Chapter 278

In sports, football and basketball clubs had a window for winning championships.

When a team's core players were in their prime, physically outstanding and possessing both energy and experience, with veterans, players in their prime, and youngsters complementing one another, that was the ideal championship window.

That window was fleeting. Two years earlier, the young players might still lack polish and experience; two years later, the seasoned players might already be past their prime.

And such a golden window was not something that came along easily.

After Manchester United's Class of '92, its academy had produced no more prodigies capable of carrying the team; after Barcelona's golden generation from La Masia, it had never again developed players comparable to Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets.

Sunagakure was much the same.

Thanks to the butterfly effect, the Third Kazekage had not died, Sasori of the Red Sands still had a chance of returning to the village, and Rasa had matured with two additional years of experience.

On paper, Sunagakure's current lineup of top-tier fighters was positively extravagant, almost rivaling Konoha's.

Of course, Sunagakure's lineup was not without flaws. Chiyo was old and frail, Rasa was still relatively inexperienced, and Bunpuku could only be considered a one-use asset.

The two puppeteers would be finished if they encountered ninja like Hatake Sakumo, Master Minato, or Uchiha Mai. The Third Kazekage was their only true pinnacle fighter.

But regardless, their lineup on paper was excellent, even surpassing what they had possessed when the village was first founded.

Several days later, Sunagakure finally finished assembling its forces. The Third Kazekage personally took command, with Rasa, Sasori of the Red Sands, and Pakura as his deputies, and marched on the Land of Fire with a total of five thousand ninja and puppeteers.

The two elders, Chiyo and Ebizo, stayed behind to