The Ones Who Eat Sand

The three of them searched the entire valley, even digging up tiny fragments buried deep underground.

"Here's another one!"

"There's a fragment here too!"

Before long, the three had found four metal fragments. Some were no bigger than fingernails and badly damaged, while others were relatively intact, though their edges were warped.

Kurenai carefully gathered the fragments, taking care not to knock them together and wear away their markings. She tried fitting them together. Though she could not reconstruct the object completely, its rough outline resembled some kind of sealed metal container.

"These fragments came from the same container. Someone probably destroyed it by force, then deliberately buried the pieces," Kurenai said quietly.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind them.

Orochimaru had finished securing the poisonous plant samples and returned. His golden slit-pupiled eyes swept over the metal fragments in Kurenai's hands, and he stopped.

"Sensei."

All three turned. Kurenai handed him the fragments and told him what they had found.

"We expanded the search area and found several pieces. They look like the remains of some kind of container."

Orochimaru took the two largest fragments in his right hand and studied them. Corrosion had eaten away most of their surfaces, but a few fine markings remained.

He knew a great deal about forging methods across the Shinobi World. After a few seconds, he recognized the markings: the metal bore the distinct texture of lightning-style forging.

"These fragments were probably made by Cloud Hidden."

His raspy voice carried through the valley as he delivered his conclusion.

Asuma's pupils contracted. "Cloud Hidden? How?"

From the start of the mission, his chief suspect had been Sunagakure, which bordered the Land of Rivers and specialized in poison-making. Cloud Hidden had never been at the top of his list.

Kurenai looked puzzled too. "Doesn't that strike you as strange? Cloud Hidden specializes in lightning techniques and taijutsu. They rarely develop poisons. Why cross half the Shinobi World to make poison in secret, deep in the Land of Rivers, right inside Sunagakure's sphere of influence?"

Asuma's brain briefly kicked into gear. "And this place is right by the Land of Wind border. If this gets out, everyone will suspect Sunagakure first. Cloud Hidden doesn't fit, geographically or otherwise. This looks like a setup."

"We still can't draw a conclusion. The container may have come from Cloud Hidden, but that doesn't mean the people behind this did. It could have been acquired through a private deal, taken as spoils, or even forged."

Tsukimi remained calm, her guard already at its highest.

It was too deliberate!

Even Asuma could see it. Whoever had done this had cleaned up every trace and destroyed every lead, yet somehow left behind fragments marked as Cloud Hidden's.

It looked more like a carefully laid trap. Whoever was behind it had anticipated, from the moment Kawata Genji died, that someone would investigate this place. They had left Cloud Hidden equipment behind on purpose to frame them and divert the investigation.

As Tsukimi considered this, movement suddenly appeared in the view shared by the Shadowkhan scattered around the area. Six unfamiliar figures were quietly closing in on the center of the valley from the surrounding woods.

"Someone's coming! Their formation is well coordinated. It's probably an elite squad."

At Tsukimi's warning, Kurenai's expression changed. She immediately formed hand seals and used Sensory Ninjutsu, her sharp gaze sweeping the surrounding forest.

"Six Chakra signatures. Judging by their strength, two Jonin and four Chunin."

Asuma pushed every other thought aside, gathered his Chakra, and sank slightly into a fighting stance, his eyes fixed on the edge of the woods.

A faint smile played on Orochimaru's face. A cold glint hid in his narrowed, slit-pupiled eyes as he waited for them to appear.

Through the Shadowkhan's shared vision, Tsukimi could make out all six outfits. They were not from Cloud Hidden, as the others had suspected.

White headscarves covered their heads, and hourglass symbols were etched into their forehead protectors.

Sunagakure?!

The wind through the valley seemed to tighten. The six figures drew closer, then burst from the woods and took position at the valley entrance.

The two Jonin took the flanks, with the four Chunin spread out beside them. Their practiced movements sealed Tsukimi's group inside the valley.

The Sand Ninja Jonin leading them on the left had a piercing gaze. He scanned the freshly disturbed ground before his eyes settled on the metal fragments in Kurenai's hands.

He did not know what the fragments were. But someone had cleared traces from the heart of the poisonous plants' growing area, and Konoha Ninja were holding suspicious pieces of metal. That alone was reason enough to suspect them.

He did not hesitate. His face stern and his voice hardened by years of wind and sand, he spoke with official brusqueness. "Konoha Ninja, this is the main growing area of the poisonous plants in the Land of Rivers. Sunagakure is taking over the site. Hand over those metal fragments at once."

Asuma was the first to lose his patience. He stepped forward, picked at his ear with his little finger, and gave them a disdainful look.

"This is the Land of Rivers. Since when does Sunagakure call the shots here? Why should we hand over clues we found? Because you've eaten more sand than us?"

Who knew Asuma could be so good at taunting people? Tsukimi and Kurenai could not help laughing.

The Sand Ninja's faces darkened at once. Killing intent poured off the two Jonin and bore down on Asuma.

Caught in their killing intent, Asuma froze. Even his breathing faltered. Tsukimi hurriedly summoned a Shadowkhan, which grabbed Asuma by the back of his collar and dragged him away.

Serves you right for showing off, you little brat.

The two Jonin looked surprised at the Shadowkhan's appearance. Then one spoke again, his voice edged with murderous intent.

"Watch your mouth, kid! The report about the new toxin leaking was first submitted to Sunagakure. We have the right to investigate it first. Hand over the evidence, now!"

At his words, the four Sand Ninja Chunin shifted positions, lowered their centers of gravity, and took attacking stances. Their meaning was clear.

The two sides faced off across the valley.

"They seem to be carrying out a normal mission," Kurenai murmured. She gathered the fragments in her hands, her doubts deepening.

"That's exactly what's wrong. It's too normal."

"The clues we've found point to Cloud Hidden, and now Sunagakure happens to show up." Tsukimi gave a soft laugh, amusement in her smile. "Either Sunagakure used Cloud Hidden's traces and this investigation to shift the blame, or someone's using Sunagakure as a pawn too."

Asuma had recovered from the killing intent. Pointing his thumb at the Sand Ninja, he said, "A pawn? You mean someone's been playing these sand-eaters for fools?"

You're still taunting them? Sunagakure's going to kill you someday!

Tsukimi was about to explain when the younger of the two Jonin, who had glanced at Orochimaru's face several times, suddenly cried out.

"Wait, you... you're Orochimaru the Cold Lord, one of Konoha's Sannin?!"

Orochimaru stood behind the others, his golden slit-pupiled eyes sweeping over the Sand Ninja. Even after being recognized, his expression remained cool and faintly amused.

This is trouble!

The two Jonin's hearts sank. Cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads.