The Tailed Beasts were already synonymous with earth-shattering destruction in the hearts of most ninjas.
The older generation of ninjas in the Sand Village especially remembered the turmoil and damage caused when the One Tail had not yet been sealed into Bunbuku.
If it were only the Nine Tails and Three Tails, along with a group of giant Summoning Beasts that could be called battlefield killing weapons.
Even if the Hidden Sand ninjas knew that the Nine Tails was stronger than the One Tail, and those Summoning Beasts were extremely terrifying.
It wasn't as if they didn't have the courage to fight!
But it wasn't just them!
The Chakra giant, even taller and more terrifying than the Tailed Beasts, was flying in the air.
The Wood Release Thousand-Armed Kannon Statue, with a size of a thousand meters, stood outside the village, as if it could completely destroy the Sand Village in an instant.
How could humans contend against such a thing?
Chiyo staggered, her vision darkening.
When she truly saw the Thousand-Armed Kannon Statue standing outside the village, she deeply understood the heartfelt fear that Fugi had when he returned from the front lines.
Pakura grabbed the Chiyo, who was about to faint beside her, and said with a solemn expression.
"Granny Chiyo, the Sand Village still needs you, you must not fall!"
"..."
Pulled back from the brink of fainting, Chiyo only felt endless sorrow rising in her heart.
Needed her?
What did the Hidden Sand still need her to do?
Sign a surrender agreement and agree to Konoha's merger treaty?
"Elder Sister, cheer up, the Kazekage is not here, you are now the backbone of all our Hidden Sand ninjas."
Ebizo supported Chiyo's other arm.
His old face was also full of bitterness and sorrow.
He knew very well that since the Konoha ninjas had brought out such a terrifying lineup, if they couldn't get a satisfactory result, today might be the day of the Sand Village's destruction.
"I... understand."
Chiyo's gaze swept over the Hidden Sand high-level officials who were staring at her.
Unease, anxiety, panic, fear, resentment, regret...
All kinds of gazes were now focused on her.
Yes!
It was she who suppressed the selection of the Fourth Kazekage, and it was she who took over the power of the current Sand Village.
It was also she who, against the opposition of the crowd, led the village's peace talks with the Mist Village, and the decision to jointly attack Konoha with the Iwagakure ninjas.
Everything that the Sand Village was facing today.
Perhaps it was all caused by her!
How could she have the face to faint at such a time, pushing her responsibility onto others.
Sand Village...
Chiyo's turbid eyes slightly reddened as shereluctantly straightened her body.
Looking at the various gazes around her, she disengaged from Pakura and Ebizo's support, walked to the very front of the Kazekage Building, and gazed at the boundless sand and dust, as if admonishing herself, and as if admonishing everyone.
"Lord Retto created the Sand Village, allowing us to survive in the Wind Country covered in yellow sand. Lord Shamon led us to overcome sandstorms and improve our military equipment, enabling us to join the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Villages..."
"We are the children of the sand, born in the wind and sand! Born on this barren land, we have always been fighting against the heavens, against the earth, and against people, because if we don't fight, we cannot survive!"
"Show the backbone of the Hidden Sand ninjas! We are born with the courage and perseverance to fight against everything!"
Chiyo's back straightened, as if she had mustered her courage.
She suddenly turned her head, her eyes red, looked at the crowd with different expressions, and coldly ordered.
"Order the alarm to stop! All ninjas in the village, enter the highest state of combat readiness!"
"If Konoha comes for peace, we are willing to create peace with them. If they attempt to enslave us, they must first step over our corpses!"
"All Hidden Sand ninjas, be ready to fight to the death with Konoha ninjas at any time!"
"Yes!"
Perhaps it was Chiyo's words that infected everyone, or perhaps they had received the answer they had been waiting for.
The Hidden Sand high-level officials, each with their own thoughts, immediately began to take action.
The originally harsh alarm stopped.
The Hidden Sand ninjas, who were in a state of panic and fear, were prepared to face everything in a series of scolding and shouting.
"Pakura..."
Chiyo looked at Pakura beside her with complicated eyes.
"Granny Chiyo?"
Pakura turned her head in confusion, somewhat puzzled as to why Chiyo was calling her at this time.
"You go to the Ninja School and take the children of Class A into the deepest part of the shelter's tunnel. There, most of our Hidden Sand Village's heritage is stored. If the war starts, take them away directly, and leave the last seeds for the Sand Village."
"Granny..."
"Go, good child, it was Granny's fault before, Granny misunderstood you."
Chiyo had a kind smile on her face and gently pushed Pakura, who was full of astonishment.
Pakura jumped off the Kazekage Building and sped towards the Ninja School. Looking back, her face was full of determination and reluctance, but her heart sneered.
This old woman Chiyo, at this time, still wants to test her!
What 'let her take people to run away once the war starts'.
Does she really think that she can't hear what Chiyo meant by the words 'If Konoha comes for peace' just now?
Konoha's ultimate goal had been clearly conveyed by Fugi when he returned with his team from the front lines.
The Sand Village's higher-ups had discussed it more than once!
Otherwise, why would those higher-ups have acted so quickly just now?
The current Sand Village is merely putting on a show of strength, not wanting Konoha's conditions to be too harsh.
She was almost certain that once the negotiations were complete, it would be her time to ascend to the Kazekage position.
But the Kazekage...
What if she didn't want to be it anymore!
"At times like this, can't you just use the Mind Transmission Body Technique?"
Pakura's gaze turned towards the Thousand-Armed Kannon Statue located on the southern side of the Sand Village. With her eyesight, she could only vaguely see a small black dot, smaller than a grain of rice, at the top of the statue.
A familiar Mind Transmission Body Technique connection came through.
In the next moment, Yamanaka Kei's voice echoed in Pakura's mind.
"Looking for me?"
"...If I don't become the Kazekage, what kind of job are you going to arrange for me?"
"Washing feet, scrubbing backs, massages?"
"..."
"How about stoking the furnace? Scorch Release, the effect is top-notch."
"You bastard! I'm not joking with you!"
"Geez, you have no sense of humor at all. What's wrong? Why don't you want to be the Kazekage all of a sudden?"
"...It's meaningless."
Pakura was silent for a moment, her final answer filled with deep weariness and disappointment.
She was conflicted, deeply loving the village where she had grown up, while also hating the prejudice and unfair treatment from the higher-ups.
The Village Merger cannot be separated from Chiyo's support.
Even if the Village Merger is completed, to make the Hidden Sand ninjas behave and follow orders, it will still require Chiyo to stand up for them.
Konoha won't kill Chiyo, and she... seems unable to make that decision.
Womanly compassion?
Perhaps.
But since she can't make that decision, even if she becomes the Kazekage, she will only be a Puppet placed at the forefront by Chiyo.
It will only keep herself in a whirlpool of contradictions.
What's the point?
"Just be your Kazekage, Chiyo has already made a decision herself. She, um, should be considered a Hidden Sand elder with a lot of integrity..."
Yamanaka Kei's words, tinged with a hint of regret, entered Pakura's mind.
Pakura wasn't stupid.
After only a brief moment of stunned silence, she instantly understood the meaning behind Yamanaka Kei's words, abruptly stopping in place and turning back to look at the top of the Kazekage Building.
There, Chiyo was still overlooking everything in the Sand Village.
Even from a great distance.
She could feel the other's attachment and gentleness...
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