"It's a pity his body can't be delivered to Konoha as evidence… but Sarutobi Hiruzen probably won't dare argue."
After arranging the bodies of Baki and the others, Rasa let out a cold snort.
With a simple motion of his right hand, the quicksand beneath their feet surged upward, carrying the corpses back toward Sunagakure.
None of them noticed that one of the masked Anbu beside them had already been replaced.
During the long journey back, Rasa pondered how best to use Uchiha Kenya's supposed death—not only for the [Konoha Collapse Plan] Orochimaru had recently proposed, but also for Sunagakure's advantage.
After all, Konoha's traitors had killed his men, and in return he had aided Konoha in killing their own renegades.
From any angle, Konoha looked to be at a disadvantage.
By the time they returned to Sunagakure, Rasa had already devised a plan. But what he didn't realize… was that the man he thought dead was standing right beside him the entire time.
Inside the Kazekage's office, Rasa summoned four of his Anbu, including the disguised Kenya.
"Spread word through the village that Baki was killed by Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Kenya," Rasa commanded coldly. "I will send a letter to Sarutobi Hiruzen, demanding that Konoha give Sand an explanation for this matter."
He was deliberately stoking Sunagakure's anger toward Konoha—paving the way for the eventual [Konoha Collapse Plan].
When waging war, one always needed the justification of a righteous cause—especially against an ally. In this way, both the villagers and shinobi of Sunagakure would throw their full support behind him, convinced Konoha had betrayed them first.
Rasa also remembered another incident: five years ago, the Hidden Cloud attempted to abduct Hyūga Hinata. The attempt failed, and her father, Hyūga Hiashi, killed the kidnapper. Just when everyone thought the Cloud would suffer for their actions, the Fourth Raikage turned the situation on its head—framing Hiashi and demanding "a life for a life."
The truly shocking part? Sarutobi Hiruzen, the so-called "Professor of Ninjutsu," actually agreed to their terms.
From that moment on, every Kage knew: the man once at the pinnacle of the shinobi world had grown old. The only reason no one acted rashly was because Konoha still had its veteran powerhouses and the legacy of countless talented ninja.
Now Rasa held leverage against Konoha. He had no intention of letting the opportunity slip, planning to replicate the Raikage's ruthless tactics.
But unlike Cloud's thirst for the Byakugan, what Sunagakure truly lacked was food.
Two consecutive years of natural disasters had left their stores nearly empty. If this situation reached the Daimyō, the man would no doubt suggest "disarmament" again as a solution—a move Rasa considered utterly foolish.
And that, Rasa swore, was something he would never allow.
The four Anbu bowed and vanished.
Rasa sank into his chair, fatigue pressing against him. After hours of scheming and paperwork, the night had nearly passed. Outside his window, the scorching sun of a new day slowly rose above the horizon.
Whoosh!
One of the Anbu he had dispatched reappeared in a blur of the Body Flicker Technique.
Rasa raised a brow. "What is it?"
The masked shinobi bowed. "Forgive me, Lord Kazekage. During the battle with Uchiha Kenya, I managed to obtain something from him. I neglected to hand it over until now."
He presented a scroll.
"Oh?" Rasa frowned. He distinctly remembered this Anbu being blasted away by Kenya's ninjutsu, barely surviving. How could he have retrieved such a thing?
But suspicion never truly crossed his mind—these men were his most trusted subordinates, veterans who had served in Anbu for over a decade.
Rasa accepted the scroll and unrolled it.
"…Blank?"
The parchment was completely white.
In that instant, a flash of silver burst forth from the scroll, spearing through his throat.
"—!"
His eyes went wide in shock as he stared at the blade lodged in his neck. The scroll fell to the floor with a dull thud as the "Anbu" before him revealed his true form.
"…U… Uchiha… Kenya…"
Blood choked his words.
Kenya, having released Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion, gave a thin smile. "The time I can control a Kage-level shinobi is short… but you've been most helpful, Lord Kazekage. Thanks to you, I can now move on to the next stage."
With a smooth twist, his blade cut cleanly through Rasa's throat.
"You… you…"
Thud!
Before he could finish his last words, Rasa collapsed in a pool of blood.
[Current Template Character: Aizen Sōsuke — Unlock Rate: 19.21%]
"As expected of a Kage…" Kenya murmured. The surge of power pushing past the Jōnin level brought a faint smirk to his lips.
He stooped, picked up the Kazekage's hat inscribed with the kanji for Wind, and turned his palm toward the corpse.
"Hadō #54: Abolishing Flame."
A disk of violet fire roared forth, reducing Rasa's body to ash in an instant.
Kenya placed the Kazekage's hat upon his head and reclined casually in Rasa's chair. Crossing one leg over the other, he stretched lazily, a satisfied grin playing on his lips.
"Well… at least tonight, I'll finally get some proper sleep."