Sand Village's Retaliation
As the evening sun cast its golden light across Sunagakure, the village appeared unusually tense.
After learning that the Fourth Kazekage had been assassinated by Orochimaru, the village elders were furious. Not only had Sunagakure suffered heavy losses during the Konoha Crush, but Orochimaru had also manipulated the village into participating in his invasion of Konoha.
Now, with the Fourth Kazekage dead and the village lacking strong leadership, the situation was dire.
Inside the Kazekage Building, the council had gathered.
A middle-aged elder slammed his hand onto the table.
"Damn Orochimaru! If it weren't for him, Sunagakure wouldn't have suffered such losses!"
The others remained silent, their expressions equally grim.
An elderly council member stroked his beard and said, "Anger alone solves nothing. What we need to decide is whether we should retaliate against Orochimaru."
"Of course we should!" another elder replied immediately. "The Fourth Kazekage was murdered. If we do nothing, what dignity will Sunagakure have left?"
A different elder sighed.
"But Orochimaru killed both the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Hokage. We currently have no Kage-level shinobi to oppose him."
Maki shook his head.
"According to Konoha's intelligence, Orochimaru's arms were sealed by the Third Hokage's Dead Demon Consuming Seal. He can no longer use ninjutsu properly. This is our best opportunity."
The council exchanged glances.
Finally, a vote was held.
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
The decision was unanimous.
Sunagakure would launch a retaliatory strike against Orochimaru.
Under Maki's command, more than a thousand Sand shinobi were mobilized and sent toward the Land of Rice Fields, where Otogakure was located.
Even Chen Xing had not expected Sunagakure to act so decisively.
--- Kimimaro's Final Mission
The large-scale mobilization of Sunagakure's forces quickly attracted attention from both Konoha and Celestial Village.
When the news reached Celestial Village, Chen Xing was briefly surprised.
"Sunagakure actually chose to attack so quickly..."
His gaze shifted toward the direction of the Land of Rice Fields.
"If nothing changes, Kimimaro should appear."
---
Two days later, Sunagakure's army arrived outside Otogakure.
After a brief rest, the assault began immediately.
Otogakure's remaining forces numbered fewer than one hundred shinobi. They were no match for Sunagakure's overwhelming military strength.
The Sand shinobi quickly broke through the outer defenses and advanced toward Orochimaru's headquarters.
---
Deep underground within Otogakure's base, Orochimaru sat in a chair, both arms wrapped in bandages.
His face was pale, and his eyes were cold.
Kabuto stood nearby.
"What should we do? Abandon the base?"
Orochimaru let out a low laugh.
"I didn't expect Sunagakure's elders to be so decisive."
His expression darkened.
"Prepare for evacuation."
Kabuto nodded.
"And the pursuers?" he asked.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"Send Kimimaro."
Kabuto paused.
Kimimaro's illness had already reached its final stages.
Orochimaru continued calmly.
"His body won't last much longer. Let him make his final contribution."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and silently left.
---
A short time later, Kabuto entered a medical room.
Kimimaro lay on a hospital bed connected to several tubes.
Hearing the door open, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Kabuto?"
Kabuto nodded.
"Kimimaro, Orochimaru-sama needs your help."
The moment he heard Orochimaru's name, Kimimaro's expression became firm.
Without hesitation, he pulled out the IV needles and sat upright.
"If it is for Orochimaru-sama, I will go."
---
Outside the base, Maki surveyed the battlefield.
Beside him stood Gaara.
Unlike his former self, Gaara's expression was calm and composed. His battle with Naruto had changed him profoundly.
"Gaara," Maki said, "can you destroy the base?"
Gaara nodded.
"Have everyone retreat first. Otherwise they'll be caught in the attack."
Maki immediately ordered the Sand shinobi to withdraw.
As the battlefield cleared, Gaara stepped forward.
The sand within his gourd surged outward.
More sand erupted from beneath the earth, joining the growing tide.
The ground trembled violently.
Countless tons of sand gathered into a massive wave that towered over Otogakure's headquarters.
Gaara raised his hand.
"Desert Avalanche."
BOOM!
The gigantic wave of sand crashed down, swallowing the battlefield whole.