"Whoa! So this is Sunagakure?" Ren exclaimed, looking around curiously as they arrived.
"It looks so... so imposing!" Mist carefully chose her words.
Pakura gave an internal sigh. Visitors from other villages often praised Sunagakure for being grand and imposing. She'd initially believed them, but later realized those were just polite ways to say the village had nothing to do with beauty or refinement.
Seiki quietly observed their surroundings. Compared to his last visit, the villagers' living conditions hadn't improved much, though their spirits seemed noticeably lifted.
"Perhaps because we won the war, giving them a bit more confidence?"
Just then, a mournful cry suddenly echoed from a temple in the distant.
Wuuuu—
It lingered in the sky like a horn call, refusing to fade, sending a wave of sorrow through the air.
Soon after, the sound became sharp and grating, like a wild cat screeching with its fur standing on end.
Even those who couldn't understand raccoon dog language could easily detect the fury behind this cry.
The sudden noise startled Kabuto and the others. "What was that sound?"
Pakura shot a conflicted glance toward the source of the sound. "That's the cry of One-Tail—it's mourning a friend's departure, and declaring its anger toward us!"
"Do tailed beasts actually have friends?" Ren asked in surprise.
"It may sound unbelievable to most people, but Elder Bunpuku from our village really did achieve it," Pakura sighed. "Elder Bunpuku was confined from birth due to being a jinchuriki. He hardly ever left the temple, and many people even forgot his real name..."
"That's so unfair!" Mist blurted out instinctively before hastily apologizing, "Sorry, I didn't mean to say..."
Seeing Mist's flustered expression, Pakura smiled. "You just spoke your mind, right? But there's no need to apologize—I feel the same way too!"
She sighed again and continued, "Elder Bunpuku was truly remarkable. Under such circumstances, he never harbored resentment, instead working hard to build bridges between humans and bijuu. While he lived, the One-Tail never once lost control!"
Kabuto felt deeply moved. "How incredible! What strength of heart this Elder Bunpuku must've had!"
"That's seriously incredible..." Ren nodded vigorously, then suddenly froze, "Wait—while he lived?"
"Elder Bunpuku was simply too old."
"Sigh, how pitiful for the poor old man!"
Kabuto asked puzzled, "Then why is One-Tail angry?"
"One-Tail believes we killed Elder Bunpuku. Actually, can you really blame it? Because technically speaking, Bunpuku did die at our hands!" Pakura sighed, then turned to Seiki. "Seiki, you should know what it means when a jinchuriki dies naturally, right?"
Seiki responded grimly, "It means the bijuu will die along with them!"
Pakura nodded. "Although tailed beasts can be reborn after death, the timing and location of their rebirth are uncertain. To avoid this uncertainty, Kazekage had no choice but to extract the tailed beast before Elder Bunpuku's death. As for jinchuriki who've lost their tailed beasts... well, I don't need to tell you what happens to them!"
"How could they do something like that?" Pakura's words shocked Kabuto and the others greatly. Those who gave their whole lives to the village ended up like this?
Seiki then asked, "But is everything really okay now? Isn't One-Tail likely to break its seal and go berserk at any moment?"
"One-Tail has actually gone berserk twice already," Pakura replied with uncertainty in her voice. "But both times Kazekage managed to subdue it. Its voice seems much more stable now than before. It probably won't go berserk again."
"I see. Then I feel relieved." Seiki looked toward the temple with a soft smile.
...
At the evening banquet welcoming them,
After carefully gathering information about that Mizuki, several jonin realized things were even more exaggerated than Kazekage described.
Someone whose body was ruined—almost losing his qualification as a ninja completely—grew into an elite among jonin by age 14? Such a contrast was simply unimaginable.
Precisely because of this, they welcomed Seiki even more enthusiastically.
"Hahaha! Please don't hesitate, Jonin Seiki! Treat this place as your own home!"
"That's right, feel completely at ease!"
"In less than two years, Jonin Seiki defeated both Tsuchikage and Mizukage. Truly admirable!"
"With Jonin Seiki around, there won't be wars in Shinobi no Sekai for decades to come!"
Seeing their teacher still drawing attention even in Sunagakure, the three little kids trailing behind Seiki puffed out their chests with pride, watching him with full admiration.
Rasa watched the scene in silence. Did these fools have no dignity as Suna shinobi whatsoever?
Initially he worried that some might lose proper respect for Seiki after the war ended, hindering his exchange program. That's why he highlighted Seiki's importance.
Looking at the current situation though... wasn't this going way too far?
Just as he mentally grumbled, Seiki approached holding a cup.
"Kazekage, I apologize, but due to the Ninja Three Prohibitions, I cannot drink alcohol temporarily. May I substitute with tea instead?"
Rasa gave a strange look. Compared to those three prohibitions—money, fine wine, and women—weren't Konoha's "Three Annoying Ones" actually worse?
Though thinking something disrespectful, Rasa still smiled and raised his wine glass in response. "No problem at all, Jonin Seiki. Your gesture counts."
After pouring his drink, Seiki didn't leave immediately, speaking sincerely. "Speaking of which, among the five Kages, I admire Kazekage the most."
Rasa was slightly taken aback. "Huh? What did you say?"
"At the start of the war, I think none of the villages believed in Sunagakure. The predecessor Kage disappeared, people's hearts were unsettled, and you, Kazekage, were extremely young back then. Naturally, it was difficult gaining everyone's confidence." Seiki spoke with emotion.
"But even in such a critical situation, Lord Kazekage, you took over the position and did your best to stabilize the village's situation during the early stages of the war. Later, you cooperated with us from Konoha and launched bold attacks that ultimately crushed Iwagakure and secured victory."
"If I were in your position as Kazekage, there's no way I could have done half as well as you!"
Rasa didn't blush easily, but this time his weathered face flushed just a little. "Haha! Seiki Jonin flatters me too much. Come on, let's drink!"
A compliment from anyone else wouldn't have moved him in the least, but hearing it from Seiki—especially about something he himself was most proud of—made all the difference.
For a moment, he felt a delightful sense of euphoria.
Seiki continued using his Playboy Tactic of Pouring Drinks: "[Playboy Tactic of Pouring Drinks]"
"This isn't just flattery at all. In my opinion, Lord Kazekage is more than worthy of every single word of praise you've received!"
"You single-handedly supported Sunagakure's economy, showed great restraint when confronted by provocations from small countries like Amegakure, and unselfishly gave up the position of joint commander for the greater good. For winning this war, Lord Kazekage, your contribution is absolutely irreplaceable!"
As Rasa listened, he felt some bitterness inside. Just how tough had it been to go up against those old foxes—seasoned schemers who've played the game for decades?
Was it easy for him?
Look at the other village leaders—has any of them sacrificed as much for their people as he has?
He'd only been Kazekage for four years, yet it felt like he'd aged forty.
Thinking about this, Rasa raised his wine glass with a bitter expression, sighing, "Ah, only you understand me, Brother Seiki. Let's not dwell on these boring matters anymore. Come on, let's drink!"
After a few cups of alcohol, he started feeling slightly tipsy.
But Seiki wasn't planning to let him off the hook yet. "Yes, let's leave the past behind and focus on the future instead. I suggest that Konoha and Sunagakure continue our ninja academy exchanges so we can learn from each other and grow together."
The idea immediately caught Rasa's attention. He got excited and slung an arm over Seiki's shoulder like old buddies, declaring enthusiastically, "That's a great idea! The ninja world of tomorrow must be one of cooperation and shared victory! Come on, let's drink!"
Witnessing this overly familiar scene between the two, the other jonin couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy—and maybe even resentment.
Unbelievable! Lord Kazekage, aren't you supposed to have *some* dignity as the leader of Sunagakure?
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