Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand-Chapter 164 - 59: The Moment Heads Roll

Today marked the "Founding Ceremony" of the Land of Wind, and the outer perimeter of Black Wind Fortress was left with only twenty sentries, all of them in plain sight. For the Sand Shinobi of Sunagakure, skilled in Wind Release, this was child's play. In no time, the sentries were dealt with, not even a whisper escaping.

"Who would've thought? Black Wind Fortress is quite sizeable, with a hall large enough to accommodate so many people. Looks like there are over three thousand here," remarked Sasori, peering through the window with an expression of surprise.

"You're underestimating. At least four thousand. After all, this is an old sand thief stronghold that's been running for three generations. Its history is no shorter than our Sunagakure," chuckled Jinghang softly.

"How should we proceed? Please give us your orders, Lord Kazekage," inquired Akasha Guimu, his tone steady and respectful.

After a moment of thought, Jinghang replied, "Here's the plan: I'll sneak in with Yamashita Toru first. You position our men to surround the place. Once I smash my cup, that's the signal to strike. Make sure none escape!"

"I want to go too! Let me join in!" whispered Sasori, his excitement barely contained.

"Don't be ridiculous! Stay put and behave!" barked Akasha Guimu sharply. However, it seemed his authority as a father didn't hold much sway.

"Haha, it's fine. Let him come along. A child should see the world. Let's go," Jinghang said with a smile.

With that, the three figures—two adults and one child—slipped quietly into the hall. Inside, Kawashima Tsumi was busy bestowing titles and rewards, oblivious to the fact that three uninvited guests had joined the gathering.

When Jinghang announced his identity, Kawashima Tsumi nearly collapsed in his seat. The sand thieves were equally stunned—who would have thought the Kazekage himself would infiltrate their "ceremony" unnoticed?

"Kill them! Kill them now!" barked Mr. Kuang, who reacted the fastest, his voice hoarse with urgency.

Unfortunately for the thieves, most had come unarmed for the occasion, save for a few rogue ninjas carrying kunai and shuriken. In an instant, a storm of projectiles rained down on the trio.

Unfazed, Jinghang raised his hand, and the kunai and shuriken froze mid-air as if time itself had stopped. Casually, he finished his bowl of fiery liquor, though the intense burn made him cough uncontrollably.

"Magnet Release: Ten Thousand Blades Return to Their Master!" he declared.

In a flash, the kunai and shuriken reversed direction, hurtling back toward the sand thieves. Cries of pain erupted as the room descended into chaos.

With a resounding crash, Jinghang shattered his bowl on the ground. Almost simultaneously, countless Sunagakure shinobi clad in black poured in through the windows and doors, wasting no time in launching a merciless assault.

Unlike samurai, shinobi weren't bound by notions of honor in combat. Their sole focus was achieving their objective. While Jinghang and his two companions could have handled the situation alone, this operation was meant to train the troops. Otherwise, why orchestrate such a grand spectacle? With that in mind, Jinghang refrained from further action, instead keeping a watchful eye on Kawashima Tsumi while casually snacking on dried fruits.

Meanwhile, Yamashita Toru could no longer contain himself. Drawing his massive blade, he charged into the fray, unleashing a whirlwind of slashes. Sasori, too, let out a cold laugh, summoning his newly crafted alloy puppet, Shura Maiden. The puppet split into three, wreaking havoc among the thieves.

"Hold the line! Stand together!" Kawashima Tsumi bellowed, drawing his personal blade.

As a seasoned bandit, he quickly assessed the situation. The Sunagakure forces were well-prepared, their numbers rivaling his own, and their combat prowess was formidable. His ragtag band of thieves stood little chance. His only option was to use his "brothers" as a shield to delay the shinobi while he sought an opportunity to escape.

Amid the chaos, he discreetly gathered Mr. Kuang and four rogue ninjas, retreating toward his "throne."

"Earth Release: Earth Dome Wall!"

A large, semi-circular earthen barrier enveloped the six of them. However, this move did not escape Jinghang's sharp eyes.

Back at the banquet, the battle raged on. Half of the sand thieves had already been slaughtered. The remaining ones, driven by desperation, fought back with whatever they could find—weapons, chairs, even bare fists. Some rogue ninjas unleashed ninjutsu against the Sunagakure forces.

But their resistance was futile against the well-trained Sunagakure regulars. The shinobi employed a simple yet effective tactic: puppeteers like Akasha Guimu and Sasori used their alloy puppets to spearhead the assault, while Wind, Sand, Fire, and Lightning Release users provided support from the rear. Their coordinated advance steadily compressed the thieves' space.

One by one, the thieves fell. Eventually, those who could no longer fight dropped to their knees in surrender. Thus, the newly established "Land of Wind" crumbled within a single day.

"Rasengan!" Jinghang unleashed a Rasengan against the Earth Dome Wall, shattering it instantly. The "throne" lay toppled, revealing a massive hole where the six had once stood.

"Impressive. Like rabbits in the desert, they truly have three burrows," Jinghang remarked in surprise.

"Where do you think they went?" Akasha Guimu asked.

"Haha, north, of course. Guimu, stay here and clean up the mess. Assign me a unit—I'll handle the pursuit myself," Jinghang said confidently.

"Are there any Sunagakure shinobi still chasing us?" Kawashima Tsumi asked anxiously, glancing toward the rear of the sand skiff. He was dressed in the wide-sleeved robes of a daimyo, though his high crown was long gone. Disheveled and drenched in sweat, he epitomized the phrase "a monkey in robes," his appearance almost comical.

"Your Highness, it seems we've lost them," Mr. Kuang replied, wiping sweat from his brow, still shaken.

The sand skiff slowed to a halt, its Wind Release-powered rogue ninjas collapsing from exhaustion. One of them couldn't help but ask, "Boss, where do we go now?" freewebnøvel.com

After a moment's thought, Kawashima Tsumi replied, "North, to regroup with the Third Leader. He still has a force under his command. I believe he's already taken Golden Whirlwind's camp. We'll have a place to regroup."

No sooner had he finished than a massive "warship" appeared on the horizon, speeding toward them. In mere moments, it loomed before them, its sails emblazoned with the bold letters "Suna 001."

"Sigh, the most common thing I've heard in my life is people telling me to 'just wait.' To this day, I still don't know what I'm supposed to be waiting for. Care to enlighten me, Lord Kawashima?" Jinghang asked, lounging on the ship's prow with a smirk.

"Jinghang!" Mr. Kuang cried out, collapsing in terror.

"Hmm!" Jinghang's brow furrowed. A line of iron sand shot out, slicing Mr. Kuang's throat with precision. He flailed briefly before collapsing in a pool of blood, lifeless.

"A dog like you dares to call me by name? You deserve to die," Jinghang sneered.

Unfazed by Mr. Kuang's death, Kawashima Tsumi tore off his daimyo robes and drew his blade with a snarl.

"Jinghang! Do you dare face me in single combat?"

"Are you insane? Drawing a blade in front of me?" Jinghang scoffed. With a wave of his hand, Kawashima Tsumi's weapon flew from his grasp, landing in Jinghang's hand.

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