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The desert wind blew with force across the outer borders of Sunagakure as the imposing group of seven individuals began their march.
The speed at which they traveled was astonishing; the five current Shadows of the Desert, along with Daigo and Pakura, advanced like invisible gusts of wind over the crests of the dunes, leaving barely a subtle trail of dust in their wake.
The sun was just beginning to fully rise, casting elongated shadows across the endless ocean of sand.
As they leaped from one dune to another, maintaining a perfect wedge formation, Kisame who carried the massive Samehada on his back with total ease slightly accelerated his pace to draw even with Daigo.
The former ninja of the Mist glanced sideways at Daigo, wearing an expression of pure curiosity that quickly transformed into a sly smirk, packed with his characteristic sharp teeth.
"Hey, Daigo," Kisame commented with his signature deep voice.
"I've got a question that's been rattling around in my head ever since we stepped out of the office. If this is a top-priority, ultra-secret mission where we don't want to ping the radars of the other villages... why the hell aren't we using your underground network of crystal tunnels to travel? I mean, it would be a thousand times faster, safer, and it would keep us from running under this scorching sun."
Daigo continued running straight ahead, keeping his gaze fixed on the desert horizon. Inside, however, the young Kazekage's mind froze for a split second.
A single thought crossed his mind with devastating clarity: I completely forgot. Between leaving Rasa in charge of the village and preparing for this mission, the existence of his own underground transportation system had slipped his mind entirely.
Of course, Daigo wasn't about to play the fool in front of everyone, especially not in front of Kisame, who was always looking for an opportunity to needle him.
Without losing his stride and keeping his face completely expressionless, Daigo spoke calmly and responded, improvising an excuse on the fly:
"Kisame. The tunnel network is still in an active phase of construction and expansion toward the outer borders of the Land of Wind."
Kisame let out a loud, booming laugh that caused Kaito and Baki to glance over from the rear.
"Hahaha! Wow, Kazekage-sama, you have an incredible mind for dreaming up excuses," the shark swordsman mocked, shaking his head.
"But let me remind you that the only person on this planet who possesses the Crystal Element and has the absolute ability to mold, reinforce, and expand those tunnels is you. If they were under construction, you'd know better than anyone. You just forgot, didn't you?"
Daigo let out a resigned sigh, knowing it was impossible to win a logic debate against a guy as cynical as Kisame when he was right. Without another word, Daigo stopped dead in his tracks on the crest of a dune.
He performed a rapid sequence of hand seals and planted his right palm into the hot sand.
"Shōton: Ketsuraku no Ana! (Crystal Element: Crack Hole)" Daigo pronounced.
The sand in front of them immediately began to crystallize, turning a brilliant sparkling pink before collapsing inward, revealing a hidden and perfectly reinforced hatch that connected directly to the immense network of underground tunnels the Kazekage had designed.
"Everyone inside. We move through here," Daigo ordered in a flat voice, deliberately ignoring the self-satisfied look Kisame was tossing his way.
The group quickly descended into the depths of the earth. Inside the crystal tunnels, the suffocating heat of the desert vanished completely, replaced by a cool, temperate atmosphere perfectly illuminated by the faint, natural glow of the polished crystal walls.
Taking advantage of the total lack of obstacles, the squad increased their speed to superhuman levels.
The underground journey was an absolute success; in record time and without being detected by any border patrols, the group managed to cross the entire territory of the Land of Wind and a large portion of the Land of Fire, finally stopping at one of the hidden terminals closest to the ocean to rest, recover their strength, and plan their next move.
Sitting around an improvised stone table that Daigo molded in a matter of seconds, the Kazekage unrolled the map of the Land of Water.
"Kisame," Daigo spoke, resting his hands on the stone table.
"You know the internal geography of Kirigakure and the distribution of its forces better than anyone on this team. I need you to give me a detailed report on all the clanes with bloodlines or special characteristics currently residing in the territory, so we can decide which one to track down first."
Kisame leaned against the stone wall, crossing his massive arms and adopting an unusually serious expression as he recalled the details of his bloody homeland.
"Alright, Daigo. Pay attention, because the Mist is a breeding ground for lineages and techniques," Kisame began, pointing to different spots on the map with his blue-skinned finger.
"The first major group is the Yuki Clan. They possess the Hyōton (Ice Element). They are troublesome types in combat, but currently they are suffering a brutal persecution; the common folk fear them and the government wants them extinct." He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Then we have the Terumī Clan, users of Lava (Yōton) and Vapor (Fūton); they are a noble, proud clan with a tremendous military force that is currently leading one of the internal resistance factions against the Mizukage."
Kisame paused again to let his words sink in with the group
"There's also the Hōzuki Clan. Those bastards can liquefy their bodies into water at will. They are slippery, lethal, and historically have been tightly linked to the Seven Swordsmen, plus one of their members was a Mizukage, so they hold a high status in the village."
"On the other hand, you have the savages of the Kaguya Clan; maniacs who manipulate their own bones. They don't listen to reason, they only live for war and battle. And lastly... there's my own clan, the Hoshigaki Clan. We don't possess a special genetic element, but our shark anatomy gives us massive chakra reserves that rival Kages and sometimes, like me, even Tailed Beasts along with an absolute affinity for water."
Daigo analyzed the information in silence, weighing the variables in his mind. He looked at the other members of the team to hear their thoughts.
"The Yuki Clan would be the most logical place to start," Kisame intervened, cutting ahead of the others.
"Geographically, they live in the most remote and peripheral settlements of Kirigakure. They are isolated. If we try to go after the Terumī or the Hōzuki first, we'll dive right into the epicenter of the civil war and alert the entire village. We can reach the Yuki Clan, negotiate, and get them out of there before the Mizukage even notices our presence."
"I agree with Kisame's strategy," Kaito nodded analytically. "Securing a target will give us a safe foothold in the territory before we move toward the hotter zones of the conflict."
With the march plan completely decided, the group abandoned the tunnels and began to sprint across the water at full speed.
Entering the Land of Water, they noticed the heavy mist characteristic of these lands, though it helped them more than it hindered them, as their figures were easily concealed. After moving for some time, the weather began to shift; instead of mist, snow began to fall alongside the frozen ground.
Reaching the open sea, chunks of ice floated about, creating a path that they followed until...
Finally, they arrived at the designated coordinates. Rising from the frozen waters like a sleeping titan, a gigantic natural iceberg loomed before them.
Most impressive of all was that the structure was completely protected by a massive, thick, and imposing wall of solid ice, acting as an impenetrable fortress against the outside world.
"That's the home of the Yuki Clan," Kisame explained, observing the towering structure with his small, dark eyes.
"Unlike Konoha or Sunagakure where everyone lives together, in Kirigakure many clans with bloodlines preferred to live in their own independent settlements away from the main village. They only sent ninjas when the Mizukage required them for war. That's why they are so defenseless now that the government has turned its back on them."
Daigo closely observed the ice fortress, taking in the architecture and the evident defensive posture of the clan. With a subtle nod of his head, he turned to Pakura, who stood beside him staring at the frozen walls with absolute seriousness.
"Pakura, give them our arrival signal. But do it peacefully; we didn't come to fight," Daigo said in a low voice.
Pakura nodded. Even though her chakra reserves were still affected for a prolonged fight, she maintained flawless energy control.
She performed a quick sequence of hand seals and extended her hand toward the starry sky. In an instant, a massive and brilliant ball of pure heat from her Element materialized in the air, soaring up like an incandescent flare that illuminated the entire ice fortress with a burning orange glow, generating a violent clash of steam as it hit the freezing atmosphere.
The signal achieved its goal immediately. Atop the ice walls, the movement of the guards became chaotic.
Torches were lit and warning voices echoed across the frozen battlements. A few seconds later, the heavy ice doors of the fortress ground open with a dull screech, and about 20 shinobis from the Yuki Clan stepped outside in a strictly defensive formation, keeping their hands close to their weapons.
At the front of the group marched a middle-aged man of elegant bearing, with long, light hair and a gaze heavy with immense fatigue and worry: the current leader of the clan.
When the leader stopped a few meters from the platform where Daigo's group stood and inspected the individuals thoroughly, his eyes went wide with absolute shock. His fingers trembled slightly.
He immediately recognized the iconic white cloak with wind-symbol borders and the Kazekage hat worn by the young Daigo, as well as the imposing and terrifying figure of the traitor Kisame Hoshigaki, a ninja whose reputation for lethality was famous throughout the Mist.
"The... The Kazekage of Sunagakure?" the Yuki clan leader uttered, his voice mixing disbelief with deep distrust.
"What is the leader of one of the Five Great Nations doing in our frozen lands, accompanied by a traitor of the Mist? If you have come to exterminate us, I assure you we will sell our lives dearly."
Daigo took a step forward, keeping his arms crossed beneath his cloak and showing a completely relaxed posture, devoid of any hostile intent.
"I haven't crossed the ocean to fight you, nor do I take orders from anyone," Daigo replied in a deep, calm, and perfectly modulated voice that soothed the tension in the air.
"My name is Daigo, Kazekage of the Sand. I have come in person because I am fully aware of the systematic purge and the unjust persecution that bloodline clans are suffering in this country. I am here to offer you a formal proposal for asylum and alliance."
The chief of the Yuki Clan narrowed his eyes, analyzing the sincerity on the young Kage's face. He knew Daigo had no reason to lie; with the power of the group accompanying him, he could have attacked the fortress directly if that were his intention.
He especially noted that everyone in the group carried one of the Seven Blades of the Mist they had stolen, except for the Kazekage and the woman. The leader exhaled a breath of cold air and gave a slight nod.
"I am all ears, Kazekage-sama. Speak."
"The proposal is simple and direct," Daigo continued, locking his gaze onto the leader.
"I offer you a sovereign, broad, and permanent space within the grounds of Sunagakure for your clan to safely establish itself. Under my rule, the Yuki Clan will receive immediate military protection, resources for development, and the status of citizens with full shinobi rights. In exchange for a new home where your children can grow up without the fear of being murdered for their blood, I only ask for one thing: your absolute loyalty to the Sand."
The clan leader stood utterly stunned by the sheer magnitude of the offer. It was a deal that altered the destiny of his entire lineage, a golden opportunity that seemed too good to be true. However, as a responsible leader, he knew he could not make such a monumental decision on pure impulse or immediate desperation.
"It is a truly generous offer, Kazekage-sama... a lifeline my people desperately need," the leader admitted honestly, clenching his fists.
"But I cannot accept this on my own. The pride of our clan and the future of our families depend on it. I need to speak immediately with my advisors, the elders, and the core members of the clan to make a joint decision. Would you grant us the time to deliberate?"
Daigo nodded imperturbably, pulling a pocket watch from his cloak.
"You have exactly one hour," Daigo declared firmly. "For security reasons, I cannot keep my squad stationary in a single spot of enemy territory any longer. If there is no answer after an hour, we will leave, and the fate of your clan will rest entirely on your own shoulders."
The leader of the Yuki clan nodded gravely, performed a respectful bow, and quickly returned with his ninjas into the interior of the ice fortress, closing the heavy doors behind them.
As the hour began to tick away, the Suna group maintained a guard posture in the surroundings. Baki stepped forward and formed a seal for his activation command.
"Byakugan!" Baki exclaimed.
The veins around his completely white eyes bulged immediately. Baki began to meticulously scan the entire internal structure of the iceberg, observing the chakra signatures and the distribution of the population.
"They are telling the truth," Baki reported, keeping his gaze locked on the ice.
"The leader has gathered all the survivors in the great central hall. There is an intense discussion between the council elders and the families. They are debating the terms of the proposal."
Pakura walked softly over to Daigo, standing by his side as she observed the imposing ice fortress reflecting the moonlight.
"Daigo..." Pakura whispered, her tone soft but carrying a slight hint of doubt.
"Do you truly believe they will accept leaving their homeland to march with a foreign Kage to the desert? A place where it's unknown if they can even adapt."
Daigo looked toward the summit of the iceberg, letting the cold wind of the Mist rustle the edges of his Kazekage hat. For the first time in a long while, his face showed a subtle expression of uncertainty.
"I don't know, Pakura-chan," Daigo admitted with total honesty in his voice.
"It depends entirely on whether their survival instinct is greater than their ancestral pride. All we can do is wait for time to deliver its verdict."
The hour passed in a thick, sepulbral silence. When the final minute of Daigo's watch ran out, the massive ice doors of the fortress swung wide open once more.
The leader of the Yuki Clan stepped outside again, but this time he didn't come accompanied only by his guard; behind him, a long, quiet, and deeply moving line of people began to march out onto the frozen ground.
Daigo took a step forward, waiting for the leader's definitive answer. The man stopped before the Kazekage, looked him dead in the eye, and spoke with absolute solemnity:
"Kazekage-sama, the clan council has reached a decision. Under normal circumstances, our pride would have forced us to reject the offer of a foreign village, and we would have preferred to die defending our ancestral home. But reality is cruel: Kirigakure has betrayed us, abandoned us to our fate, and we have suffered too many human losses in recent months to continue maintaining a war we cannot win. We accept your proposal for asylum in Sunagakure... but with three unyielding conditions."
Daigo kept his expression serene and gave a calm nod.
"State your conditions. I will hear them," the Kazekage replied.
The leader of the Yuki clan straightened his posture and dictated the terms:
"The first condition is that we be allowed to choose by mutual agreement the geographic sector within Sunagakure where we will live; we need an environment suited to our abilities, even though that might be difficult to secure given it's a desert," the leader stated.
"The second is that we be granted a period of time free from vanguard military missions so our clan can rebuild its numbers and heal its wounded. And the third, the most important: we demand a Blood Treaty signed by you this very instant, a pact guaranteeing that Sunagakure will not betray, sell, or use the Yuki Clan as laboratory tools under any circumstances, so long as we do not break the rules of the village."
An expectant silence fell over the group of Shadows. Kisame smiled ironically, knowing the clan was trying to protect themselves from suffering the fate of any clan member who fell into enemy hands.
Daigo, far from being offended by the distrust, nodded with deep political maturity in his gaze.
"I accept each and every one of your conditions, leader of the Yuki Clan, though we can look over the matter of the living zone," Daigo declared in a firm voice that echoed across the frozen valley.
"Your terms are fair and show that you wish to protect the future of your people. I will sign that Blood Treaty right now. However... I also have an unyielding counter-condition that you must fulfill this very instant: I demand that every single member of your clan declare their absolute and eternal loyalty to Sunagakure, accepting that from this day forward, your blood and your abilities belong to and serve the well-being and defense of Sunagakure."
The leader of the Yuki clan did not hesitate for a single second; the firmness and respect with which Daigo was treating them was the ultimate guarantee they could ask for. The chief turned to his people and gave a signal with his hand.
Immediately, the massive line of 120 clan members finished filing out of the fortress, lining up on the snowy ground. Daigo observed the scene with a mixture of seriousness and compassion: the grim reality of the Mist's purge unfolded before his eyes.
Out of the 120 people, the vast majority were malnourished women, weary elders, and small children who were clearly underfed; the clan barely possessed about 20 active shinobis in fighting condition. They were the last survivors of a legendary lineage.
In a perfectly synchronized movement charged with immense solemnity, the 120 members of the Yuki Clan knelt in unison upon the packed snow before the imposing figure of Daigo, lowering their heads in a sign of submission, respect, and mutual acceptance.
"From this day forward and until the end of our times, the Yuki Clan swears its loyalty and its life to Sunagakure," the leader declared, kneeling at the front of his people.
"Guided by your word, Kazekage-sama."
Daigo observed the mass of people kneeling before him. The first great step of his massive international strategy had been completed with resounding success, but he knew this was only the beginning.
With the Ice Element secured for the future of the Sand, the Kazekage turned his gaze toward the north of the map, where the next clan would be visited but first, it was time to secure the Yuki clan.
End of Chapter 122