The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, felt like he was going crazy. Clearly, everything he did was for the Land of Wind, so why wasn't he beloved by everyone like the Fourth Hokage of the Land of Fire?
You have to understand, the Land of Wind's poverty wasn't his fault, but rather...
This country was just poor to begin with!!!
Soil erosion and desertification were becoming increasingly severe. The amount of arable land was already small and the daily needs of all the people within the country. Furthermore, because the national treasury was empty, even if he wanted to buy those high-yield, superior grain seeds from the Land of Whirlpools, he couldn't afford them.
But what did this have to do with him, the Fourth Kazekage?
When he first took over this country, he discovered the national treasury...
was even poorer than he had imagined. No wonder the Daimyo's court later cut off subsidies to Sunagakure. It turned out the Daimyo's court itself had no money either!
So...
The Land of Wind had no money, Sunagakure had no money. Combining these two was simply adding fuel to the fire, making them even more impoverished!!!
After all, the original Sunagakure could still rely on ninjas performing missions to acquire bounty money. But from the moment the shinobi village system was abolished, he did not want to go back to that. Because, if they really restored the shinobi village system then, his title of 'rebel and traitor' would surely be firmly cemented.
Because doing so afterward...
would change the nature of things. It would change from originally waging war for the reform of the Land of Wind to waging war for the benefit of Sunagakure.
So, for more than half a year now, his head had been truly aching intensely.
The people below incessantly cursed him, and above, there was a pile of matters waiting for him to handle. He suddenly realized...
Being the leader of Sunagakure was much easier. At least he didn't have to work so hard and exhaust himself for the Land of Wind like now, only to receive widespread notoriety!
He sighed, rubbed his forehead, and murmured, "What should be done?"
"Lord Fourth..." Yashamaru looked at the pained Kazekage before him, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Perhaps we can seek help from the Land of Whirlpools."
This was currently the only thing the Land of Wind could possibly do. Otherwise, if things continued like this...
a more terrible war would surely erupt from within the Land of Wind!
"This..." Rasa looked at his brother-in-law, pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Why would the Land of Whirlpools ever help the Land of Wind?"
You must know...
Between nations, there has never been friendship!
He suspected that other countries were now gleefully watching the decline of the Land of Wind!
He lowered his head, with a hint of self-reproach...
"Did I really make a mistake?"
However...
This time, Yashamaru did not know how to answer the Fourth Kazekage. Actually, from the beginning, most people in the village were against the Kazekage directly using the One-Tail to end the war. After all, doing so would mean the final outcome, no matter what, would be criticized by others. But...
Since the First Kazekage, the Kazekages of Sunagakure had always only been people who were a bit slow-witted. You should know, even now, the tales of the First Kazekage's shameless deeds were still circulating in the shinobi world!
And the Fourth Kazekage...
Releasing the Tailed Beast to wreak havoc in the Land of Wind, and now preparing to seal the Tailed Beast into his young son's body...
Look, is this something a father should do?
This mental deficiency was simply passed down through the Kazekage lineage!
But as an Anbu ninja, educated from childhood to obey the Kazekage's commands, even though he inwardly did not want his nephew to become a despised jinchūriki.
Right now, Yashamaru even suspected that in the future, the Fourth Kazekage might think the Tailed Beast is too powerful, threatening the Land of Wind, and order him to assassinate his own nephew, all to test whether Gaara could become a jinchūriki!
But now was an opportunity, as long as...
they got rid of the One-Tail!!!
Yashamaru's eyes shifted uncertainly. Finally, he sighed inwardly, opened his mouth, and said to the Fourth Kazekage, "Use the One-Tail as a bargaining chip. I believe the Land of Whirlpools will definitely agree!"
As soon as the words fell...
"Bang!"
Rasa slammed the table hard, glaring intently at Yashamaru, and said, "Do you know what you are saying?"
You must know...
the One-Tail was now the nuclear weapon of the Land of Wind!
A Sunagakure ninja actually wanted to hand over the nuclear weapon. Could it be that he had already defected to the Land of Whirlpools!
His face darkened...
"Give me an explanation. Otherwise, even if you are Karura's brother, I will treat you as a missing-nin!"
"The One-Tail is like a chicken rib to the current Land of Wind, of little use." Yashamaru hesitated for a moment, his face showing determination, and said, "The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools keeps two Tailed Beasts as pets, so he would not fear this Tailed Beast of the Land of Wind. As for the other shinobi villages..."
"The Tailed Beasts of Kirigakure and Iwagakure are no longer within their countries. We couldn't defeat Konoha and Kumogakure even with the One-Tail. And the Seven-Tails of Takigakure..."
He sighed...
"Even without the One-Tail, the Land of Wind is not afraid!"
Watching the pensive Kazekage before him...
"If the Land of Wind can use the One-Tail to exchange for what it currently needs, it will definitely resolve the turmoil within the Land of Wind. It might even be able to catch up to the Land of Fire and others in technology and economy."
"This..." After listening, the Kazekage frowned, hesitated, and said, "But how do you know the Land of Whirlpools will definitely help the Land of Wind?"
To be honest, after hearing what Yashamaru said, he was indeed somewhat tempted!
He didn't know if the One-Tail would be helpful to the Land of Wind in the future, but...
If selling the One-Tail now could solve the domestic problems, it wasn't something that couldn't be considered!
After all...
The prosperity and strength of the Land of Wind were more important!
"Hmm~" Hearing that the Fourth Kazekage was also somewhat tempted, Yashamaru quickly added, "I have discussed this with other ninjas before."
He raised one finger...
"First, we request, like the Land of Rain, to send students to study in the Land of Whirlpools."
"Second, the Land of Whirlpools needs to assist in the restoration and development of the Land of Wind's domestic economy during this period."
"Third, the Land of Whirlpools must assist the Land of Wind in resolving issues like soil erosion, desertification, and water resource shortages."
"Fourth, the Land of Wind and the Land of Whirlpools form an alliance. If the Land of Wind is invaded by another country, the Land of Whirlpools must unconditionally send troops to help, and vice versa."
"Fifth..."
"..."
"That's all we could think of." Yashamaru looked at the Fourth Kazekage and said, "It might not be comprehensive. The Kazekage can also summon the council elders to discuss and refine it."
However...
Rasa narrowed his eyes, looking at Yashamaru before him. Finally, he sighed and said with a tone of helplessness, "Will the Land of Whirlpools agree?"
If they agreed to all of this, then selling the One-Tail wouldn't be a loss!
"I do not know that." Yashamaru also said with a helpless expression. "But..." He narrowed his eyes. "According to investigations, the current Dean of the Physics and Mechanics Academy is none other than the former Sunagakure's Lord Chiro, who is also..."
"The biological son of the retired advisor Chiyo!!!"
A slight smile appeared on his lips...
"Perhaps we can ask Advisor Chiyo for help!"