"This… what is this…"
The Wind Daimyō was completely dumbfounded.
What was that thing?
The samurai beside him were just as stunned. None of them had ever seen a Buddha with a thousand hands—not this huge, not this terrifying.
Even the Sand shinobi who came along were frozen in place. Only now—using the city walls as a comparison—did they truly understand how absurd Kazu's power was.
Without contrast, you couldn't feel it.
With contrast, it was horrifying.
The "unbreakable" Wind City walls that Sunagakure always viewed as a fortress looked like wet paper in front of True Thousand Hands.
Chiyo glanced at Ebizō, voice tight. "I'm going over. You stay here."
Ebizō nodded, uneasy.
If Kazu really forced the Wind Daimyō to submit… then Sunagakure would become Konoha's subordinate village.
That was something tens of thousands of Sand shinobi would never accept easily.
In Wind City, civilians and merchants screamed and ran.
Samurai flooded toward the gate.
Among them, the strongest swordsman—Wind City's so-called sword master—looked up at Kazu high above and barked, "Who are you?! Why have you come to the Land of Wind to cause trouble?!"
Kazu's tone stayed flat. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Your gate guards refused to let us in."
"So have your Wind Daimyō come out."
"Impudent—!"
BANG!
Before the man could finish, one of the Buddha's massive hands slammed down.
The swordsman vanished into a smear of blood and broken armor.
The samurai around him were caught in the shockwave and thrown like dolls.
The remaining samurai staggered back in sheer terror.
Even the ones who'd been shouting a second earlier were trembling now, their bodies reacting before their minds could.
Then—noise from deeper inside the city.
The Wind Daimyō, escorted by elite guards, hurried toward the gate.
The closer he got, the more his legs wanted to give out.
That Buddha was too big.
Too close.
Too real.
"Who… are you?" the Wind Daimyō asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
One guard snapped, "Daimyō-sama, this is too dangerous—please stand back!"
The Wind Daimyō shook his head, forcing composure. "Your Excellency… won't you come down and speak?"
Kazu studied him for a moment.
He hadn't expected the Daimyō to have that kind of nerve.
A man with no combat power, yet he kept the samurai under control through status, bloodline, and sheer authority.
Rumble.
True Thousand Hands began to collapse.
Kazu stepped down as the colossal construct dissolved.
Sakumo and Minato positioned themselves behind him, alert, scanning the surroundings.
The samurai formed a ring around the Wind Daimyō, hands on their swords, eyes locked on Kazu.
"What are you?!" one samurai shouted.
Minato answered sharply, "We're from Konoha. And this is our Fourth Hokage-sama."
Fourth Hokage…?
The Wind Daimyō's heart jumped.
So young.
A hero of this era…
"Fourth Hokage-sama," the Wind Daimyō said carefully, "how should I address you?"
Kazu spoke evenly. "Kazuki. You can call me Kazu."
Then—his presence rose.
A pressure rolled off him, and everyone nearby stiffened, instinctively holding their breath.
So strong… it was suffocating.
Several samurai panicked and drew their blades, slashing toward Kazu in glittering arcs.
Kazu didn't move.
Roots burst from the ground, snared their legs, and yanked them down.
BANG!
Teeth and pride hit stone.
The rest of the samurai stared, faces pale.
A ninja.
And not just any ninja—a terrifying one.
The strongest swordsman present still tried to move.
But Sakumo and Minato appeared behind him like ghosts—two kunai pressing to his throat.
This "sword master" was only around elite jōnin level at best.
Against two men flirting with Kage-tier speed and skill, he was nothing.
Cold sweat drenched the Wind Daimyō's back.
Even Wind Country's strongest couldn't do anything here.
The situation froze.
The samurai felt humiliated, but fear crushed their anger.
The Wind Daimyō exhaled slowly.
"Fourth Hokage-sama… please, this way."
"If you have something to discuss, we can talk. There's no need for force."
Kazu smiled faintly. "Good."
…
Kazu was escorted to the Daimyō's mansion in the center of Wind City.
Along the way, civilians peeked from alleys and doorways, whispering.
Who was this young man?
Why was the Daimyō treating him with respect?
Even the children could feel that this wasn't a normal "guest."
Inside the mansion, the Daimyō waved the samurai back.
"You all wait outside."
"Daimyō-sama, we can't—" a guard protested.
The Daimyō shook his head. "No need. Fourth Hokage-sama came to talk, not to massacre. Leave."
In his heart, he knew the truth: if Kazu wanted him dead, it wouldn't matter if ten thousand guards stood in the room.
The samurai withdrew.
Sakumo and Minato remained outside.
The two sides—Konoha's monsters and Wind Country's sword master—watched each other in silence.
Minato still felt unreal.
Kazu had walked into Sunagakure, subdued them, then sat down to negotiate with a daimyo of a great nation.
Minato had never even imagined something like this.
Now only Kazu and the Wind Daimyō were inside.
Kazu sat, relaxed.
The Daimyō poured tea with a slightly shaking hand.
"Please. This is Wind Country's sand tea."
Kazu took a sip, nodded. "Not bad."
After a few careful exchanges, the Daimyō finally asked, "Fourth Hokage-sama… what is your purpose in coming here?"
He tried to sound calm.
His trembling fingers betrayed him.
Kazu replied casually, "Simple."
"I want Wind Country to approve Sunagakure's submission to Konoha."
The Wind Daimyō's face tightened.
"You want me… to allow Sunagakure to 'return' to Konoha?"
Kazu nodded. "Yes."
"You know the times. You're a smart man. I trust you'll make the right choice."
The Wind Daimyō swallowed, then asked slowly, "If I agree… does that mean Konoha will now be responsible for Wind Country's security?"
"And… can Konoha manage influence this far?"
Kazu smiled. "You misunderstand."
"I'm not trying to take over Wind Country's administration."
"I'm only demanding Sunagakure submit to Konoha—becoming a subordinate village."
"Sunagakure will still manage local power. Wind Country's protection duties stay with them."
"Konoha will place only a small presence. Our goal is simple: Sunagakure stops stabbing us in the back."
The Wind Daimyō sat silent for a moment… then nodded.
"I accept."
Then he added, candidly, "To be honest, Fourth Hokage-sama… whether I 'approve' or 'disapprove' doesn't matter much anymore."
"Just as the Fire Daimyō's approval is mostly ceremony once Konoha chooses its Hokage—my approval here is also largely ceremonial."
"But since you came personally and asked with proper form… Wind Country will agree."
In his mind, the Wind Daimyō was thinking one thing:
If I refuse, Wind Country might not even exist tomorrow.
Kazu didn't expect it to go this smoothly.
So the Wind Daimyō valued his own life more than his pride.
Which was reasonable.
Pride didn't matter if your head was gone.
…
Kazu walked out of the mansion with a signed approval in hand.
Murakami—the Sand jōnin who had led the way—stared as if struck by lightning.
The Wind Daimyō really gave in?!
Kazu handed the agreement to Sakumo.
"Sakumo, take this back to Sunagakure."
"Tell them we're keeping their internal command structure."
"Konoha's only demand is to establish a department called the Konoha Branch Office to supervise."
"No more thirty-year 'dark lines.' From now on, we use a bright line."
"Whatever Sunagakure wants to do, they won't be able to bypass Konoha."
"And reopen that old man's tavern in Sunagakure."
"He's been there decades. Let him stay. Sand shinobi like his brew."
Sakumo nodded hard. "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
He understood instantly—Kazu was handing him the negotiation credit.
That meant Konoha couldn't keep crucifying him over the intelligence collapse.
Sakumo's throat tightened.
From this moment on, he decided: absolute loyalty.
Sakumo and Minato moved first, returning to Sunagakure.
Kazu stayed behind for a while, strolling and enjoying the wind.
Then—
the air warped with scorching heat.
A growing fireball screamed in from behind and detonated toward him.
A triumphant smile appeared on the attacker's face—
Then Kazu's body creaked and became a chunk of wood.
Wood Clone.
"…What?!" a crisp female voice gasped.
In the next instant, Kazu was behind her.
"There are still people in the Sand who think they can assassinate me?"
He looked at a tall, beautiful kunoichi with sharp eyes and a fierce posture.
She retreated quickly, putting distance between them.
"Fourth Hokage…" she said coolly. "So you really did defeat Shukaku."
"And you avoided my ambush that easily."
Kazu recognized her immediately.
"Pakura… Sunagakure's Scorch Style kunoichi."
"You know me?" Pakura's gaze hardened. "Then you know enough."
"You invaded my village."
"You threatened my daimyo."
Even if you're Hokage… you die here."
Kazu laughed softly. "With you?"
Ten seconds later, roots and vines had Pakura bound in place—arms pinned, legs trapped, posture twisted into an awkward, humiliating angle.
Kazu sighed like he was watching a kid act out.
"Wood Release really is kind of nasty sometimes."
Pakura struggled, furious. "Let go of me!"
Kazu raised an eyebrow. "You tried to kill me. And now you want me to let you go?"
Pakura snapped, "Then kill me!"
Kazu looked her up and down and said flatly, "Yeah… no wonder they tricked you into walking into a death trap in the future."
"Your survival instincts are terrible."
Pakura's face flushed with rage. "What did you say?! You're calling me stupid?!"
"I'm not calling you stupid," Kazu replied. "I'm stating a fact."
Then he turned and walked away.
Leaving her bound in the wilderness.
Pakura's voice chased him, shaking with fury.
"Hey! Let me go!"
"Don't walk away!"
"Kazu—wait! I'll kill you!"
Kazu didn't even glance back.
An hour later, without Kazu's chakra sustaining them, the vines withered.
Pakura tore them off, burned them to ash, and hissed, "Kazu… I'll get revenge."
…
By the time Kazu returned to Sunagakure, Sakumo and Minato already had Chiyo, Rasa, and the elders cornered with the Wind Daimyō's signed approval.
They had no choice but to accept.
And then—Hiruzen's thousand elite shinobi arrived.
Even they were stunned.
They'd raced here ready to "rescue" Kazu…
Only to find Sunagakure already subdued.
Ino–Shika–Chō's eyes nearly popped out.
"Hokage-sama… you took Sunagakure by yourself?"
Kazu waved it off. "Sakumo handled the negotiation."
"Sakumo—you'll serve as the first Branch Office ambassador."
"Send reports back to Konoha."
"And we'll open trade routes between Konoha and the Sand to promote exchange."
Everyone nodded, dazed.
Then—Hinata rushed in, covered in blood.
"Hokage-sama! Konoha—something's wrong!"
Sand shinobi immediately tensed.
Something happened in Konoha?
Chiyo and Ebizō exchanged a look.
Kumo moved.
Konoha sent a thousand elites out, leaving the village hollow—perfect timing for a blitz.
Kazu froze for a heartbeat, then understood immediately.
"Alright."
Hinata, "You rest here."
"All of you—this thousand-man elite force stays in Sunagakure."
"Start building the Konoha Branch Office."
Then Kazu looked at Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizō.
"Don't do anything stupid."
"If even one Konoha shinobi dies here…"
"I want ten Sand shinobi buried with them."
His words were calm.
The threat wasn't.
Then Kazu vanished.
Everyone stared.
"So fast…"
"Hokage-sama is unbelievable…"
Even Minato was shocked.
Flying Thunder God…?
But where had Kazu placed a mark?
Sand shinobi felt a burst of hope—Konoha had trouble, and surely Kazu's people would rush home.
Instead, Kazu left them all behind.
And made his threat crystal clear.
Now Sand had to weigh every thought carefully:
Was anything worth offending Kazu?
…
Konoha.
BOOM!
The doors exploded open.
A massive man stepped through.
The Third Raikage.
This time, he came fully prepared.
And at his side—
his son, the future Fourth Raikage.
Around them lay fallen members of the Uchiha Police Force.
Luck had finally favored Kumogakure.
Konoha's strength was thin, and as Konoha's elites left, the hostage son also managed to slip free.
No more chains.
No more restraint.
The Third Raikage grinned.
"Then… we slaughter."
A weapon fell from above—
Enma's staff, the Adamantine Nyoi.
It smashed the ground with a thunderous crash.
Hiruzen stared, horrified.
"Third Raikage… what are you doing?!"