And during that whole stretch of time, after the Sunagakure group had entered Konoha, Teizawa showed no hurry at all.
As Kazekage, he still strolled along at an unhurried pace near the back.
Nara Shikaku quickened his steps and caught up to him.
"Kazekage-sama, perhaps you should head to the Hokage Tower first to meet Hokage-sama. She's already waiting."
His tone was polite and attentive, but there was a faint trace of probing in those deep brown eyes.
According to Konoha's plan, Teizawa, as the visiting Kazekage, ought to have gone straight to the Hokage Tower to meet Tsunade.
It was diplomatic etiquette.
It was also a subtle psychological contest.
If the visiting Kazekage "took the initiative" to go see the Hokage, it would, in a way, reflect Konoha's standing.
But Teizawa clearly had no intention of following their script.
Without even turning his head, he waved a hand.
"It's been a long journey. I'd rather go rest at the inn first."
Then he added, in a tone that made it sound perfectly natural:
"I'll visit the Hokage another day."
Shikaku's steps faltered slightly.
Koharu, leaning on her cane, came up from behind. Her graying brows drew together as if she wanted to persuade him otherwise.
But Teizawa gave her no chance.
"I'm sure Hokage-sama won't mind."
He tilted his head just a little, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.
"After all, I came this time with sincerity."
Koharu's words stuck in her throat.
Shikaku was silent for a moment, then inclined his head.
"Kazekage-sama is right. Then we'll escort you to the inn first so you can rest."
He stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture.
At the same time, he signaled the accompanying ANBU to go report to the Hokage.
Teizawa said nothing more.
He simply walked deeper into Konoha.
His steps were relaxed and easy.
He did not look like someone entering this place for the first time.
He looked as though he were returning home.
Koharu and Shikaku exchanged a glance.
Each saw the same helplessness in the other's eyes.
This Kazekage...
He was not going to be easy to handle.
But now that he was here, they could hardly afford to be discourteous.
So the two of them could only follow in silence.
...
Konoha's streets were broad and clean, lined on both sides with all kinds of shops and homes.
Sunlight spilled down across the wooden buildings, giving them a warm glow.
People filled the streets.
Ninja with weapons on their backs, women carrying baskets of vegetables, children chasing each other through the road.
And at that moment, all of their eyes were drawn in the same direction.
To the young man walking at the very front.
That dark gold robe.
That tall, straight figure.
And that natural presence that no one could ignore.
"So that's Sunagakure's Kazekage?"
"He's so young..."
"I heard he even captured the Four-Tails jinchuriki!"
"Seriously?"
Whispers rose and fell all around him.
Teizawa acted as if he heard none of it.
He simply walked on at ease.
His gaze swept across the roadside shops, then over the crowd of onlookers.
Then it shifted slightly.
In the crowd was a small figure.
A girl in a pale lavender kimono, with long, silky black hair and those signature bangs across her forehead.
She stood near the edge of the crowd, peeking over with obvious curiosity.
Her hands were nervously twisting together, and there was a faint flush in her cheeks.
Those pale eyes, so distinctive, kept sneaking glances toward him.
Then one of those glances met his gaze.
"Ah!"
She let out a tiny cry.
Like a startled fawn, she hurriedly ducked behind the person beside her.
Hinata Hyuga.
The corner of Teizawa's mouth lifted slightly.
Cute.
His gaze continued on.
Not far away, another girl stood openly by the roadside in a Chinese-style outfit, arms crossed, studying him with visible interest.
Several ninja tools hung near her waist.
She looked like a bright, straightforward kind of girl.
Tenten.
Teizawa's eyes lingered on her for a brief instant.
Then moved on.
Farther ahead, in the depths of the crowd, a graceful figure flashed out of sight.
Just a back view.
Just part of a profile.
And yet a strange glint passed through Teizawa's eyes.
That silhouette was far too familiar to him.
Dark hair.
A long, elegant neck.
And that kind of presence one could pick out even in a sea of people.
Kurenai Yuhi.
A meaningful curve touched Teizawa's lips.
So she had come to see him too?
He withdrew his gaze and kept walking.
His pace remained calm, but that faint smile never left his mouth.
...
Far away, in the shadow of an alley.
Kurenai leaned against a wall with her arms folded, her expression complicated.
She had told herself she was only "passing by."
And yet the instant that figure appeared in her line of sight, her heart still skipped a beat.
That man...
The man who had changed her life...
Had just walked boldly into Konoha.
"Kurenai-sensei?"
A puzzled voice came from beside her.
Kurenai came back to herself and saw that her student, Hinata, had followed her at some point.
Right now, Hinata was looking at her with concern.
"It's nothing."
Kurenai shook her head, turned, and disappeared deeper into the alley.
But she knew...
Nothing was going to stay peaceful after this.
...
Night fell, and the lights of Konoha glimmered everywhere.
The inn arranged for the Sunagakure delegation was a separate two-story building in the central area of the village.
It was not far from the Hokage Tower.
Konoha's arrangements were fairly thoughtful.
It lacked the grandeur of the Hokage Tower, but it was clean and orderly.
Enough to show proper respect to an allied village.
Teizawa leaned back in a chair by the window, a cup of tea in hand, looking out at the scattered lights beyond.
Soft footsteps sounded outside the door.
Very light.
Very steady.
Yet to Teizawa, every step was perfectly clear.
Then came three quiet knocks.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Teizawa did not move. He only said flatly, "Come in."
The door opened, and a figure slipped inside.
It was a young man dressed in ordinary Konoha shinobi clothing.
But there was a coldness about him that did not match his age.
His eyes were unusual.
Not the sharp eyes of an ordinary ninja.
But an empty, emotionless chill, as if no feeling lived in them at all.
Teizawa recognized him.
Yamanaka Fu.
A member of the Yamanaka clan.
But Teizawa knew very well that the man's true loyalty belonged to the one lurking in the shadows.
Shimura Danzo.
Teizawa's gaze paused on him for a moment, and his lips curved slightly.
A Root operative.
He had expected Danzo to send someone.
He just had not expected it to happen this quickly.
"Kazekage."
Yamanaka Fu spoke, his voice as flat as water.
"Danzo-sama wants to see you."
Teizawa raised a brow.
He remained lounging in his chair and made no move to stand.
"Oh?"
There was a hint of amusement in his tone.
"I haven't even met the Hokage yet. Why should I go meet Danzo?"
Fu's expression did not change in the slightest.
"That is Danzo-sama's order."
Teizawa laughed softly.
There was something unreadable in that smile.
"An order?"
He repeated the word as if savoring it.
"Is he the Hokage?"
Fu said nothing.
Teizawa continued on his own.
"He's not the Hokage."
He leaned back against the chair and looked at him lazily.
"Then what gives him the right to order me around?"
Fu was silent for a beat.
Then he said, still in that same steady tone, "Danzo-sama does not like to wait."
Teizawa looked at him and suddenly found it all rather amusing.
Root operatives really were exactly as rumored.
Cold. Mechanical. Empty. Existing only to carry out orders.
He set down his teacup and rested back in the chair, studying the man in front of him.
"Then he can wait."
Fu's brow tightened slightly.
He stared at Teizawa for several seconds.
"ANBU are watching outside."
Suddenly, as though remembering something, Teizawa's lips curled into a strange smile.
Then he spoke in a tone almost like a reminder.
"You know as well as I do. The moment I leave, they'll notice."
A flicker passed through Fu's eyes.
"Root will take care of that problem for you."
Teizawa smiled.
"Even better."
He rose to his feet and walked to the window.
Outside, faint shadows moved in and out of sight.
He glanced at them once, then turned back toward Fu.
"As soon as the eyes at the door are gone..."
He smiled at him.
"I'll go see your Danzo-sama immediately."
Fu nodded.
He did not say another word.
He turned and left, his figure vanishing into the night.
The door closed softly behind him.
Danzo, huh...
Teizawa thought to himself.
Your timing really is perfect.
(End of Chapter)
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