Shota travelled with the Suna ANBU team across the endless plains and rocky hills toward the Land of Hot Springs. The group was large and silent.
Three commanders led them: Spider, Peacock, and Earthworm. Fifteen elite assault ANBU followed in perfect formation. No one spoke much. Everyone understood the danger that the mission proposed.
If the mission failed, many of them would die. The Third Raikage would live. And Kumo, the only great village that had stayed neutral with Suna, would become an enemy. That would mean more war, more blood, more orphans. And more poverty for Suna.
'Why can't the Kazekage just want peace? We had ceasefire agreements with almost every village but no Kazekage was not happy with it and wanted to antagonise Kumo. Let's just hope that we get the tailed beast to make it worth it.' Shota kept his thoughts to himself.
Four days of hard travel passed with only short breaks for water and food. They ran most of the time, using chakra to lighten their bodies and move faster. On the fourth evening, they reached the Iwa camp.
Shota's eyes focused on the Iwa camp.
Thousands of tents spread across the valley like a grey sea. Campfires burned everywhere. Shinobi moved between tents, sharpening weapons and checking armour.
Their arrival did not go unnoticed either by Iwa shinobi.
Iwa shinobi spotted the black masks and sand-coloured cloaks instantly. Their hands reached for their weapons. Eyes narrowed. In seconds, hundreds of stone ninja surrounded the small Suna group.
Earthworm stepped forward, voice flat and calm.
"We are here by agreement between our villages. The Tsuchikage expects us."
Some of the Iwa shinobi decided to take it to the higher ups to confirm it.
The message passed quickly up the chain of command, but the circle of angry faces did not open.
A tall Iwa jōnin pushed through the crowd. His face was red with hate. Scars covered his arms.
"Why wait for orders?" he shouted. "Let's kill these sand rats now! The Tsuchikage can't possibly want them here!"
Many shinobi growled agreement. Hands tightened on weapons.
Shota felt the air grow heavy.
Before anyone could move, the scarred jōnin roared and charged. Huge rocks formed around his arms like stone gauntlets.
"Die, Suna scum!"
He swung a massive fist at Earthworm.
The rocks crumbled to dust mid-swing.
White binding cloth shot out from Shota's neck. It wrapped the man's arms and legs in an instant. He crashed to the ground, unable to move.
Every Iwa shinobi drew weapons at once. Kunai and swords pointed at the small masked figure who had stopped their comrade.
Shota's voice came out cold and flat.
"Stand down. We are not here to fight you."
An Iwa chūnin snarled. "Release him!"
"I will," Shota answered. "When the Tsuchikage arrives. And when you put your weapons away."
The bound jōnin struggled and cursed. "You little—"
The cloth tightened. He grunted in pain and went quiet.
The circle of angry shinobi grew tighter.
Then the air changed.
A wave of heavy chakra pressed down on everyone like an invisible mountain. Shinobi staggered. Some dropped to one knee.
A small figure floated down from the sky.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, landed between the two groups. His short body floated a few inches above the ground. His eyes were sharp and old.
"These Suna ANBU are my guests," he said in a voice that cut through the noise. "No one will touch them. Is that clear?"
The Iwa shinobi lowered their weapons slowly. Many looked unhappy, but no one argued with the Tsuchikage.
Ōnoki turned to Shota.
"Release my shinobi."
Shota let the cloth unwind. It shrank back to normal size and settled around his neck like a simple scarf.
The bound jōnin stood up, rubbing his arms and glaring, but he stayed quiet.
Ōnoki studied Shota for a long moment.
Shota realised the truth.
The Tsuchikage had known they were coming. He had let his men surround them on purpose. He wanted to test Suna's reaction. He wanted to see Shota and his kekkei genkai in action. He wanted to be sure the right person had arrived and Suna was not sending Iwa shinobi to die against the third Raikage.
'Smart old man.' Shota thought
Ōnoki floated toward the largest tent in the camp.
"Follow me."
The Suna team walked behind him. Iwa shinobi watched with angry eyes but made a path.
Inside the command tent, maps covered every table. Lamps burned bright. Ōnoki landed and pointed at a large map of the Land of Hot Springs. He went straight to the point without any formalities.
"We ambush the Raikage and his army here, in three days. Ten thousand of my men against one thousand of theirs. My shinobi will crush his forces quickly."
He looked at Shota.
"I will keep the Raikage busy. He is fast and strong. He can still escape or kill thousands before he tires. You will stop that."
Shota nodded.
"You wait until the Kumo army is gone. They must not know you are there. If they see you early, they will protect the Raikage or run or target you. When only he remains, you take his chakra. I will do the rest."
Ōnoki's old eyes were hard.
"Just get rid of his lightning cloak and I will make him disappear into nothing."
---------Author Notes--------
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