The encirclement was tightening.
For Mitokado Hamura and Utatane Koharu, it was a matter of when, not if, the Sand Village would corner them. Their enemies wouldn't rest while such a destructive force ran rampant in their homeland.
Sitting in the hidden cave, Koharu analyzed their situation calmly.
"The good news is that they still haven't identified us," she said. "That's why their pursuit isn't as fast as it could be. If they knew who we were, they'd stop at nothing to ensure we never left the Wind Country."
Hamura nodded grimly. "Which brings us to the question—how do we break out of their encirclement?"
---
### Paths to Escape
There were two options.
- **To the North**: Escape into the small northern nations. While the Sand Village might still pursue, they wouldn't be able to act as openly, avoiding international scrutiny. This plan depended on their identities staying concealed.
- **To the West**: Escape to the sea. The Sand Village's naval capabilities were weak, and once on the water, the chance of losing their pursuers was high. However, venturing into Mist Village waters could provoke an entirely new conflict.
Utatane Koharu laid out the pros and cons of each route.
"If their pursuit force is moderate, the north is safer," she concluded. "But if they're desperate to keep us here, the sea is the better option."
Hamura frowned, his eyes glued to the map. "Either way, the risks are enormous."
---
### Reflections on Shinki
As the pair deliberated, Hamura voiced a lingering thought. "You think Hyuga Shinki has completed his mission?"
Koharu scoffed, her tone laced with irritation. "How should I know? He's not exactly forthcoming. If he has, I doubt he's facing the same mess we are. With all those puppets at his disposal, including ones that can fly, his job is a walk in the park."
Her frustration boiled over. "If he had just shared some of those puppets, we wouldn't be stuck like this!"
Hamura sighed. "We made our choices, Koharu. It's too late for regrets now."
The bitterness between the elders and Shinki was undeniable, stemming from earlier political and personal clashes. Koharu, stewing in resentment, muttered, "It's all Danzo's fault. If he hadn't provoked Shinki, none of this would've happened."
"Agreed," Hamura said. "Danzo set these events in motion. The division of the Hokage faction, the fractures in our ranks—it all traces back to his power games."
The two elders shared a rare moment of mutual exasperation toward their absent colleague.
---
### Shinki Observes from Above
Meanwhile, Shinki watched the chaos unfold below, perched on the back of his eagle puppet. The Sand Village had mobilized swiftly, deploying a considerable force to hunt the intruders. Their effort impressed him.
"*They're really pulling out all the stops,*" he mused, glancing at the growing clusters of Sand Village ninja spreading across the desert.
A gust of wind kicked up, carrying sand into his face. He spat out a mouthful of grit, annoyed. "This is why I prefer watching through the puppets. No wind, no sand, just a clear view of the chaos."
Deciding he had seen enough, Shinki shifted his focus to finding a more comfortable observation point. *The River Country is too chaotic,* he thought. *The Bear Country might be better.*
---
### The Bear Country Beckons
The Bear Country, tucked away in relative obscurity, offered an ideal refuge. Like the Land of Fire, it was covered in dense forests, but the similarities ended there. The Bear Country's forests were more akin to rainforests, teeming with toxic plants, dangerous wildlife, and shrouded in poisonous mists.
Then there was Star Ninja Village, the Bear Country's hidden village. Its leader, audaciously self-titled "Star Shadow," ruled over a peculiar group of ninjas trained under dangerous conditions involving radiation from a mysterious meteorite. These ninjas, imbued with unique but unstable powers, were both a curiosity and a cautionary tale.
For Shinki, the Bear Country's treacherous terrain and strange ninja made it an ideal place to lay low and continue observing the fallout from his actions in the Wind Country.
---
### Sand Village Closes In
Back in the Wind Country, the Sand Village's efforts to tighten the noose were relentless. Patrol teams were closing in on Koharu and Hamura's location.
In a makeshift hideout, Hamura reviewed their map once again, his face tense. "They've found our trail. If we don't move soon, we'll be cornered."
Koharu, always pragmatic, began packing her supplies. "We've pushed the Sand Village to its breaking point. Now, let's see if we can survive their retaliation."
Far above, Shinki's eagle puppet hovered, watching their predicament unfold. A smirk played on his lips. *Let's see how the elders handle this. They wanted to lead their own mission—now they've got exactly what they asked for.*
The chaos in the Wind Country was far from over, and the Sand Village's retaliation was only just beginning.
>>>>>
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