'Arghhh! That bastard Kakuzu!'
Black Zetsu twisted his neck back into place after Kakuzu had nearly snapped it. Sure, he was immortal, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. The pain was real.
"Fine," Black Zetsu muttered to himself. "Endure a moment of calm for a lifetime of peace. I'll let you off for now, Kakuzu."
Shaking his head, Black Zetsu grumbled, "That guy still has his uses. For now, I'll leave him alone. Kakuzu, you'd better work hard—help me collect the Tailed Beasts and speed up Mother's revival."
A dark grin crept across Black Zetsu's face as he watched Kakuzu's figure disappear into the distance.
"Once Mother is back, and I've got her support, I'll make sure to have a very heartfelt chat with you—no, several chats. Just you wait."
With that, Black Zetsu sank back into the ground, vanishing from sight.
The wind howled as golden sands swirled through the air. On the ground, grains of sand blew like waves across an endless desert, stretching far beyond the horizon.
This was a landscape unique to the Naruto world—the Land of Wind. Situated in the southwestern corner of the continent, the Land of Wind was defined by its vast deserts.
For most people, this nation conjured images of endless sand dunes, poverty, and desolation. Among the Five Great Nations, it was often seen as the weakest economically, perhaps even outdone by smaller nations.
But in recent years, the Land of Wind had become the subject of discussion due to one notable event: the First Shinobi World War.
While the nations of Fire, Water, Earth, and Lightning clashed in fierce battles, the Land of Wind remained notably absent. The reason was simple: the national policy set by the First Kazekage, Reto.
Reto had chosen to forego competition over Tailed Beasts, instead focusing on securing the village's long-term interests. His pragmatic approach revealed he was not a man driven by the thrill of battle. Under his leadership, Sunagakure had developed steadily, albeit slowly.
However, the harsh environment of the Land of Wind severely hampered economic growth. Progress in Sunagakure was sluggish, almost agonizingly so.
This stagnation stirred dissent within the village.
As one of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Wind seemed out of place. While the other nations demonstrated their resilience and might in the war, Sunagakure remained isolated, focused on improving its meager economy.
The results of the war were glaring. Konohagakure emerged as the biggest winner, gaining both wealth and prestige. Meanwhile, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure were forced to pay reparations to Konoha equivalent to nearly a decade of its tax revenue—an amount that would take Sunagakure thirty, maybe even forty, years to achieve.
To make matters worse, the loss of the Second Hokage to the Gold and Silver Brothers had been Konoha's only major setback. Without that, their gains would have been even more overwhelming.
This disparity ignited debates within Sunagakure.
Years later, Reto passed away, and the mantle of Kazekage fell to Shamon. A figure familiar to many, Shamon had stood behind Reto during the first Five Kage Summit, his distinctive dragon tattoo leaving a lasting impression.
As the Second Kazekage, Shamon now faced two diverging voices within the village.
One faction insisted on continuing Reto's policy: staying neutral and focusing on development unless provoked.
The other was more radical. They argued that Sunagakure's lack of participation in the war was a sign of its waning relevance among the Five Great Nations. After all, the villages had originally been established to protect clans and individuals. How could Sunagakure maintain its status if it avoided conflicts while old grudges with Konoha and Iwagakure simmered on their borders?
Despite the unrest, Shamon did not take any drastic steps. However, under his leadership, Sunagakure established its own ninja academy and an ANBU division, mirroring Konoha's structure. Additionally, Shamon began advocating for the strategic use of Shukaku, sealing the One-Tail within a Jinchūriki to serve as a powerful weapon.
...
On the borders of Sunagakure, squads of shinobi patrolled tirelessly.
Massive puppet constructs stood ready, their operators stationed on nearby hills.
"All units, listen up!" the squad leader barked. "If Iwagakure dares to cross our borders again, we strike immediately. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" the shinobi responded in unison.
After over a decade of relative peace, the shinobi world was once again on the brink of unrest.
Amid the desert sands stood a lone tavern.
Its weathered exterior, reminiscent of an Old West saloon, exuded a certain rugged charm. Travelers could find cold drinks and hearty meals to quench their thirst and hunger.
The extreme heat of the desert also influenced the attire of the tavern staff. The female servers wore thin, gauzy outfits that accentuated their curves, creating a tantalizing atmosphere.
Sitting at the bar, Kakuzu sipped his drink, glancing around with mild interest. After a moment, he nodded in approval.
The Land of Wind might be a barren wasteland, unsuitable for farming or grazing, but that didn't mean it couldn't find other ways to profit.
"If they opened a dance hall here," Kakuzu mused, "and let these fiery women perform, they'd be rolling in money."
He shook his head with a wry smile. "Too bad the people here are so conservative."
The relationship between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth was currently far from friendly. Border security was tight, making any hopes of developing tourism in these exotic lands an unattainable dream. After downing a glass of sake, Kakuzu slowly rose from his seat. If he had the time, he wouldn't have minded lingering here to experience the local customs. However, time waited for no one, and Kakuzu had urgent business to attend to.
Leaving a stack of money on the counter, Kakuzu didn't immediately leave the tavern. Instead, he followed the proprietress into a back room. With a flirtatious sway in her step, she led him down into an underground chamber. That's right, this tavern was also a secret exchange point for bounty hunters. Among professionals, convenience was a given.
"Here's what you requested," the proprietress said, handing him a set of blueprints. Kakuzu unfolded them and carefully examined the details. It was a partial map of the Land of Wind, meticulously marked with precise coordinates.
"Thank you, proprietress," Kakuzu said.
"Oh, you're too polite," she replied with a teasing chuckle. "Don't forget to visit again and give my business a little love."
Her alluring figure and the playful glint in her eyes didn't escape Kakuzu's notice. He smirked, reaching out to pinch her plump, charming cheek.
"Don't worry. Once my work is done, I'll be back," he promised, giving her a light slap on the thigh as he spoke. Her playful squeal followed him as he disappeared with a Body Flicker Technique.
Armed with the coordinates provided by Black Zetsu and the detailed map from the proprietress, Kakuzu quickly arrived at a storm-prone area. The winds howled ferociously, and violent sandstorms swept through the terrain. Even the locals of the Land of Wind avoided this hazardous region unless absolutely necessary.
Covering his face with one hand, Kakuzu trudged forward step by step, his cloak whipping wildly in the relentless wind. At last, he reached a canyon where a vortex-like depression swirled in the air. That spot—it had to be his destination.
Without hesitation, Kakuzu leaped forward. A strange and mystical spatial force enveloped him, pulling him into another dimension. The sensation was peculiar, as though the very fabric of reality shifted around him, transporting him to a different world entirely.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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