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Naruto: IHCS Ch. 75
🕑 Added 2025-08-05 17:43:56 +0000 UTCA loud crash echoed from inside the Kazekage's office. The Third Kazekage slammed his fist hard onto the desk. His breathing was rapid, eyes
A loud crash echoed from inside the Kazekage's office. The Third Kazekage slammed his fist hard onto the desk. His breathing was rapid, eyes blazing with intense fury.
"Those Ame ninjas actually attacked our border camp!"
His chest heaved violently.
The intelligence ninja kneeling on the ground lowered his head, trying to make his presence as small as possible.
"Good, very good!"
A trace of venomous hatred flashed in his eyes. He leaned back into his chair, trying to calm his breathing. He took a deep breath.
"Summon all the jonin in the village."
As soon as he finished speaking, a nondescript shadow behind him moved and swiftly disappeared from the Kazekage's office.
He looked out the window, narrowing his eyes as a chilling killing intent spread from his body.
"Since Ame refuses to show respect, then we'll show no mercy."
The silhouettes of ANBU ninjas flitted through the village. One landed on the window of the Chiyo household.
Chiyo, sitting at the dining table, sharpened her gaze and looked toward the window. Seeing the familiar mask, she slightly furrowed her brow and stepped forward to open the window.
The ninja dropped silently into their living room.
"What orders does the Kazekage have?" she asked.
"The Kazekage has ordered all jonin in the village to report to his office immediately."
With those words, the ninja vanished through the window in a flash, disappearing from her sight.
She turned around in confusion, locking eyes with her daughter-in-law, Karasu.
"What's happened?" Karasu asked worriedly.
The war between the village and Konoha hadn't ended yet. Most of the jonin were still fighting on the frontlines.
Now, with the Kazekage suddenly summoning the few remaining jonin in the village, Chiyo couldn't help but suspect something serious had happened.
"Sasori, how about letting your father get up for a bit?"
Akasuna gently rubbed his son's head and said softly.
Sasori pouted.
"Is Daddy leaving again?"
Akasuna gave a helpless smile.
"Daddy promises he'll come back to spend time with you soon."
Sasori sat quietly on a chair nearby, silently poking the rice in his bowl.
Akasuna gently tousled his red hair in comfort.
Chiyo took in the whole scene. Her eyes couldn't help but drift toward the stitched line across her son Akasuna's forehead.
Sensing her gaze, Akasuna suddenly looked up, his eyes shooting toward Chiyo, who froze. But the next moment, her son had already given her a warm smile.
That strange, uneasy feeling in her heart only grew stronger. She lowered her head and said to Karasu and Akasuna, "Since the Kazekage has summoned you, you two should go."
Akasuna and Karasu stood up and walked toward the door.
Karasu turned back to Chiyo and said, "Please take care of Sasori."
Chiyo waved at them. "Don't worry."
Karasu glanced once more at Sasori, who kept his head down in silence, then turned and left with large strides.
As the door closed, Karasu immediately threw herself into Akasuna's arms.
"I don't want to leave Sasori…"
Her voice trembled with tears.
A shadow flickered in Akasuna's eyes. He patted her back gently, comforting her in silence. Only after she calmed down did the two of them head toward the Kazekage's office.
Behind the closed door, Chiyo looked at her grandson, who sat with his head lowered, and sighed inwardly. She sat down beside Sasori, placing both hands gently on his shoulders.
"Sasori, don't be sad. Mommy and Daddy will be back very soon once they finish their mission."
Sasori looked up, his eyes slightly red. Staring at Chiyo, he sniffled and asked, "Really?"
"Of course!" Chiyo nodded affirmatively.
Her certainty brought great comfort to Sasori. No longer silently withdrawn, he proactively picked up his spoon and began eating.
Chiyo gazed at his side profile and tentatively asked, "Sasori, have you noticed that your father has changed?"
Sasori stopped moving his spoon, confused, and looked at her.
Chiyo grew inexplicably nervous. She tried to guide him, "Since your father came back… he's not quite the same as before, right? Did you notice anything?"
Sasori thought seriously for a moment.
Indeed, Daddy did seem different than before!
Sasori nodded toward Chiyo.
"Mm!"
Chiyo held her breath. So it wasn't just her who sensed it.
"Daddy's become more gentle!"
"He tucks me in at night!"
"He's even teaching me how to make puppets!"
"I like the way Daddy is now!" Sasori quickly added, his face lighting up with excitement.
Chiyo's face stiffened.
Teaching Sasori how to make puppets?
She frowned in confusion.
Puppet masters in the shinobi world were incredibly rare. If Akasuna had truly been replaced, then how could his imposter know puppet techniques?
Had she been overthinking?
It wasn't impossible for a person to undergo a major personality shift after a brush with death…
She rubbed Sasori's head but said nothing.
"A crow…"
Sasori suddenly pointed at a crow flapping its wings and taking flight.
Chiyo turned to look. The crow that had been resting on the windowsill was now gone. The crow soared through the buildings of Suna, its black eyes locking onto a familiar figure.
As Akasuna walked toward the Kazekage's office, he felt a sudden weight on his shoulder. He turned his head to see the crow had landed there.
Walking beside him, Karasu smiled slightly.
"Looks like it couldn't bear to part with you. It wants to go on the mission with you."
He gave a faint, wordless smile.
---
In the Kazekage's office, the jonin stood in orderly formation before the Third Kazekage.
Akasuna and Karasu stood in the front row.
His gaze lingered briefly on the Third Kazekage's head.
The Kazekage's eyes swept over the jonin before him.
"Just last night, Ame launched an attack on our border defenses."
"They slaughtered all our stationed ninjas and seized control of the border camp."
As soon as he finished speaking, the jonin in the room erupted in cries demanding vengeance on Ame.
"You've been gathered here to form a counteroffensive unit, to utterly crush Ame!"
Even though Ame had Hanzō, the Third Kazekage had never truly taken them seriously. They were nothing more than a disorganized mob.
How could they possibly stand against Suna, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages?
"At the same time, we need to reinforce the Konoha battlefield."
The Third Kazekage furrowed his brow, his pupils fixed sharply on the group before him.
"The Konoha's White Fang has killed countless of our ninjas on the frontlines. Who among you can head to the front and kill him?"
He waited in silence for the jonin to respond. However, the group exchanged uneasy glances, then all lowered their heads without a word.
The Third Kazekage let out a cold snort, his gaze settling on Akasuna and Karasu.
Akasuna raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
"Akasuna, Karasu, you are elite heirs of Chiyo's puppet techniques. This mission can only be entrusted to you two."
Karasu's heart sank instantly. Since the Kazekage had spoken so directly, how could they refuse?
"Understood."
Both Akasuna and Karasu responded slowly. The Third Kazekage's tightly knit brows finally relaxed.
