After breaking free from Amegakure's grip.
The fierce war between Konoha and the Sand Ninja had erupted in a matter of days.
Under Sosuke's terrifyingly precise strategic command, Konoha had already wiped out all of Sunagakure's strongholds in Amegakure.
Konoha pressed its advantage and pursued the enemy.
Gradually, the heart of the battlefield shifted from Amegakure into the scorching, desolate territory of the Land of Wind.
"Whoosh—"
On a barren expanse of land swept by howling winds and swirling sand.
At that moment.
A few tiny figures appeared there.
They were struggling to make their way across the scorching, lifeless yellow desert.
Every step they took left a footprint of moderate depth in the sandy ground, but the drifting sand soon buried it.
As if it had never been there at all...
From above, the reddish-yellow earth seemed to form a clear boundary with the lush forest.
The forest belonged to the Land of Fire, while the barren, scorching wasteland of yellow sand was the territory of the Land of Wind.
Just then.
Among the figures slowly crossing the desert.
One of the ninja wore a weary expression. Amid the terrifying howl of the wind and sand, she gently raised her head.
Adjusting the goggles on her forehead, she gazed at the distant sandstorm gradually obscuring the horizon, her expression grave. After a moment's hesitation, she said in a low voice, "Captain Sakumo! Judging by the looks of it, a terrifying sandstorm is about to form in this area... Should we... keep going deeper?"
At her words, the tall, white-haired figure at the very front raised his head slightly.
His deep-set eyes turned toward the distant sky, where the weather was rapidly changing.
He gave it a brief glance, then lowered his head again and said quietly, "It's all right,