This time they were undoubtedly genuine Suna shinobi.
"Konoha Jōnin Shuji, under Hokage's orders, delivering urgent classified intelligence to allied Sunagakure." Shuji answered loudly.
As his words fell, his wrist moved, throwing out envoy credentials bearing the Third Hokage's seal.
After completing this, he actively retreated several steps, opening an obvious safe distance. Both hands spread open, posture frank, showing no aggressive intent.
Maki did not immediately step forward.
From the Suna forces arrayed behind him, a shinobi silently stepped out. That person did not approach but controlled a crudely styled puppet resembling an arthropod that quickly crawled from behind the formation. Using a thin metal forelimb, it carefully pinched up the credentials, swiftly retreating behind the formation.
This shinobi carefully examined the scroll, fingers rapidly brushing its surface, sensing possible chakra traps or microscopic curse seals.
Moments later, he nodded slightly to Maki, indicating safety. Only then did that puppet advance again, delivering the item to Maki's hands.
Maki received it, glanced once, then tossed it back.
Shuji did not step forward. He similarly used a shadow clone to confirm his item had no curse seals left at this moment before retrieving it.
After completing the protocol, Maki had his subordinates lower their guard. Most Suna shinobi dispersed, leaving five Suna shinobi plus himself, six total.
Shuji's taut heartstrings relaxed slightly. Suna's current reaction was normal.
But he had not fully lowered his vigilance. He walked forward himself. Only after entering attack range with the opposite side still showing no unusual movements did he signal Anko and Itachi to follow.
"Kazekage-sama is not currently in the village. These past days Iwa shinobi movements have been significant, so he's stationed at the northern fortress."
"In your village, who is currently handling affairs? May we have an audience?"
Maki said, "This matter requires reporting. Please three of you follow me first for temporary rest while awaiting the village's reply."
He turned, taking the lead into that massive fissure like a wound in the earth.
Two Suna shinobi led the way ahead. Maki in the center. Shuji's three followed closely behind. The remaining three Suna silently brought up the rear. The group silently entered Narrow Sky.
Upon stepping into that narrow gap, light suddenly dimmed. Ochre red rock walls hundreds of meters high like two silent giants squeezed the sky into a wavering light band overhead.
Sunlight fell stingily. Most areas were shrouded in deep shadow and the rock walls' own dark red. The air carried rock's characteristic coldness and dust scent, forming stark contrast with the Gobi's scorching dryness outside.
Footsteps were amplified in the narrow space, echoing with hollow reverberations.
The passage was not straight but winding and twisting like a massive maze.
Suna had obviously operated here long. Rock walls had shallow niches carved out as temporary sentry posts and supply storage points. Some simple plank roads and rope ladders connected observation points at different heights.
Maki brought the three to a relatively spacious rock alcove.
The alcove interior was polished relatively smooth. The floor was covered with severely worn straw mats. Corners held piled daily supplies, emitting faint mold and dust smell.
Several dim oil lamps were fixed on rock walls. Flames danced uneasily in breeze threading through gaps, stretching and distorting shadows projected onto rough rock walls.
"Wait here." Maki dropped a sentence, indicating two Suna shinobi to remain guarding the entrance, then turned and left with the others.
Itachi quietly walked to the alcove's edge, gaze sweeping those piled supplies.
Rations were deep brown colored, rock-hard textured cakes. Nearby waterskin covers were severely worn, edges even somewhat frayed.
Shuji also observed. He had memories of life at Konoha's borders. Though days were somewhat inferior to village life, compared to Sunagakure, it could be called comfortable.
With people at the entrance, the squad's three did not speak. They merely seized this chance to urgently rest.
When Shuji opened his eyes, Anko and Itachi rested. When Shuji closed his eyes, Anko and Itachi simultaneously maintained vigilance.
One round like this.
The shinobi at the entrance requested Konoha's squad to rise. Sunagakure had agreed to allow Konoha shinobi entry.
Konohagakure in this world counted as a large city. But Shuji had seen larger, more prosperous cities in his previous life. Sunagakure was different, giving him a fresh feeling.
"This way. Ebizō-sama awaits you inside." The guiding Suna shinobi brought him into the village, into the building marked with the Wind character.
The shinobi world's administrative system mostly imitated Konoha's. More precisely, learned from Second Hokage Tobirama's.
Each village's center was each Kage's building, recognizable at a glance.
Receiving them was an emaciated old man wrapped in Suna's common wind-sand-proof robes, eye sockets deeply sunken. He was Sunagakure's advisor Ebizō.
"Konoha's envoy? Jōnin? Truly worthy... Konoha, outstanding young people emerge endlessly." Before Shuji and others could speak, Ebizō directly said, "So, what did the Hokage send you to do? Want to explain how Konoha couldn't even watch a few Cloud shinobi?"
Anko could not help her expression changing slightly. How did Sunagakure know so quickly?
"No. Konoha specifically came to remind that Iwagakure harbors ill intent, wanting to seize Konoha's distraction to attack Sunagakure." Shuji said calmly and composed. "Precisely because of this, Hokage-sama dispatched us immediately."
Ebizō looked at Shuji again.
"Konoha produced a talent."
At this age, being this shameless was rare.
Ebizō believed he should speak more directly. "This old man has lived most of a lifetime, seen many alliances. Between ninja clans, morning handshakes turn to afternoon blades. Senju Tobirama and Second Raikage just formed alliance, then instantly died at Kinkaku and Ginkaku's hands... none of this is unusual."
"Alliances are nothing before survival and interests."
"So, spare those roundabout pleasantries. Tell me directly—"
"This time, what is Konoha prepared to pay to maintain friendship with Sunagakure?"
"Before speaking, consider carefully, boy."
"The one truly facing life-and-death crisis now is not Suna." Ebizō's voice was low yet sufficiently clear. "But your Konoha."
"Without Suna pinning the western line, facing enemies front and back, how long can you hold?" He shook his head slightly. "For the sake of still being allies now, this old man will tell you one extra thing—"
He leaned slightly forward. A glimmer flashed in turbid eyes.
"Before you arrived, Iwagakure's envoy already arrived first."
"That old fox Ōnoki," Ebizō's face carried schadenfreude, "this time, prepared quite a generous gift for Konoha."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild