Chapter 106: It's Time to Let Someone Be the Scapegoat
Land of Wind.
The wind and sand outside Sunagakure (Village Hidden by Sand) were still intense.
Sasori of the Red Sand used Mind Control Sand to control Baki and Yūra, two Sunagakure Jonin. From then on, Sasori could practically be said to know Sunagakure's news like the back of his hand.
Moreover, using Baki and Yūra's influence, he proposed that after the Fourth Kazekage's death in battle, with Sunagakure temporarily lacking a successor, they should abandon pursuing Amegakure (Village Hidden in the Rain) to avoid inciting war.
Most crucially, Sasori could also control news about Gaara through Baki.
When Akatsuki had gathered complete intelligence on the Tailed Beasts one day in the future, Sasori could directly capture the One-Tail Jinchūriki Gaara through Baki.
"You two, go back!"
Sasori's fingers twitched slightly, controlling Baki and Yūra to turn back towards Sunagakure, sealing the memories in their brains.
"As expected of Sasori-danna!"
Deidara was full of praise for Sasori's technique, "Although it's not as good as my explosion art, it still has some merits."
"...If you can't speak properly, then shut up."
Sasori glanced discontentedly at Deidara.
Since the issue of the Fourth Kazekage dying in the Land of Rain was perfectly resolved, Sasori and Deidara didn't hesitate, planning to leave here and report back to Pain.
And incidentally, have Pain pass a message to Uehara Naraka, telling that kid to return to the Land of Rain himself and not come looking for trouble in Sunagakure anymore.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Deidara embarrassedly scratched the back of his head, winked at Sasori, "Respecting elders and seniors, I understand that very well."
"..."
Sasori felt a surge of frustration.
This guy Deidara seemed thoughtless. After choking Sasori speechless with one sentence, he flicked his wrist and threw out his large white bird, "Sasori-danna, let's go!"
"...Hmph!"
Sasori snorted coldly, slowly climbed onto Deidara's large white bird. The two sat on the bird, took flight, and slowly disappeared outside Sunagakure.
After they left.
A figure quietly emerged from the ground.
Uehara Naraka watched the large white bird disappear from sight, frowning, "That guy Sasori actually isn't going to see his grandmother?"
Didn't expect Sasori to be so capable.
While Uehara Naraka was dealing with Orochimaru, Sasori had already resolved Sunagakure's trouble. This was a bit problematic.
This directly disrupted Uehara's plan.
"Since it's like this, then we can only let someone be the scapegoat."
Uehara Naraka tapped his arm, glanced up at Sunagakure, and his body sank back into the ground.
Late at night.
Uehara Naraka secretly figured out the situation within Sunagakure.
Following the Fourth Kazekage's death, there was no ninja within all of Sunagakure capable of shouldering great responsibility. Coupled with their heavy losses in the Land of Rain, the Suna ninjas could only request Chiyo and Ebizō to come out of retirement again.
Elder Chiyo's prestige still remained. She would temporarily manage Sunagakure as an advisor elder, until a Fifth Kazekage was selected in the future.
Ebizō, as the advisor who previously assisted the Kazekage in managing Suna's ANBU, also regained his original position, once again serving as a Suna high-ranking official.
The night grew deeper, the moonlight brighter.
Moonlight shone into Ebizō's room. A hand quietly emerged from the wall surface and placed a note on his desk.
However, as the hand retracted back into the wall, it casually tossed out a pen, waking the sleeping old man.
Even though Ebizō was old, his mind was still extremely alert.
The next second, the old man flipped up, a kunai falling into his palm. His eyes, usually slightly narrowed, now looked exceptionally sharp.
"Who's there!"
After a moment, Ebizō warily scanned his room. His gaze stopped on the note on the desk, and his expression instantly changed.
Who exactly had infiltrated his room?
And under such stealthy circumstances, left a note on his desk. If it were a ninja from his own village, there might still be room for discussion...
What if it was an enemy... That would be too dangerous for Suna's high command!
Things don't always go as one wishes.
After Ebizō opened the note, his expression became extremely ugly. A drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead because a simple swirl mark was drawn on the back of the note.
That was Konohagakure's (Village Hidden in the Leaves) symbol.
Ebizō was silent for a moment, then decided to act according to the note. He put on his clothes and decided to rush to the secret meeting place mentioned on the note.
In the oasis outside Sunagakure.
This was originally Ebizō and Chiyo's place of seclusion.
Since they returned to live in Sunagakure, this place would probably be sealed off soon, waiting for Chiyo and Ebizō to retire a second time and return here to live in seclusion.
Today, this place welcomed an uninvited guest.
When Ebizō rushed over from the village, he saw an old man, half his body wrapped in bandages, sitting in the room.
Konoha Root Leader, Shimura Danzō.
Shimura Danzō was Ebizō's greatest rival in the past, and also the Darkness of the Shinobi World who had plunged Sunagakure into crisis several times.
Ebizō slowly sat down by the table, his voice somewhat grim, "Long time no see, Danzō. Didn't expect you'd actually have the guts to meet me privately."
"Sunagakure is very weak."
Shimura Danzō slowly poured a cup of tea and placed it before Ebizō, "If the Fourth Kazekage hadn't died, even if the people I sent could silently deliver the invitation to you, this place would probably be surrounded by ANBU by now, right?"
Ebizō looked down at the tea but didn't choose to accept it.
Shimura Danzō seemed to sense his meaning and smiled, "No need to doubt. This time I came to seek your cooperation... Those youngsters in the ninja world are too hot-tempered, always thinking cooperation will harm their interests. Actually, only cooperation can achieve a win-win."
"..."
Ebizō was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Just say what you have to say. I'm old now; I can't often stay up late."
"Very good."
After Shimura Danzō nodded, he said gravely, "I want a copy of the Kishō Tensei (One's Own Life Reanimation) technique researched by Chiyo."
"How did you know..."
"What's impossible to know about this?"
Shimura Danzō looked up at the surprised Ebizō and said leisurely, "Alright, the Fourth Kazekage has died in battle in the Land of Rain. I've already confirmed this intelligence. I'm very clear about your Sunagakure's mission volume. If you want to maintain Sunagakure, you can only rely on Konoha to release Land of Wind missions to you."
Ebizō shook his head, rejecting Shimura Danzō's proposal, "Do you have such ability? That old man Hiruzen Sarutobi is still around; Konoha isn't yours to command yet!"
"As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi dies, Konoha will naturally be mine to command."
Shimura Danzō revealed a secretive smile, as if everything was under his control, "Besides, the Kazekage died in the Land of Rain. You are definitely on bad terms with the Land of Rain now. Do you need me to help mediate? My relationship with that Lord Hanzō is quite good."
"..."
Ebizō's fingers slowly tapped on the table leg.
Today, Sunagakure had just passed a resolution, planning to make representations to Amegakure regarding the Fourth Kazekage's death in battle in the Land of Rain, and incidentally try to threaten Hanzō a bit to gain some benefits.
As for war, Sunagakure definitely couldn't launch one.
However, this still depended on whether Hanzō of the Salamander agreed to their negotiations. Hanzō might even take advantage of the Kazekage's death to attack Sunagakure.
After all, the current Sunagakure was unprecedentedly weak.
"Want the Kishō Tensei technique? I can give it to you."
Ebizō slowly looked up at Shimura Danzō and said word by word, "Konoha must support our negotiations with the Land of Rain, return the commissioned missions in the Land of Wind that Konoha took, and support the Land of Wind with a certain amount of food provisions..."
(End of Chapter)
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