Konoha's camp was alive with patrolling shinobi.

As sunset faded, the dusky sky deepened, and numerous campfires flickered to life, casting light across the darkening night.

Suddenly, a light breeze stirred, rapidly escalating into a sandstorm that whipped clouds of yellow dust across the camp.

"A sandstorm!"

Several Konoha shinobi panicked at the sight. Though it began modestly, the raging sand could soon bury the cloth tents.

They'd suffered a similar storm just last month—even that one started gentler than this.

Inside the meeting tent, high-ranking jōnin sat solemnly when a scout reported the storm's approach. Everyone's faces darkened with concern. Why did another storm strike so soon? Is our campsite that vulnerable?

With visibility deteriorating, this was exactly the kind of moment Sunagakure forces would exploit. Even with the Hyūga clan on vigilance, battling through a fierce desert storm put Konoha at a disadvantage—Sunagakure shinobi were accustomed to such terrain.

"Big Sis, how much chakra do you have left?" Nawaki asked, concerned by the unfolding threat.

Inside, Tsunade already regretted suggesting the bathhouse. If they hadn't, Nawaki could've used Wood Style to erect a barrier against the sandstorm.

Noticing her expression, Nawaki smiled.

I wouldn't let her feel guilty! Just because I cast that technique doesn't mean I'm chakra-drained—I can replenish instantly with Full Body Recovery. And best of all, it doesn't cost any points.

"Don't worry, Big Sis. I still have plenty of chakra—I can cast a large-scale defensive jutsu."

"Excellent. You deserve a reward!" Tsunade kissed him on the cheek and stood up.

The assembled jōnin quieted as Tsunade announced:

"I'm leaving this to Nawaki. He'll deal with the sandstorm. Hyūga clan, maintain vigilance in case Sunagakure strikes."

With that, Nawaki stepped into the center of the camp, silently drawing the watchful eyes of his fellow shinobi—they recognized the move about to unfold: techniques once used by the First Hokage.

Nawaki formed the Ram seal with both hands. Chakra surged like a tidal wave.

Wood Style: Giant Domed Wall Jutsu!

A thunderous roar echoed as massive timbers burst from the sand around the camp's perimeter. They stood upright and curved inward, merging overhead.

Within seconds, the logs coalesced into a colossal arching wall—an inverted cone shielding the camp from sand above and breathable air within.

Konoha's shinobi cheered, their voices bright in the night. Nawaki, however, panted and sweated heavily; the sheer size of the camp—nearly a kilometer long—meant the massive barrier had taken an immense toll on his chakra.

"Looks like my physique still isn't enough… I may need to improve my Perfect Sage Body…" he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Tsunade looked concerned and ordered him to rest inside the shelter. After all, two large-scale jutsu in a row were taxing—even for a Senju kid.

Nawaki nodded and returned to his hut, sitting cross-legged in a calm pose to begin chakra recovery. In truth, he had already topped himself off with Full Body Recovery—complete and silent. The colorful light columns appearing during heal sessions, popular among Reincarnators, were purely decorative to enhance the illusion of power.

Meanwhile, the storm intensified beyond the shield, but inside the barrier, Konoha's forces remained safe.

Then, a strange scent drifted in through an archway—heavy and unsettling. Soon, many shinobi began feeling weaker, as if their bones were turning to jelly and chakra grew difficult to muster.

"Poison gas!" Tsunade's face turned grim. Even with her A+ rank and Senju lineage, she felt the venom's effects—and it lingered, though her chakra and innate immunity reset her quickly. But the danger was real. Few others are this resilient.

Suddenly, shinobi began collapsing. An Ino-Shika-Chō trio member alerted the camp:

"A large group of Suna ninja is approaching fast!"

"Damn!"

Tsunade's expression hardened. She'd never faced such a quick-acting toxin. There would be no time to develop an antidote.

Indeed, as the sandstorm subsided, sand-masked shinobi moved through the swirling dusk, bypassing the shield to gather outside it.

Leading them was Chiyo, her eyes cold and focused. Behind her, ten puppets followed in disciplined formation.

"A Wood Style user appeared, weakening the poison's effect… but still, Konoha's forces must be reeling," Chiyo mused beneath her scarf.

She flicked a finger—and in unison, her puppets sprang into action, sawing, cutting, and slicing into the wooden wall.

They punched through gaps, and one by one, Suna ninjas slipped into the camp, brandishing weapons and slashing at collapse-weakened Konoha ninjas.

~~~

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Remove the parentheses btw