To the west of the Land of Wind lies a vast desert. Beyond the seemingly endless sea of sand stands the Land of Rōran.
Although nominally part of the Land of Wind, Rōran operates independently, maintaining its own political system.
Once a prosperous nation, it has long since fallen into decline. Now, fewer than two thousand citizens remain, and the population continues to dwindle. The kingdom's extinction is merely a matter of time.
Yet today marks an important occasion for Rōran.
An envoy from the Land of Wind is scheduled to arrive.
Even though the Land of Wind is the weakest among the Five Great Nations, it is still an overwhelming giant compared to the small and struggling Rōran.
Queen Sāra, accompanied by her ministers and numerous citizens, personally leads the welcoming party. Even her daughter, the future queen, stands at her side.
Leading the envoy is none other than Danzō.
However, as he sets his eyes on Queen Sāra, his attention is quickly drawn to the red-haired, blue-eyed girl standing beside her.
That girl...
She looks far too familiar—especially her eyes.
"My lord..." Despite being the queen of a nation, Sāra does not dare show any disrespect toward the envoy from the Land of Wind.
"No need for formalities, Your Majesty. May we rest for a while? The journey across the desert is hardly an easy one."
"Everything has been prepared. Please, follow me."
As they walk through the city, Danzō surveys the desolate surroundings. The once-thriving land is now little more than a barren wasteland, scattered with withered trees that seem to have died only recently.
The air is thick with sand, and in time, the desert will likely consume what remains of Rōran.
The citizens appear impoverished, their faces etched with hardship. Even Queen Sāra herself is dressed in simple garments, her attire far from what one would expect of royalty.
Though the city still boasts tall, towering structures, many show signs of erosion from the relentless wind and sand, giving the place a sense of abandonment and decay.
"I heard that Rōran wasn't always like this. What happened?"
"I'm not sure of the exact cause. It hasn't rained in years, and the sandstorms have only grown worse... I can only pray that my people survive this ordeal..."
Sāra closes her eyes briefly after speaking, as if offering a silent prayer for her people.
Danzō, of course, already knows the reason.
Before the Third Great Ninja War, Namikaze Minato had been here.
The Ryūmyaku—Rōran's powerful Dragon Vein—must have been sealed away.
His gaze shifts toward the young girl in the arms of a maid—the next queen of Rōran.
Then he looks at Sāra, studying her features. The red hair, the facial structure—she bears an undeniable resemblance to Uzumaki Kushina.
Sāra suddenly falters mid-step.
Has she sensed my gaze? Impressive perception.
Yet, she possesses no chakra whatsoever—just an ordinary person.
"Is that your daughter? She's adorable. I haven't seen her father. Where is he?"
Sāra stops in her tracks and turns to face him, a trace of sorrow flickering across her face.
"Her father passed away."
"My condolences..."
Danzō seizes the opportunity to step closer, walking alongside her as he subtly probes for information.
...
Later that night, inside the guest quarters arranged for the envoy, Danzō sits by a dimly lit oil lamp, deep in thought.
This queen is unusually cautious. I haven't been able to extract any useful information from her.
Under normal circumstances, I would simply activate my Mangekyō Sharingan and get whatever answers I need...
But if she truly is connected to Minato... That man has always treated me as an elder and a member of his family...
"Forget it. I'll just confront her directly."
After all, the bloodline of the queen holds the key to controlling the Dragon Vein.
There's no way around her.
In the dead of night, within the queen's chambers—a modest dwelling only slightly better than those of the common folk—
Knock, knock.
Two firm knocks sound against the bedroom door.
"Who's there?" Sāra calls out warily, hoping her voice will alert the guards.
"It's me. The envoy from the Land of Wind. I need to speak with you privately."
"Wait a moment. I need to get dressed..."
...
A long pause.
After ensuring no guards are present, Sāra clenches her teeth and opens the door.
"Forgive my intrusion at this late hour," Danzō offers a perfunctory apology.
"Where are the guards?" She glances outside, her face tense.
"Don't worry. They're just sleeping soundly. A peaceful, restful sleep."
At his words, Sāra exhales slightly, though her wariness remains.
"What does Lord Envoy wish to discuss at this hour?"
But Danzō's next words leave her utterly stunned.
"I just want to ask you one thing... Is the child's father Namikaze Minato?"
"You... You... How do you know that?!"
Her face is frozen in shock and panic.
Danzō simply smirks.
"So it's true, then."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (195 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)