"Enemy attack!"
Kusagakure reacted swiftly. As a minor village allied with Konohagakure, their strength was considerable—enough to dare challenge Sunagakure, one of the five great villages.
Without wasting words, Rasa silently infiltrated Kusagakure's temporary camp, concealing himself in the desert sands.
His gold-mining efforts had not only boosted his attributes but also sharpened his chakra control. Now, he could easily carve temporary tunnels beneath the desert. Enhanced stamina, spirit, and chakra reserves had also improved his ninjutsu execution.
Perhaps one day, like Yamato's Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique, Rasa could conjure a Magnet Release: Gold Sand Fortress Technique in the desert, eliminating the need for tents on missions.
But now wasn't the time to dream of ninjutsu conveniences.
Burrowing beneath Kusagakure's camp, Rasa followed his plan, carefully controlling his chakra. Aligning with the camp's tent layout, he…
Soon after, a massive, spiraling sand cone erupted from the ground, soaring skyward and rolling forward!
The effect was devastating. Though his chakra couldn't cover the entire camp, it was enough to make Kusagakure wince. Most of their ninja were Chūnin and Genin—minor villages couldn't match the Jōnin numbers of the great five.
If not for Kusagakure's backing from Konoha and Iwagakure, Sunagakure would've crushed them long ago.
"Damn it! Magnet Release?!" a Kusagakure ninja shouted, spotting the golden glint under the moonlight. Realizing the enemy's identity, they countered with their own ninjutsu.
But… wasn't that guy dead?!
On a high platform of gold dust, glowing faintly in the moonlight, stood Rasa. His handsome, weathered face tilted slightly, gazing at the near-full moon with eyes full of melancholy and sorrow.
Yet no one paid him any mind. With their village suffering such losses from a single attack, what was there to say?
One word: Fight!
Dozens of Kusagakure ninja charged furiously.
"Don't be afraid—it's just one guy! We've got this!"
"Iwagakure's nearby. With this commotion, they'll come to support us soon."
"Kill him! That lunatic will learn Kusagakure isn't to be messed with!"
"Get the wounded to the medical ninja. That woman's there—they'll be fine!"
They roared encouragements while rushing forward.
But Rasa, having dared to strike, was well-prepared. Sighing inwardly, he glanced at another precious card on his interface. "One minute this time?"
[Sand Crocodile: Crocodile—Devil Fruit Sand-Sand Fruit User. Grants elementalization and Desert Sunflower. Weakness: Water; water-based attacks deal double damage.]
[Desert Sunflower: Manipulates underground water veins to control dunes, creating quicksand that buries enemies alive—a 'tombstone-less desert coffin.']
A terrifying technique! Without hesitation, Rasa activated it, forgoing resistance. With elementalization, he doubted Kusagakure could harm him.
This was the desert—his home turf!
Rasa extended his hands toward the desert surface, shouting, "Desert Sunflower!"
The sands writhed, emitting a chilling swoosh. Moments later, Kusagakure's camp sank into a massive, bowl-shaped crater.
As the ninja reeled…
"Damn it, what's wrong? Mutego, what's happened to you?"
"Ranyū, you… you…"
"What the hell? Why are you drying up?!"
Countless Kusagakure ninja watched in horror as comrades withered, becoming motionless husks—some even desiccated corpses!
Panic and fear gripped them.
"Get out of that pit! Hurry!" a ninja shouted, realizing the danger.
"It's a forbidden technique! An unheard-of forbidden technique!" another cried. Heeding the warning, those in the crater used ninjutsu to escape, launching attacks at Rasa on his gold dust platform.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!"
True to their reputation for studying and adopting other villages' techniques, Kusagakure's ninja wielded foreign ninjutsu.
Rasa didn't dodge—time was short, and he couldn't waste it. The Sand-Sand Fruit amplified his sand control, making the desert an extension of his body.
Boom!
"Substitution Technique?!" a ninja gasped as Rasa dissolved into sand under their attacks. As they braced for a counter…
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust!"
"Magnet Release…"
Rasa, hands already forming seals, unleashed his ninjutsu.
---
The sky filled with sand, blotting out the moon. Iwagakure and the distant Sand shinobi noticed, especially the glittering gold dust, sparking a guess.
Rasa-sama?! Only Rasa wielded Magnet Release: Gold Dust* in the village!
The Sand shinobi buzzed with excitement, rallying able-bodied ninja to join Rasa-sama. This scene screamed that Rasa-sama had stormed Kusagakure's camp. If not now, when?
Especially Momu…
Since Rasa-sama selflessly drew away Iwagakure's forces, appointing him temporary commander to protect the Land of Wind, Momu had borne immense pressure.
The dwindling comrades, the children thrust into war's cruelty fresh from the battlefield—who knew how many nights he'd gazed at the moon, silently weeping?
[Finally, I don't have to be this damn commander anymore!]
(End of Chapter)