The appearance of the Fourth Kazekage deepened Queen's impression of Orochimaru—but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
She led the Roran villagers forward and stopped before Kazekage Rasa. Placing her hands together over her chest, she bowed slightly.
"Your Excellency Kazekage, to what do we owe your visit?"
"I came because of the sandstorm," Rasa replied casually, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Queen—not like a ruler, but like a gold mine.
Orochimaru had hinted at the wealth buried beneath Roran. If that transaction succeeded and the funds flowed into Sunagakure, Rasa knew just how far they could stretch.
This deal must succeed.
His gaze shifted toward the villagers behind her, and he said in a solemn voice, "After investigating, we believe this sandstorm wasn't natural. It was caused by a powerful and unknown creature."
A wave of murmurs swept through the square. The people of Roran exchanged uneasy glances. Even the Sand ninja behind Rasa seemed surprised.
"What kind of creature could cause a sandstorm like this?" Queen asked calmly. "Are you here to destroy it?"
"We're still investigating," Rasa answered evenly. "Whether it can be defeated... depends on what we're dealing with."
Of course, he had no plans to fight whatever beast Orochimaru had stirred up. If he could kill such a creature, he would've done so already—for prestige, profit, and control.
The villagers were somewhat disappointed by his answer—but hopeful nonetheless. Sunagakure was one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, and Kazekage himself had come. Surely, that meant something.
The middle-aged man from earlier stepped closer to Queen, whispering, "My Lady, their timing seems... convenient, doesn't it?"
Roran was far from Sunagakure. For them to arrive within two days of a sandstorm seemed too efficient—especially for a nation known for slow responses across its vast, resource-poor desert.
"Are you accusing us?" Pakura, frowning, shot the man a sharp look. Though his voice had been low, her senses were sharper still.
Unlike Rasa, Pakura had come with genuine intent to help. The idea that their good faith might be met with suspicion rubbed her the wrong way.
The man shrank under her gaze, but Queen stepped forward to shield him.
"We appreciate the aid," she said with grace, "but I must admit, your arrival is odd. Could it truly be that a storm in faraway Roran stirred Hidden Sand into action so quickly?"
Pakura raised a brow at Queen's eloquence but didn't resist.
"We didn't come just because of the storm," she said. "A gold mine was discovered near Roran. We came to discuss terms. But... now that we're here, we'll gladly help assess the danger in the sand."
Queen was genuinely surprised.
So that was their excuse—the gold mine. It offered a convenient explanation for the money Orochimaru provided, and for the village's interest in Roran. Even better, it gave her people hope. If Roran had a future tied to gold, they might feel less like dependents and more like partners.
Of course, gold mining wasn't quick or easy. It wouldn't turn peasants into nobles overnight. That slowness was a blessing—it would keep people grounded.
"Gold mine? There's gold beneath Roran?"
"We've lived here all our lives—how did outsiders find it first?"
Excited whispers broke out. Even the oppressive tension from the storm seemed to lift under the word gold.
Pakura heard the chatter with a puzzled look.
Sunagakure's financial situation had long been dire—this very shortage had pushed Rasa to seal Shukaku into his own son. Pakura, whose Scorch Release made her a rival for the Kazekage seat, had always believed Rasa's bloodline advantage—his Magnet Release and its affinity for gold—was what won him the title.
But even for him, mobilizing so quickly over a gold mine was... out of character.
Unless... there was something more than gold here.
The dragon vein.
That had to be it.
Behind Queen, some of the wiser villagers were coming to the same realization. A mine in the desert would run deep—and Roran's greatest treasure was deep beneath their feet. The dragon vein.
There was hesitation. Reverence. The dragon vein was their god, their protector. Allowing strangers access to the underground felt like sacrilege.
But that god had failed them. Twice.
For now, Roran's divine guardian hadn't been able to stop the storms. If it couldn't protect them anymore… perhaps the people were ready to reconsider what protection looked like.
Still, all eyes turned to Queen. What would she decide?
Surprisingly, she didn't show any anger. No thunderous resistance. Only calm diplomacy.
"Your Excellency Kazekage, and all guests from Sunagakure—we are grateful for your support. But as for discussing gold mines... please, let us first survive this sandstorm."
She added with quiet strength, "Even the best deal means nothing if we're buried before we can sign it."
A reasonable and measured response.
Kazekage Rasa nodded. "Fair enough. Let's see what tomorrow brings."
He knew full well who was behind the storm—but even he was curious to witness Orochimaru's handiwork firsthand.
"Then allow us to escort you to your lodging," Queen offered.
She referred to it as an embassy, but in truth, it was just a battered residence. Roran's infrastructure was crumbling—ruins, barely holding on.
"Our hospitality is modest," she said with a faint smile. "But we still have food and drink. You won't go hungry here."
"No problem," Rasa replied, following the guide forward.
The Sand shinobi trailing behind gave Queen another glance. Her composure, her dignity—it was hard to believe she came from such a humble city.
Queen watched them disappear into the shadows of night and thought to herself:
Can they—Kazekage Rasa and his people—truly match Orochimaru in power?
She wanted to believe in the man who had offered so much… but belief wasn't enough. She needed proof.
Behind her, the middle-aged man hesitated again.
"My Lady… about the gold mine, and the dragon vein...?"
"We'll talk more inside," she replied.
The arrival of the Sand ninja had upended everything discussed earlier. The entire strategy needed to be rethought.
Still, it was as she had expected. And as always, she kept playing her part carefully.
"Tomorrow," she murmured, eyes lifting to the star-streaked sky, "we'll see where fate takes us."
---
The Next Day
The sandstorm arrived on schedule.
The citizens of Roran, practiced and prepared, quickly evacuated to underground shelters. The surface city—already half-swallowed by dunes—was left to only a handful of outsiders.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust!"
Kazekage Rasa raised both arms, erecting a golden dome above them. At the same time, restraints formed beneath their feet—golden anchors driven into the ground, pinning their positions against the storm's suction.
Only a few golden threads peeked above the surface; the rest burrowed deep, impossible to dislodge.
"This… is insane," one ninja muttered, watching through the viewing slit built into the golden dome.
A sandstorm tornado filled the sky—touched both heaven and earth. The Shinobi could only gape, their throats dry.
These were not inexperienced ninja. Many had faced rampaging Jinchūriki before, including Shukaku's outbursts. But compared to this, even the tailed beasts felt manageable.
Pakura scowled, turning to Rasa.
"Kazekage-sama, I don't think we're dealing with a 'creature.' This… this is beyond anything human."
Rasa nodded slowly, eyes wide with awe.
The others believed this was some disaster or ancient monster. He knew better.
It was Orochimaru.
How can anyone resist him—Roran or even Sunagakure? Rasa's ambition folded into a quiet resignation.
And yet, there was relief. He didn't have to fight Orochimaru—he just had to survive him.
Even the other ninja seemed to relax. As terrifying as the storm was, they were safe inside the dome. Some began to marvel at its unnatural calm.
"Still, it's amazing Queen can protect her people in this chaos."
"They say she's channeling the dragon vein—that's the real power."
"Well, Jinchūriki rely on tailed beasts too. Same idea, isn't it—"
The speaker suddenly cut himself off and shrank back.
All conversation stopped.
Silence fell over the dome like a shroud.
Why?
Because something was watching them.
A massive golden eye—slitted, vertical, inhuman—had filled the observation window.
It stared directly at them. Amused. Playful.
Like a person examining an insect in a jar.
And around them... the wind had stopped.
Total silence.
The eye of the storm...
A whisper of dread passed through them. One ninja licked his lips.
Should I strike first? The eye is a weak spot—
But no one moved. Not even Pakura, the most aggressive among them, dared to lift a hand.
This wasn't hesitation.
This was fear.
This was the dragon of the desert—and they were standing in its breath.
_____________________
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