Naruto: The Sand Will Rise!

The towering walls of the Sand Village loomed in the distance, reinforced with automatic ninja turrets that scanned the surroundings.

The village itself was a stark contrast to Konoha. The wide streets were lined with streetlights, and futuristic floating cars zipped through the air. Buses rattled as they stopped to pick up passengers. Factories and workshops stretched out in carefully organized blocks, their chimneys releasing steady streams of steam into the sky. The roads were filled with people, all moving with purpose.

Sasuke observed everything in silence, taking in the unfamiliar scenery. It felt nothing like home. Konoha had its moments of busyness, but there was still an underlying sense of peace. Here, it was relentless—like an enormous factory in constant motion.

"You'll get used to it eventually," said Kimimaro, walking beside him. "Life here is simple. There aren't many distractions."

Sasuke wasn't looking for distractions. He was here for one reason.

"Where's Orochimaru?" he asked.

Kimimaro led him through the industrial zone to a heavily fortified facility on the outskirts of the village. It was the Sand Village's infamous sandworm breeding base.

The area was unsettling. Towering electric pylons surrounded the compound like a forest of lightning rods, and massive grids covered the sandy ground. Occasionally, the earth trembled from the movements of the creatures below. No other buildings were nearby—it was too dangerous.

It was the perfect place for Orochimaru's underground lab.

Before heading inside, Kimimaro showed Sasuke one of the main operations: blood extraction from the sandworms. The creatures were monstrous, their segmented bodies covered in hardened scales. Despite their terrifying appearance, they allowed the staff to insert tubes into their veins, extracting large quantities of blood with mechanical pumps.

Sasuke frowned. "What's this blood used for?"

Kimimaro's expression remained neutral. "You'll understand in time. Follow me."

They entered the facility and took an elevator down to the third underground level. The air was thick with sterilized chemicals. Medical equipment lined the walls, and the hum of machinery filled the space.

Orochimaru lay on a hospital bed, connected to several tubes. Kabuto stood nearby, monitoring his vitals. The snake-like ninja had recently transferred to a new body, but he still looked weakened from the process.

Kimimaro knocked on the door. "Lord Orochimaru, I've brought Sasuke."

Golden slitted eyes snapped open, gleaming with excitement. Orochimaru's lips curled into a slow, eerie smile as he licked his lips.

"Let him in."

Sasuke stepped forward, his gaze unreadable.

Orochimaru's voice was low and raspy. "Sasuke, you've finally arrived."

"I came for the power you promised me," Sasuke stated coldly.

Orochimaru chuckled. "And power you shall have. Everything is already prepared for you."

His excitement was almost palpable. Sasuke was still young, but in time, he would grow into the perfect vessel. Orochimaru trembled at the thought.

There was no need for unnecessary conversation. Both knew what the other wanted.

"Kimimaro, take Sasuke to the village registry," Orochimaru ordered.

Sasuke frowned. "Registry?"

Orochimaru smirked. "From now on, you are officially an employee of the Sandworm Breeding Center. Kimimaro will explain on the way. Once your registration is complete, your training will begin. Work hard, Sasuke."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You better not disappoint me. If you do, I'll kill you."

Orochimaru let out a low chuckle, his tongue flicking out. "Oh, I wouldn't have it any other way. Kekeke."

Kimimaro led Sasuke out of the lab and toward the village's administrative district.

"Every ninja who arrives here must register," Kimimaro explained as they walked. "Without it, you'll be treated as an intruder and arrested."

Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Why so strict?"

"The village is full of classified research and restricted zones. Unauthorized movement is not allowed," Kimimaro said simply.

He pointed toward a distant tower that pulsed with energy. "See that?"

Sasuke nodded. He had noticed it when he first arrived.

"That's the security hub. If you step out of line, it will crush you."

Sasuke wasn't concerned. He would do whatever was necessary to gain power.

"Registration has its benefits," Kimimaro continued. "Especially for workers like you."

"Workers?" Sasuke repeated, unimpressed.

"You'll be given a place to live, daily food rations, clothing, a bus pass, and a salary," Kimimaro listed. "Though there isn't much to spend it on."

"So the only thing worth buying is ninja gear," Sasuke mused.

Kimimaro nodded. "Exactly."

They arrived at the registration office, where a clerk quickly processed Sasuke's paperwork. Orochimaru's influence in the village ensured a smooth procedure. Within minutes, Sasuke was handed his new identification.

It read:

Name: Uchiha Sasuke

Position: Researcher at the Sandworm Breeding Center

A small photo of him was printed on the card.

The clerk also handed him a key, a bank card, a bus pass, a standard Sand Village uniform, and a booklet titled Guide to Life in the Sand Village.

"Your access level is restricted to your assigned work zone," the clerk informed him. "You are not permitted to enter higher-level areas unless explicitly authorized."

Sasuke glanced at the booklet. The Sandworm Breeding Center was classified as A-rank.

That night, Sasuke moved into his assigned apartment—a surprisingly spacious 120-square-meter living space. The room was fully furnished, complete with air conditioning and running water.

He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling.

For the first time since leaving Konoha, he allowed himself a small thought:

Life in the Sand Village isn't so bad.

This was the beginning of his new life

...

Two days later, Mufasa's convoy returned to the village.

The moment they arrived, Gaara stormed in, his aura filled with murderous intent.

"Sensei, we've identified the mastermind behind the grain price manipulation. It's Heiru, a major merchant from the capital," Gaara reported, his voice sharp with anger. "He's still manipulating the market as we speak."

His fists clenched. "Please, let me send someone to assassinate him."

Mufasa raised an eyebrow, his voice calm yet commanding. "Gaara, do you enjoy killing?"

Gaara, never one to hesitate, responded bluntly, "Killing makes me feel good."

A smirk played on Mufasa's lips. "Killing without purpose makes one a mindless beast. Killing for the wrong reasons makes one a foolish beast." His eyes locked onto Gaara's. "So tell me, are you a mindless beast or are you a foolish beast?"

Gaara froze. The question hit him like a strike to the gut.

"Sensei... isn't our goal to eliminate corrupt merchants who manipulate food prices and deter others from trying the same?"

Mufasa nodded. "So, you're not blind. That's a good start. But your approach is all wrong."

Gaara frowned. "Then what should we do?"

Mufasa's expression turned icy. "We will not slink in the shadows like assassins. We will kill openly, with absolute force, right in the heart of the capital. We will make an example of them, so no one dares to manipulate food prices again."

A wicked grin spread across Mufasa's face. "They dare profit off my people's suffering? Death is too light a punishment."

Gaara's eyes gleamed with understanding.

Mufasa turned to him. "Just wait. We will take something brand new to the capital. Then, the real show begins."

Gaara nodded. "I will follow your lead, sensei."

Mufasa then called out, "Kankuro. Get over here. There's something I want to show you."

Together, the three made their way to the underground research facility at the Sandworm Breeding Center.

As they entered, Orochimaru emerged to greet them, his face partially hidden beneath his cloak.

"Welcome back, my lord," he said with a twisted smile.

Mufasa wasted no time. "Take us to your research lab."

Gaara and Kankuro followed, but the moment they stepped inside, their eyes widened in shock.

Rows upon rows of cultivation tanks lined the walls, each containing grotesque, unnatural creatures. Chunks of flesh twitched in strange fluids, distorted animals writhed inside glass chambers, and even human figures floated in eerie silence.

Mufasa's voice broke through their stunned silence. "As my disciples, you two are among my most trusted. You need to see this."

They swallowed and nodded.

Turning to Orochimaru, Mufasa continued, "I have a new project for you. This will be the third task I entrust you with."

Orochimaru bowed his head slightly. "I await your orders."

With a smirk, Mufasa reached into his cloak and pulled out the legendary sword wrapped in bandages.

"Do you recognize this?"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Samehada... Kisame Hoshigaki's weapon."

Mufasa nodded.

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Did you defeat Kisame himself? And more importantly... did the sword accept you?"

Mufasa simply smirked in response.

Orochimaru's smile widened. "Then Akatsuki will certainly come after you."

Mufasa shrugged. "If they don't come to me, I'll go to them."

As they spoke, Gaara and Kankuro exchanged confused glances.

Ignoring them, Orochimaru licked his lips. "So, my lord, what do you intend to do with the Samehada?"

Mufasa turned to Kankuro. "Summon your puppets."

Without hesitation, Kankuro activated his scrolls. In a puff of smoke, his three puppets emerged.

Karasu: A humanoid puppet with three eyes and four arms, equipped with hidden weapons and detachable limbs.

Kuroari: Designed for capturing targets, its elongated head, red horns, and six arms made it an efficient hunting tool.

Sanshōuo: The ultimate defense puppet, capable of lying in wait underground or acting as an impenetrable shield.

All three were masterpieces crafted by the legendary Sasori before his defection.

Kankuro puffed out his chest. "I reinforced their frames with stronger metals and improved their weaponry, but I'm still struggling to take them to the next level."

Mufasa scoffed. "These puppets have too many flaws. Their attacks rely too much on launching ninja tools, which is inefficient. A ninja tool Gatling gun would be more practical. And their defense? Pathetic. Unless these puppets can use ninjutsu themselves, they're just glorified junk."

Kankuro winced.

Mufasa wasn't done. "And let's talk about puppet masters in general. Most of them stand in one place, relying on chakra strings while their enemies move at high speeds or use long-range attacks. It's a joke."

Kankuro wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Everything Mufasa said... it wasn't wrong.

His master continued. "That's where my plan comes in. I want to change the way puppets fight forever."

After Mufasa criticized the puppet masters, he shifted the conversation.

"But puppetry itself holds great potential as a form of ninjutsu."

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, many puppets were destroyed, but that only proved their need for improvement.

"I intend to enhance puppet techniques and make them even stronger," Mufasa continued. "In the future, our Sand Village will build an army of elite puppet masters."

Kankuro couldn't help but interject. "Sensei, training puppet masters is no easy feat."

Mastering puppetry required immense skill—manipulating a puppet's movements precisely with just ten fingers was a challenge few could overcome. Kankuro himself only succeeded due to natural talent, and no one else in his generation had managed to master the craft.

Mufasa nodded. "You're right. Puppet masters are rare and difficult to train. That's why we need to revolutionize how puppets work. Instead of relying on delicate chakra strings, we will create fully autonomous puppets—plug-and-play warriors that anyone in the village can use."

Both Gaara and Kankuro were stunned.

"Sensei... what kind of puppets are you talking about?" Kankuro asked, struggling to wrap his mind around the concept.

Mufasa smirked. He envisioned something akin to a swarm of drones—puppets that functioned as an army, controlled remotely like extensions of their master.

With the right upgrades, these puppets could absorb chakra, much like the legendary Samehada sword. They could be outfitted with various ninja tool modules—gatling-style kunai launchers, long-range ninjutsu blasters, poison mist sprayers, sensory scanners, and more.

And this was just the beginning.

With further advancements, puppeteers wouldn't even need to be on the battlefield. They could control an army from a hidden location, manipulating thousands of mechanical warriors from afar.

One ninja. A thousand machines. The power to raze an entire nation alone.

Mufasa shared his vision, and while Kankuro and Gaara still struggled to comprehend it, Orochimaru was ecstatic.

The twisted scientist's golden eyes gleamed, his long tongue flicking out in excitement.

"My lord, are you suggesting we merge the abilities of Samehada with puppetry?" Orochimaru asked, barely containing his enthusiasm.

Mufasa nodded. "Yes. That will serve as the foundation. But we also need to solve the problem of remote control between puppet and master. These two key issues must be addressed first."

One: Power.

Two: Control.

Once these were resolved, equipping puppets with advanced weaponry would be simple.

Orochimaru's gaze drifted between the Samehada sword, Kankuro's puppets, and Kankuro himself. A sinister glint flashed in his snake-like eyes.

Kankuro shuddered. The way Orochimaru stared at him, as if analyzing him like one of his test subjects, sent chills down his spine.

Orochimaru smirked. "If we want mass production, we must first mass-produce the source. The best course of action is to cultivate multiple Samehadas."

Mufasa nodded. "Clone them."

He reached out and patted the living sword. "I need some spines from you."

The sentient weapon responded obediently, raising six jagged spikes from its body.

Mufasa plucked them out, channeling chakra into the sword as he did.

"Is this enough?"

Orochimaru eagerly took the samples, a twisted grin forming on his lips. "For now, yes."

He turned to Kankuro. "The puppets and their master must also remain. I require your cooperation."

Kankuro's stomach twisted. He never liked this underground lab, nor the man who ran it. The last thing he wanted was to end up floating in one of those eerie cultivation tanks.

"S-Sensei..." he hesitated, his voice unsteady.

Mufasa placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kankuro, for the future of puppet masters, you'll have to make some sacrifices."

Kankuro swallowed hard. He had no choice but to comply.

Orochimaru chuckled, but then sighed. "It's a pity we don't have a proper puppet 'maker' here."

Puppet users were known as puppet masters. Those who built puppets were called puppet maker.

Mufasa, however, was neither.

He was an unconventional maker.

For him, puppet creation was simple. As long as he had a blueprint and the right materials, he could assemble anything in an instant.

Mufasa smirked. "We'll have one soon."

Elsewhere, the Akatsuki were preparing their next move.

Deidara and Sasori were about to receive an unexpected surprise.

Mufasa turned back to Orochimaru. "I leave Kankuro's training in your hands, advisor."

Orochimaru's face lit up with excitement.

Kankuro, on the other hand, looked like he was about to be executed.

After handling his affairs, Mufasa returned to the Kazekage building to manage official matters.

Later that night, he made his way back to the underground lab.

"Orochimaru, Sasuke is here, isn't he?"

Orochimaru turned to him, his expression unreadable. "Yes. I made him a researcher."

Mufasa had already confirmed Sasuke's existence through the village's ninja registration records. That was the advantage of keeping detailed records.

He smirked. "Using public resources for personal projects, huh?"

Orochimaru shrugged. "If you wish, I can have him removed."

Mufasa waved him off. "No need. He belongs in the Sand Village."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly. "My lord, Sasuke is mine."

Mufasa chuckled at his possessiveness. "Orochimaru, why do you want Sasuke so badly?"

Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered. "He is my perfect vessel."

"Just because of his Sharingan?" Mufasa pressed.

Orochimaru hesitated. "Yes."

The Sharingan was an incredibly powerful kekkei genkai, granting its users abilities beyond normal comprehension. Of course, Orochimaru desired it.

But Mufasa wasn't convinced.

"No matter how powerful the Sharingan is, it has its limits. There exist techniques far superior to it."

Orochimaru was silent.

Mufasa smirked. "Have you ever heard this saying?"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "What saying?"

Mufasa's eyes gleamed, statics of electricity coursing through them.

"Flesh is weak. But machines... Machines are limitless."

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Word count: 2630

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