"Pakura-san, the Sand Village actually issued a wanted notice for you… and it's even S-rank."
"Hmph! The upper echelons of Sunagakure have long since rotted. One day, I'll wipe them out myself."
"Exactly. They're the ones calling you an S-rank traitor so when the ti cos, cutting them down will just be you living up to the title."
At lunchti, the group chatted casually inside the restaurant.
anwhile, in the main hall, Obito had gathered his subordinates.
"You're saying Iwagakure is showing interest in the goods we previously traded with Kumogakure?" Obito asked, raising a brow.
"Yes," Yukinoshita Tomohisa confird. "They've even sent a ssenger to inquire."
"Interesting…"
Obito smirked slightly, though he already had his answer. Chakra armor was no longer on the market.
It was military equipnt, far too tempting a target for covetous eyes.
Besides, every defective piece had been burned along with his old logistics base in the Cloud.
The current chakra armor in the Land of Snow had been upgraded and improved, it wasn't sothing he intended to sell.
"So," Obito said after a mont's thought, "show the Iwa representatives the train. Ask if they're interested in that instead."
The Land of Earth was vast and rugged, riddled with impassable terrain. Of course they would be interested.
And once the train entered their markets, the Snow Country's industrial products would follow. Another steady stream of inco for the treasury.
"Understood, sir!" Tomohisa bowed deeply.
Obito's gaze then shifted to Terumi Jun. "And you?"
"Yes," Jun replied respectfully.
"According to the list you gave , the staff are already in place. We can spread the information whenever you wish."
"Good," Obito nodded.
"Then let's begin. But rember...don't make it obvious. It's better if they believe they stumbled across the news on their own."
"Of course, sir. I'll see to it," Terumi Jun answered, bowing his head once more.
"Very well, then. Go ahead and get busy."
After the two left, Obito leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, taking the chance to recuperate.
By now, all five great nations had already sent people to infiltrate the Land of Snow.
From Iwagakure, two separate teams had co one operating openly, the other in secret both focused mainly on gathering information. For that reason, Obito had left them alone.
Kirigakure had only dispatched a token squad, more for show than anything else.
Sunagakure's people, on the other hand, imdiately began digging into Pakura's whereabouts.
They even tried to slip into the Chamber of Comrce, abducting and torturing people for information, an action clearly orchestrated by the hardline faction.
Kumogakure's operatives were more direct. The mont they arrived, they attempted to strike at the high command of the Snow Country.
Unsurprisingly, these were also hardliners sent to cause trouble.
Too bad for them...Tobi was already on standby, and he effortlessly slaughtered the entire squad.
A few of the other teams didn't fare much better, falling to his hand just as easily.
Obito couldn't help but realize once again how satisfying it was to have truly powerful subordinates.
As for Konoha… the intruders belonged to Danzo's Root. Their intentions were obvious.
The mont they arrived, they tried to infiltrate Yukigakure itself.
Naturally, Obito dispatched Yugao and Terumi i to wipe them out.
His base camp lay at the very edge of Snow's hidden village; there was no way he would allow foreign shinobi to sneak around inside his stronghold.
According to reports from White Zetsu, more squads from both Suna and Kumo were already en route.
And once Danzo realized his first batch of operatives had disappeared, it was almost certain he would send more.
Among the future Sand infiltrators, however, there was one figure Obito found worth noting.
"Tch… Pakura's own student, huh? What a clever little calculation," Obito mused with a faint smile.
"Forget it. When the ti cos, whether they die or live… I'll leave that decision to Pakura herself."
Sure enough, a few days later, events unfolded exactly as Obito predicted.
The Iwagakure envoys had shown great interest in the Snow Country's trains. After touring them in person, they imdiately sent word back to the Land of Earth.
Along with their excitent, however, they also carried ho certain other information carefully leaked by Obito himself.
The contents painted a convenient picture: that the Terumi clan had encountered the Snow Country's princess during their ti as exiles, that the two sides had joined hands, and together reclaid the Land of Snow.
From there, the Snow Country entered rapid developnt, science and technology, comrce, and even its fishing industry booming under the alliance's guidance.
Naturally, classified projects like Chakra Armor were omitted from the "intel."
In Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki furrowed his brows as he studied the reports.
"The Terumi clan… do they really have such influence?"
"And Kirigakure hasn't made a move? Hmph. It seems the Terumi must have reached so sort of agreent with the higher-ups in the Mist…"
Onoki rubbed his chin, baffled. He never imagined that a place as barren as the Land of Snow could transform into sothing this prosperous.
Was it the Terumi clan's capability? Or the foresight of Snow's ruling class?
He couldn't be sure. But one fact was clear, the true foundation of it all was technology.
Without advanced shipbuilding, the Snow Country would never have grown so dominant in fishing and shipping. Without innovation, it would have remained a frozen wasteland.
Now, however, it was a land rich in marine resources… and perhaps sothing more.
"Technology…"
Muttering, Onoki shifted his gaze to the next dossier in his hands.
"This so-called 'train'… could it really be that remarkable?"
"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama. Fumiya and the others have already inspected the real thing," the information officer reported.
"In the Land of Snow, trains like this are everywhere. When they encounter mountains, they carve tunnels. When they et rivers, they raise bridges. The entire nation is practically unblocked."
Onoki stroked his beard, eyes narrowing in thought.
"So that's how it is… this train could prove invaluable to the Land of Earth."
Indeed, while Iwagakure's domain was vast, much of it was barren and rocky. Roads were treacherous, riddled with steep cliffs, landslides, and natural hazards.
Travel across the Land of Earth was an ordeal, mountains blocking every route.
But if such trains were introduced…
Onoki's expression hardened with resolve. He rose to his feet.
"I must et with the Daimyo imdiately."
Projects of this scale required the feudal lord's full support. Without it, even the Tsuchikage's will would not be enough.
anwhile, in the fortress of the Snow Country, Obito summoned Pakura.
"Sunagakure has dispatched another squad," Obito said bluntly. "Among them is one of your student."
Pakura's eyes flickered, her composure breaking for a heartbeat. "…Do you want to kill them?"
Obito gave a small shrug. "It's not about what I want to do with her. This ti, it's your call. You'll face her yourself, and you'll decide whether she lives or dies."
Pakura fell silent. Her gaze lowered, shadows hiding her expression. After a long pause, she whispered, "…Thank you."
Half a day later, as the sun dipped beyond the horizon, the new Sand shinobi team entered the Snow Country's capital under the guise of traveling rchants.
"The last squad vanished in this city," the leader reminded them grimly, once they'd checked into a small inn and confird the room was free of eavesdroppers.
"Stay focused. Be vigilant."
"Yes!" the others chorused.
The leader's gaze lingered on one particular kunoichi. "Especially you, Maki. If Pakura really is here… you'll be the one she recognizes first."
"Got it. I'll be careful," a girl in the corner replied, knees drawn close to her chest.
Her na was Maki, Pakura's student.
When she had first heard of her teacher's death, she had wept harder than anyone, crying for days at the grave until her voice went hoarse.
Yet not long ago, Sunagakure suddenly announced that Pakura was alive and branded her an S-rank traitor.
The news shattered her. She couldn't believe it, couldn't accept it.
In her heart, her teacher was diligent, kind, soone who had given her all to the village. How could such a person possibly betray Sunagakure?
No… there had to be a mistake.
That was why, when the Kazekage himself ordered her to search for Pakura, she hadn't hesitated for a second.
If her teacher truly lived, she had to see her with her own eyes. She had to know the truth.
Night fell. Shadows thickened across the snowy capital.
The Sand shinobi squad quietly slipped out of their inn.
"The target tonight is the Snow Country's Chancellor of Finance—Yukishita Tomohisa," the squad leader whispered.
"He will definitely be guarded by Yukigakure shinobi, so stay alert."
"Understood," the squad responded.
Why not strike at the Daimyo or the village itself? They didn't even need to discuss it. Those places were fortified beyond their ans; the chance of success was nil.
But the Chancellor? He was a valuable target, and far more vulnerable.
They moved swiftly through the night. Strangely, no resistance appeared along their path. Before long, they slipped into the Chancellor's residence without a single obstacle.
The eerie ease imdiately set the leader on edge.
Too smooth… far too smooth.
"Sothing's not right," he muttered, signaling his team to ready themselves.
The courtyard was silent, the air heavy. The Sand shinobi spread out, kunai at the ready.
And then
"Scorch Release: Extre Steam!!"
A wave of blistering heat tore through the courtyard, air shimring with intense flas.
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