Searching Mission

Paper could never cover fire.

The Third Kazekage had been missing for so long that no excuse could conceal it any longer. The rumors within the village had long since turned into boiling panic. Continuing to keep it hidden would only lead to an even greater collapse of trust and internal unrest. After a long and painful high-level meeting, the Hidden Sand Village's decision-makers, led by Elder Chiyo and Ebizo, finally made the difficult decision.

One morning, every ninja of the Hidden Sand Village, regardless of rank or position, was summoned to the village square by an emergency assembly order. The air was suffocatingly heavy, and an ominous premonition weighed on everyone's heart.

Elder Chiyo appeared on the raised platform. She looked older and more exhausted than ever, but her gaze was exceptionally resolute. Without any needless pleasantries, she announced the cruel truth they had long suspected but never wanted to believe, her voice grave and clear:

"People of the Hidden Sand Village... I must announce with the deepest sorrow... that our Third Kazekage, after a border patrol mission... has remained missing to this day and has officially been declared... missing."

Though they had been mentally prepared, the moment the news was officially confirmed, an uproar still erupted below the platform! Gasps, cries of shock, and disbelieving murmurs rose at once as panic spread tangibly through the crowd.

Elder Chiyo raised her voice and suppressed the commotion. "I know you are shocked and afraid! But now is absolutely not the time to panic! The Kazekage's safety concerns the survival of the village! We must use every resource and pay any price to find the Kazekage!"

Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd. "Therefore, by order of the leadership: from this moment onward, the entire village enters Level One combat readiness! All ninja will suspend all regular missions! All work will make way for the mission to search for the Kazekage! Every village gate will be strictly sealed—entry permitted, exit forbidden—until further notice!"

"We will search the entire Land of Wind in squads, especially the northwestern border region! We must find him alive; if dead... we must find his body! This is the Hidden Sand Village's highest and only priority at present! Everyone, the village's future now rests on your shoulders!"

The order was absolute and beyond question.

The entire Hidden Sand Village became like a massive war machine, instantly shifting into a new mode. All production, training, and regular missions came to a halt, and the strength of the entire village was focused on one thing—finding the Third Kazekage.

Shaye's Sandstorm squad was naturally no exception. They were almost immediately assigned a search area—a vast and rugged range of rocky mountains on the northwestern border. The terrain there was complex and riddled with caves, making it theoretically the most likely place to conceal traces or suffer an accident.

When they left the village again, the atmosphere was completely different from their previous missions. The earlier haste and tension of pursuing a specific objective were gone, replaced by the heavy, oppressive confusion of searching for a needle in the sea. As far as the eye could see, countless Hidden Sand squads were scattered like tossed beans across the boundless deserts, Gobi wastelands, and rocky mountains of the Land of Wind.

"Our area is Sector B-7. There are several canyons and underground caves here, so the search will be difficult." Captain Jing Liang spread out the map, his expression incomparably grave. "Stay sharp! We can't overlook even the slightest clue! But at the same time, maintain the highest vigilance. No one knows what happened to the Kazekage, and the enemy may still be nearby!"

Xu nodded nervously, her small hand gripping her kunai tightly. Lukado also put away his usual arrogance, his face solemn.

Shaye listened in silence, but his heart was as clear as a mirror. He knew that all of this was destined to be futile. Sasori's methods would never leave obvious traces. The Third Kazekage had likely already been turned into one of his terrifying "collectibles." But they had to search. It was the only way to stabilize the people and fulfill their final responsibility.

"Leave it to me," Shaye said. He quickly formed hand seals. This time, instead of summoning one Spider, he summoned three at once! The improved spider puppets moved faster and more stealthily.

"I'll have them search every rock crevice, cave, and inaccessible area first. If they detect any unusual residual energy or unnatural traces, they'll report back immediately."

Captain Jing Liang gave Shaye's shoulder a firm pat. "Good! We're counting on your puppets! Xu, expand your sensing range and watch for chakra abnormalities! Lukado, handle vigilance and terrain reconnaissance! Move out!"

The squad set off once more, heading deep into those desolate and silent rocky mountains. This time, the purpose of their mission was no longer battle or enemy reconnaissance, but seeking a faint sliver of hope amid despair.

Shaye controlled the three Spiders like extended nerve endings, carefully exploring every suspicious corner. His feelings were exceptionally complicated. On one hand, he had to carry out the search conscientiously; on the other, he knew with perfect clarity that it was a waste of effort. The pain of that clarity was far more tormenting than simple confusion.

The mission to find the Third Kazekage was like a massive, heavy, helpless cloud hanging over the entire Hidden Sand Village. Every squad sent out to search carried the hopes of the whole village, yet also tasted the bitterness of how slim those hopes were.

Shaye's squad was merely an inconspicuous wave amid the countless tides of searchers, yet it still struggled onward.