Chapter 3: Preparations
—Come on, Lee, don't make that face and resign yourself. —Tenten said, trying to convince her teammate to sit in a wagon pulled by two large oxen.
Rock Lee looked unconvinced as the covered wagon was loaded with bundles of goods bound for Suna. The Hidden Sand Village, or Sunagakure no Sato, was the poorest and weakest ninja village among the Shinobi Godaikoku, known as the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Its population, military power and economy were the lowest of all. All of this had been exacerbated since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, 15 years earlier, by the policies of the still reigning Daimyo of the Wind, Kazetani Miya. Because of this, and regardless of the problems that existed, goods had to keep moving to keep the economy going between villages.
—But, Tenten, I must continue to train the parts of my body that are still healthy. Even if it's just a little...
Making a pitiful face, Lee tried to sound convincing in his reasoning. He disliked the idea of being a part of the travel burden. After all, since this was a C-rank escort mission with an injured person, transportation in a vehicle was mandatory.
—Don't you want to change the orders the physiotherapist gave you, Lee? —Neji said, getting out of the carriage after he had finished preparing the seat where his companion would ride.
Tenten snorted as she watched her black-haired companion begin to answer and excuse each of Neji's arguments. At what point did the young kunoichi think that the proposal to travel to Sunagakure was a good idea? Then she began to remember the agreement the three of them had made to undertake this mission behind Konoha's back.
—Investigate Sunagakure? Right there, Tenten? —Lee asked, surprised by Tenten's bold suggestion.
The chocolate-haired girl turned her head and stared at Lee, who looked at her as if she'd gone completely crazy.
—Of course. I think it's the most logical thing to do. —Tenten argued confidently. —Think about it. If we go to the higher-ups and tell them all this, they won't pay the slightest attention to us. Not even Gai-sensei.
Neji nodded at every word that Tenten said to Lee. If Gai-sensei found out the true purpose of this covert mission, he'd give each of them a good slapping and order them to train twice or three times as hard. Under these circumstances, and with the pretext that had led them to this situation, it was the most logical thing to do. Especially to make sure that everything went well.
—The best thing we can do is to gather and confirm information so that we can pass it on to Konoha or even so that we can act directly. Especially if this supposed invasion of our village that worries you so much happens. —Tenten said with a hint of sarcasm.
Lee shook his head slightly, trying to process his teammate's sudden change of attitude.
—But at the expense of the village, Gai-sensei and even the Hokage? Isn't that a plan? Won't we get into trouble? —Lee asked, doubting the words of his teammate.
The injured young man noticed that Tenten looked at him strangely, as if what he had just said was complete nonsense.
—Didn't you say yourself, Lee, that you were already in trouble for possessing this supposedly super-true information based on what you simply experienced in a genjutsu?—Tenten replied ironically to her teammate's argument. —I don't understand what's stopping you now...
—No!... I mean... —Lee struggled to find the right words to avoid escalating the confrontation with her teammate. —The normal thing is... we have always informed the Hokage of our actions and movements beforehand. It doesn't seem very coherent to me to act as you suggest now.
At that moment, the convalescent young man noticed that Neji and Tenten were looking at each other with some surprise. Lee felt uncomfortable with such an attitude. Had he said something strange? He saw Tenten sigh before sitting back down in the chair near the bed in the room.
—Lee, I understand what you're saying, but this is the theoretical procedure for extremely serious actions that they taught us at the Ninja Academy. —Tenten replied patiently, seeing Lee's confusion. —In practice, and for other cases, we have to talk to other higher intermediaries, as you know, right?
Lee was silent at this statement. Was that true? Was there a whole procedure to be able to talk to the Hokage beforehand? Was it more complicated to contact him directly? Without warning, the shaking of his head made him feel confused and uncomfortable as his mind tried to sort through his memories. Neji frowned at his teammate's sudden movement.
—Is this happening again, Lee? —The white-eyed boy observed Lee's uncomfortable expression. —I've noticed that your head seems to hurt from time to time.
—Y-yeah... there seems to be something... strange... —Lee commented, massaging the right side of his head. —I don't know what exactly, but I think something is wrong with me...
—Something strange? In what way? —Tenten asked, a certain note of concern in her voice.
The girl had been thinking about the fact that Lee still insisted on the strange Genjutsu he had fallen into. The fact that he mentioned that he was still suffering from the effects of that attack was not a good sign. After all, the damage of a Genjutsu ended as soon as he came out of it.
—It's like... I have a hard time knowing exactly what's fictional and... what's... real... —Lee said nervously, not wanting to sound stupid.
Tenten raised her left eyebrow in surprise. That was why the girl was trying to remain extremely cautious, almost cynical, with the variety of information Lee was sharing. Not only was his teammate claiming that what had happened in the Genjutsu was completely true, but it was also affecting his immediate perception of reality. It wasn't good, much less reliable.
—What I'm getting at is that we can't let any superior officer find out about this right now, let alone Gai-sensei. —the chocolate-haired girl explained with conviction. —As I told you, they'll ignore us, or worse, we'll spend a day or two in the dungeon for disturbing the peace or contempt. That would only delay things further.
Lee's head connected with these words and he could better understand his teammate's reasoning. He watched as Tenten crossed her arms and closed her eyes before continuing.
—Anyway, I also think that the trip to Suna can help you in this regard, Lee. Especially so that you can see that nothing you saw in the Genjutsu is true.
—And how is that, Tenten? —Neji asked, raising an eyebrow at Tenten's sudden statement regarding Lee's problems with the effects of the Genjutsu.
Tenten rose from her chair and walked to the windowsill of the room. From there, she could see the Hokage's faces rising magnificently above the great mountain of Konoha.
—What I'm thinking is that a trip to Suna might somehow confirm to Lee that nothing is wrong and that there won't be an invasion. —the girl with tied hair simply replied to Neji. —Everything will be normal, and it will only be those rogue ninjas who keep bothering us.
Neji lowered his head slightly. He wasn't completely convinced by Tenten's arguments, but why not give it a try? After all, they were at a dead end and every answer seemed to point to Suna.
—Fine. But how do we do it? Lee is in rehabilitation and it's impossible for them to let him leave Konoha like this. —Neji asked, putting his hand to his chin.
Tenten realized that her white-eyed companion was right. Getting Lee to leave his current location, the UMN, was something that was out of reach. It was easier for her and Neji to travel to Suna, but without a good reason to go there, they wouldn't be allowed to leave Konoha either. After all, Lee was the only one who had the "privilege information" to motivate the visit.
—If we had an excuse to transport you... —Tenten declared, glancing sideways at Lee.
The three Genin closed their eyes, carefully considering what they could do. At one point, Rock Lee's mind began to move again due to the memories he had experienced during the Genjutsu. He saw that he was eighteen years old again, traveling to the Land of Rivers with the rest of Team Gai. A time jump in his mind placed him on a large grassy area where he saw an elderly ninja from Sunagakure using a very special technique on... Sabaku no Gaara? to save him... to save his life... a medical ninja, an Iryō-nin.
Her name... What was her name? He concentrated on the woman's aged and wrinkled face. It seemed as if she had gone through hundreds of life and death experiences, saving and healing shinobi as if she had been doing it for thousands of years...
Chiyo-bâsama.
—I got it! I know what we can do! —Rock Lee suddenly exclaimed.
The voice of the black-haired young man startled Neji and Tenten, who looked at him in surprise at his euphoria.
—Is it possible...? Have you thought of anything that might work, Lee? —Tenten asked, impressed.
—Yeah, I was just thinking about what we're going to do. I'll request a C-rank escort mission to travel to Suna. —the boy began, discussing his proposal. —There's an elderly Kunoichi who is known to be the best medical ninja in her country. The honorable Chiyo-bâsama.
Tenten's eyes widened when her teammate mentioned the name of the Kunoichi who was Tsunade's rival.
—What does she have to do with all this? —the girl asked curiously.
—If I use the pretext of going to Suna so that Chiyo-bâsama can try to cure my condition, I won't have any trouble leaving Konoha. —Lee explained simply, somewhat smugly. —I know that she's an expert in poisons and that it will be impossible for her to treat me due to the severity of my injuries, but at least it will serve as a reason for us to travel there.
While Tenten was perplexed by Lee's knowledge of the elderly woman from Suna, Neji again put a hand to his chin in thought. It was true. It didn't sound strange or suspicious that Lee left Konoha to seek medical help in friendly places, especially since there was no high-ranking specialist in the village. It sounded like a good cover.
—Also, for additional security, I'm going to suggest in my request that you two be my escorts. You're my graduate teammates, and they'll assume I'll feel more comfortable traveling with you. —Lee finished with a smile.
Tenten's eyes seemed to sparkle. In truth, she thought Lee's plan was a very good one for the normally impulsive boy who got carried away by the action of the moment and constantly trained to the point of starvation.
—And now that I think about it, they in Suna won't be able to refuse the request, since they know the extent of the matter and the damage done by Sabaku no Gaara and his brother and sister. They owe our village, and especially our team, a favor. —Tenten finally declared with joy.
Lee raised his hand and struck his typical "good boy" pose, giving his companion a thumbs up.
—Exactly, Tenten! Glad you got it!
—Hey, don't act so smart, Lee! Usually you're the one who needs things explained to you!
The girl smiled and pretended to slap Lee playfully on the back of the head as Neji began to go over the details of the plan. The first and most important thing now was to request the mission from the Hokage's Office. Everything went perfectly. After all, how difficult could this mission be if the three of them went together?
Concentrating on the present, Tenten saw that Neji and Lee were still arguing about the pros and cons of taking the oxcart to Suna. The girl, obviously nervous, snorted loudly and was determined to end the argument between them.
—Stop it, Lee! You can't possibly walk all the way to Suna. It would take us much longer, and besides, your physical condition might get worse, no matter how much you try to deny it!—Tenten ordered, her hands on her hips like an older sister scolding her younger brother.
At that moment, Tenten thought Lee was looking at her with bright eyes and a slight pout on his lower lip. Instantly, she felt a surge of guilt and pity for her companion at the look of defeat on his face. It wasn't that she wanted to upset him or make him feel bad, but she had to set boundaries for him, given Lee's tendency to break them.
—That's fine, Tenten... But it embarrasses me to think that people could see me in this state... —Lee said in a low voice, looking down at the ground as he stared at the arm sling in defeat.
Tenten saw that it was the first time her companion had appeared so depressed in front of them due to the damage done to his body after Sabaku no Gaara's attack. He was always so stupidly energetic and positive that to see him like this caused sadness and, in a way, even despair. Considering the situation that was developing between his two teammates, Neji decided to take action.
—Think of it another way, Lee. —Neji said, trying to help him. —Rest is also part of true training. We Hyūga take rest seriously, especially after hard missions and exercises.
Lee continued to stare at the ground, clutching the crutch that supported his body. He wasn't entirely convinced by his white-eyed companion's argument. He felt it was more of an excuse to make him see reason.
Then Neji sighed and gently closed his eyes. The Hyūga boy remembered other clansmen of his age who stressed that he had to be more expressive and supportive of his teammates, even if he had to do or say things that weren't in line with his character. That's why Neji never thought he would say this, but he had no choice. It was for the sake of the mission and for Lee.
—What I mean is... if you don't rest, it will be difficult for you to train later. And if that happens, how are you going to... compete with me? or... maybe defeat me? —Neji expressed himself with great difficulty, almost comically.
Although she didn't know what was gotten her white-eyed companion, Tenten understood Neji's intentions and used her companion's words to play along.
—I-it's true, Lee... You always say it: that you will defeat Neji no matter what. No matter how hard it is or how much you have to train. That effort will always overcome talent.
There was an awkward silence in Lee that made both Neji and Tenten look at each other, not knowing what to say. After a moment of disbelief, Lee's gaze ignited with the full force of the Power of Youth. His gaze was so intense that it seemed to Neji and Tenten as if the boy burned around them in a sudden blaze.
—You're right, Neji, Tenten! The power of youth manifests itself in unique and unfathomable ways! —Lee shouted, clenching his right fist passionately. —Rest is also a part of training!
—Well said, Lee! The blazing flame of youth must continue to burn brightly in you! —exclaimed Maito Gai, who unexpectedly appeared in front of his pupil after finishing his conversation with one of the merchants.
—Gai-sensei!
—Lee!
The two embraced each other exuberantly, large tears falling comically from their eyes.
Neji rolled his eyes in their sockets, feeling them turn even whiter as he watched his sensei embrace Lee in their signature Power of Youth scene. Tenten raised a hand to her face in embarrassment as people passing by the south gate of the village looked at the dynamic duo in either surprise or amusement.
The two, student and teacher, had had a particularly close relationship for some time, leading them to display extremes of affection and behavior that elicited laughter and even discomfort from those who saw them. Although Neji and Tenten got used to it, they were still embarrassed at times by such a fervent attitude.
However, both teenagers noticed that Lee seemed to have regained his spirits, and Gai-sensei was helping to support him. It might not have been a bad idea for their teacher to be involved in the Suna mission at the last minute.
—By the way, Gai-sensei... Remind me, what was your reason for coming to Suna with us? —Tenten asked her teacher, who hadn't said anything.
A more relaxed Gai, who had stopped hugging his pupil, turned to Tenten while Neji helped Lee sit in the comfortably prepared carriage.
—Uh? I couldn't let the fact go unnoticed that my three dear students were going on a medical mission to help Lee and I wasn't going to be there. —Gai said with a big smile.—Besides, it won't hurt to do a little sightseeing to relax after so much tension this week.
Tenten looked into his eyes and saw his teacher's typical relaxed expression. There was something that didn't sit right with the young girl for some reason, but she decided not to think too much about it. She didn't know if it was a hunch or her Assassin instinct. Either way, as long as Gai-sensei encouraged Lee during the mission, she was fine with it.
—Okay, everyone. We're leaving! —one of the traders who left Konoha that morning for various points in the shinobi world could be heard raising his voice.
Five minutes after the announcement, Team Gai left through the southern gate of the village, heading for the crossroads that led to Sunagakure.
"Good. We've already started. Now we just need to get to Suna and start the mission," Tenten thought, casting a knowing glance at her companions, who nodded slightly.
Maito Gai watched his students from behind as the caravan moved forward. It was a three-day journey and he had time to think about what he would find in Suna and how to proceed with his spy mission.
"Neji... Tenten... Lee... Forgive me." the Jônin thought with a slight touch of sadness. "I'm sorry for using you, but it's for the good of our village."
—
—This will be as exciting as watching the grass grow. —the elder Chiyo declared as she finished reading the message brought by a messenger bird from the office of the Kazekage.
—Another request on the same subject as last month? —said an elderly man who turned out to be Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizô.
Both elderly were in the courtyard of their retirement home, fishing in the small well they used every day.
—No. This is a formal request from Konoha regarding the incident Gaara caused ten days ago. They asked for it as a special favor. It cannot be refused. —the old woman said as she handed the paper to Ebizô.
Chiyo's face wrinkled further. This was the second time in thirteen years that she had been asked to leave her retirement in less than two months. It was unacceptable for the old woman! On the other hand, the man with the long hair and wide, wide eyebrows looked up from the writing after quickly reading the message.
—At first glance, this boy seems to have suffered a lot of damage. If it's true that he opened the famous Hachimon Tônko and suffered intramedullary damage, I don't know how much you can help him. —the man said, folding the paper in half as he got up from his seat.
Chiyo got up to go to the Kazekage's Office to confirm directly that she would agree to treat the boy. The young man named Rock Lee had just arrived, escorted from Konoha after a three-day journey, to receive specialized medical treatment for the damage he received from Gaara and the opening of Hachimon Tônko to survive his attack and defeat him.
—Despite everything, I can't refuse to examine him. It's a matter of diplomacy. —the woman replied, stretching as she spoke. —You won't leave me alone until I see him and at least give him a diagnosis.
With these words, the Gokyōdai couple, the Honorable Siblings, made their way to the Kazekage Mansion without delay. They walked through several private, narrow stucco alleys until they reached the back entrance of the huge sand building with the kanji for "wind" inscribed on the main facade. The guards at the entrance greeted them with great fervor.
—It's a shame, really. —Ebizô commented, referring to the case his sister was supposed to be handling as they walked through the halls of the mansion. —He's a boy, what, 13 or 14 years old, the note said? Such extensive damage to someone just starting out as a Genin is dramatic, to say the least.
Chiyo's expression hadn't changed since they entered the area of the Kazekage's most important administrative quarters. However, her tone of voice reflected the uneasiness she felt.
—Gaara had to wreak havoc, but he wasn't supposed to go so far as to incapacitate or kill anyone. —the old woman declared firmly, remembering what was written in the note she had received. —He has overstepped the bounds of his mission. He's only causing us trouble.
The note detailed not only Rock Lee's request for therapy, but also the casualties resulting from Gaara's maniacal behavior. Ebizô remained silent at his older sister's words as they slowly walked down the long corridor towards the Kazekage's office. Then his gaze fell on three Jônin who seemed to be arguing.
—Were you able to see him, Isago-san? —a very worried man asked.
—It was impossible. They don't allow anyone other than council members into the office of the Kazekage. —replied the aforementioned ninja, who was the officer closest to Baki, the master and jônin in charge of the children of the Kazekage.
—This is a problem. The newly graduated genin are starting to get impatient without having their first mission in Kazekage-sama's hands. —the first Jônin replied impatiently. —Now Baki-san isn't even here anymore...
—And what else is he supposed to do, Satetsu? —a man named Otokaze said with obvious annoyance. —Isago-san has tried every possible way to talk to Rasa-sama. We can't ask more of him, or we'll get him into trouble.
—I know, but the situation is starting to get complicated. —Satetsu replied, sweat pouring down his forehead. —The rumors that Rasa-sama is very sick are getting more and more bizarre. Some say he contracted leprosy when he left for the northern lands three months ago. Or that he's dying of leukemia caused by his family's Kekkei Genkai and...
A few steps away from the Jônin, the elderly couple stopped dead in their tracks. They hadn't noticed their presence due to the heated conversation.
—What you three should stop doing is talking nonsense. —Chiyo began with visible annoyance after she overheard their exchange.
The three Jônin turned around almost immediately upon hearing the woman's solemn voice. They could not believe their eyes when they saw the Gokyōdai couple standing before them. They were supposed to be retired and in seclusion of their own free will.
—Chiyo-bâsama! Ebizō-jîsama! —the three Suna jônin exclaimed with surprise in their voices.
Ebizô took a step forward. Her bearing was firm and unwavering, displaying the dignity of those who survive in a world where death preys on the youngest.
—Your job is to carry out the orders given to you by the Kazekage, his advisors and his closest aides. It is not your responsibility to take care of Rasa-sama's health. —Ebizô said with seriousness in his voice. —Instead of wasting time here, go and fulfill the duties entrusted to you.
Satetsu, Otokaze and Isago looked at each other with embarrassed expressions and after apologizing and bowing to the two brothers, they left quickly with a hint of dissatisfaction in their faces. Chiyo and Ebizô remained silent again as they continued their way to the office of the Kazekage. Sunagakure was in a morally delicate moment. At least in appearance.
—From what these three have said, it seems that the plans should proceed as agreed. —Ebizô pointed out, accepting the previous jônin's assessments as true.
Chiyo nodded as she rested her eyes on the long, thick carpet in the hall.
—The Council Elders will conclude the meeting with Konoha in four days. —the woman pointed out, her face wrinkling even more. —Hopefully, our new allies have also begun to move as we agreed.
—Then Orochimaru should be on his way to the rendezvous point. —Ebizô quickly pointed out. —I still think that planning with him is a risky move, but... who listens to old people, right, sister?
The woman fell silent at her younger brother's question. Due to the transformation of her grandson Sasori into a renegade ninja from Suna, she and her brother Ebizô had been forced to retire from the military and social life of the village. No one wanted to know anything about them or their condition. It was so painful for Chiyo that when she remembered her grandson's sweet, youthful face, all her desire to reconnect with the outside world was gone because of the betrayal. Finally, the two elders arrived at the wooden door of the Kazekage's office. Chiyo grabbed the handle of the simple wooden door and opened it all the way. The two elder siblings stared at the back of the room.
There they saw Rasa, the Yondaime Kazekage, looking in enviable health, despite the rumors circulating. To his left was his personal secretary, a sinister-looking man named Fugi, who remained completely silent. At that moment, the Kazekage was talking to a person wearing a long black cloak that covered him completely. The two elders didn't recognize the cloaked man sitting at the Kazekage's table. He seemed to have a mischievous yet serious demeanor.
—Oh, Chiyo-bâsama, Ebizō-jìsama. It's about time you arrived. Let me introduce you to someone. —the Kazekage said, aware of the arrival of the elders, pointing to the hooded man.
The mischievous man stood up on the table and jumped towards the elders. None of them liked the sensations he gave off from his body.
—It is a pleasure to meet the Gokyōdai in person. —the man said in a captivating voice that made their hair stand on end. —Chiyo-kun, Ebizō-kun.
For some reason she didn't understand, Chiyo became alert. What did all this mean? Who was this man and why did her and her brother's names sound so absurdly familiar on his lips? A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, unable to move.
—My name is Toshikomi. I look forward to working with you.
The man smiled and removed the hood of his cloak, revealing his face. Chiyo and Ebizô's eyes widened, filled with a wild fear they hadn't felt in a long time.
Who the hell was he?
—
—Hey, you! When are you going to feed us, huh?
—That's enough! We're hungry!
The tense situation unfolded in a dungeon in Konoha. The thick, cold walls of the dungeon, built of a special concrete so dense that it seemed to defy nature itself, bore witness to the escalating tension of the conflict. The air was charged with a subtle but undeniable energy, a constant reminder of the impossibility of leaving. The constant complaints came from two prisoners in cell T04-35.
—Why don't you shut up?! It's not the hunger that's bothering me, it's the fact that you're shoving your ass in my face! —one of the prisoners snapped at one of his complaining companions.
—Then don't sit there! Stand up like everyone else, you idiot!
Suddenly, there was a loud bang on the bars of the cell where the argument was raging. Everyone looked behind the bars.
—Silence! In your position, you have no right to demand anything! —a curly-haired, thick-looking ninja snapped from behind the cell.
—If the Kazekage or the venerable Chiyo-bâsama were here, you wouldn't have the nerve to talk like that! —Another prisoner replied sarcastically.
Kanden Tekuno hissed at the challenging answer. He and other shinobi had been assigned to guard the prisoners in one of the dungeons for the past six months. Tekuno was a normally jovial Jônin with a good sense of humor. According to his comrades, his presence made any mission go quickly.
However, over the past two months, Tekuno's mood had soured. He and his companions were constantly on the lookout for complaints from the prisoners, and they kept coming. From time to time, the prisoners would shout and chant, disturbing the poor Jônin's mental state.
The dungeon he guarded was located in a high tower in the middle of one of the small islands in the Naka River to the southwest, which irrigated Konoha. There was only one way in and out: the main door, which was connected to the only room in the tower by a long staircase. Finally, the four cells were tiny, with only a small opening allowing sunlight in and out. They were designed to hold only one prisoner. However, due to the increase in rogue ninja from Suna, extreme measures had been taken due to the lack of space. At the moment, there were between four and five people in each of them.
—What a drag! —Tekuno muttered as he sat down at the table in the living room where his companion was drinking from a glass. —Do you know any news about the redistribution of these bastards, Hayama?
—I've heard that they plan to stop the civilian trials. That way, the military trials will be expedited and they'll be sent to their final destination. —The other ninja named Shirakumo Hayama said calmly.
Tekuno rolled his eyes as he sat next to Hayama and poured himself a cup of tea. It wasn't the first time they worked together and they knew each other well. The two jônin didn't stand out in any particular way; they simply fulfilled their duties, even if they got on each other's nerves. Despite everything that was happening, Tekuno was surprised to see that Hayama maintained a relaxed state of mind.
—And when are they going to do it, huh?! I don't know about you, but I can't stand another day of these shitbags complaining like they were princes or ministers! —he finished, quickly swallowing the glass of cold tea to wet his throat and try to calm down.
Hayama slowly raised his glass to his lips again. He admitted that his partner was right. These rogue Suna ninjas were very annoying, but they only had to wait a little longer and they would calm down.
A moment after these thoughts, Hayama saw the door to the room open as four ANBU entered and escorted a new prisoner into the tower. The person wore two tight shackles, one around his neck and one on his wrists behind his back, each attached to two chains. Each ANBU held one of them.
—Oh, no! No, no, no! No way! —Tekuno spoke quickly to greet those who had just entered. No one else comes in here! Take him somewhere else!
The ANBU squad were unimpressed. The ANBU captain, who wore a bird-shaped mask, stepped forward at the remarks of the angry Jōnin.
—Direct orders from the Hokage. —He said simply and calmly. —Considering his abilities, it is necessary for him to be here.
Hayama looked at the prisoner. He was a young boy, not older than 13 years. He had a tattoo of the kanji "love" on his left forehead. His eyes were lined with black and remained completely closed.
"So we should watch Sabaku no Gaara…" Hayama thought and frowned. "I think this is going to be annoying."
—I don't care! There are other dungeons in the eastern tower! Take him there! —Tekuno shouted indignantly.
The ANBU captain slowly shook his head after hearing Tekuno's demands.
—This is the part of the river with the largest volume of water. His sand attacks will be weakened if he dares to use them. —the captain declared, pointing firmly at Gaara.
Tekuno gritted his teeth and hissed indignantly at the ANBU leader's remarks. As the tension rose, Hayama intervened to prevent the conflict from escalating. What had just happened to the rest of the prisoners was enough.
—We'll take care of him. —he said, leading the group to the front of one of the cells.
The ANBU group began to advance, led by their captain. Tekuno saw how noble and self-confident their posture and demeanor were. Typical of the ANBU.
—By the way, there is an extra instruction regarding this prisoner. It's best if he's in a cell by himself. We recommend that you rearrange the others to avoid possible incidents. —the ANBU captain inquired briefly.
Suddenly, the words of the leader of Konoha's secret squad elicited an eruption of shouts and complaints from all four cells.
—No way!
—Are you going to put more of us in here?!
—We'll be packed like sardines in a can!
Another bang on the metal was heard. Tekuno had quickly moved forward and struck one of the cells with his metal baton.
—Shut up! You will do as you're told! Leave immediately!
After Tekuno's fierce orders and a little help from all the Konoha ANBU present, they managed to free a solitary cell for Sabaku no Gaara, not without difficulty from the other prisoners against whom they had to use brute force.
—You are lucky, Sabaku no Gaara. If you weren't the son of the Kazekage, you'd be in worse conditions. —one of the ANBU said after closing the cell door. —You could thank us.
The Suna ninja remained silent. None of the ANBU was surprised by this behavior. Sabaku no Gaara had been very calm since he had been released from the scroll in which he had been sealed. The ANBU themselves and the members of the Analysis Team had taken it upon themselves to search for information about the children of the Kazekage and had confirmed that this was the usual behavior in his homeland. Most of the time, he just showed indifference and aloofness in the face of the murderous urge he had shown in Konoha in the past.
—Anyway, we're leaving. You'll get news about the prisoner redistribution after the Hokage meeting. —the ANBU captain said as he and his group walked out the door. —There are plans to set up an emergency shinobi tribunal for this situation and have them serve their sentences based on their actions against Konoha.
A new wave of complaints from the cells echoed through the tower room after the ANBU captain left.
—Don't leave us with these people! They don't give us anything to eat!
—Shut up already! He tried to rest!
—No, shut up, you!
Tekuno snorted with a mixture of fatigue and resignation as he sat back in one of the chairs near the table. Finally, something would be done with all the prisoners after the Hokage meeting and that was a relief. For his part, Hayama stared at Sabaku no Gaara for a few more moments. He frowned deeply and spoke with astonishing coldness.
—You killed several of our comrades and wounded many others, bastard. If you weren't the son of the Kazekage, I wouldn't have mercy on you now and rip out all your intestines.
Tekuno watched as Hayama left the cell after saying this. He knew that the ninja with the scar on his lip was upset about the deaths of those who had fallen at the hands of Sabaku no Gaara. But he was sure that he would not take justice into his own hands out of a sense of duty.
Gaara remained silent in his cell. Slowly, he opened his eyes and saw the two Konoha ninja sitting there, drinking and talking quietly.
"The operation is about to begin." the Suna ninja thought coldly.
Little by little, a fine dust of sand began to fall from Gaara's fingers, coming from the armor that covered his body. The last one he had left at this moment.
—
—Ugh, my skin is getting really dry. —Tenten said, scratching her face with her nails.
Indeed, the fine desert sand stung and dried her like hell. The girl from Konoha wondered how it was possible that Sabaku no Gaara always carried a jar of sand with him. She was sure that all the moisture in the air had to be stored in that thing.
—The sandstorm is starting to subside. We'll be able to leave for Suna soon. —Tenten heard a trader say as he finished his observation outside the tent.
Currently, the caravan Team Gai was traveling in had been stopped for five hours. They had been caught in a sandstorm and had to camp. Although this was a minor setback, the three young Genin of Team Gai took it as an opportunity to rest and prepare for what they had decided to go to Suna for.
—Soon, we must prepare our minds to act as we planned during the journey. —Neji said in a whisper that only his two teammates could hear.
—Yes, Neji. If everything goes well, I think we'll be able to stop them in time. —Lee said with conviction.
Tenten stopped drinking from her glass and shook her head at her teammate's comment. The interior of the trailer felt like an oasis of coolness and comfort in the middle of the unforgiving desert. Sunlight filtered faintly through the thick fabric that protected from the scorching heat outside.
—You're still at it, Lee. You've been saying that all the way. —Tenten scratched her cheek again, trying to stop the itch. Anyway, you'll soon see how wrong your assumptions are.
—Deep down, I hope you're right, Tenten.
The black-haired boy gave his teammate a sad smile. Tenten saw a look in his eyes that she couldn't decipher. Neji, for his part, remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.
At the same time, the young Genin of Team Gai looked at Gai-sensei, who was talking animatedly with the merchants they had accompanied on their journey. In the center of the room where the group of adults sat, a low carved wooden table stood on a hand-woven wool rug. Everyone was gathered and seated around it, eating and drinking animatedly.
—By the way, do you think Gai-sensei has found out about our true purpose? —Tenten asked in a whisper, looking sideways at her teacher. —I'm a little worried that he might have guessed something...
Neji shook his head at his teammate's question.
—If he had known, he would have raised a ruckus by now. Rest assured, he would have given us a lecture and a pat on the head. —Neji said, closing his eyes and reminding his teammates of the typical behavior of their teacher. —So no. He doesn't know anything.
The white-eyed boy brought the glass of hot tea with sugar to his lips after he finished speaking. In truth, he wanted to complete this mission as quickly as possible and return home, but on the other hand, he felt the need to continue and silence the stream of thoughts that had continued to haunt him after Lee had fallen victim to that Genjutsu. His mind hadn't stopped being in turmoil because of all the strange things he'd been made to doubt.
Suddenly, a small, high-pitched scream brought the Hyūga Clan boy out of his thoughts.
—Dad, it's over! —the son of one of the merchants shouted happily, running out of the tent.—Let's go play outside!
—Oh! But don't rush out!
Maito Gai immediately got up and left the tent to look at the desert landscape, leaving the conversation unfinished. Neji and Tenten also stood up almost immediately as they helped Lee to his feet and then left the tent.
A light blinded them as they stepped outside. The sky of the Land of Wind was an intense light blue, even more so now that the storm had passed. The beige sand colored the dunes as the sun rose to its highest point. It must have been around noon.
—Look, there it is. Sunagakure no Sato! —shouted Maito Gai, pointing to the west.
Neji, Lee and Tenten turned and saw it in an instant. On the horizon, Sunagakure rose like a mirage in the middle of the unforgiving desert. The shinobi village rose from the golden dunes like a fortress of stone and sand, blending into the surrounding landscape. The huge folding adobe and stucco walls gave the sandy town a circular appearance. The sky was filled with birds of prey waiting to swoop down on their helpless prey. Suna certainly conjured up a mysterious image.
—Good. Let's get started. —the teacher and leader of Team 03-079 exclaimed.
With that, Maito Gai went back inside to gather his belongings and help set up the tent, leaving the three young Genin alone. They stared with a mixture of interest and awe at the magnificent structure, something they had never seen before.
—Well, this is it. —Neji said, crossing his arms.
—We can't go back now, can we? —Tenten asked, scratching his neck.
But far from saying anything, Rock Lee remained silent, just looking around. He clenched his fists a little tighter as he remembered the destruction of Konoha. This time, he had a chance to do things differently and he would take it.
"This time, it will be different... We'll find out what's happening in Sunagakure and stop it." the boy with the thick eyebrows thought determinedly.
The three Konoha Genin looked at each other for a moment before they returned to the tent and began the first steps of their secret operation. In less than half an hour, they would find themselves at the gates of Sunagakure.
—
OFFICIAL NINJA PROFILE
Ninja Registration Number: 012573
Last Name: None
First Name: Tenten
Nickname: None
Date of Birth: March 9, Year 067 Modern Age
Sex: Female
Status: Active
Blood Type: B
Affiliation: Konohagakure no Sato, Land of Fire
Clan/Family: Not noteworthy
Team: Graduated Genin of Team 03 - 079
Ninja Rank: Genin (Year 079 Modern Age)
Ninja Category: Assassin
Chakra Natures: Unknown
Kekkei Genkai: Nonexistent
Occupation: Unknown
—
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INFILTRATION
