The Art Group's journey to the Land of Wind

Bang!

Shizune escorted the Sunagakure envoy out of the Hokage's Office and returned to the room, just in time to hear this muffled thud.

Tsunade angrily slammed her fist on the table, causing the neatly arranged documents to jump and fall to the ground.

Seeing this, Shizune quickly walked over, squatted down, and picked up the documents scattered on the floor.

"Tell me, aren't those people from Sunagakure brainless?" Tsunade roared angrily, making it seem as if Konoha was trying to steal the One-Tail.

Shizune listened silently, knowing that Tsunade was just grumbling.

"By the way, how's the investigation on the Otsutsuki going?" Tsunade's ears were still ringing with the words Tōka had spoken when he left that day.

Otsutsuki Kaguya, the Progenitor of Chakra, was also a demon sealed away by the Sage of Six Paths.

Although she hadn't fully grasped everything, Tsunade already realized that this was an unprecedented disaster.

"The situation is similar for all the clans. A thousand years is too long, and they are all unfamiliar with the surname Otsutsuki." Shizune neatly placed the documents aside and answered in a deep voice.

"So that's how it is." Tsunade sighed. She had searched through all the Senju Clan's records, but could only find records about the Sage of Six Paths.

Kaguya Otsutsuki was only mentioned briefly in a few strokes of the pen.

Why would someone claiming to be Ōtsutsuki Tōka appear a thousand years later? What does he want?

"Lady Tsunade, how do you plan to handle this matter?" Shizune asked.

Although she didn't understand Tōka's ultimate goal, Tsunade knew that she had to stop anything the enemy wanted to do.

News has come from the Land of Water that the Three-Tails, which was hiding in a remote sea area, has been captured.

There was no need to investigate; Tsunade was certain that Tōka had taken the Three-Tails.

Since Tōka's goal is the Tailed Beast, the opposing side naturally cannot allow him to achieve his wish, but the One-Tail Jinchuriki is from Sunagakure.

The relationship is complex and delicate; returning the One-Tail Jinchuriki is problematic, as is not returning it.

Tsunade's brows furrowed deeply. "Send the information to Mount Myōboku first, and see what Jiraiya and the Toad Sage have to say."

"Lord Jiraiya left a contact Toad that's in the Intelligence Division. I'm going to find it." Shizune finished speaking, turned around, and left the Hokage's Office.

Tsunade stood quietly by the window, the sorrow in her eyes lingering.

The silent room felt as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on it, the oppressive atmosphere making it almost impossible for Tsunade to breathe.

With a bang, Tsunade flung open the window, and a gust of cold wind blew in, making her feel a sense of relief.

At Mount Myōboku, Naruto is training in the Stone Forest.

Suddenly, a rustling sound of footsteps came from behind. Naruto immediately stopped what he was doing. "Pervy Sage!"

"How was your day?" Jiraiya asked with a smile, glancing at the energetic Naruto.

"Uh, still no luck..." Naruto awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and replied honestly.

Jiraiya glanced at the Stone Forest, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. It was indeed too early.

Perhaps in two years...

But I wonder if there's still that much time left, or if he can buy Naruto another two or three years?

"There's something I need to tell you." Jiraiya hesitated for once, which was unusual for him.

"Pervy Sage, just say what you want!" Naruto was pondering the training methods that Sage Fukasaku had taught him.

"It's news from the village. Sunagakure wants Gaara to return." Jiraiya said succinctly, then stared intently into Naruto's eyes.

Fated rivals, and also destined friends.

Naruto and Gaara share the same childhood, are both Jinchūriki, and were both preyed upon by a group of incredibly powerful individuals.

The two became friends during their time at Mount Myōboku.

Upon first hearing the news that Gaara was returning to Sunagakure, Naruto initially showed a hint of reluctance, but after a moment's thought, his face was filled with worry.

"Pervy Sage, didn't you say someone was trying to kidnap Gaara? Didn't you say this was the safest place?"

Naruto looked anxious and could barely speak, "Will Gaara be in danger when Gaara returns to Sunagakure? Will he run into Tōka...?"

"Naruto..." Jiraiya remained silent, unsure how to Naruto.

Waaaaah!!

Strong winds whip up yellow sand, and the swirling dust resembles a yellowish wave surging in all directions—a common phenomenon in the desert.

A group of masked ninjas hurried past...

"Lord Baki, Konoha said Gaara and the others have entered the Land of Wind, but we haven't seen them yet."

A Sunagakure Shinobi looked up into the distance, seeing nothing but endless Wind and Sand.

Baki is Elite Jonin from Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, and also the mentor of Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.

The reason I left the village and headed to the border of the Land of Wind is to welcome Gaara.

Just to be on the safe side, Baki originally planned to go to Konoha to pick up Gaara himself, but Konoha sent a letter saying that Gaara would be sent directly to the border of the Land of Wind.

"Send men to look around; perhaps Gaara and the others didn't take this route." Baki frowned, pondered for a moment, and decided to send men out.

The Land of Wind appears to be a desert, seemingly without roads yet seemingly with countless paths; in reality, walking in the desert requires utmost caution.

We must follow the Oasis; no matter what Gaara chooses, there are only a few routes to choose from.

We only need to send people to these places to search, and we will surely find Gaara.

Rustling...

Amidst swirling yellow sand, two dark figures, one tall and one short, suddenly appeared in the misty world, moving slowly and steadily toward this place.

Upon seeing this, Baki immediately raised his hand to signal everyone not to leave, as he could feel a sense of oppression approaching.

Those who come with ill intentions will not come; those with good intentions will not come.

Even from dozens of steps away, Baki could feel a chill sweep over him, and the sand brushing against his cheek stung his skin.

"Lord Baki, there are only two people!" the Sensor Ninja in the squad whispered.

That's why Baki became even more vigilant; no matter where they were, ordinary villagers would avoid the ninjas.

And traveling through such a Wind and Sand... this is a desert where bones are buried and no one can see the first rays of sunlight!

Be careful, everyone!

The rustling sound grew closer, and a strange creaking sound could be faintly heard mixed in with the wind.

Baki was frowning, deep in thought, trying to figure out who had returned, when he heard that all-too-familiar voice...

His expression suddenly changed drastically!!

"Puppet Master? Has the village sent Puppet Unit to this area?" As Elite Jonin of Sunagakure, Baki would hear about any disturbances.

Puppet Master are the ace unit of Sunagakure, the elite of the elite.

Moreover, Sunagakure has implemented an elite force policy in recent years, and every Puppet Master is a treasure to the Sunagakure.

Baki hadn't heard a single rumor about a Puppet Unit coming to the border of the Land of Wind. And coincidentally, it was right on the border where they were waiting for Gaara!

The Sunagakure Shinobi nearby quickly shook her head, indicating she didn't know, but also seemed to sense something amiss, asking in a deep voice, "What does Lord Baki mean?"

"You guys hide first and prepare for battle!" Baki gave the order, and the two squads of Sunagakure Shinobi quickly hid behind nearby sand dunes.

Rustling...

Waaaaah!!

Crunch, crunch...

The storm whipped the sand, causing it to roll and rub against each other, mixed with the sound of mechanical joints moving, growing closer and closer...

"Brother Sasori, how do you stand this awful weather in the Land of Wind?... Hmm." Deidara, wearing a straw hat and a black trench coat with Red Cloud Black Cloak, complained.

Then, as if he had just remembered something, he looked enlightened.

"Brother Scorpion seems to be having a good time, sitting inside the puppet. Poor me, I'm practically being dried out!... Hmm."

Sasori glared fiercely at Deidara and coldly uttered two words, "Shut up."

Deidara pursed his lips, knowing that Sasori was already impatient with his grumbling, and turned to look at Baki not far away.

The Forehead Protector of Sunagakure?

"Brother Sasori, quite a few Sunagakure Shinobi... um." Deidara said with a smile.

Baki was able to spot Sasori and Deidara, and Sasori and Deidara could naturally also notice Baki; the Wind and Sand had little effect on Sasori.

The two also noticed the Sunagakure Shinobi hiding in the nearby dunes.

"Sunagakure Shinobi..." Sasori merely glanced at Baki indifferently, not taking him seriously. To Sasori, Baki was just a Sunagakure Shinobi.

But when Baki saw Sasori, or rather, when he saw the "Sasori of the Red Sands" pattern printed on Hiruko...

Baki's pupils contracted sharply, and a bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple.

Glug...

"You, you are Lord Scorpion?" Baki swallowed nervously, staring in shock at the figure before him.

Baki certainly knew the name of Sasori, the genius Puppet Master of Sasori of the Red Sands Sunagakure.

But Scorpions don't seem to be like that...

Baki's words carried seven parts conjecture and three parts probing; perhaps the giant in front of him was just a puppet.

"You know me?" Scorpion glanced at Baki casually.

He had no impression of the people from the Land of Wind. Perhaps he had seen them before, but they were insignificant people he wouldn't bother with.

Baki snapped out of his shock and realized that Sasori had betrayed Sunagakure, and the person in front of him was not the genius Puppet Master of Sunagakure.

Instead, it was Sasori of the Red Sands, S-rank Rogue Ninja from Sunagakure.

"What are you doing here? With your status, you shouldn't be back here!" Baki said sternly, forcing himself to remain calm.

He himself didn't realize that his palms were sweating as he gripped the Kunai tightly.

"Brother Sasori, this guy talks too much nonsense, can I take him down?... Hmm." Deidara noticed the sudden tension in the atmosphere and cracked his knuckles as if preparing for a fight.

"Let's get this over with quickly, I don't like waiting!" Scorpion didn't want to waste any more words; he just wanted to finish the mission quickly and leave.

The sand is filled with memories, and it is precisely because of these memories that Scorpion hates sand!

With Sasori's approval, Deidara's aura exploded instantly, like a volcano about to erupt, powerful and domineering!

This kid must be at most a teenager, how come he can exude such a strong killing intent?

Baki's gaze shifted to Deidara, but most of his attention remained on Sasori.

However, his gaze towards Deidara became more cautious; this guy's fighting strength was no less than his own!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Deidara raised his hand and waved it, and several small white birds immediately spewed out of his mouth in his palm. These were bird-shaped bombs that Deidara created using Earth Release after injecting chakra into Explosive Clay.

The little bird isn't very powerful, but it excels in its speed, agility, and nimbleness.

With just a wave of his hand, six little birds, three in front and three behind, pounced on Baki!

"So fast!" Baki didn't know Deidara's abilities, but his intuition told him to get away from these little things.

At that very moment, Deidara raised his Sword Hand Seal and roared, "Hah!"

Bang bang bang!!

The six small birds that swooped down on Baki exploded one after another, bursts of energy blasting out and impacting Baki, seemingly trying to tear him to pieces!

"Is it resolved already? Brother Sasori, your Sunagakure ninjas are pretty weak!... Hmm." Deidara clapped his hands, glancing sideways at Sasori with a smile.

"Idiot!" Sasori didn't even glance at Deidara, simply uttering two cold words.

There's a murderous aura about him?!

As soon as Sasori spoke, Deidara knew that Sasori had not been killed by his explosion.

Explosive Clay Birds is merely Ninjutsu used to lure and probe the enemy. Its attack power is not strong; the fact that the enemy could be killed by it indicates that the enemy was weak.

But that guy with half his face covered by a rag doesn't seem that weak!

Deidara stared intently, and sure enough! A cloud of white mist exploded, and Baki, who had been blasted into charred flesh, was transformed into a Log!

It's Substitution Technique!

The thought flashed through his mind, Deidara quickly shoved his hand into the pouch at his waist, tearing off a large chunk of Explosive Clay from his hand.

Sudden!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

A sudden gust of wind blew through the air, almost drowning out the sound of the raging Wind and Sand. Deidara quickly jumped backward and then sprang into the air.

The Senbon poisoned sticks that shot out all missed their mark. Just then, Baki, who had been hiding in the shadows, suddenly made his move.

A powerful burst of chakra erupted from his legs, propelling him forward like an arrow shot straight at Deidara.

Wind Release: Wind Blade!

Baki raised his palm, and the Wind Release chakra emanating from his fingertips transformed into a sharp Wind Blade, creating a gust of wind as he swung his arm.

A strong wind whipped up yellow sand, blurring Deidara's vision.

Puff!

With a swift and merciless strike, Baki cleaved the dark figure in two in an instant!

Before Baki could even breathe a sigh of relief, an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

He looked up sharply and stared intently, only to see that the two severed pieces were not Deidara's body, but two pieces of white, Explosive Clay!

"Is that the same technique we just used?!"

Boom!!

A tremendous explosion rang out, and instantly, a powerful force whipped up a cloud of yellow sand, which then fell and buried the blasted-away Baki.

"Lord Baki!"

Ignoring the need to wait for Baki's orders, the Sunagakure Shinobi hiding nearby saw this scene and rushed out shouting.

Scorpion's eyes narrowed, and the steel tail behind Hiruko, coated with deadly venom, immediately began to move.

Gaa gaa gaa...