Chapter 399: Once a general, always a general

The biting wind carried yellow sand, ruthlessly eroding everything it reached, adding a few points of desolation to the already barren land. But in this yellow hell without any vitality, a touch of emerald green appeared so rare and precious.

A figure wearing a cloak stood before the vibrant oasis, his eyes carrying hard-to-conceal joy, as well as a trace of worry hidden deep beneath his eyelids.

"Who are you?"

Two guards dressed as soldiers held kunai, looking at the mysterious person who had broken into their forbidden area with vigilance. If the other party showed any improper movements, they would immediately sound the alarm.

The mysterious person didn't show the slightest panic. Instead, he looked at the two dutiful guards with great interest, the look of gratification on his face flashing by. He slowly took off the cloak covering his head, revealing a ferocious green dragon.

"The vigilance is not bad, worthy of praise."

Having come specially to inspect his hometown, Shamon, whose face was usually serious, wore a rare smile. When the two guards saw him, they hurriedly hid their kunai behind their backs and stood at attention in unison, cold sweat unable to stop seeping from their bodies.

"Greetings, Kazekage-sama! We small ones didn't know Kazekage-sama had arrived; our crime is worthy of death!"

"It's no matter. It was I who broke in privately; you are just doing your duty. What crime is there?"

Shamon shook his head, signaling these two new recruits not to panic, and turned his gaze to the forest behind him, asking.

"Has anything major happened in Loulan recently?"

"Reporting to Kazekage-sama, everything is well, it's just..."

The two guards, facing Shamon's inquiry, naturally didn't dare to be slow and immediately nodded in agreement, but soon showed a difficult expression.

"Just what?"

"It's just that Loulan's current carrying capacity is not enough. The newly migrated residents are still in a state of being homeless."

"Didn't the Daimyo already allocate funds to build new residential areas?"

Shamon's brows furrowed upon hearing this. How could he let the folks be displaced?

"The funds arrived, but it's still a drop in the bucket. Too many refugees join every day, and the construction speed can't keep up at all."

The guard showed a bitter smile, explaining the reason.

"I know. Is the City Lord here?"

Shamon, having roughly understood the reason, nodded. He didn't continue to question the two big-headed soldiers about this matter and instead inquired about the situation of the Loulan City Lord.

"He is!"

The Loulan City Lord was a red-haired man of similar age to Shamon. At this moment, he was flipping through the documents in his hand with a distressed expression. The series of red figures on them gave him a headache, and his rugged face carried a look of hard-to-conceal fatigue.

"Creak~"

"Didn't I say not to disturb me while I'm working!"

Suddenly, the tightly closed door of the office was pushed open violently. The Loulan City Lord frowned and reprimanded without even raising his head.

"Father~"

However, the soft, glutinous voice made the City Lord's indignant expression instantly break. With a face full of tenderness, he raised his head and saw a red-haired little girl, about five or six years old, leaning timidly against the door frame, her watery eyes filled with worry.

"It's little Sana. Come here quickly, let Daddy give you a hug~"

The City Lord beckoned to the little girl with a smile, and the sternness from just a moment ago vanished without a trace.

"Da, da, da~"

The little girl named Sana ran over with her short legs and threw herself into the City Lord's arms.

"Father, you haven't been home for several days. Mother and I have missed you so much."

"After I finish this period of time, I will accompany you well."

Because of the tight finances recently, the City Lord had to work overtime to repeatedly check every payment, eating and living in the office, let alone going home.

"You're not allowed to lie!"

Sana in his arms puffed her small face into a bun and stretched out her finger, wanting to hook pinkies with him.

"When has Father ever lied to you? After I'm done, I'll take you to the Land of Fire to drink Mixue Bingcheng."

"Yay!"

Hearing the words 'Mixue Bingcheng', Sana's eyes were instantly filled with little stars. She raised her small fists high and danced with excitement.

"I want to eat lots and lots of sundaes!"

"No problem!"

"Bang, bang, bang~"

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted the rare parent-child time. The City Lord frowned again, just about to reprimand, when he saw a familiar bald head resting on the door, looking at him with a teasing expression.

"Shamon! Why are you here?"

The City Lord stood up in surprise upon seeing the visitor.

"Why, don't you welcome an old friend?"

Shamon squeezed his eyes awkwardly.

And the little girl in the City Lord's arms blinked her eyes in confusion, her small hand touching her chin, her delicate brows furrowed into a 'chuan' character, as if she were trying hard to think about something.

"You are... the big bald uncle!"

After about ten seconds, she showed a look of sudden realization, pointed at Shamon's shiny bald head, and greeted him loudly.

"Little Sana, long time no see."

Not being angry because of the little girl's impolite address, Shamon instead touched her little red head with a smile, his voice exceptionally gentle.

"Little Sana, go home first. Daddy has to start working."

The City Lord looked at Shamon, who had a smile on his face, put down his little daughter, and told her not to disturb the conversation between adults.

"Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, big bald uncle~"

Sana pouted aggrievedly. Although she was somewhat unwilling, she still left politely and obediently.

"Little Sana is just so sensible, unlike that brat of mine, who is naughty every day and has recently taken a liking to playing with snakes."

Looking at little Sana's retreating back, Shamon nodded with some envy, then thought of his own son and was instantly furious. Sure enough, one shouldn't compare too much.

"Hmph~ Little Sana is the cutest in the world!"

For Shamon's praise, the City Lord accepted it calmly.

"Drink tea."

Having finished discussing educational issues, the City Lord stood up and rummaged through the tea cabinet for a long time, finally finding a pile of residual crumbs. He didn't stand on ceremony and brewed it directly for Shamon.

"Has it become this tight?"

Shamon looked at the coarse tea in front of him, showing a look of unbearable sympathy. As the lord of a city, he didn't even have tea leaves that could be looked at. How great a crisis was Loulan facing?

"It's not bad to have something to drink. This is what I saved for myself to savor. When ordinary people come, I only give them white water."

The City Lord sat down in front of Shamon in a big way. Seeing that he dared to mock him, he rolled his eyes instantly.

The Guardian Clan of Loulan and the City Lord's lineage had a friendship spanning thousands of years, and Shamon and the Loulan City Lord were even close friends who had grown up together.

When Shamon was still in Loulan, besides serving as the Guardian of the Dragon Vein, he also concurrently held the post of City Defense Commander of Loulan.

According to the address at that time, Shamon was the Mighty General of Loulan.

However, Shamon, who should have dedicated his life to Loulan, left his hometown under the coaxing of a certain shameless curly-haired person and chose to go out and make a name for himself. But fortunately, he made a name for himself, otherwise he would have become a joke to the Loulan people.

The two close friends, who had met only a handful of times over these years, entered the main topic after a simple exchange of pleasantries.

"Are the funds allocated by the Daimyo really not enough to spend?"

Sipping the tea full of crumbs, Shamon cast his gaze on the documents piled up like a mountain.

"Not enough. Loulan is just a town, not a country. It can't digest so many new refugees all at once, and infrastructure construction is always half a beat slow."

"Then restrict entry."

"I can't do it. These people are all coming for Loulan, so how can I turn them away?"

Facing the cruel solution proposed by Shamon, the City Lord shook his head and refused.

The people coming to join Loulan now were mostly sand people living in the desert. They had lived a nomadic life for generations and had no savings themselves, usually relying on simple labor to survive.

Their joining couldn't bring the economic benefits Loulan imagined; instead, it became a burden on the city's development.

But the Loulan City Lord was a generous person and couldn't bear to see these sand people who had come from afar be displaced, so he opened the city gates wide to let them settle down.

However, with the joining of more and more refugees, Loulan's already not-spacious space was squeezed again. They could only grit their teeth and carry out large-scale expansion projects. The Daimyo's special allocation wasn't enough to fill this loophole, and Loulan had to tighten its belt to live.

"It's all my fault."

Shamon looked at the exhausted Loulan City Lord and spoke with some self-reproach.

"It has nothing to do with you."

"No, it's all my fault. If it weren't for those oases, Loulan would still be that stable border town."

Attributing all the blame for everything in front of him to the oasis planted by Senju Hashirama, Shamon shook his head with a bitter face.

"Nonsense! The oasis is the residence most yearned for by every person in the Land of Wind. How can you blame the oasis?"

He had thought Shamon had some high-level insight, but he hadn't expected it to be such a narrow-minded thought. The City Lord was instantly furious and questioned him with a very serious expression.

"But..."

"No more 'buts'. If you still care about the folks, then get some more money for Loulan."

Seeing Shamon's hesitant appearance, the City Lord waved his hand, stopping his speech, and then showed a mercenary expression.

"Uh... Sunagakure doesn't have any surplus grain either~"

He hadn't expected his friend from the past to actually morally kidnap him. Shamon showed a very difficult expression. Although he was the Kazekage, the village's financial power was still in the hands of the Retired Emperor, Reto.

And the village's funds were all used to consolidate the military and guard the Land of Wind; they couldn't squeeze out any money to help Loulan.

"Forget it. I see you're still as unreliable as before. If there's no money, putting in some effort will do."

The City Lord's request for money before was just a joke. Looking at Shamon, whose face didn't look very good, he then shifted his thinking.

You said you came, so you have to leave something behind, right?

"I was just passing by. There are still government affairs to be busy with in the village~"

"Get lost!"

"Don't be like that! It's almost the Winter Solstice, and I miss the dumplings Sister-in-law makes~"

"Sure enough, you bald head is still harboring evil intentions!"

Looking at Shamon's cheap expression, the City Lord was so angry his fists hardened, wishing he could crack open his bald head.

"Haha, just joking. I'll be leaving in a while."

Seeing the City Lord's posture of rubbing his hands, Shamon laughed from the bottom of his heart, then waved his hand, indicating that he didn't have much time left.

"Eh?"

The City Lord was stunned upon hearing this, a strange look flashing across his face.

"It wouldn't be too late to stay for a meal before leaving, and don't you want to go see the Dragon Vein?"

"It wouldn't be too late to eat the meal until the New Year. As for the Dragon Vein..."

Facing his friend's retention, Shamon, who had a heavy responsibility, endured the pain and refused. When mentioning the Dragon Vein, he appeared thoughtful, touched his heart, and added a sentence with an inexplicable tone.

"... it has always been by my side."

Outside Loulan City

Shamon, wearing a cloak, walked with the City Lord. Along the way, the two could see many sallow and thin but bright-eyed sand people. They dragged their families and brought their only assets, moving toward Loulan without hesitation.

The sand people of the Land of Wind spent their whole lives chasing oases, and Loulan, filled with oases, was the supreme holy land in their hearts.

"I will find a way."

Shamon, who had been silent along the way, suddenly spoke at the moment of parting.

"No need. You just be a good Kazekage and don't lose face for the Loulan people."

The City Lord looked at Shamon's firm expression and felt gratified in his heart, but he still shook his head and refused.

They couldn't let Shamon become a corrupt official of Sunagakure because of them. It was hard for the village to produce a talent; he couldn't go down the wrong path.

"Sigh~"

Shamon sighed and looked at the yellow sand beneath his feet, suddenly having an absurd thought.

If his Magnet Release could maneuver gold sand, how good would that be~

"Don't sigh. You were the Mighty General of Loulan before; bring out your general's momentum!"

"General... truly a title that makes one nostalgic."

Listening to the familiar yet unfamiliar title, Shamon was somewhat dazed. His gaze passed over his friend and landed on Loulan, surrounded by lush greenery. His gaze changed from confusion to firmness.

"That's right, I am the general who guards everything! The Dragon Vein, Loulan, Sunagakure, the Land of Wind—all will be guarded by me!"

Drip~

Drip~

"Am I dead?"

In the deep darkness, Shamon opened his eyes with difficulty. Looking at the space where he couldn't see his fingers in front of him, he subconsciously thought he had fallen into the Pure Land, waiting for the reincarnation of the Six Paths.

"Hehehe, baldy, I didn't expect you to be quite brave!"

Suddenly, a familiar sharp voice rang in his ear, pulling his consciousness, which was about to dissipate, back a little. Shamon turned his head and found a pair of 'lanterns' like copper coins in the darkness.

"Sorry, Shukaku, for letting you die with me. But you should still be able to be resurrected. Next time, remember to find a more reliable partner."

Having recognized the teasing light emitted by the 'lanterns', Shamon shook his head bitterly, his tone carrying sincere apology.

"..."

"Idiot."

Shamon's unexpected remark left Shukaku, who had accumulated a stomach full of trash talk, somewhat at a loss. After holding it in for a long time, it spat out a word with minimal lethality.

"You're right, it was indeed stupid enough. The other party was Uchiha Madara, and Uchiha Madara merged with the Nine-Tails at that. How did I dare?"

Recalling his last heroic act 'before death', Shamon sighed with some emotion, but there was no regret on his face.

At least he dared to face it.

"I don't like hearing you say that. Do you mean I'm not as strong as that stinky fox?"

Shukaku, who had become less talkative, suddenly roared excitedly upon hearing Shamon's mutterings.

"I didn't mean that."

"You did mean that!"

"I didn't... Alright, I did mean that. But this can't blame you. Facing an opponent stronger than yourself, cowardice is normal."

Shamon, who had originally wanted to explain, suddenly thought that he was already gone, so he simply stopped being polite with Shukaku and began to speak the truth.

"Who said that stinky fox is stronger than me? I was just worried..."

Shukaku was instantly furious upon hearing this, actually daring to say it was afraid of that stinky fox, the Nine-Tails. If it weren't for Indra's conscious chakra being there, it would have already fought the Nine-Tails.

"Alright, alright. As things stand, it's too late to say anything. Thank you for coming to send me off. We'll meet again if fate allows."

Facing the furious Shukaku, a free and easy smile appeared on Shamon's face. He waved at the fat tanuki that had been his partner for many years and waited peacefully for the opening of the Pure Land gate.

"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! You idiot baldy! So annoying!"

Looking at Shamon, who had a look of relief, Shukaku suddenly became irritable. It felt a throb coming from its chakra origin, and a strange emotion was born in its heart.

"By the way, after you are resurrected, take a look at Loulan for me. I hope everyone can live better."

"Idiot, if you want to see it, go see it yourself!"

Shukaku gritted its teeth, its copper-coin-like eyes staring straight at Shamon, but there were a few fewer points of the violence from before in its voice.

"Ha?"

"Roar!"

Just as Shamon was puzzled, a deafening dragon roar suddenly rang out behind him. The space surrounded by darkness was gradually dispersed by purple light.

"Dragon... Dragon Vein?"

Turning around hesitantly, Shamon saw the familiar giant dragon. That was the incarnation of the Dragon Vein power that his clan had guarded for generations.

"Baldy, although you look dead, you aren't dead yet. It was this guy who pulled you in at the last moment."

Shukaku, whose expression had returned to calm, served as a commentator beside Shamon. Pointing at the Dragon Vein emitting a mysterious aura, it continued.

"This guy's background is not small. You kid can be considered to have picked up a treasure."

The Dragon Vein power was born from the residual power at the base after the Six Paths Sage removed the God Tree back then. It not only possessed chakra comparable to a Tailed Beast but also had the magical ability to reverse time and space.

"Are you saying I'm still alive now?"

Shamon looked at his semi-transparent body and scratched his bald head in confusion.

"Barely surviving, but..."

Shukaku shook its head. The Shamon outside was about to be beheaded by Uchiha Madara, but the Dragon Vein pulled him into an alternate space detached from time at the moment before his death, which allowed the two of them to have a brief exchange.

"But what?"

"You'll still have to die when you go back. That red-eyed guy has been infected by the Nine-Tails' malice and is hitting without restraint."

"Ah, this..."

Shamon now understood his current situation. The Dragon Vein had only temporarily given him time to leave his last words; it was truly thoughtful~

"Roar!"

The Dragon Vein let out another dragon roar. Shamon felt something in his heart. Looking at the giant dragon staring at him, his tone was somewhat uncertain.

"Are you trying to let me try one more time?"

The giant dragon condensed from chakra nodded.

Although it was just a mass of chakra, under the baptism of years of time, it had also given birth to simple intelligence. The Guardian Clan's thousands of years of guarding had been seen by the Dragon Vein all along; naturally, it wouldn't abandon Shamon's life or death.

"Thank you so much."

Shamon walked up excitedly and performed a great bow to the Dragon Vein he had worshipped for many years.

This scene, falling into Shukaku's eyes, instantly made this petty tanuki feel extremely unbalanced.

"Hmph~ Relying on just it, I'm afraid you'll be a one-round tour in the second week."

With a cold snort, Shukaku curled its lips in disdain.

"What do you mean, you tanuki? Don't you dare slander Lord Dragon Vein."

"Ha? You call it Lord Dragon Vein, but call me 'you tanuki'?"

Shukaku pointed at itself with indignation, a look of grievance appearing in its eyes, which left Shamon extremely puzzled.

"What exactly are you trying to express?"

Shamon, who didn't want to waste effort guessing a tanuki's mind, went straight to the point.

"If you call me Lord Shukaku, and kowtow a few times to me, I might be able to help you too~"

Shukaku crossed its arms over its chest and put on an arrogant expression.

"Hehe."

Shamon had long lost trust in this two-faced tanuki, so he sneered twice and stopped speaking. Then he turned his head and said respectfully to the Dragon Vein.

"Lord Dragon Vein, I'm ready!"

The Dragon Vein nodded, and its power began to condense.

"Ah! Wait! Just kowtow once, one kowtow is fine, right?"

Having waited for a long time without seeing Shamon's three bows and nine kowtows, Shukaku looked at Shamon, who was preparing to accept the gift of Dragon Vein power, in astonishment and hurriedly lowered its conditions.

"Hehe~"

"Don't be like that, just doing it for show is fine too!"

"..."

Shamon turned his head directly, not giving Shukaku any good face.

"Ah! You baldy, saying a soft word should be fine, right?"

"The moment you played dead, we had nothing left to say."

"Ha?"

It turned out Shamon was still holding a grudge about Shukaku abandoning him.

"Ugh..."

Shukaku looked at Shamon, who was about to merge with the Dragon Vein, gritted its teeth, and spoke with difficulty.

"It should be fine for me to apologize to you, right?"

"Oh?"

Shamon turned his head in surprise, looking at Shukaku, whose large face showed a look of grievance, and made a sound of confusion.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have escaped. No matter who it is, I'll help you beat them through!"

The deafening voice echoed throughout the space. Shukaku's words made Shamon show a smile. Looking at this big tanuki, which was sharp-tongued but simple-minded, he slowly raised his hand.

"Let's go! Let's go take revenge!"

"You hateful baldy, were you playing me just now?"

"That's right, who told you to sell out your teammate at a critical moment."

"Roar!"

After the human and beast reached an understanding, the Dragon Vein's urging sound rang out again. Shamon and Shukaku looked at each other, their eyes filled with surging fighting spirit.

"Since the power of a ninja cannot defeat him, then I will challenge him again as a general."

"Stinky fox! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've latched onto a big shot. Mocking me? I'll let you see who the real Tailed Beast King is!"

"Roar!"

"Our theme this time is revenge!"

Shamon, Shukaku, and the Dragon Vein stood together. With consistent beliefs, they turned into three rays of light that began to intertwine and merge, finally turning into darkness as deep as the space itself, and disappeared from the spot.

【Avenge】 (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 400 =====