(Sakumo Pov)
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Staying in the Land of Wind, our anticipation heightened as we awaited the signal within the confines of the underground tunnel.
In stark contrast to our lush homeland, this barren landscape was dominated by sand dunes, scattered cacti, and occasional rocky outcrops.
Reflecting on history, it became apparent why the leader of the Sunagakure/Land of Wind coveted fertile soil; the scarcity of habitable land in the Land of Wind, particularly evident in the desolation surrounding Sunagakure, left little room for civilian populations to be sustained.
The relentless heat and arid climate made agricultural endeavors almost futile without a reliable water source. As we braved the scorching sun, staying hydrated became paramount to maintaining our strength and concealing our presence within the dilapidated tunnel structure.
As dusk settled in, my heart weighed heavy with worry as I silently pleaded for their safe return.
Realizing the unforgiving nature of the terrain, Akio took charge, determined to locate the elusive One-Tail Jinchuriki alongside Hideo and Arata, whose insect would guide us should they succeed in finding it.
With each passing moment of darkness, the absence of news heightened our anxiety.
"If Arata's insect doesn't return within a day, assume we have been incapacitated and retreat immediately," Akio instructed earlier, his words hanging in the tense air.
Despite my efforts to maintain optimism, pessimistic thoughts clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to consume me. With only fifteen hours remaining until the grim ultimatum, I clung to hope, knowing that our survival depended on it.
As the second-in-command, I understood the importance of caution and deliberation. Rushing into action without sufficient information could prove disastrous, jeopardizing not only our mission but also our lives.
Fortunately, relief soon washed over me when Arata's insect finally returned, signaling their success. Following the direction made by the insects on the sandy terrain, we made our way to the destination.
In contrast to the blistering heat of the day, the night enveloped us in its freezing embrace, though somehow, we found it bearable.
After an hour's journey, each of us clutching our trusty weapons of metal, our eyes caught sight of three distant figures. On the ground before us, an insect arranged itself into legible words.
Suna Puppeteers. Don't underestimate them!
Understanding the warning, we braced ourselves, launching an attack before they noticed us.
"Collaboration Jutsu: Weighted Lightning Web!"
With lightning coursing through our shuriken, we throw and weave hand signs, bringing forth a sphere of crackling energy that we hurl to merge with the flying projectiles, intertwining with each other and resembling a spider web.
As our attack surged forward, we advanced, expecting our foes to falter in evasion.
To our surprise, they stood their ground, falling victim to our assault and succumbing to the electrifying shock.
'That's it?' I wondered, taken aback by the swift victory.
I anticipated at least some defensive maneuvers with their puppets to block our attack.
Observing their scant numbers, I had expected a more formidable foe, yet they fell before us with unexpected ease.
'Perhaps their Kazekage underestimated the likelihood of discovery,' I speculated as I approached the fallen bodies. Blood seeped from their wounds where our shuriken had struck, yet something about their appearance unsettled me.
They seemed drained, devoid of vitality... Wait!
"Retreat!" I shouted to my team, narrowly evading the toxic fumes released from their mouths. 'A human-like puppet!' I realized, recalling one of the basic offensive tactics of puppetry: the deployment of poison, projectiles, or flames.
Soon three figures emerged from the sand where an old man, accompanied by a red-haired man and a brown-haired woman, groaned in frustration for not falling for their trap.
"Don't worry, ojisan," his nephew reassured, deftly dodging the shuriken we hurled in his way, "we need to take them down or at least hold them off until Sandaime-sama appears."
In a swift maneuver, they unfurled a scroll, summoning multiple puppets connected by chakra threads. Observing their mastery, I noted the rarity of such skill among puppeteers, as most struggle to control more than three puppets simultaneously according to Intel.
The elder among them commanded eight puppets, while the man controlled seven and the woman six. Recalling a conversation with Akio, I speculated they were none other than Lady Chiyo's brother, her son, and her daughter-in-law.
Their expertise in puppetry, combined with the lethal arsenal of poison-laced blades, shuriken, darts, and smoke bombs, posed a formidable challenge.
Unable to risk using antidotes without revealing our actual affiliation, we found ourselves ill-prepared for this confrontation.
Dodging a relentless onslaught of projectiles from their puppet, we retreated, seeking to maintain a safe distance from the skilled puppeteers and their arsenal.