The team didn't delay for too long and soon entered the Wind City.
What they saw along the way was a bit overwhelming.
This place was naturally not as prosperous as Konoha, but compared with other places in the ninja world, it was also first-class in prosperity.
Especially the houses and tents with local characteristics, which made people feel a sense of novelty.
Soon, the four were found by a special person—a ninja from Sunagakure, wearing a standard combat uniform, though the style was different from that of the four.
"Hey, it's you."
The four knew the person, especially Hatake Kakashi, who began to greet her.
"White-haired kid, it turns out you're here."
The person was a woman with dark green hair tied into a bun, with yellow tips hanging down. She looked to be in her twenties, with a refined temperament.
"Pakura, long time no see."
The person was indeed Pakura, who was older than Hatake Kakashi and had already passed thirty, but no matter how you looked at it, she didn't appear much older than him.
Sensing Hatake Kakashi's strange gaze, Pakura frowned and said, "I always feel like you're thinking something rude.~"
Hatake Kakashi coughed dryly and muttered, "You… you must have practiced the Strength of a Hundred Seal, right?"
"Of course!"
Pakura nodded. "This is good news for all female ninja in the ninja world. Of course, I'd practice it."
"Let's not talk about this."
She waved her hand and said to the four, "Follow me. Gaara is waiting for you."
After that, she led them in one direction.
Naturally, they talked along the way.
Naruto and the others also learned about the relationship between Pakura and Hatake Kakashi.
When they found out they had been opponents and fought in the joint Chūnin Exams many years ago, their expressions turned strange.
Especially Haruno Sakura, who looked even more like the gossipy housewife, her eyes wandering between the two.
"Don't look at me like that. I have no interest in this white-haired kid. He was very cold at that time."
"Ahaha, don't say that. It's easy to be misunderstood."
Hatake Kakashi recalled his younger self and felt inexplicably embarrassed.
Fortunately, the atmosphere of the ninja world had changed a long time ago, and the two sides were no longer hostile to each other. On the contrary, they were very familiar with each other, so there were no incidents along the way, and they arrived at the Kazekage Building smoothly.
Compared with the Hokage, other Kage in the ninja world still retain certain rights. This mainly reflects in some autonomy over their respective villages, so Kazekage Gaara now has a lot to handle. When the four saw him, Gaara was hard at work.
Gaara is a genius. Even though the situation has shifted, he still showed amazing talents as he grew.
Whether in terms of ninja abilities or administrative skills, he was truly exceptional.
In fact, if it were not for the request from Wind City, Gaara would most likely have directly entered the upper echelons of the Ninja Federation. Even if he refuses this now, he will still have a place in the Ninja Federation after retiring from the position of Kazekage.
This is the value that the ninja world attaches to talent today. Not only Gaara, but others who are equally outstanding, have already shown their abilities even at a young age.
"Hey! Gaara, long time no see."
Naruto greeted him first, a look of surprise on his face.
"It's you guys."
Gaara put down what he was doing, took the scroll handed over by Hatake Kakashi, motioned for the four to sit down and rest, and then examined it.
After a while, Gaara put down the scroll with a slightly strange expression, glanced at Hatake Kakashi, and said, "Has it come to this?"
Hatake Kakashi nodded expressionlessly, without saying a word.
"It's really unexpected that you, the next Hokage, came here in person. Konoha really..."
As he said this, Gaara shook his head, unsure what to say for a moment, but his look toward Hatake Kakashi was full of inexplicable pity.
"Don't look at me like that. I think it won't be long before the Kazekage will be in a similar situation. You may be celebrating too early."
Hatake Kakashi was not polite at all.
"Ahem."
Gaara coughed dryly. His personality seemed normal; after all, he had both parents and hadn't encountered the tragedies of the original plot during his growth. Naturally, he wouldn't harbor any deep resentment.
However, thinking about the current situation of the Hokage and the status of Wind City, Gaara didn't have the confidence to refute Hatake Kakashi.
"Okay, I know, I'll be there on time."
Hatake Kakashi said seriously, and then added, "In addition, I also brought orders from Hara-sama."
Hearing this, Gaara's expression became serious as he waited for the next instructions.
"According to the progress on the front line in the starry sky, the team led by Hara-sama has encountered the third group of the Ōtsutsuki clan in the starry sky. This information was sent back only recently, indicating that the battle in the starry sky has already started."
Gaara frowned and asked in a deep voice, "How many Ōtsutsuki have we encountered this time?"
Hatake Kakashi shook his head and replied, "It's unknown for now, but it should be no fewer than nine, and these nine are clearly not the mediocre ones we faced the first two times. They must be elite members of the Ōtsutsuki clan."
"Hara-sama indicated that all parties in the ninja world should prepare in advance, and that people should be ready to deploy to the starry sky at any time. You are also on the list."
Gaara's eyes flashed, and he nodded. "I understand. Kakashi, are there any others besides me? Maybe I should reach out to them in advance."
"Yes. I'm here with a list of names. Besides you, there's also Terumi Mei, the former Mist Shinobi; Kurotsuchi and Deidara, the former Rock Shinobi; the former Cloud Shinobi, Yugito Nii and Yakushi Kabuto, formerly of Konoha."
Gaara thought of something and couldn't help but sigh, "They are all well-known strong shinobi in the ninja world and are generally from the younger generation. Is Hara-sama planning to promote young talent?"
"Don't say that; you're also a young person. Don't be so old-fashioned. Hara-sama is very optimistic about you. I think once you enter the starry sky this time, you'll make rapid progress."
"I envy you very much," Hatake Kakashi remarked.
Gaara replied, "If you're interested, just tell Hara-sama, and you'll certainly be included this time."
"Please spare me."
Hatake Kakashi quickly shook his head.