A loud bang echoed from inside the Kazekage’s office.
The Third Kazekage’s fist slammed down hard on the desk. He was breathing rapidly, his eyes burning with fury.
"Amegakure! They dared to attack our border camp." The Third Kazekage’s chest heaved violently.
The intelligence ninja, kneeling on one knee, lowered his head, minimizing his presence.
A hint of malice flashed in the Third Kazekage’s eyes. He leaned back in his chair, calming his breathing.
He took a deep breath and said, "Gather all the Jonin in the village."
As the Third Kazekage’s words fell, an inconspicuous shadow behind him stirred, then swiftly vanished from the Kazekage’s office.
The Third Kazekage looked out the window, narrowing his eyes, and a chilling killing intent spread from his body.
"Since Amegakure doesn’t know its place, there’s no need to show mercy."
Figures of Sunagakure Anbu darted through the village. One figure landed on Chiyo’s window.
Chiyo was sitting at the dining table when her gaze sharpened, sweeping towards the window. Seeing the familiar Anbu mask, she frowned slightly and went to open the window. The Anbu’s figure landed in their living room.
"What are Kazekage-sama’s orders?" Chiyo asked.
"Kazekage-sama has ordered all Jonin in the village to immediately report to the office."
As the Anbu’s words finished, his figure flashed, leaping out the window and disappearing from Chiyo’s sight.
Chiyo turned around, puzzled, and exchanged glances with her daughter-in-law, Chizuru.
"What happened?" Chizuru asked worriedly.
The war between the village and Konoha had not yet ceased, and most of the village’s Jonin were still fighting Konoha on the front lines.
At this moment, the Kazekage suddenly summoning the remaining Jonin in the village made Chiyo suspect that something major had occurred.
"Sasori, will you get off dad, please?" Akasuna gently ruffled Sasori’s head, speaking softly.
Sasori pouted, "Is dad leaving again?"
Akasuna smiled helplessly. "Dad promises to come back to play with you as soon as possible."
Sasori sat on a nearby chair, burying his head and poking at the rice in his bowl without speaking. Akasuna soothingly stroked his red hair.
Chiyo took in this scene, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the suture line on her son Akasuna’s forehead. As if sensing her gaze, Akasuna suddenly looked up, his eyes shooting towards Chiyo.
Chiyo was startled, but Akasuna before her had already revealed a gentle smile to her. The strange feeling in Chiyo’s heart did not diminish, but rather increased.
She lowered her head and said to Chizuru and Akasuna, "Since Kazekage-sama has ordered, you two go ahead."
Akasuna and Chizuru stood up and walked towards the door.
Chizuru looked back and said to Chiyo, "I’ll leave Sasori to you."
Chiyo waved her hand at them both. "Don’t worry."
Chizuru reluctantly glanced at Sasori, who was still looking down and silent, then left quickly.
The door closed, and Chizuru immediately threw herself into Akasuna’s arms.
"I don’t want to leave Sasori..." Her voice was choked with tears.
A dark light flashed in Akasuna’s eyes. He gently patted Chizuru’s back, silently comforting her.
Only after Chizuru had composed herself did the two of them head to the Kazekage’s office together.
Chiyo looked at her grandson, who was still hanging his head, and sighed inwardly.
She sat down beside Sasori, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Sasori, don’t be sad. Dad and mom will be back very soon after they complete their mission."
Sasori looked up, his eyes slightly red, staring intently at Chiyo. He sniffled and asked, "Really?"
"Of course." Chiyo nodded affirmatively.
Her assurance provided Sasori with immense comfort. He no longer hung his head in silence. Instead, he actively picked up his spoon and began to eat.
Chiyo looked at Sasori’s profile and tentatively asked, "Sasori, have you noticed that dad has changed?"
Sasori stopped his movements and looked at Chiyo blankly.
Chiyo inexplicably grew nervous. She prompted, "After dad came back, he wasn’t the same as before? Did Sasori notice?"
Sasori thought seriously for a moment. Dad really does seem different from before.
Sasori nodded towards Chiyo. "Mm."
Chiyo’s breathing hitched. Sure enough, she wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
"Dad became gentler."
"Dad even tucks me into bed."
"He also teaches me how to make puppets."
"I like the dad I have now."
Sasori quickly added, excitedly.
Chiyo’s face stiffened.
Teaching Sasori how to make puppets?
Chiyo frowned in confusion.
Puppeteers in the entire Ninja World were few and far between. If Akasuna had truly been replaced, how would he know puppet jutsu?
Could it be that she was overthinking things?
It wasn’t impossible for Akasuna’s personality to change after experiencing a life-or-death crisis.
Chiyo stroked Sasori’s head without speaking.
Sasori suddenly pointed at a crow flying away, flapping its wings.
Chiyo looked back and saw that the crow, which had been perched on the windowsill, had flown away.
The crow weaved through the buildings of Sunagakure, its black eyes catching a familiar figure.
Akasuna, walking towards the Kazekage’s office, felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned to look, and the crow landed on his shoulder.
Chizuru, walking beside Akasuna, smiled slightly. "It seems it doesn’t want to leave you and wants to go on the mission with you."
Akasuna smiled without speaking.
The Jonin of Sunagakure stood neatly in front of the Third Kazekage. Akasuna and Chizuru stood in the first row.
Akasuna’s gaze lingered on the Third Kazekage’s head.
The Third Kazekage’s gaze swept over the Jonin before him, one by one, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage.
"Just last night, Amegakure started a war against our border defenses."
"They slaughtered all the ninja stationed at the border defenses and occupied the border camp."
As soon as the Third Kazekage finished speaking, the Jonin in the office collectively erupted in shouts of condemnation against Amegakure.
"I summoned you here to form a counter-attack team and completely crush Amegakure."
Even with Hanzo emerging from Amegakure, the Third Kazekage had never taken Amegakure seriously.
They were just a disorganized mob. How could they contend with Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja villages?
"At the same time, the Konoha battlefield needs reinforcements."
The Third Kazekage frowned, his pupils deeply gazing at the people before him. "Konoha White Fang has killed countless of our ninjas on the front lines. Who can go to the front lines and slay Konoha White Fang?"
He quietly waited for the Jonin before him to declare their intentions. However, these Jonin exchanged glances and, as if by prior agreement, lowered their heads.
The Third Kazekage snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on Akasuna and Chizuru. Akasuna subtly raised an eyebrow.
"Akasuna, Chizuru, you are elites who have inherited Elder Chiyo’s puppet jutsu. Only you two can complete this mission."
Chizuru’s heart immediately sank to the bottom.
Since Kazekage-sama had already spoken, how could they refuse?
"Yes." Akasuna and Chizuru slowly replied.
The Third Kazekage’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed.
100 PS = 1 Bonus chap
Read 30 Advanced Chapters on /astralicity