After several days of travel, Chiyo returned to Sunagakure and immediately went to the Kazekage Building.
Rasa and Ebizo were startled to see Chiyo, whose cheeks were swollen, and who looked dirty all over, like a refugee.
Ebizo asked worriedly, "Sister, are you alright? Were you attacked on your way back?"
Chiyo shook her head, "No, I just tripped."
Having been made so disheveled by a brat named Shindai, Chiyo might have told Ebizo if he were alone, but with her illegitimate son – no, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa – also present, she was too embarrassed to say anything.
Rasa and Ebizo looked at Chiyo with strange expressions.
Tripped?
What kind of trip could leave such a large handprint on her face?
Also, her speech was airy; she must have lost a few teeth.
Rasa, unconvinced, asked again, "Are you really not attacked? Chiyo Advisor, that handprint on your face… it doesn't look like you fell."
Chiyo touched her cheek, feeling a faint sting. That bastard brat Shindai had hit her with full force; the swelling hadn't completely gone down even after several days.
Chiyo still insisted, "Really, no. I just tripped and accidentally hit myself."
Seeing that Chiyo didn't want to elaborate, Rasa and Ebizo stopped pressing the issue.
Ebizo said to Chiyo, "Sister, the Fourth Hokage and I have discussed it. We plan to withdraw our Ninja from the Land of Fire border."
Chiyo was surprised, "Oh? Because of the Kirigakure, we, the Kirigakure, and the Konoha Ninja are engaged in a free-for-all. Our situation on the Land of Fire border isn't too bad, so why the sudden retreat? Are there other arrangements?"
Ebizo replied, "I judge that Iwagakure will soon make a big move against Konoha. There's no need to get entangled with Konoha Ninja and Kirigakure there. The Fourth Hokage has already received a reply from the Hidden Cloud Village's new Fourth Raikage Ay. He agrees to cooperate with us to attack Konoha when the time is right.
So, what we need to do now is to conserve our strength and wait for Iwagakure's move. After their operation concludes, we and the Hidden Cloud Village will cooperate to catch Konoha off guard!"
Chiyo nodded, "I see, I understand."
Rasa asked, "Chiyo Advisor, I heard those outrageous rumors first appeared from within our outpost. Do you know who spread them?"
Shindai's annoying face suddenly popped into Chiyo's mind.
Although she couldn't be sure it was Shindai, as the rumors were already widespread at that time, it was impossible to determine if Shindai was the originator or had heard them elsewhere.
But Chiyo was inexplicably certain that Shindai had spread them.
Because Shindai's extremely disgusting methods perfectly matched these outrageous rumors.
If these outrageous rumors were spread by Shindai, then it would be very reasonable.
However, Chiyo did not tell Rasa her thoughts, shaking her head, "I don't know. I've asked Pakura to investigate within the outpost; there might be results soon. By the way, have the rumors been dealt with?"
Rasa replied to Chiyo, "They have been handled. I have already issued a clarification. Chiyo Advisor, you must be tired from rushing back to the Village, so please go rest early."
Ebizo accompanied Chiyo as she left the Kazekage Building.
On the way back, Ebizo asked, "Sister, what exactly happened? You don't need to hide anything from me."
After walking in silence for a while, Chiyo spoke, "Ebizo, come with me to a place."
Chiyo led Ebizo to Sasori's house and moved the shelf that was already covered in dust.
Although they hadn't been there for a long time, the stench of decay was still pungent. Chiyo and Ebizo smelled it simultaneously.
Ebizo covered his nose and frowned, "This smell... it seems like the smell of decaying blood, and it seems to have been there for a long time."
Chiyo led Ebizo into the basement.
Looking at the clean basement, yet with an unshakeable smell of decay, Chiyo's mood was heavy.
Chiyo said in a low voice, "I actually discovered this basement a long time ago, on the day we learned the Sandaime was missing. Sasori's house had a basement that even I didn't know about. The basement was full of the smell of blood. The Sandaime's sudden disappearance, coupled with Sasori also being gone... Although I am Sasori's grandmother, ever since his parents died in the war, Sasori became taciturn, and I was very busy at the time. I simply didn't have time to take care of him, so I unknowingly became completely unfamiliar with Sasori; I don't know what he's thinking.
At that time, I inexplicably felt that the Sandaime's disappearance was related to Sasori. Ebizo, I was really scared then, scared that the Sandaime's disappearance was related to Sasori, so I subconsciously hid this basement."
Ebizo comforted her, "Sister, I can understand how you feel. This basement doesn't mean anything. Nothing is conclusive yet, isn't that right?"
Chiyo told Ebizo about Shindai.
Ebizo was shocked after hearing it.
He hadn't expected that the spy sent by the Third Kazekage was actually a genius, capable of destroying Chiyo's 'Father' and 'Mother' Puppets, and even damaging five Near-Matsushita Puppets.
Although that boy named Shindai achieved this by relying on the Magnet Release Bloodline Limit, which counters puppets, and by using psychological tactics to break Chiyo's psychological defenses, it was still astonishing enough.
Seeing Chiyo's depressed state, she must have been severely impacted.
However, it was also understandable, as Chiyo was forced to watch the scene she considered a nightmare several times.
As for Sasori creating Human Puppets from living people, it was almost certainly true.
This hidden basement, despite appearing clean, had such a strong smell of decaying blood, indicating that a lot of blood must have seeped into the cracks of this room at some point, causing the smell to remain so strong for so long.
Therefore, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage... it was indeed very likely done by Sasori.
Chiyo said somewhat dejectedly, "Ebizo, I want to retire. I couldn't save my son and daughter, nor did I properly raise Sasori. I'm tired."
Ebizo hadn't expected Chiyo to be so deeply affected this time that she would contemplate retirement.
Ebizo thought about how to comfort Chiyo, but there didn't seem to be anything good to say.
They were already old, and it could be said that they had dedicated everything to the Village.
Chiyo's children even died in the war, and Chiyo, for the sake of the Village, neglected Sasori, who very likely betrayed Sunagakure.
It was understandable that Chiyo felt tired.
Ebizo sighed, "Actually, I'm quite tired too, and it's about time I retired. However, Sister, the war is about to reach a crucial point. Let's wait a little longer. Once the war ends, we'll retire together."
Chiyo nodded, "Okay."
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