Another month passed.
At last, the gate of the Gekko clan was knocked on.
Seeing the Anbu outside the door, Gekko Chizan wasn't surprised in the slightest.
After all, Hatake Sakumo was currently the commander of the Anbu. It was only natural that he'd send someone over to deliver the message.
"Sakumo-sama has ordered you to report to the Hokage's office."
"There's a mission."
Gekko Chizan nodded, then immediately activated the Flying Thunder God technique right in front of the Anbu, vanishing on the spot.
The Anbu messenger was stunned.
Staring at the spot where Chizan had disappeared, he couldn't help but mutter:
"No wonder he earned Sakumo-sama's recognition... space-time Ninjutsu, huh?"
"Terrifying, as expected."
Chizan's Flying Thunder God mark was carved right on the rooftop of the Hokage Building.
It was unclear if he did that on purpose, but more than half of his marks in the village were located on rooftops.
"Since you're here, stop standing on the roof and get inside already."
Suddenly, a familiar figure poked his head out of the Hokage's office window.
It was Yamanaka Heichi.
"Yo, Heichi. Looks like we're on another mission together."
Chizan showed no sign of embarrassment for climbing through the window.
Once inside, he saw that quite a few people were already gathered.
Hatake Sakumo stood at the front, and behind him were five individuals, including the recently returned Yamanaka Heichi.
"You're the last one we informed. Didn't expect you to show up this fast."
Sakumo said with a smile. Beside him, the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, twitched his lips and grumbled.
"You brat, go and remove that mark from my rooftop, or you'll regret it!"
This damned kid had actually dared to leave a teleportation mark on his Hokage Building. Outrageous!
If he accidentally activated the Telescope Technique one day and got seen by this brat... ugh, unimaginable.
"Hey, hey, it's just one little mark. Hokage-sama, don't be so stingy."
"Remove it. Now. Hmph!"
Giving Chizan another stern warning, Hiruzen walked over to his desk and took a puff from his pipe.
As smoke slowly filled the room...
"This mission is a reconnaissance operation to prepare for the coming war."
"Our main objective is to investigate Sunagakure's movements and, ideally, get an estimate of their troop strength."
"Sakumo, I'll let you handle the rest."
Since Sakumo was leading this operation, it showed just how important and dangerous it was.
"There's no need for me to emphasize how crucial this mission is."
"I'll be leading the team into the Land of Wind."
"We may even infiltrate Sunagakure itself. That's why I specifically brought in our village's stealth expert—Gekko Chizan."
"His Transparent Release and Flying Thunder God technique are our greatest assets for this operation."
Sakumo turned to look at Chizan, causing the latter to feel a bit awkward under his gaze.
"However, Flying Thunder God has its limitations—especially when it comes to teleporting others. So unless it's an emergency, it's better not to use it."
Sakumo had already learned from Yamanaka Heichi what had happened in the Land of Hot Springs.
Just teleporting Heichi alone had consumed a huge amount of chakra.
Considering Chizan was still a teenager, his chakra reserves couldn't be that large. So Sakumo treated Flying Thunder God as their last resort.
"From the Gekko Clan, Gekko Chizan—intelligence operative."
"From the Yamanaka Clan, Yamanaka Heichi—assigned to security and sensory duties."
"From the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Kōjin—also on security detail."
"Aoyama Ken—combat operative."
"Tsuchi—combat operative."
"Nozuki—medical operative."
Sakumo listed off everyone's name and role.
The members of this mission had been carefully selected—elites from all disciplines. This would ensure both the success of the mission and the safety of the team.
"Hokage-sama, we're heading out."
Now that everyone had assembled, it was time to depart.
Under Hatake Sakumo's leadership, the seven of them left the Hokage Building and moved southwest.
...
At the same time, in the Land of Wind—Sunagakure.
The harsh, sandstorm-ridden environment served as the perfect crucible for producing ninja.
Inside the Kazekage Building, the Third Kazekage, Haneda Zaimon, looked calmly at the intel in his hand.
Across the desk from him stood two middle-aged individuals.
"Haneda Zaimon, I request to lead the assault team for this war."
The speaker was a woman in a long robe, with pale purple hair and a stern expression.
The man beside her sighed softly.
The Kazekage looked deeply at her and said:
"Chiyo, I know you're eager for revenge, but I have my own plans for this war against Konoha."
"You and Ebizō will stay in Sunagakure. You'll be in charge of the medical ninja."
"I will not allow you to go to the frontlines."
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law had been killed by the White Fang of Konoha during the last Great Ninja War, leaving her with a deep hatred toward both White Fang and Konoha itself.
"Hmph! Who else is more qualified than me to lead the charge?"
"Have you forgotten Hanzo?"
"If I hadn't gone to the frontlines in the last war, who knows how much worse Sunagakure's losses would've been?"
Chiyo was unyielding. She had to go to the main battlefield and personally kill White Fang to avenge her son and daughter-in-law.
"Chiyo, don't forget—I am the Kazekage."
"There is already a commander for the assault team. Say no more."
The Third Kazekage's voice didn't change, but suddenly, the entire office trembled.
Black iron sand filled the room.
Chiyo's face changed slightly at the sight.
This was the Third Kazekage's ultimate technique—Magnet Release: Iron Sand.
It was also the reason he was hailed as the most powerful Kazekage in history.
"Hmph!"
Chiyo snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Ebizō, meanwhile, asked the Kazekage:
"Who do you plan to assign to lead the assault team?"
"Is it going to be Pakura?"
The Third Kazekage didn't answer—he simply made a gesture for him to leave.
Ebizō said no more and walked out as well.
Once they were gone, the Third Kazekage dispersed the iron sand and calmly resumed reading the reports.
Ebizō had guessed correctly—he was planning to send Pakura to the front.
After all, Pakura possessed a kekkei genkai and was one of Sunagakure's top fighters. With her on the frontlines, the battle would be far more favorable.
Outside, the sandstorms howled as ever, blanketing Sunagakure in a sea of yellow dust.
...
Several days later.
Hatake Sakumo's team finally arrived in the Land of Wind.
Staring at the endless desert stretching before them, everyone's expressions were filled with mixed emotions.
"Seriously, how does Sunagakure even survive in this sea of sand?"
"If it were me, I'd have lost my mind ages ago."
Gekko Chizan muttered mercilessly. After all, an endless desert with no end in sight was enough to wear down anyone's sanity.
----------------
I recommend that you check out my new fanfic "The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release". It's really good. In short, the protagonist is Danzo's son, so Danzo supports him, he has good mentors, bloodline limit and so on, I won't say much about his background, the fanfic will explain it in the first chapters. I would recommend to check it out, quite a nice fanfic, no system, no harem, no excessive power, I like his backstory, especially that he has support, so his power has backup, and the relationship with Danzo without much emotion, more like Danzo's dream of becoming a Hokage, transforming to make his son a Hokage.
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo