Pakura let out a cold laugh, and then continued, "The Shaluo People are about to kneel to Uchiha Yoichi, ask if he agrees. If he's angered, then forget about this batch of supplies and start the war directly."
"Tell all the Hidden Sand Ninja, because the Fourth Generation Kazekage must take hold of this matter himself. If Konoha doesn't agree, then go to war with them!"
Rasa and his faction heard Pakura's sarcastic words, their faces flushed with anger; even with the mask, Rasa's complexion was frighteningly grim.
Unable to defeat Pakura, and ridiculed by her, Rasa initially felt some guilt towards Pakura, but now there's only hatred left.
"Pakura, it was you who persuaded Konoha to take hold of this matter, for the Hidden Sand Ninja, you'd better..."
The Shaluo People's angry words were cut off by Pakura: "I dare to hand over, do you dare to accept; if Konoha finds out and cancels the next batch of supplies, you will be the sinner of the Hidden Sand Ninja, the culprit of war!"
With one sentence, Pakura silenced the Shaluo People; they certainly didn't dare take on the responsibility of starting a war.
Moreover, the Hidden Sand is currently at its weakest, weak to the point that the One-tailed Jinchuriki is just a child, having to sell out Pakura for a peace with the Hidden Mist; if they were to war with Konoha now, they probably couldn't last a few months.
"If that's the case, let's leave it to Jonin Pakura to manage, dismissed!"
Having said this, Rasa left the round table in the Hidden Sand Village conference room, furious enough to disregard it being the village's most sacred place, home to the statues of past Kazekage.
"Hmph!"
Pakura snorted coldly and got up to leave; no matter what Rasa did, in her eyes, he was still a traitor who sold out his companions.
And he did it purely for power!
"Pakura."
When Pakura left the conference room, she saw Elder Chiyo standing outside, and relaxed her tone slightly: "Elder Chiyo, since you're here, why didn't you go inside?"
"Since I've stepped down, I'm just an ordinary Hidden Sand ninja, such meetings are not for me, haha..."
Chiyo chuckled twice, then asked, "You haven't come to see me in a while, want to take a walk together?"
"Let's go, Elder Chiyo."
"No need to call me Elder, I've retired, now I'm just an ordinary old lady."
Pakura, knowing Elder Chiyo had something to say, agreed readily; grateful for Chiyo's past treatment and the handling of the village wood incident, though she doubted it could have been just a village wood's doing.
Not as powerful or renowned as her, what gave the village wood guts to betray the Hidden Sand Hero?
Once outside, Chiyo suddenly asked, "Pakura, what do you think of Konoha?"
"...Very strong, not something the Hidden Sand can resist."
After pondering a moment, Pakura spoke truthfully: "Even if the Hidden Sand's strength tripled, I wouldn't have confidence in defeating Konoha on the battlefield. If they go to war, the Hidden Sand Village's outcome might be..."
"Indeed...it seems Konoha's strength developed very quickly, with people like Konoha Lightning Fang, and Konoha White Fang..."
Chiyo paused at mention of Konoha White Fang, stopped briefly, then continued: "Pakura, sorry about last time, the killing couldn't be investigated further, but henceforth, no one should betray the Hidden Sand..."
Pakura looked at Chiyo for a few seconds, then said, "I'll lead the Hidden Sand villagers to live better lives, something Rasa absolutely cannot do."
Konoha is poised to move against the Hidden Sand Village, with hunger or war as options; a death by starvation or war.
But besides these two deaths, Pakura felt joining Konoha, living a real life, might be the better choice.
"I see..."
Chiyo, silent for a moment, then departed.
'Could she have sensed it...'
After Chiyo left, Pakura thought to herself; but after pondering a while, she shook her head, there wouldn't be evidence even if sensed.
——————————
Ryuchi Cave
Upon receiving the order from the messenger serpent, Shinga immediately used Reverse Summoning Jutsu, and amidst a puff of smoke, Uchiha Yoichi arrived at Ryuchi Cave.
"Master."
Uchiha Yoichi said, "Sorry to trouble you, Shinga, I have a matter to discuss with the White Snake Sage."
Shinga asked, "Master, need me to take you?"
"No need, just asking a few questions, and I know the cave's map."
Uchiha Yoichi refused, as Shinga's good temperament was reserved only for him; discussing matters with the White Snake Sage, and if Shinga suddenly uttered 'bastard', that would ruin things.
Having finished with Shinga, Uchiha Yoichi proceeded towards the White Snake Sage's place.
Near arrival, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly noticed Ichikishimahime rushing towards him; floating beside him, she grabbed his neck tightly, angrily stating, "Bastard, you dare come to Ryuchi Cave..."
Last time, requested Ichikishimahime's help in war, but afterwards immediately sent her back.
Recalling this, Uchiha Yoichi felt some guilt, but only for a few seconds.
"That was wartime, no time; now it's truly over, I've come to return the favor this time."
After removing Ichikishimahime from his body, Uchiha Yoichi continued: "If I really wanted to default, how could I have come voluntarily."
"You do have a point..."
"So first take me to the White Snake Sage, I have things to ask of it, and once that's done, I'll return the favor."
"Alright, you said that last time too..."
Pat! Pat! Pat!
With three slaps, Uchiha Yoichi silenced Ichikishimahime's snake tail, then carried her to the White Snake Sage's location.
Without carrying her, surely she'd stealthily attack with petty tricks.
Walking a while, Uchiha Yoichi then encountered the other two Snake Princesses, who greeted him: "Mr. Yoichi, are you here for me this time?"
Ichikishimahime spoke first: "He's here for the White Snake Sage and me, don't interfere!"
Seeing Ichikishimahime tightly bound, Tagorihime chuckled softly, then told Uchiha Yoichi: "The White Snake Sage is inside, Mr. Yoichi, please proceed."
"Thanks a lot."
Uchiha Yoichi thanked them, then walked deeper into the cave; he remembered Ichikishimahime mentioning that the White Snake Sage had connected to this land, unable to leave before transforming into a dragon.
Upon meeting the White Snake Sage, it still appeared as an old lady, asking Uchiha Yoichi: "Young Uchiha, what brings you to me this time?"
"Indeed two matters, White Snake Sage, have you seen high chakra aggregations, like items with very high natural energy or chakra levels?"
While speaking, Uchiha Yoichi gathered chakra at his fingertips to show the White Snake Sage.
"Hehe, young Uchiha, I suspect you knew and thus came to me."
After speaking, the White Snake Sage revealed its true form, a white snake; Ichikishimahime then said, "I don't know his purpose, didn't tell him."
Hearing the two snakes converse, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly realized: "You own such an item?"
"In areas rich with natural energy, nearby objects may change; trees grow wildly, animals increase in size... these stones are one of them.
They're useless to us, sufficient for feeding small snakes or for contractors practicing Sage Mode...
As the White Snake Sage spoke, a smaller white snake crawled out from behind its chair, spat a few shiny stones before Uchiha Yoichi, then vanished as an energy form.
"This is the item, I call it the Stone of Nature, for it only appears in especially energy-rich locales."
Uchiha Yoichi picked it up for a closer look, discovering its energy was indeed rich, though with impurities; still, it seemed adequate for replacing demon cores in alchemy.
"This is exactly what I sought, White Snake Sage."