"So strong!"
Hearing Kiyosuke's description, Naruto and the others looked stunned.
Chiyo pursed her lips in displeasure and said,
"Nothing but a coward who took his own life."
She still held deep resentment over Konoha's White Fang killing her son and daughter-in-law. The fact that she couldn't take revenge herself made her suffer all the more.
Every time she faced her grandson, she never knew how to act. As a result, her grandson grew increasingly withdrawn, and even the only friend he had died because of him.
In the end, her grandson strayed down a dark path—and she couldn't deny her own role in it.
With a sigh, though it had been many years, the old wound still lingered in her heart.
Kakashi gave a bitter smile. His father really had been strong, and had made more than a few enemies. He didn't refute Chiyo-baasama's words.
When Kiba and Naruto wanted to press the matter further, Kiyosuke cut in.
"Enough. You should know who poisoned Kankurō, right?"
Chiyo didn't respond.
Kiyosuke continued anyway.
"Sasori of the Red Sand. Your beloved grandson. It's been, what, over ten years since you last saw him? How does it feel to be struck by his poison now?"
"You sharp-tongued," Chiyo sneered. "This old woman lost in her first bout against her grandson. Tell me, those two Konoha girls—are they Tsunade's students?"
"Yes."
"Interesting. The poison I can't cure, perhaps only Tsunade can. Seems she hasn't stood still all these years."
She gave a little huff before continuing.
"And you… back then, you slipped from my grasp. I knew you'd grow into a problem, but never imagined Sunagakure would one day need you for help."
Perhaps this was fate's cycle.
Kiyosuke laughed heartily.
"Life has its twists, doesn't it? I should thank you for sparing me."
Kiba tilted his head curiously.
"Kiyosuke-sensei, did you fight against Granny before?"
Chiyo chuckled.
"That wasn't a fight—it was war. This brat had me chasing him all across the battlefield. In the end, he got away, and even held me back long enough for my side to suffer defeat. Back then… he was only twelve or thirteen, wasn't he?"
"I don't really remember. I wasn't that old, anyway," Kiyosuke said with a faint smile, his memory of it hazy.
"So amazing!"
The group of kids looked at Kiyosuke with awe-filled eyes, and he rather enjoyed the attention.
"Don't get carried away. The Fifth Kazekage-sama is still lying in bed," Kakashi said helplessly.
"You're right. I should go check on Pakura."
Kiyosuke stood and, led by Maki, entered the room where Pakura was being treated.
Her hair was loose and disheveled, her body lying weakly on the bed. Beside her, her student Maki tended to her. Bandages covered Pakura's exposed arms. When she saw Kiyosuke arrive, she forced a smile.
"You came?"
"Just how strong was the enemy, to leave you injured like this?"
Pakura's strength might not have reached the Kage level, but she was fully capable of handling elite jōnin. Even against Deidara and Sasori, she shouldn't have been hurt so badly.
A pained look crossed her face.
"I was ambushed. One of Sasori's men had been lurking among my squad all along, and I never noticed. Damn it… that ambush threw me and my team off balance. Then Deidara, the missing-nin from Iwagakure, struck with his explosives. I was wounded, and failed to bring Gaara back."
"I see. You did all you could. Leave the rest to me."
Kiyosuke patted the back of her hand and sat down at her bedside.
"Injuries like this—you need to rest properly."
"Mm. I'll leave it to you then, Asakawa."
Exhausted after speaking a while with him, Pakura soon drifted into sleep.
Kiyosuke turned to Maki.
"She's in your care now. I'm counting on you to look after the Fifth Kazekage-sama."
He rose to leave, but Maki suddenly called out.
"Please wait, Kiyosuke-sama."
"What is it?"
"Um… Sensei has always cared for someone deeply. Is it you?"
Maki had mustered all her courage. For her teacher's happiness, she had to ask.
"It's me," Kiyosuke admitted with a sigh. "But I can't give her the happiness she wants. I'm sorry… I already have someone I love."
"But—"
"No buts. Children shouldn't meddle in adult matters."
Kiyosuke's tone was firm. Without another glance, he strode out of the ward.
Just outside, he found Naruto and the others loitering awkwardly, pretending to count ants on the ground—though there was nothing there but dust.
"You all heard, didn't you?"
"W-We heard a little," Naruto said sheepishly.
"Um, Kiyosuke-san, you're not getting any younger. Don't you think Pakura-san is worth considering?"
He remembered how Pakura had once stayed at their house. Not long after, she became the Fifth Kazekage. If she became his aunt, well, that wouldn't be so bad either.
Kiyosuke bonked him on the head, leaving a lump.
"Don't talk nonsense. I can't give Pakura what she wants. Your aunt is in Kirigakure. When the time comes, I'll marry her."
"Wait, really?! When? You actually have a girlfriend already, and you didn't tell me? And she's in Kirigakure?!"
"Yeah! Kiyosuke-sensei, when did you get a wife?!"
"That was fast—no rumors at all!"
"Kiyosuke-sensei's wife must be super beautiful!"
The kids' chatter rose in a jumble of voices, leaving Kiyosuke sighing helplessly.
Kakashi walked over, smirking.
"Oh? So you finally couldn't resist going after the Fifth Mizukage, huh?"
Wait.
What did we just hear?
The Fifth… Mizukage?!
Kiyosuke-san—Kiyosuke-sensei—was going to marry the Fifth Mizukage?
That was insane!
But hold on, didn't he kill the Third Mizukage himself?
Why would Kirigakure allow him to marry their new leader?!
"Shut up, you bastard!" Kiyosuke snapped. "You've got no room to talk—you're practically glued to Hanare these days!"
"Hahaha, I'm just curious, that's all."
Kakashi laughed heartily, secretly guessing that Kiyosuke must have charmed the Fifth Mizukage during those few days he spent in Kirigakure. That guy really moved fast.
Naruto and the others still wanted to dig for more details, but Kiyosuke shooed them away.
"Scram! Scram! Scram! Children shouldn't stick their noses into adult affairs. That's none of your concern. What you should be worrying about is your mission!"
At the mention of their mission, the kids' expressions turned serious again. But for now, they had to wait until Kankurō regained consciousness. Without him, they had no way of knowing the enemy's whereabouts.
After all, Kankurō was the last person to see them. Without his information, they had no trail to follow.
The ninja world was vast—who knew where the enemy might flee?
But Kiyosuke knew.
By now, Gaara's situation was dire. His tailed beast's chakra had likely already been mostly extracted.