Scarlet Valley

Scarlet Valley.

Dan Katō was leading Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin on an A-rank mission in the Land of Wind.

Dusk was settling in as the four crossed the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, arriving at the bottom of Scarlet Valley, far from any village or inn. To reduce the risks of traveling at night, they agreed to set up a small tent on a raised patch of ground in the valley and light a campfire.

Beside the campfire.

Dan Katō, ever meticulous, was studying the terrain of the Land of Wind and the street layout of Iwagakure. Nearby, Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin grilled chicken legs and chatted and laughed.

"This is Team 6's first A-rank mission, so I hope everyone takes it seriously," Dan Katō instructed, head bowed over the map.

Although Orochimaru had led Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin on a mission of comparable difficulty a year earlier, the Mizukage had ultimately chosen to let the four of them go for the sake of peace between their countries. Dan Katō and his three teammates knew all too well that they wouldn't be so lucky this time.

"Of course. But who's our target?" Uchiha Matsuri asked, taking a bite of his crispy grilled chicken leg.

"Sabaku Chiharu, a Chunin from the Land of Wind," Dan Katō replied, setting down the map.

Everyone present had heard that Sabaku Chiharu was the head of the Sabaku Clan, one of Sunagakure's three great clans. When they learned that their target was the clan head, the other three were taken aback.

Though Sabaku Chiharu was only a Chunin, he could command every member of the Sabaku Clan in Sunagakure. If the assassination failed and Sabaku Chiharu discovered them, Team Orochimaru would have to fight the clan members rushing to his aid. They had no idea whether they could escape the encirclement, but their chances of survival would be slim.

"Who's our client this time?" Kushina Uzumaki asked casually.

"Now, this client is an interesting one." Dan Katō stood and brushed the sand off himself. "It's Sabaku Chizuru, Sabaku Chiharu's younger brother."

"What? A younger brother hiring assassins to kill his older brother?" Nohara Shin asked, incredulous. "Is this another dispute over control of the clan?"

"Who knows? But since the client is paying an A-rank mission fee, there's nothing more to discuss. He also said he'd help us leave Sunagakure when the time was right. So whether we succeed or not, we're sure to get away safely." Dan Katō picked up a chicken leg from over the fire and spoke dismissively.

Dan Katō took a bite of the chicken leg, then continued, "But we need to make sure we can get away safely after killing Sabaku Chiharu. That means sneaking up on him without being noticed and killing him with a single strike before he can raise an alarm. This mission is extremely difficult. We need to stay focused and avoid even the slightest mistake."

"Understood."

In Sunagakure.

A storm of bloodshed was suddenly unleashed.

After receiving leaked intelligence, Sabaku Chiharu secretly learned of Sabaku Chizuru's plan to hire shinobi from another country to assassinate him. As the head of the Sabaku Clan, one of Sunagakure's three great clans, Sabaku Chiharu naturally couldn't tolerate such betrayal.

Ever since the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance had been suppressed, all power in Sunagakure had fallen into the hands of the senior advisers, Chiyo and Ebizo.

The infighting within the Sabaku Clan, which began when the Third Kazekage disappeared, had only worsened the turmoil in the Land of Wind and Sunagakure.

As those in power, Chiyo and Ebizo were unwilling to let the already tottering Sunagakure suffer another devastating blow from internal strife. With their tacit approval, Sabaku Chiharu assembled more than a hundred clan members skilled in ninjutsu and launched a sudden attack on Sabaku Chizuru's residence.

The forces of Sabaku Chiharu and Sabaku Chizuru clashed fiercely outside Sabaku Chizuru's home. Surrounded by numerous elite shinobi, Sabaku Chizuru's side quickly fell behind. Within an hour, Sabaku Chiharu's shinobi had captured Sabaku Chizuru alive.

At this time, Konoha was enjoying rapid economic growth following the Second Shinobi World War. Knowing that the nations of the Shinobi World all cherished the peace they had, the Third Hokage had cut back on intelligence-gathering efforts against other villages. As a result, Konoha knew nothing of the Third Kazekage's disappearance or the Sabaku Clan's infighting. Otherwise, they wouldn't have accepted the mission commissioned by Sabaku Chizuru.

Yet ever since Team Orochimaru accepted Sabaku Chizuru's mission, they had unwittingly become entangled in Sunagakure's political struggle. The unfortunate truth was that Dan Katō and his three teammates had no idea how dangerous their situation was.

Kazekage's Office.

Chiyo and Ebizo, their faces stern, summoned Sabaku Chiharu, head of the Sabaku Clan, who had just completed the purge.

Seeing Sabaku Chiharu with disheveled hair and blood covering his body, Chiyo got straight to the point. "Now that Clan Head Chiharu has purged the rebels, let's discuss that Konoha team."

"I suggest we send a dozen or so elite shinobi from the Sand Anbu to deal with them quietly. As for Konoha..." Ebizo said thoughtfully, "without any bodies, Konoha and the Hokage will have no evidence to suspect us."

After hearing Ebizo's suggestion, Chiyo nodded, then turned to Sabaku Chiharu. "Clan Head Chiharu, what do you think?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Sabaku Chiharu replied, "There's no need to trouble yourselves. I'll take fifty of my clan members and attack the four Konoha shinobi in Scarlet Valley right away. And there's no need to do it quietly."

"Have you gone mad? You're going to lead Sand shinobi in an open attack on Konoha's shinobi?" Ebizo couldn't help shouting. "Do you realize that could start a war between Konoha and Sunagakure?"

Even Chiyo was taken aback when she heard Sabaku Chiharu's plan. Though hesitant, she secretly admired his courage.

At Ebizo's challenge, Sabaku Chiharu looked at him with displeasure, his words leaving no room for argument. "Elder, have you already forgotten what happened to the Third Kazekage?"

At the mention of the Third Kazekage, the office fell silent for several seconds.

Seeing them both lower their heads without a word, Sabaku Chiharu gave a cold snort and continued, "If Konoha dared to secretly poison the Third Kazekage, then there's nothing wrong with Sand shinobi killing a few of their shinobi who got involved in Sunagakure's internal affairs."