Uchiha Shin dropped down from the crumbling ceiling above, sliding along a rusted pipe before landing lightly on the ruined courtyard below. As his feet touched the stone, he immediately sensed two familiar chakra signatures—Mikoto and Kanako.
But there was something else—another presence.
"Another chakra signature?" Shin muttered, his brow furrowing slightly. With a few swift leaps, he closed the distance to where the three figures were gathered.
As he landed, his gaze settled on Mikoto and Kanako, who were sitting on either side of a black-haired girl, seemingly trying to comfort her.
Noticing his arrival, the girl turned her curious eyes toward him. Their gazes met, and for a brief moment, they silently observed each other.
The girl had long, jet-black hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a silken waterfall. Her deep brown eyes were wide and clear, brimming with innocence—like a deer caught in the moonlight.
Her pale, delicate skin was flawless, smooth as the finest porcelain. Her lips, soft and full, carried a natural pink hue, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in bloom. She was slender, her figure balanced with the vibrancy of youth, yet possessing an undeniable elegance.
Shin quickly estimated that she was around fifteen or sixteen years old—older than him by a few years.
Meanwhile, from her perspective, Shin appeared as a strikingly handsome boy around her own age, his sharp Uchiha features making an immediate impression.
"Shin-kun!"
"Young Master!"
Mikoto and Kanako called out in unison, snapping Shin out of his assessment.
The black-haired girl widened her eyes slightly, realizing that the boy standing before her was a companion of the two kunoichi beside her.
"This is Sasha," Mikoto gestured toward the girl, motioning Shin closer. "She was already here when we arrived."
Kanako nodded in agreement. "She's from the royal family of Roran, but it looks like she's being watched by the Sand Ninja."
Shin's gaze flickered with understanding as he processed the information.
According to their earlier observations, Mikoto and Kanako had stumbled upon Sasha hiding in the ruins. At first, Sasha had mistaken them for assassins, but before they could clear the misunderstanding, two Sand Ninjas had appeared. After eliminating them, Mikoto and Kanako managed to calm Sasha down and learn more about her situation.
Now, with Shin present, the pieces began to fall into place.
"Sasha," Shin said, his tone measured. "You're the last surviving direct heir of the Roran royal family, aren't you?"
Sasha's expression darkened. A heavy silence followed before she finally nodded.
"I am the only one left," she admitted, her voice carrying a tinge of sorrow. "My parents were assassinated not long ago. I was the only one who survived."
Her voice cracked slightly on the last words, and Mikoto and Kanako's faces softened with sympathy.
Sasha, however, quickly steadied herself, taking a deep breath before locking eyes with Shin.
"You're outsiders, aren't you? What are you doing in Roran?"
The forehead protectors worn by Shin, Mikoto, and Kanako clearly marked them as shinobi unaffiliated with the Sand Village.
"We're from the Hidden Leaf Village," Shin answered plainly. "We're here to investigate the clay puppets the Sand Ninja have been using. There's a war happening outside, and the Hidden Sand has gained an advantage with these weapons. Our mission is to uncover the truth and put an end to it."
Sasha's eyes widened in shock. "There's a war? The clay puppets… they're being used in battle?"
She looked utterly bewildered.
To her, the Sand Village had always been an ally of Roran, collaborating to harness the power of the Dragon Veins. The clay puppets were merely tools—meant to aid in construction and protection, not instruments of war.
But as she studied Shin's expression, realization dawned on her.
"It seems Princess Sasha has been kept in the dark," Shin remarked, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.
Sasha's fists clenched. She wanted to deny it, but doubts gnawed at her.
In the wake of her parents' deaths, she had sensed a shift within Roran. The Sand Ninja had become more authoritative, their presence heavier. But she had never questioned it—until now.
"After your parents were killed," Shin continued, "the Sand Village took full control of Roran, didn't they?"
Sasha's breath hitched. She wanted to refute his words, but no argument came to mind.
Mikoto, who had been listening intently, narrowed her eyes. "If only Sasha and her family can control the Dragon Veins… why didn't the Sand Village just kill her, too?"
Her question hung in the air, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
Before Shin could respond, Sasha answered in a quiet voice.
"The Dragon Veins haven't been fully unlocked yet… They still need me. I can activate it. I can control it. That's why they've kept me alive."
Her voice trembled slightly, her realization weighing heavily upon her.
Kanako stepped forward and, without a word, wrapped Sasha in a comforting hug.
"We don't have time to wallow in sadness," Kanako said firmly. "We have to keep moving. We have to survive. That's what your parents would want."
Kanako's words held an underlying bitterness—resentment toward the Sand Village, toward the Rock Village… even toward Konoha itself.
From Shin, she had learned the cruel history of the Uzumaki Clan—how they were betrayed, hunted, and destroyed. She understood now that only power dictated survival in this world. And she would not allow herself to be powerless.
Sasha, taking in Kanako's determined gaze, slowly nodded. The fear in her eyes dimmed, replaced by resolve.
"You should hold onto that determination, Sasha," Shin said, his tone shifting. "Because you won't have time to sit around talking much longer."
He turned sharply, his Sharingan activating as he gazed toward the courtyard entrance.
A group of Sand Ninja had arrived.
They moved swiftly, commanding their clay puppets forward to storm the ruins—only for the puppets to collapse the moment they crossed the threshold.
"What?!" The leading Sand Ninja exclaimed in shock.
"The power of the Dragon Vein doesn't extend here," Sasha explained, stepping forward. "There's something about this place… I don't know the exact reason, but the energy is disrupted here."
Shin immediately took note of the invisible chakra fluctuations. There was a seal—an ancient one, hidden beneath the courtyard ruins. A sealing technique crafted by the Roran royal family, designed to neutralize the Dragon Vein's influence.
The Sand Ninja exchanged wary glances.
They had long abandoned conventional wooden puppets, placing all their faith in the superior performance of clay constructs. Now, without their puppets, they were momentarily vulnerable.
But retreat was not an option.
They had orders to capture Sasha, and they would not return empty-handed.
After a brief hesitation, the Sand Ninja drew their weapons and charged toward Shin and his team.
"Tch. Well, that's one way to speed things up," Shin muttered, slipping into a combat stance. "Mikoto, Kanako—let's finish this quickly."
Sasha, standing behind them, clenched her fists.
This was war.
And there was no turning back now.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones