189 Developments

Hidden Sand

(Knock!) (Knock!) (Knock!)

"Come in," A muffled voice was heard outside the door.

"Kazekage-sama!" A hidden sand jōnin called out upon entering the room.

"What is it?" Rasa asked.

"The genins have assembled outside," The jōnin reported.

"Mm," Rasa nodded following which he stood up.

Rasa walked over to the window and stared at the ground.

About fifteen or so figures stood neatly assembled in three rows of five, with five figures in front of the group of which two were sitting on a chair. The two figures who sat on the chair were respectively Elder Chiyō, Elder Ebizō (Elder Chiyō's younger brother) whereas the three who stood were sand ninjas, Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari.

"So these are the pipsqueaks that became the new genins…" Kankuro stared at the fifteen figures from left to right.

"Pipsqueaks?" A boy stared at Kankuro.

"You heard me," Kankuro smiled at the kid.

"Now, now," Chiyo stared at the two reminding them that they had come here for something important.

"But Honoured Grandmother!" The boy complained with an aggrieved expression.

"Ryo-kun," A girl beside the boy called out in a sweet voice.

The boy looked at the girl, following which he calmed down.

…

"Gaara," Temari turned towards Gaara who stood by her side.

"…" Gaara was silently staring in a direction.

Temari's eyes traced the direction Gaara was looking at…

Her eyes landed on a beam of light that reached into the sky.

"He'll be here in two days," Kankuro said as he walked towards the two.

"Mm," Gaara nodded.

"…" Chiyo stared from a distance.

"Elder sister," an aged voice called out.

"mm?" Chiyo looked towards her younger brother, Elder Ebizō who was also the leader of the sand council.

"You'd never thought this day would come right…?" Ebizō asked as he turned towards the genins that had gathered in front of them.

"…"

___________________

Flashback…

"I don't care what you intend to do to destroy the Leaf,"

"I will not even interfere with your plans because I am also counting on you to avenge both my son and daughter-in-law who were killed by the White Fang."

___________________

Chiyo looked at the beam that shined brightly in the sky, thinking back to when she saw first saw the beam…

…

(Bang!)

An explosion went off a few kilometers away from where Chiyo and Sasori were fighting…

"Hmm?" Sasori in his puppet body turned towards the direction where the explosion came from.

"What is that?" Sasori and Chiyo said in a low voice at the same time.

…

The battle was over and Chiyo had a hard time catching her breath after she arrived at where Naruto and Deidara had their battle.

Soon, events followed where Rasa safely came back with his sons and daughters, taking down the wind daimyo and saving the peace treaty between the two villages. Later during the day of his arrival, she heard of Naruto playing a major role in the change that was Gaara and the current peace that the village had.

"Indeed," Chiyo smiled as she looked at her younger brother.

"I never thought this day would come, thanks to that blonde-haired kid…" Chiyo said, following which she looked at Gaara.

"I never thought he would change too…" Chiyo said as she closed her eyes wallowing in the peaceful feeling she had…

("I'm glad a person like you showed up…")

…

"Elder sister…" Ebizō stared at the peaceful countenance of Chiyo.

A few moments later, he frowned.

"ELDER SISTERRRR!!!!?" Ebizō shouted following which everyone in the area was shocked.

"Honoured Granny????" All the people had this one question that they wanted to ask, but seeing elder Chiyo in a motionless state only seemed to mean one thing.

"…"

"…" Ebizō was confused.

("Looks like she passed away in peace…")

"EHHHH?" The boy who glared at kankuro earlier was scared.

"Is it because of me…" the boy was the most scared he had been in life.

"Ryo-kun!" The girl beside him held his hand tightly, meanwhile, the other genins immediately took a step away from the two.

"Granny!!" Temari and Kankuro immediately ran towards Chiyo.

"hehe," they heard a small giggle.

"Huh?" All the people in the surrounding were surprised.

"I'm not falling for that again…" Rasa said with a smug look on his face as he stepped into the meeting area.

"BUHAHAHAHA!!!!!!" Chiyo started to laugh.

"I was playing dead!" Chiyo said.

"…" The boy called Ryo-kun and the girl heaved a sigh of relief while the rest were still shocked by what had happened.

"Let's get this meeting started!" Rasa said, following which everyone turned serious once again.

________________________

Hidden Leaf Zeroth training ground…

(Whoosh!)

A figure swiftly landed on top of a tree.

"Let's see how they operate as a team…" The figure murmured.

…

A few hundred meters away from the tree stood three figures.

"What do the two of you plan to do?" Karin asked.

"…" Jūgo and Sai looked at each other, following which they nodded.

(Whoosh!) Jūgo jumped onto a tree branch located above the two, whereas Sai took out a scroll.

*drip*

Sai dipped his ink Bruch into the ink storage unit on his scroll, following which he scribbled some rough figures of rodents.

Karin, on the other hand, seeing the duo work together closed her eyes.

"…"

("Over a thousand creatures, but no humans nearby…") Karin thought as she scanned around.

"Go," Jūgo said, following which a tiny bird perched on his index finger, flew deep into the forest.

\u003c Ninja art - Ink Super Beast Scroll \u003e

"Go," Sai commanded following which the rodents headed into the forest.

"I'd stay hidden if I were you," Sai said, following which he jumped onto a tree branch that was on a different tree from Jūgo.

"Wait!" Karin shouted.

Sai looked down at Karin.

"Where do we meet after our sensei is discovered?"

"Do you have a plan to attack?" Karin asked.

"…" Jūgo watched over silently.

"Didn't you pay attention to what sensei said?" Sai asked nonchalantly.

"…"

"Jūgo and I shall attack,"

"You will support from the back,"

"…" Karin's eyes twitched.

Before she could say anything, Sai disappeared.

"…"

"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Karin asked Jūgo.

"Follow me," Jūgo said, following which he took off in the direction that Sai had left in earlier.

…

A few meters away, the figure on the top of the three smiled.

He raised his hand towards his headgear.

"They are on the move,"

…

"Understood!" A voice conveyed through the mind transmission.

______________________

Hidden Leaf Village Hokage Office…

Hiruzen stamped his seal on a paper following which he put the paper on a bundle.

Hiruzen's desk was filled with a bunch of paper bundles that were also filling up the floor space beside the desk.

"ha…." Hiruzen heaved a sigh of relief following which he lit his smoke pipe.

("It is a bit boring compared to the time when Konohamaru used to launch his sneak attacks…") Hiruzen thought.

(Knock!)

(Knock!)

(Knock!)

"Come in,"

A man with two white strips covering his nose appeared.

"Kotetsu,"

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kotetsu responded immediately.

"The paperwork has been done,"

"Send it over and deliver a message to all jonins. They are to come to the entrance of the village immediately!" Hiruzen ordered Kotetsu, as he gazed out of a window with his hands behind his back.

"It's time to head over to the Hidden Sand..."

….

Hidden Leaf Third Training ground…

Sasuke stared at Kakashi.

"a new lightning style?" Sasuke asked.

"Indeed, One that doesn't overburden your body, but more importantly it does not rely on the Sharingan," Kakashi said.

"One that does not require the Sharingan?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes, Chidori and Lightning Blade, both are overly dependant on the Sharingan and can limit you during a fight,"

"However, with this new style, you will be able to use this technique in a more versatile manner and for longer periods than ending in a one-shot move,"

"…" Sasuke remained silent.

"Hmm?" Kakashi stared at Sasuke.

"Obviously there is a drawback to this technique, is there not?" Sasuke asked.

"Indeed, the only drawback being it is not intended to be used with the same destructive might as Chidori or Lightning Blade," Kakashi said.

"…" Sasuke frowned for a moment, following which he smiled which was quite an unusual sight for someone as arrogant as him.

"You have my attention," Sasuke said.

Kakashi smiled, following which he turned around and walked towards a tree, a few meters away from the duo.

"…"

"Watch closely." Kakashi replied and lifted his arm, pointing towards the tree.

*bz!*

*bz!* *bz!*

*bz!* *bz!* *bz!*

Small sparks started to fly off of Kakashi's arm.

Sasuke's eyes widened.

"This…"