After this incident, Sunagakure's status in the shinobi world was bound to plummet—they might even fall out of the Five Great Nations tier and be reduced to a second-rate power.
How to get through the coming hard times was the biggest headache for all Sunagakure higher-ups.
Obviously, their best path forward now was to cling tightly to Yuki Yoru—solidifying their alliance with Kirigakure and seeking protection under his name.
Only then could Suna preserve itself amid the oncoming storm.
Fortunately, their hope wasn't in vain. Merciful as ever, Yuki Yoru displayed the magnanimity befitting a Kage. Not only did he refrain from kicking them while they were down, he openly reaffirmed the Suna–Kiri alliance and promised to send aid to support their recovery.
Rasa, Chiyo, and the others were so moved that they nearly wept with gratitude. They even publicly declared that Sunagakure was now a subordinate of Kirigakure—that the Fourth Mizukage, Yuki Yoru, was not only the shining jewel of the Land of Water, but of Suna as well.
"Heaven has but one sun—but Sunagakure has two jewels!"
Yoru only chuckled in response, stating gently that Kirigakure would not interfere in Suna's internal affairs, and that Suna's sovereignty remained its own. He was merely helping an ally.
However, since Suna still had the "gold miner" Rasa, Kirigakure would not offer monetary support. Instead, they sent teams of shinobi and engineering teams to help rebuild post-battle infrastructure and had merchants bring vast quantities of goods to sell to Suna.
Of course, given the alliance, there had to be a "discount."
"We'll give them an 11% off deal~"
"Wait—why 11%?"
"Because Mizukage-sama issued a price control directive," the merchants explained.
"All goods must be sold at no more than 10% above or below base price. We came all the way from the Land of Water—you can't blame us for marking up just ten percent, right?"
Supplies and manpower were secondary.
The key was that Suna's leadership openly announced their intent to model their future development entirely after Kirigakure—to follow Kiri's every step.
Yoru expressed his appreciation, stating that to earn recognition from one of the Five Great Nations was a great honor for Kirigakure and proof of the success of their current policies. He then handed over the already prepared Shadow Island Scrolls to the Suna leadership.
"Well then—we'll take our leave."
At the gates of Sunagakure, Yoru waved farewell to Rasa with a smile. Amid the respectful, even worshipful, gazes of countless Suna citizens and shinobi, he departed with Zabuza's team, Terumī Mei, and the others.
Their convoy rolled unhurriedly across the sandy roads, just as leisurely as when they'd arrived—as if they were tourists in the Land of Wind.
"I don't understand."
Inside the carriage, Hikari fixed her gaze on Yoru and asked bluntly,
"With your strength and influence, you could've taken Sunagakure for yourself. Why did you just leave?"
"All this 'ally' business is meaningless. Right now Suna is a wreck.
If you want it as an ally, you'll have to pour enormous resources into helping it recover. That's a losing deal."
"Then what do you think I should do?" Yoru leaned into Mei Terumī's embrace, asking calmly: "Dismember them and devour them?"
"Precisely!"
Uchiha Hikari nodded without hesitation, completely ignoring the displeased frown from Pakura nearby.
"I've read the Shinobi World Geography. The greatest value of this village lies in its deeply buried mineral resources, which happen to be scarce for your Kirigakure."
"You could've destroyed Sunagakure, even wiped out the Land of Wind, and let Kirigakure swallow the entire territory.
Seize the minerals, take the Kekkei Genkai—Magnet Release, Scorch Release—all of it."
"Yes, you could achieve some of this by allying with Suna, but the politics, the deals, the bureaucracy… it's all a hassle.
Better to get it over with in one clean move."
Pakura's expression grew colder with every word, but Yoru simply nodded thoughtfully.
Truthfully, Hikari wasn't wrong.
If the goal was to maximize Suna's value, her strategy—rooted in Warring States-era thinking—made perfect sense:
Invade, conquer, harvest the bloodlines.
Men become slaves. Women become servants.
Eat their flesh, drink their blood, break their bones, and suck the marrow.
But to Yoru… that wasn't where the true value lay.
As he nodded then shook his head, Hikari looked puzzled. It was Terumi Mei, gently massaging Yoru's temple, who casually explained:
"You could say… he's just too kind."
Having traveled with Yoru for so long, Terumi Mei had seen this behavior time and again.
Forget Suna—even Konoha, the richest of the Five Nations, had been at his mercy.
Yoru could've conquered Konoha multiple times.
Instead, he simply made them his little brother.
As the Mizukage's secretary, few knew the extent of Kirigakure's power and Yoru's reach better than Mei. The man resting in her lap had the strength and backing to flatten the entire shinobi world.
Even if they were preparing for war against celestial beings and the sage of the Pure Land, it would make more sense to unify the world first—then restructure, and channel all power toward that single goal.
And yet…
As the years passed and Yoru's plans unfolded, Terumi Mei had begun to understand:
There was more to it than pragmatism.
Kindness?
That word made Pakura twitch and caused Hikari to frown deeply.
"Balance of power is important, yes—but being too soft-hearted will only plant the seeds of future disaster."
"I accept your kind reminder," Yoru said with a small smile, then turned to Mei.
"Mei, what do you think about sending Hikari to ninja academy for a couple of years?"
"...What? Study?!"
The young girl, mid-lecture a moment ago, froze in disbelief.
Terumi Mei's brows arched slightly as she scanned Hikari from head to toe.
"In terms of ability, Miss Hikari would make an excellent Shinigami or Quincy.
She could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with a Gotei 13 captain or a Royal Guard."
"But if she really was raised as a weapon a hundred years ago…
Maybe having her go to school for two years isn't a bad idea."
Kirigakure's ninja academy had been fully reformed. It offered not just physical and tactical training, but courses in history, science, and other disciplines.
Two years in school would help Hikari—someone from a bygone era—acclimate to modern times.
It might even fill the emotional void left by her stolen childhood.
"Alright, once we're back, I'll arrange for her enrollment. Starting from junior high?
"Yes, junior high it is. Let's take it slow."
Yoru nestled deeper into Mei's soft abdomen, completely ignoring the frozen expression on Hikari's face, who had no idea how to respond.
Well—a war prize should just listen quietly.
Yoru's group continued their unhurried return to the Land of Water, while the news of the incident in Sunagakure exploded across the shinobi world.
The Fourth Kazekage had been controlled.
The Akatsuki leader had invaded.
The exam venue was destroyed.
The Fourth Mizukage saved the day…
It all sounded eerily familiar.
That was exactly what had happened in Kirigakure not so long ago:
The Third Mizukage was controlled.
Kiri's frontlines collapsed.
Yuki Yoru stepped up, saved everything, and became the Fourth Mizukage.
"As the Fourth Kazekage, I offer my deepest apologies for what occurred in Sunagakure.
But we must recognize the threat of the Akatsuki!"
"This evil organization has attacked both the Land of Iron and the Land of Wind, causing devastating damage.
Even the Nine-Tails disaster in Konoha is tied to the Akatsuki."
"Their leader not only controlled the Third Mizukage—but even me. Their ambition is terrifying!"
On the very next day, Rasa held a global press conference.
While other villages were still reeling from Yoru's name, he redirected all focus to the Akatsuki.
"Thanks to intel from Kirigakure, Konohagakure, and Mizukage-sama himself,
we now have a better understanding of the Akatsuki."
"Their members all wear black cloaks embroidered with red clouds,traw hats with wind chimes, and finger rings marked with their codenames. They paint their nails and are all rogue ninja."
"They include:
— Our own S-rank rogue ninja, the one who killed the Third Kazekage: Sasori of the Red Sand
— Konoha's A-rank rogue ninja, master of multiple Kekkei Genkai: The Blue Dragon, Hiruko.
— A remnant of the Sky Ninja, expert in medical arts: The Southern Star, Shinnō.
— And their leader, bearer of the Rinnegan: Akatsuki's 'Zero'!"
"Additionally, Mizukag-sama's intel revealed four more full members: 'White,' 'Black,' 'Void,' and 'Three.'
All are presumed extremely dangerous."
"Lastly…"
"According to Mizukage-sama, Akatsuki's next target… is the Tailed Beasts."
"What?!"
At these words, the entire gathering of reporters erupted, and the shinobi world shook!
Why would a terrorist organization like Akatsuki go after the tailed beasts? Even the Five Nations, who owned them, struggled to control them.
Well—excluding Iwa and Kiri.
Suna had no choice but to seal Shukaku inside Rasa himself to contain its power.
Kumo was doing better—both the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails lived peacefully within the village. But Konoha's Nine-Tails disaster had shown how unstable the situation was.
If Akatsuki had caused the Nine-Tails chaos in Konoha… then they could absolutely do the same to Kumo.
"Unacceptable. The Akatsuki threat must be eliminated!"
In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage slammed his fist down, fury etched on his face.
Not only was Killer Bee like a brother to him, the Jinchūriki were key to Kumo's military strength. If Akatsuki was really after the Tailed Beasts, then a clash was inevitable.
And Akatsuki's power was… beyond imagination.
Especially their leader—wielder of the Rinnegan, someone who had even escaped the monster Yuki Yoru.
If Kumo faced Akatsuki alone, they might not survive.
"Mabui."
The Raikage turned serious, calling for his secretary.
"We must confront this threat with the gravity it deserves.
Contact the Mizukage—I'm convening a Kage Summit!"
"Yes, Raikage-sama!"
...
Iwagakure. Tsuchikage's Office.
Ōnoki's small figure trembled with anger. If it weren't for the fact that this was the Tsuchikage's office, he might have unleashed a Dust Release to vent his frustration.
BOOM!!
Even so, Ōnoki still punched the desk, his expression extremely grim.
"Sorry, old man." The current squad leader, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki's own son, Kitsuchi, lowered his head, his rugged face showing self-reproach: "I couldn't protect Deidara. I'm willing to accept any punishment!"
"It's not Dad's fault, Gramps!" Kurotsuchi protested.
"That bastard Hiruko had the Swift Release Kekkei Genkai! And Dad was fighting a Pain at the time and couldn't react at all. That arrogant idiot Deidara was captured."
"Dad immediately wanted to go after him, but those Pain with the Rinnegan were just too strong! We had no way, Gramps!"
Ōnoki's fists clenched tight.
He knew full well this wasn't Kitsuchi's fault.
But that didn't make it easier to accept.
Deidara had been annoying, loud, always raving about "art"—but he had genius. Ōnoki had even nurtured him as his future successor.
But he never expected that the Chūnin Exams, which he viewed as a mere display of strength, would directly cost Iwagakure such a top-tier genius!
Ultimately, the source of this responsibility was him, the Tsuchikage!
"You all, leave for now."
"Gramps…"
Looking at the silent Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi bit her lips, at a loss for how to comfort him.
A moment later, Kurotsuchi tried to say something else, but Kitsuchi took her hand and led her out of the office.
"Let father be. That kid Deidara... father poured countless efforts into him."
"I know. But…"
She sighed deeply.
Although she often found Deidara annoying, after truly losing him, Kurotsuchi felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.
Back inside office, Ōnoki stared silently at the intel scroll on his desk.
The Box of Ultimate Bliss incident had already crippled Iwa and claimed thousands of lives. He had thought the new generation—Deidara among them—meant their future was intact.
But now…
Akatsuki. Rinnegan. Yuki Yoru.
In the face of these monsters, Iwa's saplings couldn't even survive, let alone resist.
Even the "Will of Stone"… was meaningless to them.
Ōnoki's eyes turned to the corner of his office, where several white puppets sat sealed in special glass containers—Deidara's works of art.
"Gramps! My art is the best—yeah!"
"They need protection…" Ōnoki whispered.
His fists clenched again.
"No. The youth of Iwagakure must not grow up in this kind of danger."
"We need stronger shields. Sharper blades.
Only then can our unyielding, immovable 'Will of Stone'… truly be passed on."