Kazekage Rasa was known for his mastery over Magnetic Release. The protective dome of gold dust he created could even withstand Shukaku's attacks for a time. And yet now, it felt as flimsy as paper—offering no real sense of safety to the sand shinobi within.
The eye of the beast peeking through the gap in the barrier was enough to make even the most battle-hardened tremble.
"..."
Rasa, too, was frozen in place.
To his subordinates, the vertical eye belonged to some unknown creature—but Rasa knew better. That gaze, filled with mockery and amusement, was unmistakably Orochimaru's.
He wasn't particularly worried about his own safety. As a partner in the dragon vein deal, he knew Orochimaru wouldn't harm him. There wouldn't even be a need for a staged battle. And yet… knowing he was safe didn't change the reaction of his body.
It was like standing unarmed before a tailed beast. The difference in power was so great it defied instinct, paralyzing him.
Inside the dome, the air grew suffocating. Tension stretched taut like a wire on the verge of snapping. The muscles of the sand shinobi coiled, ready to explode into action at the slightest provocation.
But then, the eye turned away.
The pressure lifted just enough for them to breathe, but no one relaxed. All eyes turned to Kazekage.
Rasa covered one of his eyes and silently activated his jutsu: Eye of Sand.
From outside the dome, a large chunk of floating rock twisted mid-air. It turned and locked onto something beneath the sand—a massive, khaki-colored serpent coiling slowly through the desert. The sky above churned with its movement, dragging the storm along in its wake.
"..."
Rasa dispelled the Eye of Sand, opening his real eyes again. His face couldn't hide his shock.
A nearby shinobi asked anxiously, "Kazekage-sama, what's happening out there?"
"It's gone," Rasa said, waving off the question. "There's nothing to worry about now."
Almost as if to prove his words, the storm picked up again moments later, covering the window once more in dust and wind.
Ironically, the return of the storm brought comfort. The sandstorm that had terrified them now felt like a curtain of safety.
After a few seconds of silence, Pakura asked, "Kazekage-sama… what was that? It didn't seem… hostile."
It was an astute observation.
Most giant creatures in the ninja world were prone to violence simply due to their size and temperament. Even approaching too close would provoke them—just like the Tailed Beasts. Shukaku himself had once been locked in the village not because it was safe, but because it was too dangerous to be left free.
But this thing—this creature—they had just seen?
It was different. Calm. Deliberate. Controlled.
"Don't jump to conclusions," Rasa said grimly, staring out at the storm. "Even if it isn't hostile, that creature could erase the entire Sand Village just by passing through."
The shinobi around him nodded gravely. They understood.
"We can't afford to provoke that thing," Rasa continued. "We'll need to revise the terms of our deal with Queen."
He turned to Pakura. "Return to the village and report everything to Elder Chiyo. We'll need her support for what comes next."
"Understood." Pakura gave a small nod, though she was surprised Rasa didn't share more of his plans.
Rasa, of course, had no intention of revealing anything. For him, Pakura was just a courier in this situation.
---
The next day, the storm had passed.
Clear skies stretched overhead, and the scorching sun once again baked the sand. The people of Roran emerged from their underground shelters, repeating the same work as yesterday—cleaning, rebuilding, recovering.
They also gathered again in the same meeting hall. Though its roof had long since collapsed, the room still served its purpose.
Sweat dripped from brows. Their eyes were on the door, awaiting news.
The moment Kazekage and his party arrived, the crowd rushed to meet them.
The same middle-aged man as before stepped forward. "Kazekage-sama, did you see the monster in the sandstorm? Were you able to defeat it?"
Rasa didn't respond to him directly. He looked toward Queen .
"Its power is unfathomable," he said slowly. "Attacking it recklessly would only lead to massive losses for the Hidden Sand."
A ripple of fear passed through the crowd.
"But…" Rasa added, "it's not impossible to defeat. If the price is right."
He paused, then asked with a sharp gaze, "Do you have the means to pay that price?"
The middle-aged man faltered, speechless.
That kind of strength—enough to erase an entire city—what could possibly be worth enough to challenge it?
Queen stepped forward. "What about the gold mine beneath Roran?" she said calmly. "It must be valuable, to warrant your personal arrival."
The Roran citizens lit up with hope. But Rasa's next words struck them like ice water.
"That's not enough."
He shook his head.
"Even if the mine has some value, it's nowhere near enough to justify the risk of fighting that monster."
"In fact, I believe a monetary transaction would be far simpler."
Queen didn't reply. Behind her, murmurs of discontent spread among the people.
Gold, money, dragon veins—none of it seemed to matter in the face of that storm.
After a moment, she smiled faintly and said, "Then please rest for now, Kazekage-sama. I'm sure confronting that monster has taken its toll."
Rasa gave a shallow nod. "Very well. But I hope Her Majesty will seriously consider my offer."
As he turned and disappeared into the storm, Queen exhaled softly.
"What do you all think?" she asked.
The crowd stood in silence.
They had guessed something was wrong when the shinobi had returned without so much as a scratch. But they had still hoped.
Now… that hope was gone.
"If the Hidden Sand can't defeat that thing, who else can we rely on?" someone whispered.
But Queen smiled calmly. "This situation is still better than before," she said.
"We have information now—we're no longer blind. The discovery of a gold mine gives us leverage. There are still paths forward."
Her steady tone soothed the room. The weight lifted, if only a little.
"You're right, Your Majesty…"
"There's still hope."
Even as her people smiled, a shadow of guilt crossed Queen's heart.
She was lying.
Manipulating fear and hope to buy time. She had no choice.
Orochimaru wanted the dragon vein. His power was overwhelming. Even the Hidden Sand couldn't stand against him.
In a world ruled by strength, weakness left you no options.
But someday, she vowed, Roran will gain its own strength.
For now, the plan had to continue.
"…Although the desert is vast," she said, "there are few places truly fit for life. The Hidden Sand is one of them."
There was a pause. The middle-aged man stepped forward.
"Your Majesty… are you suggesting migration?"
She nodded slowly. "I'll negotiate the details."
---
Later, in the ruined guest house:
"Well?" Rasa asked. "How did it go?"
Queen replied, "After several sandstorms, there's little resistance left. Preparations are complete. I'll make the formal announcement tomorrow."
Rasa nodded, smiling. "As expected. No wonder Orochimaru values you so much."
Her expression shifted. "He values my capability, not the way you think."
She fixed him with a cold stare. "We may live in Hidden Sand, but don't underestimate me again."
"…Of course." Rasa quickly corrected his tone. "Just a misunderstanding."
"It'd better stay that way," she said pointedly.
They moved on to logistics, and Rasa let out a small breath.
It hadn't been a slip. He'd said it intentionally, to test her.
He wasn't sure if she had Orochimaru's backing… but if she did, he needed to be careful.
For now, her reaction eased his doubts.
---
Elsewhere…
"What a boring, idiotic man," Orochimaru said, sneering after hearing Djinn's report.
"Oh come on," the spirit chuckled. "From his point of view, it wasn't such a crazy guess. You do spend a lot of time on that queen."
Orochimaru's face shifted, skin becoming more human under the influence of Senjutsu.
"It's insulting," he said coldly.
"Why such a reaction?" Djinn teased. "A little defensive, aren't we?"
"You know exactly why," Orochimaru said with ice in his voice. "Power, knowledge—those are worth passing down. But bloodlines? Descendants? That's for mortals afraid of death."
"I seek eternity. I have no need for children."
"…Fair enough," Djinn said with a smirk. "But I was only joking."
"Let's focus," Orochimaru said. "You once said your first master wasn't human—but a plant? Explain."
"Not suitable for you," the spirit said. "It was just an air purifier in essence. No soul, no ambition. It acted on instinct."
"Still," Orochimaru replied, "it may resonate with the Ōtsutsuki bloodline. I've already integrated White Zetsu and will soon transplant Hashirama's cells. I want to see if this plant can enhance my next step."
The spirit hovered, arms crossed. "Fine. But you're on your own. Success depends entirely on you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Orochimaru smiled.
_____________________
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