"Where is it…?"
In the howling sandstorm of the Land of Wind, Sasori walked deeper into the desert at an unhurried pace.
A few days earlier, he'd sensed the aftermath of a major battle—and ever since, he'd been searching.
His reason for returning to the Land of Wind was simple: to find suitable "materials" and craft more puppets.
And when he heard rumors that the fight might have involved Pakura—and several mysterious, powerful shinobi—his interest had ignited instantly.
After all, only the finest materials could become truly perfect puppets.
But after days of searching, he'd come up empty.
He had even killed several search teams, yet still hadn't obtained anything reliable. The lack of progress irritated him.
"I'll search a little longer," Sasori decided. "The organization hasn't issued a mission… but I can't stay here too long."
He could already tell Sunagakure's ANBU had begun moving.
Sasori wasn't afraid of ANBU.
He just didn't want a swarm of fleas clinging to his back. It was annoying.
"Looks like I'll need to make a new puppet," he thought, "something that can help mask my identity."
Then—
Ahead, through the blurred curtain of sand, he spotted a group moving across the desert.
"It looks like you didn't get anything valuable from him either," Ren said lightly, glancing at Shisui's dark expression.
Then he looked back at Pakura—her posture slumped, her spirit visibly dulled as she walked under guard.
Two days had passed.
Shisui had tried multiple genjutsu methods on her.
Every result was the same.
She truly knew nothing.
Not that it was surprising—if a village intended to "sell" someone, they wouldn't warn that person ahead of time.
Still, coming away with zero useful intelligence stung.
"It's what we expected," Yugao said, tilting her head toward Pakura. "Didn't you say she probably wouldn't know?"
Then her gaze sharpened toward Ren.
"And next time you run into trouble, tell us. Stop handling everything alone."
"We're teammates."
"Yes, yes, I get it," Ren replied with a cheerful nod. "Thank you for worrying about me, senpai."
Strictly speaking, their retreat really was connected to him.
He still needed to help Kabuto.
Kabuto had lured "their own people" into a trap, and Ren had wiped them out—Kabuto couldn't stay near the scene too long, and he still needed to remain inside the village.
Which meant Ren's team couldn't keep camping here either.
Besides…
Ren had his own plan now.
Kabuto would find a way. That boy's talent for undercover work was absurd.
But Ren was thinking bigger—especially about the toughest part:
How to force the Kazekage out of his office.
No matter how Ren spun it, the cleanest method seemed to involve one person.
Shisui.
Specifically: Shisui's Mangekyō, which—at this point—was likely already awakened.
"Maybe… we just have to make Shisui work," Ren thought.
"Just 'burden him a little.'"
Shisui had the kind of power that could create enough pressure to shake even a Kage's routine.
But Mangekyō alone might not be enough.
Which was why Pakura mattered too.
Ren's original plan had been simple:
Plant suspicion inside Pakura, then use Shisui's action to force a private negotiation.
Rasa was probably already negotiating with Kirigakure.
Pakura was a bargaining chip.
So Rasa would likely come.
And if he wanted to protect Pakura's reputation, he might even come quietly—under the table.
That would let Ren do something beautiful:
Frame Danzō cleanly, while planting a seed inside Pakura that could grow later.
But now?
Ren wanted more than "clean."
He wanted maximum damage… and maximum profit.
If Kabuto stole real policy intel, then the seed of doubt wouldn't just sprout—
It would take root and bloom.
And Danzō's name?
It could truly spread across Sunagakure like a desert storm.
Ren nodded to himself, satisfied.
"I really am the most loyal," he thought solemnly—without an ounce of shame.
Then he spoke aloud.
"Captain, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Hm?" Shisui blinked, then nodded. "Sure. Let's talk up front."
Shisui moved ahead. Yugao immediately took over watching Pakura.
Ren and Shisui walked a short distance forward—far enough that Pakura wouldn't overhear.
Shisui turned.
"What's your idea, Ren?"
Ren nodded, already measuring his words carefully.
He was about to suggest "burdening" Shisui—so he needed Shisui to volunteer.
He asked in a calm tone:
"I've been thinking about one question."
"How can we make sure Konoha gains more from this situation?"
That topic instantly lit Shisui up—the Uchiha dove faction's favorite flavor: 'benefit the village.'
He leaned in.
"Tell me what you're thinking."
"It's simple," Ren said with a small smile. He understood Shisui's motives—understood the logic those 'peace Uchiha' clung to.
He didn't hide it.
"Even if my guess is right, we still lack hard evidence."
"But that doesn't change a bigger issue."
"Does Konoha actually want Sunagakure to stabilize and recover from this crisis?"
Shisui's brow snapped downward.
"Ren… what are you saying?"
If Suna collapsed, it would affect Konoha too—why would Ren phrase it like this?
Ren sighed like he was explaining something obvious to a kid.
"I'm saying Sunagakure can't fully collapse," he clarified. "That would destabilize the region and threaten Konoha."
"But at the same time—Sunagakure must pay a price."
"And if they can't resist Iwagakure's pressure up north…"
Ren's voice softened, almost conversational.
"Isn't that better for Konoha?"
"A complete Sunagakure dares challenge Konoha."
"But a broken Sunagakure becomes the best kind of ally."
"Isn't that how alliances work?"
Shisui hesitated.
The logic was twisted—but not wrong.
The Third Shinobi War had started because Suna struck first.
They lost.
Now they were "allies."
And Konoha didn't even trust them.
So… keeping them weak did keep them obedient.
Shisui's eyes widened slightly.
"…Explain it in detail," he urged, a strange excitement creeping in. "If it makes sense—then for the village, I can do it."
Ren's mouth curved under the mask.
"Good. Very good."
He was about to begin—
When his gaze snapped toward the horizon.
Shisui's gaze followed.
Through the sand, a lone figure approached—unhurried, solitary, slicing through the storm like it belonged there.
Ren felt it immediately.
A dense, dangerous chakra presence.
Shisui's expression tightened.
"What is that…?"
As the figure drew closer, Ren's face subtly changed.
A black cloak with red clouds.
Short red hair whipping in the wind.
And eyes—bright, predatory—like an animal watching prey.
"…That guy," Ren thought slowly, "is Sasori."
And then his eyes lit up.
"Wait. Sasori…"
Something clicked.
A possibility.
A reward.
A weapon.
"...Sasori."
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