Leading them was a male Hidden Sand Ninja about twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
His right cheek was adorned with two red face paints, and he wore a headband signifying his identity as a Hidden Sand Ninja, sprinting swiftly across the moonlit desert.
Behind him followed eleven Hidden Sand Ninja, half of whom were Jonin, and among the Jonin of the Hidden Sand Village, they were considered elite.
"Yes, Jonin Maki!"
The eleven Hidden Sand Ninja behind responded in unison, their voices solemn.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind being intimidated and threatened was undoubtedly a very serious situation.
Because about three years ago, the Daimyo of the Land of Water encountered an assassination attempt by the S-rank renegade ninja of the Hidden Mist Village, Hoshigaki Kisame. Although the current Daimyo of the Land of Water is the legitimate eldest son of the previous Daimyo, it is said that when he ascended to power, he was embroiled in power struggles due to various issues, causing internal chaos and an economic decline in the Land of Water.
Now the Daimyo of the Land of Wind is also being intimidated by unknown individuals.
Although the seriousness of the matter hasn't escalated to the point of the Daimyo of the Land of Water being directly assassinated.
But one must always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. If the Daimyo of the Land of Wind suddenly gets assassinated, the Land of Wind might plunge into chaos just like the Land of Water, and this would not be a pleasant occurrence for the Hidden Sand Village.
The Hidden Sand Village controls the military of a country, while the Daimyo holds the highest political power. This is a one-country-one-village era contract established by the God of Ninja, Senju Hashirama, which has continued until now, and no one dares to cross this red line.
It is not only because of the influence of the God of Ninja but also because this 'contract' maintains a certain balance in the Ninja Realm.
The interests of the nobility have not been significantly harmed; instead, they have been more solidly secured because of the establishment of ninja villages, while the ninjas, cooperating with the nobility, have gained survival assurance and military funding, making it mutually beneficial.
The leading Hidden Sand Jonin, Maki, was well aware of the severity of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind being intimidated.
It is for this reason that the Fourth Kazekage Rasa dispatched him to support the Daimyo's Mansion.
This was not only a recognition of his strength but also a supreme trust.
Maki could feel the regard Kazekage Rasa had for him.
He secretly resolved that he must perfectly complete this S-rank major mission and bring glory to the Kazekage.
"Jonin Maki."
Suddenly, a Hidden Sand Jonin came forward, softly called to Maki's ear with an unusual expression.
Maki immediately understood and silently made a gesture.
The formation of the Hidden Sand Ninja behind him suddenly changed, scattering around without hesitation.
With a rumbling sound!
The desert exploded.
Blazing flames engulfed the surroundings, and the air temperature began to rise.
The scorching heat wave rushed towards the faces of the Hidden Sand Ninja.
They stared intently at the surroundings, where figures wearing black robes embroidered with Shion Flowers appeared. On their chests hung round plaques made of either copper or silver.
They held weapons made of a combination of metal and sturdy wood, but the caliber of the gun muzzles was much larger than that of ordinary firearms, and the gun's tray was slightly bloated, giving an impression of cold danger.
Seeing these people's attire, Maki coldly chuckled and said, "I see, it's the infamous Debt Collectors from the Land of Demons. It seems it was you reckless individuals intimidating the Daimyo."
The Shion Flower Merchants Association's Debt Collectors in the Land of Demons, in the true sense, were by no means a debt collection organization with a good reputation.
This group, blinded by money, committed all sorts of evil in order to force debtors to repay debts. Although not to the extent of murder, they often use extreme intimidation methods to coerce debtors to repay, and even resort to forceful threats.
It can be said that they are a notoriously infamous organization.
In the eyes of major countries, this organization is insignificant, as many black-market merchants also use such methods for debt collection. The Land of Demons merely officially conscripted these debt collectors.
This was also the reason why Maki looked down on the Debt Collector organization.
"However, do not compare our Land of Wind to those small country merchants you intimidate. Also, daring to intimidate and collect debts on the territory of our major country, your audacity is indeed substantial,"
Maki knew that the activities of the Debt Collectors from the Land of Demons were generally not on major country territories and only had significant deterrent power over small country merchants.
The Debt Collectors surrounding the twelve Hidden Sand Ninja included six Silver Debt Collectors and seventeen Copper Debt Collectors, totaling twenty-three people.
They merely stared coldly at the encircled Hidden Sand Ninja. Without any hesitation, they quickly picked up their rapid-fire shuriken shooters and pulled the triggers.
A torrent of shuriken sprayed from the gun muzzles, carrying sparks, and as they traversed the air, a terrifying whooshing sound could be heard.
Maki, without hesitation, raised his right hand, wrapped with the breath of wind, instantly conjuring a Wind Blade. He swung it forcefully at the approaching shuriken.
A sharp pain shot through his palm.
Though he successfully cleaved the shuriken in half, Maki clearly saw a wound appear on the back of his hand, his pupils slightly constricted.
Embedded in the shuriken... was Wind Attribute Chakra!
Driven by the launcher, the speed at which the shuriken was fired far surpassed the power that ordinary ninjas could achieve, and along with the Wind Attribute Chakra carried by the shuriken... its piercing capability was terrifying.
However, there was no time left for him to think.