"Is that person... Beni-yama Tategami?"
"Why is he here?"
"Wasn't Beni-yama Tategami with those people yesterday?"
Everyone looked at Beni-yama Tategami with surprise.
Rasa didn't explain, and Beni-yama Tategami remained silent.
They walked into the conference room.
Rasa took his seat first.
"Everyone, sit down."
The crowd then took their seats one after another.
After a night of contemplation, these high-ranking officials of the Sand Village and heads of various clans had roughly pieced together the sequence of events from yesterday.
Their hearts felt much lighter, especially those from the ninja clans.
Because they had determined that the problem truly lay with the Beni-yama clan, leading to last night's events.
Rasa had merely acted in self-defense.
The only thing that surprised everyone was Rasa's strength.
It was completely different from what they knew before—much stronger.
But for the Sand Village, this was a good thing.
Rasa looked around the room.
"I won't explain yesterday's events further. Right or wrong, I believe you can judge for yourselves..."
A middle-aged man spoke up.
"Lord Kazekage, the Beni-yama clan sold out the village. They deserved their punishment!"
Another person chimed in.
"That's right. Gathering clan ninja to assassinate the Kazekage—such people deserve to die a hundred times over."
"The Beni-yama clan brought this upon themselves."
...
Rasa nodded.
"Selling out the village and committing insubordination are unforgivable crimes. This is true in any ninja village. I hope everyone can take this as a warning. We are members of the Sand Village, and in all things, the village must come first."
"Those who sell out the village will absolutely not have a good end."
"The Beni-yama clan is the example."
"I convened this meeting today primarily to discuss three matters."
"First, regarding the investigation of the Beni-yama clan, I have entrusted full authority to Ebizo. Ebizo is a veteran of the village with outstanding ability and high prestige. He will surely handle this matter well."
"I will not wrong the innocent, nor will I let the guilty go."
No one had any doubts about this.
Ebizo's seniority, ability, and merit were obvious to all.
It could be said that in the current Sand Village, in terms of real power, Rasa was the unquestionable number one, and Ebizo was the number two, second only to Rasa.
Moreover, there was no rift between Rasa and Ebizo.
Unlike Konoha.
"Second, regarding the Beni-yama clan rebellion, Beni-yama Tategami—no, to be precise now, Tategami—has rendered a very significant service. Between his clan and the village, Tategami chose justice."
"He did not join them in their crime simply because of clan blood ties."
"Instead, he held fast to the justice in his heart."
"Tategami's magnanimity is worthy of admiration."
"Tategami's choice is worthy of reward."
"Tategami is worthy of trust."
"Therefore, I have decided to give Tategami an exceptional promotion. He is listed as a Hero Ninja, with rank and benefits equivalent to an Elite Jonin. I bestow upon him the hero title: Loyal Soul of the Village."
Tategami's eyes lit up.
The reason for betraying the Beni-yama clan was simple for Tategami.
Firstly, he truly couldn't stand the Beni-yama clan's actions. Selling out the village for personal gain, causing the deaths of unknown numbers of village comrades—it was too much.
Secondly, Tategami had offended people within the Beni-yama clan and was not valued.
He had never received fair treatment within the clan.
Therefore, his affection for the Beni-yama clan was very faint.
Tategami hadn't thought about what kind of reward he would receive.
After all, in Tategami's view, he had only provided intelligence.
The plan was pushed by Ebizo.
The Beni-yama clan was suppressed by Rasa.
Tategami felt he didn't have much credit.
And before this, Rasa hadn't made any promises to Tategami.
But now, hearing Rasa publicly announce such a heavy reward for him...
Tategami couldn't help but get emotional, his breathing becoming rapid.
Hero Ninja, benefits equivalent to an Elite Jonin, the title "Loyal Soul of the Village."
Reputation, benefits—he had it all.
It could be said that for him, a marginal figure in the Beni-yama clan, this was tantamount to reaching the sky in a single step.
"Thank you, Lord Kazekage!"
The crowd also felt this reward was a bit too heavy.
However, thinking about what Tategami had done...
They also felt that Tategami receiving such a reward wasn't excessive.
On one side was the clan; on the other was the village.
To be able to firmly abandon the clan, choose the village, stand on the village's side, and not hesitate to make enemies of blood relatives—such a thing was not something ordinary people could do.
Tategami looked at Rasa, his eyes full of gratitude and respect.
If Tategami's loyalty to Rasa was at seventy percent before because Rasa was the Kazekage...
Then now, Tategami's loyalty to Rasa had reached ninety percent.
"Rise. What you did was worth it."
"I said I would not spare any criminal, but at the same time, I will not fail anyone who has rendered meritorious service."
Rasa's reason for giving such a reward was simple.
On one hand, Tategami indeed deserved it.
On the other hand, Rasa wanted to show the village that loyalty to the village would be rewarded.
This was to increase the loyalty of everyone in the village toward the village.
"Third."
Rasa paused.
"Since the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the Hidden Rock Village has invaded our Sand Village multiple times, Konoha has plundered our Sand Village multiple times, and the Hidden Mist Village wants to completely crush our Sand Village."
"This has made me deeply realize one point."
"Fall behind, and you will be beaten."
"Our Sand Village is weak, so we suffered attacks from other ninja villages."
"I am unwilling to accept this, and I believe you are the same."
"I constantly think that if one day, my Sand Village is no longer so weak, and other ninja villages are no longer so strong, we must rise and fight back."
"Those who have humiliated us, we will humiliate back."
"Those who have robbed us, we will rob back."
"Revenge for revenge, blood for blood."
"..."
As Rasa's voice fell, the emotions of the crowd were stirred.
Because what Rasa said was the truth.
In these recent years, everything the Sand Village suffered was borne by everyone in the Sand Village together.
Casualties, bloodshed, loss of dignity...
Some people's eyes turned red.
Some clenched their fists.
"And now, I think it is time."
Rasa said, "It is time to counterattack the Hidden Mist Village."
"The Sand Village will retain two thousand ninja for defense."
"The rest will all head to the front lines. Starting today, we will reverse the situation of my Sand Village."
"Start by driving the Mist army out of the Land of Wind!"
An old man hesitated and said.
"Lord Kazekage, isn't this a bit too hasty?"
"On the Mist Village side, Fuguki Suikazan's defection didn't bring them a qualitative weakening."
"And the Beni-yama clan matter has had quite an impact on our village."