Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Third Kazekage



"Watch your mouth, or I'll sew it shut." Sakumo was furious upon hearing this. What kind of person picks a fight with someone injured?

"What are you so arrogant about? My wife still prescribes the medicine," Kawakaze sneered, acting like he ruled the world, exploiting the fact that Sakumo was hurt.

"What's your problem? Just say it!"

"I'll spit in your damn face—want that, don't you?" Sakumo snapped, his temper fraying. The tension boiled over as the two brothers wrestled with each other.

Kawakaze took full advantage of Sakumo's weakened state, pinning him to the bed and landing a few punches.

"Call me Big Brother, and I'll let you go."

"Kawakaze Hatake, keep dreaming."

Sakumo burned with humiliation, holding back tears.

Fortunately, Tsunade was too busy to notice their childish brawl; otherwise, the "baby-making plan" might have been postponed indefinitely.

After a chaotic scuffle, the brothers threw some final threats and eventually went their separate ways.

Once Sakumo took his antidote and Kawakaze moved around a bit, both felt somewhat restored. Kawakaze even enjoyed a hearty dinner—preferential treatment for the injured, regardless of rank.

Meanwhile, Duy remained unconscious, requiring time to recover. The medical staff administered a nutrient solution to sustain him, ensuring he wouldn't need solid food immediately.

Kawakaze later returned to the infirmary. To his surprise, the two younger ones were already there, assisting Tsunade.

They carefully cleaned wounds, applied medicine, and wrapped bandages, showing impressive skill for their age.

"Sensei / Brother-In-Law," they greeted him politely.

Kawakaze nodded in acknowledgment, choosing not to interrupt their work.

Later, back in his room, Kawakaze enjoyed a peaceful meal.

It wasn't until late at night that Tsunade entered his room, her face weary.

"Is it over?" he asked.

"Mostly. Only minor injuries are left, nothing requiring my attention."

Her voice was steady as usual, but the exhaustion etched on her face was unmistakable. The battle may have been won, but Konoha's losses were heavy.

Kawakaze stood up and gently scooped Tsunade into his arms.

"Why are you so inconsiderate?"

Tsunade initially misread his intentions, her face tightening with anger.

"What are you thinking? Just rest here," Kawakaze reassured her as he placed her on the bed, which he had prepared with fresh, comfortable bedding.

"Get some rest. I'll be over there." He handed her a blanket and gave her a small, reassuring smile.

"I'm sorry," Tsunade murmured, her cheeks flushing with guilt.

"Good night," Kawakaze replied before leaning in to plant a light kiss on her forehead. He then turned and left the room, leaving Tsunade to rest.

Meanwhile, as the Konoha ninja rested in their camp, a Suna ninja arrived in Sunagakure bearing news of their defeat.

It was a sleepless night for the Third Kazekage.

"Konoha, you aim to destroy the very roots of my Sunagakure," he muttered darkly, his frustration spilling over.

A sudden "crack" echoed in the room as something shattered under his rage.

Resolving to act, he summoned an emergency meeting overnight.

The Kazekage Building, Combat Meeting Room.

The Third Kazekage stood sternly on the stage, his piercing yellow eyes surveying the gathered elite of Sunagakure. He wore a white Kazekage robe over a blue ninja suit, his blue hair catching the dim light.

"War reports have come from the front lines. Our forces have suffered a catastrophic defeat," he began, his voice sharp with suppressed anger.

"Konoha has already established a camp within our Land of Wind."

"The Daimyō's supplies are delayed, and—" he paused, his tone dropping ominously— "Chiyo and Ebizō have fallen."

Gasps rippled through the room. The loss of Chiyo and Ebizō, long regarded as the village's pillars, was unthinkable.

"What do you propose we do next? If you have ideas, speak now!" the Kazekage demanded. "If you remain silent, this may be your last chance to offer solutions."

The room remained deathly quiet, the gathered ninjas too fearful to meet his gaze.

"If you won't speak, I'll make the decisions myself," he snapped, his tone unyielding. "Don't try to shirk your responsibilities, or I won't hesitate to be harsh."

"Do you hear me?"

The Third Kazekage's commanding presence left no room for hesitation. This was no ordinary challenge; it was the most severe crisis Sunagakure had faced since its founding.

"Yes, Lord Third."

The crowd below responded in unison, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

"Ren, send someone to the Daimyō's mansion to request supplies. If there's any more delay, I will inform the Daimyō that I'm disbanding Sunagakure. Let Konoha deal with the Daimyō themselves," the Third Kazekage commanded, his tone resolute.

He was done playing games—resupply was non-negotiable.

"Yes, Lord Third."

Ren nodded and immediately left to carry out the order, heading straight to the Daimyō's mansion with a group in tow.

"Waku, notify Master Bunpuku. We'll need his assistance this time. Konoha has already used their Jinchūriki."

The Third Kazekage made it clear that the power of Shukaku must now be utilized.

"Yes, Lord Third."

Waku departed swiftly to recruit help from Bunpuku's temple.

"Have you located Pakura?"

"Lady Pakura is injured but en route back to the village," the shadow guard behind the Third Kazekage reported. Pakura, one of Sunagakure's most elite combatants, was indispensable.

"Ensure she receives immediate treatment and bring her to me as soon as possible."

"Yes, Lord Third."

The shadow guard bowed and exited.

The Third Kazekage addressed the remaining crowd, his voice sharp and unrelenting.

"This is the survival or destruction of Sunagakure. Bring forth all your strength—there will be no room for foolishness or conserving power. If Konoha attacks, none of us here will survive. Do you understand?"

His final words echoed through the chamber, startling the gathered shinobi.

"Yes, Lord Third," they replied in unison, though their response had the hollow ring of compliance.

"Dismissed. Prepare for battle and await my further orders."

Without another glance, the Third Kazekage exited the meeting room.

Once back in his office, he surveyed the shattered remnants of his earlier outburst strewn across the floor. He lacked the energy to clean the mess.

Sinking into his chair, he gripped his hair with both hands, his frustration and anxiety boiling over. Sunagakure's resources were already stretched thin, and the Land of Wind itself was poor. Now, with Konoha advancing and key generals already lost, his confidence in the battle's outcome wavered.

If they failed, the Land of Wind might endure, but Sunagakure would surely face annihilation.

The Third Kazekage, who had not slept all night, met with Pakura at noon the following day.

"Lord Third," Pakura greeted, her voice weary. Bandages wrapped around her body betrayed the toll of battle.

She had retreated from the right flank, gathering the routed troops and retreating directly. She knew trying to reinforce other flanks would yield the same grim outcome. The enemy's advance was a force no ordinary human power could halt.

"Is your injury serious?" the Third Kazekage asked, his own exhaustion apparent in the dark circles under his narrow eyes.

"I've already treated it. Just a few days of rest, and I'll be fine," Pakura replied. Her injuries had been caused by the explosive collision of Scorch Release and Kenjutsu Techniques. Though severe, they weren't debilitating for long.

"That's good. For the next battle, I'm entrusting my shadow guards to you."

The Third Kazekage's words carried the weight of the village's survival. He hoped that Pakura and the elite shadow guards could stand against Konoha's high-level combatants. It was their only viable option.

"I'll do my best," Pakura replied, though her tone lacked confidence. The memory of Kawakaze's overwhelming strength lingered in her mind, casting doubt on her ability to succeed.

"What do you mean by that?" The Third Kazekage's voice sharpened but quickly softened. "Forget it. Go. Spend more time practicing with the shadow guards when you can."

Though frustration simmered in his chest, he held back from reprimanding Pakura. Chiyo was gone, and scolding her now would serve no purpose.

For him, this war had become an unavoidable struggle. Konoha's forces hadn't even fully committed to battle, and yet they had already brought Sunagakure to the brink.


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