The scorching wind, carrying sand and gravel, lashed against Tian Zhiyun's face. She clutched a tattered desert map in her arms, which she had bought from a merchant on the border of the Land of Fire. It was marked with "all the important towns of the Land of Wind " in vermilion. This map was her only guide into the Land of Wind and her only clue to finding Tsubasa.
"Halt! We need to search people in the Land of Wind's cities, foreign woman, do you hear me?!" Three Sand shinobi leaped out from behind the sand dunes, their gourds jingling at their waists. Their voices sounded particularly jarring in the wind, as if they were a provocation to Tian Zhiyun.
Tian Zhiyun adjusted her straw hat and continued walking forward. Her steps were firm and steady, as if she hadn't heard the Sand shinobi's warning. However, the next second, three poisoned Kunai flew past her ears. Her eyes turned cold, and she flicked out three steel nails, which accurately pierced the knees of the three Sand Ninja. The three Sand shinobi cried out in pain and fell to the sand.
"This is just a warning." Tian Zhiyun coldly uttered these words and disappeared into the swirling yellow sand. But she didn't expect that this was only the beginning of a nightmare.
For the next two weeks, assassinations were a constant threat. Poisonous fog traps, puppet ambushes, Sand Release assassinations—all sorts of methods were employed. Although Tian Zhiyun was agile and suffered no serious injuries, these relentless harassments were incredibly annoying. When she was attacked by the puppeteer's poison needles for the seventh time, she finally snapped and killed him.
As another group of Sand shinobi emerged from the ground, she drew her sword directly from her spatial ring. The blade sliced through the sand, and blood splattered like dazzling red plumes. Her movements were clean and swift, without the slightest hesitation.
"Go back and tell your superiors that I'm just looking for someone," Tian Zhiyun said, stepping on the corpse, blood dripping from the tip of her sword. "If you dare to obstruct me again, I'll reduce Sunagakure to ashes." Her voice echoed in the wind, filled with authority and murderous intent.
She herself headed directly towards Sunagakure. Her goal was clear: to find Tsubasa, and she would not back down no matter how many obstacles lay ahead.
However, the elite squad from Sunagakure had no intention of letting her go easily. They swarmed in from all directions, trying to intercept and drive her away, and even assassinate Tian Zhiyun. But each time, they failed.
"You think you can escape our pursuit?" A Sand shinobi elite leaped down from the sand dune, wielding a massive scythe whose blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Tian Zhiyun sneered. She didn't answer, but quickly drew her sword and charged forward. Her swordsmanship was incredibly fierce, each strike carrying a powerful killing intent. Although the Sand shinobi elites were quite strong, they were no match for Tian Zhiyun's sword.
"Your methods are futile." Tian Zhiyun's sword sliced through the body of the Sand shinobi elite, splattering blood everywhere. She did not stop, continuing her advance towards the Sunagakure.
"Do you think you can get into Sunagakure?" Another elite Sand shinobi ninja attacked from behind, holding a short sword with the tip pointed directly at Tian Zhiyun's back.
Tian Zhiyun seemed to have sensed something was amiss. She quickly turned around, and the sharp sword in her hand clashed with the short sword, producing a crisp sound. Her strength far surpassed that of the Sand shinobi elite; the short sword was knocked away, Sand shinobi elite was also shaken back several steps.
"Your obstruction will only make me angrier." Tian Zhiyun's sword flashed again, slashing a deep wound into the body of the Sand shinobi elite, staining the desert red with blood.
"You crazy woman, we'll make you pay!" the Sand shinobi elites shouted unwillingly, but they could no longer stop Tian Zhiyun's advance.
Tian Zhiyun continued on her way, her only goal being the Sunagakure. She knew that only by entering the Sunagakure could she find more clues about Tsubasa. And the obstacles the Sand shinobi were creating only strengthened her resolve.
"Go back and tell your superiors that I will not stop the search." Tian Zhiyun's voice echoed in the wind, filled with determination and resolve. There was not a trace of fear in her eyes, only unwavering commitment to her target and contempt for her enemies.
Although the elite squad of Sunagakure was powerful, they were no match for Tian Zhiyun. Her strength instilled fear in every Sand shinobi.
This battle was no longer just a battle between Tian Zhiyun and the Sunagakure, but a battle between her and the entire Land of Wind. Tian Zhiyun's footsteps left a trail of deep footprints in the desert, her figure appearing exceptionally lonely in the wind. But there was not a trace of fear in her eyes, only unwavering determination towards her goal and contempt for her enemies. She was to find Tsubasa and fulfill her mission.
The last line of defense of Sunagakure
"Go back and tell your superiors that I will not stop the search." This was Tian Zhiyun's final ultimatum to the elite Sunagakure squad. Her voice sounded particularly firm and cold in the wind. The survivors of the Sunagakure elite squad knelt before the Kazekage Shamon, and recounted their conversation with Tian Zhiyun. Their voices trembled, and their eyes were filled with fear and anger.
"She killed dozens of our ninjas, Lord Kazekage! We must avenge them!" a surviving Sand shinobi elite said angrily, his voice filled with grief and hatred.
Shamon's face was grim, his eyes flashing with a cold light. He slowly stood up, golden magnetic sand swirling around him, his fierce bald face filled with disdain. He walked up to the surviving Sand shinobi elites and said coldly, "You've done well. I already know her strength and determination. Now, it's time to let her know that the Land of Wind is not a place where she can run rampant."
Shamon turned around and gave orders to the group of elite Sand shinobi behind him. "Summon all Elite Jonin and guard the entrance to Sunagakure. Today, we will teach this Hokage's wife a lesson." His voice was full of unquestionable authority, and every Sand shinobi felt his determination.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!" the Sand shinobi responded in unison, their voices filled with determination and courage. They moved swiftly, and two thousand Elite Jonin, led by Shamon, quickly surrounded Tian Zhiyun at the entrance of Sunagakure.
Shamon stood opposite Tian Zhiyun, his golden magnetic sand swirling in the wind, seemingly poised to unleash a fatal attack at any moment. His eyes were filled with contempt as he coldly said, " Hokage's wife, the Land of Wind is not a place for you to run rampant. You killed dozens of our ninjas; today, you'll pay with your life."
Tian Zhiyun slowly removed her bamboo hat, revealing a Konoha Forehead Protector on her forehead. Her gaze was firm and cold, without a trace of fear. She coldly replied, "Then we'll see if you have the ability." Her voice echoed in the wind, full of confidence and determination.
Shamon's face darkened further, and his golden magnetic sand began to churn violently, as if sensing Tian Zhiyun's provocation. He coldly said, "Do you think you can fight against the entire Sunagakure with your strength? You're too naive. I just want to know one thing: was the occupation of the Land of Water by Tian Yukihime a conspiracy by your Konoha?"
Tian Zhiyun sneered, and a sharp sword suddenly appeared in her hand, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. She said coldly, "I have never been naive. I am only searching for my husband. If you continue to obstruct me, I will make the entire Sunagakure pay a heavy price. I know nothing about what else I want to know."
Shamon's face grew even more grim, and his golden magnetic sand began to condense into a massive sand sword. He said coldly, "Do you think I'll believe you? You've killed so many of our ninjas. Today, you must pay the price. If you tell me all the secrets you know, perhaps I'll let you go."
A cold glint flashed in Tian Zhiyun's eyes as she pointed her sword at Shamon: "I have no secrets to tell you, Kazekage. I will not stop searching until I find my husband. If you continue to obstruct me, I will make sure you have no chance to regret it."