Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand-Chapter 161 - 56: A Thousand Sails Set Forth

With a tangible and achievable next step in sight, Kawashima Tsumi was visibly excited, and the morale of the bandits soared to new heights. The hall quickly returned to its previous state of boisterous revelry. The clinking of glasses, the playful banter of dice games, the sound of food being chewed, dice rattling in ceramic bowls, men shouting and cursing, women laughing flirtatiously—every sound intertwined into a chaotic symphony that filled the air.

Kawashima Tsumi made no effort to stop the commotion. Instead, he wrapped his arms around two flamboyant courtesans and joined the raucous crowd, shedding any semblance of a leader's demeanor. After all, the life of a desert bandit was one of licking blood off the blade's edge, living for today with no guarantee of tomorrow. They were all outcasts seeking freedom and unrestrained joy. If the brothers couldn't eat, drink, and play to their hearts' content, who would risk their lives for him?

As the moon climbed higher into the night sky, the banquet descended into a mess of overturned dishes and spilled drinks. After a surge of hormones and dopamine, the crowd gradually quieted down, having eaten their fill, drunk their share, and played to exhaustion.

It was then that someone began to hum softly—a low, coarse, and wild voice, akin to a lone wolf howling at the moon in the distance. The song they sang was the Desert Bandits' Song, unique to their kind. One person started, and soon, everyone joined in, transforming it into a grand chorus:

I go, and so do you, to the desert's heart to seek a way through.

No father, no mother, no ties to bind, no farewells to mind.

A lover's longing, a bitter goodbye, dreams of reunion under the night sky.

Farewell to youth, to the home I knew, dust and scars mark the path I pursue.

A man of honor, a man of pride, laughter hides the tears inside.

High dunes, cold winds blow, sword in hand, I watch the geese go.

The Kunrei Plains stretch far and wide, humble huts fade as I decide.

Ten years gone from my homeland's embrace, I stand tall in this desolate space.

Through the endless desert, I roam, commanding three thousand strong.

Today, near Dragonfly City, camel bells echo restlessly.

Tomorrow, we storm the Half-Mountain Palace, long hair flying in the wind's caress.

Lightning flashes, sandstorms rage, whose prey will the desert claim?

On the battlefield, blades dance, true men bear no wounds beneath their stance.

Beneath the silver moon, the desert sands cradle my dreams.

"This is the kind of ship that can sail in the desert? Fascinating! What's it called?"

Jinghang marveled at the massive "ship" before him, over a hundred meters long. He tapped the hull with his hand, and to his surprise, it produced a metallic clang. The ship was made of metal!

"This ship is called a Mengchong. The desert bandits use balsa wood to construct their ships—lightweight and sturdy but limited in size. Their ships can only hold about twenty people. But this one here," Sasori said proudly, "is made from Alumite, a newly developed alloy from the Red Sand Research Institute. It's lighter than wood and even more durable! This allows the hull to be much larger, capable of carrying an entire regiment along with a month's worth of supplies!"

"And I've made a lot of improvements and new designs. This ship is far superior to those junk heaps the bandits use!"

"How many people does it take to operate this ship?" Jinghang asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Typically, five people are enough. If you're not concerned about endurance, three people can manage."

"Can we sail this one?"

"Of course!"

"Let's take it for a spin!" Jinghang exclaimed, beckoning Sasori and Yamashita Tetsu to join him for a test voyage.

Once aboard the Mengchong, Jinghang observed its sleek design. The ship's bow was narrow, and its stern was elongated, with a streamlined hull. At the center of the ship stood a massive sail, which, unlike the typical riverboats, resembled a giant cloverleaf—clearly optimized for harnessing wind power.

Sasori pointed to a large metallic sphere at the stern. "This is the propulsion unit. By continuously channeling Wind Release chakra into this sphere, the chakra is transmitted through these chakra-conducting metal wires to the wind sail's blower system. This way, even without natural wind, the ship can still move forward."

"With wind, it uses wind; without wind, it creates wind. It seems you've mastered the integration of engineering and ninjutsu. Orochimaru may be the foremost biologist in the ninja world, but you, Sasori, are undoubtedly the greatest engineer!" Jinghang praised.

Sasori continued his explanation, pointing to the control section. "This is the control unit, which manages the sails, ground wheels, and anchor."

"Ground wheels? This ship has wheels?" Jinghang asked in surprise.

"Of course! The ship needs to leave the dock somehow. Without wheels, how would you move it? Dragging it across the ground? Using logs? That would damage the hull. So, I added retractable ground wheels, allowing the ship to operate even on solid terrain. Let me show you."

Sasori pulled a lever, and a series of mechanical gear sounds echoed from within the hull. Moments later, four wheels extended from the bottom of the ship, lifting it half a meter off the ground.

"This is the steering section. By controlling this wheel, you can adjust the ship's direction. However, the steering isn't fully integrated yet. When you turn the wheel, you'll need to shout instructions for the operations team to coordinate. But the second-generation model is already in development, and I'm confident this issue will soon be resolved."

"No problem, no problem. War is pressing, so let's stick to the original plan and produce 1,200 units of the first-generation model. We can address the rest later. What do you think, Minister Yamashita Tetsu? Shall we take it for a spin?"

It had to be said that Sasori was indeed a genius when it came to machinery. Using blueprints transmitted through intelligence networks, he had managed to refine and create a desert "warship" with such outstanding performance. It was easy to foresee that in the near future, Sunagakure's logistics and military mobility would see a significant boost!

As the Kazekage, Jinghang naturally wouldn't dirty his hands in the propulsion unit. He confidently took the helm, while Sasori, as the designer, manned the operations section. This left Yamashita Tetsu to supply chakra in the propulsion unit.

As the blower system activated, the Mengchong slowly began to move. Before long, it had left the dock and entered the vast desert.

"Retract the ground wheels! Unfurl the sails!" Sasori shouted.

The cloverleaf sail unfolded, and the Mengchong suddenly surged forward, moving even faster in the desert than on solid ground.

"Father, remember to call out for acceleration or turning!"

"Got it! Accelerate!" Jinghang shouted, exhilarated. It was his first time piloting a ship in the desert, and he quickly got the hang of it. The Mengchong darted agilely through the dunes, occasionally executing sharp turns.

"Accelerate! Turn 50° to starboard!"

"Accelerate! Turn 50° to port!"

"Father! We can't accelerate any more—we're already at the limit!"

The Mengchong reached a top speed of 80 miles per hour in the desert!

Jinghang was thoroughly enjoying himself, steering the ship from noon until dusk before finally returning to the dock. Yamashita Tetsu, however, was utterly drained, his face pale and drenched in sweat, clearly having exhausted his chakra.

"Not bad, not bad. How many units have been produced so far?" Jinghang asked Sasori, clearly satisfied.

"At the experimental dock in Moonlake New District, we've already built 1,000 standard Mengchong units. Another 200 cargo ships are under construction and should be ready for delivery to the standing army next month," Sasori replied confidently.

"Excellent work! Here's the plan: deploy the Second Division to familiarize themselves with the operation. Once all the ships are ready, we'll take down the bandits' stronghold!"

Jinghang patted the helm, envisioning a grand scene of a thousand sails setting forth across the desert.

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