Inside the Kazekages Office, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could drip water.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm. His fingertips tapped unconsciously against the tabletop, producing a dull thudding sound that struck the heart of everyone present with each beat.
Elder Chiyo and Ebizō sat on either side. The former had her eyes lowered, as if asleep, but the slight tightening of her lips revealed her inner unrest. The latter kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his sharp gaze sweeping over every high-level official present.
Advisor Elders, various unit captains, Family representatives... the core decision-making body of Hidden Sand Village was almost entirely present. Their focus was concentrated on the young man standing in the center of the office.
Sayo, only eighteen years old, was already the Minister of the Research and Development Department of Sunagakure, the undisputed pinnacle of combat power in the Village, and the creator of the miracle of the East Sea Bay Oasis. At this moment, he was calmly stating a proposal that sounded nothing short of "crazy" to most people.
"...This is the wish of Master Bunpuku. He has spent his life accompanying Shukaku, bearing loneliness and misunderstanding, while protecting the balance of the Village. Now that his time is approaching, he does not wish to extend his life by any means. He only asks to leave peacefully and to release Shukaku back into the desert, returning its freedom." Sayo's voice was clear and steady, without a hint of fluctuation, as if he were stating the most ordinary matter.
As soon as his voice fell, the conference room immediately erupted.
"Absurd!" A senior Advisor Elder slammed the table and stood up abruptly. "One-Tails Shukaku is the ultimate weapon of the Village, a strategic deterrent! How can we easily release it just because of one person's wish? Jonin Sayo, do you know what losing the Tailed Beast means for our Sunagakure?!"
"It means we will lose an important trump card," another Family representative added, his tone serious. "Especially while other major nations still possess Jinchuriki. This move is tantamount to cutting off our own arm!"
"We are grateful for Master Bunpuku's contributions, but the interests of the Village are above all else! We can find a new Jinchuriki container to continue the power of the weapon, rather than releasing it into nature and adding uncontrollable risks in vain!"
Voices of opposition rose one after another, forming an almost one-sided situation. The concept of Tailed Beasts as strategic weapons was deeply rooted, and the intertwining of fear and dependence made it difficult for them to accept the option of "releasing" it.
Rasa's fingers, which were tapping on the table, stopped. He raised his eyes and looked at Sayo, his gaze deep. "Sayo, I understand your respect for Master Bunpuku. But as everyone has said, Shukaku's power is crucial to the Village. After releasing it, how do we constrain it? If it is obtained by others, what then? You need to give a reason sufficient to convince everyone, not just... sentiment."
The pressure bore down on Sayo like a physical weight. Elder Chiyo opened her eyes slightly and glanced at Sayo, her eyes holding a trace of imperceptible worry.
Facing everyone's questioning, Sayo's expression remained unchanged. He took a deep breath and said loudly, "Kazekage-sama, Elders, I propose this not out of sentiment, but based on considerations for the present and future interests of the Village."
His gaze swept across the room as he continued, "First, the theory of the 'weapon' is long outdated. The Battle of Kikyō Mountain, and even various major wars, have proven that pinning hope on the rampage of an uncontrolled Tailed Beast comes at a heavy cost and often harms us before it harms the enemy. What we in Sunagakure need now is controllable, sustainable power, not a bomb that could detonate at any moment."
"Secondly, finding a new Jinchuriki? Easier said than done. Suitable containers are one in ten thousand, the cost of sealing techniques is high, and the process is extremely dangerous. Forcibly creating a Jinchuriki is likely just creating the next tragedy and the next unstable factor. We now have better choices."
He raised his voice slightly. "Thirdly, and most importantly. Sunagakure is no longer the weak Village that had to rely on 'ultimate weapons' to survive!"
He raised his hand and pointed out the window. Although they couldn't see it, everyone understood what he was referring to. "The East Sea Bay Oasis, the fertile fields of the Southwest Peninsula, the endless salt profits, the brand-new Puppet industrial system—these are the true Foundation and source of power for Sunagakure now! This is the controllable power that we have created with our own hands, which belongs entirely to us! Our national strength is steadily rising, food is self-sufficient, finances are improving, Ninja benefits are increasing, and the new generation population is growing. Why should we still cling to that old, risky 'weapon' mindset of the past?"
"Fourthly," Sayo's gaze became incredibly sharp, "regarding the risks and control after Shukaku is released. I will personally establish a contract with Shukaku. The agreement has three terms: One, protect the territory of the Land of Wind and do not actively attack Villages or towns; Two, do not stir up large-scale Sandstorms unless summoned; Three, if an external enemy invades or a battle for the survival of the Village occurs, it must respond to the summons and fight the enemy!"
He paused, his voice carrying powerful confidence. "And I have absolute certainty that I can make it abide by the agreement. Not by relying on Seals, but based on strength and mutual interests. Shukaku craves freedom, but what we can provide is a stable living environment it is familiar with, and... an existence that it has to face, one that possesses the ability to 'persuade' it."
The office went quiet in an instant. Sayo's words were clear and resonant, especially the last sentence, "an existence that possesses the ability to 'persuade' it," which reminded everyone of the highly anticipated duel not long ago, the steel giant glowing with Sage Art patterns, and the failure of Kazekage Rasa's gold dust under that absolute power.
Sayo's strength was the greatest guarantee.
Ebizō spoke slowly, breaking the silence. "Jonin Sayo means to transform the uncontrollable 'weapon' into a 'Guardian Beast' constrained to a certain degree? Using contracts instead of Seals, and mutual benefit instead of coercion?"
"Exactly, Elder Ebizō." Sayo nodded. "Shukaku returning to the desert means freedom for it; for the Land of Wind, it means an additional powerful, natural guardian of the territory; for the Village, it means unloading a heavy burden and source of risk, while gaining powerful assistance when external enemies attack. This is killing three birds with one stone."
Rasa fell into deep thought. He had to admit that Sayo's words were extremely tempting. As Kazekage, he knew better than anyone how heavily the Village's finances had been dragged down by the Tailed Beast, and he understood better than anyone how profound the changes brought by the development of East Sea Bay were. Perhaps... had Sunagakure really reached a time when it could shed its reliance on Tailed Beast weapons?
Elder Chiyo finally spoke, her voice hoarse but carrying weight. "I believe Jonin Sayo's proposal... is worth considering. Bunpuku lived his whole life for the Village; if the Village coldly refuses his final wish, it will chill the hearts of all who contribute. Moreover, the benefits Sayo mentioned are in line with the long-term development of the Village. The times... have indeed changed."
The two most senior Elders had expressed their views, and especially Chiyo's statement, which calmed most of the originally intense opposition. Everyone looked at Rasa, waiting for his final decision.
Rasa's gaze swept over everyone and finally settled on Sayo's firm and confident face. He was silent for nearly a minute; one could hear a pin drop in the office.
Finally, he slowly stood up and said word by word, "Good. Sayo, I will trust you this once, and I also believe that the current power of Sunagakure is capable of enduring such a transformation."
"Your request is granted. You are to be fully responsible for establishing the contract with One-Tails Shukaku, and then... release it to the sands!"
The resolution was made, and the matter was settled. Sayo bowed deeply. "I will certainly not fail the trust of the Kazekage and the Village."
He turned and walked out of the Kazekages Office. Sunlight spilled onto him, and every step he took was steady and firm. He knew this was only the first step; the subsequent "negotiation" with Shukaku would be the real challenge. But he was fearless, for the sake of Master Bunpuku's last wish, and for Sunagakure to truly move toward a brand-new future that no longer relies on Tailed Beast weapons.