The Third Great Ninja War had already erupted, plunging the world into yet another period of chaos. The major hidden villages had engaged in multiple conflicts, spilling blood across borders. Yet curiously, the battlefield had recently gone quiet.
The cause of this unnatural calm? Uchiha Byakuya.
With overwhelming strength, Byakuya had subjugated the warring nations through sheer force, ending skirmishes before they could escalate. While Kumo (Cloud Village) and Iwa (Stone Village) still bore deep resentment toward Konoha and Byakuya, they dared not act openly. Both villages had suffered devastating losses at his hands—especially Kumogakure, which had lost both its Third and Fourth Raikage to him.
The internal strife in Kumogakure was intense. With no clear successor strong enough to command unanimous respect, the village teetered on instability. As for Iwagakure, two-thirds of its active shinobi forces had perished in their encounter with Byakuya. The village was no longer a threat—crippled and demoralized.
In contrast, Konohagakure thrived. Though it had participated in the Third Great Ninja War, it emerged virtually unscathed due to Byakuya's might. While Tsunade officially held the title of Fifth Hokage, it was clear to the village's people that Byakuya was the true protector and symbol of their prosperity.
Tsunade herself did not mind this shift in influence. After all, she had given her heart and trust to Byakuya. Fame meant little to her now. As for the late Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—he had become a forgotten shadow in Konoha's past.
Mission to the Wind Country:
One afternoon, Tsunade summoned Byakuya to the Hokage's office and presented him with a mission scroll.
"Byakuya, we've received a distress signal from Sunagakure," she said, her tone serious.
"Sunagakure?" Byakuya raised an eyebrow. "Who would dare attack them now? Chiyo? Rasa? Didn't I already show them their place during the Five Kage Summit?"
Tsunade shook her head. "No—it isn't Chiyo or Rasa. It's... Loulan."
Byakuya paused, surprised. "Loulan?"
Unrolling the scroll, he read the report:
"Loulan is a small desert country located within the Land of Wind. While it lacks a ninja village of its own, Sunagakure has typically ignored its existence. Recently, however, a massive number of autonomous puppets have emerged from Loulan and begun attacking Sand shinobi.
Kazekage Ye Cang has attempted to investigate the source, but every infiltration mission has failed.
With their forces already weakened from the war, Sunagakure has turned to Konoha for assistance."
Tsunade added, "This could be an isolated incident—or something far more dangerous."
As Byakuya read the details, a flicker of recognition surfaced in his mind. "Loulan… that's where the Dragon Vein lies. A powerful chakra source with the ability to distort time and space." He looked up thoughtfully. "If I could access it… I might be able to see the future of this world."
Byakuya's curiosity about the future—and the possibility of gathering more negative energy to further evolve his power—was piqued. He had already dominated the present. If no more worthy foes remained in this timeline, perhaps the future held greater challenges.
"I understand," he said, folding the scroll. "I'll leave for the Sand Village immediately."
Without another word, Byakuya activated his space-time ninjutsu and vanished from the office.
Arrival at Sunagakure:
Byakuya reappeared in the Kazekage's office within Sunagakure.
Ye Cang, now the Kazekage after Rasa's fall, was sorting through intelligence reports when the sudden flash of chakra startled him. Instinctively, he responded with Shakuton: Kōrin Shippū Shikkoku no Ya Zeroshiki—three orbs of blistering heat began to form around him.
"Who are you?!" he shouted, poised to strike.
Byakuya didn't flinch. "Do you intend to attack me, Ye Cang?" he asked calmly. "That would be unwise."
Ye Cang recognized the voice. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Byakuya…?! You—why are you here?"
"To investigate Loulan," Byakuya replied, eyes glinting. "And perhaps… to glimpse the future."
Byakuya looked calmly at Ye Cang and spoke with a faint smile.
"Ye Cang."
"L-Lord Byakuya!"
Ye Cang was stunned for a moment, and the fiery chakra that had started to gather in her hands quickly dissipated.
"How could I possibly raise my hand against Lord Byakuya…" she muttered, hastily withdrawing her jutsu.
Now that she realized who the figure was, Ye Cang immediately stood at attention, her posture rigid and respectful.
"I didn't expect you to come in person. To what do we owe the honor of your visit to Sunagakure, Lord Byakuya?"
There was no mistaking her tone: respectful, even reverent.
Who would dare speak otherwise?
Byakuya's strength was infamous across the Five Great Nations.
Two successive Raikage had died at his hands. Tens of thousands of Iwa-nin had crumbled before him in battle. Sunagakure knew better than to provoke someone of his caliber.
More importantly, the village was indebted to him.
The water purification system, which now sustained their desert village, was built using Byakuya's Wood Release. Without it, their rations and survival chances would be far slimmer.
"You sent a request for aid to Konoha. I came to investigate," Byakuya said plainly. "Tell me about the situation in Loulan."
"Y-Yes, sir!" Ye Cang nodded immediately.
She hadn't expected such a powerful figure to personally respond.
With Lord Byakuya involved, the Loulan problem might finally be resolved… she thought, exhaling with cautious hope.
Ye Cang launched into her report:
"Not long ago, strange puppet forces began appearing near Loulan. These aren't normal mechanisms—"
"They're not Sand puppets?" Byakuya asked.
Ye Cang shook her head. "No, sir. They use chakra cores we've never seen before. Their attacks are powerful, and they have some form of autonomous repair. Several caravans traveling between Sunagakure and Loulan have been ambushed. We suspect the origin lies within Loulan's ancient ruins."
"I understand."
Byakuya turned slightly, his haori catching the desert wind. "I'll handle it."
As he prepared to leave, his eyes flicked back toward Ye Cang.
He paused for just a second longer than necessary.
"…You're not bad-looking, Ye Cang."
With those words, he vanished in a flicker of movement.
Ye Cang blinked. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Wh-What…?"
She touched her cheek, which was burning with heat.
Was Lord Byakuya… complimenting me?
"Is that his way of showing interest? Should I… respond somehow?"
She glanced at the horizon where he had vanished, face growing redder by the second.
Her composure as a kunoichi of Sunagakure was unraveling—just a little.
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