"Lord Kazekage, you were incredible!" Temari exclaimed, hands clasped, eyes shining with admiration.
Pakura smiled faintly. "What's so amazing about me?"
"If it weren't for my husband's summoned beasts, we would've been in danger today," she said. "On my own, I could've handled only one of them."
She turned to the towering figures beside her. "Kyouki, Fūmi, thank you. You can return now."
"Madam, there's no need to thank us. We'll take our leave," replied the three dragon heads in unison, each voice distinct and haunting.
A pulse of purple light flashed. The draconic humanoid form dissolved, Shuryu, Kyouki and Fūmi reverting to their true forms before fading into three wisps of white smoke that vanished into the air.
"Even so, you were still amazing," Temari insisted. "Right?"
The others could only nod in agreement.
"Lord Kazekage, why would those people want to capture Gaara?" Temari asked.
"I don't know," Pakura said solemnly. "But their intentions were definitely not good."
She looked at Gaara seriously. "From now on, stay alert. Don't wander far from me."
"I understand, Lord Kazekage."
Inwardly, Gaara clenched his fists, vowing to train harder, to become strong enough that no one would have to protect him again.
Today's battle had shattered the trio's pride. They had witnessed what true strength looked like and realized just how far behind they were.
"Alright," Pakura said, turning back toward the road. "Let's keep moving. We're about to enter the Land of Fire."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"
The group pressed onward.
Meanwhile, Konan's team, having escaped, found a cave to rest in after confirming they were no longer being pursued.
"Sigh… the mission failed," Deidara muttered, rubbing his arm. "Didn't think that woman would be such a pain..."
"It's not her that's the problem," Sasori said, calmly repairing a crack in his puppet body. "It's the man behind her. If it were just her, any one of us could've handled it."
Deidara frowned. "That Uchiha Gen you mentioned before… he's really something. His summoned beasts alone were terrifying, and who knows how strong he is himself. Makes you wonder if even the leader could beat him."
Konan, her expression unreadable, said coldly, "He's not the leader's match."
Mei Terumī, who was sitting nearby, gave a small pout. She clearly didn't believe that the Akatsuki leader's power could rival that mountain-sized black giant she had seen.
"Is that so?" Deidara smirked. "If that's true, even better."
"You'll see the power of God soon enough," Konan said flatly. "We'll report this together later and decide how to proceed."
No one spoke after that. The cave fell silent except for the sound of Deidara wrapping his wounds and Sasori's tools clicking faintly.
Half an hour later, deep within the cave that housed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, eleven colored phantoms flickered into existence.
Sasori, Deidara, and Konan gave their reports. Mei Terumī added a few remarks of her own.
The revelation that both teams had returned empty-handed drew mixed reactions. Nagato, Kakuzu, Hidan, Kisame, and Jūzō were surprised—though only the first three genuinely so. Kisame and Jūzō, on the other hand, trusted Uchiha Gen almost blindly.
As for Zetsu and Obito, they had known the outcome long before the meeting and didn't even flinch.
"The plan isn't going smoothly," Tendo Pain said evenly. "Only the Four-Tails and Six-Tails have been captured so far. Sunagakure is now on alert, so the next move will be harder. We'll have to wait for an opening."
He turned his gaze toward Obito's phantom. "What do you think?"
Obito's distorted voice came through calmly. "When I go to Konoha, if an opportunity arises, I'll take the One-Tailed Jinchūriki as well. But the main goal remains the Nine-Tails. Compared to that, capturing the One-Tail is nothing."
"If I don't get the chance in Konoha, I'll find another way. Eventually, I always get what I want."
With Kamui, his confidence wasn't misplaced. If he had both eyes, he would be nearly unstoppable, almost untouchable.
He hadn't reclaimed his other eye from Kakashi yet, but if he ever did… the story of the ninja world would have ended very differently.
"Then we'll proceed as you suggested," Pain said. "Zetsu, monitor the movements of the other Jinchūriki and report any openings immediately."
"Heh heh, understood," Zetsu replied.
"Meeting adjourned."
The phantoms vanished one by one, their glow fading into the darkness.
Konan and the others turned and began their journey back toward the Land of Rain.
A day and a half later, Pakura's group finally arrived at Konoha. After a formal meeting with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the village elders, they took their leave.
Instead of staying in the official lodgings prepared for the visiting villages, Pakura led her group to the Uchiha Clan compound.
Uchiha Gen, having received word of their arrival, came out to welcome them with Mikoto.
It was just the two of them, everyone else was out.
Kurenai had taken Anko and Yūgao to train her disciples for the upcoming Chūnin Exams, determined to help them place well. Three Jōnin training three Genin with unheard of dedication.
Sasuke was training under Kakashi's guidance. Tsunade and Kushina didn't live here.
"You're here?" Uchiha Gen said with a small grin.
"Mhm," Pakura nodded, just as casually.
They'd been together long enough that there was no need for polite greetings.
"Welcome, Pakura," Mikoto said warmly, smiling.
"Mikoto-nee, you've only gotten more beautiful," Pakura said with a laugh.
"Oh, no—you're the one who's glowing," Mikoto replied playfully.
After their brief exchange, the four Sand shinobi stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Lord Gen, Lady Mikoto."
"I heard about the trouble you ran into," Gen said. "Stay here until the Chūnin Exams start. There are plenty of empty rooms."
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Gen!" they said in unison, bowing again.
Gen waved his hand with a light smile. "No need for formality. We're all family here."
Truth be told, both he and Pakura had impressive self-control. They'd eliminated the siblings' father, Rasa, yet stood here acting as if nothing had ever happened.
Perhaps they simply didn't consider him worth feeling guilty about.
Pakura and her team followed Gen and Mikoto inside. The residence's elegant, traditional architecture and lush gardens left Temari and the others stunned.
In Sunagakure, even a patch of green was rare, this place felt like paradise.
The group entered the spacious living room, where a butler was already waiting.
Gen sat down casually. "Tell him what you'd like to drink," he said. "He'll also show you to your rooms. If you need anything later, just ask him."
"Thank you, Lord Gen." The four started to sit, then immediately rose again to bow.
Gen chuckled. "Alright, no need to be so stiff."
"The three of you are familiar with me already, and Pakura values you highly. You're her trusted Jōnin. Relax. I'm not that hard to get along with."
Hearing that, Temari and the others visibly relaxed.
The two couples continued chatting comfortably, while the others sat quietly nearby, eating and drinking, content to listen in silence.