Within the camp at the Ota District, Shiraishi was finalizing matters regarding the occupation when a familiar figure appeared.
"Lady Chiyo, you've arrived."
Chiyo's speed from the Sand to the Land of Rain was impressive; she had arrived in barely a day. However, seeing her panting from exhaustion, Shiraishi couldn't help but smirk.
"Forcefully rushing leads to fatigue, making one vulnerable to enemy ambushes and total annihilation. That's what you and Master Ebizo taught me. Why the sudden haste now?"
Chiyo ignored his teasing and shook her head grimly. "Konoha is on the verge of a full-scale invasion. At a time like this, are you still insisting on holding the Rain front?"
The power Konoha had concentrated was terrifying. Chiyo couldn't fathom why Shiraishi insisted on maintaining the lines in both the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers. Didn't he understand the urgency?
According to Shiraishi's strategic plan, while he held the Rain, Pakura would continue to monitor the Uchiha in the Rivers, and Ebizo would remain in the village.
This dispersion of forces seemed foolish in the face of Konoha's concentrated thrust. Even if Shiraishi was confident in his strength, facing the collective might of the Leaf alone was unwise.
"This battle with the Leaf will decide the landscape of the shinobi world for decades to come," Shiraishi explained. "If we concentrate all our strength in the Sand's heartland, we might win the defense, but we will inevitably lose our wings in the Rivers and the Rain."
"Then what do you intend to do?"
"The desert is my true home turf. No matter what, I must stand against the Leaf on all fronts. I cannot abandon everything just because they've focused on a single path toward our capital."
Shiraishi did not fear the Leaf's arrival. No matter how god-like the Third Hokage's strength was, he could not overturn the natural advantage of the desert.
Furthermore, Hanzo was waiting for the Sand to flinch; if Shiraishi retreated now, reclaiming this territory in the future would be nearly impossible.
"I understand," Chiyo sighed. This was indeed the Sand's greatest opportunity in years. She chose to trust his judgment.
"Get back to the Land of Wind quickly. And remember—don't rush so much that you leave an opening for the enemy."
Hidden Sand Village
The Leaf's army pushed aggressively through Kikyo Pass. Unlike the previous two bloody sieges, the Sand's defenses there were quickly overrun.
As the remaining Sand ninjas retreated toward the village, the Leaf's main force drove straight toward the capital.
With Kikyo Pass lost as a buffer, the vast expanse of the Land of Wind lay exposed to the Leaf. As the war intensified, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, sat expressionless in the meeting hall, watching the Council of Elders perform.
"The Daimyo's letter of inquiry has arrived."
The Wind Daimyo's letter was a masterpiece of "playing dumb." He asked Rasa if the military actions in the Rivers and Rain were issued by the Kazekage or if Shiraishi had acted alone. He was effectively washing his hands of the situation, tossing the political hot potato to Rasa and the Elders.
Ebizo read the letter and handed it to Rasa. "How does the Lord Kazekage view this?"
How do I view it? Rasa thought bitterly. You've already started the fire. Am I supposed to put it out now?
If he followed the Leaf's script and branded Shiraishi a rogue, the entire village would see him as a traitor who colluded with the enemy to kill a village hero. His reputation as Kazekage would be utterly destroyed.
Rasa had met with Leaf messengers before, and while he was tempted at first, he realized it was a trap to split the Sand. If he agreed, he would be reviled in the annals of Sand history forever.
Seeing the pit before him, Rasa decided to remain silent. His passivity drew the attention of the noble houses like the Yamaji family.
The Kazekage has nothing to say?
Rasa closed his eyes, adopting a bystander's posture. Like the Daimyo, if Shiraishi won, it would be a strategic victory for the nation; if he failed, the Elders and Shiraishi would take the fall.
"Apologies, Lord Kazekage is feeling unwell."
For the past two years, Baki had uttered this phrase countless times. It was as if the beating Rasa took from Onoki had left him permanently frail—he "fell ill" whenever a critical decision was required.
As Baki helped Rasa leave the room, Ebizo didn't interfere. As long as Rasa didn't cause trouble, it was fine.
If Rasa had dared to propose labeling Shiraishi a rogue today, Ebizo wouldn't have hesitated to dispose of him on the spot.
"How are the outer defenses?"
"The Yamaji family has begun deploying the barrier."
The Hidden Sand had three layers of defense. The first was the standard sensory barrier. The second was the Sand Dust Barrier held by the Sand Style lineages—a giant "Third Eye" in the sky that monitored all movements.
The third was the Geomantic Barrier held by the Elders, which linked the village's ley lines with Earth Release to create a terrifying quicksand moat.
As Ryoko Yamaji formed the seals, endless desert sands swirled around the village outskirts. A massive eye manifested in the sky, scanning the horizon.
The Ambush
Meanwhile, as Shiraishi was using his Magnet Release to fly back to the village, he suddenly felt his control being jammed!
Massive hands of black Iron Sand erupted from the ground, lunging at Shiraishi's silver sand. With a burst of impact, Shiraishi flipped gracefully onto the ground.
Magnet Release?
That chakra signature felt like the Arakawa family's Magnet Release, but Akita was dead, Maru lacked this level of mastery, and Arashi's signature was different.
Could it be...!
The black Iron Sand swirled, forming a massive Iron Sand Barrier that completely blocked Shiraishi's path.
"Senior Sasori, have you joined forces with the Leaf as well?"
Only the one who had turned the Third Kazekage into a Human Puppet—Sasori of the Red Sand—could manifest such a powerful Iron Sand domain.
Numerous Human Puppets emerged from the shadows. A cold voice drifted from the depths of the forest: "I have no interest in the war between the Sand and the Leaf.
But I am fascinated by you. Black Mist Shiraishi, you will be my most perfect masterpiece."
To Sasori, Shiraishi was the ultimate prize. The chaos of the Leaf's invasion provided the perfect window to capture him.
Seeing himself delayed, Shiraishi's aura shifted instantly. A sharp, murderous intent filled the forest. His chakra flared with such intensity that the surrounding Iron Sand was physically shattered by the pressure.
The black sand beneath his feet began to yield, transforming into his own silver metallic dust. Amidst the swirling gale, Shiraishi clapped his hands together, his pupils erupting with a brilliant, kaleidoscopic light.
"Sasori of the Red Sand, I hereby officially declare you an S-Rank Rogue Ninja of the Hidden Sand. You are under arrest!"
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