The Three Great Shinobi Villages Pull Back Their Defenses

He swept a hand through the air, his voice firm. "Pass the order! All Kumogakure border forces are to enter the highest state of readiness immediately! The intelligence division is to mobilize every informant. Whatever it takes, even if they have to turn the Land of Rain upside down, they must uncover everything about Akatsuki!"

"All Kumogakure shinobi on missions abroad are to return home at once! Without my orders, no one is to set foot in the Land of Rain!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards outside answered in unison, then hurried away.

An army of ten thousand had been wiped out. Even a Kage-level fighter had died there... Just how powerful was Pain?

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

The survivors from Sunagakure crossed the endless red desert, staggering and swaying with every step. After four days and nights, they finally caught sight of the village's towering walls.

Some had thrown away their weapons, others their Ninja Tool Pouches. Some trudged barefoot across the scorching sand, not daring to stop for even a moment.

Some wept as they ran. Others collapsed on the dunes and never got up again.

Two Sunagakure shinobi carried Baki back on a stretcher. Shinra Tensei had struck him head-on, breaking six of his ribs and badly injuring his organs. He had remained in a deep coma throughout the journey, surviving just long enough to reach the village only because Sunagakure's medical ninja had kept him alive.

When he finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Fourth Kazekage Rasa's face, dark with fury.

Rasa stood beside the bed, his Chakra wavering slightly under the force of his suppressed anger. The tension in the room was almost palpable.

"Baki."

Rasa's voice was as cold as a desert wind at midnight. "Tell me what happened to