A smile appeared on Rasa's face.
"Konoha's shinobi had clearly been preparing to move, but then they suddenly stopped."
"That means something must have gone wrong inside Konoha."
"And if that's the case, then it must be the Uchiha."
"With Konoha staying out of it, Sunagakure is still at a disadvantage against Kirigakure alone—but not necessarily beyond saving."
But very soon, the smile on his face faded.
"Even so, those Konoha shinobi still haven't withdrawn from the border of the Land of Wind."
"They're still unwilling to give up the chance to carve up my Sunagakure."
"So greedy."
"That means the problems inside Konoha still aren't serious enough."
Rasa's eyes flickered.
Then he looked toward the translucent panel before him.
[Name: Rasa]
[Identity: Fourth Kazekage]
[Ninjutsu: Eye of Detection, etc.]
[Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu]
[Genjutsu: None]
[Bloodline Limit: Magnet Release - Gold Dust]
[Remaining Activations: 0]
[Remaining Points: 1001]
"Over a thousand already?"
The number in the points column made Rasa's eyes brighten slightly.
Last time, after two draws, he had received the forged suicide note.
This time, with ten draws, he had a feeling he might get more—and better.
"Start the draw."
An invisible roulette wheel began spinning wildly.
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an F-rank item: One tael of gold.]
…
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a D-rank item: One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Genin Edition).]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a B-rank item: Ninjutsu Scroll (Wind Release: Vacuum Wave).]
Rasa lifted a brow.
[One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Genin Edition)]
—You may create a name, age, and gender. After using the [One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Genin Edition)], the host will receive one day of experience as that ninja.
"That's… interesting."
A thought immediately formed in his mind.
If the name, age, and gender could all be set by him, then—
Couldn't he create an Uchiha?
Problems had already surfaced inside Konoha because of the rumor.
Yet even so, Konoha's shinobi still refused to leave the border of the Land of Wind.
That meant they still intended to make a move against Sunagakure.
"If Konoha is this greedy," Rasa murmured, "then I have no choice but to make their problem even bigger."
"As an Uchiha."
His gaze shifted toward the second item.
"Ninjutsu Scroll: Wind Release: Vacuum Wave."
"Danzo's signature jutsu."
Another thought came to him immediately.
"If I use the One-Day Ninja Experience Card, this Wind Release jutsu might come in handy."
"And if I use it properly… it should produce an excellent effect."
Rasa opened the scroll and began studying it.
Every ninja village tended to have its own representative elemental style.
Kumogakure specialized in Lightning Release.
Kirigakure in Water Release.
Iwagakure in Earth Release.
Konoha was more complicated. It had all kinds of elemental ninjutsu, though Fire Release was the most famous.
As for Sunagakure—
There were many who used Wind Release.
Just not many who were truly exceptional with it.
Among Sunagakure's strongest shinobi, most specialized in Puppet Techniques or Magnet Release.
Rasa himself was the clearest example of the latter.
But that did not mean he lacked affinity for Wind Release, nor that he could not use it.
Vacuum Wave—
A technique performed through hand seals, releasing a sharp sickle-like gust from the mouth. Its cutting power was extreme, able to slice through both flesh and the chakra coating protecting the body.
Rasa closed his eyes and considered it quietly for a while.
Not long after, he opened them again.
Then he headed to the rooftop of the Kazekage Building.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
A white streak burst from his mouth and shot toward a stone pillar opposite him.
Crack!
Under the force of the Vacuum Wave, the pillar snapped cleanly in two.
Boom!
The upper half crashed downward.
At once, Rasa's thoughts stirred.
A mass of gold dust appeared, catching the falling stone and lowering it gently to the ground. Otherwise, the rooftop of the Kazekage Building would have been smashed open with a huge crater.
"Not bad," Rasa said.
"It has good power."
"Just a bit slow."
"In terms of improving my own combat strength, it doesn't mean much."
But that was never why he had learned it.
He only wanted it available for use once he became that temporary Konoha genin.
Near noon, after finishing the morning's paperwork, Rasa rose, preparing to head home.
Then suddenly—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Pakura stepped inside, carrying a wooden lunch box.
"Husband."
She walked over and placed the lunch box on the desk.
"You made this?" Rasa asked without thinking.
Pakura's face turned red at once.
"I can't cook. Karura-san made it. When I woke up this morning, she had already prepared breakfast for me. I wasn't able to help with lunch either."
"Karura-san really is a very gentle, very good person."
Rasa nodded.
After he finished the lunch—
Pakura's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Husband."
"I request permission to go to the frontline battlefield this afternoon."
"Now that Kirigakure has learned of our wedding, they will definitely launch an even fiercer assault on Sunagakure. If I'm not on the front lines, the village will suffer heavily and casualties will be severe."
Rasa fell silent.
What Pakura said was true.
Given Sunagakure's current situation, there really was no better option.
"Has your body recovered?" he asked.
"Completely."
Pakura smiled and lightly patted her chest.
"Husband, don't worry. I wouldn't ask unless I was certain."
Rasa stood, walked over to her, and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Pakura's body stiffened for a brief instant, then relaxed. She leaned her head quietly against his shoulder.
"When you get to the front lines, don't be reckless," Rasa said. "Be careful. Kirigakure will definitely target you."
"Our objective in this war is attrition. The longer it drags on, the greater our chances of victory."
"But that only matters if you stay alive."
"Killing a few more enemies means very little."
"You being alive helps the village far more."
"And if something happens to you… I'll be upset."
Pakura nodded softly.
"Husband, don't worry."
Rasa personally escorted her to the village entrance.
More than a dozen shinobi followed behind her, forming a complete squad centered around her. Their abilities complemented one another, allowing them to bring out their full strength.
Rasa watched until their figures had shrunk to dots—
And then vanished altogether.
Only then did he withdraw his gaze.
"Kirigakure…"
"Konoha…"
"I absolutely cannot allow Konoha to have enough spare strength left to strike at my Sunagakure."
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