When Yubi woke up, it was already noon.
He woke because he was hungry.
The Sand shinobi inside the outpost were in high spirits. After taking a soldier pill from a medical ninja, Yubi learned the reason—on the frontlines, the Third Kazekage and Lady Chiyo had gained a clear advantage, and victory reports kept arriving.
It seemed the battle between Sunagakure and Amegakure was already decided.
"So fast?"
Yubi was surprised.
With both the Third Kazekage and Chiyo involved, Hanzo himself would likely have joined the battlefield. Large-scale wars usually lasted days.
Looks like Hanzo wasn't fully committed to invading the Land of Wind.
In the original story, Hanzo was portrayed as an ambitious warlord who expanded the Land of Rain from a small nation into a regional power. He deserved the title "Demigod of the Shinobi World," but after the Second Shinobi World War, his inaction plunged his country into chaos.
His followers abused his authority while neglecting governance. He was powerful—but not necessarily a good leader.
"Where's Sasori?"
"He went out at dawn," someone replied.
The Rain shinobi in the canyon had mostly been cleared out, but Sasori was still injured. Going out alone was dangerous.
Did he sneak off to the frontlines?
Just then, Sasori walked in from the tunnel.
Yubi sighed in relief.
Sasori glanced at him, then sat in a corner and continued tinkering with puppet parts.
Yubi soon returned to helping the medical team treat wounded brought from the frontlines. With the rear secured, their job now was logistics and medical support.
The Land of Wind wasn't only facing Amegakure. Kirigakure and Iwagakure were also restless.
Kirigakure, isolated on islands, could exploit conflicts freely—harassing both the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Iwagakure did the same.
The fiercest fighting was among the Lands of Rain, Wind, and Fire. The more they fought, the more other villages benefited.
Sunagakure couldn't commit all forces against Hanzo. Even shinobi like Rasa had to guard against Konoha opportunism.
The Second Shinobi World War wasn't truly about peace—it was about reshaping the shinobi world.
All villages were ambitious, including the Land of Wind, which coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire.
Ironically, Konoha was the defensive party, targeted because it stood alone at the top.
Despite the war's chaos, no one truly gained advantage. Konoha still produced rising talents and endured.
Sunagakure, however, had its foundation shaken.
---
By nightfall, the war ended.
Hanzo withdrew.
The Third Kazekage and Chiyo left the frontlines. The army regrouped in a desert camp.
Yubi and Sasori joined the main force.
Yubi's mission wasn't over—but the Kazekage wanted to see him.
Inside the largest tent, Yubi finally saw the Third Kazekage up close.
Dark blue hair. Amber eyes. Stern features. A thin frame filled with authority.
Magnet Release… Iron Sand.
Sunagakure owed its strength to the Second Kazekage Shamon, who pioneered puppet jutsus and sand manipulation.
"Sasori."
The Kazekage nodded in approval.
Then his gaze turned to Yubi.
"Yubi."
"Lord Kazekage."
Yubi greeted calmly, neither nervous nor excited.
"Excellent."
The Kazekage smiled faintly.
"Hanzo's plan was to break our frontline and disrupt our rear forces. He believed the rear lacked strength. But you held out long enough to delay his operations elsewhere."
"Everyone performed well—but you two were the most outstanding."
"Outstanding? Hardly," Yubi replied. "We only did what we could. Compared to our senpais, we may even have held them back."
Sasori glanced at him as if to say, Why include me?
"Humility is good, but don't overdo it," the Kazekage said. "Young people should have pride."
Yubi met his gaze.
"Our battlefield was only the canyon. Compared to the frontlines, it was small. We only look impressive because of our age. Compared to our senpais, we still have far to go."
The Kazekage fell silent, moved by the boy's clarity.
"You are you. I am me. Don't lump us together," Sasori said coldly.
"What's the problem? We've been through life-and-death together now."
Yubi grinned.
Sasori frowned and ignored him.