Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 234

"No matter how annoying Shukaku is, it's still a Tailed Beast! And it promised us it would help Gaara, but it still got captured. Are we just going to let Naruto deal with it like this...?"

Kurama was still worried. The fact that they were able to defeat the Jinchuriki from Shukaku's tanuki meant that they had considerable strength.

Is this the kind of enemy that Naruto and his friends should fight?

Looking at his "family" members who were reacting in different ways, Minato said in a deep voice, "The most important thing now is to save Kankuro and obtain information."

"Naruto and the others' top priority is to reach Sunagakure safely."

"Now that Akatsuki has succeeded, they shouldn't target Naruto again anytime soon, but we must remain vigilant."

He looked at Kushina with a reassuring gaze: "Believe in Naruto, and believe in Kakashi too."

Kushina took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions.

She looked at Naruto's weary yet incredibly determined figure outside, her pale gray eyes filled with complex emotions—

Worry, pride, and a mother's unique anxiety, a desire to take her place.

Outside, Kakashi watched Naruto, who was now energized by the mission and had shaken off his fatigue.

Sasuke, with his sharp eyes, and Sakura, with her solemn yet unwavering expression, nodded.

"Alright! Destination: Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand of the Land of Wind! Full speed ahead!"

Chapter 256 The Blonde Bomber Who Attacked Gaara

After two days and two nights of almost non-stop driving, we traversed the fertile forests and rivers of the Land of Fire.

Finally, they stepped into the boundless and harsh world of yellow sand in the Land of Wind.

When the massive rocky mountain bearing the symbol of Sunagakure finally appeared on the horizon, the group was finally able to catch their breath.

The wind and sand, like fine sandpaper, constantly rubbed against the traveler's skin and will.

The unique architectural complex of Sunagakure Village, built against the mountainside.

Bathed in the blazing sun, it glowed with an earthy yellow light, exuding a hardness honed by wind and sand...

The heavy oppression that enveloped it at that moment.

At the entrance to Sunagakure, they were greeted by Sunagakure ninja who were clearly wary and anxious.

The air was thick with sadness, anger, and a sense of powerlessness; the village, having lost Fengying, seemed to have lost its backbone.

"Medical ninja, please come with me immediately!"

A Sand Ninja spoke rapidly to Sakura, his eyes almost overflowing with urgency.

Time is Kankuro's life, and also the only clue to finding the Kazekage.

Without the slightest hesitation, Sakura nodded vigorously to Kakashi and her companions.

They immediately followed the Sand Ninja and rushed towards the iconic medical building deep within the village.

Her figure appeared exceptionally resolute amidst the wind and sand.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke were led by another Sand Ninja to what appeared to be a lounge for receiving them.

However, just as they stepped into a long corridor leading inside, something unexpected happened!

A short but swift figure, carrying a sharp killing intent, suddenly pounced out from the shadows to the side!

The target is Kakashi, who is walking at the very front!

A withered hand, yet possessing immense strength, its fingertips gleaming with a chilling blue light.

It viciously grabbed at Kakashi's throat, accompanied by a piercing roar filled with deep-seated hatred:

"Konoha's White Fang—!! Prepare to die—!!!"

This sudden attack was as fast as lightning, and contained power far beyond what it appeared!

Kakashi's exposed eye suddenly contracted, and his body tensed instantly.

It was almost instinctive to launch a counterattack!

At the critical moment, the Sand Ninja responsible for leading the way changed his expression drastically and burst out with astonishing speed.

He swiftly moved between the two, crossing his arms to firmly block the deadly claw!

"Elder Chiyo! Stop! They are not enemies! They are reinforcements sent by Konoha!"

The Sand Ninja's voice was filled with fear and urgency, clearly caught off guard by this sudden attack.

The old woman, referred to as "Elder Chiyo," paused in her movements.

His cloudy yet sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Kakashi's silver hair beneath his headband.

And the eye hidden by the headband, where hatred surged like a venomous snake.

"Reinforcements? Hmph! People from Konoha! Especially those with that damned silver hair! Not a single one of them is any good! They're all the murderers who killed my son and daughter-in-law!"

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, becoming tense and oppressive.

Kakashi's hand was already on the ninja tool pouch at his waist.

Sasuke's Sharingan activated instantly, the three tomoe slowly rotating.

Naruto also assumed a defensive stance, his fatigue instantly dispelled, his azure eyes fixed on the murderous old woman.

Fortunately, after the guide, Sand Ninja, sweating profusely, explained the situation, and Kakashi calmly introduced himself, the situation was resolved.

Chiyo's surging killing intent gradually subsided, like the receding tide.

Realizing she had attacked the wrong person, Chiyo glanced around.

Then, like a playful old man, he let out a "heh heh," leaving the others speechless.

Only then did everyone realize that the thin, short, and hot-tempered old woman in front of them was actually a highly respected elder of Sunagakure.

She is also the most outstanding puppeteer in the history of Sunagakure—Chiyo!

It was precisely because of his unparalleled expertise in using and detoxifying poisons that he was urgently summoned to treat Kankuro.

However, the situation was worse than expected.

Chiyo glanced in the direction of the medical team, her tone filled with resentment and a hint of defeat: "This old woman has lived most of her life, and I've seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, poisons!"

"But the poison that little guy was given... is really strange!"

Her wrinkled face was full of solemnity: "The refining method is unheard of, and the poison is fierce and cunning, constantly eroding life force."

"What's even more terrifying is that it seems to be... self-replicating and mutating... I, an old woman, can only use all my knowledge to fight poison with poison to barely suppress it and keep Kankuro alive."

"But if we want to eradicate it..."

She shook her head, the meaning of which was self-evident.

The fact that even she was helpless against the poison shows just how terrifying it was.

Just then, the tightly closed door to the medical ward was pushed open, and a nurse poked her head out, anxiously calling out, "Lady Chiyo! That medical ninja from Konoha has already begun!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the bright operating lights in the medical team.

Sakura had changed into a clean medical gown, and her long, cherry-colored hair was neatly tied up and secured at the back of her head.

She was leaning over Kankuro, whose body was turning purple and who was barely breathing.

His hands were covered in a dense green medical chakra, and his expression was more solemn and focused than ever before.

She didn't even glance at the doorway; all her attention was focused on the critically ill patient before her.

Chiyo narrowed her cloudy old eyes, watching the young girl's steady and swift movements.

Sensing the precision and powerful vitality contained within her medical chakra, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed across his eyes for the first time.

This little girl from Konoha... seems to have some skills?

Kankuro's treatment will obviously take time and cannot be disturbed.

Kakashi gestured, and the Sand Ninja in charge of reception led them to a relatively quiet rest room next door.

Soon, Temari, looking travel-worn, pushed open the door and entered.

Her face showed undisguised fatigue and anxiety.

But when he saw Kakashi and the others, he still mustered his spirits and bowed: "Kakashi-san, Naruto, Sasuke, thank you for Konoha's timely support."

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Naruto's striking dark circles, a hint of doubt flashing across her face, but it was quickly replaced by a heavier emotion.

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, Temari cut straight to the point, her voice low and rapid as she recounted the nightmarish attack:

“We, the Sand Village, are not without defenses.”

"We received intelligence that the Akatsuki organization might attack, and we have made advance arrangements for vigilance and defense."

"The perimeter, sentries, and barriers... have all been reinforced."

Her fists clenched involuntarily, her knuckles turning white: "But... no matter how much we planned, we never expected... the enemy would break through from within!"

Temari's voice was filled with anger and shame: "Shortly before the attack, one of our key perimeter outposts suddenly lost contact."

"By the time reinforcements arrived... the entire squad, along with their puppets... had been completely destroyed!"

"The traces left at the scene... are very obvious, it's the style of Sunagakure."

"And those two people wearing Akatsuki-style black robes with red cloud patterns swaggered in from here! They headed straight for the Kazekage Building!"

"Gaara..."

Temari's voice choked slightly: "He sensed the intruder's powerful chakra and malice immediately."

"He immediately appeared to intercept them, and engaged in a fierce battle with one of the enemies in the air outside the village."

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself: "The guy who fought Gaara... was blond. He... he was terrifying."

"Blonde hair?" Naruto repeated instinctively, his brows furrowed.

Sasuke's eyes also became sharper.

"Yes, blonde."

Temari nodded firmly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes: "His fighting style... I've never seen it before. He doesn't need to form hand seals; he can create... clay out of thin air just by spreading his hands?"

"Then the clay instantly transformed into various shapes of white birds, spiders... and then—explosion! The power was terrifying!"