The Great Shinobi War had finally arrived.
Unlike the battlefield with Kusagakure, the fighting here was far more intense. Every day, shinobi fell on the battlefield.
It was clear… Kumogakure was serious!
From morning to night, the desert was scarred with traces of ninjutsu. Good thing it was already a desert, or…
They'd be branded as environmental destroyers!
"No wonder everyone's so exhausted!"
After three straight days of fighting, even Rasa felt drained.
Imagine… waking at dawn to Kumogakure's battle cries and Sunagakure's alarms, rushing to formation, and fighting…
From morning till night!
And as if on purpose, Kumogakure sometimes launched nighttime raids, keeping the Sand shinobi on the defensive and exhausted.
Who wouldn't be tired?
The Kusagakure front had been irritating enough, but this… this was a worse nightmare.
It left him no time to "mine gold."
As for food… both fronts were similar, relying on soldier pills. In the Land of Wind, surrounded by desert, food was either imported from other nations or bought from the capital. But Sunagakure… had no money.
The Wind Daimyō's sudden cut in funding, combined with the mass deployment of shinobi to search for the Third Kazekage, had slashed the village's mission income.
So…
Even the landlord had no surplus grain, and they were stuck with small, foul-tasting soldier pills.
Of course… eating too many caused nausea, vomiting, or worse. Poorly made soldier pills could even threaten a shinobi's health.
They were dangerous food.
Only for emergencies, not long-term use, but… what choice did they have?
The Sand shinobi had to make do.
According to Advisor Chiyo, she'd sent ninja to procure supplies, and with the village's remaining food… though soldier pills were the main fare, they still got one meal a day with grains or meat.
"Conditions are tough, but hang in there!"
Advisor Ebizō stepped up, sighing helplessly as he rallied the shinobi for lunch.
The soldier pills, crafted by Chiyo, were… average. Not delicious, not awful… but at least they didn't cause diarrhea or death. That was a small comfort.
Otherwise…
Sunagakure might lose the war to their own cooking.
Rasa popped a soldier pill. One was enough—two would be too filling.
Not that anyone would eat two.
In terms of numbers, the thirty-odd jōnin he brought were barely a drop in the bucket for this massive war.
Of course, that excluded him… the gacha-drawing Sand shinobi!
But the relentless fighting left no time for gold-mining, making him feel like he'd lost billions!
He gulped a mouthful of Kanna's water, washing down the pill's foul taste.
Thankfully, at the Kusagakure front, they didn't rely on soldier pills daily. With fewer people, the village's food shipments sufficed, and… a bunch of shinobi had turned into bandits for no reason.
Rasa figured… Kusagakure probably needed food more than they did!
So, they only ate soldier pills in a pinch.
In that light…
Chiyo was working hard. She wasn't making soldier pills alone—she had medical ninja helping—but managing the war and provisions? No wonder she was busy.
So when Chiyo approached him with a serious look, Rasa froze, frowning slightly. "What's wrong?"
"She… knows Suiton?!" Chiyo frowned, her tone grave. "She can use Suiton?!"
"Her? Kanna?" Rasa looked puzzled, nodding. "Yeah, she can."
Was that strange?
Didn't the Uzumaki clan typically have wind and water chakra natures?
Sure, there were exceptions, but what was wrong with just water?
But…
"No, that's not what I mean!" Chiyo shook her head, still serious. "You realize… this is a desert!"
"??"
And?
"…"
Chiyo stared at Rasa's confused blinking, exasperated. Sighing and shaking her head, she said, "Didn't the Third Kazekage teach you anything? Or… did you skip every class at the academy?"
"…"
How do I even respond?
Rasa looked at Chiyo silently. His memories were a jumbled mess—not gone, but too chaotic to dwell on.
As expected…
Before he could speak, Chiyo, ever the teacher, launched into a lecture. "Suiton shinobi manipulate water chakra for attack or defense, usually using nearby water sources. But skilled ones can cast Suiton without water nearby!"
"…"
Is that so?
Rasa blinked again, frowning at Chiyo.
"So… she's a genius?"
"She's a genius, alright. Using Suiton in the desert, even basic Suiton, makes her a genius!" Chiyo said, her tone tinged with regret as she shook her head. "But… compared to Konoha's Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, she's still lacking. Back then… I saw him once. His Suiton was awe-inspiring!"
"…"
Give me a break!
Who could compare to a legend said to have tamed the sea itself?
Rasa stared at Chiyo, still lamenting, and thought for a moment. [So… Kanna's talent is pretty good?]
She was an Uzumaki, after all.
Her vast chakra opened endless possibilities, let alone her other gifts.
So…
Rasa sidled up to Chiyo, winking playfully. "You're impressed?"
"Suiton shinobi are vital for Sunagakure!" Chiyo shot him a glance, her tone serious again. "You know we have barely any water-natured shinobi!"
Suiton users were perfect for supplying water or becoming medical ninja.
But…
"We have Suiton shinobi in Sunagakure?"
Rasa looked at Chiyo, confused.
"Aren't we mainly wind and earth?"
"…"
Is this guy really fit to be the Fourth Kazekage?
(End of Chapter)