Uchiha Yao slowly rose into the air.
His body hovered a hundred meters above the ground as he looked down below.
A field of ruins.
Charred craters, collapsed buildings, and the enormous rift he had personally cleaved open silently spoke of the brutality of the battle that had just taken place.
This war was over.
Uchiha Yao's gaze finally turned toward the distant desert.
Within his perception, several Chakra signatures were fleeing deeper into the desert at tremendous speed.
The leading Chakra signature belonged to the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
"Running away...?"
Uchiha Yao gave a disdainful smile.
Keeping Rasa alive might have allowed him to use the Kazekage's status to gather Hidden Sand Village's scattered survivors more quickly, making Konoha's takeover easier.
But it would leave too great a danger behind.
A former Kazekage filled with resentment was like a ticking bomb buried at his side, capable of exploding at any moment.
Uchiha Yao did not like variables beyond his control.
In his plans, the name Hidden Sand Village would vanish completely from the Shinobi World.
It would be replaced by Konoha's "Sand Tribe."
And the future clan head of this newly established clan could only be a puppet personally cultivated by him.
For example, that child named Gaara.
As for remnants of the old era like Rasa...
It would be safer to clean them out completely.
"To cut the grass, one must pull out the roots."
Uchiha Yao murmured softly.
The instant his words fell.
Whoosh—!
His figure left behind a faint afterimage, and he transformed into a streak of black light, racing after Rasa in the direction of his escape!
In the desert.
Rasa was leading the last few fiercely loyal ANBU as they ran desperately into the distance.
The wind howled past their ears, while the