Surprise Attack

Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Wind, Sunagakure was shrouded in an invisible cloud of anxiety and panic.

The scorching sun beat down on the yellow sandstone buildings, and the heat distorted the air.

Sand swept through the streets now and then, adding to the desolation.

At the heart of the village, the atmosphere in the Kazekage's Office was even more oppressive than the weather outside.

Chiyo and her brother Ebizo, the elders handling the Kazekage's duties, sat with several senior advisers. Exhaustion and worry were written on every face.

"Is there still no word from Lord Kazekage?" one adviser asked again, unable to help himself, even though he knew the answer.

Ebizo, an old man who always kept his eyes narrowed and looked half-asleep, though he was actually razor-sharp, slowly shook his head. "We've sent out every reconnaissance team we can spare, and even offered a fortune on the black market, but we've found nothing. It's as if he vanished into thin air."

Chiyo's expression was so grim it could have curdled milk. "We can't keep waiting like this!

The rumors inside the village are already beyond our control. The major clans are secretly gathering their strength, poised to make a move.

I'm worried the other villages won't pass up this opportunity."

"Your concerns are justified, sister." Ebizo sighed.

"According to the latest reports from the border patrols, we've spotted unidentified ninja activity near both the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers. They're likely spies from Iwagakure and Konoha.

Things are quiet on the Cloud Village's side for now, but with the Third Raikage's temperament, he'll never stay idle."

"Raise the alert level at every border outpost! Especially along the northeastern defenses facing the Cloud Village!"

Chiyo issued her orders decisively. "Also, activate the 'Shield of Shukaku' plan and move some vital supplies and villagers to the shelters. We must prepare for the worst."

A young jonin couldn't help complaining. "This is all because Lord Kazekage suddenly disappeared. If we had enough strength to deter them, who would dare set their sights on Sunagakure?"

"Enough!" Chiyo snapped, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"This is no time to complain! Our priority is to stand together and weather this crisis! Sunagakure has endured countless sandstorms. We won't fall this time, either!"

The next day, before dawn.

The desert along the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning was bitterly cold, a stark contrast to the daytime heat.

An elite Cloud Village squad slipped through the dunes like ghosts, swift and silent. It was a strike force personally led by the future Fourth Raikage, A, and Killer B.

"Big Bro A, fifty miles ahead is Yellow Stone Pass, the most important supply station on the outskirts of Sunagakure."

A sensory ninja reported in a low voice. "There are about a hundred guards: three jonin, thirty chunin, and the rest are genin and support personnel. We haven't detected any unusually powerful chakra."

"Good." A's mouth curled into a cold smile.

"Looks like Sunagakure really didn't expect us to come—or they're so short-handed they can't properly defend all their outposts.

Pass it down. Stick to the plan. One team will circle around from the left and cut off their escape and communications routes.

B, you and I will attack from the front! The rest of you, clear the outer sentry posts and provide support!"

"Yes!" the squad answered softly.

"Remember!" A stressed, his voice low and powerful.

"Speed is everything! Destroy this outpost before they can react! Let Sunagakure's cries become the battle horn of our victory!"

"Yo~! Let's make them taste the Eight-Tails'... mm, and the fury of yours truly and Big Bro A! Fool~! Jerk~!" Killer B whispered, never missing a chance to rap.

The operation began!

The Cloud Village ninja spread out like shadows melting into the night. The flanking team slipped toward the rear of the pass like a silent blade.

A and Killer B, meanwhile, advanced slowly toward the outpost's crude wall of stone and sand, like thunderbolts poised to strike.

Inside the pass, a bonfire flickered in the cold wind. A few Sunagakure sentries rubbed their hands together and chatted quietly, grumbling about the damn weather and the even more damnable missing Kazekage. They had no idea death was already upon them.

"Move!"

At A's command, he became a streak of blue lightning and appeared atop the wall as if he'd teleported!

He was so fast that he even broke the sound barrier! It was the prototype of the "Lightning Release Chakra Mode" that would one day make him famous throughout the Shinobi World!

"Enemy attack—!" A Sunagakure jonin was the first to react, letting out a piercing alarm, but it was already too late.

"Lightning Release: Lariat!" A roared. Working in perfect sync with Killer B, the two tore through the battlefield like crossing bolts of lightning. Sunagakure ninja went tumbling wherever they passed, unable to withstand even a single blow!

"They're elite Cloud Village ninja! Quick! Send a signal for reinforcements!" one Sunagakure jonin screamed, his eyes bulging as he shouted the order.

But a black bolt of lightning struck from above, hitting the ninja who had tried to launch a signal flare.

The other Cloud Village jonin used their own techniques to seal off the routes the signal might take.

The fight was practically a one-sided slaughter. Led by two future Kage-level powerhouses, the Cloud Village's elite tore through the defenders like tigers among sheep.

The Sunagakure ninja fought bravely, but their resistance was futile against such an overwhelming gap in strength and speed.

"Wind Release: Great Net."

At last, a Sunagakure jonin left behind to defend the outpost launched a desperate counterattack.

Countless sharp blades formed from condensed chakra spread through the air in a net and shot toward A.

"Oh? That's not bad." A didn't even try to dodge. Lightning surged around his body. "Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!"

The dense blades of wind hammered against the Lightning Armor, clanging sharply, but failed to penetrate it.

"B!"

"Got it, Big Bro! Yo~! Watch this—Lightning Release: Super Sonic Vibration Lightning Blade!"

Killer B drew seven short swords, wrapped them in high-frequency vibrating Lightning Release chakra, and shot past the Magnet Release jonin in a flash.

"Slice!"

A flash of blades, and the jonin stared in disbelief at the gaping wound in his chest before crumpling to the ground.

With their commander dead, the Sunagakure ninja's will to resist collapsed completely. The survivors scattered in every direction, but the Cloud Village squad had already cut off their escape. Only a merciless pursuit awaited them.

In less than half an hour, Yellow Stone Pass, once a vital Sunagakure hub, had been reduced to ruins. Thick smoke billowed above heaps of bodies.

A stood atop the highest point of the ruins and looked down at the outpost he'd destroyed with his own hands. His face showed no emotion, only cold satisfaction.

He raised his hand and glanced at the sand and bloodstains on his arm, then spoke in a low voice:

"Send word to the village: the first phase of the operation was a success. Tell Father and Mabui they can begin the next phase. Also, 'carefully' leak this report to Iwagakure and Konoha."

The Cloud Village's plan wasn't merely to destroy Sunagakure's outpost. They meant to throw the entire Shinobi World into turmoil and make sure the coming war unfolded on their terms!