"Rasa..."
"This is no small matter. Once war starts, Sunagakure could very well be destroyed. We can't afford to make a gamble like this anymore.", Chiyo spoke cautiously.
Ebizo, standing beside her, silently lowered his head. His once straight back was now slightly bent.
Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew very well that Konoha was now far stronger than Sunagakure.
Whether it was top-level fighters, the village's foundation, or the growth of the younger generation, Sunagakure had fallen far behind.
That gap couldn't be erased with one or two risky moves.
Looking at the two elders standing there in silence, Rasa let out a quiet sigh.
That sigh carried disappointment, but also helplessness and sadness.
He had hoped these two veterans, who had lived through countless storms, would support him.
Instead, reality left him feeling a chill.
It seemed the two of them...
Had been completely worn down by the three Great Ninja Wars. They no longer had the courage and sharpness they once possessed.
Back then, they had been the pillars of Sunagakure, willing to fight without fear.
Now, all that remained was caution, conservatism, and a deep fear of war.
Time and war truly were the cruelest sculptors, slowly carving former heroes into what they had become.
Seeing that neither of them agreed with his plan to move against Konoha, Rasa let out a soft sigh, as if making up his mind.
"You two should know how Sakumo Hatake died, right?", Rasa spoke slowly.
"What are you trying to do?!", Chiyo frowned.
Ebizo also narrowed his eyes slightly.
The two of them thought Rasa was threatening them.
"No, no! That's not what I mean."
Rasa quickly waved his hands to avoid any misunderstanding.
He continued, "He was killed by the Akatsuki. Now Akatsuki and Konoha are sworn enemies. The enemy of my enemy... is my friend."
"And I've already made contact with the Akatsuki."
As soon as those words were spoken, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
Chiyo suddenly stood up. Her face changed dramatically, and her voice was filled with anger.
"Rasa! We're one of the Five Great Nations! How can we join hands with a terrorist organization like the Akatsuki?!"
Ebizo wasn't as emotional as his sister, but he frowned deeply, and clear disapproval flashed through his eyes.
He spoke in a low voice.
"Kazekage... the risk is too great."
Hearing this, Rasa only sneered.
"What about Onoki? Didn't he hire the Akatsuki before to deal with some 'troubles'? Why can't I, the Kazekage, do the same?"
His voice was mocking, but firm.
"Konoha is becoming harder and harder to contain. The Akatsuki is a double-edged sword, but if we use it well, it can open a new path for Sunagakure."
"Or would the two of you rather let Sunagakure continue struggling under Konoha's shadow than seize this opportunity?"
Rasa's eyes moved back and forth between Chiyo and Ebizo as he waited for their answer.
The two elders looked at each other.
Both saw the same deep concern and hesitation in the other's eyes.
The atmosphere in the room was so heavy it was almost hard to breathe.
After a long time, Chiyo finally let out a long sigh. Her voice was somewhat hoarse.
"...I only hope you don't lead Sunagakure into the abyss."
Ebizo also nodded slightly and said nothing more.
Seeing that the two had finally given in, the corners of Rasa's mouth slowly lifted into a cold smile, and ambition flashed in his eyes.
Amegakure.
Akatsuki's base.
Inside the dim hall.
The Deva Path of Pain stood on the high platform. His Rinnegan remained calm, yet gave off a pressure that made people's hearts tremble.
A white figure made of countless sheets of paper slowly floated down from the air.
Konan landed beside Pain.
"Pain, Sunagakure's Kazekage, Rasa, wants to cooperate with us. They want to hire us to attack Konoha.", Konan said.
Hearing this, the Deva Path's Rinnegan narrowed slightly. Without even thinking, he answered directly.
"No. Konoha's strength is impossible to measure. We can't act recklessly now."
If this had been the Pain from before Arisu arrived, he definitely would have chosen to cooperate with Sunagakure.
But after that battle with Arisu, the Deva Path had come to understand the gap between them.
He realized...
He wasn't a god after all.
He had always believed he was the strongest person in the ninja world.
But after Arisu showed up once, Nagato's confidence had been badly shaken.
Before he had even finished speaking, a deep voice suddenly came from the shadows of the hall.
"Pain, agree to Sunagakure's proposal."
As the voice sounded, a spiral mask slowly appeared.
Uchiha Obito stepped out from the distorted space.
"If we can gain the support of one of the Five Great Nations, it'll be a useful bargaining chip. Sunagakure may not be the strongest, but it can at least split Konoha's attention. Why not?"
After speaking, the single eye behind his mask narrowed slightly as he looked at the Deva Path and waited for his reply.
"Uchiha Madara, you saw Arisu's strength yourself. He defeated my Six Paths of Pain.", The Deva Path said coldly.
Standing in the shadows, a daring light flashed in Obito's lone eye behind the spiral mask.
He remained unmoved, his voice still full of confidence.
"Not necessarily. This time, I'll make my move. I'll find a way to take Arisu away.", Obito said.
His plan was simple.
He would use Kamui to exile Arisu directly into another dimension.
No matter how strong he was, once he left the battlefield and entered another dimension, he wouldn't be able to fight.
"You're going to act personally?"
The Deva Path frowned slightly.
Even a self-proclaimed "god" couldn't help wavering when he heard that "Uchiha Madara" would act in person.
Seeing Pain hesitate, Obito pressed further.
"And from what I know, during this Chunin Exam, both the One-Tail jinchuriki and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki will be in Konoha. We can capture them together. If the entire Akatsuki moves out, are we really unable to take them down?"
"Besides, we've recently recruited Hidan and Deidara. With two more fighters, our chances improve even more. Pain, Sunagakure is offering this cooperation on its own. We shouldn't waste it."
"Wait. Are you saying that after dealing with Konoha, we'll capture Sunagakure's jinchuriki too?", The Deva Path asked.
Obito nodded calmly.
A faint smile appeared beneath his mask as he spoke in an even tone.
"Use them first, then stab them in the back."
Obito spread his hands and continued, "Our members are all at Kage-level strength. Sunagakure's side isn't weak either. No matter how strong Konoha is, can it really withstand the combined forces of us and Sunagakure?"
After saying that, Obito said nothing more and simply looked quietly at the Deva Path.
"Fine! I'm in!"
The Deva Path finally agreed.
Then he added, "It would be even better if you, Uchiha Madara, could kill Arisu in this battle."