The Flaw in the Water Vapor and the Escalation of Pressure on the Border

Rasa's pupils suddenly contracted.

Water vapor.

The scent was so faint that it was almost instantly scattered by the howling wind and sandstorm, but to a Kazekage who had dealt with sand and soil for years, it was as glaring as a spark in the night.

The Land of Wind was not without water sources, but they were either veins hidden deep underground or lakes in oases carrying the salty scent of minerals.

What he smelled now was pure, clear water vapor from a foreign land.

Water Release.

Or perhaps a ninja skilled in Water Release had lingered here.

A Konoha ninja.

"Kazekage-sama?"

The ANBU beside him noticed Rasa's abnormal reaction and asked in a low voice.

Rasa did not answer.

He slowly rose, brushed the sand from his hands, and let the last trace of hesitation on his face be swept away by the wind.

Suspicion was sometimes not a flaw, but a necessary condition for living longer.

That Ghost really existed.

"Transmit my orders." Rasa's voice became cold and hard, like weathered rock.

"Yes!"

"With the 'Eye of the Sandstorm' as the center, search outward across a radius of three hundred kilometers. Activate the highest-level 'Sand-Dust Net' search protocol. All off-duty sensory-team members are to return to duty. All patrol teams are to abandon their regular routes and conduct indiscriminate, net-like sweeps."

"Kazekage-sama, this..." One ANBU could not help speaking up. "Such a large-scale mobilization will seriously affect our defenses in the direction of the Land of Rivers, and—"

"And it will alert the enemy, right?" Rasa finished for him.

He turned around, his golden eyes filled with icy intent.

"The snake has already entered the hole. This is no longer about whether we should startle it. We have to drag it out and crush it."

"I don't