Chapter 145: Uchiha Izumi
The wind carried endless sand across the wasteland like a rough hand grinding away at the land for centuries.
The sandstone cliffs had long since been worn beyond recognition.
Life itself seemed blocked by an invisible wall.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing.
Only jagged rock formations and rough stone surfaces waiting to devour everything that entered.
A land devoid of vitality.
And a scene common throughout the Land of Wind.
The Land of Wind was a nation built upon endless deserts.
Among the Five Great Nations, it possessed the poorest natural resources.
At that moment, several Sunagakure shinobi were moving through the sea of sand.
Their expressions remained vigilant.
For several years now, travelers had been disappearing in this region.
The investigation team dared not lower their guard.
"The sandstorm wasn't even this bad a moment ago."
"This damn weather..."
"Even I can barely see what's around us."
One of the shinobi complained.
"Captain, we've searched for days."
"But we haven't found anything unusual."
"Could the information be wrong?"
The squad leader frowned.
"So many villages have issued requests regarding missing persons over the past few years."
"Do you really think all of them were mistaken?"
"And if I remember correctly..."
"This area used to contain ancient ruins."
He turned toward a teammate.
"Kishida."
"Have you sensed anything?"
The captain looked toward the sensory ninja.
Then froze.
No one was there.
The teammate who had just been complaining.
The subordinates following behind him.
Everyone was gone.
As though, in an instant, he had become the only living person left in the desert.
The veteran Chūnin immediately felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Cold sweat streamed down his face.
His heart pounded wildly.
Something was wrong.
Something had happened.
"Did I get caught in a genjutsu?"
"Release!"
Nothing changed.
Only the sound of sand blowing through the wasteland remained.
"Release!"
"Release!"
His hands trembled as he formed seals repeatedly.
The desert should have been unbearably hot.
Sweat continued to trickle down his forehead.
Yet he felt ice-cold.
"It's not a genjutsu?"
He forced himself to calm down.
But he couldn't understand where his teammates had disappeared.
"It is a genjutsu."
"But one beyond your ability to dispel."
A cold female voice suddenly sounded behind him.
The Chūnin spun around.
Only to find a pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan rapidly enlarging before his eyes.
"This is a genjutsu as well."
A tall woman emerged slowly from the swirling sand.
Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall.
A cloth veil covered part of her face.
She wore black clothing.
Her features were stunningly beautiful.
Yet her expression carried an icy aloofness.
The Sharingan gradually faded.
She lowered her gaze toward the unconscious Suna shinobi.
"Sunagakure's activity has become noticeably more frequent lately..."
she murmured.
"Sister Izumi—"
"No, Chief!"
A group of children suddenly ran over from somewhere nearby.
Several battered puppets followed behind them.
The puppets carried unconscious Suna shinobi tied securely with ropes.
The children looked at the woman with admiration shining in their eyes.
Each of them wore clothing marked with a familiar crest.
The Uchiha fan.
The symbol of the Uchiha Clan.
"Chief."
"We've gathered everyone!"
One energetic boy proudly reported.
The children's eyes were filled with reverence.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time they had witnessed her strength.
"Good."
Uchiha Izumi nodded gently.
Looking at the unconscious Suna shinobi, she gave her orders.
"Take them back first."
"After I modify their memories, contact Sara's group."
"Handle them the same way as before."
"Send them somewhere else."
"Yes, Chief!"
The children immediately sprang into action.
Instead of carrying the prisoners themselves, they extended chakra strings from their fingers.
The battered puppets came alive.
One after another, they hoisted the unconscious shinobi and began carrying them away.
Their movements were practiced and efficient.
Clearly, they had done this many times before.
One particularly lively boy remained behind.
Standing at attention, he saluted dramatically.
"Reporting, Chief!"
"The Future Squad will complete its mission and uphold our honor!"
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Izumi's normally cold face.
She reached out and ruffled his hair.
"Very good."
"Then please tell your parents when you get back."
"They'll know how to handle the rest."
"Yes!"
The boy's face lit up.
Then he quickly corrected her.
"Chief."
"I'm Tarō."
"Not Jirō."
"Is that so?"
Izumi blinked.
Then smiled apologetically.
"Sorry."
"I couldn't see clearly."
"It's okay!"
The boy laughed.
"We all know your eyesight isn't very good, Chief!"
"I'll go supervise the others now!"
With that, Uchiha Tarō ran off.
Soon he was bragging to the other children about being praised and patted on the head.
The others stared with envy.
A few mischievous ones even looked tempted to run back and ask for praise themselves.
Izumi remained standing alone.
The children were already too far away for her to see clearly.
Her gaze lowered slowly toward her own hand.
"I wonder..."
"How much longer I can keep this up..."
Meanwhile—
At the border of the Land of Wind.
"You must be the honored guests from Konoha."
A cheerful kunoichi stepped forward.
Two purple markings decorated her cheeks.
She appeared to be around Mei's age.
"My name is Maki."
"I'm the Sunagakure representative assigned to coordinate with you."
Before Naruto's group could respond, Maki enthusiastically grabbed Mei's hands.
"You must be the team leader."
"It's always easier for female shinobi to communicate with one another."
"I've already heard everything."
"Since Sunagakure and Konoha are allies, we'll do everything possible to assist your mission."
"Ah..."
Mei blinked.
Then smiled.
"You've misunderstood."
"I'm only an accompanying advisor."
"I'm not the team leader."
"Huh?"
Maki froze.
At that moment Naruto stepped forward.
"Big sister."
"I'm the captain."
"...Ahahahaha..."
"This..."
"Well..."
Maki's smile became awkward.
The report clearly said a Konoha Chūnin was leading the team...
Since when did Konoha's Chūnin look this young?
Still, she was an experienced shinobi.
She quickly recovered.
Soon she began briefing them on the Land of Wind and the surrounding regions.
"We're not going to Sunagakure first?"
Naruto asked curiously.
"We'll investigate areas around Sunagakure ourselves."
"We won't trouble you with that."
Maki answered immediately.
Nobody found that strange.
Even allied villages monitored foreign shinobi operating within their borders.
When Mei had visited Konoha, Kakashi had supervised her the entire time.
Such precautions were simply common sense among shinobi.
No one needed to say it aloud.
"Besides, the Kazekage has already instructed us."
"We're to cooperate with Konoha as much as possible."
"Adapt to circumstances."
"No need to report back to the village for every little thing."
Maki spoke enthusiastically while leading them forward.
"The Kazekage also said that investigating Akatsuki—a dangerous threat to the entire shinobi world—is Sunagakure's responsibility as well."
"He's even obtained permission from the Daimyō."
"Most regions within the Land of Wind have been opened to you."
"So please..."
"Find Akatsuki's whereabouts."
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