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"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"
Saki didn't fully understand the plan, but he would carry it out without question. That was exactly what Rasa needed right now. The Weekly was too important for farming points. Once it stopped being useful, he could hand it off to someone with real talent and let them keep the momentum going.
Rasa stared out the window. Even with Danzo throwing serious manpower and money behind the rumor, it wasn't going to hurt him much inside Sunagakure. His reputation here was built on real, recent victories—pulling the village back from the brink of collapse. Hiruzen's glory was older, dimmer. People still remembered Tobirama's sacrifice, the Sannin and Sakumo in the Second War, and Minato's golden flash plus Orochimaru's leadership in the Third.
Whenever someone tried to push the rumor, others immediately shut it down.
"Sasori was talented, but he was never a real threat to Lord Rasa. The age gap alone made competition impossible."
"Even if he became strong someday, killing him would've been pointless. And Elder Chiyo would never have stayed quiet if Rasa had done it."
"Lord Rasa saved this village. He doesn't need to murder his own people to stay in power."
Rasa went to see Chiyo. She had returned to the village after helping finish the first Sun Disk and was already deep in modifications to her puppets, inspired by the massive structure.
"Lord Kazekage."
"Elder Chiyo."
"You're here because of the rumor, aren't you?"
Rasa nodded. Chiyo didn't believe it for a second. She knew her grandson's talent better than anyone. Sasori was brilliant—possibly even stronger than her someday—but he was never a danger to Rasa's position. Still, the disappearance clearly weighed on her.
Rasa sat down. "I spoke with Sasori not long ago."
Chiyo's hands froze mid-motion. Her eyes snapped up. "What? Where is he? Why hasn't he come back?"
Rasa shook his head. "He said he doesn't like Sunagakure. Hates war. Wants more freedom to pursue his art. He's not coming back anytime soon."
He placed Sasori's communication puppet on the table. Chiyo snatched it up immediately. The familiar chakra signature hit her like a wave—her grandson was alive. Just… gone.
"Sasori…" She let out a long, tired sigh.
Rasa continued. "Make a public statement. Debunk the rumor. Most of the village doesn't believe it anyway, but the Land of Wind daimyo isn't a good man. We don't need him getting ideas."
Chiyo nodded. "Of course."
Her announcement spread fast. The few people still on the fence instantly switched sides. If Chiyo herself was defending Rasa, then the whole thing had to be a foreign plot—probably Konoha's.
"Elder Chiyo would never protect the man who killed her only grandson. This is clearly someone else's scheme."
"Exactly. Other villages trying to stir trouble."
Rasa returned home, had dinner with Pakura, then slipped into his study once she fell asleep.
"Points: 1819."
The new Ninja Kill cards were working well. Minato's card was strong and versatile—especially when someone drew the "loyal retainer" role. Plenty of people would use it.
He pulled out another card.
One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Jonin version)
The Will of Fire bounty contest still needed another week to finish. He could farm points in the meantime.
"Some people in Konoha are saying that if Minato really shouldn't have died, someone should speak up for him. Fine. I'll be that person."
Rasa smiled coldly.
"I'll stand up for Minato Namikaze."
He activated the card.
[Activation successful!]
"Name: Aoki Ni."
"Gender: Male."
"Age: 28."
The world lurched. His body vanished. His consciousness shot forward at incredible speed, leaving Sunagakure behind and racing straight toward Konoha.