Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months have passed since the Battle of Kikyo Mountain.
The days of war and chaos were now a thing of the past. The number of shinobi stationed along the borders of the great nations gradually decreased, as the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Wind all tacitly agreed to lower their banners and halt their aggressive campaigns.
The Third Shinobi World War was nearing its conclusion. While some nations found their strength diminished, Sunagakure, long considered the weakest among the great nations, had quietly risen in power without drawing much attention.
However, despite the events of Kikyo Mountain, where even Minato Namikaze recognized Sunagakure's potential, the other great nations still regarded Sunagakure as a laughingstock of the war.
Yet, some keen observers noticed that Sunagakure had seized two small territories from minor nations during the war—an undeniable gain.
Although these territories might seem insignificant to other nations, for the Land of Wind, whose lands were barren and impoverished, this represented a substantial profit.
For Kirigakure, however, which had suffered immense losses in the war and unwittingly provoked a "new ancestor" for itself, the situation left them seething with unvented fury.
The failure of their "Three-Tails Rampage Plan" had cost them the Three-Tails, and their famed Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—a symbol of Kirigakure's renown—had been completely annihilated by Konohagakure, with even their swords falling into enemy hands.
This was an unprecedented humiliation for Kirigakure, akin to receiving a series of hard slaps to the face.
But continuing to clash with Konohagakure was no longer an option. With the names of the "Yellow Flash" and the "Toad Sage" resounding across the shinobi world, Kirigakure dared not entertain such a suicidal notion.
In subsequent negotiations, after Kirigakure paid a certain price, Konohagakure returned four of the swords.
As for the remaining three, Konohagakure provided an explanation—traces of fierce battles had been found near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Bears.
Although the battle sites had been carefully concealed, Konohagakure's skilled investigators managed to uncover some clues.
And they pointed their fingers directly at Sunagakure.
Land of Wind, Sunagakure, Kazekage's Office
Bang!
The Third Kazekage slammed a document onto his desk with a forceful motion.
His face contorted with anger as he growled, "How dare those Kirigakure bastards!"
"They've been causing disturbances along the border of Ryugawa District!"
"And now they have the audacity to demand we hand over the three swords they claim we're hiding, along with the so-called murderer?"
"They're accusing us of harboring a Jōnin-level elite? They even suspect Pakura?"
"And if we refuse, they're threatening to declare war on the Land of Wind?"
"They truly think Sunagakure is a soft target!"
"Fine then..."
"It's about time the shinobi world re-evaluates our village..."
The Kazekage's tone gradually calmed, but his eyes glimmered with a sharp, determined light.
"Send out the order!"
With a wave of his hand, the Kazekage issued a command in a booming voice.
A masked Anbu operative knelt on one knee before the desk. Despite the Kazekage's sudden outburst, the operative remained composed and steady.
"Tell Pakura she has no need to hold back!"
"Any Mist shinobi who sets foot within the Land of Wind is to be killed on sight!"
"Understood!"
In a flash, the Anbu operative disappeared from the room.
Turning around, the Kazekage gazed at the newly updated map of the shinobi world hanging behind him. The colors of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Birds now matched that of the Land of Wind, with the regions of Ryugawa District and Asuka District clearly marked in small print.
The Kazekage's gaze lingered on these newly acquired territories with a sense of satisfaction. But when his eyes shifted toward the Land of Water, situated amidst the surrounding seas, a cold glint flashed in his expression.
After a long pause, a young Sunagakure shinobi in standard uniform knocked on the door and entered the office.
"Kazekage-sama!"
"This is a document from the Daimyō's office, sent by the Genpei clan leader."
"Hmm..."
The Kazekage took the document from the shinobi and began reading it.
For a while, he remained silent, holding the document in his hand.
Just as the young shinobi was about to muster his courage and ask for a response, the Kazekage finally picked up his pen.
After a brief moment, he handed back a reply to the shinobi.
As the young shinobi left, the Kazekage's thoughts drifted back to something Sōmi had said to him in the past.
He sighed inwardly, thinking, "You chose not to walk the path to heaven, and instead came knocking on the gates of hell..."
Initially, the Kazekage had planned to deal with Kirigakure after the shinobi war had concluded and the village's daily affairs were in order.
But it seemed Kirigakure's impatience had surpassed his own—they had brought the fight to his doorstep sooner than expected.
"Go!"
"Summon Sōmi and Sasori!"
The Kazekage barked an order toward the window.
In a desolate desert wasteland, the scenery was monotonously yellow, stretching endlessly as if connecting the heavens and the earth. The azure sky divided the boundless desert below, as though fearing the sands might stain the sky yellow as well.
"Huff!"
"Hah..."
"Huff!"
"Hah..."
Sōmi was carrying the Starfall Rod on his back, performing aerobic exercises in the shade of a small outcrop.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, with beads the size of soybeans forming on his face before dripping onto the sand below.
The area beneath him had been soaked with sweat, standing out distinctly from the surrounding dry sands.
Anyone familiar with Sōmi would notice that the Starfall Rod on his back had changed in appearance. Once an unsightly purplish-blue, it had transformed into a regal blue-gold hue.
The rod's surface was now adorned with eerie purple markings that, upon closer inspection, bore a striking resemblance to the cursed seals on Shukaku's body.
The golden portions exuded a restrained and solid aura, with a texture that felt extraordinarily smooth to the touch—like silk, yet durable and resilient.
Under the sunlight, the Starfall Rod radiated a brilliant glow, emanating an aura as vast and majestic as the ocean.
"Ugh!"
With a low growl of exhaustion, Sōmi's trembling arms gave out, and he collapsed onto the sand, lying on his back as he gasped for air, completely unconcerned about his appearance.
The greater the power, the finer the control it required. And pushing one's limits through relentless training was the best way to master one's strength.
Each time Sōmi exhausted every ounce of energy in his body, he felt a profound sense of joy and satisfaction as new strength slowly surged from within.
Over the past two months, Sōmi had become highly proficient in mastering the One-Tail Chakra Mode. He could now activate and deactivate it in the blink of an eye.
"Hmm? Shukaku is calling me?"
A voice suddenly echoed in Sōmi's mind.
Inside the Sealing Space
The sealing space remained bathed in a dim yellow hue. Sōmi stood on the water's surface, gazing at Shukaku, who was still bound by chains.
Shukaku's appearance had undergone a drastic change. Its once-round belly had shriveled inward, its face sunken, and its cheekbones protruded prominently. Loose folds of skin hung limply from its limbs, and combined with the dark markings around its eyes, it resembled a starving, sleep-deprived tanuki.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
👉 patreon.com/GoldenLong