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The air hanging over the Hidden Sand Village had not yet settled from the humiliation and sorrow of the disastrous defeat at Kikyō Mountain when a new, more chilling sense of crisis suddenly struck.
Inside the Kazekage's office, the atmosphere was so heavy it was nearly suffocating. Elder Chiyo's face was ashen, while Ebizō quickly flipped through the newly delivered intelligence scroll, which was hastily written and even stained with blood. Baki, the Jonin left on guard, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
"The news is confirmed." Ebizō's voice was dry and hoarse, breaking the silence. "To the southeast, the Kirigakure elite led by Ao have breached the border and are advancing rapidly, aiming straight for the Village. On the southern coast... the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have landed, and the outposts along the way... have been completely annihilated."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!" Baki gritted his teeth. That name brought not just pressure, but an indelible shame—it was this group that Konoha had nearly crippled, yet now they dared to invade!
"Where is Rasa?" Chiyo asked in a deep voice, though she already knew the answer.
"Lord Kazekage is still deep in the desert... raising funds." Baki's voice was low, tinged with helplessness. The leader of a Village being forced to spend his days like a miner in the yellow sand was the greatest irony and tragedy of all.
"There's no time to wait for his return." Chiyo slammed her hand on the table decisively. "We must react immediately! Baki, organize every Ninja in the Village who can still fight, rely on the defensive fortifications, and hold the core area of the Village! We absolutely cannot let the Kirigakure break in!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Baki accepted the order and rushed out of the office without hesitation.
"Ebizō, immediately use the communication hawk to try and contact Rasa, and tell him to return for reinforcement as fast as possible!" Chiyo continued to command, then her gaze swept over the few remaining elite Jonin in the office who were still bandaged. "Pakura!"
"Here!" Pakura stepped forward. Although her face was pale from her unhealed old wounds, her eyes were still sharp, and the aura of the Scorch Release User remained.
"You are familiar with ground combat. Immediately lead a squad of elites to meet Ao's unit coming from the southeast! You must intercept them on the outskirts of the Village and absolutely prevent them from forming a pincer attack with the enemy coming from the sea!"
"Understood!" Pakura nodded heavily and, without hesitation, turned to gather her subordinates.
Chiyo's gaze finally fell upon the figure in the corner of the office. Sayo stood there quietly, still carrying the mixed scent of disinfectant and blood from the hospital. His eyes were no longer weary from days of treating the wounded, but had regained a sharp brilliance. He had been summoned urgently and hadn't even had time to change out of his medic-stained clothes.
"Sayo!" Chiyo's voice carried undeniable trust.
"Elder Chiyo." Sayo stepped forward.
"The main force led by the Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has landed on the southern coast and is advancing fiercely. Their route heads north along the coast, where the terrain is relatively open, suitable for the Puppet Squad to deploy, but it is also extremely dangerous." Chiyo stared at him. "The Village doesn't have much mobile combat power left. I appoint you as the Commander of the Second Division. Lead all remaining battle strength of the Puppet Squad, along with any other Chunin and Genin we can spare, and depart immediately to intercept the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Block them in the southern desert at all costs!"
The office fell silent for a moment. Entrusting this heavy responsibility to a young man who had only recently been promoted to Special Jonin was undoubtedly a huge gamble. Yet, at this moment, no one raised an objection. Sayo's performance while covering the retreat at Kikyō Mountain, his strength in fighting the Uchiha alone and resisting Ino–Shika–Chō, especially his unique combat system combining Puppet Technique, Magnet Release, and Medical Ninjutsu, had made him one of the candidates recognized by the Village leadership as most capable of creating miracles in a crisis.
Sayo took a deep breath. In his mind, he instantly saw his comrades groaning in pain at the hospital, the cold corpse of Lucado, and the humiliating treaty signed beneath Kikyō Mountain Castle. A surge of burning anger and responsibility welled up in his chest.
He raised his head, meeting Chiyo's gaze with determination: "Understood! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"
Without any unnecessary words, Sayo took the Commander's Warrant and the Troop Mobilization Scroll handed to him by Ebizō, turned, and strode quickly out of the Kazekage's office.
Orders were quickly issued. The Village's only remaining Puppet Squad was rapidly assembled: approximately thirty Puppeteers, carrying their scarred and hastily repaired puppets. Additionally, about fifty Chunin and Genin were urgently drawn from patrol units and resting personnel. Their faces showed panic and exhaustion, but mostly the ferocity of those pushed to the brink.
Sayo stood before this team of less than a hundred people, his gaze sweeping over the familiar and unfamiliar faces. He did not give a lengthy motivational speech; instead, he simply held the Commander's Warrant high in his hand, his voice clearly reaching everyone:
"Those Kirigakure scum think they can trample all over us just because we lost! They've come from the south, intending to steal our last bit of food and kill our loved ones! Tell me, will you allow it?!"
"No!" After a brief silence, scattered roars erupted, quickly converging into a repressed bellow. The humiliation of defeat transformed into the flames of vengeance at this moment.
"Good! Pick up your weapons and follow me! Let those stinking fish and rotten shrimp from the water know that Sunagakure's desert is not where they belong! Target: Southern Coastline. Move out!"
Sayo leaped up. The "pocket body cultivation furnace" on his wrist warmed slightly, circulating pure Chakra throughout his body. He did not summon the "mirage" (which was severely damaged in the Kikyō Mountain Castle battle and confiscated by Konoha after the surrender); instead, he jumped onto a large, temporary transport Camel Beast Puppet.
The team, like a breaching flood, charged out of the Hidden Sand Village gate with a tragic, unstoppable momentum, racing against the whipping sand toward the Southern Coastline!
Sand and dust flew high behind them, as if temporarily burying all humiliation and despair, leaving only the path of conquest paved with blood and fire ahead.
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