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In the same training field, three figures were present, although unlike the battle that had taken place some time ago, Daigo and Rasa were sitting next to each other.
Both, though silent, felt that the fight had been nothing special and that it had ended just when it was getting interesting—the Kazekage had stopped them.
For his part, the Kazekage watched them without saying anything, his hand on his chin in a thinking pose.
"It seems neither of you are satisfied with how the battle ended, right?" the Third Kazekage asked.
At this, both nodded but said nothing.
"I understand, but that wasn't the goal of the battle. It was to see both of your levels first. Rasa, as I've always told you, you rely too much on long-range attacks. If the enemy gets past your offense, they can attack you directly and kill you," the Third Kazekage explained.
"I understand, Sensei, but with my Gold Sand, I can defend against any attack. I just need to learn new close-range techniques," Rasa said, trying to explain his lack of close-combat defense.
"That's your other problem—you rely too much on your Gold Sand. What happens if the enemy uses a jutsu that makes your sand useless? You're dead. Without your Gold Sand i believe you are a high chūnin," the Kazekage reprimanded, making Rasa only nod not finding a excuse to use.
Daigo, hearing the Kazekage's words, just nodded. If he remembered correctly, Rasa's death at Orochimaru's hands had always seemed strange to him—after all, a battle between two Kage-level ninjas should have at least drawn attention and been discovered beforehand.
So only one idea came to mind about how Rasa was killed: either with Fūinjutsu or Edo Tensei. The first reason for Fūinjutsu was that when Suna's ninjas found Rasa's body already dead, there was no trace of his sand—meaning they had neutralized his control, making his strongest weapon useless.
The second, Edo Tensei, came to mind because when he was revived in the Fourth Ninja War, he guess who revived him—even saying it was Orochimaru, though the real onw who revive him was Kabuto.
Though it was all a mystery—Kishimoto never explained more about it. They were just Daigo theories.
"Now, Daigo, you're a different shinobi. Normally in Suna, most prefer long-range attacks or weapons enhanced with the wind element, but you're the opposite. It makes me think you have the fighting style of an Iwa ninja rather than Suna—though obviously you were born here," the Kazekage said, snapping the thoughtful Daigo out of his thoughts.
"Huh? Sensei, that's not something to say. Though I'm different, I'm a proud shinobi of Suna," Daigo said at the Kazekage's words.
"I know. You have a very strong body for your age, which gives you more future potential than others your age. Plus, with the Breathing of the Seven Heavens technique, your close-combat style is a danger even for high chunnin or jonin underestimating you — as shown when you broke through the guard of someone as experienced as Rasa," the Kazekage explained further.
"That's right, Sensei. I also prefer close combat, though I wouldn't mind using long-range attacks if my enemy is stronger than me or I have a disadvantage. Though I've felt like I've been stagnating on what I need to do to keep growing in strength," Daigo commented, looking at his sensei, who just nodded.
"That's because of your new bloodline, right?" the Kazekage asked.
"Yes, Sensei. I'm putting my time and effort into it—since with crystal, I could control battlefields better, covering both long and close range, and also fulfilling the deal with the Daimyo," Daigo explained.
"I understand, but you're falling into the problem that happens to many—including me—when having a bloodline: you want to rely only on it. Why not focus entirely on the earth element for now? It's very good for doing what you just described," the Kazekage responded to Daigo.
"But Sensei, bloodlines are stronger than normal elements. Why he should focus on just earth?" Rasa asked this time, curious about the conversation and not wanting to stay out of it.
"Rasa, Daigo—though the five main elements may seem weak, they are the foundation of all jutsu, including Yin and Yang natures. This is what I learned in my years of training and the experience I've gained.
Most shinobi without bloodlines or special lineages only have these to go into the field and fight. I've seen people with such advanced control over their elements that I've wondered if my Magnet element would compare to them in a fight to the death."
"Who have those people been, Sensei?" Daigo asked curiously.
"Well, one of the people who i fight at the End of the First Shinobi War was the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Though he didn't have his brother's Wood Release, his water element was so strong that even here in the desert, he could create a lake for his jutsu.
Another was the current Raikage—his lightning armor is highly powerful, only possible to damage with wind jutsu or an equally powerful attack. Kirigakure has also had strong water ninjas, and Iwagakure—including Ōnoki—has very strong earth control, capable of destroying villages if there are no other ninjas at his level."
"I understand what you mean. So in short, in this time, I should focus as much as possible on the earth element, and with that, I should be able to control crystal better for the future," Daigo asked.
"That's right. With your control over your earth nature, it should increase your control over crystal release. And you, Rasa, already have in mind what to focus on," the Kazekage said, looking at Rasa, who nodded.
"I'll focus on learning more wind jutsu that help complement my Gold sand, and in case my sand is useless, I'll have the same power with wind," Rasa responded to his sensei's question.
"Perfect. You have the day off. Tomorrow, come by my office so I can give you both a jutsu to learn that will help you. If you have a jutsu in mind that I might have, you can tell me tomorrow, and I'll look for it so you can learn it afterward," the Kazekage said.
At this, both just nodded and left with their respective shunshin—including the Kazekage.
The next morning, the dawn of Suna was barely appearing in the village windows when Daigo and Rasa presented themselves at the Kazekage's office. He already seemed to have been waiting for them.
"You took your time getting here," the Third Kazekage said, setting aside an intelligence report. "Rasa, for you I've selected a high-level wind technique scroll that will help with your close-combat weakness. Take it."
Rasa nodded gratefully, taking the scroll with renewed determination. The Kazekage then focused his attention on Daigo.
"Daigo, as we decided yesterday—you'll focus on the earth element. I got a long-to-mid-range jutsu that will help you a lot to control several enemies—even battlefields."
The Kazekage pulled out a scroll with the Earth seal engraved on the outside.
"This is Doton: Sekiryū Hōdan (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet). It's a C-to-A rank technique depending on the amount used, originally created in Iwa but obtained thanks to our spies. By creating an earth dragon, you not only get a mobile defense but can fire rock projectiles at long range."
Daigo took the scroll, feeling it was a jutsu similar to what the Third Hokage used against Orochimaru in their battle. The idea of summoning a stone dragon to bombard enemies fit perfectly with his vision of total battlefield control and long range attack.
"Thank you, Sensei. This is exactly what I needed," Daigo responded.
"I asked you yesterday if you had any other jutsu in mind that you think I can provide," the Kazekage added, crossing his arms. "Have you thought of something?"
Daigo didn't hesitate. He had been thinking about it yesterday while training and knew it was very useful—so there was no other to choose before this one.
"Yes, Sensei. I'd like to learn Tsuchi Bunshin no Jutsu (Earth Clone Technique). It would be very useful in many general and infiltration if necessary."
The Kazekage just nodded, impressed by his student's choice—knowing how useful clones were.
"An intelligent choice. The earth clone is dense or soft—if the enemy hits it, they can break their bones or get stuck in the mud. Wait a moment."
After a few minutes of searching through the office's private files, the Kazekage handed him a second, smaller scroll.
"Here you go—luckily I had the scroll nearby. Now, get out of here. You have a lot to practice if you want to be stronger."
Both nodded and disappeared in a burst of speed.
Daigo immediately headed to his training ground, far from everyone and perfect for practicing the jutsu he had just obtained. He spread the Earth Dragon scroll over a rock and began studying the complex seal sequence and the required chakra flow.
"I understand—it's much easier when a jutsu already comes with ready-made seals and complete theory. When you have to create one is another level that make you think your self why don't learn a already made Jutsu, it's all this."
He closed his eyes, visualizing the molecular structure of the ground. Combining his knowledge of the Earth element and his chakra control, Daigo struck the ground with both palms after performing a long chain of seals.
"Doton: Sekiryū Hōdan!"
The earth roared. The ground cracked, and a massive rock column emerged, sculpting itself in the air until it formed the imposing figure of a stone dragon with empty eyes—especially something created from earth.
Though to his surprise, the dragon didn't last even a second before starting to collapse and return to the characteristic sand that had previously been compressed to form the stone.
"Well, it would be too easy if I learned it in the first try— now lets start spending my chakra reserves."
So Daigo continued his practice to master his first jutsu and then focus on his other jutsu.
While Daigo strengthened himself in the village, hundreds of kilometers away, on the mountainous border with the Land of Earth, the atmosphere was much gloomier.
The smell of fresh blood and rusted metal permeated the air. In a narrow ravine, the ground was carpeted with corpses.
They were Iwagakure ninjas—at least a dozen of them—all with expressions of horror frozen on their faces. There were no signs of a prolonged battle, though the bodies left their blood staining the ground in crimson.
Amid the carnage, a strange figure remained motionless. It seemed like a hunched human, almost a beast, with a mechanical iron tail dripping purple poison and blood onto the ground beneath its feet. The tails resemble a scorpion tails making it very unique and danger for any ninja that get hit with it.
This person was Sasori in his new perfect art.
Its name: Hiruko. Inside that armor of wood and metal, hidden from the world's eyes, was Sasori. His eyes—normally emotionless—were now slightly different, scanning every direction, alert to any movement.
Through Hiruko's mechanisms, Sasori observed his work and ensured no unexpected guests appeared.
"Not bad for your first battle, Hiruko. You're a true work of art," Sasori's voice whispered, heard only by himself.
One of the Iwa ninjas, still agonizing, tried to reach a kunai with trembling fingers. Sasori didn't even seem to look at him. Hiruko's iron tail moved like lightning, piercing the man's skull before he could make a sound.
"Sasori, it seems you weren't lying about your new puppet—it's much more effective than I thought," a girl's voice seemed to materialize from the wind itself, along with two more figures, all wearing ANBU clothing and mask.
"Do you want me to call you Chameleon or Shizuka? This was just a warm-up for Hiruko," Sasori said from inside Hiruko, approaching the body of the Iwa team leader.
"Ah, Sasori, what's the point of being ANBU and wearing a mask if you're going to say my name?" Shizuka said from her side. The other ANBU began checking the other bodies no wasting time at the pointless talk.
"It doesn't matter if they're all dead. With this mission, I should be able to return to the village, right?" Sasori asked. He had been sent by the puppet unit to support the ANBU group.
"That's right. You only came as reinforcement—though in the end, you did all the work. It seems your way of being hasn't changed," Shizuka responded, watching as the bodies were now hidden beneath the earth by one of the ANBU.
"You know I don't like wasting time. We should go now."
With everything cleared, the ANBU team along with Sasori disappeared from the area—leaving only evidence that there had been a battle, but no proof of bodies, just red blood on the ground.
End of chapter