"Where is this?"
Uchiha Madara glanced at the map in his hand, then at the vast sea of yellow sand before him. "Read it," he muttered.
The only reply was the sound of the camel beside him chewing on some grass roots, head lowered.
The fine sand in the desert had grown scorching hot beneath the sun. The camel lifted its feet slightly, bothered by the burning heat beneath its hooves.
The scrolls hanging on either side of its humps swayed violently with each movement, slapping against its soft belly and making its flesh ripple.
After swallowing the grass roots, the camel turned its head and looked curiously at the human fanning himself with a Gunbai. It had already caught the scent of clear water, so why had he suddenly stopped?
After a bout of inner conflict, Madara finally admitted that he was lost. He could only lead the camel toward the oasis not far away.
It seemed the Dragon Vein in the Land of Wind wouldn't be easy to find.
As he strolled through the oasis, the endless ringing of camel bells along the streets filled his ears. He looked around curiously at the buildings, so different in style from those in the Land of Fire.
It wasn't as prosperous as Konoha, but it had a charm all its own.
A newspaper for sale outside a nearby shop caught his eye. He led the camel over, drawn by the Konoha Daily sitting in the very center, surrounded by other papers.
"Tsk. At last, this whole uproar has died down."
A loud call from the teahouse beside the shop caught his attention. He bought a newspaper from the owner, sat on a stone bench, and quietly observed the place.
Inside the bustling teahouse, someone immediately shouted in objection. "It's all