In the desert, the days are scorching, leaving you feeling as though the water in your body is evaporating, while the nights freeze your very blood. Had it not been for Fumori Masaki and his comrades, all of whom were highly trained ninja, they would have struggled to endure the harsh conditions of their first long mission in the desert.
Since entering the Land of Wind, they had repeatedly infiltrated oases supplying the army, sabotaging logistical resources. If they encountered a large number of warriors, they would avoid confrontation and retreat. The samurai could not keep pace with Fumori Masaki and his team, and the Sunagakure ninja, although faster, were often defeated after being separated from their main forces due to the skill gap.
Through repeated strikes, they had inflicted significant damage to the Land of Wind's logistics, causing the Wind troops near the Land of Rain to falter against the combined forces of Ame and Konoha reinforcements. Having disrupted this region, Masaki and his team shifted their attention to the Sunagakure's primary forces stationed in the Land of Rivers.
However, their progress did not go unchallenged. A counterattack from Sunagakure's ninja was inevitable, given Sunagakure's reputation for its smaller but elite forces. Their response was faster than expected, catching Masaki and his team by surprise.
Masaki and Danzo had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with the Sunagakure pursuers. Their mission wasn't to defeat the sand ninja but to cause as much disruption to Suna's supply lines as possible before returning to the Konoha forces. Wasting time and resources in battle was not part of the plan.
Thus, the Konoha and Suna ninja engaged in an extended pursuit, with the terrain favoring the latter. Yet, the Konoha team possessed a vital edge: their Byakugan user and highly skilled sensory ninja. Every ambush set by Sunagakure had been anticipated, and the Konoha team hadn't lost a single member.
The commanders of the Sunagakure team were Chiyo and Ebizō. At this point, both were young but already considered talented and promising within the village. Chiyo's expertise in medical ninjutsu and taijutsu was formidable, and she had recently developed puppetry under the guidance of the Second Kazekage. With the Second Kazekage's encouragement, Chiyo had constructed her first battle puppet, impressing her mentor. After becoming Monzaemon's student and inheriting his puppet techniques, her strength had only grown. Her younger brother, Ebizō, on the other hand, was more of a strategist than a front-line fighter. He excelled in creating the ideal conditions for Chiyo, subtly supporting her with his sand-based secret techniques.
At 23, Chiyo was both beautiful and powerful, her reputation making her appear as an untouchable flower to those around her. Confident and proud, she now found herself frustrated. Upon receiving this mission, she had promised the Second Kazekage that she would swiftly capture the infiltrating Konoha ninja, yet they had so far evaded her at every turn.
"These Konoha ninja are faster than rabbits!" Chiyo cursed after another failed attempt to catch them, angrily stomping a scorpion into the sand.
Ebizō, calm as always, reassured her, "Don't worry, Nee-san. At least this time, we saw their shadows. We're getting closer, no longer just following traces they leave behind."
"I know, but every time we lose them, it irritates me!" Chiyo retorted, her youthful impatience showing through. While she wasn't as composed as her brother, even Ebizō could get flustered under the right circumstances.
"From that brief glimpse, I've confirmed who they are," Ebizō said thoughtfully. "This team is likely composed of the Second Hokage's students. One of them is Shimura Danzo, and the other is Fumori Masaki."
Despite being embroiled in conflict, the Sunagakure forces kept track of important developments in the larger war. With ninja now openly participating in battles, information gathering was more accessible than it had been during the Warring States period. While detailed reports still required face-to-face exchanges, general intelligence could be obtained through various means.
Sunagakure had also formed an elite squad akin to Konoha's Anbu after witnessing their effectiveness. Ebizō, a brilliant tactician, had once been an analyst in their own version of the Anbu. He meticulously studied the key figures of Konoha, committing their profiles and combat styles to memory for situations exactly like this one.
"We didn't even clash, yet their movements revealed who they are," Ebizō continued. "Fumori Masaki—the one who killed the Silver Horn from the infamous Gold and Silver Brothers of Kumogakure."
Due to his feat of single-handedly slaying Silver Horn, Fumori Masaki's reputation eclipsed that of his peers. Although Danzo had his own accomplishments, Chiyo didn't even mention him, focusing instead on Masaki.
"Ah, that one," Chiyo mused. "Though Silver Horn couldn't use his ninjutsu, he was still a dangerous man, capable of wielding the Nine-Tails' chakra. And it was Masaki who severed his arm before delivering the killing blow. His strength must be formidable."
"Exactly. If we can kill someone of his caliber, it will deal a massive blow to Konoha," Chiyo grinned. "I'd love to test the strength of these famed students of the Second Hokage. That Uchiha Kagami always hides behind his defenses. But this time, I want to challenge them directly."
"Don't underestimate them," Ebizō cautioned. "And don't forget about Danzo. While he hasn't matched Masaki's public achievements, he's known for his patience and deadly precision."
"Come on, who do you think you're talking to?" Chiyo scoffed. "I've faced ninjas far more dangerous than these upstarts. If Fumori Masaki was able to kill someone as dangerous as Silver Horn, I'll treat him with caution, but I won't fear him."
Ebizō sighed, "I'm just reminding you Nee-san."
"Let's hurry," Chiyo said, signaling her squad to move out. "I'm tired of playing hide-and-seek with them."
As they pressed on, Chiyo and Ebizō, using their knowledge of the terrain, set a trap that cornered Fumori Masaki's team. Though it wasn't a perfect ambush, it forced the Konoha ninja into a direct confrontation.
Chiyo spotted their shadows ahead. With a sly smile, she prepared her puppet strings, thinking, Let's see what the students of the Second Hokage are truly capable of.