As night descended over the Wind Country, the stars illuminated the endless desert, their faint glow providing just enough light for the Konoha team to continue their mission. After hours of rest and preparation, Mitokado Hamura gave the command.
"Let's move!"
The team, reinvigorated and ready, advanced toward their first target—a small, defenseless village.
---
### A Merciless Raid
"Kill!"
Hamura's cold, sharp command echoed through the desert. He was a veteran of the First Shinobi World War, a man hardened by countless battles. Compassion had no place in his mind, especially not for the Sand Village, which had inflicted similar horrors on the Land of Fire the year before.
The Konoha ninjas descended upon the village like a storm, leaving no one alive. Screams tore through the night, only to be silenced one by one. Within ten minutes, the village was utterly annihilated—men, women, children, even stray animals were either dead or had fled in terror.
From atop a sand dune, Hamura and Koharu observed the carnage with cold indifference. There was no pity in their eyes, only a grim satisfaction as they watched the village turn into a silent graveyard.
"Any injuries?" Koharu asked perfunctorily.
A senior ninja stepped forward. "None, ma'am."
"Good," Koharu said, nodding. "Proceed to the next target. We aim to take it down before dawn."
She turned away, satisfied. If anyone had been injured in such a straightforward attack, she would have reprimanded them harshly.
The small bird circling high above went unnoticed. It was one of Shinki's puppets, silently observing the Konoha team from the sky.
---
### Shinki's Perspective
Lying comfortably in his insulated tent, Shinki watched the massacre through the puppet's eyes. The lifeless village, its streets painted red, filled his view. He sighed softly.
"Efficient," he muttered to himself. "They're quick, I'll give them that."
The split in their forces was just a formality for Shinki. Though physically separated, his puppet was always with the elders, keeping him informed of their every move. He chuckled at the thought of them believing they were operating independently.
"Two more days," he said to himself, "then I'll hit my targets all at once. Until then, I'll just watch and let the Sand Village react."
---
### The Oasis Assault
As dawn broke, the Konoha team reached their next target—a small but vital oasis. Unlike the village, the oasis had a small garrison of Sand Village ninjas. These defenders, tasked with protecting the lifeblood of the desert, put up a fierce but ultimately futile resistance.
After a brief but intense battle, the oasis fell. The ground was littered with the bodies of defenders and civilians alike.
"Should we burn it?" Koharu asked, glancing at Hamura.
Hamura shook his head. "No, fire might draw attention. Instead, destroy the terrain—block the groundwater flow."
With earth-release techniques, the Konoha ninjas reshaped the landscape, burying green plants under sand and cutting off the natural flow of water. The oasis was reduced to a barren wasteland.
Satisfied with their work, Hamura and Koharu led the team away, heading for their next target.
---
### Shinki's Interference
High above, Shinki's puppet watched as the team departed. Once they were far enough, the puppet opened its mouth, releasing a small glowing orb. The orb descended into the ruined oasis, and moments later, flames erupted, engulfing what remained.
This wasn't the only fire Shinki started. Each location the Konoha team left behind was soon set ablaze by his puppets. Villages, oases, and outposts—all burned brightly in the desert night. Though the Konoha team moved swiftly, the fires they unknowingly left in their wake ensured their presence wouldn't go unnoticed for long.
---
### The Sand Village Reacts
At one such burning location, a Sand Village patrol stumbled upon the devastation. The sight was horrifying—corpses littered the ground, and the once-thriving settlement was now a smoldering ruin.
"What… what happened here?" one of the patrol members stammered.
The squad leader quickly regained composure. "Send word to Lord Kazekage immediately. We're under attack!"
By the time the patrol returned to their outpost, the news was already on its way to the Sand Village. That night, a sealed scroll reached the desk of the Third Kazekage.
---
### The Third Kazekage's Response
Sitting in his office, the Third Kazekage read the report, his sharp eyes narrowing. The scroll described widespread destruction across the Wind Country—villages razed, oases destroyed, and civilians slaughtered.
The Kazekage clenched his fists. "An unknown enemy is wreaking havoc within our borders…"
His mind raced. The methods were all too familiar—swift strikes, precise targets, leaving chaos in their wake. It mirrored the tactics the Sand Village had used against the Land of Fire the previous year.
*Konoha? Could it be them?*
He grimaced, recalling the political fallout of their actions in the Fire Country. The Sand Village's attacks had been effective, but they had also strained their resources and invited retaliation. If this was Konoha's doing, it was a deliberate and calculated response.
"Prepare a team," he ordered. "We need to confirm the identity of these attackers. And send reinforcements to secure the remaining oases immediately."
As his subordinates rushed to carry out his orders, the Third Kazekage leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
*If this is Konoha's work, they'll regret crossing us. But if it's someone else…*
Either way, the Sand Village would respond with force. The Wind Country would not remain silent for long.
>>>>>
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