"Hizuki, let's go to the warehouse."
Hoshino didn't linger long in the outer area, merely glancing at the mountains of Ninjutsu scrolls and puppet technology documents.
These things were indeed valuable, but there were so many that it was better to leave them for Maki to sort through.
The priority was the rare resources in the Red Sand Clan compound, as well as the complete records of the Human Puppet Technique they had studied for years.
He had obtained part of them on a previous mission, but much was still missing. He hoped to complete the collection this time.
Before long, the warehouse doors appeared before them.
Though the doors had been warped by the aftershocks of battle, they still stood firm.
Hoshino pushed them open, revealing mountains of rare resources.
"These are..." A flicker of surprise crossed Hizuki's eyes.
The warehouse was filled with all kinds of rare metals, Chakra-conducting materials, and a vast number of puppet parts.
These materials were precious resources the Red Sand Clan had gathered from all over for years.
Now they were all in his pocket.
"The Red Sand Clan really did have deep foundations," Hoshino murmured, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
He walked over to a pile of materials gleaming with a metallic sheen, picked up a piece, and examined it closely.
It was an exceptionally rare Chakra-conducting metal. Whether used to make weapons or puppets, it could greatly enhance their effectiveness.
With these materials, he finally had a start on the magic treasures he was custom-making for Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara.
"Hizuki, send word to the members of Team Eleven and have them come here to move everything," Hoshino instructed.
"Okay!" Hizuki nodded, then turned and left the warehouse.
Just then, Hoshino's gaze swept over a corner of the warehouse and quickly settled on a concealed door.
He walked up to it, pressed his hand against the wall, and slowly channeled Chakra into it.
With a faint mechanical sound, the hidden door slowly opened, revealing a secret chamber within.
Several exquisite scrolls lay in the chamber.
Hoshino stepped forward, picked up one of the scrolls, and unrolled it. A flash of wild joy immediately crossed his eyes.
"Found it!"
The scroll contained the complete, detailed records of the Human Puppet Technique the Red Sand Clan had studied for years.
They included techniques for turning living people into puppets and preserving the Chakra systems and Kekkei Genkai within their bodies.
Hoshino carefully put the scroll away and sorted through the Red Sand Clan's resources until the members of Team Eleven arrived.
Once the tasks had been assigned, the team members quickly took out the sealing scrolls they had prepared and began moving the supplies.
The night breeze swept past, carrying a hint of chill.
The sky gradually began to brighten.
The villagers of Sunagakure soon discovered that the atmosphere in the village had grown unusually tense.
A huge notice had been posted in front of the Kazekage building.
It listed the crimes of the Red Sand Clan, the Night Sand Clan, and the Black Scorpion Clan in detail, including colluding with foreign enemies and conducting forbidden experiments.
At the end of the notice, Rasa announced in the name of the Kazekage:
The Night Sand Clan and the Black Scorpion Clan had been completely wiped out, and all ninja of the Red Sand Clan had been designated missing-nin.
Effective immediately, all ninja in the village were to begin clearing out the remnants of the Night Sand and Black Scorpion clans, while Hoshino would take full charge of hunting down the Red Sand Clan.
The news struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly causing a tremendous uproar throughout the village.
The villagers buzzed with discussion. Some were shocked, some clapped their hands in delight, and others couldn't believe it.
After all, the Night Sand Clan and the Black Scorpion Clan had long run roughshod over the village, and many people harbored resentment toward them.
But why the Red Sand Clan?
"The Red Sand Clan? Missing-nin? How is that possible?!"
"Yeah, the Red Sand Clan has rendered great service to the village! How could they betray it?"
But the crimes listed on the notice gradually quieted those voices of doubt.
Colluding with foreign enemies, conducting forbidden experiments, and even making secret deals with Konoha's Root...
With these crimes exposed, the Red Sand Clan's reputation collapsed in an instant.
Though some villagers were still shocked and baffled by what the Red Sand Clan had done, most had already begun to accept the truth.
After all, the Red Sand Clan's crimes had been laid bare, and no one could defend them.
Meanwhile.
After sorting through the resources in the Red Sand Clan compound, Hoshino went to Gaara to replenish his Tailed Beast Chakra.
Immediately afterward, he received an order from Rasa.
He was to lead Anbu Teams Eleven, Six, Three, and One in a full-scale purge of the Red Sand Clan.
The previous verbal agreement had been to leave Hoshino in full charge.
But in practice, he was responsible for the Red Sand Clan's forces outside the village, while those within the village would be handled by Rasa's Anbu and the village ninja.
The elders' faction also entered the fray.
Led by Ebizo, they gave their full support to the Kazekage's operation and began purging the Red Sand Clan.
In a room in the Kazekage building.
Hoshino and all the members of the other four teams were present.
After briefly greeting the members of Team Six, led by Shaji, Hoshino began the operational meeting.
Hoshino spread out a map of the Land of Wind, marked with the locations of the Red Sand Clan's forces.
"According to intelligence, there are fifteen hundred troops stationed at the Land of Rivers border. The Red Sand Clan directly controls a force of two hundred and seventy ninja, including five Jonin and fifty ninja from the clan itself."
Hoshino narrowed his eyes slightly and pointed his Kunai at a picture at the top of the map. "Most important of all... Akasuna Arashi."
Tieyan, the captain of Team One, said gravely, "I know him. He's an Elite Jonin of the Red Sand Clan, very strong, and holds the position of commander."
Qingya, the captain of Team Three, frowned and asked, "Now that the village's notice has gone out, those ninja troops shouldn't listen to Akasuna Arashi anymore, right?"
Shaji, the captain of Team Six, shook his head. "That's hard to say. Akasuna Arashi has served in the border forces for five or six years. No one knows how deeply he's infiltrated the troops."
That was indeed a problem!
Though the Shinobi World's communication tools were backward, the Summoning Technique, a form of Space-Time Ninjutsu, could serve as a substitute.
In other words.
There was absolutely no way the Red Sand Clan's ninja could be kept in the dark about such a major upheaval in the village.
They might already be making preparations.
The question was whether they were preparing to rebel outright, leave the Land of Wind with the forces under their command, or seek the protection of another power.
"The assignments are as follows."
Hoshino's finger traced across the map, pointing to several key locations on the Land of Rivers border.
"Team Six will seal off the western swamp, Team Three will handle intelligence and reconnaissance, and Team One will feint from the front."
"As for Team Eleven... we'll launch a frontal assault and take down Akasuna Arashi and the ninja from his clan as quickly as possible."
"There are no restrictions on this mission. Completing it takes precedence over everything else. Is that understood?"
"Understood!"
The members of the four teams answered in unison, their voices filled with a grim fighting spirit.
"Move out!"
"Yes!" everyone answered again.