Rolling yellow sand swept across the desert as a figure raced beneath the setting sun at astonishing speed, covering a vast distance with every rise and fall of his body.
Tobirama's gaze was sharp. According to the map, the finish line of this competition lay ahead. As long as he handed over the scroll in his possession, Konoha would claim first place.
Even if taking first meant they still had to distribute their Tailed Beasts, they would receive a substantial sum of money. Tobirama already had plans for those funds: to build a special assassination force.
Unlike the publicly known Anbu, this force would not wear forehead protectors bearing Konoha's symbol. It would be a unit whose identities were truly concealed in darkness, and every member would be carefully selected. Their purpose would be to carry out difficult missions unfit for public view, such as assassinating the upper ranks of other ninja villages!
Of course, he had to keep this from his elder brother. Otherwise, the plan would surely die before it ever began.
Whoosh—
After running for nearly another ten minutes, he could already see a simple tent erected not far ahead. That was where the scrolls were to be submitted.
Tobirama's expression eased slightly. "Finally."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, an unexpected change occurred!
The sand before Tobirama suddenly exploded, and dozens of black projectiles shot toward him like a swarm of locusts, blotting out the sky!
"Hmph, cheap tricks!"
Tobirama had long anticipated that someone would set an ambush along the final stretch. Not only did he not slow down in the slightest, he accelerated even further. At the same time, his left hand drew a strangely shaped golden longsword from his waist and lightly swept it forward!
The Thunder God Sword, Tobirama's personal blade, had