We entered through the gates and finally saw the village proper. I had vague memories of it from my previous life, but seeing it with my own eyes was something entirely different. The scale and detail hit me all at once, leaving me quietly stunned. Towering buildings made from hardened clay and reinforced stone rose as if carved by the desert itself, shaped by survival rather than luxury. Many of them were connected through a network of narrow bridges, casting long shadows that formed a network overhead, blocking the worst of the sun.
The smell surprised me. Dried herbs and preserved plants mixed with the desert air. Strong enough to be noticeable, but not so strong that it overwhelmed the senses. Even with the shade above us, the ground radiated warmth through the soles of my sandals, a reminder that the sun here was always winning.
We were approached by a young Sunagakure kunoichi who greeted us with a warm smile. "I am Yura. I will be your escort and point of contact for anything you need."
Shisui returned her kindness. "Thank you, Yura. Please take good care of us."
Yura nodded eagerly, proud in that way guides always are when showing off their home. "Of course. Some of the other teams should be arriving soon and that is when the exams will begin. It should not take more than two days. In the meantime, I will escort you to your flat, and I have an exciting program prepared so you can enjoy some of our unique attractions."
Sena bowed politely, her tone soft and graceful. "We appreciate the effort you put into arranging this, and we look forward to it."
Yura blinked, pleasantly startled by the sincerity. Her smile broadened with clear delight.
Meanwhile, I knew Sena well enough to understand that every word she used was calculated. She was getting too good at this. Almost scary-good.
Yura escorted us deeper into the village, guiding us beneath sandstone bridges and through winding shaded streets, until a tall residential tower stood ahead, its clay walls reinforced for the desert's harsh conditions. After a long walk, we climbed flight after flight until we reached one of the highest levels of the tower where we would be staying. Yura led us into a quiet corridor lined with sturdy wooden doors and turned to us with a professional smile. "Normally, we prepare multiple flats since most villages send several teams, but since Konoha has only one team this year… what would you like to do?"
Shisui answered faster than thought. "We will take one flat for our team."
Kaen's face lit up instantly. Sena calmly coughed into her hand, drawing Shisui's attention. He turned toward her, eyes narrowing in confusion. Then realization stabbed him. His shoulders stiffened. A drop of sweat formed.
"With that said," he corrected quickly, forcing a nervous laugh, "we will have one flat, and Sena here will have her own. Is that possible to arrange?"
Yura smiled brightly. "Of course! I would be glad to arrange that."
She leaned closer with a conspiratorial tone. "Since you are our allies, I will make sure to choose the two best flats that are right next to each other."
Shisui nodded tightly, trying not to laugh. Kaen deflated slightly but tried to hide it. Sena wore her fourth variation of a polite smile.
Yura gave us an enthusiastic thumbs up before hurrying off to finalize the arrangements.
Kaen looked very disappointed, which made Shisui and me grin. That only made him more irritated. Sena, on the other hand, maintained her usual neutral kindness, always polite and impossible to read. She was not oblivious to Kaen's reaction, but she kept him at a carefully measured distance. Not too far, not too close. I did not know what she was planning, but I was certain a plan existed.
Yura returned a few minutes later with bright enthusiasm. "Your flats are ready. Please follow me." She gave a short bow before leading the way down the hall.
We stopped in front of a door that looked painfully ordinary. Plain wood. A dull handle. No village emblem, no decorative carvings, nothing to hint at comfort. I braced myself for disappointment. Then Yura unlocked it with a key and slid it open, and everything I expected shattered instantly.
The interior was surprisingly spacious. Wide room, high ceiling, and walls shaped for airflow, pushing heat upward instead of trapping it at head level. Clay tiles covered the floor, still warm from the sun but far cooler than the streets outside. Multiple bedrooms branched off to the left and right, along with a large washroom and a storage space that smelled faintly of fresh water and cleaning herbs. Fabrics and cushions were arranged neatly, sturdy enough to survive sandstorms and careless shinobi.
She clapped her hands together with a dramatic tone. "Now for the star of the show." Yura grabbed the curtain cord beside the frame and pulled, revealing the glass windows and the view beyond them.
I froze.
We were far above the village, high enough that the rooftops formed a layered pattern under us. The sun was sinking behind the cliffs, turning the sky into a deep orange and casting long, sharp shadows across the valley. Light struck the clay buildings at just the right angle, their surfaces glowing in a mix of red and gold. The entire scene felt suspended in a moment that wanted to last forever.
Beyond the village, the desert stretched into the horizon. The dunes shifted under the evening light, rolling endlessly toward the edge of the world in deep red gold. Heat shimmered faintly at the border of sight, stubbornly refusing to rest even as night approached.
It was stunning. Silent. Almost unreal. For the first time in a long while, I forgot to think.
We stayed quiet for a long moment. I was still caught in the view until Shisui clapped his hands, snapping me back into reality. "Yura, you chose a wonderful flat."
She grinned with visible pride.
"We will start arranging our things," Shisui added.
Yura nodded and handed Sena a key. "Your flat is the one directly next to this one."
She turned to the rest of us. "I will be back in two hours to check on you. If you are feeling well, I can take you to something very unique. I will not tell you what it is yet. A little mystery might convince even the tired ones to join." She waved energetically before stepping out of the room.
The moment the door closed, Shisui formed a hand signal. I did not notice at first, too focused on the unreal sunset outside. Part of me wanted to grab brushes and paint the scene before it vanished. That thought disappeared when Sena tapped my arm. I blinked, looking at her as she tilted her head toward Shisui. Only then did I notice the gesture.
I moved immediately, pacing through the flat. I sensed every corner, every wall, every surface. Nothing. No chakra residue, no sealing tags. I pushed chakra into my eyes and repeated the inspection, refusing to overlook anything. Still clean.
"We are clear, sensei." Shisui nodded, though his expression did not ease.
"Be careful. Sunagakure is our ally, but they are not comfortable with their current position. We are gaining more influence in the Land of Wind while taking a decent share of their trade and even some of their missions. The fact there are no surveillance seals here is good, but it also means they will observe us through other means. Remain vigilant."
Kaen scratched the side of his head. "But that Yura woman seemed friendly." He peeked at Sena, trying to see her reaction. She wore the same pleasant smile she always held. Kaen learned nothing.
Shisui sat down on a low sofa that looked surprisingly soft. "She does seem friendly. It could also be a performance to earn trust, just in case one of you slips and says something valuable."
Kaen's expression hardened. "I will not let them get anything out of me."
Shisui chuckled. "Good." He turned serious again. "Noa, check Sena's flat. Kaen, help me unpack. This outing will tell us how Sunagakure wants to be viewed. Pay attention to the details."
We all nodded and moved with purpose. A quiet excitement filled the room as we wondered what kind of unique activities Sunagakure had planned for us.