Kazekage's Office.
Led by Sandworm, the Electricity Party came to pay their respects to the Fourth Kazekage.
Though they cursed him viciously in private, face-to-face they remained perfectly polite.
"Lord Fourth." The group bowed in unison.
Rasa sat behind his desk, mind racing to guess their purpose.
Surrender?
Complaints?
Or were they like Kubo and those other scumbags, putting on a fake show of resignation?
Whatever the case, Rasa wasn't planning to wait anymore. He was going to recall Kaza.
Recently, voices in the village were already calling for his resignation, saying he was unfit for office and demanding a new Kazekage be elected.
He was certain these rumors originated from some invisible, shadowy corner.
But with the villagers' quality of life plummeting so rapidly, such talk was spreading like wildfire.
Once momentum built, no matter how powerful he was, he'd struggle against the tide of public opinion.
Even though he'd sent ANBU everywhere spreading propaganda about putting the village first, the results were minimal.
When people can barely fill their stomachs, who gives a damn about "thinking of the village"?
He knew it—he'd lost this battle completely.
Just like his invasion of Amegakure, he'd chosen the wrong opponent again.
This unremarkable Municipal Ministry wielded power even more formidable than those old fossils lurking behind the village.
Not one of the Eighteen Seats was high-ranking. On the surface they were middle management, but beneath lay unimaginable webs of interest.
His actions had clearly been like pulling weeds and destroying the entire field.
Rasa could sense that even those old fossils behind the village were terrified now.
Just eighteen people, yet they connected the village's entire middle class and civilian population.
Rasa even suspected some of those eighteen were Amegakure spies.
Otherwise, how could that so-called water plant keep running so smoothly?
Worse yet, Rasa even suspected his so-called distant cousin Kaza was the mole.
But suspicion was useless now—Kaza absolutely couldn't be touched!
He was the center of the massive web of interests beneath the sand. Unless Rasa could one day guarantee the village's peace and stability no matter what, only then would he consider investigating Kaza.
But was that realistic?
Could a political amateur outmaneuver someone like Rinjin, who'd been wallowing in lies and deception since childhood?
Possible, but not likely.
In the office, Sandworm chose his words carefully and spoke slowly:
"Lord Fourth, I dare to request this audience mainly to ask something on behalf of the villagers."
"Speak," Rasa replied expressionlessly.
"Well... it's like this. We'd like to ask you to transfer Lord Kaza back to his position as Municipal Ministry head.
Honestly, we don't want to disturb Lord Kaza's retirement, but...
Lord Kaza truly is the village's pillar. Without our leader's guidance, we useless folks can't function properly.
And having a talent like Lord Kaza retire so early is really the village's loss~
Look, after Yura and Baki took over—
The monthly tax revenue of nearly ten million ryō disappeared, and the functions that used to work perfectly are now ignored.
They're still too young, Lord Fourth.
We humbly request you tell Lord Kaza: Sir, please endure the hardship and return quickly to build a beautiful future for the village—that's what you should be doing~"
After this speech, while others showed no reaction, Sandworm's group was moved to tears.
Behind the desk, if not for maintaining his image, Rasa would've started cursing.
What nonsense—calling that guy the village's pillar when he was clearly a disaster!
And what's this about Yura and Baki being too young? Don't think I can't hear you throwing shade.
However, Rasa still had some political acumen.
He'd already tried certain approaches and found them completely ineffective, so he had to swallow his pride.
His stern gaze swept across the office as Rasa spoke through gritted teeth:
"I understand. Sandworm, though you're old, everyone sees your loyalty to the village.
Fine—I'll send someone to invite my cousin back!"
Hearing this, a sly gleam flashed in Sandworm's eyes.
He'd rambled on precisely to focus the Fourth's attention on Kaza.
After all, let Kaza do the dirty work—they were just cheerleaders waving flags.
As long as Kaza could create value for everyone, they'd support him without hesitation.
But once Kaza couldn't deliver anymore—sorry, that's just how they were.
However, Rinjin wasn't worried about such things.
He'd tied interests to seats precisely to periodically purge the overly greedy.
Whoever's greed exceeded their capabilities, Rinjin would secretly guide the pack to tear them apart.
A group's web of interests destroying one person's web was almost too easy.
After seeing Sandworm and the others out, Fourth KazekageRasa immediately summoned ANBU and sent them to find Rinjin's whereabouts.
If anyone in the village was most anxious, it was definitely Fourth KazekageRasa.
After all, he hadn't even warmed the Kazekage's seat yet, and already many villagers were secretly clamoring for his removal.
Three days later, after tremendous hardship, the ANBU finally found Kaza at an oasis in the Land of Wind's southwest, accompanying his secretary at a casino.
Seeing this scene, the ANBU search team nearly died of rage.
They'd practically turned the desert inside out, not daring to waste a single minute, timing even their water breaks.
Meanwhile, this guy had seven or eight bodyguards behind him, sitting leisurely at the blackjack table with his blonde secretary, having a grand time.
The lead ANBU wearing a hawk mask pushed through the surrounding gamblers and strode up to Rinjin.
"Lord Kaza, pardon the interruption. Lord Fourth summons you."
At these words, Tsunade's beautiful face beside Rinjin visibly darkened.
What a joke—she'd finally gotten out for some fun, and after less than two weeks, they wanted to go back?
Secretly, Tsunade shot Rinjin meaningful looks while her delicate hand imperceptibly pinched the soft flesh at his waist.
Seeing this, Rinjin immediately shook his head.
Never mind that Tsunade hadn't had enough fun—being summoned and dismissed at will, he wouldn't stand for it either.
When he'd left that office, he'd said it clearly: it's easy to invite a god but hard to send one away. He wasn't so easily summoned.
Besides, without giving Rasa a harsh lesson, who knew if the guy would send people to the Ministry every few days to annoy him!
"Do you have an order from the Suna Clan head?
I'm now retired personnel, belonging to the Suna Clan. Transferring me requires the clan head's order.
If you don't have one, please return!"
Hearing this, the lead ANBU's brow furrowed beneath his mask.
He didn't have the Suna Clan head's order, though he did have one from the village chief.
But clearly, the other party wasn't buying his approach.
Honestly, he wanted to forcibly drag Kaza back.
But the seven or eight menacing bodyguards before him made him abandon that idea.
Perhaps in places they hadn't noticed, other bodyguards were secretly protecting him too.
Thinking this, the lead ANBU snorted heavily, then raised his right hand and ordered his companions:
"Viper, take two men back to the village and report every detail of this situation to Lord Fourth!"
"Yes!" The ANBU called Viper immediately nodded, took two men, and rushed out of the casino.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (95+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!