The village was currently in a crisis moment with depleted internal defenses. A single order could resolve it.
But these higher-ups turned a blind eye, arguing endlessly for their own interests.
Perhaps they all thought the Land of Wind's environment was too harsh, that no one would actively attack such a place!
However, no matter how small the meat, it's still meat, especially when delivered right to your mouth.
Sunagakure's current state was almost defenseless. For other Shinobi Villages, what difference was there from fat meat delivered to their mouths?
'Expecting anything from these guys, I'm utterly foolish.'
Watching these higher-ups arguing until red-faced, Ryuji sighed helplessly in his heart.
Sunagakure being attacked by surrounding villages due to the Third Kazekage's disappearance, leading to its decline... Ryuji originally thought it was because this war severely damaged Sunagakure's vitality, causing it to be constantly losing in the subsequent Third Shinobi World War, gradually declining.
But thinking about it now, with such higher-ups, it's hard for the village not to decline.
'To change the village's decline or even strengthen it, I must completely control the village... I've known this from the start, I just never expected these higher-ups to be so foolish.'
'I originally wanted to compete for Kazekage through proper channels to gradually take control of the village. But if I really did that, by the time I become Kazekage, the situation would probably already be quite unfavorable.'
Ryuji's thoughts churned, an idea emerging.
"Cough..."
Ryuji raised his hand, interrupting the argument.
Seeing everyone's impatient gazes, he scratched his head and said, "Actually, the Third Kazekage isn't dead yet."
"What!?"
His words caused huge waves.
Ryuji's statement completely exploded the high-level meeting.
"The Third Kazekage-sama has already been transformed into a puppet, yet he's not dead?"
"There's no sense of any aura at all!"
"You're not lying, are you?"
Everyone discussed with one voice after another.
Only Chiyo, also a great puppeteer, stared at Ryuji with a grave expression.
"Although the body is dead, his consciousness remains." Ryuji explained. "The Third Kazekage-sama's consciousness still lingers within that puppet, similar to the principle of a prosthetic limb for the body."
"No wonder that puppet could use Magnet Release..." Pakura said thoughtfully beside him. "If that puppet is just the Third Kazekage's prosthetic body, doesn't that mean it's Kazekage-sama himself?"
'Good assist!'
Ryuji glanced at the higher-ups who believed a bit more, mentally giving Pakura a thumbs-up, then continued, "Kazekage-sama's soul consciousness is sealed inside the puppet, so every word and action requires someone to control it, equivalent to becoming a weapon using Magnet Release."
"However, using my puppet techniques, it's possible to create a new body for Kazekage-sama."
"It can be done like that!?"
Everyone present was shocked.
One old man's cloudy eyes lit up as he asked, "Then can you give us younger bodies too?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned, then stared at Ryuji fervently.
'Yes!'
'If he can give Third Kazekage-sama a new body, then he can give us new bodies too!'
'Wouldn't that mean immortality?'
"Theoretically, it's possible."
"Really possible!?"
Everyone widened their eyes, then were overwhelmed by joy, cheering loudly.
Even elders like Chiyo and Ebizo, who looked upon life lightly, were shocked, unable to calm down for a long time.
Only some young people indifferent to this could remain calm.
Rasa gazed at Ryuji and said, "You said theoretically possible, meaning actually impossible, right?"
Hearing this, everyone stopped cheering.
Ryuji looked around. Everyone was watching him, their eyes showing expressions both expectant and fearful.
Ryuji chuckled lightly. "Correct, practically impossible."
"But didn't you say you could give Third Kazekage-sama a new body?"
"That's because Kazekage-sama's soul has already left his body." Ryuji explained. "I do have methods to create new bodies, but I don't have a way to extract a person's soul consciousness from their original body."
"Of course, killing the person could work."
"However, I can't guarantee the consciousness remains intact."
"How can that be?"
The group of old men were greatly disappointed.
Suddenly, one person's eyes lit up, saying, "Sasori of the Red Sand!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent again, but those pairs of eyes, like wolf eyes in the dark, shone brightly.
Yes!
If Sasori could extract the Third Kazekage's consciousness and put it into a puppet, then he must possess such technology.
"You dare!"
Chiyo leaped up, landing on the round table, killing intent overflowing from her body. "You'd better discard those bad ideas, or else I will slaughter freely today."
"I share the same attitude as my sister." Ebizo said calmly.
He sat in his chair with closed eyes, looking like an ordinary leisurely old man.
But no one dared ignore his words.
Those pairs of aggressive and crazy eyes showed timidity and unwillingness.
Yes, immortality was right before their eyes.
How could they be willing to give up so easily?
One person stood up saying, "Chiyo-sama, I can understand your loving concern for your grandson, but Sasori of the Red Sand assassinated Kazekage-sama, a capital crime. Do you intend to shelter him?"
"Even if it's a capital crime, it's not your place to scheme."
"Chiyo-sama, why must you..."
"If you want my grandson's technology, you must pardon him for this crime."
"That's impossible!" Rasa slammed the table standing up. "Betraying the village is a capital crime in any Shinobi Village, let alone assassinating the leader."
"This is not your place to speak."
"I am also a member of this high-level meeting."
The meeting room erupted into argument again.
However, it became a three-way argument.
Chiyo wanted to protect Sasori, those old higher-ups wanted to exchange Sasori's life for the technology, and the younger faction led by Rasa wanted to uphold the village's rules and interests.
"Cough..."
Ryuji raised his right hand again. Seeing everyone's inquiring gazes, he spoke, "Regarding how to deal with Sasori of the Red Sand, why not wait until Third Kazekage-sama awakens and let him decide?"
"Ryuji is right. Kazekage-sama is still alive. Such major matters should be decided by him." Rasa nodded in agreement.
Chiyo initially wanted to object, but saw Ryuji wink at her. Feeling confused, she obediently closed her mouth.
As for the other old guys, they didn't care.
They wanted immortality, and who specifically made the decision didn't matter.
Even if the Third Kazekage wanted Sasori dead, they would seize this technology before that.
Rasa glanced at Chiyo and Ebizo with surprise, hesitated, then said, "Since no one has objections, then let Ryuji proceed with repairing Kazekage-sama's body!"
"As ordered!"
After receiving the order, Ryuji took the scroll containing the Third Kazekage human puppet from the table and left.
Pakura also excused herself from the group.