The Sand Village was in chaos. The relentless attacks on their villages and oases were not only a strategic nightmare but also a direct assault on their nation's survival. For the Third Kazekage, the situation was escalating beyond control.
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### Shinki Observes the Fallout
Shinki, meanwhile, had no intention of getting involved directly. Settled in a remote forest in the Bear Country, he had found an ideal spot to rest and watch the chaos unfold through his puppets.
The Bear Country, with its dense, poison-laden forests and strange terrain, was far removed from the political and military intrigues of the five major villages. Star Ninja Village's self-proclaimed "Star Shadow" posed no threat, and its radioactive meteorite was nothing but a curiosity to Shinki.
*I'm here to relax, not to play with radioactive toys,* he thought, tending to a sizzling venison steak on his makeshift grill.
The aroma of freshly roasted meat and simmering stew filled the air as Shinki leaned back, transferring his consciousness to one of his puppets. Through its eyes, he observed the Sand Village forces mobilizing faster than before.
*Ah, they're picking up the pace now,* he mused, noting the presence of the Third Kazekage soaring through the sky on his iron sand platform. *He's finally taking things personally.*
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### The Sand Village Accelerates
At one of the battle sites, the Third Kazekage arrived to find a team of Konoha ninjas defeated—but not without a significant cost to his own forces. He frowned, scanning the battlefield with sharp eyes.
The sight of the fallen Sand Village ninjas was a harsh reminder of the skill gap between his forces and the attackers. The Konoha team had fought fiercely, dragging down several of his men even as they fell.
"Lord Kazekage," a Sand ninja reported, "we've confirmed their identities—they're Konoha ninjas. Along with destroying villages, they've been targeting our oases."
The Third Kazekage's expression darkened. He already suspected Konoha's involvement, but the confirmation stoked his anger further.
"Continue the pursuit!" he ordered. "Recover the bodies of the fallen enemies. If we can't capture them alive, we'll at least extract what we can from their corpses."
The bodies of enemy ninjas were valuable assets in times of war. If no intelligence could be extracted, they could still be repurposed as puppets—a grim but practical tradition of the Sand Village. Reputation mattered little during war; utility was paramount.
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### The Kazekage's Breaking Point
As the pursuit intensified, a messenger eagle arrived with another report. The Third Kazekage retrieved the scroll, his calm demeanor cracking as he read its contents.
"Assholes! How many of them are there?!"
The scroll detailed further attacks—not just in the northwest, but across other areas of the Wind Country. Villages and oases were being obliterated with a level of force that defied explanation. Some sites weren't just destroyed—they were erased, leaving nothing but craters behind.
The Kazekage's rage boiled over. His initial strategy of surrounding and capturing the attackers no longer seemed sufficient. The sheer scale and intensity of the destruction demanded immediate action.
*This isn't just a raid—this is annihilation,* he thought.
Dropping the scroll, he soared into the sky on a platform of iron sand. If his men couldn't capture the attackers, he would do it himself. Only a live captive could provide the answers he needed.
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### Koharu and Hamura on the Run
Far from the Kazekage's wrath, Mitokado Hamura and Utatane Koharu were struggling to stay ahead of their pursuers. The Sand Village forces were closing in, and their options were rapidly dwindling.
"The encirclement is almost complete," Hamura said, studying the map. "If we don't move now, we'll be trapped."
Koharu, packing their supplies, nodded. "We need to head north. The smaller nations won't want the Sand Village spilling their war into their borders."
"Let's hope they don't figure out our identities," Hamura muttered. "If they do, this chase won't end in the Wind Country."
Despite their predicament, Koharu couldn't resist a bitter remark. "Meanwhile, I'm sure Shizuka is sitting somewhere comfortable, watching all of this like a theater performance."
Hamura sighed. "Let it go, Koharu. We've already wasted enough energy resenting him."
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### Shinki's Perspective
High above the chaos, Shinki's eagle puppet trailed the Sand Village forces as they pressed closer to Koharu and Hamura. The Kazekage's unmistakable figure darted through the sky, his iron sand platform gleaming under the harsh desert sun.
"Getting serious now, are we?" Shinki murmured, tearing into his freshly grilled venison. The Third Kazekage's agitation was palpable, even through the puppet's distant view.
But the Sand Village wasn't the only group he was watching. Shinki's other puppets kept tabs on the elders, noting their increasingly desperate attempts to stay ahead of their pursuers.
*They wanted to play leaders. Now they're learning what that really means,* he thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
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### The Third Kazekage's Desperation
Flying ahead of his men, the Third Kazekage scanned the desert for any signs of the fleeing Konoha ninjas. His frustration grew with each passing moment. The destruction wrought by the attackers was unlike anything he had seen before. Entire oases wiped off the map—this was more than a simple revenge mission.
"This ends now," he growled, his eyes narrowing. *I'll drag them out of the desert myself if I have to.*
His men, watching from below, exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn't often that the Kazekage displayed such visible anger. Whatever was driving him, they knew one thing: failure was not an option.
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### The Stage is Set
Back in the Bear Country, Shinki finished his meal and leaned back against a tree, gazing into the dense, poisonous forest around him. Through his puppets, he saw the chaos unfolding in the Wind Country. The Third Kazekage was on a warpath, and the elders were running out of places to hide.
"This is getting interesting," Shinki said to himself. "Let's see who breaks first—the Kazekage or the elders."
With the Sand Village mobilizing its full strength and the Kazekage himself entering the fray, the endgame of this deadly chase was drawing near.
>>>>>
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