#137 - Qingsi: I'll cover you.
His mental strength far surpassed that of ordinary people.
The Sasori of this period could not be controlled by an ordinary Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
The Hidden Sand Village, which had been with Sasori day and night, knew this better.
Looking at Kiyoshi's scarlet Sharingan, Yōkai immediately averted her gaze to avoid falling victim to Kiyoshi's genjutsu.
At the same time, she believed it a little more.
Konoha had no reason to do this at all.
It would only start a war.
"Kiyoshi."
In less than a minute, Tsunade arrived with Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma.
At the same time, the Hidden Sand Village's Anbu and some of the clan leaders also arrived.
Chiyo's face was gloomy.
Ebizo was hunched over.
He was clearly the younger brother, but he looked older than Chiyo.
"Take them down!"
Fujiro was a hot-tempered man. After learning about the disappearance of the Third Kazekage from Chiyo, he wanted to attack directly.
"Do you want to break the alliance?"
Tsunade shouted.
Jumping from the roof to the area in front of Kiyoshi, her round thighs suddenly exerted force, and her jade feet stepped out a large pit in the ground.
Rumble!
A burst of smoke and dust made everyone's body shake, and the unstable ninjas fell directly to the ground.
Pain Sky Kick!
By precisely gathering a large amount of chakra in the chakra points and meridian system of the feet, powerful destructive power can be exerted, causing the earth to crack.
"It's you Konoha who wants to break the alliance. Where is the Third Kazekage?"
Fujiro was the strongest taijutsu ninja in the Hidden Sand Village, so his temper was as hot as fire.
"The Third Kazekage?"
Tsunade frowned slightly and looked at Kiyoshi.
Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai trotted behind Tsunade, and several people gathered together.
Kiyoshi understood and said:
"Sasori called me out earlier, saying that he saw that I was interested in the scenery of the Hidden Sand Village and took me to a good place to enjoy the scenery. After arriving here, he suddenly launched an attack on me."
"Where is Sasori?"
Chiyo slowly exhaled.
She wanted to know where her grandson had gone.
"He went outside the village."
This time, it was Yōkai who answered, not Kiyoshi.
She approached and quietly told Chiyo everything she had seen and heard.
This matter was of great importance, so Yōkai had to be cautious.
If word spread that Sasori might have killed the Third Kazekage, the Hidden Sand Village would immediately be in chaos.
The strength behind this group of Hidden Sand Village Anbu and clan leaders who are now surrounding the Konoha ninjas is intricate and not ordinary people.
"...Sasori."
After hearing Yōkai's report, a trace of grief flashed in Chiyo's eyes.
She confirmed the guess in her heart.
Sure enough, Sasori was still too lacking in love.
Excessive lack of love made him lost in hatred.
In the Kazekage's office, besides her, only Sasori had learned such skills with the poison in the blood on the ground.
The little ghost of the Uchiha clan couldn't do this either. To do it here.
A Chunin controlled Sasori to kill the Third Kazekage?
No one in the entire ninja world would believe it if it was said.
Even the Sharingan, as strong as it is, could not do such a thing.
Kiyoshi was just a Two-Tomoe after all.
Ninjas with some background have studied the Sharingan.
They know that the Sharingan is divided into One-Tomoe and can evolve to Three-Tomoe.
As for the further advancement of the Sharingan after Three-Tomoe, that was the realm that Uchiha Madara once possessed.
Chiyo had taught her grandson how to defend against the Sharingan, and she also believed that Sasori would not be caught so easily.
After all, Sasori was also a genius of the Hidden Sand Village, and his reputation was no less than that of Yōkai.
"We believe there is a misunderstanding here. Please, Tsunade-hime, stay and let us investigate for a period of time."
Chiyo's tone softened a lot.
If it were normal, she would definitely call Tsunade the Slug Woman.
They must all be kept here.
The fact that the Kazekage is missing must not be spread out.
We have to wait until the Hidden Sand Village quickly selects the next Kazekage.
"The Third Kazekage is dead. Instead of chasing Sasori, what are you keeping us here for?"
Kiyoshi's words were shocking, and everyone didn't react for a moment.
After a brief daze, shock appeared on everyone's face.
The strongest Kazekage of all time actually died silently?
And it has something to do with Sasori?
Including Tsunade and her group, they were also shocked when they heard this inside story.
Tsunade quickly reacted, this was Sasori trying to shift the blame to their Konoha.
"Remember to be smart later."
Tsunade said with a solemn expression, pulling Kiyoshi behind her and speaking to the three.
Tsunade had not expected to encounter such a change of events on her mission to the Hidden Sand Village.
But they couldn't stay here.
Who knew if it was a play put on by the Hidden Sand Village.
She and Kiyoshi were both possessors of bloodline limits, and Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai were also ninja clans.
This could lead to the leakage of bloodline limits and secret techniques, causing incalculable losses to the village.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Kiyoshi nodded slightly.
"You have comprehended the entry: [Eloquent Weaver (Green)]."
[Entry: The Art of Speaking (Green)]
[Achievement Requirements: Play with right and wrong in front of 10 people of high status.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: The probability of your lies being exposed is reduced by 20%, and you will gain additional persuasiveness when facing people of lower status than you.]
[Note: Subsequent advancements are possible.]
The entry panel rang, reminding Kiyoshi that he had obtained another entry.
Kiyoshi looked around. The Hidden Sand Village's high-level executives and many clan leaders had come here.
It seemed that they really didn't believe that a Two-Tomoe could control Sasori to kill the Third Kazekage.
If it were someone else, Kiyoshi wouldn't believe it either.
Only his Sharingan would be so special.
"Leave them here!"
Ebizo spoke.
This was for the Hidden Sand Village!
However, Kiyoshi's hand seals were faster than Ebizo's.
He had been waiting for the Hidden Sand Village to attack.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Kiyoshi had gathered the "Fire" release chakra in his chest and throat in advance, and it immediately gushed out, adding "Wind" release chakra at the end.
Boom!
The fireball quickly expanded, causing the dense Hidden Sand Village ninjas to scatter.
"Let's go!"
Seeing that Kiyoshi had created an opportunity, Tsunade immediately began to retreat with her people.
However, the Hidden Sand Village was not stupid either, and immediately began to pursue.
It was vaguely visible that this was not all of the Hidden Sand Village ninjas. Due to the sudden incident, only a small number of ninjas who were closer and faster had arrived.
In the depths of the night, Hidden Sand Village ninjas were constantly coming.
"Want to leave? Have you asked me?"
Fujiro was the strongest taijutsu ninja in the Hidden Sand Village, and his movements were as fast as lightning.
Tsunade gave a soft shout and threw a punch at Fujiro.
Fujiro crossed his arms, wanting to take this move head-on.
The speed just now had left him no time to turn around.
Bang!
Fujiro flew out, his eyes widened. He didn't expect Tsunade's strength to have improved so much after the Second Ninja World War.
This scene was not unexpected to Kiyoshi.
The current Tsunade was not the Tsunade who had been wasted twenty or thirty years later.
Even at that time, her arm wrestling with the Fourth Raikage showed that she had the upper hand.
Moreover, Tsunade could crack Madara's Susanoo with one punch, her monstrous strength was unparalleled.
Whenever a ninja with swift movements arrived, Tsunade would punch them away.
Kiyoshi could still keep up with Tsunade's speed, but Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai were completely unable to do so.
He grabbed Sarutobi Asuma,夹在胳膊下 (this part I am unsure how to translate properly, it seems to mean 'sandwiched him under his arm'), and then put Yūhi Kurenai on his neck in her exclamation with his other hand.
"Hold on tight."
Kiyoshi said and increased his speed.
Yūhi Kurenai, who was sitting on Kiyoshi's shoulders, also knew that the matter was of great importance now, and obediently clamped her fair legs around Kiyoshi's neck.
Sarutobi Asuma was head down and could only watch the yellow sand constantly receding.
"Tsunade-sama, we can go faster."
Kiyoshi spoke.
Just now, the Fatigue Resistance entry had been completed.
His stamina and fatigue resistance had increased a lot, and it was not impossible to run with two people at the same time.
"Yin Seal: Release!"
The rhombus pattern on Tsunade's forehead seemed to bloom, spreading out several black lines.
It crossed her cheeks and watermelon-sized heart, and quickly spread to her whole body.
"Summoning Technique!"
Tsunade released all the chakra she had stored in the "Yin Seal" on weekdays, and then used this huge chakra to summon Katsuyu.
Boom!
The huge Katsuyu descended from the position where Tsunade slapped the ground. More than a dozen Hidden Sand Village ninjas were unable to dodge and were even crushed to death.
"Katsuyu, help me stop them!"
"Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Katsuyu had a delicate voice that did not match her body shape. She twisted her blue and white striped body and spat out extremely corrosive yellow acid at these Hidden Sand Village ninjas who were like small bugs.
"Ahhh! My hand is melting!"
"Be careful, this is Slug Woman's summoned beast!"
Chiyo reminded the ninjas who were rushing forward.
Ten lines had already appeared on her fingertips, manipulating many puppets.
Due to her own speed, she had not been able to catch up.
With Katsuyu's help, Kiyoshi and Tsunade's speed increased again.
Those acids were Katsuyu's "Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid", which could dissolve even Orochimaru immediately.
If she was underestimated because Katsuyu had always shown herself to be a support-type ninja beast, she would suffer a big loss sooner or later.
In this way, Tsunade and Kiyoshi ran in front, dodging the Wind Release ninjutsu released by the Hidden Sand Village ninjas from time to time.
They also sent a team out to find Sasori.
They couldn't believe all of Kiyoshi's words either.
As long as they didn't see the body of the Third Kazekage, they couldn't conclude that the Third Kazekage was dead.
Most of the main force was actually looking for the whereabouts of the Third Kazekage and Sasori.
Even so, the remaining small part could not be underestimated.
Unconsciously, it was already dawn.
There were fewer Hidden Sand Village ninjas behind, and those who remained were some tough bones to crack.
"Tsunade-sama, you take Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma first, and I'll stay behind to cover our retreat."
Kiyoshi spoke.
"You stay behind to cover our retreat?"
Tsunade looked at Kiyoshi in surprise.
Was this Uchiha's Will of Fire so pure?
I remember that Sarutobi-sensei was able to become Hokage because he was the first to stay behind to cover our retreat in front of Second Grandpa.
"If we continue to run, we will be caught up sooner or later."
Kiyoshi said.
Both of them had amazing stamina and could travel for a long time.
But this was the territory of the Hidden Sand Village, and they had ways to catch up.
Katsuyu was indispensable for being in front for several hours.
Now Katsuyu should have reached the limit of her summoning time and returned to Shikkotsu Forest.
It was foreseeable that they would be caught up in another two hours.
Moreover, Kiyoshi was carrying two people, and his physical exertion was much greater than Tsunade's.
"No, Kiyoshi, you...you stay behind to cover our retreat, wouldn't that mean..."
Yūhi Kurenai was riding on Kiyoshi's shoulders, with self-blame on her face. If her stamina and speed were better, Kiyoshi wouldn't have to carry her.
Her two small hands touched Kiyoshi's face, not wanting Kiyoshi to go.
