"Rasa-sama, that red-haired woman…" Momu began.
"Exactly as you suspected—an Uzumaki Clan member," Rasa confirmed.
"As expected?" Momu paused, recalling Rasa-sama's devastating ninjutsu that night.
Hesitating, he said, "Rasa-sama, isn't this… inappropriate? Karura-sama's waiting for you in the village!"
Wandering ninja, after all, were untrustworthy.
"What are you imagining?" Rasa shot Momu an exasperated look as the man shook his head sagely. "Think carefully—what's the real reason Sunagakure remains so weak?"
"Money?"
"That's one factor, but…" Rasa sighed, shaking his head, disappointed at Momu's blank expression. "The most critical issue is talent! Look at Sunagakure—besides my *Magnet Release* and Pakura's *Scorch Release*, what other kekkei genkai do we have?"
Moreover, his Magnet Release couldn't be inherited—it was self-developed.
"None!" Momu admitted.
"So, when a homeless wandering kekkei genkai ninja appears, should we let her join another village instead of bringing her to strengthen ours?" Rasa frowned, watching Momu grow serious.
Patting his shoulder wistfully, he said, "Comrade, life's still tough. How could you forget Sunagakure's tradition of thrift and diligence?"
"…"
That… makes sense!
Moments later, chastened by Rasa's words, Momu bowed his head in shame, sighing with self-reproach.
"My apologies, Rasa-sama. I didn't consider this!"
The Uzumaki Clan? They were once a mighty clan, rivaling the Senju and Uchiha. Had that brutal war and other factors not led to their downfall, they might now be the strongest clan.
Today, only Konoha's current Nine-Tails jinchūriki remained, with few other Uzumaki seen in the ninja world.
This lone Uzumaki… a rare treasure! Bring her to the village, let a few generations pass, and she'd be part of Sunagakure. With the One-Tail, the benefits would be immense!
As Rasa-sama said, Sunagakure desperately needed talent. Konoha, the cradle of geniuses, produced ninja capable of carrying its future yearly. But Sunagakure…
With a small population, geniuses to bear its future depended on luck.
"So, Rasa-sama plans to…" Momu ventured.
"Bring her to the village and give her a home's warmth," Rasa said with a meaningful smile. "Make her understand… once in Sunagakure, we're all family!"
"A home? Family?" Momu blinked, then nodded earnestly. "I understand. About last night…"
"Forget it, and tell the others to keep quiet," Rasa said after a pause, sighing. "That method drains the Uzumaki's vitality. Long-term use could kill even their long-lived clan, or cause… infertility, ruining our plan."
"It's… that serious?" Momu's eyes widened in shock. Nodding gravely, he said, "I'll ensure everyone stays silent."
"Thank you. Rest assured, Sunagakure won't vanish," Rasa said, meeting Momu's gaze with firm confidence. "Not with me here!"
*As long as I keep pulling gacha, nothing's impossible!*
With that, he left the awestruck Momu and entered the tent of Karin's future mother.
Momu stood rooted, gazing at Rasa-sama's retreating figure. Taking a deep breath, he smiled softly, murmuring, "As expected of the Third Kazekage's disciple…"
Rasa-sama would surely surpass him.
They'd never forget last night's dire moment—Rasa-sama's terrifying ninjutsu and exceptional ninja prowess. Like when he drew away Iwagakure, he faced all enemies alone with his reassuring back, ensuring their retreat, yet escaped unscathed.
What awe-inspiring strength!
They now suspected… those Iwagakure ninja?
Rasa-sama must have dealt with them!
[Rasa-sama… he could become the Fourth Kazekage and lead Sunagakure to glory!]
But then, Momu realized… had Sunagakure ever been glorious?
The First Kazekage, with sheer audacity and strength, founded Sunagakure in the desert. The Second developed puppetry and sand manipulation, giving the village a foundation. The Third created Magnet Release, giving Sunagakure its signature ability. Yet, after years of wars, aside from bullying minor villages, Sunagakure had never shone—only declined.
Resources were nearly depleted, funds weren't coming, and sustaining the village was already a struggle, let alone thriving.
Momu's heart filled with helplessness and hope. "Sunagakure… a village built in the desert!"
Ten households shared a single bucket of water.
When would they truly rise?
---
Meanwhile, inside the tent, Rasa looked at the Uzumaki woman, her limbs bandaged with white cotton, and sighed.
Yes, those bandages were the [OK Bandages] from his gacha pull.
All six rolls were used by female ninja on her limbs. Despite Sunagakure's highest single rate among the five great villages—even the first three Kazekages died unmarried—the village had female ninja. Medical ninja, however, were scarce, save for Chiyo's poison-trained batch.
During the Second Great Shinobi War, Tsunade, one of Konoha's Sannin, proposed prioritizing medical ninja, but few villages heeded her. Only after the war's staggering casualties did villages reform their medical systems.
Sadly, training a medical ninja cost several times more than a regular ninja—beyond what war-torn Sunagakure could afford.
Thus, post-defeat, the Third Kazekage had Chiyo train a basic batch to keep up with other villages.
Rasa frowned, glancing at the quietly lying red-haired woman. "Still not awake?"
Only the heavens knew how he'd fled with her in his arms last night!
Kusagakure's frenzied pursuit hounded them, while Iwagakure, likely deeming the chase futile, gave up after a brief pursuit.
They were probably more focused on the night's intel and speculations about the Iwagakure ninja buried in the desert—information to report to the Tsuchikage.
Rasa's display of terrifying strength would undoubtedly impact the battlefield.
Though that power was temporary, who could tell?
In the end, exhausted Kusagakure ninja chased equally weary, battered Sand shinobi, with predictable results—neither could overpower the other.
Did Kusagakure dare invade Sunagakure's heartland? That'd be suicide.
Seeing the optimal moment pass, Kusagakure abandoned the chase.
Sitting by the bed, Rasa sank into thought. Given Iwagakure and Kusagakure's stance, they wouldn't retreat soon.
What about Kumogakure?
"How will the war shift next?" he murmured.
"Mmhhmm~"
A soft groan came from the bed beside him.
(End of Chapter)