Time passed day by day.
Unknowingly, it had already been a week since the Genjutsu Network's launch.
Even though Konoha tried to keep things low-key, news of the Genjutsu Network had already reached all the major factions.
As Konoha's ally, Sunagakure was one of the first to receive the intel. The Third Kazekage had taken notice of the Genjutsu Network from the initial report, but the details were scarce—he couldn't quite tell what the system was really capable of.
At the time, he merely assumed it was just a larger version of a local intranet.
And just as Konoha had anticipated, someone as sharp as the Third Kazekage had already considered possible applications for a local network. As long as the range could be expanded, it would unlock various new functions—this recent development simply confirmed his assumptions.
A network that covered the entire Hidden Leaf Village, and even allowed multiple cities in the Land of Fire to have their own local networks—this was the key takeaway from the initial intelligence.
It left the Third Kazekage deeply unsettled. That Konoha had managed to scale up such a system so rapidly was cause for concern. He began to question whether his earlier judgment had been wrong. Was Konoha really as weakened and corrupt as he thought?
But considering Konoha's heritage, he came to terms with it.
After all, Konoha possessed the richest resources and the most elite shinobi in the entire shinobi world. They had also inherited most of the Uzumaki clan's legacy and still had several Uzumaki living within the village—likely even a hidden branch still surviving.
The idea that a secret remnant of the Uzumaki clan existed within Konoha came from a character in the game: a red-haired young man who was unmistakably from the Uzumaki clan, clearly modeled after Kushina Uzumaki in a gender-swapped form.
Since that character's debut, over a month had passed, and rumors had long spread.
Konoha had never commented on it. Those who knew about Kushina's real situation were keeping it secret, while those in the dark assumed that Konoha had intentionally revealed this character to showcase its strength.
Among those misled by the intel was the Third Kazekage. His misjudgment only deepened his wariness of Konoha, and made him even more reluctant to take action.
Now, he had received a second batch of information.
He learned that the Genjutsu Network could support over ten thousand users simultaneously playing the same game—and even matching up in battles.
This stunned the Third Kazekage.
Even if it only worked within Konoha's region, applying such a system in warfare—especially in something like a Shinobi World War—could offer massive advantages in regional command.
With the Genjutsu Network, Konoha's commanders could communicate and direct subordinates in real time. Even squad-to-squad communication could happen instantly.
Keep in mind: the shinobi world hadn't even invented walkie-talkies yet. That piece of tech only appeared during the Third Great Ninja War and didn't become common until after. It was one of those classic "war drives tech" inventions.
So, from the shinobi world's current standpoint, the Genjutsu Network was revolutionary—an overwhelming technological advantage that made the Third Kazekage's scalp tingle just thinking about it.
"No, we must find a way to acquire the Genjutsu Network technology for ourselves. Sunagakure must have its own system!"
"If we can't obtain the tech, then we need to find a way to destroy it—or at the very least, develop countermeasures!"
"If not, even if Konoha falls into decline in two and a half years, as long as they hold onto the Genjutsu Network, they can still unleash terrifying power."
"Besides, other villages will surely make the same call as me. If those guys manage to get their hands on the technology, both Sunagakure and the Land of Wind are in trouble!"
Having made up his mind, the Third Kazekage summoned his most trusted subordinate: Rasa.
Moments later, Rasa arrived.
The man who represented Sunagakure's future greeted his leader with impeccable formality and waited silently for orders—nothing had changed from before.
The Third Kazekage was quite satisfied. His trust in Rasa had never wavered. He handed over the classified intel and shared his conclusions and suspicions.
After taking it all in, a sharp glint appeared in Rasa's calm eyes.
"Kazekage-sama, please entrust this mission to me! I will go to Konoha and do everything I can to bring the Genjutsu Network to Sunagakure!"
The Third Kazekage smiled, pleased by Rasa's determined and passionate response. Inwardly, he praised him—this was the embodiment of the Will of Wind. A role model for Sunagakure. He wished those who had been softened by Konoha's luxuries could see this—to know what true loyalty looked like.
With that, Rasa departed to fulfill his mission, accompanied by the diplomatic team that had previously visited Konoha.
At that moment, Rasa was practically striding on air.
After all…
He was finally heading back to Konoha.
He could already feel the comfort of the massage parlors, the hot springs, and the full-body spa treatments. Just the thought made him giddy.
Of course, Rasa insisted—it wasn't that he disliked Sunagakure.
Sure, Sunagakure was dry and water was scarce. It looked more like a refugee camp than a hidden village. It certainly didn't have the luxurious amenities of Konoha.
But it was his homeland, the place he had sworn to dedicate his life to. How could he possibly look down on it?
That said…
As his good friend Sarutobi Mizuki once said: even as a Kage, a shinobi is just fulfilling their duties.
But shinobi are human too. Beyond missions and responsibilities, they also have personal lives and hobbies!
Right now, Rasa's "hobby" was visiting Konoha's leisure clubs—the kind of indulgent places the Land of Wind would never have.
Could you blame him? Of course not!
As Mizuki put it: shinobi carry massive mental burdens. If they can't relieve the pressure, they either go mad or become twisted—like many of the infamous maniacs of the shinobi world. Kirigakure was the textbook example.
To avoid ending up like that, proper relaxation was necessary. It refreshed the mind, enabling better judgment and fewer mistakes.
Yes, as Mizuki said: shinobi who spend money on enjoyment do so for the sake of their village, their families, and their friends. The heavier the burden, the more they need it.
After all, if someone with power and status loses it and snaps, the damage could be worse than dealing with an S-rank rogue ninja.
Just look at the Third Mizukage—a cautionary tale. He turned Kirigakure into a blood-soaked nightmare. Despite the village's advantageous location and sea access, he dragged it down to the same level as Sunagakure.
The scars he left were long-lasting. Even now, in the era of the Fourth Mizukage, that bloody legacy still loomed, driving a wedge between the village and its bloodline clans.
If Konoha had one Uchiha clan, then Kirigakure had *multiple* Uchiha-tier clans—every one of them ready to rebel at the drop of a hat.
If not for the Fourth Mizukage's competence, the village would've imploded long ago.
Seeing this real-world example, Rasa couldn't agree more with Mizuki.
Especially now, back in barren Sunagakure, surrounded by heavily dressed, unappealing women, with no baths due to water shortages, and lice thriving on his dry skin…
All of it left him tense and irritable. He needed that break in Konoha. He missed the leisure spots—and his good friend Mizuki.
Yes, Mizuki was corrupt and decadent—a parasite in Konoha's system.
But as the saying goes, "Your enemy's scourge is your brother."
Mizuki harmed Konoha, not Sunagakure. And he shared valuable intel with Rasa, making him an ally by Rasa's standard.
So…
"Mizuki-bro, I'm coming back! This time, let's enjoy our time at the Heaven and Earth Club to the fullest!"
With that delightful thought in his heart, Rasa led Sunagakure's delegation out, sent off by the Third Kazekage and a sizable escort—carrying the hopes of the entire village.
At the same time, other delegations from other villages were also departing.
Of course, the people within each team wouldn't be exactly the same—some fresh faces had joined, while some familiar ones were gone.
In the case of the Sunagakure group, one new member stood out: an elite jonin named Pakura!