"I feel like my sandals are melting. Seriously. I smell burning rubber."

  Kiba wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, shaking the sweat onto the sand. Akamaru, beside him, let out a low whine and dragged his paws, tongue hanging almost to the ground.

  "It's your imagination, Kiba. Or maybe it's your own smell," said Shikamaru without turning back, walking with his hands in his pockets and back hunched, as if the sun physically weighed on his shoulders. "Complaining isn't going to lower the temperature."

  "I'm not complaining, I'm reporting on my team's status," retorted Kiba, patting Akamaru on the back. "Right, boy? This place is an oven. How do people live here without going crazy?"

  Naruto, who was at the head of the group, turned around. He walked backward for a moment, smiling despite the heat making the air shimmer.

  "It's a matter of attitude. If you think cold, you feel cold. Or so they say."

  "That's stupid," intervened Sakura, adjusting her medical pack. Her hair was plastered to the back of her neck. "We need rest soon or we'll have heatstroke."

  Naruto stopped for a second and looked back.

  "You're right. Hey, Shikamaru, how far to the waypoint Tsunade marked?"

  Shikamaru sighed, pulling a crumpled map from his vest. "According to this, we should see the rock formations in about twenty minutes if we keep the pace. But with this heat..."

  "We're going to slow down a bit, but without stopping," ordered Naruto, his tone shifting subtly from joking companion to mission leader. "Shizune-neechan, how are the water reserves?"

  Shizune, walking next to Hinata, gave a thumbs up. "We're okay for now. But if this goes on longer than three hours, we'll have to ration."

  Naruto nodded and looked ahead again, resuming his pace beside Hinata. She walked in silence, gaze fixed on the horizon, but her breathing was controlled, almost imperceptible.

  "Hey," Naruto whispered to her, leaning a bit closer. "Are you okay? You're very quiet."

  Hinata blinked, snapping out of her focus, and looked at him. Her clear eyes showed no fatigue, but a strange calm.

  "I'm fine, Naruto-kun. Just... concentrated."

  "Sure? You're pale. Well, paler than usual." Naruto unhooked his canteen from his belt and offered it. "Here. Don't act tough. Tsunade-baachan will kill me if you come back dry as a raisin."

  Hinata smiled, a soft curve on her lips, and accepted the canteen. Her fingers grazed his briefly.

  "Thanks." She took a small sip and handed it back. "It's not that I'm acting tough. It's a control technique."

  "Technique?" Naruto raised an eyebrow while drinking. "Like a water jutsu?"

  "Not exactly. It's chakra manipulation to cool the skin surface," she explained, pointing to her own arm. "I circulate a very thin layer of chakra, almost invisible. It acts as insulation against direct heat and stops sweat from evaporating too fast. It keeps the internal temperature stable."

  Naruto looked at her with wide eyes, genuinely impressed. "Wow... that sounds complicated to do while walking."

  "It is at first. But my father... well, we've been practicing precision control." Hinata shrugged, downplaying it, though there was a glint of pride in her eyes. "You should try it. You have a lot of chakra, Naruto-kun. If you release it gently through your pores, like when you try to walk on water but with less intensity..."

  Naruto closed his eyes, furrowing his brow in concentration. He walked blindly for a few steps.

  "Like this?"

  Hinata observed his flow with her Byakugan deactivated, just sensing it. "Too strong. You're expelling the heat, that will tire you out more. Make it more... fluid. As if you were covering yourself with a thin sheet."

  Naruto adjusted the flow. A cool breeze seemed to wrap around him suddenly. He opened his eyes and let out a laugh.

  "Incredible! It feels great!" he exclaimed, drawing Kiba's gaze. "It's like having a portable air conditioner! Hinata, you're a genius."

  "It's just basic control..." she murmured, blushing a bit at the loud praise.

  "Hey guys!" shouted Naruto back. "Do what Hinata says! Cover your skin with a thin layer of chakra! It feels much better!"

  "Not all of us have infinite reserves like you, Naruto," grumbled Tenten, appearing on the right flank. She carried two huge scrolls crossed on her back, but seemed to walk with more ease than the others.

  "How are you handling it, Tenten?" asked Naruto. "Don't those scrolls weigh you down?"

  "The weight isn't the problem, it's the sand," she said, kicking the ground. "It gets into the mechanisms of the folding weapons. If we have to fight, it's going to take me two extra seconds to deploy anything."

  "We aren't going to fight," assured Naruto.

  "Tell that to them," intervened Shikamaru, pointing forward.

  They had reached the top of the highest dune. The wind blew harder up there, kicking up curtains of reddish dust. And through the haze, the imposing natural walls of Sunagakure rose like stone teeth biting into the blue sky.

  "Wow..." let out Kiba, forgetting the heat for a moment. "It really is big."

  "It's a natural fortress," analyzed Tenten, narrowing her eyes. "Only one visible entrance. Strategically it's a nightmare for an attacker, but perfect for defense."

  Naruto smiled, adjusting his forehead protector. The sight of the allied village gave him a second wind.

  "There it is! We made it, team!" He shouted, raising a fist. His voice resonated over the wind, drawing tired smiles from everyone. "Come on! One more drop and we'll have cold water and shade!"

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  Without waiting for an answer, Naruto launched himself down the dune, sliding with his boots on the sand as if he were surfing.

  "Wait, idiot! Don't get so far ahead!" shouted Sakura, although she picked up the pace to follow him.

  "He never changes," sighed Shikamaru, but he also hastened his march. "Troublesome, but effective."

  The descent was fast, a controlled race against gravity and loose sand. As they approached the gorge that served as the entrance, the shadows of the giant rocks gave them a respite from the scorching sun, but the mood changed.

  The air became tense. Silent.

  Naruto braked hard a few meters before the narrow gorge entrance. The rest of the team stopped behind him, noticing the change in atmosphere.

  "What's wrong?" whispered Kiba, with Akamaru growling low.

  "They are aiming at us," said Hinata in a low voice, veins around her eyes bulging slightly. "Up top. In the crevices. Nine... no, twelve chakra signatures."

  Before anyone could react, a dozen figures emerged from the shadows of the rocks and upper ledges. They were Suna ninjas, faces covered by sand-colored cloth and turbans, revealing only hard, suspicious eyes. Spears and kunai glinted under the little light entering the canyon.

  "Halt right there!"

  The shout bounced off the stone walls. A man in a Suna tactical vest jumped onto the path, blocking the way with an aggressive stance.

  "Nobody takes another step!" roared the guard captain. "This is a restricted zone! Identify yourselves or we open fire!"

  The Konoha ninjas tensed up. Kiba bared his teeth, ready to fight.

  "Open fire?" hissed Kiba. "We come to help and this is how they welcome us..."

  Naruto raised a hand, cutting Kiba off cold without looking at him.

  "Easy, Kiba," said Naruto, his voice low but firm. "Put the fangs away."

  Naruto took two steps forward, separating himself from his group. He left his arms relaxed at his sides, showing open palms. He walked with chin up, looking directly into the captain's eyes.

  "Greetings, Sand ninjas!" His projected voice filled the gorge, sure and without a trace of fear. "I am Naruto Uzumaki. I come from Konohagakure."

  He tapped his forehead protector with his thumb.

  "I am the direct envoy of Tsunade-Sama and Head of this Diplomatic Delegation."

  The Suna captain did not lower his spear. "Delegation? We haven't received notice of any delegation. Suna is on red alert. No one enters."

  "You have a notice," insisted Naruto, keeping his tone calm but authoritative. "But I understand things are a bit messy here. Look behind me."

  Naruto pointed with a sweeping gesture to his team.

  "I bring the best medics of my village. We bring medicine. We bring food. And we bring a proposal so our villages stop looking at each other with suspicion and start working together." He took another step forward, ignoring the spear tip that was meters from his chest. "We are not invaders. We are allies. So, please, lower those weapons and take us to whoever is in charge."

  There was a murmur among the guards on the rocks. Naruto's confidence had made them hesitate. But the captain gritted his teeth.

  "The Council is in emergency session. Foreigners are not allowed. It is a direct order." The guard took an aggressive step toward Naruto. "Turn around, kid. I won't repeat it."

  Shikamaru clicked his tongue. "What a drag. They're stubborn."

  "Don't move, Naruto," warned Sakura, accumulating chakra in her hands discreetly.

  Naruto didn't move. He held the captain's gaze. "I won't leave. And you aren't going to attack us. Because if you do, you will have to explain to your village why you rejected the help they need so much."

  "Enough!" shouted the captain, raising the spear. "Guards, prepare...!"

  "Lower your weapons right now!"

  The voice cut through the air, interrupting the captain's order. It was a female voice, but loaded with undeniable authority.

  Everyone looked up.

  On the highest battlement of the wall, silhouetted against the sun, stood Temari. The wind whipped her formal robe, but the giant iron fan on her back made it clear she was not there just to talk.

  She jumped. A twenty-meter drop that she landed with a dry thud, kicking up a cloud of dust between Naruto and the guard captain. She straightened up slowly, green eyes locked on her own men.

  "T-Temari-sama..." stuttered the captain, lowering the spear immediately. His aggressive posture deflated.

  "Is this how we welcome our guests, Captain?" asked Temari, her tone dangerously low. "Pointing spears at those who come to heal our wounded after what we did?"

  "We... the Council orders were to close the perimeter..."

  "I give the orders now," said Temari. She didn't shout, she didn't need to. The simple declaration had absolute weight. She looked at the guards on the rocks. "Did you hear me? I said lower your weapons!"

  The sound of metal clinking against stone echoed as all the guards sheathed their weapons in unison and stood at attention.

  Temari then turned to Naruto. Her severe expression held for a second more, before softening. She crossed her arms and let out a sigh, shaking her head.

  "You're late, Uzumaki," she said, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I was starting to think you got lost in the desert."

  Naruto let out the air he had been holding and smiled broadly. The tension evaporated from his shoulders.

  "We had a small technical problem!" He laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "You know, Kiba had to mark territory on every dry bush we found."

  "Hey!" protested Kiba from the back.

  Temari let out a short, genuine laugh. "So it's true? You came?"

  "I told you," replied Naruto, lowering his voice so only she could hear. His tone became more personal. "I said I would come and here I am. How are things going? Are those old men on the council giving you trouble?"

  Temari glanced sideways at her guards, who now awaited her orders with absolute respect.

  "Less than before," she admitted, looking at Naruto with a mix of gratitude and respect. "I followed your advice. I stopped asking for permission and started giving orders. It seems to work."

  "You look great in charge," said Naruto honestly. "The boss position suits you."

  Temari smiled sideways, arrogant but grateful. "Of course it suits me. Come on, let's not stay out here in the sun."

  She turned to the Konoha group and raised her voice.

  "Welcome to Sunagakure! You have free passage and total protection under my name."

  "Awesome!" Naruto turned to his team, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, you heard the boss! Tenten, it's your turn!"

  Tenten took a step forward, grinning from ear to ear. She looked in her element.

  "I thought you'd never ask," she said, unhooking one of the huge scrolls from her back with a fluid movement.

  The Suna guard captain looked at her suspiciously. "What is that? Weapons?"

  "Better," said Tenten, winking at him.

  She threw the scroll into the air. It unrolled like a long carpet, floating a moment before falling extended onto the sand. Tenten bit her thumb, traced a quick line of blood on her palm, and struck the paper.

  "Sealing Style: Massive Supply Logistics!"

  Poof!

  A giant cloud of white smoke exploded in front of the entrance. When it dissipated, the Suna guards gasped.

  Where before there was only sand, now there were three perfectly aligned rows of wooden crates. Each was marked with clear symbols: "Medicine - Urgent", "Dry Foods", "Antidotes", "Purified Water".

  "I separated the medical supplies from the food to facilitate distribution," explained Tenten, putting her hands on her hips and speaking directly to the guard captain, who was staring at the crates with his mouth open. "The boxes with the red label are fragile, they contain glass vials. The blue ones are heat resistant. I will need a team of four people to move this without breaking anything. Can you handle it?"

  The captain blinked, looking at the absurd amount of supplies that had just appeared out of nowhere.

  "We... yes. Yes, of course."

  "Impressive," commented Temari, looking at the rows of boxes. "Your logistics team is incredible."

  "It's Tenten," corrected Naruto with pride, draping an arm around his teammate's shoulders (who tried to shake him off, but was smiling). "She's the best we have. If you need to move a mountain, she fits it in a pocket."

  "Just make sure not to stack the red boxes under the blue ones," warned Tenten, pulling out an inventory notebook. "I want a signed receipt for all this."

  Temari laughed and gestured for Naruto to walk with her.

  "I like her. She has character," said Temari. "Come, Advisor Uzumaki. Let's go inside. We have much to talk about before the Council meeting."

  "Will you feed me first?" asked Naruto, walking beside her as they crossed the threshold of the huge stone gates. "I'm starving."

  "We'll see if there's anything left in the pantry," joked Temari.

  And thus, with Naruto and Temari in the lead, chatting like old allies, and with Tenten organizing the Suna guards as if they were her own subordinates, the Konoha delegation entered the desert fortress.

  ******

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