The Sand Village's Fury

The news of the attack on Yellow Stone Pass and the total annihilation of its garrison swept through Sunagakure like the most frigid sandstorm, moving with terrifying speed.

Following the initial shock came overwhelming fury and a sense of bone-deep humiliation.

On the village streets, the confusion and unease that had lingered since the disappearance of the Kazekage were now replaced by a shared, indignant grief.

Sunagakure ninja gripped their Kunai tightly, while civilians gazed toward the Kazekage Building with eyes full of worry and expectation, even though no reassuring orders had emerged from there for a long time.

Inside the Kazekage office, the atmosphere was more solemn and oppressive than in any previous meeting.

The air seemed thick with the scent of blood drifting from the distant border.

Chiyo and Ebizo, who were presiding over affairs as proxies, sat in the main seats. Flanking them were the two most powerful and influential elite jonin in the village, who were also the strongest contenders for the next Kazekage: Rasa and Pakura.

Rasa wore the standard Sunagakure jonin tactical vest, his expression cold and stern, his short red hair giving him a capable and steady appearance.

He rested his chin on his crossed hands, his gaze lowered as if he were carefully studying the strategic map spread across the table, or perhaps lost in deep thought.

Rasa's Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, the ability to manipulate gold dust, was seen as the hope for recreating the glory of the Third Kazekage, and for this reason, he had gained the favor of the conservative faction led by Chiyo and Ebizo, as well as most of the high-ranking officials.

Sitting opposite him was Pakura, a kunoichi with a sharp and fierce temperament.

She had long orange hair tied behind her head, and her eyes were as keen as a hawk's.

As the wielder of the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai, Pakura had earned great military merit in previous wars due to her immense lethality, and she held high prestige among the village's radical faction and the younger generation of ninja.

At this moment, Pakura sat with her arms crossed, her body leaning slightly forward, making no effort to hide the anger and urgency in her brow.

"The news has been confirmed."

Ebizo broke the suffocating silence, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion but remaining calm.

"Yellow Stone Pass... there were no survivors. This includes the elite jonin Ryosuke.

A, the son of the Third Raikage, and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer B personally led the assault; their actions were swift and brutal."

"Bang!"

Pakura slammed her hand onto the table, leaving a shallow scorch mark on the hard wood surface as heat waves seemed to ripple through the air: "Those barbarians from Cloud Village! How dare they!

To launch such a despicable sneak attack while our Kazekage is missing! If we do not avenge this, what face does Sunagakure have left to stand in the ninja world!"

Pakura's voice trembled with rage as she glared at Chiyo and Ebizo: "Elder Chiyo, Elder Ebizo, please issue the order immediately!

I am willing to lead the troops to the border myself; we must make Cloud Village pay in blood!"

"Pakura, calm down." Rasa finally looked up, his voice steady and carrying an indisputable rationality.

"Revenge is inevitable, but how we exact it requires strategy. The Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki leading the team personally indicates that Cloud Village has been planning this for a long time and has committed their top combat power.

They chose Yellow Stone Pass not just to destroy an outpost, but to test our strength, crush our morale, and even lure us into sending our main force for a decisive battle."

"Rasa, what are you implying?"

Pakura's brows arched, her tone aggressive. "Just because the enemy is strong, are we to swallow our pride, watch our borders be trampled, and our comrades be slaughtered?

This will only make Cloud Village think we are weak and easy to bully, leading them to push even further! The blood of Sunagakure ninja cannot be shed in vain!"

"I never said we should swallow our pride."

Rasa met Pakura's gaze without backing down. "My point is that we cannot let anger cloud our judgment and lead us into the enemy's trap.

Cloud Village launched their attack with the speed of thunder; they are surely at their peak morale, and their follow-up plans are unknown.

If we rashly send out a large army, not to mention the immense pressure on logistics in the environment of the Land of Wind, what if Cloud Village has set an ambush along the way?

Or what if other villages, such as Iwagakure or Konoha, take advantage of our main force being away to raid our empty village? The consequences would be unimaginable."

Rasa turned to Chiyo and Ebizo, his tone respectful but firm: "Elders, I believe there are two urgent priorities.

First, immediately reinforce all remaining border outposts to strictly prevent a second or even third raid.

Second, we must determine the candidate for Kazekage as soon as possible!"

Rasa's words were like a boulder thrown into a lake that was already turbulent, making the atmosphere in the room even more delicate.

Pakura let out a cold snort: "Rasa, you never forget the position of Kazekage, do you? With such a powerful enemy at our gates, shouldn't we be uniting against them first?"

"It is precisely because a powerful enemy is at our gates that Sunagakure needs a legitimate 'Kage' capable of overseeing the big picture!"

Rasa said in a deep voice, "Right now, Sunagakure is a dragon without a head; orders are inconsistent, and everyone is fighting their own battles. This is the greatest hidden danger.

Only with a Kazekage can we unify the will of the entire village and show other villages that Sunagakure has not collapsed due to the disappearance of the Third."

Baki, the elite jonin at the side, spoke up at the right moment, his voice steady as he supported his superior: "Lord Rasa is correct.

According to intelligence, after launching the raid, Cloud Village did not immediately push deeper but is lingering near the border line, seemingly intending to continue their provocations and probes.

They are likely waiting for us to fall into internal chaos or make an irrational decision."

Ebizo nodded slightly and looked at his sister. Chiyo had been silently listening to the argument between the two, her cloudy but sharp eyes scanning between Rasa and Pakura.

After a long while, Chiyo spoke slowly, her voice hoarse but carrying unquestionable authority:

"Rasa's analysis is more in line with the village's current situation and long-term interests."

With that single sentence, the tone was effectively set.

Pakura's expression turned unsightly in an instant, but she forced herself to hold back her outburst.

Chiyo continued, "Revenge is necessary; the dignity of Sunagakure must be washed clean with the blood of our enemies. But it cannot be a reckless revenge.

Pakura, your courage and strength are the treasures of this village, but when it comes to the big picture, you need to learn from Rasa."

She paused, then made her decision: "Rasa, you are responsible for coordinating and directing the border defenses, especially along the northeast line.

Baki, as Rasa's deputy, you will execute the specific reinforcement and deployment tasks. You must ensure the security of the main passages and resource points."

"Understood!"

Rasa and Baki accepted the orders in unison.

Chiyo's gaze turned to Pakura. "Pakura, you are to assemble an elite mobile unit. The numbers should not be too high, but it must be composed entirely of Jonin and Special Jonin.

Your mission is not to clash head-on with the main force of the Cloud Village, but to roam the border zone, hunting down their small reconnaissance squads and stragglers, protecting our supply lines, and seeking opportunities to harass and sabotage their rear.

Remember, your Scorch Release is suited for this kind of high-mobility, high-lethality tactic. I want to use the heads of Cloud Village ninjas to pay tribute to the souls lost at Yellow Stone Pass!"