Chapter 268: Showdown before Dawn

In the early morning of Konoha Village, the sun shines through the dense leaves and onto the ground. The breeze blows gently, bringing bursts of fresh air. The streets have become busy, and vendors are placing their goods in preparation for a day of business. The various stalls and the dazzling array of goods attract passers-by coming and going.

In the village's welcoming square, colorful flags were hung with the logos of ninja villages from various countries. The residents of Konoha were busy setting up the welcoming stage and decorating the venue. The children shuttled between the adults, excitedly talking about the upcoming Chunin Exam, their eyes full of anticipation and curiosity.

In the center of the square, the statue of the Hokage Rock shone brightly in the morning light, symbolizing the glory and history of Konoha Village. The window of the Hokage's office was slightly open, and the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stood there, overlooking the entire village, his eyes full of kindness and pride. He looked at the busy figures of the villagers, and his heart was full of expectations for the future.

"The Chunin Exam is about to begin." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured, his eyes gentle but firm, "I hope this exam will allow our younger generation to show their talent and potential."

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Team 7 members Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were walking down the main street of the village. Naruto was as excited as ever, his eyes wandering around, attracted by the novelties on the stalls from time to time.

"Wow, there are so many fun things here!" Naruto shouted with a smile on his face.

"Naruto, focus," Kakashi reminded gently, but his eyes were still scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Sasuke looked calm, with his hands in his pockets, seemingly uninterested in everything around him, but his eyes revealed a hint of anticipation. Sakura seemed a little nervous, she whispered to herself, hoping that she could do well in this exam.

"Everyone should do their best. This exam is a good opportunity to show our strength." Sakura encouraged, but her eyes looked at Sasuke from time to time.

"Don't worry, Sakura." Naruto patted his chest and said confidently, "We will definitely behave well!"

On the other side of the village, teams from other ninja villages also arrived one after another. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro from the Sand Village walked in front, followed by their guards. Their arrival attracted the attention of many people, especially Gaara's cold aura, which made people shudder.

"Konoha Village looks pretty good." Temari looked around and said lightly.

"I hope there will be some interesting opponents in this exam." Kankuro said with a chuckle, a hint of fighting spirit in his eyes.

Gaara was silent, his hands folded across his chest, his eyes as cold as ice. He seemed indifferent to everything around him, only full of anticipation and desire for the upcoming battle.

......

And in the Sand Village.

Chiyo sat leisurely in her courtyard, sipping tea gently, with a look of wisdom and vicissitudes in her eyes. Beside her, Nathan Hawke stood quietly, his eyes firm and steady.

"It seems that you are the person in charge." Chiyo put down the teacup and said slowly, with a scrutinizing look in her eyes.

Nathan Hawke nodded slightly to indicate his agreement.

Chiyo sighed, with a complex look in her eyes: "I have watched the village grow little by little, and it has also experienced countless storms and challenges. Now, it has a brand new look, electricity supply has improved, and the living environment has become more comfortable. I know you are behind this."

Nathan Hawke did not avoid the question. He looked directly into Chiyo's eyes and said frankly: "We are indeed helping the Sand Village to modernize, but this is just the beginning. I have bigger plans."

Chiyo's brows furrowed slightly, and there was a hint of tentativeness in her voice: "What exactly are you going to do?"

Nathan Hawke calmly replied: "I will start with the Kingdom of Wind, the Kingdom of Waves, and the Kingdom of Fields, and gradually unify the entire ninja world. Our goal is to end the disputes and achieve true peace and prosperity."

Chiyo was silent for a moment, her eyes became deep, she knew that neither she nor the village could resist the power of Nathan Hawke. She chose to compromise because she saw the positive changes that took place in the Sand Village with the help of these invaders.

"The fourth generation."

Thinking of this, Chiyo's voice was somewhat firm. She wanted to ensure the interests of the village: "Nathan Hawke, although your plan is grand, its implementation will inevitably be accompanied by conflicts and sacrifices. How can you guarantee the future of the Wind Country and the Sand Village?"

Nathan Hawke smiled slightly, with a bit of confidence in his tone: "We bring not only strength, but also technology and resources. The Kingdom of Wind and Sand Village will become the core of our plan, enjoying the most advanced technology and the most abundant resources. We want to create a true era of peace and prosperity."

Chiyo nodded, and had a deeper understanding of Nathan Hawke's plan. She knew that this was an inevitable change, and although it was full of risks, it was also an opportunity for the Sand Village to move towards the future.

"Okay, I will support your plan." Chiyo said, with a firm look in her eyes, "But I also hope you can remember that the interests of the Sand Village cannot be ignored."

Nathan Hawke nodded to show his understanding: "Don't worry, we will work together to ensure a better future for the Sand Village."

Having said this, Chiyo could only smile slightly and raised her teacup: "Well, I wish us a pleasant cooperation and a toast to the future of Wind Country and Sand Village."

Nathan Hawke also raised his teacup and clinked it gently with Chiyo.

After Nathan Hawke left, Chiyo's face immediately became gloomy, and her eyes revealed a trace of deep thought. At this moment, her younger brother Ebizo appeared quietly in the courtyard, his face equally gloomy.

"Sister, the Sand Village has now fallen into their hands." Ebizo whispered, his tone full of anxiety and anger, "Especially Rasa. The Rasa who came back is not Rasa at all! He must have been killed by them."

Chiyo nodded, her deep eyes fixed on the front, her voice low and calm: "Although I don't know why this Luosha is so realistic, but didn't you see Gaara's face? Gaara must have known it, but he didn't say anything."

Ebizo was startled and his eyes widened: "What? Sister, how did you know?"

Chiyo sighed softly, with a trace of sadness in her eyes: "Have you carefully observed Gaara's eyes? He has noticed the changes in Rasa, but he chose to remain silent. This shows that he also understands that the current situation cannot be reversed."

There was one thing Chiyo didn't say, which was that Gaara wished that Rasa would be killed.

Ebizo was silent for a moment, his face becoming increasingly gloomy: "Sister, what should we do? The Sand Village has completely fallen into the control of Nathan Hawke."

Chiyo slowly shook her head, with a hint of helplessness and determination in her tone: "Under the current circumstances, we can only temporarily endure and observe Nathan Hawke's actions. They have indeed brought many improvements, making the Sand Village more modern and prosperous. But we can't let our guard down and must always be prepared to deal with emergencies."

Ebizo took a deep breath and nodded: "Yes, sister. We must remain vigilant to protect the future of the Sand Village."

The two stood quietly in the courtyard, each with thousands of thoughts in their minds. They knew that the Sand Village had entered a new era, and although Luosha's leadership seemed stronger on the surface, there was a huge crisis hidden behind it.

"Many uninformed people only see that the Fourth Kazekage has shown more leadership and that the bad habits and backward policies of the Sand Village have improved, but they don't know the truth behind these changes." Chiyo's voice was low and firm. "Nathan Hawke and his men have brought a better environment and policies, but we must not forget that all of this is based on the control of our village."

Ebizo's expression became more serious. He nodded deeply: "Sister, you are right. We cannot be fooled by the superficial prosperity and must always be vigilant. However, the reputation of Luosha now."

Chiyo stared into the distance, wisdom gleaming in her eyes: "We must protect the future of the Sand Village, no matter what the cost."

Ebizo clenched his fists, his eyes full of determination: "Sister, I will protect the Sand Village with you."

The two looked at each other tacitly and had made up their minds.

......

late at night.

Late at night, in the room specially prepared by Konoha Village for the Sand Village team, there was silence. Gaara lay on the roof, staring coldly at the twinkling stars in the night sky. The sky of Konoha Village was extremely clear, and the stars were dotted on the dark curtain like diamonds, emitting a soft light.

Gaara's eyes were cold and calm as he recalled his battle with Nathan Hawke in the desert. It was an encounter that left a deep impression on him, and he clearly remembered the other party's powerful strength and calm aura.

He recalled that hot afternoon, the scorching sun scorched the desert, the air was filled with dry heat waves. He stood on the hot sand, his eyes like the coldest wind in the desert, staring at Nathan Hawke standing opposite him. Nathan Hawke's figure was so different in the desert, his eyes were full of a deep and mysterious light, as if he could see through everything.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Gaara asked coldly, with undisguised hostility in his tone.

Nathan Hawke smiled slightly, without a trace of fear in his eyes: "I am Nathan Hawke, a traveler. You can think of me as an explorer, looking for the unknown and challenges."

Gaara's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he snorted: "You know, this is my territory, any intruder will be wiped out."

Nathan Hawke's smile remained unchanged. He slowly raised the weapon in his hand and said calmly: "Then come and try it. Let me see your strength."

Gaara's palms trembled slightly, and fine sand swirled around him, as if obeying his command. His eyes were filled with bloodthirsty light, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Very good, then I will show you the power of the child of sand."

The air was filled with tension, and the desert wind whistled past, stirring up countless dust. Gaara's chakra surged in his body, and the sand began to move under his feet, as if waiting for orders. Nathan Hawke stood quietly, his eyes sharp, waiting for the opponent's attack.

Gaara stared at Nathan Hawke. He could feel his strength and calmness, and his fighting spirit was completely aroused. His chakra surged, and the sand began to condense rapidly, forming a huge sand hand, which suddenly grabbed Nathan Hawke.

"Come on, let me see how strong you are." Gaara whispered, with a hint of fanaticism and desire in his tone.

At this moment, Nathan Hawke's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his body moved slightly, as if ready for this fierce duel. The two men's eyes intertwined in the air, and the battle was about to break out.

However, at this tense moment of confrontation, Nathan Hawke suddenly spoke with a hint of mockery in his tone: "Do you really think that you can defeat me with this sand?"

Gaara's eyes became even colder, and he sneered: "Then give it a try."