Scarlet Valley

Scarlet Valley.

Kato Dan was leading Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin into the Land of Wind to execute an A-rank mission.

As the sky grew dark, the group crossed the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, arriving at the bottom of Scarlet Valley, a desolate stretch devoid of any villages or outposts. To minimize the risks of traveling at night, the four discussed the situation and set up a small tent on a plateau at the valley floor, lighting a campfire.

Beside the campfire.

The meticulous Kato Dan was reviewing the terrain of the Land of Wind and the street layout of Iwagakure. Nearby, Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin were chatting and laughing while roasting chicken legs.

"This is the first A-rank mission for Team 6, so I hope everyone takes it seriously," Kato Dan said, looking down at the map to instruct them.

Although Orochimaru had led Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Nohara Shin on a mission of similar difficulty a year ago, that time the Mizukage had ultimately chosen to let the four go for the sake of national peace. Kato Dan and his team clearly understood that, unlike the first mission executed by Team Orochimaru, they would not be so lucky this time.

"Of course. But who is our target this time?" Uchiha Matsuri took a bite of his charred, fragrant chicken leg.

"Sabaku Chiharu, a chunin from the Land of Wind," Kato Dan said, putting down the map.

Sabaku Chiharu was the head of the Sabaku Clan, one of the three great families of Sunagakure; all four present had heard a little about this. Upon hearing that the assassination target was the head of the Sabaku Clan, the three of them were slightly stunned.

Although Sabaku Chiharu was only a chunin, he could mobilize all members of the Sabaku Clan in Sunagakure. If the assassination failed and Chiharu caught wind of it, the four members of Team 6 would have to face the arriving clansmen. Whether they could escape the encirclement of the Sabaku Clan was unknown, but their prospects would certainly be grim.

"And who is our employer this time?" Kushina Uzumaki asked casually.

"Speaking of the employer, it's actually quite interesting." Kato Dan stood up and brushed the sand off his clothes. "The employer is actually Sabaku Chiharu's younger brother, Sabaku Chizuru."

"What? A younger brother hiring assassins to kill his own brother?" Nohara Shin looked incredulous. "Is this another conflict over internal family control?"

"Who knows. But since the employer is willing to pay the A-rank mission fee, we don't need to ask questions. Furthermore, he said he would assist us in leaving Sunagakure at the appropriate time, so regardless of whether we succeed or not, we are guaranteed a safe retreat," Kato Dan said dismissively, picking up a roasted chicken leg from the fire.

Kato Dan took a bite of the chicken leg and added, "However, we must be careful to ensure we can retreat safely after assassinating Sabaku Chiharu. This requires us to infiltrate his side unnoticed and finish him with a single strike, without giving him time to cause a major commotion. Therefore, this mission is extremely difficult and requires our full concentration; we cannot afford a single mistake."

"Understood."

Inside Sunagakure.

A bloody storm had suddenly descended.

Due to a leak in intelligence, Sabaku Chiharu had secretly learned of Sabaku Chizuru's plan to hire ninjas from other countries to assassinate him. As the head of the Sabaku Clan, one of the three great families of Sunagakure, Chiharu naturally could not tolerate such betrayal.

Ever since the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance had been suppressed, all authority in Sunagakure had fallen into the hands of the high-ranking advisors, Chiyo and Ebizo.

At the time of the Third Kazekage's disappearance, the internal strife within the Sabaku Clan undoubtedly exacerbated the turmoil in the Land of Wind and Sunagakure.

As the ones in power, Chiyo and Ebizo naturally did not want the already crumbling Sunagakure to suffer further from internal fighting. Therefore, with their tacit approval, Sabaku Chiharu gathered over a hundred clansmen skilled in ninjutsu and launched a surprise attack on Sabaku Chizuru's residence.

Fierce fighting broke out between the forces of Sabaku Chiharu and Sabaku Chizuru near the latter's residence. Under the siege of numerous elite ninjas, Chizuru's side quickly fell into a disadvantage. Within an hour, the ninjas under Chiharu had captured Sabaku Chizuru alive.

During this period, Konoha was experiencing rapid economic growth following the Second Shinobi World War. Knowing that all nations in the shinobi world cherished the current peace, the Third Hokage had reduced intelligence gathering on enemy villages. Therefore, Konoha was naturally unaware of the Third Kazekage's disappearance or the internal strife of the Sabaku Clan; otherwise, they would never have accepted the mission commissioned by Sabaku Chizuru.

However, ever since Team 6 accepted Chizuru's mission, they had been invisibly drawn into the political struggles of Sunagakure. Tragically, the four of them were still unaware of the danger of their situation.

Kazekage's Office.

A stern-faced Chiyo and Ebizo summoned Sabaku Chiharu, the head of the Sabaku Clan, who had just finished the purge.

Seeing Chiharu with his hair disheveled and covered in blood, Chiyo didn't waste words and went straight to the point: "Since Clan Head Chiharu has cleared out the rebel forces, let us discuss the matter of that Konoha squad."

"I suggest sending a dozen jonin from the Sunagakure Anbu to quietly eliminate them. As for Konoha..." Ebizo mused, "Without a body, Konoha and the Hokage will have no basis to suspect us."

After hearing Ebizo's suggestion, Chiyo nodded and turned to ask Sabaku Chiharu: "Clan Head Chiharu, what is your expert opinion?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Sabaku Chiharu said directly: "Don't trouble yourselves. I will immediately take fifty clansmen to attack those four Konoha ninjas in Scarlet Valley. As for doing it quietly, I believe it is completely unnecessary."

"You're insane! Are you planning to openly lead Sunagakure ninjas to attack Konoha ninjas?" Ebizo couldn't help but roar. "Do you have any idea that doing this will trigger a war between Konoha and Sunagakure?"

Not only Ebizo, but even Chiyo was slightly startled upon hearing Chiharu's plan. While hesitant, she secretly admired his courage.

Hearing Ebizo's questioning, Sabaku Chiharu looked at him with dissatisfaction, his tone brooking no argument: "Senior, have you forgotten about the matter of the Third Kazekage so soon?"

At the mention of the Third Kazekage, the office fell into a silence that lasted for over ten seconds.

Seeing both of them bow their heads in silence, Sabaku Chiharu gave a cold snort and continued: "Since Konoha dared to secretly lay hands on the Third Kazekage, then there is nothing wrong with Sunagakure ninjas killing a few of their operatives who are meddling in our internal affairs."