Shukaku's tail rose high, and he grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth.
"Hmph, at least you've got an eye for these things, kid! I've always been stronger than that Nine-Tails fellow. I just needed something suitable to use."
He snorted, his voice tinged with pride.
Seeing how pleased Shukaku was with himself, Gaara couldn't help shaking his head slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"Then it's settled!"
Shukaku patted Gaara's head with his paw. "Don't disappoint me!"
Hoshino smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. Don't you know what I'm capable of by now?"
Shukaku nodded in satisfaction and lay back down on Gaara's shoulder, muttering, "All right, I'm going to rest now."
Night fell, and heavy clouds blanketed the sky over Sunagakure.
Faint moonlight spilled over the desert, casting a grim, murderous air over the entire village.
Inside the room of Anbu Team Eleven.
Hoshino stood in the center of the room, sweeping his gaze over the five team members before him.
Every face was solemn, and an oppressive atmosphere filled the air.
"It's time."
Hoshino wasted no more words. He waved his hand, signaling for the team to follow.
The six quickly left the room, passed through the corridors of the Kazekage's building, and headed for the assembly point in front of it.
By the time they reached the square in front of the Kazekage's building, dozens of Anbu Ninjas had already assembled.
They wore black, close-fitting combat clothes and fierce animal masks, with ninja tool pouches at their waists and all manner of weapons on their backs.
Every one of them radiated a cold, murderous air, like drawn blades ready to strike at the enemy at any moment.
Rasa stood at the very front of the formation, clad in the Kazekage's robes. Golden gold dust flowed slowly around him, giving off a cold gleam.
His gaze swept over every Anbu Ninja present, and a flash of resolve passed through his eyes.
"Dark Mist of Team 7, Nine Nights of Team 9, step forward."
A moment later, two Anbu Ninjas stepped out of the formation, their eyes flickering beneath their masks.
The Kazekage had suddenly ordered all eleven Anbu teams to assemble, yet no information had gotten out.
It left them somewhat unsure what to do!
Rasa suddenly swung both hands, and golden gold dust pierced their chests in an instant, sharp as blades.
Squelch-
Blood gushed out.
The two Anbu Ninjas fell to the ground before they could even scream.
The Anbu in the formation couldn't help stirring at the sight.
Then Rasa said sharply, "According to our intelligence, the Black Scorpion Clan and the Night Sand Clan colluded with outside enemies, betrayed the village, and conducted forbidden human experiments."
"Such behavior will not be tolerated!"
His words struck every Anbu Ninja's heart like a heavy hammer.
Tension filled the air.
All eyes were fixed on Rasa, waiting for his next order.
"Tonight's operation concerns the village's future," Rasa continued.
"Our objective is simple... completely eliminate the Black Scorpion and Night Sand Clans. Leave no survivors."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"
The Anbu Ninjas answered in unison, their voices echoing through the night sky with a murderous edge.
Hoshino stood among the ranks, his gaze sweeping over his companions around him.
He could feel the tension and oppression filling the air, as though a storm were about to break.
"Move out!"
Rasa gave the order and charged out first.
The Anbu Ninjas quickly split into several groups and raced toward the Black Scorpion and Night Sand Clan compounds.
Figures darted through the night, quickly vanishing into the wind and sand.
Rasa personally led Hoshino's group, whose target was the Night Sand Clan compound.
Although it was inside the village, the Night Sand Clan compound was still heavily guarded. Several guards stood at the entrance, scanning their surroundings warily.
Rasa, however, had no intention of concealing his movements.
The gleam of gold dust was especially dazzling in the darkness, like a golden sun descending upon the desert.
Hoshino stood behind Rasa.
He knew how powerful Rasa was, but he had never seen this Kazekage fight with all his strength.
Tonight, he finally had a chance to witness the might of a true Kage Level powerhouse.
Rasa raised his hand, and golden gold dust instantly formed several gold dust spears, each more than ten meters long.
"Go!"
The gold dust spears shot out like lightning, wind howling in their wake as they flew straight toward the Night Sand Clan's gates.
The spears tore through the night sky, their golden light illuminating the entire village like bolts of golden lightning falling from the heavens.
Boom-
A tremendous roar exploded through the night sky. The Night Sand Clan's gates shattered instantly under the impact of the gold dust spears, bursting into countless fragments that flew in all directions.
Before the guards at the entrance could even react, the shockwave from the gold dust sent them flying. They slammed heavily into the ground and lost consciousness.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
A shrill alarm immediately rang out across the Night Sand Clan compound.
Countless ninjas rushed out of the buildings, clutching puppets and ninja tools, their eyes filled with terror and fury.
Rasa strode forward as though he hadn't seen these enemies at all.
"Gold Dust: Sand Shower!"
The golden gold dust instantly transformed into countless tiny particles that poured down like a torrential rain.
Before the Night Sand Clan's ninjas could react, the gold dust particles pierced their bodies, and blood gushed out.
The buildings behind them were riddled with holes as well.
Th-this is the strength of a Kage Level powerhouse? Hoshino was deeply shaken.
Among these Night Sand ninjas were plenty of Chunin and Special Jōnin, and even several Jonin.
Yet before Rasa's gold dust technique, they were as flimsy as paper, utterly powerless to fight back.
"Captain, why do I get the feeling we're just here to make up the numbers?"
Seeing Rasa display such might, Maki couldn't help covering her mouth and poking Hoshino in the back.
Temari, standing nearby, thought the same.
Her father was so powerful that he could attack a ninja clan on his own, so why had he called so many Anbu here?
They might as well all have been sent after the Black Scorpion Clan instead.
Just then, the Night Sand Clan's patriarch and several elders rushed out from deep within the compound.
The patriarch was a man over fifty, clad in splendid robes, with anger and bewilderment on his face.
"Rasa! What is the meaning of this? Why have you suddenly attacked my Night Sand Clan?"
Rasa looked at him coldly. "The Night Sand Clan colluded with outside enemies and conducted human experiments. The evidence is irrefutable."
The Night Sand patriarch's face instantly turned pale, but he forced himself to say, "Th-that's slander! Our Night Sand Clan has rendered great service to the village. What gives you the right to treat us like this?"
Rasa didn't answer. He merely raised his hand, and golden gold dust gathered into a ball in his palm.
"Evidence? There's no need for evidence. The Kazekage's will is the village's will."