Land of Wind.
Sunagakure.
At this moment, all of Sunagakure was in a state of extreme tension. The number of ninja patrolling and operating in the village had tripled, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the streets. Women and children were barely visible, most had already been evacuated to other locations.
Inside the meeting room at the top of the Kazekage Building, Fourth Kazekage Rasa stood at the head of an oval conference table. With both hands pressing down on the table, he spoke in a deep, grim voice:
"So... the day has finally come."
He looked around the room, then continued:
"Konoha's power continues to grow unchecked. If we cannot stop them from absorbing smaller nations, then it's only a matter of time before they set their sights on us. What are your thoughts?"
A nearby ninja stood up, fists clenched, then slammed one down on the table and shouted through gritted teeth:
"Becoming a vassal of Konoha? Never!!"
"He's right!"
"We'll never surrender to Konoha!"
The room erupted in furious voices.
Just days ago, Konoha had begun mobilizing a massive force toward the border. Then, earlier this morning, Sunagakure received a formal ultimatum: surrender unconditionally, disband resistance, and become a vassal state under Konoha.
The terms of this proposed agreement would grant Sunagakure limited autonomy for the next ten years. However, it also included clauses demanding that Suna send its children to Konoha and cooperate in Konoha's takeover of the Land of Wind, ultimately absorbing it into the Land of Fire.
Such demands were utterly unacceptable.
They were one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages! Even after defeats in the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, they had never signed such a humiliating treaty!
"Even with the promise of limited autonomy," Rasa said heavily, "agreeing to these terms would mean the eventual erasure of Sunagakure. We would be swallowed whole by Konoha. I trust everyone here understands that. So, does anyone have a viable strategy to resist them?"
His fists clenched as a trace of inner struggle flickered in his eyes.
Konoha alone, no, just one man, Hatake Kaede, had already proven powerful enough to invade Sunagakure by himself. The village stood no chance against Konoha's full might.
"Kazekage-sama," said Baki, one of Sunagakure's senior Jonin, rising to speak, "If Konoha moves to invade the Land of Wind, the other Great Villages will not sit idly by. Once we fall, they'll be next."
"I propose we immediately contact Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure. Form a Shinobi Allied Army and confront Konoha together, end this once and for all!"
Another ninja quickly echoed his sentiment:
"Agreed. Iwagakure, Kumo, and Kiri must be waiting for our call. They understand the stakes. Konoha won't win the Fourth Shinobi World War that easily!"
The room erupted in discussion once again.
Rasa cleared his throat, restoring order. His face remained stern as he addressed the senior Suna leadership:
"Forming an Allied Army is inevitable. Even if we don't reach out, they'll reach out to each other. The real problem is how we hold off Konoha until then... They've already begun moving, and our alliance will be slower to organize."
The room fell into a tense silence.
After a few seconds, someone finally spoke up, teeth clenched:
"Then we abandon the village."
"Without the Allied Army, we can't face Konoha's forces alone. Before they arrive, we must scatter, avoid a direct confrontation."
Everyone still remembered clearly how Kaede had once invaded the village alone, leaving them utterly powerless. If he came again, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Their only option was to abandon the village and scatter the ninja forces.
"But doing so means handing Konoha the keys to invade..." Rasa said bitterly. "They'll easily take over the entire Land of Wind."
"We don't have the luxury to worry about that now, Kazekage-sama!" Baki growled. "If they occupy our country, a large portion of their forces will be tied up here. Once the Allied Army is formed, we'll have the advantage. Yes, the Land of Wind will suffer greatly, but they chose to attack us. What else can we do?"
Everyone's expression turned grim.
Even if they won such a war, the Land of Wind would be devastated, no better off than Konoha, and perhaps wiped from history entirely. Some in the room hesitated, unsure if war was the right path.
And then,
Suddenly.
A voice rang out, cutting through the tense atmosphere:
"Pardon the interruption..."
Every face in the room changed. They all turned sharply toward the center of the table, where a figure was emerging from beneath it.
No, he was phasing through it.
The figure wore a Konoha forehead protector, had silver hair, a black face mask, and eyes glowing with the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"You're from Konoha!"
"Kakashi of the Sharingan?!"
Gasps and shouts echoed through the room. A nearby Suna ninja drew his short blade, infused it with wind chakra, and slashed straight at Kakashi.
Shhhht!
The blade, wreathed in slicing wind, passed cleanly through Kakashi's body and crashed into the wall behind him, shattering it.
The noise drew the attention of ninja stationed outside, who rushed toward the meeting room, their faces full of alarm.
"No need to be so hasty."
Kakashi remained calm, glancing at the attacker before looking toward Kazekage Rasa.
"Kazekage-sama, may I have a moment of your time?"
At Kakashi's feet, golden sand began trying to bind his body, but failed to latch onto anything.
After a moment's hesitation, Rasa slowly lowered his raised hand and said, expression dark:
"Speak."
Kakashi held up four fingers.
"Konoha intends to unify the shinobi world. Facing an Allied Army is inevitable. But you've all acted too slowly. Even if you manage to assemble an alliance, the fighting will begin here, within the Land of Wind."
"And even if we lose... I doubt Sunagakure would survive. Our first target is you."
He folded down three fingers, leaving only his index finger extended.
"But if you accept the terms now and willingly become a Konoha vassal, you can preserve your current way of life, for quite a long time."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened.
"That's my advice. I hope you'll choose the path of reason."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria