News that Jiraiya had disappeared and then suddenly reappeared spread across the ninja world. Rasa immediately understood where the sudden surge in points had come from.
"Jiraiya is probably really missing. The Jiraiya walking around Konoha is just like the fake Kakashi—another impostor created with the Transformation Technique on Hiruzen's orders. The real one must be somewhere else."
One name rose in Rasa's mind.
Mount Myoboku.
If there was anywhere Jiraiya would feel safer than in the Leaf, it was there. This proved Jiraiya no longer trusted Hiruzen—and Hiruzen no longer trusted him.
"But now that Jiraiya's gone… how do I keep farming points from this?"
The last big wave had come from Kakashi willingly giving an interview. This time Rasa doubted Jiraiya would do the same. Jiraiya had lost trust in Hiruzen, but he hadn't completely turned against him yet. Otherwise he would've come straight to Sunagakure.
"Besides, the Leaf can use Jiraiya's crippled state to dodge questions about his signature techniques."
Rasa's gaze fell on the Forged Suicide Note card he had pulled earlier.
[Forged Suicide Note (Konoha Jonin version)]
It could create a complete suicide note that would appear under the name of a random Konoha jonin.
He didn't use the card directly. Instead he called for Ebizo.
"Lord Kazekage."
"Ebizo, I need your rumor team to spread a message through the Land of Fire. Say that Sunagakure has inside information—Lord Kazekage fears Jiraiya's strength. The only reason he won was because he received outside help. And when anyone asks him about it, he gets furious and refuses to talk."
Ebizo looked stunned. "Lord Kazekage, why would you do that? This will damage your reputation."
Rasa shook his head. "My reputation isn't important right now. What matters is that Hiruzen and Jiraiya have already developed a clear rift. I want to push them into a complete break. That will weaken the Leaf significantly. Jiraiya's old subordinates will grow resentful. Mount Myoboku will stop standing with the Leaf. War with Konoha is coming soon. Weakening them now is more important than anything else. For the village, what's a little damage to my name?"
Ebizo was visibly moved. "Lord Kazekage… I'll get it done right away."
As he walked out of the Kazekage Tower, Ebizo kept glancing back.
"Lord Kazekage really is something else. He's willing to sacrifice his own reputation just to weaken the Leaf. Most shinobi at the top of the world guard their names like treasure. Hiruzen dumps all the dirty work on Danzo. Even the Third Kazekage used to hand this kind of thing to me. Maybe under Lord Kazekage's leadership, Sunagakure really can dominate the ninja world one day."
A spark of hope lit in Ebizo's eyes. "If Sunagakure could rule the ninja world and unite everything… what an achievement that would be. I hope I live to see it."
Ebizo moved fast. Before the Forged Suicide Note card had even been discovered, his team had already flooded the Land of Fire with the rumor.
People were talking everywhere.
"Rasa admitted he's weaker than Jiraiya?"
"He only beat Jiraiya because he got special help?"
"And he gets pissed off the second someone mentions it?"
The moment the rumor landed, questions about Rasa's strength exploded.
"So much for 'strongest shinobi in the world.' If he needed outside help to beat Jiraiya, then he's clearly below him."
"Even if Jiraiya's crippled now, there's still Orochimaru. Orochimaru's probably stronger than Jiraiya anyway. Rasa wouldn't stand a chance against him either."
Some Konoha shinobi got excited at first.
"I told you Rasa couldn't be the strongest! If Jiraiya's out, then it's Orochimaru's turn!"
"Rasa's nothing without that outside help."
But then they hit a wall.
What exactly was that outside help?
Someone remembered the earlier rumor. "Didn't people say Hiruzen-sensei sold Jiraiya's information to Sunagakure? Is that the 'help' they're talking about?"
It was the only thing that made sense.
The excitement died instantly.
Admitting Rasa was weaker than Jiraiya meant admitting Hiruzen had betrayed his own student. Denying the betrayal meant admitting Rasa was stronger than Jiraiya. Either way, it was a lose-lose for anyone loyal to the Leaf.
Homura Mitokado burst into the Hokage Tower, beaming. "Hiruzen! Great news! Sunagakure just dropped a rumor that's going to ruin Rasa. His 'strongest shinobi' title is about to collapse!"
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. "Really? What rumor?"
Homura nodded eagerly. "They're saying Rasa isn't actually stronger than Jiraiya—he only won because he had outside help. The second anyone brings it up, Rasa gets embarrassed and angry. It's already spreading across the entire Land of Wind. People are saying the real strongest shinobi is still in the Leaf!"
Hiruzen started to smile. He hated Rasa with a passion. Those articles in the Ninja World Big Events Weekly had caused him endless headaches. But as he listened, the smile slowly faded.
This rumor wasn't just aimed at Rasa.
It was aimed at him too.
Hiruzen's expression turned ice-cold.