Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

"What do you mean, brat?!"

Chiyo's sharp eyes fixed on Kazuyama, whose ever-changing expression raised alarms in her mind. Something was wrong, but she dismissed the thought. Surely, the brat standing in front of her couldn't escape her grasp.

"Lady Chiyo, times have changed." His smirk widened. "Remember this: never underestimate the ninja of Konoha, especially the young ones!"

Kazuyama chuckled, his laughter echoing through the ruins. He couldn't help but find it amusing—there was a lesson he'd learned from Naruto that always stuck with him.

Jōnin might be skilled, but all they do is throw kunai. It's the Genin who get the real work done.

And while he wasn't a Genin anymore, he was still young enough to prove the point.

"Hahahaha!"

"Little brat!" Chiyo's patience snapped. "Kill him for me!"

As her order rang out, the Sunagakure ninja lunged to attack. But in that instant, Kazuyama's figure vanished—along with Pakura, who had been in his arms.

Even Chiyo, with all her experience, was momentarily stunned. Her sharp eyes searched the area, but neither Kazuyama nor Pakura was anywhere to be seen. His aura had disappeared entirely.

"That wasn't the Body Flicker Technique…" she muttered, realization dawning. "Damn it! We've fallen for a trap! This brat has been playing us for fools! This is Space–Time Ninjutsu!"

As a veteran ninja and Sunagakure's strongest combatant, Chiyo recognized the technique immediately. But recognizing it didn't change the outcome. By the time her squad began searching the ruins, it was too late.

Kazuyama had already used the Flying Thunder God Technique to evacuate Heichi and the others, transporting them away in multiple jumps.

When the Sunagakure ninja reached the site of the battle, there was nothing left—just a few bloodstains on the ground. Not a single Konoha ninja remained.

"Damn brats!" Chiyo bellowed, her voice trembling with fury. "Damn it!!!"

Her fists clenched in frustration as she surveyed the empty battlefield. She had never expected that, despite her overwhelming advantage, the Konoha ninjas would escape right under her nose.

"Bring me the Iron Sand of the Third Kazekage!" she shouted, her voice laced with desperation. "We'll use it to sense their direction!"

Chiyo's subordinates quickly retrieved the Iron Sand, relying on its magnetic properties to track Pakura's location.

But when the ninja holding the Iron Sand began his work, his expression quickly turned to confusion. Slowly, he walked toward a crumbling wall, crouched down, and froze.

"Lady Chiyo" his voice wavered. "The Iron Sand… it's…"

"What is it?!" Chiyo barked.

The ninja gulped. "It's… all gone."

He pointed at the ground where faint traces of metallic dust remained—just the remnants of pulverized Iron Sand.

"They found the Iron Sand…" the ninja muttered. "And they destroyed it. All of it."

Chiyo felt the world spin. Her vision darkened as anger surged through her. Then, a furious roar tore from her throat, echoing through the ruins.

"Damned Konoha ninja! I'll never forgive you!"

…

On top of a massive rock five kilometers away from the ruins, Sakumo panted heavily, his breaths ragged as he pushed his body to its limits. Using chakra to boost his speed had proven effective, but the cost to his stamina was immense. To save precious time, he had sprinted the entire five kilometers in under two minutes before finally coming to a halt.

In his judgment, this was far enough.

As his body trembled from exertion, his thoughts drifted to his teammates. Were they safe? Could they escape the danger unscathed? Just as worry began to creep in—

Whoosh!

"Who!"

A sudden figure appeared in front of him. Instinctively, Sakumo's hand went to his blade, drawing it. But in the very next moment, his tension turned to elation. Standing before him was none other than their target: the elite Suna kunoichi, Pakura.

And then, one by one, familiar figures materialized around him—Heichi, Ken, Nozuki, Tsukiyuki—and at last, Kazuyama. Relief surged through Sakumo like a wave. Kazuyama had done it. He had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to get them all out of the encirclement safely.

He couldn't hold back his praise.

"Kazuyama! Well done!"

A laugh broke free from his chest as the relief lightened his exhausted body.

"Hah! Chiyo never would have guessed you'd pull off a Space–Time Ninjutsu like that!"

Tsukiyuki, as carefree as ever, joined in. "Hey? Lord Sakumo! We're really out of there? Kazuyama, that technique of yours is incredible!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, Tsukiyuki grabbed Kazuyama in a tight embrace.

"Hey, let go of me! I'm exhausted!" Kazuyama grumbled. "Teleporting five kilometers with all of you completely drained me!"

He wasn't exaggerating. Despite his improved chakra reserves, teleporting multiple people such a long distance wasn't an ordinary feat. The Flying Thunder God Technique had taken a heavy toll.

"Hahaha! Don't worry about it!" Tsukiyuki chuckled, rummaging through his bag. "I've got my special military ration pills right here. Sure, they taste terrible, but they'll help a bit. Come on, eat up!"

Kazuyama eyed the dark, unappetizing pills with a grimace, his mouth twitching. The sight of them somehow looked worse than the effort he had just endured.

"Tsukiyuki, I appreciate your kindness, but my stomach is weak. I can't digest your special military ration pills, so keep them for yourself," Kazuyama said.

"Lord Sakumo, we shouldn't stay here," he said. "Even though we've destroyed the Iron Sand, we're still inside the Land of Wind's borders. It's not safe."

Sakumo nodded at Kazuyama's words. "Kōjin, you carry Ken. Nozuki, assist him. Everyone else, move out!" His voice rang with authority. "Back to the Land of Fire!"

While Sakumo's squad felt a wave of relief and hope, the mood in Sunagakure was starkly different.

In the Kazekage's Office, Chiyo and Kankichi stood before the Third Kazekage, their mission report complete.

The Third Kazekage sat in tense silence, his body rigid and veins bulging as he processed their words. His voice, deceptively calm, carried an undercurrent of fury. "So, the two of you attacked together… and yet not a single one of them was killed. Is that correct?"

His eyes narrowed. "Pakura was the Assault Team leader I entrusted with this mission. Do you understand the consequences of his capture by the enemy?"

"Get out…"

His voice was quiet but heavy with suppressed rage. Kankichi, familiar with the Third Kazekage's temper, felt a chill run down his spine. Without hesitation, he bowed and left the room quickly.

"Hatazaemon," Chiyo said, addressing the Kazekage directly. "I take full responsibility for the failure of this mission. I have nothing to defend myself with." Her tone was steady.

"However, I must warn you—our opponent has mastered Space–Time Ninjutsu. If we don't prepare to counter it, we'll gain no advantage in the wars to come."

She hesitated briefly, then continued. "Pakura's capture has weakened us. I request that you allow me to take over as the Assault Team leader."

With that, she turned and left without waiting for a response, leaving Hatazaemon alone.

As the door closed, a tense silence filled the office. Suddenly, the air seemed to tremble, and a tide of black iron sand surged across the room, consuming every corner.

"Konoha…"

The Third Kazekage's voice, filled with seething hatred, reverberated through the room.

"We will meet again!"

His roar, laced with killing intent, echoed through the air.