Kaze no Kuni. A region steeped in history, mystery, beauty, and power. The tyrannical sun's heat radiating off the gritty sands of the endless desert, the harsh winds mercilessly blowing across the landscape plaguing the land in sandstorms so deep and powerful that entire villages had been lost beneath the dunes. This was a harsh land, but those that could survive and thrive in this land were the best the world had to offer.

Hidden deep in the endless dunes, and blistering heat stood the Valley of Kings. A vast canyon filled with pyramids, monuments, and other architectural wonders built by the defenders of the valley, The Village Hidden in the Pyramids. Pyramid was Wind country's greatest trade hub before the Shinobi age, it took the term 'Hidden Village' after Hashirama established Konoha and the newly formed Suna tried to take Cairo as its territory. Hidden in one of Wind country's few oases the village trived in trade with the Wind Daimyo, Kumo, and Mizu, generating much of the Wind country's income.

The true power of Pyramid however was in combat, they possessed one of the most versatile abilities recorded: Summons. No one is sure how Pyramid first came to hold this power, some say the First Sunakage created the ability, others say the Sage of the Six Paths blessed Pyramid with these abilities to guard his resting place. However none dispute the power their summons possess. 'Duel Monsters' they are called, the creation, distribution, and destruction of these cards are completely monopolized by the Pyramid village. Many attempts to steal the ability were made, from Orphans being smuggled to Pyramid to be taught in the art, to trying to steal the card off dead pyramid ninja. Nothing worked.

Maxima Pegasus stared out the window that overlooked the village with a small smile lighting her face. Her silver hair cascaded down her head to the small of her back, the golden Millenium eye glinted in the sun as it swiveled around excitedly. She could never regret accepting the kage position from her uncle the more she looked at the village, the laughing children as they made their way to the academy, the merchants loudly trying to draw customers, the villagers merrily talking and greeting one another. This is why the village was founded. However peace was close to an end, war is on the horizon, and she knew the time for a successor was near.

'The Sun throne must never be empty, it is our duty to drive the sun so that the next generation may see the dawn once again' those were the words of her great grandfather, Maxillineum Pegasus the Second Sunakage. 'Three Pegasus' consecutively have been named 'Pharaoh' however I have found no one in my clan worthy of the sun throne, I must name a successor before this war begins.' These thoughts have plagued her mind ever since the tensions between Konoha and Iwa had reignited. As Allies to Iwa, Pyramid was honorbound to help defend the village and its people as Iwa would defend them, but attacking Konoha would incite hostilities with Suna and that was a war Pyramid didn't need at the moment.

Wind country would be ripped to shreds should Suna and Pyramid wage war against each other, especially with Iwa and Konoha in their corners. Luckily Kumo, and Mizu seemed to be complacent to stay within their borders, but Kumo was liable to change should aggression start to boil over. Mizu was still recovering from the Second war and their near failed attempt to destroy the Uzumaki village.

She felt something prod her arm and turned her attention to her partner. It was a weird grayish-blue creature, with a silver lining, and possessed one eye that protruded from the rest of its body, "Relinquished, what's the matter?" it beckoned to a file that it was reading earlier, she grabbed the file and read over its contents. A sigh escaped her, "Please send for Jounins Atem Motu, Seto Kaiba, and Ryou Bakura." Relinquished bobbed its eye before fading away.

"Bastet be with us, and may you give us strength, for once again darkness plans to engulf us." she whispered the prayer before taking her seat to look over more requests.

Seto Kaiba was what everyone expected of the Kaiba clan members, powerful, aloof, ambitious, and proud. Seto was this but with something even more, his mind was unmatched. Seto Kaiba was a once in a generation prodigy, it mattered little to him what it was he attempted, he always found a way to excel in that area. Many were already saying that he was the next candidate for Kage, but his younger brother Noa wasn't fit to lead the Kaiba clan. "Roland, I need you to gather some of the chunin and keep an eye on the merchants who just set up shop in the Obelisk district, some of the Ishtar clan noticed some abnormal chakra levels among them?" Roland nodded before leaving to carry out his assignment. 'The merchants are getting nervous, they are getting caught in the Konoha-Iwa fighting, I'm going to have to petition the Pharaoh to add some escorts to the caravans.'

He took a quick sip from the steaming cup in front of him, a recent import from Mizu called coffee that seemed to only thrive in the heavy rains of the region. 'Considering that this is Iwa fighting, Lady Pharoah will soon call the clans to begin mobilizing our forces to help the efforts, that means father will be taking over as acting head of the clan once again while I am on the frontlines." This thought annoyed the Kaiba clan head more than he would have liked. Seti Kaiba is an ambitious man, however he always bit off more than he could chew, landing the clan in trouble more times than he could remember. It was only last year that the clan ousted him and named Seto as new clan head. 'Contingencies plans will have to be made as soon as possible, if Nao wasn't like father I would simply leave him in charge and have my advisors and Roland help him keep things afloat.'

"Careful there Seto, keep frowning like that and it might stay there forever." Seto scowled at the voice and looked up to see one of his teammates. Atem leaned against the doorway watching the glaring Seto, "The ANBU came to get me, they were coming for you too but I was already on the way here, Pharaoh Pegasus wants us to report in." Seto nodded.

"I'm guessing the ANBU are gone to grab Ryou from the TI building?" Atem nodded and placed a hand on Seto's shoulder before they faded away in a small gust of sand.

"Thank you three for coming in such short notice, especially you Kaiba." Maxima said as she sat scanning over a mission request, "As you might know that tensions are rising. Iwa and Konoha are at each other's throats, Konoha is claiming that Iwa attacked and raided minor villages in Hi no Kuni and naturally Onoki claims Iwa is innocent." Maxima signed the file before handing it to Relinquished who put it in the 'Approved' pile, "Luckily we have the funds, manpower, and resources to survive a great war but I would like to avoid a long war if possible."

"I'm afraid I don't see why we were called Pharaoh-sama, Ryou, Seto, and I are a heavy assault squad, I doubt we will be beneficial in a negotiation." Maxima smiled at the three young ninja.

"That is true, but that is exactly why you three are perfect for this, you are war deterrents: Shinobi who can take out armies on their own, each village has some Suna has Chiyo, Konoha has the Third Hokage, and the Sannin, Mizu has the Seven Swordsmen, Kumo has the Third Raikage, and Iwa has Han and Roshi." Seto began to smirk, "I see you are beginning to understand Kaiba, your team will become Pyramid's new deterrents."

Relinquished gave Seto a sealed scroll, "Earlier Onoki sent me a missive, he plans to bring the fight to Konoha in force and requests our assistance, Konoha has no notable allies except a forced peace with Taki after the failed attempt on the First Hokage's life, Seto you are going to take Jounouchi Katsuya and Jounin Crowler with you to cripple Taki and if possible kill the current Jinchuriki of the Nanabi." Seto nodded accepting the scroll.

"This seems rather aggressive on our part Maxima-sama, won't this reflect negatively on us."

"Our allies ask it, and we have no true ties to Taki to make a reasonable claim to neutrality, Taki is a threat that has to be dealt with if we are to wage war against Konoha regardless of the consequences." the three Jounin nodded in understanding.

"Atem, Ryou you two will lead two seperate squadrons to: Ryou you will guard our borders at River country, once the war is underway that will be the way to strike out at us, Atem you will be meeting Iwa's squadron in Stone country before you both begin to take Grass country under no circumstances are you to enter Ame, Hanzo is preoccupied with the growing rebellion in his country and I'd rather not fight two wars on one front. "

"What are we supposed to do about Suna, they aren't allies with Konoha but Jira is no fool he knows this is his only chance to take our village, even the Daimyo's declaration of non-aggression between Suna and Pyramid won't stop them." Ryou spoke his violet eyes focused on Maxima.

"That is why I am staying behind, Sabaku no Jira and I are equal in strength, the only way he could successfully attack Pyramid is by coming himself with most of his forces." Atem began to protest but a glare from Maxima stopped him, "I may be old but I am not frail, I am still Great Thief Maxima and you would do well to remember that young Motu." Atem nodded as his mind drifted to why Maxima was so feared to begin with. During the Second Shinobi war where she fought alongside her uncle, the Second Sunakage, and used her three Relinquished to absorb key members of the enemy's war efforts and use their powers against them. "I will be announcing that the war is official later today, Seto, Ryou I expect your interim clan heads to be present."

Both clan heads nodded and left, "Atem, stay behind will you, I have something to discuss with you." Atem nodded and watched Seto and Ryou faded into the halls, "Atem you have noticed what most seem to ignore, I am aging and time is the one enemy a shinobi can't defeat." she rose, the gold jewelry she wore glittering in the sun, "The Pegasus clan has led this village since the fall of Exodia, countless lifetimes of service, and two great wars however we prospered." She lifted the Millenium Puzzle from around her neck and stared at the object in wonder, "We weren't originally a Ninja village, we were a trading hub, but after the creation of Suna by the First Kazekage and the following order to dissolve Cairo's government and relocate any capable warriors over to Suna my great-grandfather converted us to a Ninja Village. He was the first to use Duel Monsters in warfare, the first to summon Exodia using the Millenium Items, he started the First Shinobi World War." her shoulders sagged as she looked up at Atem, "My clan's actions created one of the bloodiest wars in our history, but we didn't see it that way, we attacked an enemy who would see us destroyed however the First Hokage called us agitators, warmongers, and when peace was achieved we weren't considered for Bijuu."

Atem nodded, this was well known in Pyramid, the First held no love for the village and not giving us a bijuu ruined relations with Konoha still to this day, "However Exodia left us a gift that no one but the sage knew about, the Divine Beast." Atem's face paled at the mention of the God level Duel Monsters, "Yes they exist, I can see the First's memories as clear as day, before he sealed himself into the Exodia cards he sealed the Divine Beasts into cards as well, they are out there hidden amongst the dunes in slumber, I sent my son Maximillion to look for any signs of them." she walked over to Atem, "I know that you must be confused on why I am telling you this, but as my successor you must be privy to such information."

Atem's eyes widened in shock, not noticing Maxima putting the Puzzle over his head and rested on his neck, "I have never seen a ninja as devoted to his village as you Atem, but you also still hold your morals high which makes you the perfect role model and symbol for the village to follow." she smiled brightly at the shocked former Jounin, "We will announce your promotion at the meeting as well, congratulations Atem." she waved for the ANBU to escort the shocked man out of the office, he only snapped back to attention when the door closed behind them.

'I'm the Fifth Sunakage!' This wasn't something the Motu clan were ever considered for, sure they were one of the Elder clans alongside the: Kaiba, Ishtar, Bakura, and Pegasus clans, but It was always between the Kaiba and Pegasus clans, and a few members of the Ishtar sometimes. 'I have to tell father, and Anzu!'

Seto watched as the heads of the Pyramid clans poured into the room: Mai Valentine of the Valentine clan, Runa Raptor and Larza Underwood, Solomon Motu, Malik and Odion Ishtar, Mako Tsunami, and Ryou Bakura the current commander for the Rare Hunters, and head of the Bakura clan.

Maxima finally arrived prompting everyone to take their seats, "I'm sure most of you already know why this meeting was called, the tension can be felt around the whole village, but now it is time to make it official." many of the clan heads nodded, "The aggression between Iwa and Konoha have finally reached a boiling point after Konoha have claimed Iwa of trespassing and attacking towns in the Hi no Kuni territory, Onoki won't take this claim against his village and has sent a messenger bird to me calling for aid in his upcoming war."

"Maxima-sama, are we sure the Tsuchikage didn't order a raid on Hi no Kuni?" the soft voice of Larza Underwood spoke out only for the irate voice of Mai Valentine to pierce through.

"I don't see what difference that makes Larza, Konoha wants to swing their dick around. I say we knock them off their pedestal for once." this incited a round of laughs around the room.

"I have to agree with Mai here Lady Pharaoh, Konoha have grown arrogant as of late, and the Wind Daimyo is slowly starting to funnel missions from us and Suna to Konoha." Runa Raptor spoke, "We haven't taken much of a hit thanks to the Kaiba clan, and the merchants guild but we have to do something about the Wind Daimyo."

Ryou Bakura smirked, "Well now, it sounds like I just heard treason, never knew you guys had it in you." Runa glared at Bakura but she didn't move to defend herself either, "We all know that the Bakura clan is the best assassination clan in the village, just give the word and we can begin putting a more competent Daimyo on the seat." Maxima could see the infamous Bakura bloodlust burning in Ryou's eyes.

"Even if we did that Bakura it would plunge Wind Country into a civil war, something we can't afford right now since we most likely will face aggression from Suna in order to assist Konoha and potentially wipe our village out." Maxima spoke, "For now Onoki and I have decided that we need to cut off all of Konoha's incoming supplies, Onoki has left us to deal with Sand if they become a threat." Scoffs sounded around the room, "Yes we all know Sand will be a threat, they might not like Konoha but they like us a lot less and allying with Konoha gives them the fire power and position to destroy us."

" The Valley of the Kings is the only logical attacking path, attacking from any other position would expose their forces to the elements of the desert," Malik said, "This wouldn't hurt Sand too much, but the Leaf ninja are used to more shaded tropical climates, with your permission I would like to have Odion set up ambush points in the Valley." Maxima dipped her head to Odion and Malik.

"Pharoah-sama we do have one problem, Kushina Uzumaki our spies have confirmed that she has been made the second Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi her current control of the beast's power is unknown but it's reported that she was trained by Mito Uzumaki before her passing." Ryou spoke, "I however fear that Arkana is close to being discovered so I ordered him to pull out of Konoha."

"Good have the Rare Hunters begin to mobilize and have Arkana group up with Keith and the other Dark Scorpions, tell him to put his past experiences to use." Maxima said, 'Bandit Keith, Ryou took you in from those raiders, let's make use of your skills.', "Cloud and Mist have been quiet so far, but I expect they will be on the move soon."

"Now since war is on the horizon I need to name a successor, I had considered my son but he refused the position, so I named Atem Motu of the Motu clan as Fifth Sunakage elect, may the gods look down upon his reign with joy and grant him wisdom and strength."