A convoy was heading towards Sunagakure.
The Suna ninjas involved in protection duties around the convoy maintained vigilant glances. Each Suna ninja heightened their sensitivity, checking the surrounding environment to prevent any mishaps on their way back to Sunagakure.
Suddenly, a sharp-eyed Suna ninja suddenly gazed at the sky, spotting a black spot gradually enlarging in his field of vision. His expression immediately changed drastically as he shouted:
"Enemy attack!! Prepare for battle!!"
Following his proclamation, the other Suna ninjas also noticed and swiftly took action. The two Suna ninjas closest to the convoy extracted scrolls from their pouch, summonimg a beetle puppet with a feathered blade and a massive salamander puppet.
As the black spot passed over the convoy, a violent gust of wind stirred up the sand, and the grains hitting the window, producing loud noises.
The Suna nin controlling the giant salamander puppet, promptly unfurled the shield on the puppet's back, blocking the raging sand and protecting the carriage behind.
Simultaneously, under the puppeteer's guidance, the beetle puppet with the feathered blade rattled into the sky, engaging in combat against the assailants targeting the convoy.
It was the petite girl in the Miko outfit, with inorganic pupils that resembled a dead thing's eyes.
As she hovered on air, the Suna ninjas below would never forget the hateful face. Though her name remained unknown, she was undoubtedly one of the Land of Demons army's minions—a dangerous criminal they focused on guarding against.
The beetle puppet's limbs brandished a sharp blue poisonous sword, targeting Ameyu. It slashed down mercilessly, seeking to end her with a single strike.
Ameyu's wind barrier, enveloping her body, directly intercepted the blade. The sound of the blade colliding with the storm echoed, and a subtle breaking noise ensued.
Boom!
The Beetle puppet flew backwards, but under the skillful control of the puppeteer, when flying backwards, the puppet had the chance to readjust its posture mid-air. It quickly flapped the wings behind.
A sword coated with poison was launched at Ameyu, and it collided with the wind barrier again. The barrier teetered on the verge of breaking under the sword's assault.
Observing this scene, Ameyu effortlessly maneuvered herself out of harm's way. Her focus remained on the carriage surrounded by Suna ninjas, indicating that the contents were crucial to them. Otherwise, they wouldn't have invested such effort in protecting it.
Thus, a scroll fell from Ameyu's white sleeve, landing securely in her hand.
The faces of the Suna ninjas underwent a drastic change at this sight.
"Be careful! It's the fusion attack of Wind Release and Fire Release!"
Even though they anticipated what Ameyu was about to do, they were utterly powerless to counter it.
Even the beetle puppet, capable of flight, paled in comparison to Ameyu's mobility.
After all, a puppet was inherently lifeless, unless managed by a top-notch puppeteer who could overcome this drawback through advanced control. From Ameyu's knowledge, within Suna, only Chiyo, the former advisor who had retired, possesses such advanced puppeteering capabilities.
As expected by the Suna ninjas, Ameyu unfurled the scroll which had fallen from her sleeve. Immediately, she summoned a continuous stream of fire from the scroll, collaborating with her own Wind Release ninjutsu. This combination formed a blazing sea of fire in the air, advancing towards the sand.
The fire raged, illuminating the faces of every Suna ninja. They felt the intense heat emanating from the flames, their skin growing warm, and their mouths turning dry.
"Don't underestimate Sunagaure!"
Under the command of another puppeteer, the enormous salamander puppet positioned itself in front of the carriage, raising its massive shield. It effectively parted the sea of fire, flowing on both sides of the carriage without causing any harm.
"This puppet is a large-scale shield puppet, transformed based on the artwork created by the skilled stylists from our Puppet corps. It's resistant to water and fire, it can easily withstanding your weapons. I advise you not to waste your energy." The puppeteer declared confidently, possessing great faith in his Salamander Shield
Ameyu didn't even blink; she appeared surprised by the puppet's defensive prowess. However, she swiftly descended, charging towards the salamander puppet.
"Fool! I just said your attacks are ineffective against my puppet!" The puppet master mocked, witnessing Ameyu's descent. He wondered if the her reasoning was impaired, given the futility of her attack earlier, what was prompting such an irrational move?
Soon, his mocking ceased.
Ameyu streaked along the horizon, generating a more violent storm around her than before, whipping up sand and soil across the entire area.
"Shit!"
It seemed he had anticipated Ameyu's next move, but it was too late for the puppet master to intervene.
The giant salamander and the entire sand beneath its chassis soared into the sky, akin to a kite with a severed string, plummeting into the distance.
Attempting to dodge, the puppeteer wished to jump back. However, Ameyu quickly seized his shoulders, ascending into the air with him. The puppeteer emitted a panicked cry, perceiving the convoy below as small as a sesame seed.
Without hesitation, Ameyu released her grip, allowing the puppeteer to free fall in the air, facing the sand below.
The puppeteer's face turned pale, his ability to think completely compromised. He envisioned the gruesome scene of shattering on the sand, meeting his death.
At that moment, the beetle puppet, controlled by the other puppeteer, approached from a distance. The puppet master, having fallen to the sand, the falling puppet master landed on the back of the beetle puppet, he panted heavily, grateful to survive the ordeal.
Ameyu paid no attention to these events; she had anticipated such an outcome. Taking advantage of the descent, she landed gracefully from the sky. Clasping her hands together, she glanced indifferently at the Suna ninjas on the sand and the carriage protected by them. A substantial amount of chakra and natural energy began to converge.
A vast expanse of white light enveloped the sky.
Sound and imagery dissolved into the white light, disappearing.
At the same time, the sand on the ground rippled under a powerful force, resembling waves.
Boom!
Two powerful energies collided, resulting in a violent explosion. The air vibrated, and the invisible shockwave repelled in all directions.
Many Suna ninjas rolled on the sand, lucky to save their lives.
Grains of sand rained down from the sky.
A gentle wind blew over the sand, offering a pleasant comfort.
No matter how fierce the wind, it ultimately returned to silence after raging.
"Cough!"
A coughing sound ensued as the carriage disintegrated, and a man tumbled out. He had a pale face, weak breath, and he struggled to stand. With a wrapped a bandage around his chest, he winced in pain, enduring the injuries exacerbated by the intense ninjutsu he used. His resentful eyes fixated on Ameyu in the sky, seemingly displeased at her discovery of his vulnerability.
This man was none other than the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
Suddenly, Rasa coughed up blood as he knelt on the sand with one knee, yet he maintained his stubborn gaze looking at Ameyu, unwilling to reveal weakness as one of the Five Kage in front of an anemy.
After confirming Rasa's identity, Ameyu noticed the Suna ninjas protecting Rasa once again. The two puppet masters ready to engage in battle, ready for combat.
After a brief hesitation, Ameyu ascended into the sky, flew towards the distance, and disappeared from the Suna ninjas' sight.
The Suna ninjas breathed a sigh of relief. Although they retained the power to fight, they preferred not to engage the enemy further in this situation.
"Kazekage-sama, are you alright?" A concerned Suna ninja approached Rasa.
"It's okay... We'll return to the village as soon as possible. To prevent them from attacking us again, we need to change the route back to the village."
Rasa gritted his teeth, expressing forcefully..Internally, he felt a hidden joy. This way, the Land of Demons should believe that he, Kazekage, was seriously injured at this moment.
To deceive the enemy, one must first deceive their own people. The Suna ninjas present were unaware of his arrangement. This realistic performance ensured that the enemy would fall into the carefully arranged trap.
No matter how cautious the enemy was, expecting his serious injury to be part of the surprise attack plan is impossible. This plan was coordinated with Konoha.
The Land of Demons never foresaw this, unaware that Suna had unraveled the truth behind their actions. The absence of Hyuga Ayane, who was even able to overwhelm the Raikage on the front lines, was a golden opportunity for Suna.
For these traitors, Rasa believed that them dying in the same trap as the Third Raikage would emphasize the magnanimity of a great country.
...
The gradual retreat of Suna's forcez instilled great panic in the local residents of the northwest region of the Land of Wind.
Before the war with the Land of Demons erupted, the people of the Land of Wind hadn't adopted a pessimistic attitude towards the war. Even if the initial assaults didn't fare well, Suna ninjas were expected to swiftly defeat the Land of Demons' ninja army with a destructive attitude.
Unfortunately, such optimism only existed in the fantasies of the residents.
As the war escalated, Sunagakure retreated steadily. even the Kazekage Rasa was severely injured in the battle against the rogue ninjas and he had been sent back to Suna for recovery.
Such rumors weren't baseless. Fueled by deliberate propaganda from the Land of Demons, the residents in the northwest region of the Land of Wind lived in constant fear.
Though many believed this news to be false—how could a prominent figure among the Five Kages lose to a ninja from a small country?
But with the passage of time, the Kazekage had disappeared from the frontline battlefield, and Suna kept retreating. Under the relentless pursuit of the Land of Demons, they had retreated to the border of the northwest region. Such news couldn't be fabricated.
If the retreat continued, the entire northwest region would succumb to invasion by the Land of Demons.
So, Suna's retreat naturally sparked panic among the residents in the northwestern region.
The Land of Wind was sparsely populated, with most places experiencing limited economic development. The northwest region, one of the poorest areas, lacked decent towns, only comprising scattered villages where locals subsisted on meager food and water.
Unable to afford ninjas to combat bandits, the northwest region faced persistent banditry issues. Now, they not only confronted the escalating bandit problem but also the more formidable threat of the Land of Demons.
The cruelty of war was a well-known tale.
Ninjas from Sunagakure had already retreated, completely abandoning them, leaving them at the mercy of the Land of Demons ninjas invading the Land of Wind. The imminent swing of swords, pillaging of lives and possessions, and eventual burning of villages haunted their thoughts.
This, as the Suna troops began withdrawing from the northwest region, many residents had already commenced relocating their families to towns inside of the Land of Wind, seeking refuge from the impending onslaught by Land of Demons.
However, when the ninjas from the Land of Demons passed by, it was a different situation.
The Land of Demons troops advancing to the southern part of the Land of Wind completely disregarded the low-level people, who had no power to resist, and simply constructed a military base, swiftly implementing defense projects.
Majestic and eye-catching base buildings emerged in the desert. These newly constructed bases were extensions of the main base, serving as warnings and protections for the main.
As the war escalated, under Shiraishi's command, the Oni troops were split into several squadrons and stationed in branch bases. Each branch base was initially equipped with a force of two hundred ninjas.
So many base buildings in the desert were conspicuous, even to the local residents, not to mention the Suna reconnaissance team frequently patrolling around the edge of the cordon.
Despite their Kazekage's serious injury and the need to return to Suna for healing, Suna ninjas weren't ready to relinquish control of the Land of Wind.
"This is the last area in the northwest of the Land of Wind, and it's an important resource area. It must be taken down." Shiraishi pointed to the northwest boundary on the map—an oasis, a rarity in the Land of Wind's increasing desertification.
In the intensifying desert environment, the oasis, with its water sources, vegetation, and crops, held invaluable wealth. It could sustain local residents and alleviate water and food shortages in the Land of Wind.
However, for the Land of Demons, it represented a rare and rich resource area with significant development and utilization value.
"When do we attack?" Ruri wasn't very interested in the resource whatever, she was only responsible for fighting.
"The attack can begin the day after tomorrow, at 10 o'clock in the morning, following the arrival of the air force from headquarters."
"What about the method of attack? Is it still the same as before?" Ruri sought clarification.
"No, there's no need for a feint attack this time. This is the last attack. After a prolonged stalemate, it's time to conclude this war perfectly. I believe Suna has made reasonable arrangements. There's no need for further delay." Shiraishi explained. Ruri nodded, understanding the underlying message.
Shiraishi continued, "So, you and I will be the bait this time, and it doesn't matter if we use our full strength."
Ruri was somewhat surprised. "I thought you would let me continue hiding my strength and keep some means reserved. After all, the Akatsuki may be monitoring the battlefield, gathering intelligence on us."
Although them and Akatsuki reached a truce agreement, both sides continued collecting intelligence on each other—an undisclosed rule in the agreement.
The battle between the Land of Wind and the Land of Demons is so conspicuous, and the international repercussions are significant. It is impossible for the Akatsuki not to come for information gathering.
"This is a concern, but keeping your strength hidden in the next battle will inevitably lead to another mishap at some point. Even you cannot handle such a massive force all at once."
"Well, I'll be more careful." Ruri conceded. She refrained from making unrealistic claims about single-handedly dealing with Suna ninja and Konoha.
Despite Susanoo's strength, maintaining it consumed considerable chakra. Extended use of Susanoo, especially in its fourth stage, imposed a significant physical toll. Even with the Mangekyou Sharingan active, this fundamental issue couldn't be avoided.
While quick battles made sense theoretically, in actual combat, theoretical calculations could mislead one's judgment, allowing the enemy to capitalize on the opportunity.
Ninjas have mattered sorts of strange ninjutsu, and their strengths vary. Data calculated in theory could only be used as a reference, and could not be directly applied to actual combat.
Shiraishi acting as 'bait' alongside her would alleviate the physical strain on her.
"Please, I'll leave the command to you. I'll head to the downstairs to make thorough preparations to prevent any mishaps, so as to avoid any accidents on the battle the day after tomorrow." Shiraishi said before leaving the room.
Ruri nodded and watched him exit, ready to take charge of their final attack.
....
Two days later, at nine o'clock in the morning.
The three Konoha ninjas who were on a mission in the Land of Demons enjoyed breakfast in the restaurant close to their hotel.
Since their arrival in the Land of Demons, they maintained communication with Konoha every two days..They reported evry situation to council promptly.
The guards didn't interfere with them. As long as they didn't exhibit obvious intentions to attack, the orders were to monitor the situation, providing them with considerable maneuvering space.
While having breakfast, Shikaku assessed the progress of the situation on the frontline battlefield.
Based on the news from the front line, the ninja troops of the Land of Demons were vigorously advancing, swiftly occupying the northwest region of the Land of Wind. Meanwhile, the Suna's troops were retreating steadily, effectively stabilizing the internal turmoil in the Land of Demons.
However, unlike the jubilant citizens of the Land of Demons, Shikaku perceived the potential hidden danger behind their victory.
The Land of Demons being in full swing indicated that Suna's arrangements had been initiated, yielding significant effectiveness. The inflated desire for victory propelled the Land of Demons forward, successfully boosting their morale but also overextending the front line.
Once the battle line was stretched, the defense force of the Land of Demons would weaken, potentially leading to the collapse of the entire battle situation and vulnerability to being cut off by Suna.
The Konoha Squad concealed in the Land of Wind would become a sharp sword piercing their hearts.
Konoha should unleash this sharp sword within two or three days. Delaying too long would result in missing the optimal timing.
The Kazekage, orchestrating such a flawless strategy, was undoubtedly a decisive individual. With the preparations, the outcome seemed determined.
"Good morning, Nara-san. Akimichi-san and Yamanaka-san too." A chuckle interrupted Shikaku's thoughts.
Setting down the bread in his hand, Shikaku looked up to see Ayane walking into the room alone, smiling as she approached.
At some point, all the other guests in the room had left, and even the boss and the clerk had disappeared.
In the room, only the four of them remained.
"What's the matter, Ayane-san? These days, we've all behaved and haven't done anything unusual. Even if you're in charge of the security forces, you can't be unreasonable. There's no reason to arrest foreign envoys." Shikaku said playfully.
During these days, he had grasped the upper layer's structure of the Land of Demons.
The Uchiha clan held economic power, with the president of Purple Rose Merchant Association being an Uchiha not recorded in Konoha archives. This person had intricate ties with Uchiha Ruri.
As for Chiba Shiraishi, he served as the commander-in-chief of the military, wielding the most powerful military influence in the Land of Demons.
Concerning the guards of each city and town, including Oni City, Ayane held the highest rank. However, not all the ninjas in the guard were from the Hyuga clan. It was more accurate to say there weren't many Hyuga clan members in the guard, with a mix of Uchiha and Uzumaki clan members, as well as civilian ninjas without a ninja background. The composition system was highly intricate.
"Don't worry, I'm not that unreasonable yet; I'm just here to give you important news."
"News? Is it news from the battlefield?"
Shikaku stared at Ayane's face, attempting to read something from her expression. Unfortunately, all he could discern was her consistently professional fake smile.
Ayane smiled, "No, I'm here to tell Nara-san that Tsunade-sama left Oni City last night."
The news hung in the air, leaving the three of them stunned.
"You said Tsunade-sama left Oni City?"
"Well, it's true. Many in the security team have seen it."
"Did Tsunade-sama say where she would be going next?"
Shikaku hastily inquired. Internally, he was wryly smiling, unsure why Tsunade had made such a move. Undoubtedly, if Tsunade wasn't there to oversee, then Hyuga Ayane, this dangerous presence, would have no way to restrain her and keep her in Oni City.
Once freed from these constraints and sent to the frontline battlefield of the Land of Wind, it could become a new turning point in the battle.
Now, all Shikaku could do was hope that Suna would take action promptly and prevent new changes on the battlefield.
"I didn't ask. After all, Tsunade-sama is Konoha's ninja. If I asked, it would be very rude, right? Besides, as Konoha ninjas, you should know Tsunade-sama's whereabouts the best. As an outsider, how could I know such a thing?"
Shikaku wondered if this counted as rubbing salt into Konoha's wound. In short, he sensed the mischievousness in Ayane's character.
It's true, not every pot needs to be stirred.
Seeing Shikaku's somber expression, Ayane didn't halt but continued chuckling, "As for the second news, I'd like to congratulate you first."
"Congratulate?"
Shikaku, Inoichi and Choza looked at Ayane skeptically.
Ayane smiled and nodded.
"Yes, congratulations on successfully completing your mission in the Land of Demons. After breakfast, you can leave Oni City."
"What mission? We were just following the orders of Hokage-sama and Daimyo-sama to visit the Miko. Is Ayane-san misunderstanding something?"
Shikaku wasn't sure if Ayane was trying to deceive him. Until the next order came from the village, he felt it wasn't appropriate to act hastily, lest Ayane pick up on something.
"Really? But, I think Nara-san has misunderstood what I meant. What I mean is, if you rush to the Land of Wind with all your strength now, you should be able to collect the corpses of the Konoha ninjas on the battlefield of the Land of Wind faster. If you understand... you can leave."
After delivering the message, Ayane left the room with a smile, leaving the trio looking as though they were in an ice cave, their faces pale..