### Chapter 173

The conversation between Shinki and Tsunade continued with their characteristic banter, though Tsunade's exhaustion was evident.

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"Ha! They're afraid I'll trick them, yet they still try to pull one over on me by giving me the most dangerous route—toward the Sand Village and the River Country battlefield," Shinki said with a wry grin.

Tsunade frowned. *Those old schemers probably did it on purpose.* But her expression quickly shifted to realization. 

*Wait… does it even matter if they did?* 

She sighed, shaking her head. "Afraid of *you*? Afraid of what? The Sand Village couldn't even catch you if they tried. What are they going to do, throw endless soldiers at you? You'd slip through like sand in their fingers."

She smirked faintly. "Honestly, they should be more worried about themselves. If anyone gets caught and surrounded by the Sand Village, it'll be them, not you."

Relieved, Tsunade reclined back on her bed. "Alright, fine. Best of luck with your mission. Now let me sleep—I've been up all night, and I'm *done.*"

Shinki chuckled at her bluntness. "When I'm done, I'll come back and let you take a break. How about we switch shifts for a while?"

"Switch shifts?!" Tsunade bolted upright, glaring at the puppet crow. "No way. *You're* the one who likes gallivanting across enemy lines. Don't drag me into your mess!"

Shinki was about to argue when he noticed her falling back into her pillow. Within seconds, she was snoring lightly. He sighed.

*She really is exhausted.*

Tsunade's responsibilities were endless—commanding battles, overseeing the medical corps, developing antidotes, brewing medicine, and even risking her life in the field. It was no wonder she barely had time to breathe.

"Fine," Shinki muttered to himself. "Once I'm done here, I'll take over so she can finally get some proper rest. Maybe after the New Year… assuming we all survive until then."

Withdrawing his consciousness from the puppet crow, Shinki leaned back in his tent, gazing at the golden sands of the Wind Country.

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### The Scorching Desert

The Wind Country's desert was a stark contrast to Konoha's lush greenery. Though the endless dunes had a certain beauty, the extreme climate made it anything but comfortable. The days were blisteringly hot, while the nights dropped to freezing temperatures.

Thankfully, Shinki had come prepared. His insulated tent provided relief from the elements, allowing him to relax even in the harsh desert. He reclined inside, sipping a drink and reading a book from his scroll. 

Meanwhile, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Hamura were far less fortunate. Dressed in ill-fitting desert disguises, they trudged under the relentless sun, racing to reach their first target.

Tsunade's advice echoed in their minds: the mission had to be swift and precise. Hit hard, cause as much chaos as possible, and retreat before the Sand Village could organize a counterattack.

But the Wind Country's unpredictability added to their stress. The desert wasn't just challenging because of its climate—it was also prone to sudden sandstorms. Even the most skilled ninjas, including those from the Sand Village, had to seek shelter when one struck.

After a grueling day, the group stopped to rest in the shadow of a sandstone outcrop. Mitokado Hamura glanced at his partner with concern. Koharu, used to the comforts of village life, was clearly struggling with the harsh conditions.

"Can you manage?" Hamura asked, handing her a water bottle.

Koharu scowled but accepted the bottle. "I'm fine. Don't baby me."

Hamura wisely refrained from pointing out her pale complexion and labored breathing. "Drink up. Once the sun sets, we'll move again. We need to hit our first target by early morning."

Koharu took a few sips of water before muttering under her breath, "That Hyuga Shinki… he's doing this on purpose, isn't he? Just to make us suffer."

Hamura turned away, hiding his exasperation. *Regret accepting this mission now, do you? Too late for that.*

"Do you think he'll come back to sabotage us?" Koharu asked suddenly, her tone half-serious.

Hamura shook his head. "Highly unlikely. There's conflict between us, sure, but not enough for him to deliberately harm us. Besides, he'd have to worry about Tsunade if he did."

He continued, "Shinki's route is far more dangerous than ours—closer to the Sand Village and the River Country battlefield. If anything, he'll be too busy surviving to waste time on us."

Koharu frowned, unfolding the map again to double-check. Hamura's reasoning was sound. Shinki's task was no small feat, and trying to sabotage them would only complicate his own mission.

Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I won't let him get under my skin anymore. But this is the last time I'm accepting a mission like this. We're better off supporting Hiruzen from the village."

Hamura raised an eyebrow but said nothing. *Good. Maybe next time you'll think twice before letting pride get in the way of reason.*

The group rested briefly before pressing on, dreading the coming challenges yet determined to see their mission through.

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