The Land of Wind was the largest nation in the shinobi world, but most of its territory was blanketed in yellow sand, a near-endless expanse of desert.
After a long journey, Chiba and the others finally arrived at the Hidden Sand Village. The envoys were supposed to head to their pre-arranged lodgings first, but Chiba was directly whisked away by an enthusiastic Sasori to his home.
"My house is pretty big, Chiba! You can stay with us tonight!"
Unable to refuse such earnest hospitality, Chiba agreed to have dinner at Sasori's place before returning to the lodgings. He was an infiltrator, after all. He still needed to be able to exchange intel with the outside world.
"Chiba, you saved both of us back then, and now you've saved Sasori… We truly don't know how to thank you enough!"
Sasori's parents happened to be home. The moment they saw Chiba, they rushed forward, their gratitude plain on their faces.
"You must be exhausted from the journey, and hungry too. Come, sit down. Let's talk over dinner."
"Ah, yes, thank you… Uncle? Aunt?"
Chiba wasn't sure how to address Sasori's parents. Through conversation, he learned their names.
Sasori's father was Shigure. His mother was Mako.
Both were exceedingly kind. After a subtle assessment, Chiba sensed their strength was nothing to scoff at either. He was certain that even if he launched a surprise attack, he wouldn't be able to subdue them both.
Maybe I should just defect for real? Chiba mused inwardly.
Compared to the scheming, deceitful higher-ups of Konoha, the genuine warmth from Shigure and Mako gave him a feeling of… 'Chiba, adrift for half a life, regretting only that he never found a true master.' If you, my lord, do not disdain me, I would gladly call you father!
"Gochisousama! Thank you for the meal. Well then, seniors, I should take my leave."
After dinner, as Chiba made to stand and leave, Sasori grabbed his sleeve.
"Aw, come on, Chiba! Stay and play with me tonight! I'll teach you puppetry! Your humble young master here is a famously talented genius!"
"And! And! I have lots of pretty lady puppets! Stay, and I'll show you something really nice later! How about it?"
Just as Sasori clung to Chiba, refusing to let go, Shigure walked over and ruffled his son's hair with a fond smile.
"Don't be a bother, Sasori. Let your big brother Chiba go back and get some proper rest."
Then, Shigure looked at Chiba. "Chiba, if you're willing, you're welcome to have your meals here these next few days. Keep this kid company for us, would you?"
"Of course, Senior Shigure."
Chiba agreed immediately. As a spy, it wasn't like he could refuse even if he wanted to.
…
The Lodgings.
Chiba had just returned to his room, intending to sort through the current situation, when the door suddenly swung open.
"Senior Yamanaka? What brings you here?" Chiba asked, slightly puzzled.
Yamanaka Yofū was the deputy head of this envoy mission, but the actual leader of this special operation. His rank was higher than Chiba's.
"Kō, Otsu, you lot guard the door. No one comes near without my permission!"
Yamanaka Yofū first ordered his subordinates to stand watch outside, then closed the door and sat down beside Chiba with a solemn expression.
"Chiba. You're a junior the Hokage thinks highly of, and you've managed to connect with Shigure and his wife. Regarding this operation… I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Chiba glanced at the shadows outside the door, then at Yamanaka Yofū's grave face. He didn't detect anything out of the ordinary.
"I see. Very well, I think…"
So, Chiba gave a slight nod and began explaining his surface-level thoughts on the mission.
Click. Click.
Yamanaka Yofū fiddled with an intricate pendant in his hand. As Chiba spoke, he flipped the pendant intermittently, producing a rhythmic sound.
Chiba found it odd at first.
But as the clicking grew faster, Chiba's mind began to subconsciously tune it out. A strange quiet seemed to settle over his ears, as if he were floating in a void.
"And so… I believe… we… we should…"
Chiba's eyes gradually lost focus. His speech slowed, as if he were about to fall asleep at any moment.
A faint smile touched Yamanaka Yofū's lips.
No matter how strong you are, what good does it do? Before the strongest secret technique of my Yamanaka clan, you have no choice but to fall for it!
This wasn't the first time Yamanaka Yofū had turned on his own.
No matter how powerful his target, as long as their guard wasn't up from the start, they were helpless to resist.
"Now then, let me rewrite your consciousness…"
Yamanaka Yofū smiled faintly, planning to turn Chiba into his puppet—a tool to stir up conflict in the Sand, before letting him die silently in the ensuing chaos.
"Well? This is the fate I've woven for you in advance!"
Yamanaka Yofū formed a hand seal, muttering triumphantly.
But just as he prepared to invade Chiba's mind, two streaks of crimson light suddenly ignited in Chiba's eyes. They flickered with the swaying candlelight in the dim room, appearing profoundly sinister.
Yamanaka Yofū's consciousness slammed to an abrupt halt, unable to advance another inch. It was as if he'd been shut out by a resilient barrier. Not only that, a foreign consciousness now pushed back, trying to invade his mind.
Trying to use genjutsu on me? You should have asked my Sharingan if it agrees first!
Chiba sneered inwardly. If not for the Sharingan, he might have truly fallen for it earlier. Fortunately, he'd snapped out of it midway.
After his previous experience being dominated by Uchiha Nami, Chiba was now extremely wary of genjutsu. The emergence of his Sharingan had perfectly covered his weakness in that area.
The Third Hokage wouldn't send someone to attack me. You bastard, you're definitely one of Danzō Shimura's lackeys, aren't you!
Strongest secret technique, my ass. I bet you only dare target your own people, never having tasted the brutal lesson of an Uchiha's genjutsu.
In the name of Uchiha Chiba, drown in the darkness of the Sharingan!
Just as the crimson light in Chiba's eyes blazed, believing he had control of the situation, the Yamanaka Yofū across from him wore a look of sheer horror. His mouth opened, ready to shout.
"Damn it!!"
Chiba's expression also shifted.
This was his first time being forced to use the Sharingan's genjutsu in a real situation. He hadn't expected to fail against a genjutsu specialist like Yamanaka Yofū.
This is bad!
Chiba's heart leaped into his throat.
The men outside the door were probably Danzō's operatives too. If they discovered he could activate the Sharingan… the consequences were unthinkable
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