Sunagakure in the Wind Country has an entirely different composition from Konoha.
While Konoha was jointly established by numerous prominent clans that integrated and coexisted with one another, Sunagakure originated from desert bandits, and its survival rules are primitive and cruel.
In this desert, the weak are eliminated and the winner takes all—this is an unchangeable ironclad law.
Even the First Kazekage displayed a thoroughly rogueish demeanor. At the First Five Kage Summit, when First Hokage Senju Hashirama generously distributed the Tailed Beasts,
not only did First Kazekage Retto refuse to give an inch, but, leaning on the Wind Country's meager resources—an "advantage" that was like a tasteless chicken rib to other nations—he brazenly made unreasonable demands for money and territory.
Even in the original history, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was so cold-blooded and ruthless that he used his own brother-in-law, Yagura, to test the controllability of his son, the One-Tail Jinchuriki Gaara, fully displaying a grim and pragmatic nature.
Shang Qi lay inside the tent, slowly opening his eyes as his thoughts washed back through the past like a tide.
The peaceful growth environment of his previous world had indeed subtly influenced his code of conduct and style of doing things.
Yet in this world, deceit and treachery are everywhere, and plots and calculations are inescapable.
Just as Third Kazekage Retsuji said, emotions are a strong man's weakness, and mercy is the loser's epitaph.
And just as Elder Chiyo put it, if you do not attack others, others will actively attack you.
But would Shang Qi truly remain confined to Sunagakure, as Chiyo and Retsuji imagined?
The answer is obviously no. Shang Qi's goal is to live life as he pleases, and he will never spend his life in mediocrity within Sunagakure.
The war was still raging fiercely. Due to the joining of Konoha's three sensory clans—the Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka—Sunagakure's beast-mimicry tactics were gradually being seen through.
Even so, Shang Qi's formidable combat power remained the headache of all headaches for the Konoha Forces.
In direct combat, Shang Qi's indestructible armor and unstoppable steel wire turned any enemy who stood in his path into a mass of minced meat in an instant.
During one fierce head-on clash, Shang Qi discovered a peculiar situation.
A Hyuga ninja was closely surrounded by several other Hyuga guards, their expressions nervous and heavily guarded, making it clear at a glance that they were protecting this person's safety with all their might.
Shang Qi understood in an instant: anyone who could enjoy such a distinction and be guarded with such meticulous care was, in all likelihood, a member of the Hyuga Main Family.
A cold smile curled the corner of Shang Qi's mouth as he took a sharp, deep breath.
His entire body's Chakra surged wildly like a roaring, violent flood, continuously pouring into the fierce-tiger armor.
In a flash, a dazzling white eerie glow flared across the leg armor, instantly driving his speed to the absolute limit.
Crouching low, he shot forward like an arrow released from a string, the powerful momentum carrying a sky full of blowing sand as he charged straight toward the location of the Hyuga Main Family ninja.
Seeing this, the Konoha ninjas along the way were struck with terror. Screaming at the top of their lungs, they swarmed in from all directions, attempting to intercept this figure who was like a god of slaughter.
Yet how could Shang Qi be hindered by such small fry? The steel wire in his hands moved like an agile serpent, controlled by his peerless mastery to bind, coil, wrap, or pierce—every single movement precise and fatal.
Wherever he passed, Konoha ninjas let out miserable cries and collapsed one after another, blood gushing like fountains to instantly stain the parched earth beneath their feet.
In the blink of an eye, he broke through wave after wave of obstacles and slaughtered his way to the outer perimeter of the Hyuga Main Family's guard ring.
Knowing the heavy responsibility they shouldered, the Hyuga guards felt fear gripping their hearts, yet they had no choice but to bite the bullet and unleash their clan's ultimate art, the Gentle Fist. The wind of their fists roared, kicking up swirls of white airflow like a vortex, attempting to stave off Shang Qi with continuous, hard-and-soft coordinated onslaughts.
Instead of being alarmed, Shang Qi was thrilled. Widening his eyes, he let out a roar and threw himself forward without a moment's hesitation, meeting the storm-like barrage of Gentle Fist strikes head-on.
The dense, rain-like shadow of fists slammed against his armor, producing only dull, muffled thuds.
Like raindrops pattering against a solid copper wall, not even the tiniest scratch was left on the armor.
Seizing the opening, Shang Qi thrust out both hands, and the steel wires shot forth like lightning, instantly binding the limbs of several guards.
With a mighty tug, the men crashed to the ground with miserable screams, and the tightly knit guard circle instantly developed a massive breach.
Flashing forward like a ghost, he closed the distance directly in front of the Hyuga Main Family ninja.
Waving his large hand, a specially crafted puppet restraint whistled through the air, accurately dropping over the target's body like a hunting falcon swooping on its prey.
This puppet restraint was covered in intricate mechanisms; once triggered, it would swiftly lock the joints and restrict movement.
The Hyuga Main Family ninja was struck with terror, his eyes blown wide, and just as he opened his mouth to shout,
a bite-stick was quickly jammed between his jaws, cutting off his ability to open and close his mouth.
With a cold, disdainful scoff, Shang Qi hoisted the captive over his shoulder and turned to leave.
"Don't even think about taking him!" Konoha's ninjas were overcome with fury. Eyes bloodshot and roaring at the top of their lungs, they lunged toward Shang Qi.
With a cold sneer, Shang Qi said contemptuously, "You and what army?"
Seeing this, a group of Suna ninjas quickly swarmed forward without a moment's hesitation, displaying a do-or-die resolve as they blocked the pursuing Konoha ninjas for Shang Qi.
"Lord Shang Qi, go ahead, we'll cover the rear!" a Suna ninja yelled desperately.
Nodding, Shang Qi did not linger in the fight, instead turning and dashing at full speed toward the main Suna camp.
Also on the battlefield, Hatake Sakumo abandoned the Suna ninja before him, utilizing the Body Flicker Technique at maximum output to race like lightning toward Shang Qi's direction.
Hatake Sakumo's speed was swift as a gale, and in the span of a breath, he was about to catch up to Shang Qi.
With the Hyuga Main Family ninja slung over his shoulder, Shang Qi's mobility was severely restricted, leaving him with no way to shake off Hatake Sakumo's high-speed pursuit.
Steeling his heart, a flash of absolute resolve crossed his eyes as he hurled the Hyuga Main Family ninja with all his might toward the Red Sand Couple, roaring at the same time, "Get him back, I'll stop the White Fang."
Moving both hands, the short blades sprang instantly from his arm guards, and crossing his arms, he blocked Hatake Sakumo's fiercely incoming short sword dead in its tracks.
Sparks flew in a spray of colliding metal, and the ear-piercing screech of friction set teeth on edge.
The Hyuga Main Family ninja carved a long arc through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Suddenly, a gigantic arm stretched out from the Konoha Forces, preparing to rescue the Hyuga Main Family ninja back to the Konoha camp.
An inky-black stream of sand came whistling through the air, instantly intercepting and blocking the giant hand's rescue attempt.
That giant hand belonged to the veteran Konoha warrior Akimichi Torifu, who had enlarged his arm using the Partial Multiple Size Technique.
And that surging, turbulent stream of sand was the Magnet Release: Iron Sand Dilation technique wielded by Third Kazekage Retsuji.
The Red Sand Couple swiftly hoisted the Hyuga Main Family ninja onto two puppets and bolted back toward the main Suna camp without looking back.
Hatake Sakumo and Akimichi Torifu were burning with anxiety; if a Hyuga Main Family member were carried off by Suna ninjas just like that, it would be an eternal disgrace to the Konoha Forces.
Yet both of them were currently blocked and had no way to break free to effect a rescue.