The Land of Rain, a small country wedged between the great lands of Wind, Earth, and Fire.
The Ninja World is dotted with such minor nations; their chief purpose is to serve as buffers between the mighty.
Then the Land of Rain produced Hanzou—a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because a powerhouse finally rose from this nation caught in the cracks; a curse because that powerhouse was born in a state too small to give a demigod the backing his ambition required.
Thus war arrived. Though Hanzou displayed unmatched personal might, the wider gap in national strength still dragged the Land of Rain toward the abyss.
Now Hanzou finds himself in a mortifying stalemate.
At first there had been soaring ambition—hailed as a demigod, he meant to lead the Land of Rain and make it the sixth great Ninja Village.
Later he discovered he could thrash the other Villages' champions, yet those same Villages could thrash every other Ninja Amegakure fielded.
From early dominance to equilibrium to outright inability to win—nothing left but harassment. Where did it go wrong? Damn it, the Land of Rain has only one pillar, and the longer the fight drags on the fewer comrades remain; defeat is inevitable.
He can't surrender, yet can't keep fighting—stuck in limbo, leading a handful of elites on raids just to keep the war effort breathing.
After all, the Ninja World calls him a demigod; if he simply surrendered, where could he hide his face? Besides, surrender demands reparations, and the Land of Rain's coffers are empty. Enemy Ninja have churned the fields so often that, were it not for the country's ceaseless rain and barren soil, Hanzou would order the troops to plant crops. The earth is so loose even an ox would weep, convinced its last useful day had come.
Amegakure forward camp, Sunagakure sector.
After three days on the road, Sayan finally returned to the front—this time in the full authority of the Third Kazekage.
'Lord Kazekage.'
'Lord Kazekage.'
As Sayan entered, passing Ninja greeted him with reverence.
Most had witnessed the Second Kazekage's wounding and still remembered Sayan single-handedly covering their retreat.
'Lord Kazekage is incredible.'
'With Lord Third here, victory is certain.'
Listening to the murmurs, Sayan stepped into the command tent.
Alas—those soldiers will need a morale boost, or a sudden retreat order will dent the prestige I've earned.
'Lord Third.'
Inside, the officers rose at his arrival.
'At ease.'
He took the central seat; the previous occupant shifted aside.
Before him sat Bunpuku, Sasuke, and twenty-two other Jonin—not the full complement, merely those not on sentry or mission duty. Counting those outside, barely fifty Jonin remained, twenty fewer than when the war began.
While Sayan brooded on the butcher's bill, a Jonin interrupted.
'Lord Kazekage, why withdraw? We can still fight. The last clash hurt, but we hold the advantage.'
Sayan followed the voice: a Ninja with his right arm in a sling, shouting in frustration.
Sayan said nothing; he walked up to him.
The soldier tensed, fearing he had offended, and was about to apologize when Sayan's gesture brought tears to his eyes.
Green chakra glowed around Sayan's right hand as he laid it on the injured arm.
'Kurama, isn't it? I remember you—saved a comrade during the retreat and took a Kunai in the arm. You make me proud. But too many have fallen; you have given enough. Go home and rest. The rest of this war is mine to finish.'
'Your daughter was born recently—don't you want to see her?'
Kurama lowered his head, silent.
Sayan knew the answer; the man wanted to hold his child. After healing the arm, Sayan returned to his place.
'As Third Kazekage, this is my first operational order—and the last of this war. All of you, listen.'
'Sir!' ×24
'Ten Jonin and Sasuke will stay with me to cover the retreat; the rest follow Bunpuku back to the Land of Wind, to Sunagakure.'
'Tell every Ninja outside: the war is over, and the final victory shall be won by your Kazekage.'
'Sir!' ×24
As they rose to leave, Sayan's voice halted them.
'Wait.'
'Sunagakure finishes what it starts. To show the magnanimity of a great power, we will leave no trash behind. When we withdraw, spare no sealing scroll—take the soil, the trees, the water; if you lack scrolls, pocket some earth. Leave the Land of Rain no burden. Understood?'
Everyone: '...'
Earth-nin camp, Land of Rain.
Overall command rested with Roshi; he had yet to clash with Ōnoki, and with partial Tailed Beast power he ranked at Kage level, making him field commander.
'Report, Lord Roshi: the Third Kazekage has appeared at the Suna camp.'
'What? Then what's Sunagakure up to?'
The news jolted him; a Village leader's arrival is no small matter.
'They are preparing to withdraw.'
'Withdraw? Are you sure it's genuine, not some trick?'
'Positive, Lord Roshi. I saw them dig up even the soil beneath their camp. I was hiding behind a tree when the Kazekage suddenly appeared and yanked me into the open.'
'How are you still breathing?'
'I thought I was dead, but he only uprooted the tree I was using for cover.'
'And then? Did they ignore you? Did the Kazekage say anything?'
'He did, sir.'
'What?'
'Move it, you're stepping on a sapling. If it dies before we get it home, I'll throttle you.'
Roshi: '...'