[Sun Disk]
[—High-efficiency, large-area solar energy collector. Converts sunlight directly into stored power.]
Rasa's mind raced the second he saw it. He pulled the blueprint out of his storage scroll.
The description that had flooded his brain was short and sweet. The actual blueprint? Pages of insane detail.
"Sun Disk… looks a lot like the one from that old game, but not exactly the same."
"Same basic shape, though."
"Three modules."
"Absorption module—sucks in sunlight like crazy."
"Storage module—holds a ridiculous amount of energy."
"Third one's an auto-defense system. Anything that isn't registered as friendly steps inside the range? It hits them with everything the storage module's got."
"Friendly status has to be recorded first—breathing patterns, chakra signature, the works."
A slow grin spread across Rasa's face.
"This… this is perfect."
What did Sunagakure need most?
Everything.
What did they have in endless supply?
Sand. Wind. And that brutal, blazing desert sun.
The Sun Disk took something that was useless—or even harmful—to the village and turned it into pure power.
That energy could do a lot.
Charge weapons.
Pull water out of the air.
Water. The one thing the desert village needed more than anything.
With steady water, the land could finally grow fertile. Crops. Pastures. Real food. Real life.
Better lives for the people meant more kids with talent showing up. Stronger shinobi. Stronger village.
Of course, "talent" here didn't mean Naruto or Sasuke or Itachi levels—that was bloodline lottery stuff.
He meant solid, reliable ninjas like Yashamaru or Baki.
If Sand Soldier Emergence and Shifting Sands had given Rasa a massive personal power spike…
This Sun Disk blueprint could give the entire Hidden Sand a permanent upgrade.
Then his smile faded.
The resource list on the blueprint was brutal. Rare metals Sunagakure didn't even have in stock.
"Even if we threw every resource we have at it right now, we could probably only build one."
"And we're in the middle of a war. No time, no safe workshop."
Rasa shook his head and moved on to the other prizes.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere. Once I learn this, I'll have every single one of Danzo's wind techniques."
"As for the One-Day Mind-Reading Card…"
He'd already used one before. Walked the entire village, sniffed out dozens of spies and traitors. That was the main reason Shiro-Suna Koichi and Danzo's assassination attempt had flopped so hard.
"Still extremely valuable."
"Village interior's already clean. But once the full Sand army gathers on the front lines, I can use this again—root out any hidden traitors in the ranks. Huge help."
Before the army could fully assemble, a messenger ninja sprinted up.
"Lord Kazekage!"
"What is it?"
"Strange movement from Konoha."
"What kind?"
"No details yet."
Rasa's eyes narrowed.
"Yatagarasu!"
The massive crow swooped down. Rasa leaped lightly onto its back. With a powerful flap of its wings, they shot high into the sky and streaked toward the Leaf's position.
---
"AAAAAAAAAAH!"
A scream of pure agony ripped across the battlefield—raw, heartbroken, inhuman.
A masked figure stood frozen.
Two bodies lay on the ground.
One already dead.
One still twitching.
A group of Mist ninja stood around them, laughing and slapping each other on the back like they'd just pulled off the greatest prank in history.
Obito Uchiha had seen Rin die.
He couldn't accept it.
He had already "died" once—crushed under rocks, surrounded by Rock ninja, while his Leaf comrades retreated.
Back then he'd been grateful. At least Kakashi and Rin were still alive. He'd saved Rin. He'd even given Kakashi his eye.
Kakashi would carry his dream forward.
Even if Rin ended up with Kakashi… Obito would have been okay with it.
Then he woke up. He was rescued.
The second he could move again, he headed straight for Konoha. He wanted to see their faces when they realized he was alive. He wanted to keep fighting beside them. Beat the Rock Village. Become a hero. Become Hokage one day. Marry Rin. Stay best friends with Kakashi forever.
He never expected the first thing he'd see when he finally caught up… would be this.
The moment Rin and Kakashi entered his sight, his heart had exploded with joy.
But before he could even shout their names—
Rin charged straight at Kakashi.
Kakashi's kunai was already in his hand.
She ran right into it. The blade sank deep into her chest. Her chin dropped onto his shoulder. She gave a weak, bloody smile as crimson dripped steadily onto the dirt.
Obito's eyes turned scarlet in an instant.
He couldn't understand why fate would save him just to make him watch this.
Without Rin… what was the point of living?
He glared at the laughing Mist ninja, still not understanding why their so-called allies would do this to Konoha.
"You… all of you… deserve to die."
Fury exploded inside him.
"Die!"
Crimson flooded his vision. The tomoe in his eyes twisted, spun, and morphed into an intricate, terrifying new pattern.
The overwhelming pain and rage forced his Sharingan to evolve on the spot—from two tomoe straight to Mangekyō.
The same eyes Uchiha Yashiro had craved his whole life and could never obtain.
Schlick! Schlick! Schlick!
Obito moved like a ghost.
The Mist ninja never even had time to react.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Bodies dropped one after another.
Obito walked slowly toward Rin's corpse, every step heavy.
"Rin…"
"Why…?"
"If I'd just been a little faster…"
He fell to his knees beside her, voice cracking.
The masked boy's shoulders shook with silent, world-shattering grief.