Chapter 200
The desert was filled with wind and sand, and visibility was reduced to the lowest point amidst the yellow sand. The sky was dark and gloomy, and everywhere I looked was a world of sand.
In the sandstorm, under an artificially created shelter, a group of people were squatting below, silently waiting for the sandstorm to dissipate.
"How much longer?"
Lu Nie looked at the ninja wearing a Sand Ninja forehead protector not far away, who is also the right-hand man ninja of the Fourth Kazekage, Maki.
"It's almost there. We have entered the core area. As long as we wait until this storm passes, we will soon reach Loulan. According to the information we found, the traitor is hiding in Loulan. We only need to take the handwritten letter from Lord Kazekage to obtain the search permission from the King of Loulan."
The jonin Maki answered immediately. He didn't expect that Orochimaru, who became the Hokage, would actually delegate Nara Kagawa, but it also showed from the side that Konoha's current attitude towards the Wind Country and Sand Village joining hands has not changed.
Lu Ni nodded. This time, in addition to Itachi, his team also included the third generation's son, Asuma Sarutobi.
Shisui and Hongdou did not come along during this period when the village was in turmoil and lacked fighting power.
In other words, Orochimaru did not think that the ninjas who defected from the Sand Village required the mobilization of too many of Konoha's top combat forces. In his opinion, one Kane was already a very important matter.
This emphasis was not directed at the Sand Ninja traitor Baizu, but at the test of the Wind Country Daimyo. As for Itachi and Asuma, they were brought out to gain mission experience.
After all, the Sand Village also has Sand Ninjas who will work together to carry out this mission.
After the sandstorm, the dazzling sun reappeared in the sky, and the surrounding terrain had already changed its appearance after being ravaged by the sandstorm.
The fine sand floating in the wind, mixed with the warm air, blows on people's faces.
The weather is extremely hot and muggy.
The group continued on their journey led by the Sand Ninja.
Looking down from the sky, in the endless sea of sand, several black figures like ants are moving among the sand dunes.
Finally, before dark, we arrived at the place Maki mentioned.
Loulan!
Standing on a high sand dune and looking towards the place Maki pointed, I saw a huge building shining brightly in the last rays of the setting sun.
It was a huge and densely packed complex in the desert, with a high wall around it to block the wind and sand from outside.
“Is this the Kingdom of Loulan?”
Itachi and Asuma looked at the buildings in the distance, curiosity flashing in their eyes. They had read the intelligence of this mission, which stated that Loulan, like the Grass Kingdom and other countries, was a small country located near a large country.
The only difference between Loulan and other small countries like the Kingdom of Grass is that Loulan is located in the desert within the Kingdom of Wind.
Unlike other countries, although the Kingdom of Wind is very large, there are not many places that are habitable and have a good environment. Many places are deserts with no people.
Therefore, the Kingdom of Wind does not attach as much importance to the territory within its borders as other great powers. Therefore, there are also some small countries that have taken root and survived in the desert.
According to intelligence reports, Loulan was a remote place in the desert, where the people lived in poverty and hardship, to the point where no one cared about it. Even the daimyo of the Kingdom of Wind had forgotten that there was such a small country in their territory.
But even though they hadn't entered yet, after just a quick glance from the outside and observing for a moment, even with the vision of the two children, Itachi and Asuma, they felt that this place did not seem to be an extremely backward, poor, forgotten small country as the intelligence said.
Judging from the intact outer walls alone, this country does not seem to be as extremely poor as the intelligence reports say.
"Isn't it said that Loulan is a poor country?"
Asuma raised his head and subconsciously glanced at the Sand Ninja Maki who was also surprised.
Maki looked down at Asuma who was asking, and shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't know either. Because Loulan was like a monster's lair, none of the Anbu ninjas that they had sent to sneak in had ever come out alive.
The Sand Ninja really does not have many people who can be delegated and used now, otherwise the Fourth Kazekage Rasa would not have to accept the proposal of the alliance between the Daimyo of the Wind Country and the Konoha of the Fire Country with a pinch of his nose.
"That is to say, some changes have taken place inside this country that we are not aware of! So should we enter normally?"
Itachi also raised his eyes and glanced at his teacher, Lu Nie. He judged that some unknown changes had occurred in Loulan, and if he entered normally, there might be some danger.
If possible, the natural thing to do is to sneak in and find out some internal intelligence, and then make the next decision based on the intelligence obtained.
Itachi even had a sensitive intuition that the changes in Loulan might be related to the traitorous ninja who had rebelled against the Sand Village earlier.
Otherwise, there would be no need for Loulan to confront a war machine like the Sand Village.
"Didn't you notice?" Lu Nie reminded Itachi and others.
"Noticed what?" Maki was a little confused.
"Some kind of powerful energy source!" Lu Ni did not hide it, and prompted Itachi to use the experience he had taught him when he learned the Red Fire Cannon to feel the energy floating in the air.
Itachi closed his eyes and sensed it carefully for a moment, then opened his eyes and nodded seriously: "The natural energy here is very active, but it seems to be different from the natural energy I have sensed before."
Maki naturally did not doubt that Lunie would lie to them about such a matter. In his opinion, such a lie was unnecessary.
His eyes instantly fell on a Sand Ninja next to him. After careful perception, the Sand Ninja shook his head at him with a little bitterness.
"I do feel that there is a strong chakra entrenched in Loulan, but this feeling is not obvious. If it weren't for the senior ninja Lu Nie saying it, it would be easily overlooked."
"Perhaps, this is the reason for Loulan's change." Maki pondered for a moment, and discussed with Lu Nie: "I will sneak in with you, and then let one of them stay outside and wait, and the other will return to the Sand Village to report the latest information to Lord Kazekage and the Hokage."
Lu Nie nodded and did not reject Maki's proposal.
However, Lu Ne did not leave Itachi and Asuma outside. The four of them sneaked into Loulan together.
However, when they used the earth escape technique to sneak in from underground, they seemed to touch some invisible barrier, and then sneaked in without resistance like bubbles. Except for Lu Nie and Itachi, who had extremely strong mental power and noticed something strange, Maki and Asuma entered Loulan without any feeling.
(End of this chapter)