The Dragon Vein is the very lifeblood of the earth, and the vast energy it contains is akin to a semi-finished form of Senjutsu chakra, existing somewhere between natural energy and true Sage Chakra. Tatsuya only needs to inject a small amount of his own chakra, altering the fusion ratio, to transform it into genuine Senjutsu chakra. This property bears a striking resemblance to the mutated energy of the demon Moryo after its malevolent will had been filtered out. Tatsuya had discovered this crucial point during his previous investigation of the Dragon Vein seal. This was the key reason he was determined to use the Dragon Vein for his artificial tailed beast project.
As Tatsuya's understanding of Senjutsu deepened, his appreciation for its developmental potential grew significantly. There was still much untapped power to explore in this field. Thus, the Dragon Vein, capable of replenishing vast amounts of Senjutsu chakra anytime and anywhere, became exceptionally valuable to him. With it, and leveraging his bio-chip, Tatsuya believed he could even create ultimate techniques comparable to Hashirama Senju's legendary True Several Thousand Hands. The prospect filled him with eager anticipation.
Over the years, using the resources and power at his disposal, Tatsuya had also been secretly investigating the whereabouts of the former Queen of Roran and her people's remnants. Aided by the sheer power of money, Yakugakure had successfully narrowed down the target location to Ryusa Town about six months prior. However, Tatsuya had been unable to get away at the time and had only now managed to come and investigate personally.
Almost immediately upon arriving in Ryusa Town, he encountered the little girl, Sachie. She had offered to guide him around town to earn a commission. Seeing her sensible and well-behaved demeanor, Tatsuya readily agreed. But when he revealed his intended destination – implicitly related to Roran or the Dragon Vein – the girl instantly changed her tune. Not only did she refuse to guide him, but she also quite ferociously attempted to attack him. This altercation led directly to the earlier scene on the street.
Back inside Sara's home:
"A Konoha ninja..." Hearing Tatsuya's introduction, Sara's expression became complex, and she murmured the words under her breath.
Tatsuya smiled faintly, saying nothing. He understood perfectly well that the woman before him was undoubtedly recalling events from over a decade ago, when she had encountered other ninja from Konoha – the adult Naruto Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze before he became the Fourth Hokage.
"Are you here for the Dragon Vein?" Snapping out of her reminiscence after a long moment, Sara looked directly at Tatsuya and asked the question. For the ancient kingdom of Roran, long buried beneath the desert sands, only the Dragon Vein held any remaining value that outsiders might covet.
"That's right," Tatsuya confirmed directly, without evasion.
"It's no use!" Sara shook her head. "The Dragon Vein's power is far too violent; no one can harness it. Over the past ten years, Sunagakure ninja found me several times. They all tried, but the Dragon Vein's power is simply uncontrollable." As she spoke, a trace of lingering fear touched her features. She vividly remembered several Sand ninja being torn to shreds by its raw power.
"Your Highness Sara need not worry about that," Tatsuya waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned. "Just because they couldn't do it doesn't mean I can't. Your Highness only needs to open the Dragon Vein for me."
"No!" "We won't agree to that!" ...
Tatsuya had barely finished speaking when several voices erupted from outside the house. Moments later, an elderly man rushed in, followed by several middle-aged men. Behind them, the plump Aunt Yuri was panting heavily; she had clearly summoned them.
Tatsuya's gaze swept over the newcomers – the old man and the middle-aged men – entirely unsurprised by their arrival. He had sensed their presence the moment they stepped into the small courtyard. A quick scan was enough to assess their strength: one Chunin and several Genin. Utterly insignificant. Based on the situation, he deduced they must be the remnants of Roran's people, living discreetly in Ryusa Town alongside Sara, rarely interacting openly but always covertly protecting the former queen and her daughter.
"Grandpa Toma!" Seeing the old man, little Sachie's face lit up with excitement. She wriggled free from Sara's grasp and ran to his side.
The old man, Toma, gently patted Sachie's head before turning to Sara and bowing respectfully. The middle-aged men behind him mirrored his gesture, bowing low to Sara as well.
Then, Toma turned to face Tatsuya, his expression exceptionally grave.
Ryusa Town was a remote settlement in the northern Land of Wind, its inhabitants living in relative isolation for years. News traveled slowly. Sara, therefore, had never heard of Tatsuya's formidable reputation.
But the old man named Toma was different. He was a bounty ninja who operated throughout the shinobi world. Although his own skills were only at the Chunin level, he was extremely well-informed about happenings beyond the town. He knew exactly who Akimichi Tatsuya was: the renowned 'Second Sage' – a supreme powerhouse standing at the very pinnacle of the ninja world. Such an individual demanded the utmost respect.
After a moment's consideration, Toma spoke respectfully, "Honored Lord Akimichi Tatsuya, please forgive us, but we cannot accept your request. The power of the Dragon Vein is simply too violent. The last time Her Majesty opened it for the Sand ninja, she nearly lost her life. Furthermore, every time Her Majesty closes the Dragon Vein, she must pay a certain price. If she were forced to do it again... Her Majesty might not survive."
Standing beside Toma, Sachie looked utterly astonished as she heard her grandfather speak with such deference to an outsider. The middle-aged men also seemed to realize the gravity of the situation, their gazes towards Tatsuya shifting with newfound apprehension. Amidst them all, only Sara's expression remained calm.
"Is that so?" Tatsuya replied, looking at Sara with renewed interest. "Don't worry. This time, Her Highness Sara won't need to lift a finger." Observing her more closely now, Tatsuya did indeed notice something unusual about the hair near Sara's temples – a small, carefully hidden lock that resembled withered grass, as if completely drained of its life force.
Seeing Tatsuya remain insistent even after hearing the dire reason, a wave of panic crossed Toma's face. He opened his mouth to plead further, but Tatsuya cut him off directly.
Shaking his head, Tatsuya stared intently at Toma and stated, word by deliberate word, "I am not asking for your opinion. You do not have the right to refuse."
As the words left his lips, an invisible pressure instantly descended upon the room, making the very air feel heavy and oppressive.
"I agree."
It was Sara's voice that broke the suffocating tension. The terrifying pressure, which had lasted perhaps only ten seconds, vanished completely.
Gasp... Huff...
With the immense pressure gone, everyone in the room instinctively took deep breaths, their eyes fixed on Tatsuya, now filled with palpable fear.
"Your Highness Sara, rest assured," Tatsuya said, a smile returning to his face, "I won't expect you to work for nothing. Once this matter is concluded, I will provide you all with a handsome reward. Moreover, if you are willing, I can help relocate all of Roran's remnants and settle you properly elsewhere. Compared to the Land of Wind, where you are constantly under surveillance, I believe Your Highness Sara will much prefer the alternative."