Paper could never contain fire.
The Third Kazekage had been missing for so long that no excuse could conceal it any longer. Rumors within the village had long since turned into seething panic. Continuing to hide the truth would only lead to an even greater collapse of trust and internal unrest. After a long and agonizing high-level meeting, Sunagakure's decision-makers, led by Elder Chiyo and Ebizo, finally made a difficult decision.
One morning, every Sunagakure ninja, regardless of rank or position, was summoned by an emergency assembly order to the plaza at the village center. The air was filled with suffocating heaviness, and an ominous premonition weighed on everyone's hearts.
Elder Chiyo appeared on the raised platform. She looked older and more exhausted than ever, yet her gaze was unusually resolute. Without any needless pleasantries, she announced to all the ninja in a heavy, clear voice the cruel truth they had long suspected but had never wanted to believe:
"Fellow citizens of Sunagakure... I must announce with immense sorrow... that our Third Kazekage, after a border patrol mission... has remained unaccounted for to this day and has officially been declared... missing."
Though they had mentally prepared themselves, the official confirmation still sent an uproar through the crowd below! Cries of alarm, sharp intakes of breath, and disbelieving murmurs erupted at once as panic spread almost tangibly.
Elder Chiyo raised her voice and suppressed the commotion. "I know everyone is shocked and afraid! But now is absolutely not the time to panic! Lord Kazekage's safety concerns the very survival of the village! We must use every resource and pay any price to find Lord Kazekage!"
Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd. "Therefore, by order of the leadership: from this moment onward, the entire village enters highest alert! All ninja are to suspend all regular missions! Every task will yield to the search for Lord Kazekage! All village gates will be strictly sealed—entry is permitted, departure is forbidden, until further notice!"
"We will conduct a carpet search of the entire Land of Wind, especially the northwestern border region, in squads! If he is alive, we must find him. If he is dead... we must find his body! This is Sunagakure's highest and only priority at present! Everyone, the village's future now rests on your shoulders!"
The order was absolute and beyond question.
Sunagakure became like a massive war machine, instantly shifting modes. Production, training, and regular missions all came to a halt, and the strength of the entire village was focused on one thing—finding the Third Kazekage.
Shaye's Squad was naturally no exception. They were assigned a search area almost immediately—a vast, rugged stretch of rocky mountains along the northwestern border. The terrain there was complex and riddled with caves, making it theoretically the most likely place to conceal traces or for an accident to have occurred.
When they passed through the village gates again, the atmosphere was entirely different from their previous missions. Gone was the hurried tension of pursuing a specific target, replaced by the heavy confusion and oppression of searching for a needle in the sea. As far as the eye could see, countless Sunagakure squads were being scattered like thrown beans across the endless deserts, Gobi wastelands, and rocky mountains of the Land of Wind.
"Our area is Sector B-7. There are numerous ravines and underground caves here, so the search will be very difficult." Captain Jing Liang unfolded a map, his expression incomparably grave. "Stay sharp! We cannot overlook the slightest clue! But at the same time, maintain maximum vigilance. No one knows what Lord Kazekage encountered. The enemy may still be nearby!"
Xu nodded nervously, her small hand gripping her kunai tightly. Lukado also put away his usual arrogance, his expression solemn.
Shaye listened in silence, but his heart was as clear as a mirror. He knew this was all destined to be futile. Sasori's methods would never leave obvious traces. The Third Kazekage had most likely already been turned into one of his horrifying "collections." But they had to search. It was the only way to steady the people's hearts and fulfill their final duty.
"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 prioritize searching every rock crevice, cave, and hard-to-reach area. The moment they detect abnormal energy residue or unnatural traces, they'll report back immediately."
Captain Jing Liang gave Shaye's shoulder a firm pat. "Good! We'll be relying on your puppets! Xu, expand your sensory range and watch for chakra abnormalities! Lukado, handle security and terrain reconnaissance! Move out!"
The squad set off once more, venturing deep into those desolate, silent rocky mountains. This time, their mission was no longer to fight or scout the enemy, but to seek a faint shred of hope amid despair.
Shaye controlled the three spiders like extended nerve endings, carefully probing every suspicious corner. His feelings were exceptionally complicated. On one hand, he had to carry out the search faithfully; on the other, he knew with painful clarity that it was all 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 vast, heavy, helpless cloud hanging over all of Sunagakure. Every squad sent out to search carried the hopes of the entire village, yet also tasted the bitterness of how slim those hopes were.
Shaye's Squad was merely an inconspicuous wave among the countless tides of searchers, yet it still struggled onward.
End of Chapter
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