Far from the Leaf Village, while Kakashi continued his test of Naruto and Sakura, a storm quietly gathered in the Land of Wind.
Within the Kazekage's office in Sunagakure, the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, had just concluded a strategy meeting. One by one, the council members and attending shinobi filed out, murmuring among themselves about defense logistics and the rise of Akatsuki.
Among them was a special jōnin named Yura, speaking casually with one of the village elders. But as the elder turned to leave, Yura suddenly froze.
His head throbbed—sharply, violently.
"Urgh… ahhh!"
He dropped to his knees, clutching his skull in both hands.
"Yura?! What's wrong?" the elder exclaimed, turning back quickly. "Are you injured?"
Yura's eyes widened in a flash of confusion… then recognition.
Something had broken inside him—a mental seal, one buried so deeply he hadn't even known it existed.
Then it all came flooding back.
Memories. Orders. A name: Akatsuki.
He straightened with effort, forcing a smile despite the sweat beading on his forehead.
"I'm fine," Yura said hoarsely. "Probably just overworked. I'll get some rest."
The elder hesitated, then nodded. "You've all been pushing too hard. Don't ignore the signs."
As the elder walked away, Yura's face changed. His expression was blank now—emotionless, cold. In his eyes, the loyalty of a Suna shinobi had vanished.
It had been replaced with something else entirely.
In the vast expanse of desert beyond the village, two figures trudged across the sand under the scorching sun. Both wore identical black cloaks with red clouds—the unmistakable symbol of Akatsuki.
Deidara adjusted his scope, scanning the dunes. "You're sure about this, Sasori-danna?"
Sasori's voice was muffled under the cover of his cloak. "Yes. The sleeper agent's memory seal should have broken by now. He'll open the path for us."
"Tch. I hope he's worth the effort."
"He is. I placed the seal myself."
Just outside Sunagakure's perimeter, blood soaked the sand.
Yura stood alone by the shattered remnants of the defensive outpost. Several corpses of Suna border guards lay motionless around him, their throats slashed cleanly.
He waited in silence until two shadows appeared in the heat haze.
When the figures drew close, Yura knelt immediately. "Lord Sasori."
"Well done," Sasori said coolly, his true form hidden beneath the puppet disguise.
Yura remained bowed. "I am yours to command."
"Enough talk," Deidara said, clearly impatient. "Let's get this over with. I want the One-Tail."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Sasori muttered. "You brought enough clay, I hope?"
Deidara sneered. "Plenty."
He raised his left hand, the mouth in his palm, chewing on a small chunk of clay. Moments later, it spat out a miniature bird.
"Art is an explosion."
Boom!
With a flash, the small sculpture expanded rapidly, forming a massive white clay bird with outstretched wings. Deidara jumped onto its back and launched into the air, soaring high above the desert winds.
His target: the heart of the village. The Kazekage's tower.
Inside the Kazekage's office, Gaara sifted through scrolls and mission reports, his brow furrowed in concentration. Since becoming Kazekage, his days had been consumed by paperwork, political maneuvering, and reform.
It was nearly sunset when something flickered in the corner of his eye.
A black speck moved across the orange sky.
He rose from his seat and walked calmly to the window.
Above the village rooftops, Deidara flew in close, grinning with excitement. From his satchel, he pulled out two small clay spiders. He dropped them with care.
They landed silently.
On the rooftop of the Kazekage tower, two Suna shinobi stood watch, unaware of the danger.
Boom. Boom.
Twin explosions lit up the evening sky. The guards dropped instantly, smoke rising from where they'd stood.
Deidara landed atop the tower.
"Heh. That was easier than I thought," he said, stretching. "So much for their security."
But as the smoke cleared, a shadow stepped forward from the hallway of the tower.
Crimson-rimmed eyes. A gourd on his back. Sand shifting silently at his feet.
Deidara's smile faltered.
Gaara.
"You," the Kazekage said coldly. "Identify yourself."
Deidara's grin returned. "So you're the One-Tail's jinchūriki. Saves me the trouble of finding you."
He reached behind his back, withdrawing another clay sculpture.
With a leap, Deidara launched himself into the air once more, his flying bird spiraling upward.
"Catch me if you can, sand brat!"
Gaara's gourd cracked open.
Sand roared into the sky like a geyser.
The battle broke out above the village.
Deidara dove and weaved, launching clay bombs, while Gaara's sand moved in perfect synchrony, forming shields and counterattacks.
But Deidara stayed out of reach, just high enough where Gaara's sand began to thin.
He's trying to exhaust my range, Gaara realized.
But Gaara was prepared.
He hardened the sand into solid platforms and began ascending himself, forming a spiraling staircase of sand beneath his feet as he pursued the airborne bomber.
"Not bad, One-Tail," Deidara muttered, rising higher.
Explosions echoed across the skies of Sunagakure.
On the streets below, civilians were evacuated quickly. Shinobi began assembling at key points. Their eyes turned upward.
"Hang in there, Kazekage-sama!"
"Take him down!"
Cheers erupted from rooftops and balconies. The villagers had seen Gaara grow into their protector, and now he stood alone, suspended in the sky, against an unknown threat.
On the tower's rooftop, Kankurō skidded to a halt, eyes wide as he took in the distant battle.
"Gaara…"
Maki, one of the senior instructors, arrived behind him. Her gaze was sharp.
"Black cloaks with red clouds," she said grimly. "Akatsuki."
Kankurō's fists clenched. "How did they get this far in? The barrier defenses were supposed to hold."
"They had help," Maki murmured. "A traitor."
In the sky above, Gaara seized his opening. His sand lashed upward and caught Deidara's arm mid-flight.
"What—?!"
The grip tightened.
Deidara gritted his teeth, twisting in the air as the sand dragged on his momentum.
This sand…It's like iron!
He flung out another clay bird and launched himself again, barely escaping.
The first drops of blood began to fall, streaking down from Deidara's torn sleeve.
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A/N: Please Leave A Comment Or Drop A Powerstone.It'll mean a lot to me...