"Rōran… goodbye."
Outside the borders of the Rōran desert, thousands of Rōran citizens stood with packed belongings slung over their shoulders, turning back again and again to look at the city they were leaving behind.
Large bags. Worn cloth. Tear-stained faces.
Hands waved in the air as farewells echoed again and again.
Everyone's heart was filled with deep reluctance and sorrow.
This was their homeland — the place where they had lived, grown, and entrusted their hearts.
But now, they could only say goodbye through tears.
"Goodbye, Rōran… goodbye, Mother…"
Sarah stood at the front of the crowd, her eyes red as she waved toward the distant city.
If anyone among Rōran felt the most pain, the most reluctance, it was undoubtedly her.
To her, Rōran was not just a homeland — it was the place where her mother had entrusted her final wish.
But she was the queen.
And as queen, she had to think for the people of Rōran.
So even if she was unwilling, even if her heart ached, responsibility forced her to lead them away.
As Sarah looked back at the countless citizens waving farewell to their home, Kushina — usually so lively and carefree — fell completely silent.
The scene before her overlapped with another memory.
The day she had left Uzushiogakure.
The day she had been torn away from her own homeland.
Without realizing it, sadness began to seep out from her.
Yagami noticed the change immediately.
Because Kushina was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, her emotions didn't just affect herself.
Along with her sorrow came Kurama's deep malice — heavy, negative chakra quietly stirring.
"Kushina, are you okay?"
Sensing her emotional state worsening, Yagami reached out and pressed a hand against her shoulders, jolting her back to awareness.
"I—I'm fine, I'm fine!"
Kushina replied quickly after regaining her senses.
She had also realized that Kurama's emotions had influenced her just now.
"…Are you thinking about Uzushiogakure?"
Given the atmosphere, and knowing Kushina well, Yagami understood immediately.
"…You?"
Kushina looked at him in surprise.
She hadn't expected him to guess it so easily.
"Don't be sad," Yagami said gently, giving her shoulder a light pat.
"Isn't Konoha your home now too?"
The warmth on her shoulder made Kushina freeze.
"…What's wrong?"
Seeing her stiffen, Yagami asked in confusion.
Then...
"Ahh—!"
An angry shout burst from Kushina's mouth.
Her fist flew straight toward Yagami.
Boom—!!
A dull impact echoed.
Kushina's punch landed solidly against Yagami's arm and she was instantly stunned.
"You—what are you doing!?" Yagami snapped, clearly annoyed.
"Have you lost your mind!?"
"Keep your hands to yourself!"
Kushina shouted angrily, pating his arm against her shoulder as she glared at him.
At the same time, she was secretly shocked.
That punch… didn't do anything?
She carried the pure bloodline of the Uzumaki clan — an ordinary ninja should've been sent flying.
"…What? Are you saying I was being inappropriate?"
Yagami's face darkened. "I was comforting you because you were down! What kind of nonsense are you accusing me of!?"
He pulled his arm back, feeling utterly wronged.
Heaven and earth could bear witness... he hadn't done anything improper.
And since when does touching a shoulder count as "inappropriate," anyway!?
"Hmph."
Seeing him withdraw, Kushina snorted coldly and shook off his grip.
By now, their little scuffle had drawn everyone's attention.
The heavy, sorrowful atmosphere from earlier was completely shattered.
"Ahem… let's move out."
Yagami sighed helplessly under the strange looks being thrown his way.
For the first time, he seriously began to wonder—
Will I really end up with her in the future?
This woman was way too violent.
"Move out!"
With Sarah's order, the massive group finally began to march toward the Land of Fire.
While Yagami and the others escorted the people of Rōran away—
Far away, inside Sunagakure, a storm was brewing.
At the round table of the Sand Village's high council, fierce arguments had already broken out.
The disappearance of the Third Kazekage was not something that had just happened.
The truth was… the high-ranking officials could no longer hide it.
In reality, the Kazekage had been missing for over a month.
Panic had already spread throughout Sunagakure.
At the emergency council meeting, the leadership was clearly divided into two factions.
One side insisted that a new Kazekage must be elected immediately to stabilize both the village and the external situation.
"If the enemy attacks while we have no leader, how are we supposed to respond!?"
"Exactly! The village can't be left without a Kazekage!"
"I second that!"
The other faction believed the opposite.
They argued that internal discord could only be resolved through war — by launching an external conflict to forcibly unite the village.
And this faction… was the hardline, pro-war group.
"Electing a Kazekage now will only cause more conflict."
"Instead, we should take the initiative and strike first!"
"Not only will that stabilize morale, it will also catch the enemy village off guard!"
"Yes! I agree!"
"I second that!"
The arguments only grew louder.
As the meeting dragged on, more and more previously neutral elders began to lean toward the pro-war faction.
After all, choosing a new Kazekage too quickly could threaten the interests of many clans.
The balance slowly tilted.
"Enough."
At last, Chiyo — temporarily presiding over Sunagakure — spoke.
The room instantly fell silent.
Her authority alone was enough to sway the undecided… yet she had remained silent the entire morning.
Now, everyone turned their attention toward her.
"Since neither side can convince the other," Chiyo said coldly,
"we'll do both."
"Internally, we will select a new Kazekage. I will submit the proposal to the Daimyō myself."
"Externally…"
Her eyes darkened, hatred flashing within them.
"We will operate against Konoha."
The room went deathly still.
And then...
The wheels of war began to turn.
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