Hey guys, here is the new chapter hope you will liked and read thru everything.
Sorry for the delay i have a busy day hope you like
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A week had passed since his final meeting with the council. Everything had gone well; they were even helping with the trade aspect, so this took a lot of work off Daigo's plate. Daigo could say that the village was beginning to feel the change, especially now that the usually empty streets were active.
Even the Suna shinobi, who in the past spent their time struggling in the heat and working just to survive, could now take a day of rest with the new changes in the village.
Daigo was currently moving on to the first phase of Sunagakure's new unit: The Seven Shadows of the Desert, the project that would help him have seven ninjas with unique sword skills that would raise Sunagakure's power. Today was the day to start the trials to see who was capable of being a wielder of one of the swords.
As Daigo had ordered, Kisame didn't take long to recover and was sent to Sunagakure along with Kaito so that the village would get to know him. As far as Daigo could see, Kisame seemed to integrate quite well with the radical change between Kirigakure and Sunagakure, although Daigo only told him that he should build a pool to relieve the heat.
Now the three of them were in one of Sunagakure's new constructions: a coliseum for battles. Daigo, although he no longer fought for fun, found the battles entertaining, so he had one created that would also help bring money into the village. You pay for entry, you get entertained, and you help the village financially—there's nothing wrong with that.
And here is where the trials would be held to find the wielders for the remaining swords.
"Kazekage-sama," said Kisame, without taking his eyes off the line of nervous-looking aspirants in front of them. "When do we start? I want to see if there is anyone in that line who can give me a challenge."
Daigo, who was observing from above, stepped down to the arena floor. His bare feet struck the ground, sending a vibration that let him know how many people were there.
"Right now," declared Daigo, his voice resounding against the walls so that everyone could hear. "Remember this: today there is no ninjutsu. Chakra, while powerful and helpful, is only a tool. Your body has to be strong enough to wield one of these swords, and your skill with the blade must be strong, too. If you aren't strong, you won't be worthy of using them," Daigo said to everyone in the arena, who seemed to perk up, ready to begin.
That was how the clashes began, with Kisame and Kaito challenging every ninja who wanted to be part of the Seven Shadows. The fights were simple: a battle between swordsmen, two normal swords, and whoever ended up on the ground or with a blade to their throat, it was over.
The first hour was a frenetic dance of metal and sweat. Kisame was a wall. He took down the first three aspirants with almost insulting ease, disarming them with a simple twist of his wrist that sent their swords flying into the sand. Kaito, for his part, was more technical; he studied his opponents' grip, the way they moved their feet—all of that before delivering a powerful finishing blow.
Then, when most of the opponents had been defeated and no one wanted to step in to be the next—since they knew the strength of Kisame and Kaito—a figure stepped forward, catching everyone's attention. Daigo, watching from his spot, looked on with curiosity as Baki stepped into the arena. Although he hadn't visited him, he knew that he was back in his service as a shinobi.
"At last, someone dares to come. What is your name?" said Kisame, raising an eyebrow as he prepared his grip on his katana.
Baki just walked up, grabbing one of the normal swords from the challengers, doing the same as Kisame and taking a guard stance.
"My name is Baki," he said while seeming to think about what to say next. "I haven't had a fight since I fell into a coma, or so they told me, so I want to warm up my muscles here. This seems interesting."
Kisame let out a laugh that echoed throughout the arena. "Warm up your muscles? Let's see if that's true, kid."
The clash was immediate. Kisame, without wasting time, launched a lateral strike, a heavy, circular movement designed to open the guard of any adversary. Baki didn't move until the very last millisecond; his body reacted with muscle memory that defied his lack of memories. With a fluid movement, a sidestep that seemed like an atavistic reflex, he slid under Kisame's attack and responded with a slash toward the rib area.
Although Kisame only moved his sword to block and with brute force pushed Baki backward.
"Not bad. At least you know how to use a sword. Let's see if you can keep it up for longer."
Baki didn't respond; he just launched a fast attack that Daigo knew was the one Baki always used before falling into a coma.
Kisame intercepted him and intensified the pace. His attacks began to be faster, more brutal, more direct. Kisame wanted to see how long he would last without breaking his guard. Baki began to sweat. At first, he seemed frustrated that his attacks weren't hitting where he wanted, but breathing little by little, he began to take absolute control. He blocked a downward slash from Kisame, using the friction of his own sword to deflect the katana's blade, and launched a quick thrust to the giant's shoulder.
Steel clashed with steel, sending sparks into the air that fizzled like fireworks. Kisame had to step back several meters, his breathing accelerating. He looked at Daigo seeking some order, but he just watched before turning back to Baki, who was panting, with his gaze fixed on him, his sword firm, trembling, like an extension of his own arm.
"You're currently the one who's put up the best fight," said Kisame, lowering his guard a bit, with a flash of genuine respect in his eyes. "A pity that you're still recovering from what happened to you."
Baki inclined his head, nodding at Kisame's words; he knew that he would still have to practice to fully recover.
Kisame looked at Daigo. "He has the makings, Kazekage-sama. He lacks full recovery, but his instincts are good. If we get him in shape, if we get that mind to reconnect, he'll be terrifying. I want him in my group. He stays."
Daigo nodded, feeling satisfaction at seeing Baki back on the battlefield. "Welcome to the Seven Shadows of the Desert, Baki. Choose your weapon."
Baki walked to where Daigo was, where the 5 remaining swords were placed as if they were prizes. His fingers traced the cold metal until his eyes met the Nuibari, the long sword that looked like a deadly needle, a tool of precision and super dangerous.
He took it, and instantly, his posture changed. Doubt appeared in his eyes as if a memory had struck him of something that had happened with that sword.
"I want this one," said Baki.
Daigo observed him attentively, feeling the change that came over him when he grabbed the sword, and only shook his head, feeling that he couldn't avenge what happened to Shizuka and Yashamaru. Although that was something that had already happened, and revenge wouldn't lead him anywhere. However, a loud sound from the observing ninjas turned his gaze toward Kaito's battle.
A chunin of unassuming appearance stepped forward to challenge Kaito. Kaito, confident from having defeated all the other aspirants throughout the day without receiving a single scratch, didn't bother to adjust his posture.
"Another kid who wants to be part of the 7 Shadows of the Desert?" said Kaito, balancing his Kabutowari with disdain. "Fine, quick, let's see what you're made of."
Genta didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on Kaito's feet, not on his sword, nor on his shoulders. When Kaito moved, he delivered a direct cut to divide the chunin in half, although he didn't retreat or try to block.
He just took a sidestep, a movement that seemed calculated to the millimeter, a step that took advantage of the exact moment Kaito's weight shifted. He got inside Kaito's guard, eliminating the weapon's reach, and struck his rib with his elbow, which made Kaito stop.
Kaito tried to recover the distance, turning his katana, but the chunin was already there, inside his personal space.
With a speed that surprised everyone, the chunin performed a foot sweep so dry and precise that Kaito lost his balance completely. Before the swordsman could react, the chunin already had the tip of a training blade at Kaito's throat.
The stadium went into absolute silence. No one could believe it. Kaito, one of the pillars of this new project, and who was already part of the 7 Shadows of the Desert, had been defeated by a chunin in seconds.
Daigo stood up, walking toward the chunin, his curiosity piqued knowing that a chunin had defeated Kaito, who was not weak.
"What is your name, Chunin?" asked Daigo, looking at him intently.
"Chunin Genta, Kazekage-sama. West Defense Division," the young man responded, maintaining his composure, without boasting about his victory.
Daigo made a signal, and an ANBU appeared with a scroll. The report he received contained all the information about Genta.
He had years of service on the border against Iwa, a life of silent defense, border shifts without much action, although it seemed he still kept training.
He understood then why Genta was still a chunin: his position on the border didn't give him the spotlight to be a higher rank, and perhaps this wouldn't be the only hidden talent of Suna.
Because of these things, he had created this arena so that talents who didn't have the light could take advantage and come out.
"Genta," said Daigo, closing the report. "You have defeated Kaito, a member of the 7 Shadows of the Desert. This gives you the right to claim his position and choose the Kabutowari, or choose one of the vacant blades and allow him to keep his position," Daigo informed.
This surprised many in the audience, who didn't expect that by defeating one of the 7 you could claim their position. This gave a lot of motivation to ninjas who didn't feel ready, preferring to train and observe before asking for a challenge against one of the 7.
Genta looked at the Kabutowari but shook his head.
"I'm looking for something that fits my speed, Kazekage. That sword is too heavy for what I do."
His hand rested on the twin hilts of the Kiba. Upon touching them, lightning crackled in the air, an electric discharge that left the spectators in awe.
The weapon recognized its new owner. It was a natural, rare, and dangerous affinity—something one is born with.
"Four members... 3 more to go," Daigo whispered to himself.
After that, Kisame cleaned up the last ones remaining, with no ninja showing what Daigo was looking for.
Night fell over Sunagakure, transforming the desert into a deep, silver, and cold darkness. Daigo walked through the streets, feeling the weight of the day as Kage.
It had been a busy morning, then a calmer afternoon, and now he could finally relax. His steps led him to Karinna's house, whom he knew would surely be awake and wouldn't mind his presence.
Upon knocking on the door, she opened it. Upon seeing Daigo, her expression shifted from surprise to immediate warmth. It wasn't the smile of a subordinate, but of someone who really appreciated Daigo for what he did for her.
"Daigo?" she asked, noticing Daigo's slight exhaustion. "Come in, I'll prepare you some tea I got today at the market. My house is your house, do whatever you want," she said as she headed to the kitchen.
"Just a breather, thanks for the tea, I'll accept it happily," he responded, entering and letting himself fall into an armchair, letting out a long sigh. "My duties as Kage have ended for today. I just want to be quiet, and your house has something... it's the perfect place."
Karinna just smiled warmly at his words. She wasn't going to deny a space in her home to someone who needed it, so she brought him the tea. The heat of the cup between his hands made Daigo sigh. He was about to close his eyes, to take a little break, when a sharp knock on the door interrupted the silence.
Daigo just stopped. Tapping the sole of his foot, he used his seismic sense. It was Sasori.
"Come in," said Karinna from the kitchen.
Sasori entered, with his usual air of nothing affecting him, as if he were entering his workshop. "I looked for you at the office. I thought you would be there, but it seems you prefer the comforts of this place."
"I am on my break, Sasori. What is so urgent that it couldn't wait until dawn?" asked Daigo, drinking his tea.
Sasori sat in front of him, leaving a small sealed container on the table. Daigo observed it with curiosity. Inside, the Byakugan they had obtained shone with a sterile, almost ghostly light.
"I have been analyzing it since we obtained it," Sasori began. "I have been thinking about integrating it into the Third's hokage puppet. The 360-degree vision capacity, combined with the arsenal of jutsus the Third has, will be an improvement that will make it much more dangerous than before," said Sasori.
Daigo, thinking about the idea, nodded to himself; if the puppet was already powerful, with the Byakugan it would be even more so, although the image of Baki made him stop the train of thought.
"It is a powerful idea, Sasori," admitted Daigo, looking at the container. "But you won't use it on the puppet."
Sasori raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about the rejection of his project. "I imagine you already have something in mind where to use them," Sasori asked.
"We will give them to Baki," replied Daigo, with a calm smile.
"To Baki? Daigo, I understand that you feel guilty that he fell into a coma, but the Byakugan is very important, and even more so if it is used in something like the Third Hokage's puppet."
"I understand that you think that, but I'm not giving them to him because I feel responsible for him falling into a coma," said Daigo while putting the cup on the table.
"The main reason is that since he woke up from the coma, I have felt that Baki has something different. Today he became part of the 7 Shadows of the Desert after holding his own against Kisame," said Daigo.
"Interesting. Holding his own against Kisame in a swordsmen duel is difficult, although it still doesn't convince me why give them to him," replied Sasori.
"Well, I think it would be better with him because of why he grabbed the Nuibari as a sword, and the Byakugan will help him take this sword to a superior level," explained Daigo.
"With the Nuibari and the Byakugan, it will be something very powerful if he manages to master them. If you think that will be a better idea, then I will leave them to you," said Sasori.
"Thanks, Sasori, although I know your puppet would surely be stronger, I don't want only a few of us to get strong, but others as well," said Daigo.
"It doesn't matter much to me now. I imagine you will need someone to take charge of the operation, right?" asked Sasori.
"Yes, but since you are here, you take charge of doing it since you are the best with this."
"I will start the preparations tomorrow. If everything goes perfectly, Baki will have both Byakugan implanted. I am leaving, I have to finish some other things."
Thus, Sasori didn't take long to leave and lose himself in the night, while only Daigo and Karinna remained.
Daigo leaned back, looking toward the ceiling of Karinna's house, letting silence reign again. Karinna, who had been listening in silence the whole time, approached and put a hand on his shoulder, a simple gesture but one that caught Daigo's attention.
"You are betting a lot on him," she said in a low voice, with a mixture of respect and concern. "You don't know if his body can accept something new like the Byakugan."
"Maybe something can fail, but Sasori is a genius and will know if there is a problem," replied Daigo. "Besides, if the weight of both Byakugan is too much, we can give him one; that will already give him more advantage than with his normal eyes."
"I don't know why I ask things if you always seem to have an answer for everything," said Karinna with a faint smile.
"Don't get discouraged, I like that you ask me questions, it means you are interested in learning new things, and I like people like that. Well, I think it is time for me to go. Thanks for the tea, it was quite good," said Daigo, standing up.
Karinna, seeing him go, stopped him, making Daigo turn to look.
"I don't know if I'm overstepping the line, but is there something bad happening between you and Pakura?" Karinna asked.
At this, Daigo just smiled at the curious Karinna.
"Nothing more than a stupid argument, don't worry. I will send her a letter later on how she can improve her Shakuton," said Daigo.
"Perfect, also send her something nice, she will like it," Karinna responded.
"Alright, see you another day,"
Thus, with a whirlwind of crystals, Daigo disappeared.