I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

After reading through the contents of the scroll, Rasa arranged to have Wu, Tayuya, and Guren stay in one of their diplomatic suites. Each had been given a room of their own, but Tayuya didn't even bother checking hers out before making herself comfortable in Wu's. As a result, the latter was using her increasingly pliant ass as a pillow when someone knocked on his door, interrupting his reading of a bout about poisonous plants and herbs native to the region. Before Tayuya could rise after him, Wu ordered her to 'behave,' leaving the pouty redhead lying on her stomach as he made his way over to the door, opening it to find a 157cm tall girl with teal eyes and sandy-blonde hair fixed into four 'starburst' pigtails. She had on a light-purple outfit that vaguely resembled the fusion of a low-cut kimono and a nurse's uniform, hanging from her shoulders to reveal a mesh armor extending from her neck and presumably covering the rest of her torso. She also had on a scarlet sash and some kind of fishnet material covering her left thigh and right calf, the purpose of which Wu could only imagine. Seeing Wu checking her out, the blonde-haired Kunoichi took the liberty to do the same while questioning, "You're the 'infamous' Saiko Dadi? You certainly don't look like someone that could take on a Kage...just how old are you?" Adopting a mischievous smile, Wu replied, "Old enough to understand the implications of your visit, young enough not to give two shits. Do you want to come inside, or would you prefer to let me have the honor...?" Though she was momentarily confused by Wu's words, a tinge of pink spread through the girl's cheeks as she narrowed her eyes into a half-lidded expression and remarked, "You certainly have the confidence part down. Unfortunately for you, I didn't come here for the reasons you seem to believe. My father asked me to show you and your friend around Suna. But if you're that desperate for a woman's touch, I can drop you off at the red light district before returning home." Rolling his eyes, Wu teased, "Yeah, yeah...you keep telling yourself you're just here to be my guide. With badassery like mine, do you think I haven't been through this same song and dance before? Also, plan on introducing yourself any time soon?" Furrowing her brows, the blonde-haired girl replied, "Temari of the Sand..." in a low growl. Despite her denial, she clearly understood why her father had tasked her with being Dadi's escort during his stay in Suna. The boy was strong enough to defeat a Tailed Beast and contend against a Kage at twelve years old. Their alliance with Oto was also recently forged, so 'strengthening their ties' mutually benefited both parties. She just didn't want to admit she was being treated as a tool to further Suna's interests... Directing his gaze to Temari's chest, Wu playfully remarked, "Temari, huh? It suits you..." As her name meant 'hand ball,' Temari immediately understood what Wu was implying as he stared at her breasts. The sudden urge to punch him swelled within her mind, but, understanding the disastrous consequences of doing so, she forced a smile and replied, "Thanks. My mother gave it to me..." Increasing Temari's desire to punch him a thousandfold, Wu shamelessly remarked, "It clearly isn't the only thing she gave you..." Inhaling a steadying breath, Temari's expression and tone became serious as she said, "My mother died more than twelve years ago. I would appreciate it if you didn't make such crass jokes..." Catching the sandy-blonde a little by surprise, Wu's cheeky smile turned into an awkward, ostensibly apologetic grin as he scratched the back of his head and awkwardly inquired, "Is that so...?" before following it with a sincere-sounding, "Sorry..." Recovering after several surprised blinks, Temari crossed her arms and averted her gaze to the side as she softly replied, "Don't worry about it. She died a long time ago. Besides, I can kind of understand why you'd feel the need to crack jokes at a time like this. My youngest brother also had power and responsibility thrust upon him. It...isn't easy, is it?" Shaking his head, Wu asserted, "It's a better position to be in than the shoes of my enemies. It also permits me to meet cute and considerate girls such as yourself. In that regard, I would argue I'm quite fortunate..." Seeing Wu immediately revert to his playful persona, Temari exhaled a tired sigh before adopting a faint smile and pointedly remarking, "At least you're aware of it. If any other guy tried to approach me, my father would review every aspect of their character and background before summoning them to his office to inform them of their inadequacies and warn them of their proper place. This is probably the longest conversation I've had with a boy outside my immediate family." As Temari kept mentioning her family at virtually every opportunity, Wu's expression became 'serious' as he remarked, "Your father is a wise man. If I had a daughter half as cute as you, I'd have her walk around with a stick and teach her to beat the shit out of any boy brave enough to approach..." Though she knew Wu's words were pure lip service, Temari couldn't help exhaling an amused chuckle. She still wasn't all that enthused about the circumstances she had been forced into, but at least Wu was easy to talk to... ... .. . Observing the interaction between Wu and his daughter using a technique that allowed him to link his vision to an eye formed of sand particles, Rasa gave a curt nod and muttered, "It seems I was worried for nothing..." While it was true he frequently invited his daughter's would-be suitors to his office, Rasa only did so because he wanted to find someone 'worthy' of her. If the people targetting her couldn't even look him in the eye and request his permission to pursue her, how could he trust them to remain firm if his daughter's life was in danger? At least with someone like Dadi, he could be sure she would be protected. The strong were usually just as possessive. If something jeopardized what was 'theirs,' they would fight for it with every fiber of their being... Canceling his Jutsu, Rasa returned his eyes to the scroll penned to him by Orochimaru. It rehashed the details of their upcoming invasion of Konoha but also outlined a path for future cooperation. Once 'destroyed,' Konoha, or, more accurately, another village, would need to be constructed in its place. Suna lacked the workforce and population to protect their interests abroad, so Orochimaru had proposed a union between Dadi and Temari to prevent arguments over the distribution of land and resources. Simply put, the duo would become the leaders of a village that served the interests of both Suna and Oto. Though the arrangement would invariably favor Otogakure, Rasa knew that, with his strength, he couldn't possibly defend both Suna and a newly formed village. He would have needed to assign someone to protect and administrate the region, so who better than his daughter and a boy whose potential seemed limitless? Dadi wasn't even a teenager but could already defeat Tailed Beasts without external assistance. If anyone could protect his daughter and a newly established village, Saiko Dadi could... ... .. . After accompanying Temari around her shithole of a village for the better part of six hours, Wu returned to his room to find Tayuya in the middle of doing handstand pushups. Her physique had improved tremendously in just a single month, so it was now possible to make out the outline of her abdominal muscles as she strained to keep her balance and complete her most recent set. As he had come to appreciate watching others train after years of being an involuntary mentor, Wu snuck over to the bed and silently scrutinized Tayuya's form and progress. The prickly redhead had a lazy, almost cat-like personality at times, but she could also be really hardworking when she wanted to be. It would be some time before she met Wu's standards, but she was making steady progress, and it showed. Finished with a 'light set,' totaling 100 verticle pushups, Tayuya exhaled a sigh and controlled her transition to become perfectly horizontal without touching the ground. Then, while continuing to support herself with just her hands, she spread her legs wide, eventually doing a full split before raising herself onto the tips of her fingers and holding the posture. It was quite the sight to behold from Wu's perspective, but he resisted the urge to comment as one of the things he despised most was being interrupted in the middle of his training... Fortunately, Tayuya's rather peculiar planking exercise was one of the last in a routine that has lasted more than two hours. When she was finished, her scarlet locks were caked to her body, but there was a gratified smile on her face as she absentmindedly traced the line of her abdomen. Before meeting Wu, she had never imagined developing her physique to the point she had visible abs. It was only possible due to an uncompromising diet and a considerable amount of exercise, but she was gradually beginning to take pride in her results. Seeing Tayuya admiring herself, Wu couldn't help but ask, "Would you like a mirror, my narcissistic little tomato?" Starling slightly, Tayuya looked toward Wu with slightly widened eyes before regaining her usual edge as she asked, "Do you always have to be such a voyeur...?" Shaking his head, Wu asserted, "You're not the only one captivated by your progress. Seeing your muscles develop and watching your flexibility improve fill me with just as much gratification as you. After all, I'm bound to 'benefit' quite a bit in the future." Rolling her eyes, Tayuya retorted, "You could 'benefit' right now if you weren't so concerned with a brat that isn't even here..." Since he was supporting his head with his left hand, Wu shrugged and raised his right as he mused, "I would think you had a vested interest in me being the type of man who keeps his promises." Unable to refute Wu's words, Tayuya just snorted through her nose in a pouty huff. She had never once felt this 'frustrated' before meeting and getting to know Wu. If the very notion didn't disgust her, she might find another man just to alleviate the 'itch' that was beginning to drive her a little crazy... Making her way over to Wu's bedside, Tayuya's expression became serious as she said, "Let me sit on your face..." Turning his eyes up at the zesty redhead, Wu teased, "Is that any way to ask for a favor~?" Spurred by her 'frustration,' Tayuya's revised Cursed Seal of Heaven began to stir, quickly transitioning from her base state to her level two, now completely symmetrical transformation as she growled, "Please let me sit on your face...Wu-sama..." As he found Tayuya's transformed state more than a little charming, the color of Wu's eyes shifted from gold to a fiery red as he replied, "That's my girl..." before lying on his back, patting his chest, and adding, "Come to daddy..." With Wu's consent, Tayuya didn't hesitate to strip away her spats and top before straddling the former's face. Her muscle density and, as a result, her weight increased quite a bit in her transformed state. However, as he was used to casually spinning around a staff that weighed 8000kgs, Wu was able to freely maneuver Tayuya's bottom with his hands before giving her the 'medicine' she needed to tide herself over until he could break her, and many others, completely... ... .. . (A/N: When horny gets literal...)

Having agreed to meet up with her again following their first meeting, Wu ate breakfast with Guren and Tayuya before heading out to a small market Temari had introduced him to the previous day. Suna had several bazaars in place of a commercial district, so it was possible to find and barter for commodities from all across the world while simultaneously enjoying food from various street vendors. Spotting Wu quickly, as he was the only one dressed distinctly different from everyone else, Temari flagged him down, shouting, "Dadi-kun! Over here-!" Though he had spotted the blonde well in advance, Wu pretended to be pleasantly surprised by greeting, casually raising his hand before making his way over to remark, "You changed your outfit. Is lavender your favorite color?" As Temari had switched out her lavender robe for a comfortable-looking spaghetti-strap tank top, equally as purple, Wu correctly assumed it was the girl's favorite color. In response, an awkward chuckle emanated from Temari's throat as she combed back her bangs and answered, "I learned in the Academy that purple compliments yellow. Since then, I try to wear at least one purple item on me at all times..." Nodding his head in approval, Wu asserted, "It suits you. Still, I can't help but wonder how you can maintain such a fair complexion? Just yesterday, we were roaming around under the hot sun for hours. It's a wonder you're not red as a lobster or brown as a baked potato..." Shrugging her shoulders, Temari admitted, "To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not entirely sure. I do moisturize and apply sunscreen when I'm going to be out for an extended period, but I've never tanned or suffered a sunburn. A lot of girls in Suna are like that." Never one to miss out on a perfect setup, Wu feigned shock as he replied, "I hadn't noticed. Guess a certain someone kept me distracted..." Rolling her eyes, Temari remarked, "We should get going if we're going to catch the earliest screening. The theater here gets pretty crowded in the afternoon, and I don't like cramped places." Adopting a faint smile, Wu responded with a carefree, "Hai, hai..." before extending his hand to grasp Temari's. She tensed as he did so but didn't attempt to break free as he seized the initiative to guide her through the bazaar. He had memorized the layout of every place they visited the day prior, so it didn't take them long to reach their destination, a tiny theater with a single matinee. Suna wasn't exactly the most prosperous country in the world, but the increasing popularity of motion pictures had led to the previous generation's Kazekage authorizing the construction of a theater. While Wu didn't particularly care for movies, Temari's face practically lit up as she exclaimed, "Oh! They're playing one of Yukie Fujikaze's movies, The Adventures of Princess Gale! I love this series, and Yukie Fujikaze is an amazing actress." Seeing the woman with raven-black hair and ice-blue eyes plastered on the movie poster, Wu remarked, "She certainly looks like a princess..." Narrowing her eyes into a broad smile, Temari hummed, "I know, right~? Some rumors claim that the actress, Yukie Fujikaze, is actually a bonafide princess from a ruined kingdom. If she ever comes to Suna on one of her promotional tours, I'll have to ask her directly." Seizing the initiative from Wu, Temari dragged him to the ticket stand to purchase a total of twelve tickets. She hated having people sit in front of or behind her during movies, so two tickets were for herself and Wu, while the rest were to ensure at least a one-seat perimeter around them. As for where she got the money? Being the daughter of the Kazekage meant she was practically royalty within the village of Suna... ... .. . As his stay in Suna stretched from days into weeks, Wu's boredom began to compound with each passing day. He went through the motions during his outings with Temari, but Suna simply didn't have anything 'interesting' to do. When Wu asked her to take him to the most interesting place in the village, Temari used her status as the Kazekage's daughter to grant them access to a fucking greenhouse... Though it was admittedly more scenic than the rest of Suna, Wu's visit to the greenhouse had affirmed just how pitiful the desert-dwelling peoples' lives were. Even more ridiculous was the fact that they didn't 'have' to live that way. They didn't have that many people living within their borders, so if they bargained with a peace-loving shill like Hiruzen, they could migrate and become a part of Konoha. Instead, even Temari 'resented' the people of Konoha because they 'could never understand' the hardships of people who called the desert home. Just like people who rightly avoided flames could never comprehend the misery of those who willfully set themselves aflame... "Are you listening to me, Dadi-kun...?" Blinking back to awareness, Wu met Temari's slightly judgmental gaze and admitted, "I should have been." before following it up with a smile and revealing, "I just got a little distracted thinking about the fact we wouldn't be able to see each other for a while..." "Ah..." Having succumbed to Wu's incessant charms during their time together, Temari actually felt guilty for glaring at him, an awkward smile developing across her face as she proposed, "You could always stick around until the Chunin Exams. We're going to be...'working together' a lot in the future, so I can introduce you to my brothers." Though he did have an interest in Temari's youngest brother, the vessel of the One-Tailed Demon Tanuki, Wu shook his head and said, "I have a prior arrangement to attend. The next time we meet will probably be during the Chunin Exam Finals..." Unaware of the hidden meaning within Wu's words, Temari exhaled a faint sigh, maintaining a faint smile as she said, "Look on the bright side. Once this mess has been settled, we'll have plenty of time to spend together..." As her father had eventually made it very clear what his intentions were for her future, Temari began to look forward to her future 'independence.' She and Wu had kicked it off from day one, so most of her apprehensions about the future had disappeared. Her only complaint was that Wu didn't seem content with just a single woman, readily revealing he had 'several' and would likely 'acquire' even more. Hell, at one point, he had even joked about tracking down her favorite actress and having her join them... Returning a smile of his own, Wu surprised Temari by extending his hand to caress her left cheek as he asserted, "I'm looking forward to it..." in a deep, almost velvety smooth tone. Feeling her throat tense and her mouth dry, Temari inadvertently licked her lips and swallowed. Wu was two, almost three years younger than her, but she felt like putty in his hands. When he began moving his face closer to hers, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing as she tentatively closed her eyes and inexperiencedly puckered her lips. Though he was initially just planning to stare Temari down with his tried and true 'smoldering look,' Wu wasn't the type to pass on an opportunity to make considerable headway in an instant. The 'first kiss' of most girls was an incredibly significant moment in their lives, so, even if they weren't entirely sure of their feelings, they would 'convince' themselves they were in love after surrendering it to someone. Feeling a moist pressure against her lips, Temari's eyes abruptly opened wide as if to confirm she was actually kissing someone. Seeing Wu's face at a near-zero distance confirmed this was the case, causing her swiftly beating her to beat even faster. She genuinely had no idea what to do, so all she could do was trust her instincts as Wu wrapped his hands around her waist and guided her first steps into adulthood... ... .. . "Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye? Temari-chan isn't going to be happy when she finds out you left the village without telling her..." Shaking his head, Wu insisted, "It's better like this. I would rather have her be angry with me than depressed. Besides, it's not like we'll be apart for long. Making a big deal over a temporary separation is just senseless." Though she wanted to explain to Dadi that women, especially young girls, were delicate and sentimental creatures, Guren ultimately shook her head and sighed. She couldn't even be honest with herself, so lecturing others didn't feel right. Instead, she softly responded, "Well, if that's what you've decided, I have nothing else to say on the matter. Let's go home. I'm sure the Otokage is eager to receive us." With Guren punctuating her words by placing her hand on his shoulder, Wu returned a nod before picking her and Tayuya up in princess carries. He also suspected that Orochimaru would be happy to have them back. Unfortunately for her, him, or it, Wu wouldn't be staying for long. He was planning to use his incredibly boring stay in Suna as an excuse to justify traveling to another village, this time alone. Then, instead of doing that, he would return to Konoha and explain his findings to Hiruzen. From the perspective of Orochimaru, it would be like he had dropped off the face of the Shinobi World when, in reality, he would be waiting for the scheming snakes to overextend and expose her neck. With such thoughts on his mind, Wu elected to take a more scenic route, flying over the aptly named Lands of Rain and Grass before traveling East toward the Land of Sound. If not for the deadline of the Chunin Exams, he would have liked to explore both. Every nation had its secrets, and with his power, Wu was certain he could discover, expose, and take advantage of them all. For now, however, he had promises to keep and preparations for his future Clan, the fledgling seed of his future dynasty, to complete... ... .. . While Wu was planning his future conquest, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, members of Team 7 led by the 'legendary' Copycat Ninja, Hatake Kakashi, were returning to Konoha after their first away mission. Though they had initially accepted a C-Rank Mission to escort an elderly Bridgebuilder by the name of Tazuna, things quickly escalated when the group was attacked by missing-nin from Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. Shinobi from Kiri were famous for their brutality and capabilities as assassins, but Team 7 managed to dispatch the first group fairly easily. Things became infinitely more precarious when they reached the outskirts of Tazuna's village and encountered Zabuza, an infamous assassin known as the 'Demon of the Mist.' As his opponents were a bunch of Genin and a Shinobi that had fallen off the face of the Earth after the Third Great Shinobi War, Zabuza severely underestimated the capabilities and teamwork of Team 7. He managed to escape at the last moment but ended up losing both his sword and one of his arms in the process. Though things went comparably smoothly after their encounter with the infamous assassin, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were in low spirits as they returned home. The former had never expected the outside world to be so 'grim,' a sentiment shared by the other two, even though Sasuke had once witnessed his Clan slaughtered by his own brother... ... .. . (A/N: For those that are curious, both Zabuza and Haku are still alive in this timeline. Unfortunately, while Naruto received a wake-up call after meeting Inari and seeing what life was like in the Land of Waves, he never encountered Haku or got to use his Talk-no-Jutsu on Zabuza. As for what the future holds for the duo, only time can tell. However, so long as life remains, there is hope...)

After flying over the Land of Rivers, a region filled with lush vegetation and a city famous for the fact it never stopped raining, Wu found himself at the entrance to a massive desert. He had no idea how such an extreme disparity in climates could exist side-by-side, but at least it made it easy to know he was entering the Land of Wind. "Man, talk about a shit hole. Can either of you tell me why anyone would bother living in such a place?" Though he had read up on the history of Suna and the Land of Wind, Wu couldn't help feeling that the people who settled the desert's few oases were idiots. Training in hot and dry climates had benefits, but how much more evidence did people need that they 'shouldn't' live somewhere than the sun-bleached bones of massive creatures? Sure, its sheer shittiness made other nations reluctant to invade, but come on... Deigning to answer Wu's question, Guren explained, "It's said that in the past, a number of clans fled here to escape the conflicts near the center of the continent. They wandered from place to place to avoid exhausting any one area of its resources but eventually settled down once Ninjutsu spread through the world, making it possible to prosper even in the most inhospitable of climates. Since then, I would assume it's their attachment to 'home' that prevents modern residents from leaving..." Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Wu remarked, "Go figure...the children of idiots are obstinant fools. Never could have seen 'that' coming..." Smiling wryly, Guren suppressed her almost instinctual compulsion to defend the inhabitants of Suna. She was someone that had a 'very' strong attachment to the notion of home, so much so she was willing to become a vessel to Orochimaru just because he had given her a place to belong, a purpose greater than herself. Unaware of the purple-haired woman's thoughts, Wu kept flying until they came upon a massive plateau that had been sculpted to resemble a series of steps. A man-made canyon separated these steps in two, leading to a city that, from the sky, appeared to have been constructed in the center of a colossal impact crater. Though he could have easily just flown into the city, Wu controlled their descent when Guren suggested, "We should land a few kilometers from the entrance. If we enter the village directly, it could cause unnecessary tension with people who are supposed to be our allies." Since Guren was 'technically' in charge, despite being ranked below him, Wu replied with a lazy, "Hai, hai, Guren-sama..." that left the purple-haired woman with a complicated look on her face. She was only put in charge because she was familiar with their connections in Suna and was 'much' older than both Wu and Tayuya. People, especially those in high positions, had 'difficulties' respecting those much younger than themselves. Wu was likely the strongest member of their group, but that wouldn't be enough to get people to truly 'respect' him... Having noticed Wu's group from the lookouts stationed across the multi-tiered wall, a sizeable party of Suna Shinobi came out to 'greet' them by forming an encirclement around them. The leader of the group was a man with facial tattoos that resembled those of the Inuzuka Clan, but, instead of a Ninken partner, a child-sized doll that resembled something out of a horror movie hovered in front of him, its head and jaw clicking as it stared at Wu with an open mouth and slowly twisting head. "This is the entrance to Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand. You are to declare yourselves immediately and lay down your arms, or we will have no choice but to detain you with force." Raising her hands to indicate they had not come there seeking trouble, Guren replied, "I am Jonin Guren of Otogakure. We have come here at the behest of our Lord to meet with Lord Rasa. Once you have confirmed our identities, please allow us to pass." Though the alliance between Oto and Suna was tentative, at best, those ranked Jonin and higher had been made aware of the 'specifics' of their cooperation. Upon hearing that Guren was from Oto, the Jonin leading the security group ordered his men to stand down. Most of them remained on guard, but that was just good practice. After all, entering an enemy village while disguised as a recently acquired ally was fairly common... ... .. . After a minor incident involving the customs officials being unable to open and search Wu's bag, Guren couldn't help asking, "Can that bag really not be opened by anyone other than you...?" Instead of answering the question directly, Wu tossed the pouch toward Guren, saying, "Give it a go." Despite a small opening already being present, Guren discovered that she could not loosen the cord keeping the bag shut. The most abnormal thing about this was that the cord wasn't even appropriately fastened. It should just open on its own, but it remained bound shut and even 'flew' back into Wu's hand with a simple gesture. Wriggling his eyebrows, Wu teased, "Pretty neat, huh? The coolest part is that it's also indestructible, so I can even use it to stop an attack if I really need to. Well, that and the fact the interior keeps expanding over time..." Hearing Wu's description of the bag, Guren's expression revealed a trace of confounded disbelief as she questioned, "Where did you obtain such a thing?" With an amused smile, Wu replied, "Would you believe me if I said it was on my person since birth? It's just one of the many things that makes me mysterious and awesome..." Though he had been straining his ears to listen to the discussion between Wu and Guren, the Chunin serving as their escort through the village of Suna stopped them at the entrance to a spherical building with the kanji for 'Wind' on its side, revealing, "This is the Central Administration Office. The Kazekage should summon you shortly..." Nearly as soon as the man had finished speaking, a very tall, 188cm man wearing a turban-like headgear walked out. A thin sheet dangled from his headpiece, covering the left side of his face, but he had rugged features and two red markings on his right cheek, presumably matching the cheek concealed by the cloth. Eying Wu and his group with his sharp, beady black eye, the man added, "You must be the delegation from Otogakure. Lord Rasa will see you now." Contrasting the overly casual demeanor of Wu and the standoffishness of Tayuya, Guren gave a slight bow and a faint smile as she expressed, "It's good to see you again, Baki-sama. I hope things have been improving for you and Suna since our previous meeting." Furrowing his only visible brow, Baki replied in his incredibly deep voice, "If that were the case, we wouldn't need an alliance with Oto. Now, follow me. Lord Rasa has made an opening in his considerably busy schedule to hear what you have to say. It is disrespectful to keep him waiting." Exhibiting her almost innately kind nature, Guren adopted an apologetic smile as she replied, "Lord Rasa has our sincerest gratitude. Please, lead the way, Baki-sama." Instead of answering Guren, Baki turned his back to the group and led the way up a spiraling staircase lined with concealed explosives. Soon after, they reached a circular landing that formed a looping hallway around the entire structure with several doors facing inward. One such door bore the symbol for 'Wind' above its frame, indicating that it was the office of the Kazekage. As expected, the turbaned man led Wu's group to the aforementioned door, saying, "You are to be respectful and courteous..." before turning to it and declaring, "Lord Rasa. The delegation from Otogakure has arrived, as summoned." From within the office, an equally deep yet distinct voice replied, "Permit them entry..." While pushing open the door with his right hand, Baki turned to Wu and his group, instructing, "Enter." in a firm tone. Guren gave a polite nod in response, but Wu whispered, "You're playing with fire, old man..." as he passed Baki's much taller frame. Though he frowned in response to Wu's comment, Baki didn't speak or attempt to deny him entry. Instead, he waited for the group to enter the room before closing the door behind them and posting outside, ready to act alongside the dozen other Jonin concealed nearby. Their Kazekage was more than capable of defending himself, but an organization backed by someone as infamous as Orochimaru couldn't be trusted... ... .. . Upon entering the office, standing to Guren's left, Wu came face to face with a middle-aged man with auburn hair, dark eyes, and a constipated look. The diamond-shaped cap symbolizing the authority of a Kage could be seen hanging on a hook behind him, but the man himself was dressed fairly casually in a simple black jacket and pants, complete with a visible mesh underneath. Seizing the initiative in the discussion, the Kazekage, formerly known as Rasa the Gold, ruined the Otokage's ongoing attempts to keep Wu in the dark about her true identity, asking, "Why have Orochimaru's henchmen come to my village? Coming here at such a critical moment risks exposing everything to those rats from Konoha." Though she visibly winced when Rasa namedropped Orochimaru, Guren pulled out the scroll she had been asked to hand over, responding, "The specifics are detailed within this scroll. Beyond that, our primary intention for coming here was to complete introductions." Raising his left brow, Rasa's expression revealed a hint of incredulity as he parroted, "Complete introductions?" Then, as Wu was the only person he had never seen before, he gave the latter a skeptical look and asked, "You came all this way to introduce this boy to me...?" Preempting Guren's response, Wu raised his hand and offered a casual "Yo." before following it with a cheeky smile as he revealed, "The name's Saiko Dadi. Feel free to call me Dadi-sama." Though it took him a moment to piece things together, Rasa's already beady eyes appeared to shrink as he asked, "You're the one who fought the Fourth Raikage and laid waste to Kumogakure?" Adopting an even cheekier grin, Wu replied, "It appears my reputation precedes me. And yes, I'm the one that kicked the ass of the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki and went toe-to-toe with the Alphabetical Ape. Nice to meet you, magnet man." Hearing Wu 'confirm' the previously unsubstantiated reports surrounding the Two-Tails' appearance and subsequent thrashing, Rasa visibly tensed. The hierarchy of the Tailed Beasts was determined by the number of tails they possessed. Those with fewer tails were notably weaker than those with a greater quantity, so it didn't take much imagination to guess what might happen if 'Dadi' fought their own Jinchuriki, the vessel of the One-Tailed Demon Tanuki. Becoming serious, Rasa's hardened into a grim expression as he inquired, "Am I to interpret this as a threat...or perhaps a 'warning?' Bringing such a 'monster' into midsts doesn't exactly inspire confidence in our coalition. If you have a child capable of fending off Kage and defeating Tailed Beasts in your employ, what's the-" Before Rasa could finish speaking, Guren gave a smile that wasn't quite a smile as she suggested, "Please peruse the contents of the scroll. And no, our visit here is not intended as a threat. Dadi-kun was curious about your village and planned to come here unaccompanied. I was tasked to ensure there weren't any misunderstandings that came about as a result of Dadi-kun's intrigue." Though he didn't believe a single word coming out of Guren's mouth, Rasa eventually responded with a terse, "I see..." before subsequently opening the scroll and reading its contents. Some of what was inscribed within all but confirmed that Dadi's presence within Suna was intended as a threat, but other sections caused a reflective glimmer to flash across his eyes... ... .. .

Chapter 46: Mutual Understanding