Uchiha Kagami, Karura had also heard of this person's name. He was the highest commander of the Konoha ninja forces in the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain, and also the head of the renowned Uchiha clan.
Both his background and status were top-tier, so it was impossible not to feel pressure when meeting such a person.
Although Karura's master, Bunpuku, was a jinchuriki, the jinchuriki of Sunagakure had very little status.
Karura was naturally not an important figure. Perhaps as the future wife of the Fourth Kazekage, she might be able to face Uchiha Kagami directly, but that event had not yet occurred.
The Konoha ninja led Karura to Uchiha Kagami's tent, reported their arrival, and a gentle voice immediately invited them in.
The Konoha ninja then led Karura into the tent, where Karura saw a middle-aged man.
Although he was nearing forty, one could still see the handsomeness of his youth; in fact, the passage of time seemed to have only made him more refined.
This was Karura's first time meeting the Uchiha clan head; she had not been important enough to meet him personally on the battlefield.
She felt a sudden tension in her heart, looking at him with a hint of trepidation.
The Konoha ninja who accompanied Karura then excused himself and left.
Uchiha Kagami nodded slightly at Karura and smiled, saying, "Have a seat, no need to be so formal."
"Yes," Karura nodded in agreement, and as she sat down in the spot Uchiha Kagami indicated, she noticed his sleeve gently swaying as he moved.
Only then did she realize that he was a one-armed man, and she was somewhat surprised.
How could this supreme commander be one-armed? How did he form hand seals? Was it the legendary one-handed seals?
Because Karura had never met Uchiha Kagami before and was completely unaware of the rogue ninja group led by Uchiha Setsuna — this was not something she, confined to a prisoner-of-war camp, could know — she didn't know that Uchiha Kagami had lost an arm recently.
Uchiha Kagami sat down opposite Karura, stared at her, noticed her inner tension, and said, "Relax, I just have a few things to say to you, nothing else."
"What is it, please?" Karura replied cautiously.
Although she was grateful for the mercy of Konohagakure, which allowed her to survive, she still considered herself from the Land of Wind, and Sunagakure was her home.
She had no reason to betray her homeland, and no Sunagakure ninja would reveal anything concerning their village's secrets.
"I heard your teacher is a monk named Bunpuku?" Uchiha Kagami asked.
"Yes," Karura's heart skipped a beat.
This was not a secret among many Sunagakure ninja, and it was possible someone might have inadvertently mentioned it.
During her time in the prisoner-of-war camp, the relationship between Sunagakure and Konoha ninja was relatively harmonious, and she also understood that Konoha ninja were certainly gathering intelligence in secret, so she wasn't particularly surprised that Uchiha Kagami knew about this.
However, Karura didn't know why Uchiha Kagami would bring up her teacher Bunpuku at this moment, as he was just an old man who kept to himself.
The only thing she could think of was her teacher's identity as a jinchuriki, something she only learned after becoming Bunpuku's last disciple.
Although she didn't know much about jinchuriki, Karura understood that they had powerful Tailed Beasts, which had caused chaos since ancient times, sealed within them.
Every jinchuriki was, to some extent, a monster beyond human, provided they could properly utilize the power within them, though a rampaging jinchuriki was equally terrifying.
And in those days, the First Hokage of Konohagakure had hoped to use this to balance the power of each country.
Although, in retrospect, the two current Shinobi World Wars seemed to indicate the failure of Tailed Beast deterrence, the First Shinobi World War could still be argued that countries hadn't yet learned to properly use Tailed Beast power, so the significance of Tailed Beast deterrence wasn't obvious.
But the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War completely negated the meaning of Tailed Beast deterrence.
Tailed Beasts not only failed to become tools of deterrence but instead became forces of national aggression.
Kirigakure deployed two jinchuriki into the battlefield, and Iwagakure also began to release jinchuriki.
Perhaps the First Hokage had overestimated the impact of Tailed Beasts on a country.
Karura guessed in her heart, was Uchiha Kagami bringing up Bunpuku at this moment because he was eyeing the jinchuriki?
However, only she herself or the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure knew about the jinchuriki matter.
Not many of the captured Sunagakure ninja should know about it now.
"I heard Bunpuku doesn't really support Sunagakure initiating wars of aggression, does he?" At the same time, Uchiha Kagami continued to inquire.
"That's right, that's my master's view," Karura replied, regaining her composure, to Uchiha Kagami, though she didn't know his exact purpose.
"My master believes that maintaining friendly relations between the two countries is more beneficial for the Land of Wind.
He would never support a war of aggression, but if other countries invaded the Land of Wind, he would not stand idly by."
"So, your teacher is very skilled then? He shouldn't be a ninja, should he?" Uchiha Kagami said thoughtfully.
"However, looking at your strength, it's clear that your teacher's guidance is impressive.
Those who have fought you speak highly of it."
"No, that's..." Karura didn't quite know what to say.
Should she admit she was very skilled in front of people from another ninja village? After all, she had been fighting Konoha ninja on the battlefield, and her hands were certainly not free of Konoha ninja blood.
It didn't seem quite right to say anything.
"Heh, it seems you are very much like your teacher," Uchiha Kagami smiled slightly upon seeing this.
As a last disciple, one would certainly resemble their teacher in some ways, and Karura didn't seem like someone who enjoyed war.
"This war has been a mistake from beginning to end, orchestrated by the short-sighted high-ranking officials of your village.
You were forced to participate, and in this matter, it's hard to say who is right and who is wrong."
"...Thank you," Karura replied softly, feeling a lump in her throat upon hearing this.
Karura's initial attitude towards this war was one of going with the flow.
Although she disliked war, she was, after all, a ninja of Sunagakure, and she had no ability to refuse the village's orders.
She also didn't know much about the Land of Fire, so she simply went to the battlefield.
But the longer she stayed on the battlefield, the more confused Karura became about her participation.
Especially after Sunagakure issued that harsh order to unleash the village's war potential, she felt a sense of worthlessness—what exactly was she fighting for?
After being captured by Konoha ninja, Karura learned about their internal propaganda from them.
Firstly, it emphasized the necessity of maintaining peace.
Every Konoha ninja fought to protect their loved ones at home or something else.
Ultimately, it was for something they had to protect.
And what about the Sunagakure ninja? What were they fighting for? For the interests of the Land of Wind? For Sunagakure to become stronger?
The former was too abstract for them, and they had no real sense of the latter, because in reality, they had gained nothing, only becoming weaker and weaker.
As of today, Karura completely no longer wanted to participate in war.
Hearing the news that the war was about to end—for her, as long as the Land of Wind could end the war, it would be good—she truly breathed a sigh of relief.
What would happen in the future was hard to say, but at least that's how she felt now.
However, Karura truly couldn't bear to look at the enormous price Sunagakure had paid, and because of that order, her disgust for the Sunagakure high command was very deep.
"Actually, we have an idea, and it's not that we wish to interfere in your Sunagakure's internal affairs.
It's just from the perspective of maintaining peace in the ninja world, and even for your Sunagakure, what is needed is someone with foresight, who understands what path Sunagakure should take," Uchiha Kagami coughed lightly and said.
"You mean?" Karura felt a little surprised.
"The current state of Sunagakure is entirely the result of the guidance of the Sunagakure high command, led by the Third Kazekage.
I think allowing them to remain in high positions would be detrimental to Sunagakure, and to you as well," Uchiha Kagami said, looking at Karura.
"I know, you promised at the time to remove the village's high command," Karura nodded.
This was also to prevent them, as prisoners, from receiving bad treatment upon their return.
This was directly related to their interests, and they were all dissatisfied with the high-ranking officials who made wrong decisions and led Sunagakure to such a situation.
They genuinely hoped for their downfall.
"In the ceasefire agreement with Sunagakure, we must ensure that the Third Kazekage and other hawkish high-ranking officials lose power; this is a necessary condition," Uchiha Kagami said.
"However, we have no intention of destroying Sunagakure, nor do we intend to overthrow the Land of Wind.
We actually hope to have friendly relations with the Land of Wind in the future and try our best to offer you some assistance.
Therefore, the opinion of our Konoha high command is that we hope someone who supports peace and is willing to cooperate will take office as the new Kazekage.
This would be good for both you and us.
We believe your teacher Bunpuku has this qualification."
Karura was completely stunned upon hearing this.
She never expected that Uchiha Kagami's purpose in calling her was to support her teacher Bunpuku to become the Kazekage!
Honestly, this suggestion was very appealing.
She had always felt wronged for her teacher.
She didn't care what the high-ranking officials' considerations were; she only knew that her teacher was a good person, yet this good person was confined to a high tower because he refused to cooperate with the village in invading other countries.
Even his identity as a jinchuriki was forcibly imposed upon him, simply because Bunpuku's physique was suitable for containing a Tailed Beast.
As a ninja, Karura could understand that there was nothing wrong with Bunpuku being chosen as a jinchuriki because of his ability.
However, despite making such a sacrifice, he received no deserved reward.
His personal freedom was restricted simply due to a difference of opinion.
Had her teacher betrayed the village or something?
To be honest, Karura had once imagined what kind of expressions those people would have if Bunpuku one day emerged and took a high position.
And the Kazekage was undoubtedly the most suitable position for a slap in the face; it was the supreme leader of Sunagakure, the immovable number one!
"Why, why are you telling me this?" Perhaps due to her agitated emotions, Karura's voice trembled slightly.
"Because you are Bunpuku's student.
We won't enter Sunagakure's territory, nor can we contact him privately.
You are the only one who can convey our message and help him," Uchiha Kagami said.
"But why would you support my teacher?" Karura said somewhat incoherently, as if she had completely forgotten Uchiha Kagami's earlier words.
"Didn't I say before that it's because your teacher Bunpuku is a suitable person?
He can guarantee the interests of your Sunagakure and satisfy us.
Why wouldn't we support him?" Uchiha Kagami patiently replied.
It must be said, Karura was truly tempted.
Although she was young, in Sunagakure, which focused on elite training, she couldn't be completely ignorant.
She understood that Konohagakure couldn't truly be selfless and must have its own interests at heart.
However, having her teacher ascend to the position of Kazekage was indeed a huge temptation; not only could her teacher escape his predicament, but her own status would also improve.
However, Karura also had some reservations, because having people from another ninja village help her teacher rise to power, how should she put it, it felt like betraying her ninja village, which made her very uncomfortable.
"Do you have any concerns?" Uchiha Kagami was a shrewd man; he saw through Karura's thoughts.
"If you think we are propping up a puppet, you really don't have to.
We are just providing a candidate, someone we have never even met or spoken to much, only learning about his character through you.
How can such a person be called a puppet?
Moreover, the selection of the Kazekage will be entirely according to your village's procedures.
We absolutely have no intention of interfering."
Upon hearing this, Karura thought for a moment and couldn't help but nod.
That was just her illusion; there was nothing to doubt.
However, she still had some reservations: "But, having a captured teacher become Kazekage, I'm afraid it will be criticized by others, and not many people will support it, right?"
Karura saying this actually proved that she was inclined to let Bunpuku become Kazekage.
Uchiha Kagami smiled lightly and said, "What's there not to support?
You and your teacher both have feelings for Sunagakure.
You certainly wouldn't betray the village's interests, would you?
This is also why we say we are not propping up a puppet.
How could one prop up someone who loves their village and is unwilling to betray its interests as a puppet?
On this point, I believe everyone in Sunagakure will see clearly.
As long as your words and actions are consistent, how could no one support you?
Because of the outcome of this war, once the Third Kazekage and other high-ranking officials lose power, people will be more willing to choose someone who takes a different path, because they have personally witnessed the failure of the former's path, and naturally they will choose another path."
Then, Uchiha Kagami stared into Karura's eyes and said, "What do you have to hesitate about?
Firstly, your teacher is both patriotic and village-loving, so he cannot become our village's puppet, and betraying the ninja village's interests is out of the question.
I believe it's highly unlikely he would betray the village once in power.
We only need to cooperate closely with Sunagakure on the stance of maintaining peace; we believe this is the right path for Sunagakure.
Secondly, Bunpuku has strength; he can discern the correct direction for the Land of Wind, and he is certainly not someone without insight or ability, thus meeting the conditions to serve as the village leader.
Finally, I heard that Bunpuku has always been confined by your village.
As a student, shouldn't you seek justice for him?"
Uchiha Kagami had said so much, what more could Karura doubt?
Just as he said, Karura still considered herself from Sunagakure and would certainly not betray Sunagakure's interests, and Bunpuku was the same.
So, what was wrong with using Konohagakure's hand to help her teacher ascend to the position of Kazekage?
That was giving her teacher justice, giving her teacher the treatment he deserved, and the best way to get revenge on the Third Kazekage and others!
"I understand," Karura nodded heavily.
She would do this!