In the 37th year of the Hokage era, peace in the Shinobi World was as fragile as thin ice. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, dark undercurrents surged violently.
In the seventeen years since the end of the First Shinobi World War, the global landscape had shifted unpredictably. Economic imbalances, like hidden undercurrents deep in the sea, kept surging forward, silently pushing the hidden villages of various nations toward the brink of war.
The Land of Fire, occupying the vast regions with the most abundant resources, naturally became the prime target of everyone's covetous desires.
Caught in this vortex of greed, Sunagakure found it difficult to remain aloof and began making restless moves.
Following a meeting, Sunagakure ultimately decided to split its forces into two separate routes.
One force, personally led by the Third Kazekage Retsuji with the Red Sand Couple providing support, set out from the direction of the Land of Rivers with their sights set on the Land of Fire.
The other force was spearheaded by Elder Chiyo, assisted by Retsuji's disciple, Saku Hayahisa, advancing toward the Land of Fire from the direction of the Land of Rain.
Even to a casual observer, this arrangement reeked of conspiracy.
Unable to suppress his doubts, Shang Qi went directly to Chiyo and spoke bluntly: "The puppet faction and the sand-control faction have never gotten along. How could you possibly make such a decision?
With both main and supporting generals in both forces coming from opposing factions, isn't this practically giving each other an opportunity to eliminate political rivals?"
Elder Chiyo let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with helplessness and the weight of years: "This is a joint decision made at the Shinobi Council, and we cannot defy it. Before the grand chessboard of national interests, personal feelings and factional disputes must all be cast aside."
Hearing this, Shang Qi merely chuckled, offering no further comment.
He knew all too well that in this complex situation, no amount of words could change the established reality.
"You are going to take part in this war as well," Elder Chiyo said suddenly.
"Why?" Shang Qi frowned and asked in confusion.
"You have a sharp mind. Help keep an eye on Retsuji for Uchao. He is the only son I have left. I'm counting on you." A trace of undisguised pleading flickered in Elder Chiyo's gaze.
As the old saying goes, debts of money are easy to repay, but debts of gratitude are hard to clear.
When Shang Qi first arrived in this world, the Red Sand Couple had extended a helping hand and rescued him.
During his days in Sunagakure, Chiyo and the Red Sand Couple had also taken great care of him, showing him the utmost solicitude.
Shang Qi had witnessed all these gestures firsthand, and he certainly wouldn't just stand by and watch the Red Sand Couple march to their deaths.
And so, Shang Qi accepted a Sunagakure forehead protector and joined the force led by the Red Sand Couple.
The main army led by Retsuji shouldered the heavy responsibility of launching fierce, hard-fought assaults. They were the vanguard of Sunagakure and the sharp blades of the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the logistics support unit led by Akasuna Uchao was primarily responsible for transporting supplies and providing emergency rescue.
They were the lifeblood of the entire army and the guarantee that the war could be sustained.
At this moment, the Land of Fire faced immense pressure from a multi-front war. The number of Konoha Village ninja dispatched to the Land of Rivers to defend against Sunagakure was relatively small, numbering only around 5,000.
In contrast, Sunagakure deployed over 8,000 ninja along the main frontline in the Land of Rivers, creating a clear numerical advantage.
Banking on this numerical superiority, Retsuji marched into the Land of Rivers with great fanfare, making no attempt to conceal his whereabouts, as if deliberately putting on a show of intimidation for Konoha Village.
However, supplying provisions for over 8,000 men relied solely on Uchao's supply transport unit of just over 1,000 men for protection. This was undoubtedly a massive challenge.
The moment even a shred of intelligence leaked out, given the stark disparity in numbers, the Konoha Forces would undoubtedly take a desperate gamble, dispatching elite troops deep behind enemy lines to cut off the logistics routes first.
"Uchao-daige, we should split our forces into five different routes. That way, even if Konoha's elite troops attack one of the supply lines, it won't cut off the frontline food supply.
At the same time, we must disguise ourselves to minimize the risk of being discovered," Shang Qi analyzed calmly.
"Alright, let's discuss it," Uchao nodded, approving Shang Qi's suggestion.
After a heated discussion and deliberation, the logistics transport unit quickly split into five groups, taking different routes. Some disguised themselves as camel caravans, others as cattle-herding farmers, each racking their brains to hide their true identities.
The group consisting of the Red Sand Couple and Shang Qi was tasked with transporting the largest share of the provisions.
They cleverly disguised themselves as an aristocratic entourage, and the eight horses pulling the carriage were actually supply-transporting puppets.
In the world of Naruto, ninja were generally not permitted to attack aristocrats, as this was an unwritten rule of the underworld.
For example, if an aristocrat from the Land of Wind unfortunately died by the blade of a Land of Fire ninja unit during a war, that ninja unit would become the target of retaliation by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
After all, no one could ever be sure what intricate and tangled connections existed among the various nobles.
However, some tricky little problems arose during the process of setting up the disguise.
First was who would play the role of the aristocrat, and second was how to make the disguise convincing enough not to be exposed.
Shang Qi originally intended for Uchao to play the aristocrat while he himself would disguise as a member of the guard unit.
Yet Uchao put forward a different perspective, saying: "An aristocratic young master is bound to have four or five maidservants waiting on him hand and foot."
Under Akasuna Takase An's warning gaze, Uchao insisted that Shang Qi play the aristocratic young master.
"Shang-qi-kun, you're not that young anymore. It's a good chance to mingle with our female ninja—who knows, you might even find the right one."
While Takase An went off to notify the female ninja, Uchao winked at Shang Qi, a knowing look passing between men.
"I walk through a thousand flowers without a single leaf touching me; women will only slow down the speed at which I draw my blade." Shang Qi had no wish to be tied down to a single village or country by a family; he longed for freedom and pursued a broader world.
"Just handle it however you see fit, as long as it doesn't affect the mission," Uchao said helplessly.
As a disciple of Elder Chiyo and famed for his innovative puppet techniques, Shang Qi held a high reputation among puppeteers and could well be considered Sunagakure's most eligible bachelor.
Akasuna Takase An returned with four female ninja who were willing to act as maidservants: Yusha Aruju, Nishino Emi, Mita Mirei, and Suzumori Remu.
Yusha Aruju was a taijutsu ninja blessed with a pair of slender, powerful legs. Her kicking techniques were fierce enough to take a life in an instant.
Nishino Emi was a genjutsu ninja whose signature technique, "Genjutsu: Illusory Drunken Dream," could make enemies as intoxicated as if they were drunk, leaving them unable to tell north from south and lost in an illusory dreamland.
Mita Mirei was a control-type ninja skilled in binding techniques. Once snared by her ropes, the enemy would be completely immobilized and entirely at her mercy.
Suzumori Remu was a medical-nin, skilled in detoxification and manipulative healing. Her medical skills could save a teammate's life at a critical moment.
Uchao was driven toward the guard unit by Takase An, who pinched the flesh at his waist.
Behind the carriage, Uchao and Takase An began whispering in low voices.
Uchao said, "Mother said that Shang Qi-kun doesn't have deep emotional ties to Sunagakure, making it hard to keep him here. Only by getting him to settle down and start a family in Sunagakure is there a chance to win his heart."
"Are you sure this will work?" A flash of dangerous light crossed Takase An's gaze as she stared intently at Uchao.
"Any man would find it hard to refuse... Ouch, go easy." Before Uchao could finish his sentence, Takase An pinched the soft flesh at his waist and gave it a vicious twist.
"Let go, stop messing around. What did you say to them?" Uchao asked in a hurry, wincing in pain.
"What else is there to say? I just laid it out straight," Takase An replied with mild disinterest.