Konoha: Who's the good guy?

Tailed beasts have become synonymous with world-destroying destruction in the minds of most ninjas.

The older generation of ninjas in Sunagakure still vividly remember the turmoil and damage caused when the One-Tailed Beast was not yet sealed inside Bunpuku.

If only the Nine-Tailed Fox and the Three-Tailed Fox appear, along with a host of giant summoning beasts that can be considered devastating weapons on the battlefield.

Even though the Sand Village ninjas knew that the Nine-Tails was stronger than the One-Tails, their summoned beasts were still extremely terrifying.

It's not that they completely lack the courage to fight back!

But now it's not just them!

The chakra giant, even taller and more terrifying than the tailed beasts, flew through the air.

A colossal Wood Release: Thousand Hands Statue, measuring a thousand meters in size and seemingly capable of utterly destroying Sunagakure in an instant, stood outside the village.

Such a thing is simply beyond human capability to contend with, okay?

Chiyo staggered, her vision blurring.

When she finally saw the colossal thousand-armed statue standing outside the village, she deeply understood the profound fear that Fu Yi had felt when he returned from the front lines.

Yekura scooped up Chiyo, who was about to faint, and spoke with a grave expression.

"Grandma Chiyo, Sunagakure still needs you. You absolutely cannot fall ill!"

"..."

Chiyo, who was pulled back from the brink of fainting, felt an endless sorrow rising in her heart.

Do you need her?

What else does Sunagakure need her to do?

Should we sign a surrender agreement and agree to Konoha's annexation treaty?

"Sister, cheer up. The Kazekage is gone, and you are now the backbone of all of us Sand Village ninja."

Ebizo supported Chiyo's other arm.

His aged face was also filled with bitterness and sorrow.

He knew very well that since the Konoha ninja had fielded such a formidable lineup, if they couldn't achieve a satisfactory result, today might be the day the Sand Village would perish.

"I see."

Chiyo's gaze swept over the group of high-ranking Sunagakure officials who were staring intently at her.

Anxiety, unease, panic, fear, resentment, regret...

All sorts of gazes were now focused on her.

Yes!

She suppressed the selection of the Fourth Kazekage, and she seized power in Sunagakure.

It was she who, despite everyone's objections, spearheaded the peace talks between the village and Kirigakure, and the decision to cooperate with the Iwagakure ninja in attacking Konoha.

Everything that Sunagakure faces today.

Perhaps it was all her fault!

How could she have the nerve to faint at a time like this and shift her responsibility onto others?

Sunagakure Village...

Chiyo's cloudy eyes were slightly red as she struggled to stand up straight.

Seeing the various gazes around her, she broke free from Yecang and Ebizo's support and walked to the very front of the Kazekage Building, gazing at the sandstorm raging in the sky, as if she were warning herself, or perhaps warning everyone else.

"Lord Retsuto founded Sunagakure, allowing us to survive in the Land of Wind, where yellow sands cover everything. Lord Shamon led us to overcome sandstorms, improve our military capabilities, and enable us to join the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Villages..."

"We are children of the sand, born amidst the wind and sand! Born on this barren land, we have always struggled against the heavens, against the earth, and against other people, because if we don't struggle, we cannot survive!"

"Show the spirit of the Sand Village ninja! We are born with the courage and perseverance to fight against everything!"

Chiyo stood ramrod straight, as if she had mustered all her courage.

She turned around abruptly, her eyes bloodshot, and looked at the crowd with their varied expressions, coldly issuing her order.

"Stop the alarm! All village ninjas, enter maximum combat readiness!"

"If Konoha comes for peace, we are willing to create peace with them; if they attempt to enslave us, they must first step over our dead bodies!"

"All Sand Village ninja, be prepared to fight the Leaf Village ninja to the death!"

"yes!"

Perhaps it was Chiyo's words that moved everyone, or perhaps they had finally received the answer they had been waiting for.

The Sunagakure high-ranking officials, each with their own agendas, immediately began to take action.

The piercing alarm stopped.

Amidst the chaos and fear, the Sand Village ninja prepared for whatever awaited them amidst shouts and reprimands.

"Yakura..."

Chiyo looked at Yekura beside her with a complicated expression.

"Grandma Chiyo?"

Yekura turned her head in confusion, wondering why Chiyo was calling her at this time.

"Go to the Ninja Academy, take the children of Class A, and enter the deepest tunnel of the shelter. Most of the heritage of our Sunagakure is stored there. If war breaks out, take them away directly and leave the last seed for Sunagakure."

"Mother-in-law..."

"Go on, my good child. It was Grandma's fault before. Grandma misunderstood you."

Chiyo, with a kind smile on her face, gently nudged the bewildered Yekura.

Yecang leaped off the Kazekage Building and sped towards the Ninja Academy. Looking back, his face was full of determination and reluctance, but inwardly he couldn't stop sneering.

That old hag Chiyo, at a time like this, she still wants to test her!

What do you mean, once war breaks out, you should let her lead the people and run away?

Do you really think she can't understand what Chiyo meant by saying "If Konoha comes for peace"?

When Fugi returned from the front lines, he clearly relayed Konoha's ultimate goal.

The high-ranking officials of Sunagakure have discussed this more than once!

Otherwise, why would those high-ranking officials have acted so quickly?

The current Sunagakure is merely adopting a tough stance, not wanting Konoha's conditions to be too harsh.

She was almost certain that once the negotiations were completed, it would be time for her to ascend to the position of Wind Shadow.

Ke Fengying...

What should we do if she doesn't want to be a [position/official] anymore?

"Couldn't you use some kind of telepathic connection at a time like this?"

Yekura looked at the giant statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon located south of Sunagakure. With her eyesight, she could only vaguely see a tiny black dot, smaller than a grain of rice, at the top of the statue.

The familiar mind-to-body transmission technique connected and transmitted.

The next moment, the voice of the mountain scenery rang in Yecang's mind.

"Looking for me?"

"...If I don't become the Kazekage, what kind of job are you going to assign me?"

"Foot wash, back scrub, and massage?"

"..."

"How about we start a boiler? The scorching effect is amazing."

"You bastard! I'm not kidding!"

"Honestly, he has absolutely no sense of humor. Why doesn't he want to be the Kazekage anymore?"

"...It's boring."

Yecang remained silent for a moment before giving his final answer, which was filled with deep weariness and disappointment.

She was conflicted; on one hand, she deeply loved the village where she grew up, and on the other hand, she hated the prejudice and unfair treatment from the higher-ups.

The merging of villages was inseparable from Chiyo's support.

Even if the village merger is completed, Chiyo's support will still be needed to keep the Sand Village ninjas in line and obey orders.

Konoha wouldn't kill Chiyo, and she... seemed unable to make that decision either.

Is it just womanly compassion?

maybe.

But since he couldn't make up his mind, even if he became Kazekage, he would just be a puppet placed on the front stage by Chiyo.

It will also keep you in a vortex of contradictions.

What's the point?

"Just focus on being the Kazekage. Chiyo has already made her decision. She, well, she should be considered a very principled elder of Sunagakure..."

The words, tinged with a touch of melancholy, entered Ye Cang's mind.

Yekura is not stupid.

She only paused for a moment before instantly understanding the meaning behind the words of the mountain scenery. She suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the top of the Fengying Building.

There, Chiyo still looked down over everything in Sunagakure.

Even if they are far apart.

She could also sense the affection and tenderness in the other person...