Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

"Tailuo is absolutely right. We can't keep letting others hold us by the throat," Kijima agreed with a nod.

"But steelmaking's a real technical job. We've tried it before—what we produced was trash. We just don't have the skills or the people for it."

"Funny you mention that. I happen to know someone who can help," Aotu Tailuo said with a sly grin.

"Who?" Kijima asked.

"That Iwagakure defector I brought with me—Kazama Xu."

Just as the three were deep in discussion, Nagato burst through the door, face ashen with panic.

"This is bad! Yahiko—the miners at Sumu Iron Mine have rioted!"

"What? A riot? Why?!" Yahiko shot to his feet.

"An overseer beat a miner to death. The whole workforce is furious—nearly ten thousand miners are storming the Sumu Iron Mine's office. I don't think they can hold out much longer!"

Kijima went pale. Yahiko's face twisted with anger, but Aotu Tailuo just narrowed his eyes, thoughtful.

"Alert all Akatsuki shinobi—head to Sumu Iron Mine and maintain order. Nagato, Tailuo, move out!" Yahiko barked, grabbing his cloak and rushing from the office like a gust of wind.

…

"Looks like everything's going according to plan."

High above, on a nearby rooftop, Danzō watched the chaos below with a satisfied smirk. Over ten thousand furious miners surged beneath him.

Thanks to Amegakure's constant rain and muggy heat, miners usually wore just a hard hat and a raincoat over their bare chests—pants, but nothing else. That way, it was cool and easy to work shirtless down in the mines.

Now, driven by rage, the miners were a tidal wave of bare torsos, skin smeared with ore dust and rainwater, looking like a living, gray mudslide as they crashed toward the Sumu Iron Mine's office building.

Iron pickaxes smashed walls, tore down fences, and in no time, the outer defenses were reduced to rubble.

"Punish the murderer!"

"Give us back our lives!"

The shouts and wails rose to the heavens.

Inside, Nogae Kamesan and his cronies pressed desperately against the doors, knowing that if this last barrier failed, the miners would tear them limb from limb.

"Yahiko's here," Uchiha Fugaku remarked from the next rooftop, pointing as a group approached.

Danzō narrowed his eyes. Sure enough, Yahiko was striding forward at the head of a group—Nagato, Kijima, and Aotu Tailuo close behind, followed by a wave of shinobi in red cloud cloaks.

"Perfect timing. Let's see if this so-called leader is as tough with these miners as he is with his enemies," Danzō muttered.

Yahiko could barely believe his eyes. The scene was hauntingly familiar—just like when he'd led the mob against Nōshin Kongō.

Am I… becoming him?

Seeing the troubled look on Yahiko's face, Aotu Tailuo quickly whispered in his ear…

"Leader Yahiko is here!"

"Leader Yahiko is here!"

Aotu Tailuo rallied the Akatsuki shinobi, who shouted loudly.

The miners froze at the sound, lowering their weapons and turning to look.

After all, Yahiko—the hero who'd toppled Nōshin Kongō and driven out the Hourglass Group—was still a legend among the workers.

A path opened up through the crowd.

With a cold, grim face, Yahiko strode to the office doors, Akatsuki shinobi fanning out behind him to form a human barricade.

"Open up! It's Yahiko!" he shouted, pounding on the iron door.

Creeeeak—

The door swung open.

The miners surged forward, ready to storm inside, but the Akatsuki shinobi held them back, forming an unbreakable line.

"Everyone!" Yahiko produced a metal megaphone from somewhere and boomed over the crowd, gradually bringing the chaos to a hush.

"I know what happened. I'm sorry—we got here too late." With that, Yahiko bowed deeply to the miners.

"Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this today! Where is Nogae Kamesan?!"

He roared the name.

Right on cue, a man was booted out of the doorway—none other than Nogae Kamesan.

"You're Nogae Kamesan?" Yahiko's voice was icy.

"Y-yes… that's me," Nogae Kamesan stammered, shaking.

"You killed a man?!"

"I… I… don't… know—"

"AH!" Yahiko let out a furious shout, drew a Damascus short blade with his left hand, and in one swift motion, severed Nogae Kamesan's head.

The head spun down the steps, blood spraying high as the body collapsed.

For a heartbeat, the miners were stunned. Then a tidal wave of cheers erupted.

Yahiko kicked the headless corpse down the stairs and raised a hand for silence.

"Brothers and sisters, I am truly sorry. I, Yahiko, was blind—such a monstrous crime happened at Sumu Iron Mine, and I only just found out. For all you've suffered, I deserve death a hundred times over."

With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees.

The miners had never seen anything like this—a ninja leader kneeling before the working class! In a rush, they all knelt as well.

Choking with emotion, Yahiko confessed his failings, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Then, he announced on the spot: the Hiame Group would abolish the overseer system; both Sada and Sumu Iron Mines would halt operations for reorganization; all miners would receive one month of paid leave; and the families of the dead would be fully supported by Akatsuki.

In less than half an hour, the riot melted away.

…

"This man cannot be allowed to live!"

High above, Danzō's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"So ruthless, so skilled at winning hearts and playing to the crowd. And so hostile to Konoha. If he's left alive, he'll become a disaster for us. Sakumo!"

"Here!"

"Draw up an assassination plan."

"Yes, sir!"

"There's definitely something fishy here! Look at this!"

Aotu Tailuo slammed a whip with iron barbs onto the desk. The sharp barbs dug deep into the solid wood, and with a light tug, Aotu Tailuo left inch-long gouges in the surface.

"This is the whip Nogae Kamesan used. If it does this to a hardwood desk, imagine what it does to flesh. Most people wouldn't survive three lashes. No matter how much of a brute he was, he wouldn't just beat someone to death for no reason."

"You're saying he was set up?" Yahiko examined the whip closely.

"Eighty percent chance it was genjutsu. Ninety percent chance it was Konoha."

The first was the method, the second the culprit.

"Konoha! They're still not gone?!" Yahiko spat.

"They just left today," Konan reported.

"Hmph! Quick to run, aren't they. Konan, you need to step up with the ANBU preparations—our intelligence network is way behind."

"Yahiko, this work is too complicated. I'm afraid I'm not up to it," Konan admitted honestly, looking troubled.

She really was too kind for the dirty world of espionage.

"You're right. You're too good-hearted to beat those shameless bastards at their own game." Yahiko nodded, then turned to Aotu Tailuo.

"Tailuo, the job's yours now!"

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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