The Sand Guardian

One Month Later:

The Kazekage's office was quiet, bathed in the soft light of the afternoon. Enma sat at his desk, surrounded by piles of paperwork. His eyes, as empty and cold as ever, followed the lines of the reports in front of him. He signed, annotated, and methodically handled the village's affairs without a trace of fatigue or emotion. The sounds from outside seemed distant, muffled by the thick walls of the building.

A slight rustling of paper caught his attention. His secretary, a young woman with neatly tied black hair, entered the room with another stack of documents. She bowed respectfully before placing the papers on the desk.

"Here are the latest reports on the village's finances, Kazekage-sama," she said, her voice soft but full of respect.

Enma nodded slowly in acknowledgment, his eyes never leaving the documents before him. He took a moment to review them before setting down his pen and looking at the secretary with a calm, almost detached expression.

"Go fetch Sasori. He needs to come here immediately."

The secretary, visibly surprised by the request, bowed once more before quickly leaving the room, heading down the hallways of the Kazekage complex.

Pov Sasori

In another part of the building, Sasori, having just finished one of his experiments in an adjacent room, was preparing to leave. His steps were silent, his eyes focused on his work. When an Anbu appeared before him, Sasori stopped, lifting his cold gaze to meet the masked figure.

"Sasori-sama," the Anbu said in a neutral voice, "Kazekage-sama requests your immediate presence in his office."

Sasori didn't react immediately. His eyes fixed on the Anbu for a moment, a slight amused smile forming on his lips. He knew Enma well and his direct manner of communication.

"I will go immediately," Sasori replied calmly, almost detached. He turned and began walking toward the Kazekage's office, his cloak trailing behind him.

Back in the Kazekage's Office:

The Kazekage's office was silent, bathed in the soft light filtering through the windows. Enma, motionless like a statue, sat at his desk, his empty and cold eyes fixed on the scattered papers before him. He methodically went through the documents, showing no expression on his face, each movement precise and deliberate, as if the entire situation evoked no emotion in him.

Sasori, standing next to him, waited for the silence to be broken. He knew the moment would come, that the decision Enma would make was crucial, but he had no intention of rushing things. This was not Enma's way—to be swayed by emotions. The Kazekage seemed devoid of any inner agitation.

Finally, Enma's voice broke the silence, flat and without intonation.

"It's time. The war against Iwa must begin."

Sasori straightened slightly, his cold gaze meeting Enma's. "You know what this implies. Iwa is a powerful village. If we go to war with them, there's no turning back."

Enma nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the report in front of him. "I know. Iwa killed the Third Kazekage. There's no room for mercy."

Sasori observed him for a moment. The complete lack of emotion in his voice, in his gaze, fascinated him. "This is more than just revenge. This will be total war."

"There is no other option," Enma replied, his voice still as monotone as ever. "Iwa must be punished for their act. The Third Kazekage will not return. But we must move forward. This is not about emotion. It is a necessity."

Sasori did not respond immediately. He knew Enma well. Revenge didn't interest him; it was merely an excuse to wage a war that he deemed essential to protect Suna. Sasori did wonder, however, if this coldness of soul would eventually consume him. But for now, he had one goal: ensuring victory.

"Do you want us to strike quickly?" he asked.

"Yes," Enma replied with a single word, but a categorical affirmation. "The information we have is precise enough. We will strike their supply lines. We will hit them where they are vulnerable. Everything will be planned carefully."

Sasori nodded, satisfied with the response. "We will use the puppets for infiltration. Our spies' reports should arrive in the next few days. I will begin preparations immediately."

Enma briefly lifted his eyes from his papers, staring at Sasori without expression. "Do it. We must weaken their logistics before launching a direct offensive. Information will be our weapon."

"And after?" Sasori asked.

"After, we strike. Quickly, and with force. We must surprise them. Once their ability to retaliate is reduced, we will intensify our attacks."

Sasori paused before responding. "It's risky. We must also anticipate their counterattack."

"We will be ready," Enma said, his eyes once again lost in the papers before him. "Suna must not falter. We will make sure the war is swift and decisive. We have no time to waste."

The two men remained in a heavy silence for a moment, their thoughts focused on the inevitable conflict that was brewing. Enma's eyes remained impassive, devoid of any emotion, while the weight of the heavy decisions to be made rested solely on his shoulders.

"Prepare yourselves," Enma finally said, his tone still as flat. "The war against Iwa will begin soon."

Sasori, silent, nodded before slowly leaving the room to implement the necessary preparations.

Enma slowly raised his hand and pressed the button on his desk, a signal meant to summon the Anbu. Moments later, the shadow of an Anbu appeared directly before him, silent and stealthy as a ghost.

"You called for me, Kazekage-sama?" the Anbu asked, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.

Enma slowly turned his head toward the Anbu, his eyes still as empty as ever. "Assemble all the members of the Council, as well as the elders. Inform them that an urgent meeting will take place. Rasa, Chiyo, the head of the jonin, chunin, and genin, along with the clan leaders, must be present."

The Anbu nodded without asking any questions, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. "I will take care of it immediately, Kazekage-sama."

"Ensure that everyone is there," Enma replied in his ever-monotone voice. "We have little time."

The Anbu gave a slight bow before retreating in a movement as swift as it was invisible.

The meeting was about to begin, but it wasn't held in the Kazekage's ordinary office. That evening, the special hall had been prepared to host Suna's most influential members. A large, solid wooden table dominated the center, surrounded by seats reserved for the elders, clan leaders, and troop commanders. The room, though simple, commanded a certain respect with its grandeur and the way it was arranged for such an occasion.

The first members began to enter, taking their places around the table. Enma remained motionless, as detached as ever, while Sasori stood at his side, his unwavering composure contrasting with the palpable tension of the other attendees. Chiyo, the former head of medical ninjas and Sasori's grandmother, was present, along with Rasa, the head of the jonin, in whom Enma had placed strategic trust. All the clan leaders were also there, fully aware of the gravity of this meeting.

Enma sat at the head of the table, his posture straight and motionless, exuding an almost unsettling calm. His vacant eyes scanned the room, and his face, as always, betrayed no emotion. When he rose, the silence became absolute. Everyone awaited his words.

"The death of the Third Kazekage is no longer a secret," he began, his monotone voice echoing through the hall. "Iwa dared to strike at our village by assassinating its leader. But this meeting is not about the past. It is about the future. This war is not vengeance. It is a declaration."

The council members remained attentive, their focus on Enma unwavering. Sasori stood behind him, his sharp gaze scanning the room, ready to act if needed.

"Our objective is simple," Enma continued. "We will strike Iwa where they are weakest, and we will do so methodically. The plan is in place. We will begin by sabotaging their supply lines, disrupting their logistics, and reducing their ability to retaliate. For them, this will be a war of attrition, but for us, it will be a swift and precise victory."

He turned slightly toward Chiyo, his eyes still devoid of any warmth. "Chiyo, you will oversee medical support strategies and battle assessments. Your expertise will be crucial in minimizing our losses."

Chiyo nodded, her expression serious and focused. She understood the gravity of the situation and the role she was to play.

Enma then fixed his gaze on Rasa, who stood straight, awaiting orders. "Rasa, you will lead the jonin, chunin, and genin. Your task is to coordinate swift strikes and maintain order among the forces. Discipline is paramount. Every mistake will be exploited by the enemy."

Rasa nodded without a word, fully accepting the responsibilities entrusted to him. Though he disagreed with Enma on several points, he knew Suna's survival depended on unwavering unity.

Finally, Enma turned slightly toward Sasori, who had not moved an inch. "Sasori," he said in his perpetually flat tone, "the puppet brigade will take the lead in infiltration. Your skills will be essential in destroying enemy bases and breaking their morale. You will be the shadow that strikes without warning."

Sasori gave a subtle nod, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, pleased with the key role assigned to him.

Enma continued, addressing the entire assembly. "This war is not just a response to Iwa. It is a demonstration of strength. Suna has lost its Kazekage, but this village is far more than one man. We must show all the elemental nations that even in loss, we remain powerful, determined, unyielding."

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the room, each word delivered with icy precision. "This is not a matter of emotion. It is a necessity. Iwa must understand that to harm Suna is to unleash a storm they cannot control."

The faces around the table were solemn, but none showed hesitation. All understood the importance of this moment.

Enma concluded, his monotone voice resonating like an eternal decree:

"'The desert wind never yields. It shapes the land and outlasts the storms.' We are that wind. We will strike without mercy and prove that even when Suna is attacked, it never falters. Prepare yourselves. The war begins now."

He sat down slowly, his gaze fixed ahead. The meeting was drawing to a close, but its impact was undeniable. One by one, the members left the room, their minds filled with a cold, unwavering determination. Sasori lingered a moment behind Enma, a faint smile on his lips, before departing to make his preparations.

Alone in the room, Enma stared at the map spread out before him, his vacant eyes already focused on the steps to come. The sandstorm he had unleashed was about to ravage Iwa.