Around the time the second exam was wrapping up, at Sunagakure's lodgings.
Temari's eyes widened as she stared at their supervising Jonin, Baki.
"Wha?! What did you just say...?"
Baki's face showed no excess emotion as his gaze swept over Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara.
"The reason the three of you came to the Chunin Ninja Exams was never to pass them."
"The real purpose is to use the exams as a blade to smash Konoha to pieces."
Temari raised her voice in disbelief. "How is that possible? Didn't the Hidden Sand Village sign an alliance with Konoha?"
Baki's expression darkened.
"The problem is precisely that alliance."
"You're only Genin, so you probably don't know—those idiot daimyo of the Land of Wind used the alliance as an excuse to force us to cut our military strength again and again."
"The missions that should have gone to us were all handed over to Konoha. Our funding was slashed viciously, and the number of ninja plummeted."
"When those above screw up, those below suffer. To preserve the village's fighting strength, we were forced to make every ninja capable. That's why we took the path of elite training."
Gaara had also been created in such an environment.
His eyes darkened as though they could drip water.
Baki paid no attention to his change, a suppressed growl rumbling in his throat.
"The Land of Wind is already standing at the edge of a cliff, yet those daimyo and their advisers are blind and deaf!"
He smashed the hanging painting on the nearby wall with one punch. Only after pausing to calm his breathing did he continue.
"The Kazekage recognized the danger of Sunagakure's weakening military power. That was why he joined hands with Otogakure and planned to strike Konoha—all to reclaim the prestige Sunagakure had