Was it normal for a ninja clan to grow in population and accumulate more wealth during wartime?
Not impossible.
There were plenty of people who profited from a village's hardship.
And if that ninja clan belonged to a village that had long been at a disadvantage on the battlefield?
That was still within the realm of possibility.
But Rasa had seen with his own eyes a ninja from the Akayama clan trading with Fuguki Suikazan, and the contents of that trade had been Pakura's betrayal.
Under those circumstances, if the Akayama clan was innocent, even dogs wouldn't believe it.
"Ebizo, don't you think that's suspicious?"
Ebizo hesitated for a moment.
"Kazekage-sama, you mean…?"
Rasa said, "Sunagakure's situation is this disastrous, and yet the Akayama clan keeps getting better and better. I refuse to believe it's simply because they're good at business."
"Ebizo, I need you to investigate the Akayama clan."
Ebizo looked somewhat hesitant.
"Kazekage-sama, this is a critical stage in the war. If we investigate the Akayama clan now, it may very well provoke internal conflict."
"That would not be good for Sunagakure."
"And the Akayama clan also has close ties with the Third Kazekage…"
Rasa waved a hand and cut him off.
"I have information confirming that the man in this portrait has already committed acts of betrayal against the village. If we do not investigate, the consequences for the village will only be even worse."
The moment Ebizo heard that, his expression turned serious.
"Still, your concerns are valid. We should avoid stirring up conflict as much as possible. That's exactly why I'm putting you personally in charge of the investigation."
"Especially this man."
Rasa tapped the portrait.
"I need to know whether this is the action of only a small number of people within the Akayama clan, or whether the entire Akayama clan is involved. Only then can we decide how to handle them afterward."
"As for the Akayama clan's relationship with the Third Kazekage, don't worry. I'll take full responsibility."
Others in Sunagakure might still care about the Third Kazekage.
They might fear offending him, worried that if the Third Kazekage ever returned, they would face retribution.
But Rasa did not care.
Rasa knew very well what had happened to the Third Kazekage. There was no possibility of him ever "returning from disappearance."
And besides, Rasa was the current Kazekage.
Because he feared the Third Kazekage, was he supposed to turn a blind eye to crimes that sold out the village's interests?
What kind of Kazekage would that make him?
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
With Rasa's guarantee, Ebizo immediately stopped worrying.
"Oh, right, Ebizo. As for the rumor about Uchiha Kagami, keep pushing it in secret. We absolutely cannot allow any possibility of reconciliation between Konoha and the Uchiha—not even the slightest."
"Kazekage-sama, rest assured."
After watching Ebizo leave, Rasa walked to the window and looked out at Sunagakure's nightscape.
Pale moonlight spilled down, and the moment it touched Sunagakure, it seemed to turn yellow.
Given the current state between Konoha and the Uchiha, Rasa was not actually worried about them reconciling.
There was no possibility of reconciliation at all.
So many members of the Sarutobi clan had died.
So many members of the Shimura clan had died.
How could they possibly forgive the Uchiha so easily?
And those Uchiha who had escaped were radicals by nature, people who had long been dissatisfied with Konoha. Now that they had left Konoha, the sky was wide enough for birds to fly free. There was no chance they would ever return to Konoha to accept further restraint and suppression.
The real reason Rasa told Ebizo to keep pushing the rumor was simple.
Points.
"Only a little over three hundred points."
"As the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha erupted, fewer people started paying attention to this rumor."
"I need to find a way to drag the rumor back into everyone's discussion."
"That way, I can gain more points and draw more prizes."
"Only then can I improve Sunagakure's desperate situation."
"Kirigakure still hasn't given up on destroying Sunagakure. If I hadn't happened to run into Kirigakure's plan while using the one-day experience card, then Sunagakure would definitely have suffered enormous losses this time."
"And I still don't know what methods Kirigakure will use next."
"And now, internal problems have surfaced in Sunagakure too."
Rasa only felt his headache intensify.
He had gone to such lengths, finally solving one problem and improving Sunagakure's situation a little—only to turn around and discover yet another problem.
"Akayama clan, I hope you're not truly betraying the village as an entire clan for your own benefit."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind creating an Akayama Itachi in Sunagakure."
Rasa withdrew his gaze and looked at a card.
[One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Chunin Version)]
"What a pity this isn't a Kirigakure chunin version. Otherwise, I could create another Kirigakure character."
"There must be a problem between the Hozuki clan and Kirigakure."
"If I can stir up conflict between the Hozuki clan and Kirigakure, then Kirigakure will inevitably descend into internal chaos. They'll definitely have to pull personnel back to Kirigakure."
"That would greatly ease Sunagakure's pressure."
"But this card is still useful right now."
Rasa looked in the direction of the Land of Fire.
"While Ebizo pushes the Uchiha Kagami rumor, I can use this card to sneak into Konoha, investigate Konoha's current situation, and further stir up that rumor inside Konoha."
After handling a good portion of his work in advance, Rasa finally returned home in the middle of the night.
Temari and Kankuro were already fast asleep.
But Karura was not.
She sat at the entrance to the living room, propping up her chin with both hands as she quietly stared toward the courtyard gate.
Like a painting.
Creak.
Only when Rasa pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped inside did Karura's face brighten with joy, and she hurried over.
"My husband."
Rasa drew Karura into his arms.
"You don't have to wait up this late. You still need to look after Temari and Kankuro during the day."
Karura shook her head.
"Compared to you, my husband, I'm not tired at all. These are only small things. You're carrying the responsibility of the entire village. That is true hardship."
The two of them walked side by side toward the room.
Rasa washed up briefly and changed into sleepwear.
Not long after, soft low moans could be heard from within the room.
Rasa leaned half-reclined against the headboard while Karura nestled against him.
Soon, Karura's eyelids began drooping uncontrollably, and then her breathing gradually softened into sleep.
Before dawn, Rasa quietly got up. He lowered his head, leaned close to Karura's cheek, and gently brushed it once.
Then he left the room and went to the third floor.
[One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Konoha Chunin Version)]
"Use."
Immediately, a brand-new character was created.
"Name: Uchiha Gen."
"Gender: Male."
"Age: 16."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Inkveil_