In response to the collaborative proposal put forth by the Third Kazekage, the Sky Ninja Village naturally had no reason to refuse.
However, ignoring the significant pressure emanating from the Kazekage's gaze, the leader of the Sky Ninja, Shinno, calmly presented his own demands.
"Kazekage, we can provide flight technology, but your village must share the puppetry forging techniques. Both parties will jointly bear the funding required for research, and once completed, the usage rights of the puppets will be shared. This is the first type of collaboration."
"First type?" The Third Kazekage caught the implied meaning in those words. "Are you suggesting that there is still a second type of collaboration?"
Shinno did not immediately respond. Instead, he walked slowly, hands behind his back. "Kazekage, as one of the leaders of the five great ninja villages, how much do you truly understand about this ninja world?"
The Kazekage's brow furrowed, and his tone began to show annoyance. "What exactly do you mean?"
"As you can see, our Land of Sky is remote and weak. If we were to rely solely on internal resources, we would even struggle to establish a ninja village. The reason we are thriving today is that we possess advanced flight technology."
Shinno reached out, brushing his fingertips over neatly stacked mechanical wings. "Isn't it contradictory that a poor and weak nation could develop such advanced technology and awe-inspiring ninja tools?"
"The reason is simple. The flying fortresses and the aerial ninja tools you see here—all of these unbelievable advancements did not originate from us in the Land of Sky; they came from…"
He turned around, arms outstretched, a mysterious smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "They were all gifted to us by a mysterious power!"
The Third Kazekage felt a jolt in his heart but quickly masked it with his composed demeanor as he replied, "A mysterious power? Nonsense."
"Kazekage, I once thought like you, dismissing it as a fairy tale. But look around…"
He leisurely turned, pride radiating from his expression, "If we hadn't allied with them, how could we have achieved this level of success? In other words, if a nobody like me can attain such accomplishments, what might you attain, standing at the pinnacle?"
The Kazekage stared into Shinno's eyes, uttering each word carefully: "Are you casually sharing this information with me? Are you not afraid I will pry into your secrets and silence you?"
Shinno shook his head and smiled. "Killing the goose that lays the golden egg would be too foolish. Kazekage, you are an intelligent man and know what's best for Sunagakure."
"From which country do they come? Which ninja village?" the Third Kazekage questioned.
"No, they belong to none. All I can tell you is that this force has been present in the ninja world for over a thousand years, absorbing countless talents while remaining at the forefront of advanced technology. Perhaps… the wealthiest merchants, the most powerful politicians, and the most valuable researchers in every country are part of them…"
The Third Kazekage fell silent for a long time before he turned, his yellow pupils gleaming with newfound interest. "I am now quite intrigued by this so-called second option of yours."
Shinno wasted no time, straightforwardly explaining, "For the second option, your village will still be required to provide the puppetry forging techniques, mining resources, and all funding for research, while we, the Sky Ninja, will fully divulge all technological methods I possess and guide you to directly contact that power."
"From now on... our relationship will deepen, and we shall become true comrades," he said, stepping alongside the Kazekage, shoulder to shoulder. "Don't think it's an exaggeration. If you ever meet them, you'll understand everything."
The Third Kazekage fell silent again, his eyes glittering with perceptive intensity.
"There's no need to be anxious. I'm merely proposing two potential collaborations. No matter how you choose, it will benefit both of us, and the choice is ultimately in your hands."
As the yellow sands stirred and the hot wind brushed against their faces, the Third Kazekage stood atop the bunker, overlooking the horizon, murmuring to himself, "I have made my choice. As for right or wrong, that will be judged by those who come after!"
At least, up to this point, he felt that his initial choice was remarkably wise, for without this collaboration, Sunagakure would not be able to weather the crisis they faced.
But...
The true crisis confronting Sunagakure, or rather, the threat specifically aimed at the Third Kazekage himself, was still on its way.
For a certain fusion enthusiast had completed the development and training of the Steel Release bloodline limit. According to the originally devised perfect evolution plan, Earth Lightning, Wind Thunder, Fire Wind, Water Fire, and Yin had established a closed loop, achieving a self-contained Five Elements system…
His next target for absorption was the perfectly integrated "Magnetic Release" that combined Lightning and Wind attributes.
In the Land of Iron, deep within a snow-capped mountain laboratory.
"Wait, are you saying your next target is… the Third Kazekage of the Wind Country, Sunagakure?"
Uchiha Nian fixed his gaze on Hiruko's eyes, asking earnestly.
"Exactly, that's him," Hiruko nodded, responsive.
The group settled around the experimental table, a thick stack of documents laid out—intelligence on the Third Kazekage.
Orochimaru sat at the head of the table, fingers interlaced under his chin, uncharacteristically silent. Upon hearing the name "Third Kazekage," his mind was instantly transported back seven years.
That blazing hot noon, that fortress in the Land of Wind… it felt as if everything had occurred yesterday, hazy and dreamlike.
It was there that he had met Orochimaru's master and witnessed a titanic battle, a clash of sword energies, iron spears falling like rain, godly projectiles tearing the sky, and Sand Yard collapsing…
The scale of that battle had left a profound impact on the newly fledged Orochimaru, one he couldn't easily forget.
Even today, despite having made significant progress in his training, he still regarded that encounter as the most monumental and thrilling battle he had ever witnessed.
And in that battle, one participant was his most revered master, while the other was the very target Hiruko was now pursuing… the Third Kazekage.
"The Third Kazekage, huh? That's quite ambitious. The bounty on him at the Exchange is 370 million ryo."
A low, gravelly voice broke through the reflections, and one of the figures leaned in—Kakuzu, who had come to the laboratory to provide funding.
He flipped through the documents on the table. "In regards to assassinating a figure like him, it would be best to lure him out of his sphere of influence. Unless you three brats can fight the entire ninja village by yourselves like Kamihane."
"While we cannot hope to reach our master's level, we should still hold our ground," Hiruko replied.
"Fighting him directly isn't the difficult part; the difficulty lies in forcing him to engage," Orochimaru finally spoke up after a moment of contemplation.
"When I trained under my master, I observed their battles. The Third Kazekage has excellent mobility, able to create distance at will, making the sky his battlefield. If he can't win, he can retreat at any time."
He continued, "Moreover, his combat abilities are highly influenced by environmental factors. If he's given time to prepare his sand iron, his threat level will increase exponentially. Back then, he mobilized an entire fortress's worth of sand iron to combat my master…"
"In that case…" Uchiha Nian tapped his chin thoughtfully, his gaze settling on Hiruko. "Among us, the only one with aerial capabilities is that fused creature of yours."
Kakuzu smirked disdainfully. "If the three of you all stood on the same ninja beast to take on the Third Kazekage, you'd definitely lose."
"Why?" Hiruko furrowed his brows in confusion, for he indeed held that very thought.
"Why?" Kakuzu shot him an incredulous look. "You don't put all your eggs in one basket. Even a fool knows this principle."
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