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  In the dark, damp headquarters of Akatsuki in Amegakure, the notorious anization reparing for a mission.

  At the forefrowo puppets, the Third and Fourth Kazekages, the stro of their respective geions, now mere tools in the hands of their troller.

  These were no ordinary puppets. Enhanced with teology provided by the Hidden Snow Vilge, these figures could utilize their Kekkei Genkai of Iron Sand and Gold Dust just as when they were alive.

  Over the past few days, the Fourth Kazekage puppet had mined a siderable amount of gold sand for Akatsuki, which had beeo bolster their ranks.

  Behind the two Kazekage puppets stood a hundred humanoid puppets, chakra armor, ready for deployment. This eology from the Land of Snow had signifitly enhahe puppets' capabilities.

  With such a force, Sasori felt fident he could easily defeat himself from the Konoha-Suna Trade Route era. He believed it was more than enough to wage a small-scale Shinobi war.

  Standing beside Sasori was the retly recruited Shinnō, his arms crossed, his expression haughty. Since Kakuzu's death, Sasori had finally found a new battle partner.

  Today was the day! They were setting out on a mission!

  Bck Zetsu approached them, a sinister glee in his voice. "Latest intel - from within the Land of Wind."

  "The Fifth Kazekage has invited Konoha's Gojo Kaigetsu to participate in a joint operation to eliminate a Missing-nin. Suna's defenses may be vulnerable~"

  "It's the perfect opportunity to teach that two-faced vilge a little lesson."

  After taking the title of the Kazekage—Baki had uniterally torn up the agreement he'd made with Bck Zetsu, refusing to sell any more chakra metal to Akatsuki.

  While their retionship had always been based on mutual exploitation, Baki's swift betrayal still stung, a testament to the fickle nature of humanity.

  But it didn't matter. Helping Baki bee Kazekage was just a means to an end, a way to destabilize the Shinobi world and weaken Konoha's influence.

  The ultimate objective had been achieved. Chakra metal… whether sold to Amegakure or the Akatsuki, it made little difference.

  "This is a two-birds-with-oone pn!" Bck Zetsu emphasized. "inally, our pn was to capture the weakened Oail Shukaku. But since Gojo Kaigetsu is also in the Land of Wind, we'll take him out too!"

  "First, ture the tailed beast, then we kill him!"

  "If Gojo Kaigetsu dies in the Land of Wind, no matter if Suna Shinobi did it or not, their retionship will immediately crumble. A cold war is the best oute. It could eve into open war!"

  "Also, we o retrieve the Ryūmyaku sealed in Rōran. It's a powerful, sustainable energy source. Whether it's for developing your puppets, Sasori, or for the Asura Path, it will be extremely useful."

  Another assassination?

  Capturing a tailed beast was within Sasori's fort zone. After all, the twest Kazekages in history were now his puppets. Aside from Shukaku, the only nifit threat in Suna was the retly retired Chiyo.

  But… Gojo Kaigetsu? He was hesitant.

  His partner, Kakuzu, had been taken out during an attempt on Gojo's life. Even with two Kage-level puppets, Sasori wasn't fully fident.

  Seemingly sensing Sasori's apprehension, Bck Zetsu chuckled.

  "Don't worry. This time, Konan will also participate to ensure success. And I've firmed that Gojo Kaigetsu's team doesn't have any Mangekyo Sharingan users. There's no ce of an ambush."

  "However, Konan won't intervene unless absolutely necessary, to avoid exposing her abilities. You know how it is."

  Sasori's brow rexed. "With Konan's help, it's in the bag."

  Within Akatsuki, there was a certain degree of… let's call it professional respect. Sasori was the top expert when it came to puppets. When it came to Paper Release, however, Konan was untouchable, able to restrict his puppets' movements, leaving them helpless.

  Konan was his Achilles' heel.

  Regardless of Konan's bat performance against other oppos, at least when she had to escape, she could create a paper bird and fly away.

  Fighting on nd was ohing, but in the air, it was a different story.

  Very few Shinobi iire Ninja world could fly.

  It was like fag a Devil Fruit user at sea. No matter how strong a nd-based Shinobi was, if their target took to the skies, they were helpless!

  Uhey were a perfect Jinchuriki who could unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb, or someone like Hashirama Senju who could use Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands for an all-out aerial assault.

  "In that case—Operation: Sandstorm, ence!"

  Bck Zetsu gave the order, and the Akatsuki members, Sasori and Shinnō, whuarding the base, vanished.

  …

  The Land of Wind.

  Fierce winds whipped up a blinding sandstorm, like a series ing waterfalls eg the heavens and the earth.

  Amidst the swirling sand, in the vast, boundless desert, the scorg su down, the dry air practically burning. Evehing became a challenge.

  Wind-driven sand swirled like yellons across the dunes, an endless, desote ndscape.

  In this desote desert, life seemed to have been devoured, leaving only a few hardy cacti struggling to survive uhe bzing sun.

  Gojo Kaigetsu's Konoha Anti-Terrorism Guidaeam trudged along the winding dunes, slowly making their way towards Rōran.

  The Konoha Anti-Terrorism and Vice Eradication Team sisted of about five or six people.

  Perhaps to give the younger geion of Shinobi a ce to see the world, three familiar faces were in the group: Might Guy, and Shisui Uchiha.

  A standard lineup, not enough to make the Fifth Kazekage wary.

  They had been training hard, even during their downtime…

  Might Guy, in particur.

  After endless hours of elbow-interaining, Guy had finally mastered Gojo Kaigetsu's signature taijutsu move, the Bck Elbow - Dead Star.

  With this breakthrough, Guy also mao open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates, the Gate of Wonder.

  However, due to the immerain the Seventh Gate pced on his body, even though he knew he had broken through the barrier, Guy didn't dare to test it.

  Youth wasn't fuel to be burned recklessly. Only wheo protect the vilge and its bonds could Might Guy transform into the Blue Beast!

  The power of the Eight Gates was based on the user's physical dition. To ensure he could unleash the stro possible power wheransformed into the Hulk, Guy trained his muscles even harder.

  This year, Might Guy was only fifteen.

  To use the proper term, his development had surpassed even the inal timeline!

  As for Shisui Uchiha, there wasn't much to say. He simply opened and closed his eyes, and bam, he had a three-tomoe Sharingan. His chakra levels were steadily increasing too.

  Perhaps in another year or two, after accumuting enough chakra and with a little eye drop-iimution, he would awaken the seangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha .

  ...

  After traveling a short distahey spotted the outline of Sunagakure in the desert.

  Baki was already waiting at the vilge entrance, wearing a forced, yet weling smile, looking as harmless as a freshly scrubbed puppy.

  Seeing Gojo Kaigetsu, he immediately reached out his hand, bowing as he trotted over.

  He gave the Konoha envoys his utmost respect.

  He couldn't afford to be careless!!

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