Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

"Brother, are you certain anyone can live in such a dark and sinister place?"

The Third Raikage, A, stared suspiciously at the pitch-black, eerily deep cave entrance.

The entrance exuded a chilling wind, filled with an ominous, ghostly aura. Low, haunting sounds echoed faintly from within—like the roars of tigers or the wails of ghosts. Before even stepping inside, one could feel the cold seeping through their sleeves, sending shivers down their spine.

"The more desolate the place, the better it is for hiding. What's the matter, big brother? Don't tell me you're scared to go in?"

Jing Hang teased, a sly grin on his face.

"Scared? Don't be ridiculous! I just find this whole thing too far-fetched. If anyone else had told me about this, I'd have called them a liar."

The Third Raikage chuckled.

"No worries. Whether it's true or not, we'll find out soon enough. Worst case, we'll treat it as a sightseeing trip. Here, take this."

Jing Hang handed him a small talisman.

"What's this?"

The Third Raikage took it and examined it curiously.

"It's a Fortified Mind Talisman, crafted by the Great Immortal Huang of Xuanyuan Mound himself. It's specifically designed to counter genjutsu. That old fox is a renowned genjutsu master. If you accidentally get caught in one, I'll be left fighting two opponents alone—and that's a recipe for disaster."

Jing Hang spoke with a rare seriousness.

Seeing his earnest expression, the Third Raikage didn't argue and promptly secured the talisman to his belt.

"Maki! Sherry!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Have the Third and Fourth Divisions stand by outside the cave. Be ready to move at my signal!"

"Understood!"

With that, Jing Hang disappeared into the cave, with the Third Raikage following closely behind.

The "Bottomless Abyss" wasn't a vertical pit as its name might suggest, but rather a gently sloping karst cave that extended deep underground.

After traveling four or five miles, the darkness grew deeper, and the cold became bone-chilling. Jing Hang took out a night-illuminating stick to light the way. The cave was filled with towering stalagmites and jagged rocks, some as tall as a thousand feet. Their grotesque shapes resembled ferocious beasts or eerie demons, exuding a menacing presence as if they were ready to devour anyone who dared approach. Both men marveled at the sight, clicking their tongues in awe at nature's craftsmanship.

They walked for what felt like an eternity, until suddenly, the space ahead opened up. What lay before them was astonishing—a bright, open area bathed in light, with the sound of wind rustling through grass and trees. Flowers, fruits, and greenery thrived, creating a scene so surreal it left both men dumbfounded.

"Who would've thought such a place existed in the ninja world? Truly incredible!"

The Third Raikage couldn't help but exclaim.

"Indeed. If we turned this place into a tourist spot, we'd make a killing just from ticket sales!"

Jing Hang scanned the surroundings, equally amazed.

As he spoke, he pulled out a small box, gently opened it, and released a bee, which flew straight out of the cave.

"This place is spacious enough for our forces to deploy. Let's have them come in while we press on ahead."

Jing Hang said, resuming his journey deeper into the cave.

After another ten or so miles, the light began to dim, and the cave became increasingly barren. They eventually arrived at a massive shaft, its design eerily similar to the layout of an ancient mountain tomb.

This must be it, Jing Hang thought, his heart racing with excitement. It seemed they had a high chance of solving the problem in one go this time!

Finally, Jing Hang laid eyes on the colossal Gedo Statue, still bound by black iron chains. Beneath its towering form sat an elderly man, hunched and gray-haired.

Who else could it be but Madara Uchiha?

"Ha ha! At last, I see you again!"

Jing Hang exclaimed, his excitement barely contained.

Beside him, the Third Raikage, A, stared at the massive Gedo Statue in stunned silence. He pinched his own cheek to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

"It has been a while. You seem quite thrilled."

Madara Uchiha spoke with a calm, emotionless tone, his half-closed eyes as still as a silent, ancient well.

"And who is this?"

Madara's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the Third Raikage.

"Oh, forgive me. I was so excited to see you that I forgot to introduce him. This is A, the Third Raikage of Kumogakure—my friend."

The Third Raikage took half a step forward, his presence sharp and imposing, like an unsheathed blade.

"Hmm, not bad. He seems stronger than your predecessors. So, is he your backup?"

Madara asked.

"That's right," Jing Hang replied without hesitation.

"Then it seems we won't settle this peacefully today, will we?"

Madara inquired.

"Not necessarily. If you hand over one person to us, my brother and I will turn around and leave, letting you enjoy your retirement here."

Jing Hang smiled faintly.

"Who?"

"Black Zetsu."

"...Huh?"

Madara was visibly surprised. He hadn't expected Jing Hang's primary target to be someone other than himself.

"Unfortunately, he's not here. But even if he were, I wouldn't hand him over to you. He is a manifestation of my will. Giving him up would be no different from surrendering my own life to you."

What nonsense—your will? More like someone else's will!

But arguing with an old man who had clung to a single belief for decades was as futile as trying to convince a group of elderly women to stop blasting music during their morning square dances. It was an impossible task.

Sure enough—

"You people just don't understand! Permanent peace is unattainable in this world. Only the great Eye of the Moon can..."

Madara began preaching his ideals again, his demeanor resembling that of a cult leader lost in his own delusions.

The Third Raikage couldn't take it anymore. As a staunch "materialist," the idea of trapping the entire world in a massive genjutsu was something he simply couldn't accept. He was ready to charge forward and give Madara a taste of his fists, but Jing Hang stopped him.

"Let him talk. He won't live for much longer anyway. Can't we let him have his final words?"

Jing Hang deliberately raised his voice, trying to provoke Madara.

It worked.

Madara stopped his sermon, his Sharingan glaring at Jing Hang with a cold, deadly light.

"What are you staring at? Keep it up, and I'll gouge those eyes out!"

Jing Hang retorted without hesitation.

Madara was momentarily stunned, then let out a laugh as eerie as an owl's cry in the night.

"Twenty years ago, if someone had dared speak to me like that, I would've erased them from existence!"

"I believe you!"

Jing Hang replied, completely unfazed.

"But alas, time only moves forward. There's no turning back. Don't blame me for bullying an old man—it's not just about me!"

Madara was left speechless by Jing Hang's shameless rebuttal.

"Are you so confident?"

"Let's find out!"

Madara said no more. Suddenly, he formed a series of hand seals.

The Gedo Statue behind him opened its massive mouth, releasing a swarm of White Zetsu!

In an instant, the enormous cavern was filled with countless grotesque White Zetsu, their numbers easily in the thousands.

"Seems like you've been busy these past few years," Jing Hang quipped.

"But I didn't come alone either. Where are the Third and Fourth Divisions?!"

Countless Sunagakure ninjas, clad in white battle uniforms, poured into the cavern. At the forefront were Sherry, commander of the Third Division, and Maki, commander of the Fourth Division.

A fierce battle was about to erupt!

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