"Enemy attack!"
The Kusagakure shinobi quickly snapped to alert. Even though their village was a minor ally of Konohagakure, they weren't weak. It took serious nerve to provoke one of the Five Great Nations—especially someone from Sunagakure.
Silently infiltrating their temporary camp, Rasa melted into the desert sands. His recent "gold‑dust mining" had granted him boosts to stamina, willpower, chakra control—and a noteworthy increase in jutsu efficiency. After all, if Yamato could use Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique in the wilderness, Rasa might soon unleash something like Magnet Release: Gold Dust Fortress Technique—practical enough to make tents obsolete.
But this was no time for conveniences.
Burrowing beneath the camp, he channeled chakra and mapped out the tent layout. Moments later...
A massive sand cone erupted explosively from the desert floor—towering and rolling everywhere!
The strike didn't cover the entire camp, but it was enough to shake the Grass shinobis.
"Damn—Magnet Release?!" they gasped, stunned by golden sand shimmering in moonlight, realizing exactly who's responsible.
But wait… didn't he die already?
Atop the sand rampart, illuminated by the moon's pale glow, stood a solemn, handsome figure. Rasa tilted his head, his eyes reflecting equal parts sorrow and world-weariness.
The stunned shinobis had no words. In the face of heavy casualties, only one thought drove them forward:
Charge!
They howled with determination as they surged up.
"Don't be scared—it's only one man! We can handle this!"
"Iwa-nin are just beyond. They'll come support soon."
"He's insane—we'll show him Kusagakure isn't to be toyed with!"
"Get the wounded to medics—our female medic's there. They'll be okay!"
Charging and yelling, they surged... but Rasa was ready.
Glancing at his screen—another precious draw card—he thought, "Another minute-long effect, huh?"
[Crocodile of the Sand – Logia Devil Fruit: Suna Suna no Mi]
Ability: Elemental transformation into sand, "Desert Spada," and "Desert Sunflower."
Weakness: Water-based attacks cause amplified damage.
Desert Sunflower: Manipulates underground moisture to trigger shifting sand dunes, creating a massive sinkhole that swallows enemies alive—a deadly trap known as the "Graveless Desert Coffin."
A terrifying technique.
Rasa activated it without hesitation.
He didn't even bother dodging. With full Logia sand transformation on, he doubted these Grass shinobi could lay a hand on him.
And this was the desert.
His domain.
Extending both arms toward the ground, Rasa growled:
"Desert Sunflower!"
The entire landscape began to shift and writhe, the sand hissing ominously with every undulation. In moments, the entire Grass Village encampment collapsed inward, forming a massive crater like an enormous bowl.
Panic set in instantly.
"What the hell? Noshi, what's wrong? Noshi?!"
"Ranryū—you...!"
"Damn it—why do you look so... dry?!"
Shinobi turned to find their comrades shriveled and collapsed, some already reduced to desiccated husks—literal mummies.
Fear exploded among their ranks.
"Out of the pit! Get out of that crater, now!"
Those who noticed the unnatural phenomenon shouted for their allies to retreat. The shinobi still in the sinkhole scrambled to react, using various jutsu to escape.
"It's a forbidden technique! I've never seen anything like it—it has to be some kind of S-rank jutsu!"
Shaken but still fighting, they launched counterattacks at the golden platform where Rasa stood.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!"
...
Typical of Grass Village—known for studying and stealing techniques from other nations—none of the jutsu were originally theirs.
Rasa didn't flinch.
He had no time to waste. Riding the power granted by the Suna Suna no Mi, he felt his sand manipulation become more fluid, more instinctive—like the desert itself was an extension of his own body.
"Boom!"
He exploded into dust.
"A Shadow Clone?!" one shinobi gasped.
As they looked around in panic, readying themselves for the inevitable counterattack...
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust!"
"Magnet—!"
Rasa had already formed the hand seals.
His real body was waiting. The trap was set.
And at that moment—
The entire desert sky seemed to vanish beneath the swirling chaos of golden sand, blanketing the moon in a haze of death.
From the distant Iwa and Suna outposts, shinobi couldn't miss the sandstorm tearing through the night.
Especially when they saw that unmistakable glint of golden dust.
A chill swept through them.
Rasa-sama…?!
After all, there was only one person in Sunagakure who could wield Magnet Release: Gold Dust.
Excitement surged through the Sunagakure forces. The shinobi who could still move quickly assembled and prepared to charge.
It was obvious—Rasa-sama had attacked the Grass encampment. If they didn't back him up now, when would they?
Especially for Momu…
Since the moment Rasa had lured Iwa's forces away and entrusted him with temporary command, the pressure had been crushing.
Every day, more comrades died. Every day, more children faced the horrors of war before they'd even grasped what it meant to be a ninja.
And every night, Momu stared up at the moon with tears in his eyes, alone.
"Finally… I can stop being this damn 'commander.'"