Sandstorm

After Shibi and Chōza left, the hotel was filled with tranquility, with only the breathing of Koki and Minato gently echoing in the air.

Koki slowly unfurled the rolled-up sleeve that the Third Hokage had given to Minato, carefully examining every line and every detail on it.

He slowly folded his rolled-up sleeves, his gaze piercing through the night, looking towards the abyss of the distant desert, the sea of sand appearing and disappearing in the darkness, so deep it seemed capable of swallowing all the unknown and fear.

Although no exact coordinates were marked on the rolled-up sleeves, Koki's intuition pointed to the heart of the desert.

However, he also knew that the legendary Rōran was not easily obtained, and that this desert, known as the "Sea of Death," harbored endless dangers.

The lurking sand, like a ghost of the night, silently awaits the arrival of its prey.

Once you stray into it, you'll find it hard to escape its clutches and may be mercilessly devoured.

Sandstorms are even more unpredictable, with howling winds and sandstorms filling the sky, making people lose their way in an instant.

In this treacherous place, a single misstep could lead to eternal loss of identity.

Koki frowned, secretly pondering the Third Hokage's intentions.

Minato stood quietly to the side, watching Koki stare anxiously ahead, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Koki, do you still remember the flying Earth Release Ninjutsu I taught you?"

"Of course!" A glint of light flashed in Koki's eyes.

The two were of one mind and simultaneously used Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique.

In the blink of an eye, their figures rose gracefully into the sky like birds.

The sand dunes beneath my feet undulated in the night, and the wind whistled in my ears.

"Let's fly in this direction," Minato pointed in one direction.

In the air, they can avoid ground traps and search for possible clues.

"Okay." Koki turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting Minato's.

Those gentle, watery blue eyes shimmered with a captivating light against the backdrop of the night, and the close eye contact made Koki's heart race.

He was so captivated by Minato's eyes that he didn't realize his lapse in composure and quickly turned away.

With flushed cheeks, she lowered her head and flew forward, hoping the wind would dispel the heat on her face and conceal the panic in her heart.

In the hazy night, Minato still managed to catch Koki's shyness and lowered head.

A slight stirring occurred to him; he found Koki incredibly adorable at that moment.

Minato slowly withdrew his gaze, a gentle smile unconsciously curving his lips upward.

As you venture deeper into the desert, a sudden gust of wind arises, the sand as sharp as blades, relentlessly lashing your cheeks. Though not fatal, it is nonetheless uncomfortable.

The surroundings were deathly silent, save for the mournful howl of the wind, which sounded like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, sending chills down one's spine.

Before me stretched endless sand dunes, like a surging sea, seemingly ready to swallow everything.

In this boundless desert, direction becomes blurred, and a person is like a lone boat, easily lost.

A shadow swept overhead, Koki squinted, looking up at the sky.

The clouds slowly dispersed, and the blood-red moon gradually emerged. Its red light spilled onto the sea of sand, giving this mysterious desert a faint blush, like a dream.

Amidst this hazy, beautiful scene, a sense of danger subtly permeates the air, like the calm before a storm, stirring unease within.

Koki gazed at the crimson moon, her unease grew stronger, as if some unknown danger was quietly approaching.

He had been keeping an eye on Koki, and seeing her silence and increasingly cold expression, he felt somewhat at a loss.

"Minato-sensei," Koki suddenly spoke, her voice weak in the wind.

"What's wrong?" Minato asked in surprise, his eyes showing concern.

Before Koki could respond, the wind suddenly intensified, and the sandstorm, like a yellow curtain, instantly enveloped everything, completely obscuring visibility.

The howling sound, like the wailing of a wild beast, instantly drowned out all other sounds, giving the impression that the end of the world was approaching.

Koki squinted and looked up at the horizon, where a line of twilight gradually appeared. As time went by, the line widened, like a dark, surging chasm.

At the same time, a deep, rumbling sound, like thunder, echoed from afar, filling the air and making the surrounding atmosphere even more oppressive.

The gale-force winds, carrying sand grains, instantly propelled them hundreds of feet into the air, creating terrifying columns of sand and dust.

Driven by the gale, the sand pillars danced wildly, causing the two men's robes to flutter wildly, as if trying to sweep them into the raging torrent.

Koki frowned slightly, her nerves immediately tensing up.

"A sandstorm is coming," Minato said with concern.

Before the words were even finished, they were swallowed up by the gale and vanished in the howling wind.

Minato immediately stopped and raised his voice, shouting, "We must find shelter!"

His gaze swept around with the sharpness of a falcon; in this windswept desert, every choice was a matter of life and death.

Finally, Minato spotted a massive boulder not far away, with a hole faintly visible in its rock face. It stood sheltered from the wind, seemingly offering temporary protection.

The two swiftly rushed toward the boulder and rested outside the cave.

Minato cautiously explored the cave, carefully observing to ensure there were no dangers inside.

He then turned to Koki and said, "The sandstorm is going on for a while, let's take shelter here for now."

Although her voice was slightly weak in the wind, Koki still heard it clearly and nodded in agreement.

"No problem," he replied, reaching for the scroll to retrieve the food, intending to hand it to Minato.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a chilling killing intent coming from behind, like a biting north wind, penetrating his bones, making his spine tingle and his hair stand on end.

Immediately afterwards, the ground exploded with a deafening roar, and sand and dust shot into the sky like a fountain. A huge cloud of sand and dust rapidly spread, engulfing everything in chaos.

The sandstorm blotted out the sun, completely obscuring visibility, as if the end of the world had arrived.

Amidst this chaos, a crisis is quietly approaching with the force of Hayate.

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the air. Koki turned around abruptly and saw a flash of light as Minato appeared in front of him like Hayate.

Immediately following was a crisp metallic clang, and several Kunai collided and fell to the ground.

Minato reacted with lightning speed, relying on his keen intuition and rich combat experience to successfully intercept the enemy's sneak attack at the last minute.

Amidst the sandstorm, a masked ninja suddenly leaped out, wielding a long sword, and charged straight at Koki like a ghost.

The ninja's figure appeared and disappeared in the sandstorm, his movements swift and unpredictable, his eyes flashing with coldness and determination, like a messenger from hell, determined to take lives.

Minato leaped forward without hesitation, heading straight for the ninja.

In an instant, their blades clashed, unleashing a dazzling light.