The dry autumn wind swept up dust and sand, whistling as it passed the towering rock walls surrounding Sunagakure.
An unusual tension permeated the village, especially within the heavily guarded Anbu-specific training base.
In the center of the base's sandy ground, over thirty Ninja stood solemnly.
They represented Sunagakure's current top combat force.
Experienced Anbu elites, battle-hardened Jonin, Special Jonin with various specialties, and elites proficient in Sealing Techniques and manipulating eerie puppets.
Among them were the white-haired Elder Chiyo and her brother Ebizo, the steady and capable Kazekage's right-hand man, Baki, and Yura, Fugi, Pakura, Yosuke, Maki, Sajin, among others.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, stood before the group. He had changed into dark combat attire suitable for movement, over which he wore the white robe symbolizing his status as Kazekage, his expression as stern as bedrock.
He offered no unnecessary pleasantries. His gaze swept over each elite present, his voice steady and powerful as he directly announced the purpose of this emergency assembly.
"According to confirmed intelligence, an unprecedented giant creature has appeared in the northern Sea of Death region." He paused deliberately, ensuring everyone's attention was fully focused. "Preliminary assessment indicates its form is similar to a Tailed Beast, but... it possesses ten tails."
Rasa's words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing a stir and murmurs of disbelief among the crowd.
"Ten tails?!"
"How is that possible?!"
"You must be joking!"
Especially those Ninja who had personally experienced the One-Tail's rampage, like Pakura and Baki, their faces instantly turned extremely grim, even ugly.
Shukaku's sky-blotting sandstorms and malevolent chakra were a terror indelibly etched in their memories.
And now, a Ten-Tails, potentially stronger than Shukaku and unheard of, had appeared?!
Just the thought was enough to send a chill down the spines of these seasoned veterans.
Rasa raised a hand, quelling the commotion, his voice carrying authority: "The intelligence has been verified through multiple channels, it is confirmed. Whatever it is, since it has appeared within the Land of Wind's borders, we must ascertain its origin and purpose!"
His sharp eyes scanned the group: "Our mission objectives are two-fold: First, capture this Ten-Tails if possible. Success would greatly enhance the village's strategic power. Second, if capture proves difficult, at minimum investigate the reason for its appearance and ensure it does not threaten the oasis towns in the Land of Wind's heartland, and absolutely prevent it from approaching Sunagakure! This is the highest priority mission, and failure is not an option!"
The order was given, brooking no argument.
Despite the shock and doubt filling their hearts, all the Ninja present straightened their backs and responded in unison: "Yes, Kazekage-sama!"
Rasa gave the group thirty minutes to prepare.
The team immediately dispersed. The Jonin Team, Sealing Team, Medical Team, Communications Team, etc., each went to their respective supply depots according to their functions for final equipment checks and resupply.
In the corridor leading to the equipment depot, the tall, lean Yura, with his somewhat sinister features, watched the busy Medical Team members and couldn't help but mutter to his colleague beside him: "Tch, for a large-scale mission like this, if only Yashamaru were still here. His Medical Ninjutsu and trap-setting would save us a lot of trouble."
As soon as he finished speaking, Baki, whose expression had been gloomy, immediately shot him a stern look and hissed: "Yura! Watch your words!"
Yura suddenly realized his slip of the tongue and quickly shut his mouth, glancing guiltily towards Rasa, who was discussing in low tones with Chiyo and Ebizo in the distance.
Yashamaru, the younger brother of Rasa's deceased wife, had been an outstanding Sunagakure's Jonin, particularly skilled in Medical Ninjutsu and precise explosive trap placement, an excellent support asset on missions.
However, not long ago, Gaara, unstable due to the One-Tail within him, had accidentally killed this uncle who had always cared for him.
This was Rasa's official announcement, but the incident was shrouded in strangeness and remained a sensitive, taboo subject within the village.
Elsewhere, the young Special Jonin, Maki, a Kunoichi skilled in Sealing Techniques who still retained a hint of childishness on her face, hurried to catch up with her teacher, Pakura.
"Pakura-sensei!" Maki's voice held tension and a trace of excitement. "Do we need to prepare any specific sealing talismans? I heard..."
Pakura stopped and turned. Her face was resolute, but currently, her eyes seemed to hide a barely perceptible distraction. She interrupted Maki, her tone unexpectedly blunt: "Maki, go prepare your standard ninja tool pouch first. The Sealing Team has a unified plan. I... I need to prepare some things alone."
Maki was taken aback, watching Pakura's slightly hurried retreating back with confusion.
'Pakura-sensei seems a bit strange today...' She thought to herself, but quickly attributed it to the pressure of facing an unknown powerful enemy. After all, Pakura had also experienced Shukaku's rampage, and being cautious was normal.
Pakura did not go to the public equipment depot but went straight to her simply furnished home, which included a small training room.
She closed the door behind her, leaning against the cold wood, and took a deep breath.
She walked to a corner of the training room and began mechanically checking and organizing standard ninja tools like kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags.
However, just as she picked up a new roll of explosive tags, a sudden, irresistible wave of intense drowsiness washed over her mind like a tide.
Her movements halted, her eyes instantly becoming vacant.
On the back of her right hand, a faint red mark flickered briefly before disappearing.
At that moment, Pakura's consciousness seemed to be temporarily stripped away.
Her body stood rigid, as if manipulated by invisible strings. A faint, special Chakra Fluctuation, through a method beyond conventional perception, merged into an invisible [Chakra Network].
Brief intelligence regarding Sunagakure's elite force assembly, the target Ten-Tails, departure time, and general personnel composition was swiftly transmitted out.
This was precisely the passive effect of Hikari's Mangekyo Sharingan's Dojutsu, [Engraved Tsukuyomi].
The 'spies' implanted with the engraving, once their consciousness came into contact with key information or missions related to the Land of Stars, would trigger this subconscious hypnotic control, automatically transmitting the intelligence back via the preset [Chakra Network].
In the Land of Stars, specialized intelligence personnel were responsible for receiving and screening these information fragments from all directions, piecing together valuable intelligence.
A moment later, Pakura shook her head violently, her eyes regaining clarity.
She looked somewhat bewildered at the explosive tags in her hand, then around the room.
"What happened? Just now... was I too tired?" She muttered to herself, rubbing her slightly throbbing temples, attributing it to brief mental fatigue from overtraining recently due to the tense border situation.
Not daring to delay further, she quickly packed the necessary ninja tools and hurried out of her home towards the designated assembly point north of the village.
When she arrived, most personnel had already gathered.
Pakura's gaze swept over the team, quickly spotting her student Maki in the Sealing Team area.
However, the next moment, her pupils constricted sharply.
Among the experienced Ninja of the Sealing Team, a small figure, utterly out of place, stood out starkly.
It was a red-haired boy of only seven, wearing a slightly oversized brown robe, clutching a worn-out teddy bear tightly in his arms.
He kept his head down, his pale little face showing clear unease and fear. It was the Fourth Kazekage's son, the One-Tail's Jinchuriki… Gaara.
Pakura's brow immediately furrowed. She quickly walked to the Jonin Team area, approaching Jonin Commander, Baki, who was responsible for the mission's specific coordination, and asked: "Baki-san, why is Gaara here?! He's just a child! Facing such an unknown monster is far too dangerous!"
Baki crossed his arms, his expression equally grave. He glanced at the small, solitary figure in the distance, sighed, and lowered his voice: "Pakura, do you think I want this? Don't I know he's just a child?"
His gaze turned towards Rasa's rigid back, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness and resolve. "But this is Kazekage-sama's order."
"We are about to face an existence potentially more terrifying than Shukaku. If the situation spirals out of control, we need to ensure we have sufficient means to respond. The power within Gaara... is the final insurance."
Upon hearing this, Pakura's heart sank heavily.
She understood Baki and Rasa's plan.
They intended to use Gaara, this seven-year-old child, as a trump card that might need to be played at a critical moment!
She looked at the fear in Gaara's eyes, then at Rasa's expressionless profile, a complex emotion welling up inside her.
Just then, Rasa turned around, his gaze sweeping over the assembled team, confirming everyone was in place.
He offered no further mobilization, simply raised his hand and swung it forward forcefully.
"Move out!"
The command was concise and cold.
The special operations force, personally led by Rasa, comprising thirty-six of Sunagakure's top combatants, slithered out of the village like a silent sand serpent.
They raced into the wind and sand whipping up from the north, heading towards that unknown danger zone known as the [Sea of Death].
…
The dry wind, carrying sand grains, whistled through the ruins of the Sand City.
Tsunade slowly opened her heavy eyelids, her vision greeted by a rough roof made of piled sand and stone.
She found herself lying on a pile of dry grass in the corner of a crude sandstone hut, covered by a somewhat worn but relatively clean wool blanket.
She pushed herself up, supporting her still-dizzy head, as memories flooded back.
The confrontation with the mysterious black-haired boy, the earth-shattering battle between the two terrifying Tailed Beasts in the distance, and... that trace of blood scent from the other party that had instantly rendered her combat-ineffective.
Tsunade shook her head vigorously, forcibly pushing the associations with 'blood' back into the depths of her heart. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm her still somewhat erratic heartbeat and breathing.
She stood up, stretched her slightly stiff limbs, and confirmed that aside from the psychological effects of her hemophobia, she was physically unharmed.
Pushing open the creaky, dilapidated wooden door, Tsunade stepped outside.
Outside lay the ancient city ruins, half-buried by yellow sand.
Crumbling walls, toppled pillars, weathered stone carvings… all spoke of the ruthlessness of time and past glory.
The scorching sun poured down unabated onto this dead, silent relic. The air was filled with the scent of dust and dryness.
And further away, that heart-stopping scene still persisted.
The colossal beast, hundreds of meters tall with ten tails, was bound firmly by several massive black rods and Chakra Chains, roaring in pain and fury, its enormous body writhing futilely, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
The dark red Nine-Tailed Demon Fox lay atop the Ten-Tails, greedily devouring the other's vast, ocean-like chakra. Visible streams of dark red energy flowed into its body.
"Tsunade-sama! You're awake!"
A call filled with pleasant surprise came from nearby.
Tsunade turned to see Shizune standing by a seemingly long-dry old well, holding a wooden bucket half-filled with clear water. At her feet, Tonton also let out a 'buu buu' sound, as if expressing concern.
Shizune hurried over with the bucket, her face showing worry: "How are you feeling? Is there anywhere you're still unwell?"
Tsunade waved a hand, indicating she was fine, but her gaze involuntarily scanned the surroundings, searching for the boy's figure.
"Just the old problem, it's passed. Where is that kid?"
Shizune raised her hand, pointing towards the relatively intact top of an ancient tower among the ruins: "He's up there."
Tsunade followed Shizune's pointing finger.
On the broken edge of that wind-and-sand-eroded high tower, a black figure sat quietly.
He had his back to them, facing the distant Tailed Beast 'feast'. The hem of his black robe fluttered slightly in the dry wind, like a cold spectator watching a play.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly.
She walked to the water bucket Shizune had brought, bent down, cupped her hands to gather the cold water, and splashed it forcefully onto her face.
The piercing cold instantly dispelled the last of her grogginess, clearing her mind completely.
Water droplets traced paths down her smooth cheeks and golden strands of hair, falling onto the scorching sand with faint sizzling sounds.
She straightened up, offered no further words, focused a bit of chakra in her feet, and with a few light leaps, gracefully ascended the ruined tower, landing steadily beside Menma. Together, they looked out at the scene beyond normal comprehension.
The wind was stronger atop the tower, tugging at the clothes of both.
Menma seemed to have sensed her arrival long ago. He didn't turn, merely tilting his head slightly, his tone flat: "Awake?"
His gaze briefly lingered on Tsunade's hair, which seemed glossier when wet, and her face, which appeared even more radiantly beautiful after being moistened by the water droplets… especially her impressive figure, further accentuated by her damp clothes.
'Speaking of which, by age, Tsunade should be over forty, right? She really maintains herself well...' A stray thought flashed through his mind before he dismissed it.
Tsunade paid no mind to his glance, as her thoughts were entirely on the mystery before her.
She got straight to the point, her voice carrying a note of inquiry: "I still don't know your name, last descendant of the Uzumaki Clan."
She deliberately paused slightly on the words 'last descendant', observing his reaction.
This youth embodied too many contradictions and impossibilities.
Uzumaki bloodline, Uchiha's Sharingan, Hyuga's Byakugan, and those two unheard-of Tailed Beasts.
But she remembered the Nine-Tails was in Konoha!
And the Ten-Tails?
She had lived over forty years and never heard of any Ten-Tails.
Hearing this, a faint, somewhat mocking smile tugged at Menma's lips: "Last descendant? I wouldn't call myself that."
"Our Uzumaki Clan, although no longer possessing the glory of the Uzushiogakure era, if we count those of pure bloodline... there are probably about six or seven left."
Names and faces quickly flashed through his mind: Kanon, Karin, Nagato, Honoka, and himself and Naruto.
That wasn't even counting some scattered, undiscovered clansmen.
"S-six or seven?!" Tsunade's eyes widened sharply, her face filled with disbelief, her voice rising involuntarily. "You say there are six or seven pure-blooded Uzumaki Clan's members left?!"
This number was a massive shock to Tsunade, who had witnessed the fall of Uzushiogakure and had always believed the Uzumaki Clan was nearly extinct.
In the Ninja World, a clan possessing a special Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, able to maintain six or seven pure-blooded members, already constituted a medium-sized clan not to be underestimated!
Many small clans might nominally have dozens of members, but often only this number, or even fewer, truly inherited the clan's core abilities and met Ninja standards.
She lowered her head, her elegant brows tightly knit in deep thought.
This news was too shocking, forcing her to reassess many things.
For instance, if there were so many Uzumaki survivors, why hadn't Konoha found them?
Was it that they couldn't find them, or...
At the same time, the more Tsunade looked at the young man's face, the more she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before, yet couldn't recall no matter how hard she tried.
This feeling of familiarity nagged at her.
She looked up and pressed again: "And your name? A Uzumaki with so many secrets must have a name, right?"
Menma, seeing Tsunade's persistent questioning, knew she wouldn't let it go without an answer.
He naturally couldn't tell her his real name, 'Uzumaki Menma', now.
Facing Tsunade's scrutinizing gaze, Menma revealed a slightly mysterious smile and said clearly:
"You can call me... Shura."
The name struck Tsunade's ears like thunderclaps!
"Shura?!"
She instinctively took half a step back, her eyes instantly widening.
Tsunade looked up and down, carefully examining the black-haired youth before her, who appeared only fifteen or sixteen with a handsome, slightly youthful face. She simply couldn't connect him to the Shura who was renowned throughout the Ninja World, whose name made the great Ninja Villages pale!
That Shura who founded the unorthodox Land of Stars, slaughtered countless nobles and Daimyo, infamous for his ferocity.
Who infiltrated the heavily guarded Konohagakure repeatedly as if it were nothing, and even brazenly stole four precious Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan's main family right in front of Konoha's elite Ninja!
That Shura who caused major losses to Kumogakure, known for its militant stance and possession of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails' Perfect Jinchuriki. Rumor had it even the Fourth Raikage and those two Jinchuriki were seriously injured by him, his fearsome reputation in Kumogakure said to be enough to make children stop crying!
To accomplish such feats, Tsunade admitted that even the Sannin together might manage, but any one of them alone absolutely could not!
In Tsunade's, and indeed most of the Ninja World's high-level imagination, someone capable of such earth-shattering deeds, possessing such terrifying power, Shura, even if not grotesque or ferocious-looking, should at least be an imposing, inscrutable figure in his prime, or a sinister elder.
But before her...
This guy, lounging casually on a broken tower watching the 'scenery', even carrying a bit of youthful spirit...
Was actually the Shura who stirred up the Ninja World and gave the Five Great Nations headaches?!
The immense contrast left the usually worldly-wise Tsunade momentarily speechless. She just stared at the youth who called himself Shura with an incredulous gaze, as if trying to see right through him.