Fuguki Suikazan mentally cursed Konoha a few more times.
Then, he quickly refocused on tactical arrangements.
Elite ninja would lead the charge.
Juzo Biwa, wielding the Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade), hacked his way into the Sand ranks, his movements broad and devastating.
Kushimaru Kuriarare, wielding the Nuibari (Sewing Needle), darted through the crowd like a phantom.
Jinin Akebino, wielding the Kabutowari (Helmet Splitter)—axe in one hand, hammer in the other—looked deceptively simple, but every strike was fatal.
Fuguki stood on high ground, overlooking the battlefield.
"The barren soil of the Sand Village can't grow geniuses. They only managed to produce one Pakura."
"Unlike our Mist Village, which is overflowing with talent."
"It's only natural for a village like the Sand to disappear, just like all those other eliminated ninja villages."
"Even without Konoha, you Sand ninja wouldn't survive."
Fuguki's expression relaxed slightly.
But a moment later, he couldn't help but glance toward the Konoha encampment again.
"Konoha..."
"I hope you really do have internal problems."
"If you're just doing this to make the Mist pay a heavier price so you can reap more benefits when we carve up the Sand, I will never forgive you."
"I will make you pay."
Under Fuguki's orders, a dozen intelligence ninja moved into position near the Konoha camp.
They monitored the Konoha forces from a distance.
Any unusual movement would be reported to Fuguki immediately.
Shinku Yuhi noticed the Mist ninja's surveillance.
He understood it, but it was still annoying.
"I hope nothing serious has happened back in the village."
"The Cloud ninja finally retreated, but the Stone has intensified their offensive against us. If internal trouble breaks out now..."
"Forget about carving up the Sand; our own safety will be in question."
Shinku looked in the direction of Konoha, worry etched on his face.
"However, Lord Hokage didn't order us to return immediately. That proves the situation isn't catastrophic yet. It's still under control."
Shinku also thought of the recent rumors regarding the Uchiha.
"Surely the Uchiha clan wouldn't actually cause trouble at such a critical time over some baseless rumor, right?"
"That would show a complete lack of regard for the bigger picture."
...
"The bigger picture?"
An enraged Uchiha shouted at a moderate clansman. "We don't care about the bigger picture? You think you're so noble? Look at how Konoha treats us!"
"Konoha doesn't treat us like their own. Why should we care about their bigger picture?"
"Whose bigger picture is it, anyway?"
A large group of Uchiha had gathered. Most of their faces were filled with anger and dissatisfaction.
And all that anger was directed at Konoha, at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and at Tobirama Senju.
One Uchiha spoke in a low voice.
"The rumors about Elder Kagami are most likely true."
"Those Stone ninja mocked me right to my face. They said the Uchiha are so powerful, yet we stay in Konoha where we're treated unfairly, clinging to the village shamelessly."
"They asked me—do the Uchiha have a masochistic streak?"
"The Stone are our enemies, yes. But even they can see our situation clearly. Even they feel the injustice."
"That proves just how inhumanely we are treated in Konoha."
"Did Tobirama Senju really take Elder Kagami as a disciple? Did he treat him as a true student? Six went, five returned. Only Kagami died in the Cloud Village."
Another young man recounted his personal experience of being sold out on the battlefield.
The crowd was filled with righteous indignation.
"But we still lack concrete evidence."
This sentence silenced the room.
Just then, a young man standing in the back stood up.
"I recently obtained something. A suicide note from a Cloud ninja. It contains a sentence: I saw with my own eyes that Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi sold out Kagami Uchiha."
As he spoke, he pulled out the letter.
"This suicide note is absolutely not a forgery. The text is from years ago. The handwriting and the name of the deceased can be verified in the Cloud Village records."
Everyone leaned in.
"It's definitely old. At least a few decades."
"A Cloud ninja would have no reason to lie about this. And he just mentioned it in passing; the rest of the letter is about other things. He must have actually seen it."
The appearance of evidence gave these Uchiha confidence.
"We can't go on like this. If we don't fight back, Konoha will only treat us worse."
"The rumors about Elder Kagami are the perfect opportunity. We must take action."
...
The Next Day.
Early in the morning, Rasa opened his eyes and glanced at Pakura beside him.
Sensing movement, Pakura woke up.
Their eyes met.
Pakura's face turned red instantly. Perhaps recalling the events of the previous night, she quickly squeezed her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.
Rasa smiled and leaned down to kiss her.
Then he got dressed and walked out of the room.
Hearing the door close, Pakura opened her eyes and touched her lips with her fingers.
Suddenly, a slight twinge of pain from her lower body made her frown.
Memories of last night flooded back.
A shy expression appeared on Pakura's face, and her body felt hot all over again.
Rasa walked into the courtyard and looked around.
This compound was his private property.
Entering the main gate led to the front courtyard. On the left was a date palm laden with fruit; on the right, another date palm, also heavy with fruit, emitting a faint sweet scent.
Cacti grew casually on the rockery.
There was a pavilion with a stone table and several stools.
This was where he usually received guests.
Through the side of the front courtyard was the inner courtyard.
This was a relatively private area, generally off-limits to outsiders.
The inner courtyard was large.
There were rooms on the east, west, and north sides.
They surrounded the inner courtyard, connected in the middle without gaps.
The north wing was three stories high, while the other two were two stories.
Previously, the room arrangements here had been casual, mostly used for storage and left untidied. But now, things were different. Rasa had ordered a thorough cleaning.
The east wing belonged to Pakura. The north wing belonged to Karura.
As for Rasa? He went wherever he pleased.
He arrived at the Kazekage Building and entered his office.
Rasa first opened the battlefield report sent back by the intelligence ninja.
"The Mist's fierce attack came as expected... but what about Konoha?"
Rasa quickly found the section regarding Konoha.
A moment later, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"The plan worked!"