What's wrong with having a large harem if you're the emperor of the ninja world?

The world in Sunagakure is truly about to change.

And her and everything she cherishes.

They were all caught in the eye of this storm, which was instigated by her brother and orchestrated by that iron-fisted emperor, and their futures were uncertain.

...Spoon.

102 Arrival at Sunagakure; Temari's Deal

The streets of Sunagakure Village were stained a monotonous earthy yellow by the wind and sand.

Pedestrians hurried by, their faces mostly bearing the roughness honed by life and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

It wasn't just sand and dust that filled the air.

There is also a sense of oppression and strangeness.

Di Yan and Uchiha Izumi mingled in the crowd, like two ordinary travelers.

Di Yan was dressed in simple dark casual clothes, but it couldn't hide his tall and straight figure and the aura of a superior that he exuded.

Uchiha Izumi wore a ninja uniform that allowed for easy movement, covered by a cloak to protect against wind and sand.

A pair of beautiful eyes, wary yet slightly disdainful, peeked out from under the brim of the hat.

The cacophony of voices around them reached their ears clearly.

"Have you heard? Elder Chiyo has returned from Daimyo Prefecture!"

"Really? I don't know what 'Da Ming' means..."

"What else could it mean? Lord Kazekage has really offended the Daimyo this time!"

"Hmph, what kind of Wind Shadow Lord is he? I think he's just young and arrogant, and doesn't know his own limitations! We shouldn't have made him Wind Shadow in the first place!"

"Exactly! Don't forget how he grew up! That monster is sealed inside him! Who knows what he'll do when he goes berserk?"

"Speak quietly, '6:13'! Don't say it..."

The rumors were filled with accusations against Gaara and uncertainty about the future.

And a deep-seated fear of "monsters".

Uchiha Izumi listened to these discussions and snorted coldly.

His voice was extremely low, yet it carried a clear sense of disdain:

"It's truly pathetic. The shadow of the village makes decisions for the benefit of the village."

"But afterwards, the villagers he was protecting criticized him so much, and even wanted to use him to win the favor of the daimyo."

"A village like this deserves its decline."

Di Yan still had that faint smile on his lips, as if he were watching an interesting drama.

He shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the worried villagers and the somewhat dilapidated buildings in the distance.

"When they are strong, they show their sharpness; when they are weak, they can only rely on others. This is the way of survival for small countries, and it is also the helplessness of Sunagakure."

Di Yan's voice was calm, carrying a detached indifference born of a profound understanding of history:

"During the era of the First and Second Kazekage, they were glorious, even daring to challenge Konoha. Unfortunately, there was no one to succeed them."

His assessment was objective and ruthless.

It's as if they're commenting on an antique that has nothing to do with them.

"That's all."

Di Yan withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming relaxed, as if the heavy discussions from before were merely passing by:

"Now that we're here, let's take a good look around this pearl in the desert."

"Let's see how much of its former glory it still has."

As he spoke, he naturally took Uchiha Izumi's hand.

Like a pair of genuinely curious tourists, they blended into the somewhat desolate crowds of Sunagakure.

It was as if he had only come to observe the prelude to an impending change that was closely related to him.

His composure stood in stark contrast to the atmosphere of unease throughout Sunagakure.

Di Yan and Uchiha Izumi walked side by side on the main road of Sunagakure.

The sand underfoot was soft and almost silent when stepped on.

The houses on both sides are mostly low and have lost their original color due to years of wind and sand erosion, making them look gray and drab.

There were not many pedestrians on the street.

Even if they do, they are mostly in a hurry.

The women wrapped themselves up completely with thick headscarves and veils.

Only a pair of wary or numb eyes were visible.

Di Yan's gaze lazily swept over the slender figures bound tightly by the fabric, and he shook his head with a hint of disinterest.

"It's so boring."

He complained in a low voice, his tone filled with undisguised disappointment, "I thought this desert ninja village would have some unique charm, but all I see is sand."

"There's not even a decent view. And the women here are even worse..."

"Wrapped up like a mummy, I really don't know what they're clinging to in this godforsaken place."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Izumi explained softly:

"Your Majesty, oases are scarce in the Kingdom of Wind, and water resources are extremely precious."

"The largest oases and prosperous areas are almost all concentrated in the capital city of Damingfu and its surrounding areas."

"The location of Sunagakure was chosen more for historical and strategic defense reasons than for its suitability for habitation."

"Hmph, the largest oasis is in Daming Prefecture?"

"Di Yan chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm, "It seems that old codger from the Land of Wind knows how to pick a good place for himself to enjoy life, leaving the ninja village here to suffer in the sand."

He completely lost interest in strolling around.

This land is barren and oppressive, with nothing worth staying for.

"That's enough, there's nothing more to see."

Di Yan waved his hand, turned around and walked towards their temporary accommodation.

"Let's go back. It seems that the root of Sunagakure's problems lies not in the village itself, but in the distant Daimyo's prefecture."

Uchiha Izumi nodded slightly and quietly followed in his footsteps.

The two did not linger and soon disappeared at the end of the desolate streets of Sunagakure.

It was as if it had never appeared.

Only the wind and sand remain, howling as they blow across this land that has suffered so much.

This foreshadows an even bigger storm to come.

In the desert at night, the chill seeps through the mud walls, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the day.

Inside a simple hotel room.

An oil lamp cast a dim, yellowish glow, projecting the two figures onto the wall, making their shadows appear longer and shorter.

Di Yan lay lazily on the bed.

His bare upper body has smooth muscle lines, resembling a cheetah at rest.

Uchiha Izumi knelt beside him, her slender yet strong fingers pressing the pressure points on his back with just the right amount of pressure.

The technique was skillful, with precise penetration imbued with chakra.

It was relieving his muscle fatigue.

Di Yan casually stroked Quan's smooth, satin-like back.

His fingertips felt the powerful pupil energy beneath the skin, which shared the same origin as his own yet possessed a uniquely feminine quality.

Just now, during the mutual gratitude exchange.

He also obtained a trace of pure eye power from Uchiha Izumi.

Now...

He is just one step away from evolving into the Eternal Eye.

"Judging by the time, they should be here by now."

Di Yan, with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.

His voice carried a languid air of complete control.

Uchiha Izumi paused slightly, her breathing calming the tremor she had felt, and responded softly:

"The time is almost up, Your Majesty."

Her voice had barely faded...

"Dong dong dong."

A crisp, restrained knock on the door broke the silence of the night.

Immediately afterwards, a pleasant female voice, trying to remain calm but still unable to hide a hint of tension and exhaustion, came from outside the door:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, Temari from Sunagakure requests an audience."

Di Yan's lips curled into a predictable smile.

He slowly opened his eyes, but didn't get up immediately. He just lazily responded:

"Come in."

The door was pushed open gently.

Temari appeared at the doorway.

She was still wearing her signature cropped ninja outfit, but now she wore a dark cloak over it to keep out the night chill.

Her long, golden hair appeared somewhat disheveled, and her emerald eyes were filled with complex emotions...

There was worry, determination, humiliation, and a sliver of desperate hope.

She was clearly in a great hurry.

It may even have evaded the eyes and ears of Sunagakure.

When she saw the scene inside the room.

A blush involuntarily rose to her cheeks, and she subconsciously looked away.

She dared not look at Di Yan, who was lying on the bed with his upper body bare and in a languid posture.

And the stunningly beautiful, icy-cold female ninja beside him.

Uchiha Izumi merely glanced at Temari before continuing to focus on massaging Di Yan.

It was as if her arrival was insignificant.

Di Yan then slowly sat up.

He casually grabbed an outer robe and draped it over his shoulders, covering his muscular upper body.

His gaze fell on Temari, who seemed uneasy.

This was the second time he had seen Temari.

He had a brief encounter with Temari when he was trying to control Gaara.

Temari looked quite young at the time...

but now...

Her figure has clearly matured, with a slender waist and a pair of long legs that are faintly visible. (4.7)

What is most precious and valuable is...