Pakura only wanted to kill Rasa to avenge her fallen subordinates, not to destroy Sunagakure.
After all, this was her homeland. Naturally, she did not want to see Sunagakure reduced to ruins by Shukaku.
In her urgency, she forgot her usual composure and directly shouted, "Husband!"
Upon hearing Pakura's shout, everyone in Sunagakure froze.
Husband?
Pakura… had already married Uchiha Yuzuru?
Before they could think further, Yuzuru had already vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant, he was standing atop Shukaku's head.
"Shukaku, stop."
His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.
Shukaku sneered. "You damned insect, you think you can order me around?"
"Once I destroy Sunagakure, you're next!"
It remained unmoved, the Tailed Beast Ball in the air already fully formed.
"Kekekeke… die!"
The moment the Tailed Beast Ball completed, Shukaku opened its mouth wide.
But before it could launch the attack, a gigantic skeletal hand grabbed the Tailed Beast Ball and violently stuffed it back into its mouth.
Boom!
With a dull explosion, Shukaku's upper body was blown into countless grains of sand.
Everyone present was stunned, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Just now… Yuzuru had shoved the Tailed Beast Ball into the One-Tail's mouth?!
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
"I will kill you!!!"
Shukaku's furious voice rang out again as its shattered lower half rapidly reformed.
Its eyes burned with ferocity.
Even as a Tailed Beast, that explosion had not been pleasant.
But just as it was about to go berserk, a pair of crimson Mangekyō Sharingan reflected within its eyes.
Shukaku's voice abruptly stopped, its expression turning blank.
Those eyes…
Such terrifying Dōjutsu Power…
"Are you willing to calm down now?"
Hearing Yuzuru's voice, Shukaku unconsciously nodded.
Satisfied, Uchiha patted its head lightly. "Don't try anything funny. Otherwise, I'll let you sink forever into my genjutsu, to the point where even having your own consciousness becomes a luxury."
After offering this friendly warning, Yuzuru stepped off Shukaku.
"Wife, you don't need to worry about Shukaku anymore."
Seeing the smile on his face, Pakura nodded with a flushed expression.
She quickly composed herself and stepped onto Sunagakure's walls.
"Shukaku has been subdued, and Rasa will face proper judgment."
"From today onward, Sunagakure shall be ruled by me!"
The people of Sunagakure exchanged uncertain glances.
They had heard clearly what Pakura had shouted earlier in her panic.
Uchiha Yuzuru was her husband…
Did that mean Sunagakure would now fall under his jurisdiction just like Konoha and Kumogakure?
Seeing their silence, Pakura frowned.
"What, are you unwilling?"
The villagers snapped back to their senses and immediately knelt.
"We are willing!"
"Lady Pakura, from now on you are the Kazekage of our village!"
"We swear to follow Lady Pakura to the death!"
They were not fools; they knew the situation.
Leaving aside the tens of thousands of the Lightning-Fire Allied Army surrounding them, just the power Yuzuru had displayed by subduing the One-Tail in an instant was something they could never oppose.
Compared to the destruction of their nation and clan, submitting to Uchiha Yuzuru was the best possible choice.
Seeing no opposition, Pakura nodded in satisfaction.
"Return to your homes and wait. Without my orders, no one is to leave the village."
"Yes."
After dismissing the Sunagakure shinobi, Pakura returned to Yuzuru's side.
Looking at Chiyo, whose body had been sealed by Karura, she frowned and asked, "Yuzuru, how should we deal with this one?"
Yuzuru replied calmly, "Leave her to me. Go handle the rest."
"Alright."
Pakura responded before heading into Sunagakure with Tsunade, Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, and the others.
Sunagakure was the hub of the Land of Wind, and with the village having just chosen submission, there was much to be done.
Once everyone had left, Yuzuru released Kokuō.
"Explain to Shukaku the benefits of following me. I won't waste words with him."
Kokuō no longer carried its previous cold demeanor. With a somewhat ingratiating laugh, it said, "Lord Yuzuru, I will properly enlighten Shukaku and make him your capable subordinate!"
"Go on."
Uchiha waved it away. Now only Chiyo remained nearby.
He lifted a hand and removed the seal restraining her. Chiyo said coldly, "Uchiha Yuzuru, if you're trying to persuade me to surrender, you'd better give up."
"I would rather die than become a pawn for you to control Sunagakure."
Hearing her words, Yuzuru replied calmly, "You're quite confident."
Chiyo snorted, her expression carrying a hint of pride.
For decades, she had rendered countless services to Sunagakure.
Among the village's shinobi, her prestige was not inferior to the Kazekage's.
Yuzuru glanced sideways at her, disdain evident. "With my power, I don't need puppets to control Sunagakure."
"Anyone who refuses to obey can simply be killed."
Chiyo's expression stiffened. "Then why haven't you killed me?"
Yuzuru did not answer, instead gazing into the distance.
Confused, Chiyo turned and followed his line of sight.
The next moment, her pupils shrank violently, her lips trembling.
"Sasori… Sasori?!"
"Grandmother, long time no see."
Sasori walked out from the drifting sand, greeting her first.
Chiyo's gaze was complicated, her mouth opening several times without words coming out.
So many years had passed, yet Sasori looked exactly as she remembered.
She had countless questions she wanted to ask, but for a moment she didn't know where to begin.
In the end, she forced out a single sentence.
"Sasori, you've gotten thinner."
Pfft!
Laughter came from beside them, instantly destroying the atmosphere of reunion between grandmother and grandson.
Seeing both Sasori and Chiyo look at him, Yuzuru raised a hand. "My apologies, I couldn't help myself. Please continue."
Chiyo really was something.
Sasori had long turned his body into a human puppet — how exactly had she concluded that he had gotten thinner?