Naruto: I Survived Two Wars Without You, System!

To most ninja, tailed beasts were seen as harbingers of world-shattering destruction.

The elder ninja of Sunagakure could still clearly recall the chaos and devastation caused by the One-Tail before it was sealed within Bunpuku.

Even if only the Nine-Tails and Three-Tails had appeared, along with a group of enormous summoned beasts that served as ultimate weapons on the battlefield—

Despite knowing full well that the Nine-Tails surpassed the One-Tail in power and those summoned beasts were terrifying—

They wouldn't have hesitated to fight!

But now, it wasn't just them!

A chakra giant even taller and more horrifying than the tailed beasts loomed in the sky.

Its towering form spanned kilometers, towering over everything like it could obliterate the entire Sunagakure village in an instant.

The Wood Release Senju Colossus stood outside the village.

This... was beyond anything humans could hope to resist.

Chiyo staggered, her vision blurring.

It wasn't until she saw the massive Senju statue standing outside the village that she fully understood the deep terror Fuyuki must have felt returning from the front lines.

Pakura quickly caught Chiyo's faltering form beside her before she collapsed, her voice laced with concern.

"Granny Chiyo, Sunagakure still needs you! Please, don't fall now!"

"..."

Pulled back from the brink of unconsciousness, Chiyo felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow rise in her chest.

Need me?

What use did Sunagakure have for her now?

To sign a surrender agreement? Accept Konoha's merger terms?

"Come on, sister, pull yourself together. The Kazekage is gone—right now, you're the heart and soul of every Suna ninja."

Ebizō supported Chiyo's other arm.

His aged face carried bitterness and grief alike.

He knew full well—if Konoha ninja had revealed such a terrifying force today, it might mean Sunagakure's end if their demands weren't met.

"I... understand."

Chiyo's gaze swept across the assembled Suna leadership staring at her.

Uncertainty, anxiety, panic, fear, resentment, regret...

Their eyes carried every emotion.

That's right!

She had been the one who halted the Fourth Kazekage's selection process. She had taken control of Sunagakure's leadership.

She had chosen—against everyone's objections—to pursue peace with Konoha, and later to ally with Iwagakure in attacking them.

All that Sunagakure faced today...

May have all stemmed from her decisions.

How could she let herself collapse at a moment like this, leaving all responsibility to others?

Sunagakure...

Her dim, aged eyes reddened slightly as she forced herself to stand straighter.

Facing the gazes around her, Chiyo pulled free from Pakura and Ebizō's support, walked to the very front of the Kazekage Building, and stared into the swirling sandstorm ahead, as if warning both herself and everyone else.

"Lord Rekuto founded Sunagakure, allowing us to survive in this desert land known as the Land of Wind. Master Shamon taught us to endure the sandstorms, strengthened our military might, and raised us among the Five Great Ninja Villages..."

"We are the children of the sand, born in the heart of the storm!"

"Born in this barren land, we have always fought—against the heavens, against the land, and against each other—because if we don't fight, we cannot survive!"

"Show the fighting spirit of a Sunagakure ninja! We were born with the courage and perseverance to struggle against everything!"

Chiyo stood straight-backed, as if summoning her resolve.

She spun around abruptly, her eyes burning with fury, staring coldly at the crowd wearing mixed expressions, and issued orders in a sharp tone.

"Send word to stop the alarm! All the village's ninjas are to enter full combat readiness!"

"If Konoha comes in peace, we will meet them in peace. But if they attempt to enslave us, they'll have to walk over our corpses first!"

"All Sunagakure ninjas, prepare yourselves—we will fight the Konoha ninjas to the bitter end!"

"Yes!"

Perhaps it was Chiyo's words that inspired everyone, or perhaps they had already received the answer they had been waiting for all along.

The Sand Village leadership sprang into action immediately, each with their own agenda.

The piercing alarm fell silent.

The Sunagakure ninjas, who had been in chaos and terror, prepared themselves under barked orders and harsh commands, ready to face whatever was coming.

"Pakura..."

Chiyo looked at Pakura beside her with a complicated expression.

"Grandma Chiyo?"

Pakura turned her head in confusion, somewhat puzzled by why Chiyo would call her now.

"You go to the Ninja Academy and take the Kinoto Class children into the deepest underground tunnels of the shelter. That is where most of our village's legacy treasures are kept. If war breaks out, take them and leave directly—protect the future of Sunagakure."

"Grandma..."

"Go, good child. Before all this, I was wrong—I misjudged you."

With a warm smile on her face, Chiyo gently pushed Pakura, who still wore a shocked expression.

Pakura leapt down from the Kazekage Building and sped toward the Ninja Academy. As she glanced back, her face showed determination and reluctance—but inwardly, she sneered bitterly.

That old hag Chiyo—if at the end of her life she still wanted to test her!

Telling her to run away with the kids once the battle starts.

Did she really think Pakura didn't understand what she meant when she said "if Konoha comes in peace"?

Fuki had made everything clear when he returned with others from the front lines.

The Sand Village leadership had discussed it more than once!

Otherwise, why would those leaders act so quickly just now?

What Sunagakure is doing now is merely showing strength—to avoid having to accept overly harsh terms.

She was nearly certain—once the negotiations ended, she'd become the next Kazekage.

But the Kazekage...

What if she no longer wanted to be?

"In a moment like this, can't you use the Mind Body Transmission Technique?"

Pakura looked toward the colossal Senju Kannon statue standing in the southern part of Sunagakure. With her sharp eyesight, she could barely make out a speck on top of the statue.

A familiar connection formed through the Mind Body Transmission Technique.

The next instant, Kei Yamanaka's voice rang inside Pakura's mind.

"Looking for me?"

"...If I don't become Kazekage, what job are you planning to assign me?"

"How about foot rubs and back massages?"

"How about we heat things up? Scorch Release could do wonders here."

"Cut the crap! I'm serious!"

"Tch, zero sense of humor. Seriously, what's wrong? Why wouldn't you want to become Kazekage?"

"...It's meaningless."

Pakura fell silent for a moment before finally replying, her voice heavy with deep exhaustion and disappointment.

She was full of contradictions—deeply loving the village she grew up in, yet hating the prejudice and injustice from its leaders.

There would be no village merger without Chiyo's support.

Even after the merger, Sunagakure ninjas' obedience would still depend on Chiyo leading the charge.

Konoha wouldn't kill Chiyo, and… honestly, she didn't seem capable of making that kind of decision either.

Sentimentality?

Perhaps.

But if she couldn't even make that kind of resolution, then becoming Kazekage would just mean serving as a puppet for Chiyo to put on display.

It would only pull her deeper into the storm of internal conflict.

What would be the point?

"Just keep being Kazekage. Chiyo has already made her decision. She, well, I guess you could say she truly is a proud elder of Sunagakure..."

Kei Yamanaka's words, filled with emotion, rang in Pakura's mind.

Pakura wasn't stupid.

After a brief moment of shock, she immediately understood what Kei meant. Suddenly stopping in her tracks, she turned around and looked toward the top of the Kazekage Building.

Chiyo remained there, watching everything unfold in Sunagakure below—even from this distance.

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>