In the Land of Wind, within the Kazekage's office in Sunagakure.
Perhaps due to the increasingly effective efforts in desert management, the Third Kazekage couldn't help but notice that the dust swirling above the village seemed to have diminished.
Even the wind, which once carried dry sand particles, now seemed to carry a faint trace of moisture.
"Elder Ebizō, have you ever heard of a peculiar group of people whose bodies transform grotesquely in response to their emotions, turning into creatures covered entirely in stone-like armor?"
"And when they go berserk, their power doesn't seem to be derived from Chakra..."
Sōmi, seated on a sofa, respectfully poured a cup of tea for Elder Ebizō.
Ebizō picked up the sand-porcelain teacup and took a light sip of the golden tea. The fragrant aroma first filled his nose before spreading across his palate.
"No..."
Ebizō responded slowly. The ninja world was full of strange abilities, but regarding the group Sōmi described, he was certain he had no relevant records. With his memory, he would have recalled such information if it existed.
"Hmm..."
"Stone-like armor?"
"A different kind of berserk energy?"
The Kazekage, sitting beside Sōmi, seemed to recall something and murmured softly.
"Teacher, do you know something?"
Sōmi's eyes lit up as he quickly asked.
"During the invasion of the Land of Earth, some troops reported encountering attacks in a rocky forested area."
"The group that attacked them matches your description quite closely..."
The Kazekage's expression turned reflective.
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember where in the Land of Earth they were located?"
Sōmi immediately followed up.
"The war was too intense at the time, so I didn't pay close attention. I only instructed the subsequent troops to bypass that area."
"But finding out should be simple—just check the records from that period."
"Why? Is this group of any use to our village?"
The Kazekage asked curiously.
"Recently, I've been in contact with Orochimaru from Konohagakure, planning to cooperate on some projects."
"And the unique abilities of this group are directly tied to whether I or he will hold the upper hand in our collaboration..."
Sōmi didn't hesitate to reveal the truth to the Kazekage and Ebizō.
After all, the intelligence obtained through the archaeological use of Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation could be attributed to Sasori.
But Sōmi's subsequent plans would require Orochimaru's assistance. To eventually apply the experimental results to Sunagakure ninja, he would have to mention Orochimaru sooner or later.
Sōmi had never previously demonstrated any talent for biological experimentation.
"What?!"
"Orochimaru?!"
"The Sannin of Konohagakure?"
Ebizō and the Kazekage immediately turned their astonished gazes toward Sōmi.
"That man is extremely dangerous... Even most of Konohagakure's ninja avoid him..."
Ebizō squinted his eyes, warning Sōmi.
"Indeed!"
"Collaborating with someone from another village, especially a high-ranking individual from Konohagakure, is like asking a tiger for its skin..."
"Can he truly be trusted?"
The Kazekage's tone was filled with caution.
"Teacher, Elder."
"Rest assured. With my current strength, Orochimaru is no longer a match for me. Even if the collaboration fails, we won't suffer any losses."
"Moreover, based on my observations, Orochimaru seems to harbor dissatisfaction toward Konohagakure. It's not impossible that he might become an enemy of the village in the future."
Sōmi spoke earnestly, his tone calm and steady, showing no signs of impulsiveness.
"That possibility does exist..."
Ebizō pondered for a moment before speaking. "I've heard that during the selection of Konohagakure's Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru was a strong candidate. Yet the position ultimately went to Minato Namikaze, someone of a younger generation."
"If he harbors resentment over this, we could exploit it to gain intelligence and benefits from him..."
After hearing Sōmi and Ebizō's analysis, the Kazekage didn't continue to dissuade Sōmi. He simply advised him to be extremely cautious when dealing with someone like Orochimaru, preferably avoiding direct meetings to prevent falling into traps.
"Understood!"
"Teacher, you can send Sasori to capture them intact. Just make sure to emphasize their strong physiques; the anesthetic dosage will need to be increased!"
Sōmi unapologetically assigned Sasori a task.
"Are you implying that you're about to head to Kumogakure?"
The Kazekage keenly picked up on the hidden meaning in Sōmi's words.
"Yes! Signing alliances should be done as early as possible. Kumogakure also has resources we lack. Establishing bilateral trade sooner will boost our village's economy."
"Moreover, the next war isn't far off..."
"We must find a way to eliminate Konohagakure's elite forces!"
"Otherwise, no matter how much we develop, Konohagakure's growth will always outpace ours!"
"As for the alliance with the Land of Earth, Teacher, you'll need to assign someone else for that!"
"When the war breaks out, the best scenario would be for our three villages to simultaneously attack Konohagakure!"
Sōmi spoke with unwavering determination.
"War is both the best means of reshuffling the cards and the fastest path to rise, but it's also the most treacherous road to the abyss..."
"Very well. You young folks are so driven. I'll put my old bones on the line. Even if my name ends up on the Heroic Monument, it won't be in vain for the Second Kazekage's cultivation of me back then..."
"I'll take two young ones to the Land of Earth for a visit!"
"I'll also give them some practical experience..."
A fiery glimmer of hope appeared in Ebizō's eyes.
He was well aware that Sunagakure had entered its peak period since its founding. If they proactively advanced, becoming the dominant force in the ninja world was not impossible!
This had been the dream of generations of Sunagakure leaders!
"Elder, take Rasa with you as well."
The Kazekage suggested after some thought.
Ebizō's expression flickered briefly but then he nodded lightly.
In the Land of Hot Water, Yumegakure—a village rich in natural resources and known as the "Village of Forgotten Wars."
Its most famous feature was its various hot springs.
Under the night sky, a hot spring inn built on a mountainside was shrouded in misty vapors, giving it a dreamy, ethereal beauty when viewed from the base of the mountain, like a palace atop the clouds.
The inn's most luxurious rooms featured private hot spring pools. However, the price was exorbitant, and these rooms were rarely occupied. The inn only had two such rooms in total.
But tonight, one of these rooms was rented out. The guest was exceptionally generous, offering a substantial reward for a simple errand—fetching the village's most famous candy and desserts.
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