"Kazekage-sama, do you need my blood to heal the shinobi on the front lines? That's no problem…"
Kaoru's face turned slightly pale.
"No, no. Not your blood."
Rasa shook his head and interrupted Kaoru.
"Have you ever undergone shinobi training before?"
Kaoru froze for a moment, then shook her head, then nodded again.
"When I was young, I underwent shinobi training in Uzushiogakure. But after I came to Kusagakure, I did not. They did not want me to train as a shinobi. They did not want me to possess strength."
Rasa asked, "Then if you were to train now, would you have confidence in becoming a qualified shinobi?"
A surprised expression appeared on Kaoru's face.
"You want me to become a shinobi?"
Rasa nodded.
"That is correct. But you do not need to worry. The Uzumaki clan's talents lie in sealing techniques, medical ninjutsu, and sensory ability. If you become a shinobi, you will work in those areas."
"I would not send someone in your condition to the very front line to kill enemies."
"For you, this is also the most cost-effective option. It can make full use of your abilities."
"But I will not force you. If you are unwilling, you may take up an ordinary job instead."
Kaoru lowered her head and fell silent for a while.
Not long after, she raised her head.
"Kazekage-sama, I am willing to try."
"Have you thought it through?"
"I have."
"Very well. Since you have chosen to become a shinobi, I will arrange certain resources for you. Consider them a loan. Once you become a shinobi, you can slowly repay them."
"Thank you, Kazekage-sama."
Watching Kaoru leave, Rasa withdrew his gaze.
"There is no need for overly harsh shinobi training. She is already an adult and carries the Uzumaki bloodline. Training her to possess strength above genin level should not be difficult."
"And with strength above genin level, she can enter the battlefield."
"If it is truly dangerous, I can arrange a guard squad for her."
"As long as she can play the Imperial Arms Scream on the battlefield, it will provide tremendous help to morale!"
Rasa took out the documents and continued handling them.
Right now, Sunagakure was doing many things at the same time.
Pakura was leading the army in battle against Konoha.
Chiyo was leading the army in confrontation with Iwagakure.
Ebizo was responsible for research on Devil Fruits, also known as the Stone of Gelel.
Kabuto Yakushi was studying Orochimaru's notes.
Hongshan Lie was in charge of the mechanical sand ships and the three-zhang bat wings.
There was also the sailing group under Maki's responsibility.
In every direction, as long as they obtained some benefit, it would be quite useful to Sunagakure.
"Sunagakure is no longer merely moving in a better direction. It has already become quite good."
Rasa calculated silently.
"In terms of top-tier shinobi, Sunagakure no longer fears the other villages at all."
"In terms of mid-level shinobi, with the help of Devil Fruits, Sunagakure is no longer at a disadvantage either."
"It can be said that one-on-one, no shinobi village is currently Sunagakure's match."
"My efforts over these years have not been wasted."
"Spreading those rumors tirelessly was worth it."
Rasa was relatively satisfied with Sunagakure's current situation.
"Right now, Sunagakure only needs to worry about two things."
"First, facing a joint siege from the other three great shinobi villages at the same time."
"Second, the Akatsuki led by Obito Uchiha."
"Sunagakure still cannot fight one against three for the time being."
"And as for Akatsuki, the main issue is that Nagato's Rinnegan is far too abnormal."
"Sunagakure still needs to become stronger."
As for Toneri Otsutsuki, Momoshiki Otsutsuki, and the others, they were still somewhat distant for now.
Rasa believed that by that time, he would surely already possess one hundred percent Otsutsuki bloodline. Perhaps he would even have defeated Akatsuki, shattered Obito Uchiha's Eye of the Moon dream, and absorbed the God Tree.
If that happened, then even facing Momoshiki Otsutsuki would not necessarily be hopeless.
An intelligence shinobi quickly walked in.
"Kazekage-sama, there is news from the sailing group."
"What news?"
"A small sailing group discovered a silver mine in a sea trench. Its reserves are extremely vast—greater than all the veins of the Five Great Nations combined. If it can be mined, it will directly overturn the current economic structure of the world."
Rasa raised a brow.
This news truly was major.
The world of Naruto had already developed paper money and coins.
But when it came to actual circulation across the world, the true hard currency was still gold and silver.
Gold existed in small quantities, so the main standard was still silver.
Once a massive amount of silver entered the market, it would inevitably create an enormous shock.
It would have a huge impact on the entire shinobi world.
Not just nations, but shinobi villages as well.
At the very first moment, Rasa had the thought that if he could control this silver mine in Sunagakure's hands, it would be excellent.
"What are the specifics?"
The intelligence shinobi answered, "It is more than two hundred meters beneath the surface of the sea. It is almost entirely exposed. As long as one dives down, it can be mined directly."
"But the news spread very suddenly. All the major forces in the Land of Water basically know about it now."
"The area is large, and the vein is long. The people of the sailing group are already doing their best to control it, but they can only control one section. They cannot control the entire vein."
"At present, Kirigakure is gaining the most benefit, because they have the largest number of people capable of diving that deep."
Deep beneath the sea, near the Land of Water.
This undoubtedly provided Kirigakure with a uniquely favorable condition.
Even though the other shinobi villages had all established corresponding sailing groups, in terms of personnel, they could not compare with Kirigakure.
Moreover, the Four Great Shinobi Villages were currently engaged in war.
Even if the Four Great Shinobi Villages sent people over, when it came to Water Release, no shinobi village could compare to Kirigakure.
This allowed many people in Kirigakure to see hope that their village might rise again.
For Kirigakure, this was an excellent opportunity.
"If the Land of Water cannot be relied on, then we will rely on ourselves."
"If we can excavate enough silver ore, Kirigakure can completely suspend work in other areas and focus all our efforts on cultivating the village's young shinobi."
"We can implement policies encouraging childbirth."
"The Bloody Mist cannot continue. In the past, the village had many people, so cultivating elites was the priority. But now, the village's population is far inferior to before, especially the number of shinobi."
"If quality cannot rise, then quantity will do."
Light flickered in Chukichi's eyes.
"Reforging Kirigakure's glory will depend on me, Chukichi."
"If I handle this matter well, I will directly surpass the Third Mizukage and Fourth Mizukage. Among all previous Mizukage, my evaluation will be able to rank in the top three, perhaps even the top two."
Kirigakure became excited.
Team after team was organized. They boarded ships and arrived above the silver mine's location.
Splash!
Splash!
Splash!
Kirigakure shinobi who were deeply familiar with water dove into the sea, carrying tools with them. They descended more than two hundred meters below and began frantically mining the silver ore at the fastest speed possible.
Rasa arrived at the Devil Fruit laboratory.
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