It took us more than three hours to reach Suna at a steady pace, but not too hard - Pakura was still in fighting condition, but the aftermath of last night's battle was taking its toll - and we circled around to get to the other gates rather than the one closest to us.
The reason was simple - her good acquaintances were supposed to be standing guard there that day, able to alert whoever needed to be alerted in time to trigger the events that followed.
Early in the morning, there was no traffic at the entrance to Suna at all, even the guards were hiding from the blazing sun under small awnings, so our approach immediately attracted attention, and when a couple of chunin were able to see who was coming home and in what form, one guy almost rushed after the iryonin, stopped only by a shout from my companion.
- I'm fine, Kitaro-kun," Pakura waved her palm, stopping beside me, "Ryo-san is a more than qualified iryonin and was very quick on his feet.
- What happened, Pakura-sa...," the second chunin started to ask, but stopped, staring at the two great swords of Kirigakure that hung on her belt and behind the kunoichi's back. - Nuibari and Kabutoware!!!
Given Suna's constant petty clashes with Kiri in recent years, the seven swordsmen as well as their weapons were known to almost all sandmen above the rank of genin.
- Pakura-sama, where did you get the two great swords of the Mist from!!!! - exclaimed Kitaro, who had also realized the change in the kunoichi's appearance.
- Actually, three," she grinned slightly, pointing behind me at the bandaged Samehada and openly enjoying the couple's elongated faces, "Kazekage purposefully sent me into the Mist's trap, where three Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shuu were waiting with support, and the accompanying partners stabbed me in the back, and if not for Ryo-dono's timely intervention....
The chunin flashed out of their prostration and glanced amongst themselves, after which a quick exchange of hand signs between the three followed. After a couple seconds, Kitaro silently turned around and used the shunshin, disappearing from sight.
- Nobuo-kun, mark my return," Pakura handed the remaining guard a crumpled scroll and added, waving her hand in my direction, "I need to show myself to as many people as possible.
Nodding understandingly, the guy stamped my name in the register with a slanted glance, obviously recognizing my name, and then we walked quickly through the protective passageway and into Suna itself, where the locals were at the height of activity, while the shade from the high walls provided protection from the rising sun and the buildings had not yet warmed up, keeping the night cool.
Since Pukura no Shakuto was well known here, and a few minutes of leisurely walking down the wide street was not long before she was noticed, along with the general state of her clothing, then the presence of swords was registered by those around her and the nearby ninjas fell into a brief stupor, not unlike the reaction of the couple before.
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