Sunagakure — Kazekage Building.
After recovering from his injuries, Rasa summoned the two elders—Chiyo and Ebizo.
After hearing how drastically the shinobi world had changed—
Rasa fell silent.
Then asked one question.
"Rōran."
"Towering buildings that stay lit through the night… stable puppet activity?"
Chiyo's expression stiffened slightly.
The teacup in her hand paused mid-air.
"My 'Eyes of the Sand' stationed across the desert oases… have reported nothing unusual."
Ebizo stroked his chin slowly.
"Then there are only two possibilities."
"Either the enemy possesses concealment methods beyond our comprehension…"
"…or everything changed in an instant."
Rasa's gaze sharpened.
"Either way—"
"We cannot ignore it."
He stood.
"The Land of Wind will not tolerate unknown forces operating outside Sunagakure's control."
"We go there—personally."
That very evening—
Under the cover of sunset—
A special operations squad led by Rasa departed for Rōran.
What they saw upon arrival—
Was worse than anything they had imagined.
Even Rasa narrowed his eyes.
Several silver-gray structures—
Cold.
Rigid.
Unfamiliar—
Rose from the ground like alien constructs.
At the center—
A towering metallic spire reflected the dying sunlight.
Between buildings—
Pipelines stretched in every direction.
Energy flowed visibly through them.
At the streets—
At the gates—
Humanoid puppets marched in perfect formation.
Uniform.
Emotionless.
Each one wielded metallic rods—
Weapons emitting faint beams of light.
And they were—
Driving civilians.
Capturing them.
Herding them.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"No! Don't take my daughter!"
"Please… spare us!"
Screams tore through the air.
Anyone who resisted—
Was struck down instantly.
The dull sound of metal crushing flesh—
Made the air feel heavier.
Not far away—
An old man struggled.
A puppet raised its blade—
And cut him down without hesitation.
Blood splattered across the metallic ground.
Cold.
Merciless.
Chaos—
Yet perfectly controlled.
The puppets moved with mechanical precision.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
From underground—
A low mechanical hum echoed upward.
Like a funeral hymn—
For the living.
Rasa raised his hand.
A signal.
Instantly—
Sunagakure's shinobi dispersed like flowing mercury—
Silent.
Efficient.
The resistance they encountered—
Was almost nonexistent.
The puppets—
Seemed more focused on execution than defense.
The infiltration—
Was far too smooth.
Following the captured civilians—
They entered a descending metallic corridor.
Dim.
Narrow.
Cold.
Only strips of light embedded in the walls illuminated the path.
The air—
Thick with the scent of oil.
Molten metal.
And something worse—
Processed flesh.
Crying echoed endlessly.
Mixed with the roar of machines—
Pulling them deeper.
Then—
The passage opened.
And what lay before them—
Shattered even their composure.
This was no underground facility.
No warehouse.
This—
Was a city-sized war factory.
A massive hollow space—
Extending beneath the entirety of Rōran.
Metal frameworks stretched endlessly.
Conveyor belts and pipelines ran like veins.
Molten metal glowed red in colossal furnaces—
Flowing like liquid fire.
Mechanical arms—
Grabbing.
Welding.
Assembling.
Endlessly.
Blue-white arcs of light flashed—
Sparks falling like fireflies.
At the end of every production line—
Puppets were born.
Skeletons assembled.
Armor plated.
Joints embedded with chakra conduction systems—
Or something else entirely.
Something unknown.
One by one—
They activated.
Eyes lighting up.
Then—
Sent forward.
Above it all—
A platform.
Overlooking everything.
Like a throne.
A man stood there.
Back turned.
Arms spread—
As if embracing this mechanical empire.
Fat.
Wrapped in a dark red robe.
Completely out of place—
Yet entirely in control.
Beside him—
A woman.
Wearing royal attire.
A crown upon her head.
Her robes flowing behind her.
But—
Her face—
Pale.
Exhausted.
Her hands—
Bound in delicate metal restraints.
Only her eyes remained alive—
Burning with hatred.
Regret.
Despair.
"Anrokuzan…!"
"You monster who stole the kingdom!"
The man turned.
Anrokuzan.
A smile spread across his face.
Careless.
Cruel.
He leaned closer.
"Your Majesty… calm yourself."
"Struggling won't change anything."
He gestured downward.
"Look."
"Your people are helping build the future."
"The rebirth of a new Rōran."
He tilted his head.
"And you…"
"…and your daughter…"
"Are alive under my protection."
His smile widened.
"So…"
"Be obedient."
"Continue controlling the Dragon Vein."
"My puppet queen."
The queen bit her lip.
Said nothing.
Only looked down—
At hell.
Rasa's eyes flickered.
He understood.
His hand moved.
Golden sand erupted.
"Magnet Release — Gold Dust Shuriken!"
A storm of golden blades surged forward—
Cutting off all escape routes—
Shielding the queen.
"What?!"
Anrokuzan panicked.
His fingers twitched.
Puppet guards activated instantly.
Red lights flared.
They rushed to intercept—
And were destroyed in seconds.
"Magnet Release — Gold Dust Spear!"
A massive spear formed—
Condensed gold dust—
Piercing forward with terrifying force.
"The Fourth Kazekage?!"
Anrokuzan screamed.
Then—
Turned and ran.
No hesitation.
No resistance.
He knew—
Puppets were useless against Magnet Release.
"Magnet Release — Gold Dust Binding!"
Golden sand surged—
Wrapping around him.
Tightening.
Hardening.
In seconds—
He was immobilized.
Like a sealed corpse.
Only his head exposed.
ANBU appeared.
Sealing tags slammed onto his body.
Moments ago—
He had ruled everything.
Now—
He was nothing.
And when he began to speak—
Revealing the truth of the "future"—
The leaders of Sunagakure…
Fell silent.
Because what he revealed—
Was not information.
It was—
Fate.