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"Impossible... impossible."
In the Land of Wind, inside an abandoned village, Pakura stared blankly at the document in her hands, completely stunned.
Beside her, Shuuzawa, Yuugao, and Shisui—who were still applying eye drops—paid her no attention.
The intense battle from the previous day had been anything but easy for them.
Sasori's puppets were numerous, insidiously lethal, and extremely dangerous!
Most importantly, that bastard could even use his puppets to fly.
Compared to Sasori, who only had to focus on utilizing his puppets in battle, Shuuzawa and the others had far more to worry about.
Their top priority was ensuring Sasori didn't escape, which had drained a massive amount of their energy and chakra.
Fortunately, everything had gone relatively smoothly. "And now, we even have to thank Sasori properly."
Shuuzawa glanced around the abandoned house. Unsurprisingly, this village was likely another casualty of Sasori's "supply material."
It was also thanks to his identity and the fact that he carried the Third Kazekage's "figure" that gave Kabuto the opportunity he needed.
If their predictions were correct, Sunagakure would probably be hunting Sasori down on a large scale by now. "So, how are you feeling?"
Just as Shuuzawa mentally thanked Sasori for his "contribution" to their cause, Yuugao walked over and sat beside him.
"I never expected this mission to be so troublesome, nor did I expect things to turn out like this."
As she spoke, her gaze flickered toward Pakura, who was still staring intently at the document in her hands.
After a brief pause, she turned back to Shuuzawa. "You really are impressive."
"I've always been impressive, senpai." Shuuzawa shrugged and then smirked. "If I weren't, how would I protect you?"
"That's not what I meant." Yuugao pursed her lips, then quickly changed the subject.
"I mean, you actually managed to predict Sunagakure's deployment and strategy."
"Yeah, you are incredible." Shisui chimed in, leaning forward.
He hadn't asked how Shuuzawa obtained the document—at the very least, he knew Shuuzawa wouldn't dare falsify something like this.
After all, coming from that department, Shuuzawa certainly had his ways.
But could he deduce Sunagakure's entire strategy without any significant intelligence? That was something only a rare few could achieve.
"Alright, enough about how amazing I am. Let's focus on cleaning up the aftermath." Shuuzawa shook his head, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"We've gathered all the intelligence we need. It's time to consider our next steps and how we're getting out of here."
Even though they had thoroughly disrupted Sunagakure, their mission was technically complete.
This was why Shisui trusted Shuuzawa's intelligence—this had to be reported, and fabricating such reports was a deadly mistake.
"Of course." Shisui nodded, but something crossed his mind, and he hesitated before asking, "So, what about your plan? And what do you intend to do with Pakura?"
The plan was to weaken Sunagakure, and Shisui was eager to see the Uchiha clan gain some prestige.
"You'll find out about the plan soon enough, senpai. As for Pakura, of course, we'll return her." Shuuzawa sighed.
Hadn't they already completed most of the plan? Why was Shisui's brain so inconsistent—sometimes quick, sometimes slow?
But Shuuzawa didn't bother explaining too much.
Instead, after a brief moment of contemplation, he looked at Shisui and Yuugao and said, "But before that, there's something I need the two of you to do."
"Go on." Shisui and Yuugao didn't hesitate. They already recognized Shuuzawa's abilities in every regard.
Whatever he had in mind, they were likely to support it. However, his next words made their expressions stiffen.
.....
"Why haven't they arrived yet?"
In the Land of Wind, near an oasis close to the Land of Rivers, Ebizō stood waiting, frowning.
He vividly remembered the battle from the previous day—the sight of the Third Kazekage's puppet and someone he never expected to see.
"Is it you, Sasori?" Ebizō was silent, contemplating how to break this news to his sister and minimize its impact.
However, that very night, a man named Shuukichi suddenly requested an audience with him.
He not only provided the location but also handed Ebizō a kunai.
The kunai bore a clear Konoha insignia—not unusual, as many villages could forge such things.
But given the current circumstances, Ebizō couldn't afford to be careless.
Especially since this Shuukichi used the Shadow Clone Technique!
"Just how involved is Konoha in all of this?" Ebizō felt deeply uneasy.
But given the delicate balance of interests at play, he had no choice but to assume the worst. So, he set out that very night and arrived here.
But waiting here had started to wear on his patience. Just as he began to wonder if he had been deceived, he finally saw two figures approaching from a distance.
"That's..." Ebizō raised an eyebrow. One of them wore a mask, seemingly an Anbu operative. As for the other...
"Pakura?"
Konoha had captured Pakura?! Ebizō's face darkened, but he also felt slightly relieved. At the very least, Pakura had been found.
This was not entirely bad news.
"Lord Ebizō, greetings." Before long, they arrived before Ebizō, and the masked Shuuzawa spoke calmly.
"You're from Konoha?" Ebizō scrutinized the man before him before speaking in a deep voice.
"You've got guts, stirring up trouble in Sunagakure. Should I admire you, or should I kill you?"
"That depends entirely on your perspective, Lord Ebizō," Shuuzawa replied nonchalantly.
He glanced at the silent Pakura before continuing, "After all, this place is crawling with Anbu operatives."
"With just one word from you, they could easily surround and eliminate me. But are you sure that's what you want?"
"You think Konoha will claim you after all the trouble you've caused?" Ebizō remained unmoved.
An Anbu agent wreaking havoc in the Land of Wind? The moment he was exposed, he was as good as dead.
Unless he returned to Konoha, they could conveniently pretend nothing had happened. But no one would claim him if he was caught outside the village.
"Konoha won't. But I don't only represent Konoha." Shuuzawa shook his head without hesitation.
He hadn't come to face Ebizō unprepared—aside from his confidence in his abilities, he had other means at his disposal.
"Besides, you should believe in our professionalism. We have already gathered the necessary intelligence."
"If you attack, certain information will be leaked. After all, I'm here representing someone to discuss a collaboration with you."
"What information do you have?" Ebizō's expression turned grim, but seeing the unwavering confidence in Shuuzawa's eyes, he finally asked.
This was exactly what Shuuzawa had been waiting for. He immediately put on a solemn expression and spoke in a low voice.
"Lord Ebizō, Lord Danzō sends his regards."
"..."
Damn it, Danzō?!
Shimura Danzō—one of the people Ebizō despised the most. After all, in the shadows of the ninja world, the two had been at odds for years.
And that bastard Danzō had led Sunagakure into crisis more times than he could count.
If this kid was one of Danzō's people, then Ebizō could no longer afford to be careless.
After a brief hesitation, he raised his hand and waved. The Sand Anbu lurking nearby quickly withdrew.
Some words were best left unheard by the Anbu, even if they were among his trusted subordinates. "So, it turns out to be one of Danzo's people."
A sneer formed on his face once Ebizō confirmed that all the Anbu had left. "What's wrong? That guy doesn't have the guts he used to? He doesn't even dare to come in person anymore?"
After the operation in the Land of Rain, Danzo had no courage left to speak of.
Shuuzawa muttered this to himself but maintained his composure as he spoke.
"Lord Danzo didn't want to interrupt your fishing, so he figured it would be better for a young man like me to handle such trivial matters in his stead."
"Hmph." Ebizō snorted.
As he got older, he had grown fond of fishing—but for Danzo to know about this? What the hell was going on with Sunagakure?
How had Konoha infiltrated them so thoroughly, like a sieve? "Go on, tell me. What kind of deal is that bastard Danzo trying to discuss with me? Just get to the point. I'm too old to waste time here."
"There's no need to be so impatient nor to underestimate yourself. Sunagakure would be nothing without you and Lady Chiyo."
Shuuzawa spoke at an unhurried pace. But what came next was the crucial part—how to flawlessly complete his system task while also fulfilling the official mission assigned to him by Konoha and Danzo.
It was no easy feat. But as the saying goes, as long as you don't let your mindset crumble, there's always a way to overcome challenges.
With Danzo as the scapegoat in all this, Shuuzawa had come up with quite a few ideas.
"At first, when Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure clashed head-on, we were worried you might take things to the extreme. But after coming to Sunagakure, we were able to confirm something."
"Oh?" Ebizō's heart skipped a beat.
He immediately forgot about his earlier stance on not wasting time and instead maintained a calm demeanour as he asked, "And what exactly did you confirm?"
"That there will be negotiations between Sunagakure and Kirigakure. The bargaining chip will be this woman, used to make Kirigakure withdraw, allowing you to focus on Ōnoki while forcing him to hesitate."
Shuuzawa gestured toward Pakura, whose expression was as cold as ice.
Seeing the drastic change in Ebizō's face, he quickly added, "There's no need to deny it."
"We've already obtained your reports. I imagine this intel has already reached Konoha, and Kirigakure has also started its own investigation."
"What do you people really want?" Ebizō's face darkened. He had the urge to grab Shuuzawa by the neck and demand answers.
Was this something that should be said in front of Pakura? Was this guy here to negotiate?
But he quickly composed himself because he realized that this was precisely what Konoha wanted Pakura to know—what best served Konoha's interests.
"Moreover, Lord Ebizō, just a few days ago, we had an encounter with a formidable enemy," Shuuzawa continued calmly.
"That person possesses puppet skills on par with Lady Chiyo and has even created a puppet of the Third Kazekage that retains its full power from when he was alive."
"Most importantly, that person has deep ties to both you and Lady Chiyo. After all, it's Sasori, isn't it?" Ebizō's fists clenched tightly.
He had already suspected that Shuuzawa had been involved in that battle. And now, this brat was outright admitting it!
Not only admitting it but also proving he knew even more than expected. This was a real problem.
"Oh, right. Almost forgot to mention—unless something unexpected happens, this intel will also make its way back to Konoha." Shuuzawa added as if casually remembering.
That statement nearly made Ebizō lose his composure. "Enough nonsense! What the hell does that bastard Danzo actually want? What does Konoha really want?!"
Ebizō had no faith in Danzo's integrity or morals. Neither integrity nor morals existed in their line of work—only interests.
He could already picture Konoha deliberately leaking the news that Sunagakure planned to trade Pakura away, ensuring the entire village would be outraged.
If Pakura stayed silent in response, Sunagakure's unity would be tumultuous.
Then, with the release of "Sasori might have assassinated the Third Kazekage," he wouldn't need to suppress the situation—it would be out of his hands.
Not only him, but his sister would be implicated as well. Both of them could end up disposed of.
At this point, killing Shuuzawa wasn't even an option. Leaving aside whether he could succeed, even if he did, it wouldn't solve anything.
On the contrary, taking action might provoke Danzo further. This whole situation was a complete mess.
"Konoha wants a stable Sunagakure, not one that recklessly engages in adventurism,"
Shuuzawa said with a smile, sensing that the conversation had reached the right temperature.
"As for Lord Danzo, he hopes to cooperate with you. The Fourth Kazekage is too hot-headed—the Third Shinobi War was proof enough of that, wasn't it?"
"You—" Ebizō's expression shifted. Beside him, Pakura's face also darkened. What the hell did that mean?
Was Konoha trying to interfere in Sunagakure's internal affairs? Did they have the audacity to go that far?
Did they think Sunagakure was powerless to resist?
"Of course, this is merely a suggestion to establish a foundation for better cooperation," Shuuzawa quickly added when he saw their reactions.
"Konoha has no intention of meddling in the affairs of other villages."
"However, as allies, we should trust each other and work toward mutual benefits rather than constantly being on guard, which only leads to unnecessary conflicts."
"Lord Danzo believes Sunagakure should undergo some changes—after all, no one likes a village that betrays its loyal subordinates.
And to shift the blame for igniting the Third Shinobi War, it would be convenient to pin everything on Sasori and his relatives, wouldn't it?"
At that moment, Shuuzawa felt odd—this situation seemed strangely familiar. After thinking for a moment, he realized why. Damn it, wasn't this exactly how Danzo operated?!
"Of course, cooperation should be mutually beneficial. Lord Danzo is prepared to offer appropriate compensation."
Seeing that Ebizō and Pakura looked grim and remained silent, Shuuzawa pressed on.
He had been an expert at making convincing proposals in his previous life—he knew exactly how to present an enticing offer.
"We will provide intelligence on Sasori. He has joined a rather powerful organization."
In addition, Lord Danzo is willing to deepen our alliance and cooperation, including sharing a portion of Land of Wind's mission contracts and financial compensation."
"What do you think, Lord Ebizō?"
Ebizō silently stared at Shuuzawa. At this point, he genuinely didn't know how to respond.
If he agreed, he'd essentially be plotting against his own Kage.
If he refused, the entire shinobi world might be flooded with rumours the next day, and his whole family could be doomed.
Konoha pressured Sunagakure to remain obedient "allies" while forcing them to forfeit their northern interests.
"Damn you, Danzo… you bastard!" Ebizō cursed internally.
Now, he understood—Pakura wasn't just here to listen. She was here as a witness.
She might even switch sides and align with Konoha if he made the wrong move.
"The compensation and mission shares you're offering are too little. This isn't enough," Ebizō stalled for time, unwilling to make a hasty decision.
"And I need time to carefully consider this matter before making a choice."
"Unfortunately, we couldn't reach an agreement today, but I'm sure Lord Danzo will understand."
Shuuzawa nodded as if he had expected this outcome. He also breathed a sigh of relief—his objective had been met.
The only thing left was figuring out how to "deceive both sides" once he returned to the village.
"I do have one question, though." Ebizō spoke again. "Why is Danzo doing all of this?"
"Lord Danzo's goal has never changed," Shuuzawa answered confidently.
"His ambition has always been to become Hokage. Don't you have a dream of becoming Kazekage yourself?"
Kazekage? Ebizō nearly swore out loud.
He was already in his sixties—did he look like he still had fantasies about being Kazekage?! He was practically one foot in the grave!
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