Naruto: The Sand Will Rise!

The crackling spear of lightning shot through the air, streaking toward an empty space above Mufasa's shoulder.

A sharp scream cut through the battlefield.

From thin air, Danzo Shimura tumbled down, the lightning spear embedded in his chest. His body hit the ground with a dull thud, kicking up dust.

Another Sharingan eye sealed shut.

In less than three minutes, ten lives had been reduced to eight.

Lying on the ground, Danzo gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hardly believe what had just happened.

How? How did Mufasa know exactly where he was going to appear?

Danzo had executed a textbook maneuver—combining his Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets with the Body Flicker Technique to reposition himself. He had intended to create space, use long-range jutsu, and wear Mufasa down.

Instead, he had teleported directly into the path of the lightning spear.

It was as if Mufasa had predicted his every move.

Panic crept into Danzo's expression as he struggled to make sense of it. The wind stirred, sweeping away the lingering dust. Mufasa looked down at him, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.

"Hey, Danzo," he taunted. "Lying down won't help you win. You were just talking big a moment ago—so get up and fight."

Danzo's breath hitched. Fight? Against this monster?

He didn't dare.

Another exchange like that, and he'd burn through the rest of his Sharingan in minutes.

He sprang to his feet with surprising agility, his former frailty nowhere to be seen. Mufasa tilted his head, chuckling.

"Huh. You sure got up quick for an old man," Mufasa said, amused. "Maybe if I hit you a few more times, It will fix your eyesight too."

Danzo stiffened. His hand twitched toward his arm, then stopped. Mufasa had already seen through his tricks. If he kept fighting, he'd lose everything.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay calm.

"Enough," Danzo muttered. "You win."

"Huh?" Mufasa blinked, pretending not to hear. "Come again?"

Danzo swallowed his pride. "You win."

The silence that followed was deafening.

On the tower above, reactions varied. Baki gave an impressed nod. "Kazekage-sama is truly formidable. To take down Konoha's elder so effortlessly…"

Temari smirked. "You should get used to it, Baki-sensei."

Meanwhile, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged uneasy glances. If Danzo had fallen so easily, what chance did they have against Mufasa if he ever turned against them?

Tsunade, on the other hand, had to fight back a smirk. Watching Danzo get knocked around for once felt oddly satisfying.

Mufasa, of course, wasn't about to let his fun end just yet.

"Hold on a second," he said, raising an eyebrow. "All that talk, and you just give up?"

Danzo's face darkened, but he held his tongue.

Mufasa grinned, sensing an opportunity. "Y'know what? I'll make it fair. I'll stand still and let you take three free shots. Let's keep going."

Danzo's eyes flickered with anger, but he wasn't foolish enough to take the bait.

He remained silent, jaw clenched.

"What's wrong?" Mufasa goaded. "Didn't you always preach about how ninjas must sacrifice everything for the village? Well, here's your chance. Put your life on the line."

Danzo's face shifted from red to white.

Mufasa leaned in. "If you don't fight, won't it hurt Konoha's reputation? Wouldn't your loss stain the village's honor? Come on, Danzo. Step up. Or are you just—"

"Enough!" Tsunade's voice rang out as she leapt down from the tower, landing between them. She turned to Danzo, expression unreadable. "You fought hard. You should rest."

Danzo didn't need to be told twice. He seized the opportunity to retreat, not even bothering to throw a final insult. He just walked away, shoulders tense with unspoken fury.

Tsunade watched him go, then sighed. "You didn't have to push him that far."

Mufasa chuckled. "What? I was just giving him a taste of his own medicine."

Tsunade gave him a wry look. "Being Hokage isn't as easy as you think."

"I'm sure," Mufasa said, still grinning. "But when it comes to stubborn old men like him, you gotta hit 'em where it hurts."

Tsunade shook her head, unwilling to argue. "Is that why there are so few old people in the Sand Village?"

Mufasa blinked, then burst into laughter. "Hah! I'm not 'Blame-Kage,' okay? If anything, life's getting better back home. We're bound to have more old folks soon."

Their banter lightened the mood, and soon they made their way back toward the village gates.

As they walked, Tsunade suddenly remembered something. "By the way, weren't you going to tell me how to win without losing?"

Behind her, Homura and Koharu discreetly covered their faces in exasperation. Was the Hokage seriously prioritizing gambling advice?

Mufasa gave a knowing smirk. "Ah, that? That's a secret technique. Can't go giving it away for free."

Tsunade folded her arms. "Come on."

"Alright, fine. But everyone else has to leave first. Temari, Baki, step out."

Tsunade turned to her advisors. "You too. And Shizune."

Once they were alone, Tsunade leaned in eagerly, eyes shining with anticipation. "Okay, spill it."

Mufasa met her gaze, lips curling into a playful grin. "You sure you wanna hear it?"

"Yes! Just don't tell me something dumb like 'the best way to win is not to gamble.' I've heard that one too many times."

Mufasa tilted his head, as if considering his response.

-_-||

"…Well, about that…"

Tsunade groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

However, this did not bother Mufasa.

He blinked. "Why don't we make this interesting? Let's place a little bet."

"A bet? Now?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, arms crossed.

Mufasa smirked. "Why not? No one's here but us. Just a little wager between leaders."

Tsunade hesitated, torn between her Hokage responsibilities and the thrill bubbling up inside her. It had been so long since she had gambled—since she had felt that rush. The temptation gnawed at her resolve like a thousand caterpillars crawling under her skin.

"That's—That's not appropriate," she said, though her tone lacked conviction.

"Come on now~," Mufasa coaxed, his voice dripping with mischief. "No one will ever know.~"

With a clap of his hands, he produced a bone dice cup and three dice, placing them neatly on the table.

Tsunade eyed the setup, biting her lip. Her fingers twitched. She inhaled deeply, her chest rising before she exhaled sharply.

"Fine. Just once."

Mufasa grinned. "Just once. We'll roll for the highest number. You first or me?"

"I'll go first." Without hesitation, Tsunade grabbed the dice, dropped them into the cup, and gave it a vigorous shake.

The rattle of dice filled the air. With a sharp bang, she slammed the cup onto the table, her fingers still resting on the top. A confident smirk played on her lips.

"You've already lost," she declared. "There's no way you can beat this."

Lifting the cup, she revealed three sixes.

A perfect roll.

Her smirk widened. For once, she had won.

"Your turn."

This time, Tsunade was the one urging him forward. "Come on, let's see what you've got."

Mufasa casually placed the cup over the dice again. But instead of shaking it, he simply rested his hand on top.

Tsunade frowned. "What are you—"

A sharp crack split the air.

One of the dice split perfectly in half.

Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief. The final count: three sixes… plus one.

Nineteen to eighteen.

Mufasa won.

Tsunade's expression soured. "That's—That's cheating!"

Mufasa leaned back, grinning. "Oh? I didn't break any rules. There's nothing in the game against using a little finesse."

Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temples. "You're impossible."

Mufasa chuckled, then leaned forward. "See, winning is simple. All you need to do is know your opponent's hand and be stronger than them."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Oh yeah? And do you know Konoha's hand?"

Mufasa shrugged. "Oh, Tsunade, come on. Konoha isn't a gamble. This is a partnership—a win-win situation."

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "Alright, then explain to me how this 'win-win' works."

Mufasa poured himself a drink, his demeanor as casual as ever. "Well, since you're concerned about compensation, let's change the terms. Instead of money, how about land?"

Tsunade stiffened, eyes narrowing. "Land? What do you mean?"

Mufasa waved a hand. "Relax, I'm not asking for a handout. I'm talking about renting land in Konoha."

"Renting?" Tsunade frowned. "For what purpose?"

Mufasa leaned forward, his tone turning serious. "Look, you and I both know that with the trade agreements we've signed, our villages will be working together more than ever. That means there will be a lot of goods flowing back and forth. It would be much more efficient to have a dedicated trade district for my village here—a place for shops, warehouses, and housing for our diplomatic personnel."

Tsunade studied him carefully. "And that's all? No hidden motives?"

Mufasa smirked. "I promise, I'm all about business."

Tsunade tapped her fingers on the table, considering. "Even if I agreed, convincing the council wouldn't be easy. You have a history of sneak attacks. The elders won't just roll over and approve a foreign settlement."

Mufasa remained unfazed. "That's why I have a proposal. One—our stationed personnel will be civilians, not shinobi. Two—we can hire Konoha ninjas as security. That way, you maintain control, and your people have job opportunities."

Tsunade pondered this, her skepticism easing slightly.

Mufasa pressed further. "And to make it fair, I'll offer Konoha the same deal. You can set up a trade district in my village, rent-free. Equal footing."

Tsunade scoffed. "Oh, please. What would we even sell to you? Konoha doesn't exactly have unique exports."

Mufasa thought to himself, 'I gave you an opportunity—don't come crying to me when you need funds later.'

With endless sandworm resources and a supply of underground oil, his village's economy was on the verge of booming. Konoha, on the other hand, would soon realize that it either needed to take on more high-risk missions or start selling food to keep up.

He smirked. "How about this? In exchange for a ten-year lease on a piece of land, I'll consider it a goodwill gesture toward lasting peace. Sound fair?"

Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "No stationed shinobi?"

"None," Mufasa confirmed. "Only civilians. And Konoha shinobi will handle security."

Tsunade drummed her fingers on the table, contemplating. "And where exactly are you looking to set this up?"

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Word count: 1729

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