
Ryoha's face was full of disbelief.
If it were the Nine-Tails, he might believe it. But the One-Tail? That's a joke.
A creature that could get captured in its own home—the desert—how strong could it really be?
Especially when the ones who captured it weren't Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara.
"Let me out! Let me out! I'll kill him! Who does he think he's looking down on?!"
Shukaku roared furiously from within Bunpuku.
After all these years—aside from that annoying fox—no one had ever dared speak to him like this.
"Young man, your words have angered the guest within me. I hope you will apologize to him."
Bunpuku said sincerely.
Ryoha looked at him with disdain.
So this is what they call a saintly fool… no, more like a self-righteous saint.
He stood up.
Never try to reason with someone like that.
All you'll get is frustration.
"Monk, I admit you're a good person. But if you want me to listen, you'll need strength."
With that, he slashed at Bunpuku with his claw.
A stream of sand rose beside Bunpuku and grabbed Ryoha's wrist.
"Young man, why can't we resolve everything through dialogue? Violence cannot decide everything."
Ryoha grinned.
"So you're saying everything can be solved through talk?"
"That's right."
"Then what about what you're doing right now?"
Bunpuku looked at the sand restraining Ryoha's hand and felt awkward.
But he still said,
"That's because you attacked me. I'm merely defending myself."
"Haha! I believe in solving everything with strength, so I'll prove it to you with strength. But you claim to believe in dialogue—yet you stopped me with force, not words. In other words, deep down, you also believe in strength. You've just dressed it up in the guise of 'dialogue.'"
Ryoha's words struck like blades, piercing straight into Bunpuku's heart.
What kind of person… am I?
Bunpuku fell into deep confusion.
And in that moment—
Ryoha seized the chance and sent him flying with a powerful slash.
Did you really think you could refute a villain's classic monologue?
As Bunpuku was blasted away, a sinister chakra began to surge from his body.
At the same time, Ryoha unfurled his massive scroll, bit his finger, and said—
"My debut battle is against the One-Tail Shukaku. Eimaru's entrance sure is impressive."
Bang—
"ROAR!"
A massive wolf-like creature appeared, howling toward the sky.
"Wahahaha! This great Shukaku is finally out! Where's that brat who looked down on me?! Watch me tear him to pieces!"