[Points: 3019!]
When Rasa saw the number on the system panel, he was somewhat surprised.
Originally, Rasa had thought that compared with the previous rumors, this rumor would gain points much more slowly.
After all, this was Iwagakure's matter.
And Onoki possessed extremely high prestige within Iwagakure and the Land of Earth.
But unexpectedly, the actions of some Sunagakure shinobi had provided tremendous assistance to the spread of the rumor.
Under the banner of speaking up for Kitsuchi, they had shaped Kitsuchi into a hero.
This forced the people of the Land of Earth and Iwagakure into a situation where their minds seemed to be fighting themselves.
Either they admitted that Kitsuchi was a disaster and Onoki was a good Tsuchikage.
Or they admitted that Onoki was a power-hungry beast who would devour even his own cub, while Kitsuchi was a hero.
This caused discussion of the rumor to increase greatly.
Rasa's thoughts stirred.
"Thirty-pull. Begin!"
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an F-rank item: One tael of gold.]
…
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a B-rank item: Ninjutsu Scroll: Fire Release—Intelligent Hard Work.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a C-rank item: One-Day Ninja Experience Card: Iwagakure Chunin Version.]
…
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an A-rank item: Imperial Arms—Scream.]
[Scream.]
[—Also known as Military Music Dream. It can freely manipulate the emotions of listeners. It is known for inspiring the morale of allied soldiers on the battlefield, but repeated exposure will gradually create a degree of resistance.]
Rasa looked at the flute in his hand.
"It is not helpful to my personal strength, but for Sunagakure, its value is enormous."
"If this morale boost can allow Sunagakure's army to exert even ten percent more strength, that would already be a tremendous improvement. It might even change the situation on the battlefield."
"However, this thing is an Imperial Arms from the world of Akame ga Kill. For the user, the burden will be very heavy."
"I need to find a suitable user."
Rasa thought of one candidate.
Karin's mother, Kaoru.
One of the refugees after Uzushiogakure's collapse, she had fled to Kusagakure.
But Kusagakure had treated her inhumanely, using her as a medical pack.
During the previous incident in which the three shinobi villages divided up Kusagakure, Rasa had taken both Kaoru and Karin from Kusagakure's hands and settled them in Sunagakure.
At present, Rasa had not made any special arrangements for them.
However, their value had already revealed itself.
In Kabuto Yakushi's experiments, it was precisely by using Kaoru's blood that he had created the red snake.
"Kaoru left that hellhole called Kusagakure relatively early, so the degree of physical overdraft is actually not too severe. With some recuperation, she can recover. Kabuto Yakushi's experiment used very little blood."
"Basically, it will not cause any negative impact on Kaoru's body."
"The Uzumaki clan is famous for vitality."
"If there is anyone besides Sunagakure's top-tier shinobi who might be able to endure the burden of an Imperial Arms, Kaoru's chances are very high."
At Rasa's order, an ANBU shinobi quickly departed.
Not long after, he arrived before Kaoru.
"Kazekage-sama is looking for me?"
Kaoru froze for a moment, then hurriedly stood up. After hesitating briefly, she asked, "Do I need to change clothes?"
The clothes Kaoru was currently wearing were somewhat old and worn. She had new clothes, but she kept them in the cabinet and could not bear to wear them.
But in Kaoru's eyes, meeting the Kazekage was an extremely important matter. She had to appear solemn and proper. Otherwise, it would seem too disrespectful. But Kaoru did not know whether this was urgent.
The ANBU shinobi remained silent for a moment.
"It would be better to change."
"Alright. I'll go now."
Not long after, the ANBU shinobi brought Kaoru to the Kazekage's office.
She had long red hair.
As the Uzumaki clan's signature hair color, under normal circumstances, most descendants would inherit it.
Naruto was clearly an exception.
"Minato Namikaze's bloodline suppressed even the Uzumaki clan's bloodline."
Kaoru walked in, somewhat uneasy. She lowered her head and did not dare look at Rasa.
"Kazekage-sama."
Rasa revealed the benevolent smile of a superior.
"Kaoru, you have been in Sunagakure for quite some time now. How does it feel?"
"It's very good. Sunagakure treats us very well. Much better than Kusagakure. We have a safe house to live in, we don't go hungry, and no one bullies me…"
These were Kaoru's sincere words.
Only with comparison did the cruelty become clearer.
After arriving in Sunagakure, whenever Kaoru recalled her experiences in Kusagakure, she realized what kind of life she had lived before.
It had been like hell.
Kusagakure had not treated her as a human at all.
Kaoru had thought that her entire life would continue that way.
After all, she no longer had a village or a home. She was merely an outsider in Kusagakure.
But Kaoru had never expected her fate to take a turn.
When she first arrived in Sunagakure, Kaoru had been deeply anxious, thinking Sunagakure had demanded her from Kusagakure because it wanted to treat her even more harshly.
But none of the things she feared had happened.
"Kazekage-sama, thank you. If there is anything I can do, please give me your orders."
Rasa did not immediately bring up the matter of the Imperial Arms Scream.
Instead, he first spoke about the Uzumaki clan.
"I have looked into Uzushiogakure's matter somewhat. It was truly a tragedy."
"You Uzumaki lived peacefully in one corner and never provoked anyone, yet you suffered such a disaster. It was pitiful."
"Not only did they destroy Uzushiogakure, but they even hunted down the Uzumaki clan to the end."
Kaoru could not help but recall what had happened back then. Her eyes reddened, and her fists clenched.
"The fate of the Uzumaki clan was too tragic."
"The Uzumaki clan should not have met such an end."
"That is why, after I learned that you and your daughter existed in Kusagakure and were suffering inhuman treatment, I demanded you from Kusagakure."
"This was my respect toward the Uzumaki clan."
Kaoru did not doubt him.
After all, Rasa's reputation in the shinobi world was obvious to all.
Even as Minato Namikaze's enemy, he had spoken up for Minato Namikaze's injustice.
Out of respect for the Uzumaki clan, it was perfectly reasonable for him to save her, a member of that clan.
Knowing the reason Sunagakure had saved her allowed Kaoru to feel much more at ease.
"I called you here today because there are actually two matters."
"Please speak, Kazekage-sama."
Rasa said, "The first concerns Karin. The Uzumaki bloodline is destined to be extraordinary. Letting her live as an ordinary person would be a waste. I intend to have Karin become a shinobi of Sunagakure. What do you think?"
Kaoru had no objection.
"Kazekage-sama, I think that is fine."
Rasa nodded.
"The second matter concerns you. I have heard about your experiences in Kusagakure. The Uzumaki bloodline is indeed miraculous, but for Kusagakure to treat you that way was far too excessive."
"It would cause irreversible side effects to your body. Even your lifespan could be affected."
"Sunagakure would never do something so inhumane."
"But you also know Sunagakure's current situation. We are fighting Konoha and Iwagakure at the same time."
"We are extremely short on manpower."
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