Teizawa said nothing more to Kakashi.
He simply turned and walked away.
After a few steps, however, he stopped. Looking over the young faces from Konoha, he said, "Everyone, I'll see you at the Five Kage Summit."
Ino blushed and lowered her head.
Tenten's face was pale, and her eyes were slightly red.
Shikamaru gazed thoughtfully at Teizawa's back.
Choji was munching on potato chips, while Lee was already doing his morning exercises...
No one spoke.
Teizawa didn't mind.
He waved and walked toward Iwagakure's contingent.
Akatsuchi was helping the other Iwa shinobi pack their equipment. His left arm was still in a sling, and several scabbed wounds marked his face, but he appeared to be in relatively good spirits.
"Akatsuchi..." Teizawa walked over to him. "Give Kurotsuchi a message for me."
Akatsuchi froze.
"What message?"
Teizawa thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Tell her to take good care of the one in her belly. Once the baby is born, I'll personally visit Iwagakure to see her."
The corner of Akatsuchi's mouth twitched.
Of course he knew who the father of Kurotsuchi's child was.
Although only Iwagakure's highest-ranking officials knew the secret, he happened to be one of them.
He also knew exactly how the news had been received.
Onoki had nearly suffered a brain hemorrhage from sheer rage.
Kitsuchi hadn't been able to eat properly for several days.
Kurotsuchi herself, on the other hand, acted as though it were no big deal.
"I'll deliver the message," Akatsuchi replied stiffly.
Teizawa nodded, then headed toward Kumogakure's camp.
Darui was squatting on the ground, using a stick to draw something in the dirt.
Yugito's disappearance had put him in a terrible mood. However, he couldn't disobey the Raikage's orders, so he had no choice but to return and report what had happened.
"Darui..." Teizawa approached him. "Give Samui and Karui a message for me."
Darui looked up, a blade of grass he had picked up somewhere dangling from his mouth.
"What message?"
Teizawa smiled.
"Tell them they're welcome to visit Sunagakure whenever they have time."
Darui's mouth twitched.
It was no secret in Kumogakure that Samui and Karui had once attempted to seduce the Kazekage and nearly obtained the Four-Tails as a result.
Naturally, he knew all about it.
"Kazekage-sama, aren't you worried the Raikage will find out and send two entire ANBU squads to your doorstep?" he asked with a wry smile.
Teizawa spread his hands.
"What's there to fear? It's not like I'm stealing Kumogakure's people."
"They're free to associate with whomever they want. The Raikage can't control that."
Darui sighed and spat out the blade of grass.
"Fine. I'll tell them."
The contingents from the various villages departed one after another.
At last, silence returned to the ruins.
Teizawa stood in the open field, watching their figures disappear into the distance.
He remained silent for a moment before turning to the Suna shinobi behind him.
"Send a squad ahead to the Land of Rain's daimyo residence."
"Take control of the daimyo. Don't let him escape, and make sure all the remaining official documents are signed."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"
A group of Suna shinobi immediately accepted their orders and departed.
Teizawa watched them leave, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
The daimyo of the Land of Rain was nothing more than a puppet. Whoever controlled him possessed the legal authority to command the country.
Teizawa didn't particularly care about "legitimacy," but having it was still better than not having it.
"Kazekage-sama..."
Gaara approached him from behind.
"We should leave as well."
Teizawa turned around.
Sunagakure's contingent had already finished preparing for departure.
Gaara stood at the front with his gourd strapped to his back, his expression completely blank.
Kankuro was checking the sealing scrolls containing his puppets.
Deidara had gone into hiding long ago, afraid that Pain would seek revenge.
The remaining Suna shinobi stood at attention, their expressions solemn.
The morning sunlight shone upon them.
Every face bore the exhaustion of someone who had barely survived a catastrophe, but also the anticipation of returning home.
"Let's go."
Teizawa waved his hand.
Everyone set off together, heading toward Sunagakure.
Countless thoughts surged through Teizawa's mind.
Amegakure had been destroyed. Nagato had been rescued by Obito. The Two-Tails' jinchūriki was missing. The Four-Tails' jinchūriki was dead...
The Five Kage Summit would be held in half a month.
That meeting would be crucial to the next stage of his plan.
The Akatsuki wouldn't simply sit back and accept defeat.
Obito was undoubtedly plotting something in the shadows.
Teizawa had to be prepared.
In the distance, the outline of Sunagakure gradually came into view.
He was almost home.
...
Several days later, it was already deep into the night when Teizawa returned to Sunagakure.
He alerted no one.
He didn't visit the Kazekage Building, summon the shinobi who had remained behind, or even ask the ANBU to announce his return.
Like a gust of wind, he silently moved through the familiar streets and alleys, slipped past the patrolling sentries, and followed a silver path of moonlight back to his courtyard.
The palm tree was still standing in the yard, as were the drought-resistant shrubs growing near the wall.
Several unwashed garments still hung from the clothesline, fluttering gently in the night breeze.
Teizawa stood at the entrance, staring at the familiar scene.
For a moment, everything felt strangely unreal.
He had only been gone for half a month, yet it seemed like far longer.
The battle in Amegakure, the Six Paths of Pain, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Deidara's bomb...
The faces of those struggling through the ruins flashed through his mind one after another.
It all felt like a long, chaotic dream.
He opened the courtyard gate and entered the house.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
No lights were on inside, leaving the room shrouded in darkness.
Teizawa stood in the doorway and allowed his eyes a few seconds to adjust.
By the moonlight, he could make out someone sleeping on the bed.
The blanket was wrapped tightly around her, revealing only a small lock of hair. He couldn't tell who it was.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
After spending so long rushing around outside...
He missed Temari. He missed Hinata, Karin, Amaru, Chiyo, Yukata, and Matsuri...
He almost wanted to line them all up and indulge himself to his heart's content.
So...
At this hour, he didn't particularly care which one of them was sleeping there.
It was the middle of the night. Surely a little affection was in order.
Teizawa didn't turn on the light.
He walked over, lifted the blanket, and slipped into bed.
It was warm beneath the covers, and the air carried a faint fragrance.
It wasn't the scent Temari normally used.
It wasn't Hinata's either.
And it definitely wasn't Karin's.
Teizawa didn't think much of it. He wrapped an arm around the woman's waist and pulled her closer.
She stirred and let out a soft, indistinct murmur, but didn't wake.
His hand lingered against her waist through the thin fabric of her nightgown. He could feel the warmth of her body and the softness of her curves.
His breathing quickened.
Just as he was about to take things further, the woman suddenly rolled over to face him.
Moonlight slipped through a gap in the curtains and fell directly across her face.
Teizawa froze.
That face...
It didn't belong to Temari, Hinata, or Karin.
Nor did it belong to any other woman he knew personally.
It was a face that seemed both familiar and strange.
She was young and fair-skinned, with delicate features and long, slightly curled eyelashes.
A faint smile lingered on her lips, as though she were having a pleasant dream.
Teizawa stared at her in disbelief.
This was Sunagakure.
His home.
His bedroom.
How had this woman ended up sleeping in his bed?
According to what he knew, shouldn't she have been captured by Obito?
Her arms were still resting against his waist, and her body remained pressed close to his.
They were near enough for him to see the fine hairs on her face.
He should have released her.
He should have gotten up.
He should have left.
But he didn't.
His body refused to obey him.
The woman's eyelashes trembled.
She seemed to be waking.
Teizawa remained motionless and simply watched her.
Her eyes slowly opened, their deep purple irises shifting languidly into focus.
They resembled two precious gems, gleaming dreamily beneath the moonlight.
Their gazes met.
The air abruptly froze.
(End of Chapter)
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