Reiki didn't finish his treatment until late at night. With a sigh of satisfaction, he let his shadow clone carry the treated enemies away, the clone carrying Orochimaru's scroll to ensure their next steps were handled under Orochimaru's direction.
"Alright, are we heading out, Brother Minato?" Reiki asked, pleased with the day's progress.
Minato smiled, a mix of exhaustion and pride evident in his eyes. "Yes, but it's already late. Let's rest here for the night and set off at dawn. You've been treating people for hours; you must be exhausted."
Reiki nodded, settling down to refine his chakra while Minato, Choza, and Shibi exchanged tired glances.
"Minato," Shibi interrupted after a moment of silence, his voice low. "There are ninjas watching us from a distance, but they haven't approached. And... Kakuzu is among them."
"Kakuzu?" Minato repeated, a frown forming. "Didn't he have an agreement with Reiki? He shouldn't pose a threat to us."
"Yes, but," Shibi added, "these attackers know about the potions."
Minato's eyes widened in realization. The potions Reiki distributed had become coveted assets, especially to those in the underground world. The possibility of Kakuzu acting to claim the attackers for their value crossed Minato's mind.
"But we can't engage without cause," Minato mused, his brows knitting together. "Wait—where's Choza?"
"Dingza mentioned stepping out... but..." Shibi trailed off, realizing.
"Choza!!" Minato called out just as a distant rumble echoed through the night.
Shibi shifted uncomfortably. "I did inform him about the approaching group," he admitted before vanishing into a cloud of insects to follow Choza.
Minato shook his head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "These two..."
Half an hour later, Choza and Shibi returned, each dragging an unconscious ninja.
"That was quick," Minato remarked, surprised.
"They ran at the first sign of trouble," Shibi said, disappointment evident in his tone. "These two tried a surprise attack, and we took them down."
"Strange," Minato muttered, puzzled. "What's their plan if they're gathering but not attacking?"
The night passed without further incident, but Minato, Choza, and Shibi remained vigilant, their tired eyes proof of their sleepless night.
"Brother Minato, Lord Choza, Lord Shibi—you all stayed up late?" Reiki asked, noticing their dark circles and strained expressions.
The three exchanged sheepish glances. Minato forced a smile. "We're fine. Let's move."
He couldn't bring himself to tell Reiki they'd stayed up hoping to catch more attackers, only to return with barely any rest.
By noon, the group had crossed into the Land of Wind, the harsh environment starkly different from the greenery they were used to. Sand stretched endlessly, and the sweltering heat was relentless.
Even water was scarce, but Reiki, ever prepared, had brought dozens of scrolls filled with water. They could drink and even freshen up when needed.
As evening approached, Shibi raised the alarm. "Someone's coming."
"Finally," Choza said, unable to hide his excitement. Minato couldn't help but wonder if Choza was here for the mission or to help Reiki gather more "patients."
Moments later, a familiar figure appeared. "Kakuzu?" Minato said cautiously, holding off an attack.
"I'm here for my own reasons," Kakuzu replied, eyes sharp. "They've been waiting for you here. Now's the time."
Behind him, eight chakra-laden figures emerged, their presence undeniable.
Kakuzu didn't wait for a reply. "Leave this to me," he said, charging forward. The clones of Earth Grudge Fear followed him like shadows, launching themselves into the fray.
"Don't let him take all the credit!" Choza bellowed, sprinting after Kakuzu. The ninjas hiding in ambush had no choice but to engage, their cover blown by Kakuzu's aggressive approach.
Minato drew a kunai, eyes glinting with resolve. "Let's join the fight!"
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 590 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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