Karura: "So big… so tall. To think buildings of this scale could exist in the Land of Wind…"
Pakura: "Shame the place is too small. The whole city isn't even a third the size of Sunagakure."
Rasa: "Even so, you can't deny the Queen of Loran is capable. Turning a minor nation into this—she has real skill."
Inside the Kingdom of Loran, the three walked forward in a neat line, each voicing their own assessment.
Before long, they reached the inner city gate.
After Kaito's proposed renovations, the inner walls were now linked to Dragon Vein chakra—any intrusion from above would immediately be detected.
"This is restricted territory of Loran."
"Outsiders are forbidden to enter!"
Two guards raised their spears, eyes sharp as hawks.
"Please don't misunderstand," Rasa said calmly.
"We're shinobi from Sunagakure, here to request an audience with Her Majesty regarding cooperation matters."
"Shinobi?" One guard examined their attire and spotted the rectangular, funnel-patterned forehead protector. He leaned over to whisper with his partner.
"Alright. Wait here. I'll report to the Queen."
"Much obliged," Rasa replied.
As the guard left, Rasa folded his arms casually. On the surface, he seemed to be admiring the city's towers—
—but in reality, tiny grains of sand were quietly slipping into the inner city.
"Chakra detected."
"Magnet Release chakra."
Kaito's laboratory was linked directly to the wall's detection system. A half-dome device containing a chakra orb rippled faintly.
Someone had used chakra within the inner city.
Only sensory-type ninja could read the chakra's structure and trajectory. Regular guards would merely trigger alarms.
Woooo—
The inner city alarm blared.
Citizens immediately moved toward shelters, clearly accustomed to the procedure.
Rasa, Pakura, and Karura exchanged uneasy glances.
Soon, Loran's soldiers gathered at the gate.
Then a woman stepped out—beautiful, no less striking than Sara. She wore elegant light armor, a longsword at her waist.
"Intruders!"
"You used ninjutsu inside Loran—are you declaring war?!"
"Captain Mako!" ×N
—When Kaito selected the guard captains, he had noted Mako's looks and talent and promoted her to lead one of the knight units.
"Tch—found out already?" Rasa hadn't expected a simple Sand Eye technique to be detected.
"We mean no harm," Karura said quickly.
"Our captain used a technique unintentionally. We have no hostile intent."
"Troublemaker," Pakura muttered.
Karura's defense moved Rasa deeply—while Pakura's jab etched itself firmly into his memory.
"One day," he thought darkly, "I'll make sure that mouth of yours never speaks again."
"Unintentional?" Mako pressed her hand to her sword.
"You think we're ignorant civilians?"
"Using ninjutsu in the inner city gives us reason to suspect an assassination attempt on Her Majesty!"
"Seize them!"
"Yes!" ×N
"Stop!" Karura raised her hand.
Sand surged around her, freezing the guards in place. She halted the technique immediately—just enough to warn them.
This wasn't Magnet Release, but something closer to a blessing of sand—similar to how Tobirama's contract with the sea allowed him to manipulate water.
"You're no ordinary ninja," Mako said coolly.
"No hand seals… at your age. At least jōnin."
"You flatter me," Karura smiled.
"Sunagakure jōnin—Karura of the Sand."
"Oh~" Mako nodded knowingly, despite never having heard the name.
"But that still doesn't allow you to—"
"That's enough."
A familiar voice cut in.
"Stand down. I'll handle this."
At once, Mako and the soldiers answered:
"Yes! All-Powerful Lord!"
"All-Powerful…?" Rasa repeated softly, unfamiliar with the title.
The soldiers parted.
Footsteps approached.
A young man emerged—rabbit mask with simple patterns, blue-white robes, a short blade at his waist, black hair tied back.
"Withdraw."
"Yes!" Mako saluted, signaling the troops to return to their posts.
She then bowed respectfully.
"All-Powerful Lord, shall I remain?"
"As you wish."
Kaito calmly assessed the three Sunagakure ninja. By age alone, he was older than all of them.
"Why have Sunagakure ninja come to Loran?"
Pakura nearly stepped forward, but Karura stopped her, nodding toward Rasa.
Rasa advanced, arms crossed.
"An Lushan once had dealings with Sunagakure—"
"Who told you to move?"
"…What—"
BANG!
An invisible force smashed into Rasa's chest.
He flew straight back, crashing into a building nearly a hundred meters away.
"Rasa!" ×2
Kaito's eyes remained calm, as though nothing unusual had happened.
"In Loran, ninja are allowed entry—but didn't anyone tell you not to use ninjutsu lightly?"
"Don't play tricks in front of me."
"I'm not as gentle as my guards."
Rasa lay embedded in the wall, sand sliding from his face.
"So fast…"
"A punch."
"Pure physical movement—no visible speed."
He glanced at the clear fist mark on his chest.
Neither he nor Karura had sensed the attack at all.
—This was the result of Kaito's advanced weighted training, mastering absolute control over every movement.
"Bastard! Dare strike Sunagakure ninja—are you courting death?! Scorch Rele—"
"Pakura, stop!" Karura intercepted her.
She bowed deeply.
"All-Powerful Lord, I apologize for my companion's rudeness."
"We only wish to discuss past cooperation with Minister An Lushan."
"Do you know his current whereabouts?"
Kaito remained expressionless.
"So that's why you came."
"As expected."
"Set cooperation aside."
"First, let's discuss the losses your visit caused Loran."
"Losses?" Karura froze.
"Of course."
"Your reckless use of ninjutsu triggered alarms."
"Merchants, travelers, citizens were forced into shelters."
"Time is money."
"Some people lose thousands—tens of thousands—of Wind Coins per minute."
"Shouldn't you compensate us?"
Karura clenched her teeth.
"…We should."
"Good."
"Next—the building damage."
"Your ninja damaged residential structures."
"Shouldn't you compensate for that too?"
"That was you!" Pakura snapped. "Why should we pay?!"
Kaito smiled beneath his mask.
"Is that your unified stance—or just hers?"
"We won't pay a single coin," Rasa barked.
"And Sunagakure demands compensation for you unilaterally terminating our agreement!"
"I see."
"You seem to forget something."
"This is not Sunagakure."
"Nor the Land of Wind."
"One finger."
"That's all I need to deal with you."
"What?! Arrogant!!"
Rasa's face flushed red.
One finger?
Even the Third Kazekage wouldn't dare say that.
Sand surged as he prepared to attack—
SMACK!
Karura suddenly punched Rasa in the face, sending him flying again.
"Karura?!" Pakura shouted.
"I—I didn't mean—!"
Her body moved on its own.
Sand lifted beneath her feet as she accelerated, kunai flashing.
"Rasa—dodge!!"
The kunai skimmed his face, cutting his cheek and drawing blood.
Karura had used Wind Release—his sand defense had been pierced.
"She was serious…" Rasa realized, cold sweat forming.
"This isn't puppet control!" Pakura shouted.
"You can't manipulate someone to this extent!"
"Quiet," Rasa snapped.
"Cut the chakra threads—or we lose!"
But Karura charged again.
"I can't control my chakra!"
Sand surged.
Pakura seized the opening, leaping upward.
"Perfect chance!"
Kaito chuckled.
"Nice coordination."
"Using sand to distract me, a sand clone to bait Karura, then strike the threads."
"But you should've used Wind Release immediately."
"Normal chakra can't cut my threads."
CLANG—
Pakura's kunai struck the thread—and bounced.
Her eyes widened.
She hurriedly infused Wind chakra—
Too late.
Karura grabbed her throat.
"Pakura… I'm sorry… I really am…"
Rasa rushed toward Mako instead.
"So that's your plan," Kaito noted calmly.
"Can't beat me, so you target my subordinate?"
"Die!" Rasa roared.
"Mako—don't move!"
Too late.
Sand erupted.
"Magnet Release: Sand Prison!"
The cage formed instantly.
"Release Karura's technique!" Rasa demanded.
Kaito folded his arms.
Karura's grip loosened. Pakura fell away, gasping.
Rasa exhaled.
Kaito smiled.
A blue glint flashed.
SHRK—
A chakra thread pierced Rasa's abdomen.
Black sealing patterns flooded in.
"Evil Sealing Method."
"AAAAH—!"
His chakra collapsed. The sand prison dissolved.
Rasa dropped to one knee, trembling.
Mako rushed forward.
"I'm sorry, All-Powerful Lord—I caused trouble—"
"No," Kaito said, patting her head.
"A performance needs an audience."
"And you're an important one."
Above, on the central tower balcony, Sara watched in awe.
"Do you want to become a ninja like him?" Sally asked softly.
"Yes," Sara whispered, eyes shining.
Elsewhere, Pakura rose again.
"Scorch Release—Steam Murder!"
Fire orbs formed.
Kaito sighed.
"ROOM."
The blue dome expanded instantly.
Pakura's attack vanished.
A stone appeared in Kaito's hand.
"Enough."
"We're negotiating now."
"Mako—inform Her Majesty."
"Yes!"
Pakura lunged again—
"ROOM · Transfer."
She appeared in Kaito's grasp.
"Four Symbols Seal."
"AAAAH—!"
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