Noon.
The sun was scorching. In the open space in front of the Kazekage Building, dense stone forest spikes stood erected, with corpses hanging on them.
Especially the former elders, who were hung separately at the front. The stench of corpses filled the air, nauseating.
In the square in front of the open space, the remaining Sunagakure's Shinobi and residents endured the foul odor, silently watching this scene.
Suddenly, a Jonin stepped forward.
He looked up at the figures standing on the Kazekage Building rooftop, where Ryuji and others are, and questioned, "Ryuji, what exactly do you want to do?"
"Purge the rebels!"
Three words, spoken decisively.
Ryuji narrowed his eyes, scanning the dense crowd in the square, and took out a megaphone. "The Round Table Council was personally appointed by the Third Kazekage. Only the Third Kazekage could personally appoint or dismiss. Yet these guys, taking advantage of the Third Kazekage's death, usurped power, overthrew the Round Table Council appointed by the Third Kazekage, killing some councilors, imprisoning others. This is a capital crime."
"This was a decision made together by everyone."
"Do you have the right to make such a decision?" Ryuji laughed coldly. "You can only decide who the Kazekage is. You have no right to decide the Round Table Council. If you think the Round Table Council appointed by the Third Kazekage is unqualified, you can elect a Fourth Kazekage to reappoint. But directly skipping the Kazekage election to elect the Round Table Council is not allowed."
"Are you saying the entire village is in rebellion?"
Ryuji looked at the speaker... a middle-aged fatty, twice the size of Choza.
But he wore a Shinobi's forehead protector, meaning he was a Shinobi. This puzzled Ryuji.
'Could such a guy really fight?'
Fortunately, Pakura was more familiar with the village people. She leaned close to his ear and quietly told him his identity. "This person works in the archives, responsible for decryption and developing new codes."
'I see.'
Ryuji understood, then scanned the others. They all felt indignant because of the fatty's words.
Clearly, it was an action organized together for the village's future, yet it was labeled as rebellion. How could they not be angry?
Although there was some overstepping in rules, it wasn't to this extent, right?
For these people who wore their thoughts on their faces, Ryuji sneered disdainfully. "That's right. If it weren't for the fact that you were incited by planned schemes to do this, every single one of you would be guilty of a capital crime."
—Silence.
Facing Ryuji's argument, everyone found no point to refute, only silence.
"What, no words?" Ryuji snorted coldly. "You are really stupid enough, actually believing something like the Third Kazekage having brain injury after-effects. Do you really think the Medical-nin responsible for the Kazekage's health in the village are freeloaders?"
"Then what do those strange behaviors of his mean?"
Someone, not convinced, retorted. "With absolute advantage, yet he lost the battle, even lost his life; with Konoha being besieged by enemies twice their number, we could have seized the opportunity to send troops and gain previously unimagined benefits; with more experienced high-level officials available, yet he collectively dismissed them, appointing all young people. What else can explain these behaviors if not brain injury after-effects?"
"You don't understand because you don't stand high enough, don't see far enough. If you had sufficient intelligence information, you would discover these decisions had such far-reaching intentions."
As he spoke, Ryuji observed everyone, taking in every change in expression without missing a drop.
"Whether you believe the Third Kazekage had brain injury after-effects or think he was truly stupid, he was elected by you. Rejecting his decisions is rejecting yourselves. Raging impotently only makes you look pathetic."
Everyone was speechless.
They felt something was wrong but couldn't immediately pinpoint where. They could only silently bear the blame Ryuji threw at them.
"So now you want us to elect you as the new Kazekage?"
In the crowd, someone suddenly spoke, but no one stepped forward.
But Ryuji still found the speaker.
It was a child about ten years old, wearing a Sunagakure's forehead protector, hiding in the middle of the crowd.
Ryuji knew this child. His name was Baki.
The Elite Jonin from the original story who led Gaara to the Chunin Exams and 'defeated' the 'main character'.
"Want?" Ryuji deliberately emphasized the word, snorting disdainfully. "Only the weak hope others help them achieve their goals. The strong make others actively help them achieve their goals."
"You mean we will actively elect you as Kazekage?"
The archive-working fatty voiced his doubt, then sneered contemptuously. "You are too full of yourself. Although you are indeed an excellent Shinobi and have made great contributions to the village, Sunagakure also has equally excellent Shinobi who have made great contributions to the village. He is much more pleasing to the eye than you. I'd vote for him over you."
"Who to vote for is your freedom."
Ryuji didn't mind the fatty's tone, nor did he ask who the excellent Shinobi was. He just casually glanced at him, then looked at others. "You probably don't know yet."
"Because of the defeat in the war against Amegakure, the Land of Iron is preparing to transfer the mission commission to Kirigakure. The Daimyo's court is also very dissatisfied with this event, questioning the village's capability, even preparing to reduce military funding, handing national missions to other Shinobi Villages."
"This..."
Everyone looked at each other, then began whispering and discussing.
"Stop discussing."
Ryuji shouted loudly. The specially-made megaphone broadcast his voice to every corner of Sunagakure.
"You should also know. What it means if the Land of Iron transfers the mission to Kirigakure, if the Daimyo reduces funding for the village, even hands national missions to other villages to complete."
In the war against Amegakure, Sunagakure already lost a Kazekage and over a thousand Shinobi.
If they couldn't complete the mission and receive the corresponding reward, even without counting compensation demanded by the enemy after defeat, the loss was already severe enough to affect the fundamentals.
If the Daimyo further reduces military funding for the village, even hands national missions to other villages, Sunagakure would suffer a setback from which it would never recover, completely declining.
"If we can't complete the mission before the Land of Iron makes its decision, if we can't change their view before the Daimyo's court completely loses trust in the village, then Sunagakure will completely become history within a few decades."
Ryuji looked at everyone, saying. "Regardless of who you want to elect as Kazekage, regardless of whether you trust me, I will take action to change the situation."
"...Can this be done?"
Someone voiced doubt.
To achieve this was simple: defeat Amegakure in an extremely short time, and win very impressively.
But, is it possible?
After exposing the brain injury after-effects conspiracy theory, everyone faced the fact that the Third Kazekage, with absolute advantage in numbers, lost to the enemy.
What does this indicate?
Was the Third Kazekage weak?
Absolutely not.
To gain the village's collective recognition, both strength and contribution to the village were top-tier. His strength was definitely not weak, whether in strategy or combat power.
But he still lost.
This could only indicate the enemy was stronger.
But...
"Of course it can be done." Ryuji patted his chest, full of confidence. "No matter the reason, no matter the cause, all unfavorable factors are due to the person involved's insufficient ability."
"The Third Kazekage died because he was too weak. The Round Table Council appointed by the Third Kazekage was overthrown because they were too weak. These guys died because they were too weak."
"But I am strong. Stronger than anyone."
"Ten Elite Jonin encounter me, only one can escape by luck."
"Even facing ten times my number of enemies, I can make the enemy flee in terror while chatting and laughing."
"The famously renowned Yellow Flash... even the team he leads can only flee with their tails between their legs before me, unable to care for teammates."
"The one known as the tactician in Konoha for his exceptional wisdom and broad knowledge, in negotiations with me could only obediently lower his head."
"The Uchiha known as invincible in one-on-one in the Shinobi World, I didn't even need puppets to beat him to death."
"I say it again. I am strong. Stronger than all of you. Stronger than anyone in the Shinobi World."
At this point, Ryuji glanced at everyone's expressions.
Seeing they were each holding their breath, listening with rapt attention, he continued with even more imposing momentum. "No matter who the enemy is, I can defeat them. No matter how difficult the situation is, I can reverse it."
"I will save the village from peril. I will make you actively elect me as the Fourth Kazekage. I will lead the village to glory. I will make you sincerely submit. I will make you willingly obey my commands, even if it means going to your death without hesitation."
"I will achieve everything I say, just as you have seen before."
"Woooooh!!!!!"