“...”

  Nawaki’s emotions wavered. As much as the idea of a dead persourning to the living world seemed unreliable—perhaps even sinister—he was still just a child at heart. His hesitation was natural, but he ultimately responded with some resolve:

  “No!”

  Even young, a ninja develops a certain disment. Nawaki uood that one should never make casual agreements, especially when matters of life ah were involved.

  “What if I told you you could see your sister again?” Link shamelessly pyed the family card.

  Nawaki instantly shut down—literally. He refused to unicate further, his st thought being a stubborn refusal to allow himself to be used as leverage against Tsunade.

  It was a childish response. Avoiding all uniight prevent exploitation, but it also meant losing any opportunity to influence his circumstances.

  Link shook his head, unfazed. He wasn’t particurly worried about trolling summoned spirits. With an excess of chakra, he could forcibly materialize a summoned soul in a semi-transparent form in the living world.

  Once he grew stronger and more iial, he could pull these spirits into the world, speak to them, appeal to their emotions, and, when necessary, use Rashōmon to summon them fully as batants.

  His main i in Nawaki wasn’t the boy’s bat prowess. After all, Nawaki had perished otlefield almost immediately. His value y elsewhere: as Tsunade’s younger brother.

  Tsunade -tier medi, the holder of a highly coveted jutsu, and someone likely to bee Hokage before Link ever could. Building a e through Nawaki could be strategically valuable.

  "Different circumstances, different outes," Link thought. Orochimaru’s failed gambit in the manga might work in his hands.

  He called out to Nawaki a few more times, but the boy remaiubbornly silent, likely tuning him out pletely.

  Shrugging, Link used the st moments of his summoning to chat briefly with his father before ending the jutsu. He prepared to rest—today had been indulgent, with no training, and tomorrow he inteo make up for it.

  Step by step, discipline builds strength.

  …

  Two days ter, m, Tanzaku Town, at a hotel.

  “in Link, thank you for ensuring my survival during the st mission,” the Land of Fire mert greeted him warmly.

  “You’re too kind,” Link replied courteously, though he didertain the mert’s exaggerated praise.

  Standing nearby, Nara Ensui remained posed, adopting a ral demeanor. "Let the beor say what he pleases," he thought. Link was now part of the Nara family in spirit, and any attempts at sowing division would likely fail.

  The mert rose from his seat, his smile never faltering. “I’m ting on you again for this mission.”

  “Leave it to us,” Ensui assured him, stepping in to respond.

  …

  Downstairs.

  “Back here again…”

  Iris looked at the bustling streets with a tinge of nostalgia. Their first mission outside the vilge had started here, and looking at it now, he couldn’t believe how much time had passed.

  They had grown signifitly sihen, but the town remaihe same—just as lively, just as vibrant.

  Ami stood calmly beside him, no longer darting her gaze around like she had on their first visit.

  Before long, Ensui and Link desded the stairs, followed by the mert and a group of unfamiliar samurai.

  The two teammates naturally fell into position within the voy, waiting for the mert to settle into his kago (panquin).

  Last time, the man had opted for a carriage. Now, with a panquin, it wasn’t just about wealth—it was a show of status.

  Of course, the destination pyed a role. On their previous mission to the Land of Rivers, the mert had prioritized fort for the wilderness jourhis time, heading directly to the Land of Wind, the route was more urbanized, with frequent stops in towns and cities, rendering the panquin practical.

  Ensui remained he panquin, stantly vigint. Link blended into the vanguard among the samurai, ready to respond to any forward assaults.

  The group pushed through the bustling streets, leaving Tanzaku Town behind and beginning their jouro the Land of Wind.

  That evening, at their stopover town.

  Link’s suspi about the mert lingered. When they first met, the man had been dismissive of ninjas and samurai alike. Now, his sudden politeness and warmth seemed suspicious.

  "Something’s nht."

  If the attacker in Konoha had been Kabuto, could this mert…?

  Link’s thoughts raced, arms bring in his mind. He used coded signals to subtly warn Ensui and his teammates during their evening shift rotation.

  A few uful days ter, the group arrived in the Land of Wind.

  The mert’s earlier strangeness seemed like a passing moment. The group’s cautio wasted, though her Ensui nor the others voiced any doubts about Link’s judgment.

  Having delivered the mert to a hotel in the designated city, the team finally rexed. In the Land of Wind, any trouble would first fall uhe purview of the local gover or Sunagakure, ensuring their retive safety.

  Later that afternoon, the Fourth Kazekage arrived for a meeting.

  For the first time, Link saw another vilge’s Kage. He stood in the hallway, stealing a distant gnce before exg himself.

  Only the Fourth Kazekage, Sunagakure Jōnin Baki, and Konoha Jōnin Nara Ensui were permitted inside. As a in, Link’s role was simply to wait.

  “Hey there.”

  A familiar voiterrupted his thoughts. It was Temari, the Sunagakure kunoichi they’d briefly entered in the Land of Rivers. Her smile was wide as she greeted him. “I’m Temari. What’s your name?”

  Her demeanor seemed friendly enough.

  “Link,” he replied curtly, keeping his expressioral.

  Inwardly, he remained on high alert. His gaze flickered to the closed door, brag for the possibility of the Fourth Kazekage suddenly turning hostile.

  "The threat of Orochimaru looms te," he thought grimly.

  Bleam