In the vast desert filled with endless yellow sands, Rasa led the Sunagakure team, running side by side with Seiki.
"Didn't Elder Chiyo come along for this mission?" Seiki asked while running.
"Considering there's a chance we might encounter Sasori, it's better that Elder Chiyo didn't join this operation," Rasa shook his head.
"That makes sense," Seiki nodded slightly.
"The undercover agents I placed in Iwagakure just sent news that they've also taken action," Rasa sneered, "I actually thought they'd be afraid of you, Seiki, and wouldn't dare to leave Iwagakure."
Shaking his head helplessly, Seiki said with a wry smile, "Am I really that scary?"
Rasa remarked thoughtfully, "Strength naturally brings fear. Of course they'd be afraid when facing someone like you, who can easily control their life and death!"
At that moment, Pakura asked with surprise and doubt, "Kazekage-sama, didn't you say there would be people guarding the entrance of the Ruin?"
Without hesitation, Rasa replied, "Right, I had Baki guard the entrance with a team."
"Kazekage-sama, look ahead."
"Hmm? Have we arrived already?" Rasa raised his head to look forward, only to find the entrance completely empty.
Seeing this, Rasa shouted loudly, "Baki, where are you guys?"
"Kazekage-sama, we're over here!" came Baki's weak voice from afar.
Hearing the voice, Rasa immediately rushed over.
Then, he saw Baki and a few other ninja lying on the ground, wearing pig heads, their clothes torn into shreds like beggars, looking weak and helpless.
"How did you guys end up in such a mess?" Rasa asked with wide eyes.
"We followed your orders and guarded the entrance. At first, it was quiet — only a few showed up and they followed the rules," Baki said, clearly feeling wronged. "But later, something changed and suddenly there were way too many people. They used their numbers to push me aside. I refused — and got my ass kicked!"
Others in the group also cried out in misery.
"They said if it weren't for the Ruin being in the Land of Wind and they didn't want to escalate things, we'd already be dead!"
"They even said Kazekage-sama is a joke!"
"What a bunch of freaks!" Rasa gritted his teeth in anger, then felt puzzled. "It's supposed to only enhance puppets; it shouldn't attract so many people, should it?"
Baki shook his swollen head and grumbled, "Kazekage-sama, your intel is outdated. The word on the street is that this Crystal enhances a ninja's abilities comprehensively and can also heal hidden injuries and rejuvenate bodily functions!"
Upon hearing this, Rasa's face darkened slightly. "So the word about the Greer Stone has already spread?"
Although the Ancient Ruin lay on the border of the Land of Wind, it wasn't too far from both the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, practically located in the middle of the three countries.
Cloud Village and Mist were too far from the Ancient Ruin, and Konoha, relatively laid-back, would hardly go through so much trouble to stop him just for a Crystal that only enhanced puppets.
Therefore, originally, he'd only planned to deal with Iwagakure.
But now, everything had changed.
With the rumored function of the Greer Stone, it's possible that ninja from the three great villages might also be drawn here.
Thinking of this, Rasa no longer cared about the wounded. "Baki, find a place to hide yourselves. Everyone else, prepare to go in with me!"
"Find a place to hide ourselves...?" Baki muttered in a daze. Not even leaving a Medical Ninja behind?
Shimaseki suddenly spoke, "Aniki Rasa, I won't be joining you this time."
"Eh? I thought we agreed..." Rasa started, but quickly understood. "I see. You're worried about encountering Konoha's exploration team?"
Shimaseki nodded.
"Then be careful by your..." Rasa paused, letting out a slight chuckle at himself. "Actually, it should be us who need to be careful!"
Shimaseki also smiled, then became serious. "If I run into Sasori, I'll intervene."
"Appreciate it."
...
Meanwhile, inside the Ancient Ruin.
Aizen was wandering through the ruins wearing a Shinigami Mask — a relic said to contain spiritual power.
Naturally, he had no intention of actually exploring this so-called "Ancient Ruin" since he himself had created it.
"This isn't it, and this isn't either..." Using Satori's soul sealed within the Shinigami Mask, he silently read the minds of other explorers.
Although he knew from his past life's memories that there was a clan on this continent guarding the Greer crystal vein, with just this little information, it was practically impossible to locate this clan.
In fact, even if a member of that clan stood right in front of him, he might not necessarily recognize them.
Therefore, he needed this ability to read minds to help identify his target - of course, only if there were actually members of that clan foolish enough to take the bait.
"After I get the crystal, I'll be able to punch Konoha and kick Cloud Village..."
"According to legend, the ancients built a vast empire using the Greer Stone. If I could obtain it... Hehe, I've heard that Seiki Shimaseki is the most handsome ninja in the world!"
"What kind of messed up thoughts are these!" The corner of Aizen's mouth twitched slightly beneath his mask, especially when he discovered that the one harboring impure thoughts toward him was actually a bearded hulk. He barely managed to contain his surging murderous intent.
Just then, a faint thought without any emotional fluctuations brushed across his mind.
"Hmm? In this 'Ancient Ruin,' someone is actually still capable of maintaining such calmness!" Following the direction from which the mental wave originated, Aizen saw a man whose height and build exceeded that of an average person walking calmly.
"This is... Is this Sasori's disguise?" Aizen narrowed his eyes, smirking inwardly. "Though I haven't found the members of that clan yet, at least I've hooked Sasori!"
Seemingly sensing his gaze, Sasori calmly turned around.
"Who is this guy..." Sasori frowned slightly. Was that guy watching him just now?
However, he didn't want to provoke a conflict with him.
This masked figure exuded an extremely dangerous aura.
After a moment of silence, Sasori turned and walked away.
Aizen stood silently in place, his lips curving upward. "Exploring in such silence won't do. Let me find something to keep you occupied!"
Noticing the other hadn't followed, Sasori relaxed slightly. He glanced at the crystal embedded in his palm, a fiery gleam in his eyes. "This stuff is truly useful. Besides strengthening my puppets, the immense life force contained within the crystal also benefits my Regeneration Core greatly. I definitely came at the right time!"
This was also why he didn't want to confront the Masked Man. He came here to seek treasures, not to pick fights.
Besides, if a fight must happen, it wouldn't be now.
Once he gathered all the crystals and upgraded himself and his puppets to their peak forms, he'd be ready to challenge not just that masked stranger, but even Seiki Shimaseki himself!
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