Around half a day later, sometime after the afternoon, a vast army from Sunagakure mobilized, excluding only the forces that had been stationed in the village and those who were on guard against Iwagakure, their secondary enemy in this Third Shinobi World War, the majority of Sunagakure's forces boldly left their village and their main foreign base in Tanigakure. They moved toward the Land of Fire's territory to launch a crucial invasion.
Under the meticulous strategy of their Commander in Chief, Pakura—also known globally to some extent as the "Heat Haze" of Sunagakure, thanks to her renowned strength and accomplishments, and locally among civilians and ordinary shinobi as the "Hero of the Hidden Sand"—they had recently managed to diminish Fugaku's Uchiha forces significantly.
This strategic weakening allowed them to venture into foreign territory confidently. It was almost as if they were inviting the enemy's forces to engage them; otherwise, they would start seizing many civilian territories inside the Land of Fire. Emboldened by their recent successes and strategic position, they exhibited no fear as they advanced.
As the Sunagakure forces formally crossed into the borders of the Land of Fire, they moved through a landscape that starkly contrasted with their arid homeland. The lush, verdant forests and rolling hills of the Land of Fire stood in sharp contrast to the deserts they had left behind, offering both strategic challenges and opportunities for the invading force.
Pakura's strategy was clear and audacious: by initiating this direct invasion and escalation, Sunagakure not only demonstrated their military strength but also tested the resolve and preparedness of the Land of Fire's defenders and forced them to act as soon as possible, not leaving them any chances for strategizing or maneuvering or they would lose too much.
Pakura, the formidable commander known as "Heat Haze," moved slightly apart from the main army, leading a smaller, more agile group through the terrain of the Land of Fire. But they were all moving in smaller squadrons to maximize mobility and the element of surprise.
Beside her was Sasori, the second strongest shinobi of their army, also nicknamed the "Sasori of the Red Sand" recently by his enemies and other villages as his masterful use of his shinobi puppets was greatly feared throughout the Third Shinobi World War as he turned the sand red with blood everyone he had gone on missions. But he, known for his puppet mastery rather than his leadership capabilities, lacked significant command experience.
Consequently, he was not tasked with leading other shinobi but was designated to stay close to Pakura, supporting her directly in combat. Their partnership was strategic; as the strongest and second strongest in their group, their joint appearance from unexpected directions was intended to disorient the enemy and decisively sway the course of battle.
And soon, the two large armies clashed. The verdant landscape of the Land of Fire, with its dense forests and numerous waterways, became the backdrop for a fierce and tumultuous battle.
The clash was intense, with both sides deploying a mix of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and strategic maneuvering.
The sounds of battle echoed through the forest, blending with the natural sounds of rustling leaves and rushing streams.
Every shadow and thicket potentially hid dangers, making the environment a critical component of both sides' combat strategies.
Meanwhile, Sasori, Pakura, and their small elite unit were still positioned covertly, surveying the battlefield to determine the optimal moment for their own initial strike.
Engrossed in a close discussion about their strategy, Pakura was caught off guard when Sasori launched a flurry of threads without warning.
The suddenness of the attack surprised her; she managed to dodge most of them, but one thread shot up from the ground, grazing her skin barely.
Pakura's eyes widened in shock as she initially questioned Sasori, shouting at him in confusion and disbelief.
But within seconds, a sharp, burning sensation spread through her body, and she realized with horror that she had been poisoned, "Why would you do this..?", She exclaimed, her voice tinged with betrayal and pain.
The realization hit her hard—Sasori, the famed genius of Sunagakure, a younger shinobi whom she had mentored and trusted, someone she had known for years and completed many missions with, had turned on her.
The betrayal was not just personal but strategic, throwing their plans into disarray and jeopardizing their operation.
Pakura struggled to comprehend the reasons behind Sasori's drastic and treacherous action as she felt the poison's effects slowly begin to take hold.
Meanwhile, as Pakura grappled with the sudden betrayal, the dynamics among the Sunagakure shinobi shifted dramatically.
Shock rippled through the group, but not all were surprised for the same reasons. One of them caught off guard, instinctively murmured,
"Lord Sasori, why did you do it so soon? We still needed her to deal with Konoha, at least a little bit more, and expend more energy before we agreed to act!",
This comment revealed that a faction within the group had been aware of the planned betrayal, suggesting a deeper conspiracy than Pakura had initially realized.
The realization that they had divided loyalties led to immediate tension. Some of the shinobi looked just as stunned as Pakura, clearly unaware of the plot, while others seemed resigned or even complicit.
The atmosphere turned volatile, with those in the dark feeling betrayed and those in the know defensive. Kunai were drawn as former allies turned on each other, unsure of whom to trust.
Amidst this chaos, Pakura's shock deepened into heartbreak and fury as she pieced together the implications of Sasori's actions.
It became clear that this betrayal was not just the work of a rogue shinobi acting on personal vendetta or ambition.
The orchestration of such a plan—especially the timing and the specific shinobi involved in her squadron—pointed to a command from someone with comprehensive control over strategic decisions and personnel placements. The only person with that level of authority was the current Kazekage, Rasa.
Pakura felt a surge of betrayal wash over her as she realized that Rasa himself must have sanctioned this attack, possibly viewing her growing power and popularity as a threat to his position.
This realization poisoned her body and her trust in the leadership she had served under, leaving her to confront the harsh realities of political intrigue and power plays within her own village.
As the tension escalated among the Sunagakure shinobi, Sasori continued to defend his actions with a chilling calmness,
"Imagine waiting to defeat Konoha completely next before dealing with her first here. By then, if her endless loyalist shinobi, everywhere around us, found out I was responsible for her demise because it leaked out in some way, not even Rasa could protect me from their retribution - no, maybe he even planned to kill two birds with one stone with that way...",
"There would be no chance for a clean escape. Instead, the best opportunity for a clean escape is right during this chaos. I'm not an idiot. Besides, with the poison now coursing through her body and this thing...",
He paused, summoning something with a sly grin, "I have all the confidence I need, haha... So, I feel like I don't need to wait for her to expend more energy and tire out...", He said, his voice laced with a sinister confidence.
Then, with a flourish, Sasori revealed his trump card—the puppet form of the Third Kazekage, a creation shrouded in secrecy and dark arts.
He had engineered this puppet after eliminating the Third Kazekage himself, a feat unknown to those around him. This puppet, capable of manipulating Iron Sand, was Sasori's deadliest weapon presently.
The appearance of the Third Kazekage puppet and Sasori's cold admission sent shockwaves through the ranks.
It became clear that Sasori had meticulously planned this betrayal, not just executing a fellow shinobi but preparing to combat any immediate backlash with formidable weaponry.
It also unmasked him as the perpetrator behind the assassination and desecration of the Third Kazekage.
The Sunagakure shinobi, including those covertly aligned with Sasori under Rasa's orders to target Pakura, were stunned.
None had suspected that Sasori's betrayal ran so deep or that he dared to turn the Third Kazekage into one of his puppet creations.
Pakura, despite the poison weakening her, reacted with fury, "You monster!", She yelled, her voice laced with disbelief and outrage.
"To kill your own Kazekage and manipulate us all this entire time! How could you desecrate the leader of our village and plot against your comrades so casually?!", Her words echoed the shock and horror that rippled through the ranks.
Even those who had been part of the plan to remove her were appalled by the depth of Sasori's ruthlessness and scheming.
As he faced the horrified Sunagakure shinobi, Sasori's voice was eerily calm, revealing his chilling detachment,
"To be completely honest, the deaths of my parents years ago left my heart cold, not just towards this village, but towards everything. Now, the only passion I feel is for my 'art'—the pursuit of power through puppetry.",
"For my next masterpiece, I need your formidable abilities and unique kekkei genkai, Pakura. You, alongside the Kazekage, will become eternal works of art.", He declared, a twisted smile playing on his lips as he savored the thought.
At this revelation, even those aligned with Rasa on the scene understood the grave miscalculation they had made, alongside their leader, in trusting Sasori for this mission.
It became clear that his ambitions were boundless, threatening Pakura, the entire village, and even Rasa himself.
Sasori was clearly plotting to turn against them all, too, aiming to become some kind of rebel shinobi powered by his dark pursuits after today.
Meanwhile, Pakura, though weakened, responded with vehement fury, "You're a traitor to everything we stand for in Sunagakure! To use your gifts for such morbid 'art'—you're not just a monster, Sasori, you're a scourge on the shinobi world!"
Sasori's response was chilling, devoid of any remorse, "Art is eternal, Pakura. Your anger only proves that you cannot comprehend the true beauty of my work.", He sneered, his gaze cold and calculating.
Without further hesitation, Sasori directed the Third Kazekage puppet into action. Armed with its deadly Iron Sand, the infamous puppet moved swiftly and with lethal precision towards Pakura.
At the same time, it prepared to engage anyone else who dared interfere. The Iron Sand, controlled with meticulous skill, swirled dangerously around, ready to strike at Sasori's command.
The Sunagakure shinobi on the scene were now starkly divided into two factions: those who remained loyal to Pakura and what they thought was right, and those who were working directly for the current Kazekage, Rasa, who orchestrated this whole attack from shadows and even provided Sasori with all the rare and valuable ingredients needed to concoct such a poison which in small doses could do so much damage to a shinobi of Pakura's caliber.
As the Third Kazekage puppet advanced, the groups eyed each other warily, unsure if their next battle would be with Sasori or amongst themselves.
The air was thick with tension, each shinobi poised for a fight that had just taken an unexpected and treacherous turn.