Naruto: The Sand Will Rise!

Tsunade unrolled the map of Konoha Village and spread it across the table.

Mufasa leaned over, tapping a spot near the Naka River. "Right here. It's where we're currently camped."

Tsunade frowned. "You think this place is good?"

Mufasa nodded. "It's perfect. Great spot for business."

Tsunade eyed him suspiciously. The location was on the outskirts of Konoha, with no buildings nearby. In the past, this area had been home to the Uchiha clan before their downfall.

Mufasa chuckled. "Your village center is too crowded. It's not suitable for a large-scale store like ours. Sand Village wants to open a supermarket—something spacious and accessible. A small, packed area won't work for us."

Tsunade's suspicion deepened. She leaned in, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "You're not trying to pull anything, are you? If you are, you won't get away with it."

Mufasa met her stare without flinching, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "If you don't trust me, I'll hand over the entire construction process to you. That should put you at ease."

Tsunade crossed her arms, considering. "We'll need to inspect the goods first."

"Of course," Mufasa said smoothly.

Tsunade studied him for a moment longer. His eyes were clear—like a deep lake, unreadable. If there was deception, it was masterfully hidden. Finally, she sighed and sat down. "Alright. I'll discuss this with the village advisors. Give us some time."

Mufasa nodded. "I'll wait for your good news."

He relaxed in the lounge while Tsunade gathered Konoha's senior advisors: Mitokado Homura, Koharu Utatane, and a begrudging Danzo Shimura.

Tsunade explained Mufasa's request.

Danzo scoffed immediately. "Absolutely not. We cannot agree to this."

He wanted the tensions between the villages to continue.

Tsunade's patience snapped. "Danzo, you agreed earlier that if you lost, you'd honor the terms I negotiated. You have no say in this."

Danzo scowled. "Even if I lost, I will set aside my pride for the sake of the village."

"Enough! This isn't about your personal pride—it's about Konoha's safety." Tsunade's voice was sharp. "There are greater threats at play. Conspiracies are moving in the shadows. We need to focus on defending the village, not wasting energy fighting Sand Ninja over petty disputes."

"If we keep fighting, the only ones who will benefit are Iwagakure and Kumogakure," she added pointedly.

Koharu sighed. "She's right. Fighting Sand Village won't help us. They have nothing we need."

Homura nodded. "The Sand Ninjas are as stubborn as desert rock. They fight to the death without hesitation. Even if we win, the cost in lives would be too great."

Koharu concluded, "If they want a piece of land by the Naka River, away from the village center, let them have it."

"And we control the construction and security," Homura added. "Anbu can keep an eye on them."

With both advisors in agreement, Danzo had no choice but to fall silent.

Tsunade stood. "Then it's settled. We'll move forward with the agreement."

At that moment, a messenger burst in. "Lady Tsunade! Emergency! We're under attack!"

Tsunade's expression hardened. "Who?"

"Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki! They're after Naruto!"

Danzo stiffened. "Why is Itachi here...?"

Tsunade shot him a sharp look. He was hiding something.

"Where are they now? Has Naruto been captured?" she demanded.

"No. Kurenai Yuhi and Kakashi Hatake are fighting them."

Tsunade clenched her fists. "We're going. Naruto can't fall into their hands. Shizune! Inform Kazekage that the meeting is postponed!"

Tsunade sprinted towards the battle.

Shizune quickly relayed the message to Mufasa.

Mufasa frowned. "What happened?"

Shizune hesitated.

Mufasa's expression darkened. "If you're keeping secrets, I'll leave now, and the blame for the war between our villages will fall on you."

Shizune panicked. "No! I'll tell you!"

Mufasa listened, then scoffed. "Uchiha Itachi, still causing trouble? Fine. I'll handle this."

Turning to Temari and Baki, he ordered, "Wait here."

He took off, catching up to Tsunade.

"Want a ride?" he called down.

Tsunade glanced up to see him hovering above. "I don't need it. Hokage doesn't get carried around."

Mufasa chuckled. "I could just enhance your magnetic field so you can fly yourself."

Tsunade ignored him, increasing her speed. Mufasa smirked and shot ahead.

At the riverbank, Itachi battled Kakashi and Kurenai, calm and composed. Kisame stood nearby, grinning with his massive sword, Samehada, on his back.

Suddenly, a shadow descended from above.

Kisame grinned. "Well, well, who's this? Another Konoha ninja?"

Itachi's expression darkened. "Be careful. That's Kazekage."

Kisame laughed. "Kazekage? Hah! Just another opponent to cut down."

Mufasa landed gracefully on the water. "Oh, Sharkface, full of energy today, aren't we?"

Kisame's grin widened, revealing sharp teeth. "You have no idea. Let's see how tough a Kazekage really is."

Without hesitation, he created a water clone and trapped Mufasa in a water prison.

"That was easy," Kisame scoffed.

Itachi, however, wasn't convinced. He narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't right.

Inside the water prison, Mufasa tilted his head. "Is that Samehada?"

Kisame sneered. "What's it to you?"

"Interesting. Mind if I take a closer look?"

Kisame approached, gripping the hilt. "You want to see it? Here—up close."

He swung Samehada down.

Mufasa caught it with one hand.

Kisame's eyes widened. "What?!"

Mufasa smirked, his grip tightening. Blue and white chakra flared around his hand, countering the sword's energy drain.

Samehada shuddered, then… wagged its tongue.

Kisame's stomach dropped. "No way…"

Mufasa chuckled. "Oh? It seems to like me."

Samehada vibrated excitedly, its spiky form swelling.

"Want to stay with me instead?" Mufasa mused.

Samehada twitched eagerly.

Kisame's face twisted in horror. "What the hell is happening?!"

Itachi's voice was sharp. "Kisame! Retreat! Now!"

But Mufasa's grip didn't loosen.

"Too late."

The immense force shattered the water prison, sending a massive splash into the air.

The river surged violently.

Uchiha Itachi released Kakashi and turned his full attention to the battle.

Samehada had grown to an enormous size, its spiky surface expanding like an overfed beast.

With one strike, Mufasa would be crushed into a pulp.

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, his jagged teeth gleaming in the dim light.

"Bastard, go to hell!"

Something shocking happened.

Samehada didn't strike Mufasa. Instead, it coiled around him like a loyal pet snake.

It didn't growl, didn't resist, but its movements spoke volumes.

Samehada wasn't just obeying Mufasa—it liked him.

Mufasa chuckled, running a hand along the weapon's rough surface.

"Haha, good boy, good boy."

Samehada quivered in delight, its rough tongue flicking out like a pleased puppy.

Kisame's expression froze.

"What the hell?!"

Mufasa smirked. "See? You were right. It likes me. More than it likes you."

Kisame roared in frustration. "Impossible! No way in hell!"

This sword had been his partner for years. It had fought by his side, bonded with him. It couldn't betray him—not like this.

"Samehada! Get back here!"

Kisame yanked at the sword, but it wouldn't budge.

It resisted him.

Impossible.

His mind screamed in denial, but his hands felt the truth.

With a gentle tug, Mufasa pulled Samehada free from Kisame's grip.

Kisame's heart sank. He had lost it.

Fury exploded inside him. He wove hand seals at lightning speed.

"Water Style: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu!"

A massive water shark formed, its jaws wide open, surging toward Mufasa with deadly intent.

Mufasa didn't move. He simply lifted a single finger.

"You know water conducts electricity, right?"

A crackling blue-white bolt of lightning shot from his fingertip.

The water shark absorbed the charge instantly, turning into a conduit for the deadly current.

Kisame screamed as the electricity surged through him, his Akatsuki cloak sizzling and smoking as he was hurled backward.

Before he could hit the water, Itachi appeared, catching his dazed comrade with one arm.

Itachi locked eyes with Mufasa, analyzing, calculating.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and vanished, retreating with Kisame in tow.

"Wait!"

Sasuke appeared on the bridge, cutting off their escape.

Itachi barely spared him a glance. "I'm not interested in you right now."

His cold, indifferent tone hit Sasuke like a dagger to the heart.

"I'm going to kill you!"

With a furious roar, Sasuke lunged at him, but the outcome was already decided.

Holding Kisame with one hand, Itachi effortlessly blocked Sasuke's attacks with the other. Sasuke never stood a chance.

A moment later, Itachi had him by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

Sasuke gasped, his body trembling. "I've trained every day just to kill you... Why?!"

The gap in their strength crushed him.

"What have I been doing all this time...?"

Itachi's voice was cruelly calm. "Why are you so weak?"

Sasuke's breath hitched.

"Because your hatred isn't strong enough."

Itachi's eyes burned into him. "Hate me more. Despise me. That's the only way you'll ever be strong enough."

"Hey, Itachi," Mufasa interrupted. "Don't fill the kid's head with nonsense. That kind of thinking isn't healthy."

Itachi glanced at him but didn't engage.

Dropping Sasuke, he disappeared into the night with Kisame.

Mufasa crouched next to the fallen boy, smirking. "You wanna get stronger?"

Sasuke stared up at him, his mind clouded with doubt and pain.

"Then you have to believe in science."

Sasuke blinked in confusion.

"Knowledge is power, kid. Want to study science with me?"

Mufasa reached out a hand, his smile eerily similar to that of a sketchy street vendor trying to sell a dream.

Sasuke's fingers twitched. The defeat had left him shaken. He wanted power—needed power.

"Can I...?"

Mufasa grinned. "Of course."

"Mufasa! What the hell are you doing?!"

Tsunade's furious voice rang out as she stormed onto the scene.

Sasuke barely had time to process her arrival before he passed out.

Mufasa sighed. "Damn. Just when we were making progress."

Tsunade hoisted Sasuke into her arms. "Come on, let's get him to the hospital."

Outside the hospital ward, Naruto and Sakura rushed toward Mufasa.

"Uncle! Is Sasuke inside?!" Naruto panted.

Mufasa nodded. "Yeah, go on in."

Inside, Sasuke had woken up after treatment. Naruto and Sakura sat by his side, worry written all over their faces.

But Sasuke didn't react.

Itachi's words echoed in his mind.

"Why are you so weak?"

"Because your hatred isn't strong enough."

A decision formed in his heart. He needed more power. No matter the cost.

Tsunade stepped out of the room and approached Mufasa.

"Thanks for your help."

Mufasa waved it off. "No big deal."

Tsunade's eyes landed on the large bandage-wrapped object behind him. "What's that?"

Mufasa chuckled. "Just a little souvenir. Meet Samehada. My new pet."

Her brow twitched. "You tamed Kirigakure's most infamous sword? Just like that?"

Mufasa shrugged. "It was love at first sight."

Tsunade sighed. "Whatever. Come on, let's get back to the meeting."

"Lead the way."

Side by side, they walked back toward the Hokage's office, leaving behind the lingering storm of emotions in the hospital room.

_______________

Word count: 1796