The cold wind is like a knife, cutting sand and dust into ash, looking down upon the insignificant grass and weeds of the world.
The Land of Wind, a nation that survives in the desert, vying for life with the desert.
At this moment in the Land of Wind, the Fourth Kazekage, who was hailed as having a status equal to that of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, was handing a document to the elite Jonin in front of him, his expression completely calm.
"This mission is of utmost importance; it concerns the peace between Sand Ninja and Kirigakure. Do not fail, Pakura."
"It's just an escort mission, which can be easily completed in a few days. Just wait patiently for news of victory."
Pakura didn't pay much attention to Rasa's unusually insistent instructions, put away the mission scroll, and turned to leave.
After Pakura left, Rasa sighed silently, a rare hint of helplessness appearing in his eyes.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind was extremely dissatisfied with the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, which further triggered the Third Great Ninja War, and his own lapse in decorum during the war.
Months ago, Sunagakure's funding relied entirely on Rasa's single-handed Gold Dust refining. Coupled with factors such as a scarce population, Sand Ninja's development was destined to lean more towards an elite path.
At this critical juncture, if war were to break out again with Kirigakure, it would surely lead to the economic collapse of the entire Sunagakure, and might even result in the destruction of the entire Sunagakure.
"For the sake of the village's peace, this was the only option. Pakura, you will become a hero of Sunagakure, living forever in the hearts of every Sand Ninja."
After comforting herself for a while, steady footsteps sounded. Slowly raising her head, Granny Chiyo pushed open the door and shook her head slightly at Rasa.
"The second candidate is showing obvious signs of emotional instability. If this continues, the second Jinchūriki is destined to lose control within three months. We should prepare for this."
Granny Chiyo's words made Rasa's face darken. If Pakura's sacrifice was for peace, then the Jinchūriki were for preparing for the next Great Ninja War.
"Even the second one has lost control? He's one of the few cheerful and sunny outstanding ninjas in the village, yet he's finding it so difficult to completely control Tailed Beast..."
"There's no other way. Other Ninja Village won't share their experience with the enemy on how to control the Tailed Beast. We have to figure it out on our own."
"In the end, apart from the Bunpuku the Monk, who was treated as Tailed Beast since birth and whose name has been forgotten, no one has ever succeeded in subduing these Tailed Beast with enormous chakra."
A sigh escaped from Granny Chiyo's lips. At her age, she still had to worry about village affairs and couldn't spare a single thought for anything else.
I really want to see my grandson again before I die, though I don't know where he is now.
"Since birth?"
Rasa seemed to be deep in thought. Just because of a careless remark by Granny Chiyo, a Kazekage who had lost his fatherly love and humanity was quietly born, until he finally fell into a dead end.
A few days later, Pakura, who was on a mission alone, arrived at the location assigned by Sunagakure.
The sky darkened, and the fog thickened. In the pitch-black fog, several figures were indistinct, their numbers impossible to discern.
Pakura became wary and asked loudly.
"So, only a few of you from Kirigakure have come?"
"Ah, where is the thing? Take it out, and your task is complete."
Pakura was displeased with these sneaky Kirigakure Ninja, but she still took out a scroll from her ninja tool pouch and walked towards the figures in front of her.
Just as they were about to get close, Pakura, who could barely make out the figure, was startled. Just as he was about to make a move, a strong wind rose from beneath his feet, and a dark Curse Mark rose from his feet, restricting his movement.
In an instant, countless Kunai and shuriken attacked from all directions like a storm, only stopping a few minutes later.
Suddenly, a Kirigakure Ninja approached from behind, grabbed Pakura's hair, and said fiercely.
"You bastard, you killed so many of our compatriots on the battlefield, now you're experiencing what it's like to be killed!"
"How does it feel to be abandoned by the village? Don't think that Kirigakure will just let it go like this. Your life is nothing more than a tiny bit of interest..."
Long since she could no longer feel the pain, Pakura's consciousness was in a daze, her expression blank. The image in her mind was frozen on that day when many Sunagakure were cheering and jumping for joy for her.
Was the Sand Ninja's Kekkei Genkai ninja, the Sand Ninja's hero, ultimately nothing more than a discarded pawn?
What is the village doing? Does Rasa know about it? Or has all of this been secretly supported by the Sand Ninja councilors and the Fourth Kazekage?
What kind of hero am I? What kind of Sand Ninja ninja am I? Am I just someone used to quell the flames of war and Kirigakure, someone who can be discarded at any time?
Overwhelmed by intense resentment and unwillingness, the power within his body gradually drained away with his blood. The cacophony of sounds faded away as the numerous Kirigakure Ninja departed.
Under the silvery moonlight, the figure overlooking the entire journey looked up at the sky, his black cloak rustling in the wind.
With black ink on white paper, the Natural Energy surged and turbulent. A talisman engraved with the word "immortal" was gently affixed to the smooth back soaked with blood, freezing the soul that was about to go to the Yomi.
In a daze, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and the figure that came into Pakura's view was hazy, with only the fragrance of grass and trees permeating her heart and soul.
The cave was dark and damp, the campfire crackled and sparks flew everywhere. Leaning against that not-so-broad chest, Pakura remained silent for a long time, the Kunai in his hand gleaming coldly, aimed straight at his face.
"Are you ready to wake up? You're recovering well and seem quite energetic."
In an instant, the sound of metal clashing rang out. Pakura's pupils contracted. How could human skin produce the sound of metal colliding?
Upon closer inspection, one notices that on the person's shoulder, following the same direction as the blood vessels, azure chakra sparks fly between the blades of the Kunai.
Following the direction of blood vessel flow, the shimmering blue ripples slowly disappeared from her eyes, restoring her original skin color.
"Who are you?"
"Just woke up, and is it temporary amnesia caused by overstimulation? Then try to recall carefully, the hero of Sunagakure, the abandoned pawn of the village, the Scorch Release ninja Pakura..."
The exquisite and intricate Mangekyō flashed before her eyes, and everything that had just happened reappeared in Pakura's mind, causing her to clench her teeth and turn pale.
"Who are you, the one who had the ability to save me when I was on the verge of death?"
The Huo Guang was dim, barely enough to make out the man's face. Pakura was shocked. His fresh and refined appearance, still somewhat childlike, and his slightly familiar attire gave rise to an unbelievable yet extremely close-to-the-truth guess in her mind.
"Didn't you recognize me? Well, I guess you do now."
The Three-Eyed Demon Fox Mask flashed by, and Pakura was even more terrified. The kunai he instinctively tried to raise fell Kunai to the ground, his heart filled with despair.
"Kill me, Body Flicker Gengetsu."