Encountering Sandstorm

Alright so here we are back after my exam break, though still one left and sorry for the wait. As long as there is no emergency, I will try to continue to write, and as I have said before updates might not be regular and would be like every 2-3 days from these till 54 I have written.

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While on the journey towards Loran City, Pakura informed them it might take 5 to 10 days to reach their destination.

The information she had about the Leaf Ninjas suggested they might arrive earlier than them.

Though particular time that might take them is not known to her.

"So we need to quicken our pace, we will take few rests and use ration pills and solider pills or military rations a lot." She instructed them.

Military Rations were concentrated nutrient supplements specifically designed for ninjas.

They were very unpleasant in taste, but they were highly helpful and useful for long fights and travels.

They allowed ninjas to stay awake and focused for extended periods of time by heightening their mental state and providing bursts of energy.

And Ninja even wouldn't need for Meals as they also replace meals for Ninjas.

Though Military Rations and Soldier Pills were slightly different, as Soldier Pills were said to be more potent and costly, their primary functions were the same.

A single Military Ration in Sunagakure cost a minimum of 250 Ryo.

The team did as Pakura instructed, using Military Rations with minimal rests and maintaining a fast pace to reach Loran City as early as possible.

This was crucial since the team didn't know precisely when the Leaf Ninjas would arrive.

Even though Kaiji knew about the events that would take place, he himself didn't know when they would actually begin.

He only wished that the events of the movie would take place before his team reached Loran City, hopefully giving them advantage of observation and able complete their mission safely.

He has no desire for taking part in fight between Anrokuzan and Team Minato plus future Naruto.

The journey was somewhat arduous from Sunagakure to Loran City for the team.

The glimpses of the village faded behind them, gradually changing into loose, shifting dunes during their travel.

Kaiji felt that the sun was far more relentless than during his previous mission travels.

The sensation of dry, hot air baking exposed skin was suffocating but bearable for them, as seasoned desert dwellers.

The distant, mournful cry of desert birds like hawks and corvids could be heard sometimes, carried by the dry winds.

With the team's fast speed and no useless or prolonged rests, they had a strong feeling that they would reach their destination soon.

However, the landscapes still consisted of endless stretches of sand.

The sun beat down intensely during daylight hours, making the journey even more demanding.

They sometimes rested in a few small villages and their inns, while at other times they slept outside.

The sky often remained a cloudless azure during the day.

They hardly saw any desert plants—only cacti and thorny bushes clinging to life in the harsh environment.

...

After three days of traveling, the team suddenly faced a sandstorm.

It turned the sky a murky orange-brown, and the wind began howling, whipping sand with immense force.

The sandstorm suddenly caused the temperature to drop, making the air thicker as it blocked the sun.

A surge of dry, hot wind came rushing towards them.

"Everyone calm down and st—" Pakura began, trying to issue instructions.

But before she could complete her sentence, Mukade and Ryu shouted in union, in panic.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!" they exclaimed.

"I said Calm down, Kids," Pakura said in a firm voice, cutting through their panic.

"Sandstorms are common in deeper part of deserts," she explained, her voice steady despite the chaos ahead them.

"You might have yet to experience them in your mission, so it will be your first time tackling it."

Maki asked with a slight panic in her eyes, "Sensei, what do we do to tackle it then?!"

Pakura looked at her and the others while shaking her head gently.

"Sorry my mistake, none of you can tackle it," she stated.

"That is for me to do. You all can only endure."

Hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded for a moment, and panic started to rise among the younger Genin.

Even Kaiji has first encounter a sandstorm.

Pakura's words, despite being true, were definitely not comforting for them in that moment.

Pakura chuckled lightly on their reactions, understanding their fear.

Even the senior Genin were a little panicked.

Although they had encountered this kind of natural disaster before, their experiences had obviously not been good, and they had a hard time countering them effectively.

While the sandstorm was rapidly coming towards them, and no natural shelter was available besides them, Pakura quickly gave her final instructions.

She stood facing the approaching sandstorm.

"All of you huddle together and crouch low," she commanded.

"While I will take care of the Storm, but you still need to protect yourself if I still can't completely take care of it."

Directly after saying that, Pakura made some hand signs:

Ram → Tiger → Horse → Serpent → Bird → Boar → Ox → Hare.

Then, calmly and in a low voice, she uttered,

"Scorch Release: Searing Gale!"

("Shakuton: Shakunetau no shippū!")

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