"Excellent!!!"
It was rare for Rasa to display his emotions so openly, but this time he couldn't contain his satisfaction. The effects of this newly developed sealing technique had genuinely exceeded his expectations.
With the successful creation of this technique, Rasa finally possessed a means to potentially stand against even the legendary Sage of Six Paths in the future. This was something that even his extraordinary ability, the "Karma" mark, couldn't guarantee, a true sense of security.
Currently, Rasa's power derived from the fusion of the Dragon Vein's energy and Mōryō's chakra, transformed into a unique form of senjutsu chakra. However, when compared to the vast natural energy reserves of the Three Great Sage Regions or the overwhelming chakra of the Ten-Tails, his current energy reserves remained relatively insignificant in terms of sheer volume.
While the special properties of his senjutsu chakra allowed him to amplify his combat effectiveness far beyond what his raw energy levels would suggest, the fundamental issue of quantity remained. The combined energy from both the Dragon Vein and Mōryō amounted to roughly the equivalent of two tailed beasts at most.
But the potential enemies he might face?
The Three Great Sage Regions were concerning enough.
Then there was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who represented the combined power of all nine tailed beasts plus the entire world's chakra.
And her son, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo (the Sage of Six Paths), had managed to seal even her away.
This alone spoke volumes about the terrifying upper limits of power in this world.
After a thousand years of development, the Sage of Six Paths had undoubtedly grown to unimaginable heights of power.
The yin-yang power he casually bestowed upon Naruto and Sasuke had been sufficient to effortlessly reseal Kaguya.
Yet he claimed to be nothing more than residual chakra lingering after death?
That was clearly nonsense.
Not to mention the still-unseen Ōtsutsuki clan members and the so-called Ōtsutsuki God.
This was precisely why Rasa still didn't dare make any moves against the tailed beasts.
He wasn't like Madara Uchiha, who was the reincarnation of the Sage's own son Indra.
If Rasa were to directly target the tailed beasts, he had no doubt that the Sage of Six Paths would personally emerge from the Pure Land to deal with him. He might be being overly cautious but in a time when 3 ninja villages were eying to get a piece of Sunagakure, he didn't want to take his chances.
In terms of quality, while the freedom afforded by senjutsu chakra was indeed powerful, it had one critical flaw, it didn't significantly enhance Rasa's physical body.
To put it simply, as Rasa had once observed, shinobi in this world were essentially glass cannons:
They possessed tremendous offensive capabilities (thanks to the nature of chakra)
But had pathetically weak defenses (because chakra actually drained the body rather than strengthening it)
While his senjutsu chakra removed the harmful strain on the body that normal chakra caused, it still didn't provide any substantial improvement to physical durability.
But this newly developed seal changed everything.
With it, Rasa could now begin training in Ryūchi Cave's most secret art: The Dragon Transformation Technique.
And the fundamental principle of this technique?
Evolution.
---
Though Rasa was eager to begin his training immediately, there was still one more matter that needed to be addressed.
Ebizō, ever perceptive, tactfully excused himself and left with Hana, leaving only Rasa and Honoka alone in the room.
"Now that we're alone, you can tell me. What reward do you want?"
Rasa asked directly.
Honoka's answer genuinely surprised him.
"From what Hana has told me about Chiyo-sama's research... is it true? About the connection between the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki clans?"
Rasa's eyebrow twitched slightly. He wasn't particularly shocked that she knew about this, but he already had a strong suspicion about what she was leading toward.
"Hmm. What exactly are you implying?"
As Rasa had anticipated, Honoka spoke with complete directness:
"I want the Mangekyō Sharingan that Chiyo-sama currently possesses… and I want it transplanted into me."
"..."
The room fell into complete silence. Rasa carefully studied Honoka's expression, her delicate features were set in absolute determination. After a long pause, he responded in an uncharacteristically soft tone:
"Would you tell me your reasons?"
Honoka lowered her gaze, her eyes clouded with memory.
"On the day the Uzumaki clan was destroyed, I learned one fundamental truth: To survive in this shinobi world, you can never place your hopes for survival in the hands of others. Just as the Uzumaki clan once foolishly relied on Konoha... I only want to depend on my own power to protect both myself and Hana."
Rasa felt a flicker of surprise. The contrast between the sisters was striking, where Hana still retained a childlike innocence, her older sister had clearly matured far beyond her years.
"Very well. You may have that Mangekyō Sharingan, in fact, I'll give you two. A pair is necessary to wield its full potential. I'll discuss this matter with Chiyo-sama personally, but for your own safety, the transplantation will only proceed after she has thoroughly confirmed your body's compatibility."
A rare, genuine smile touched Honoka's lips at Rasa's evident concern for her wellbeing.
"Thank you!!"
Rasa simply shook his head.
"There's no need for thanks. In many ways, this actually benefits Sunagakure as well. If you can truly master the Sharingan's power, our village will gain another truly elite shinobi capable of standing on the front lines."
Honoka didn't bother denying this point.
Though she had framed her desire for the Sharingan as being purely for personal protection, both of them knew the truth, their fates were now completely bound to Sunagakure, and to Rasa himself.
After a thoughtful pause, Honoka raised her eyes to meet Rasa's gaze directly.
"We still have some time before the procedures begin. If you have no objections, Kazekage-sama, allow me to personally instruct you in the intricacies of the Gourd Seal. The name may sound peculiar, but from a technical perspective, it's an extremely complex sealing formula."
Rasa saw no reason to refuse such an offer.
And so, under Honoka's careful tutelage, Rasa began the process of mastering the Gourd Seal technique.
---
Sunagakure
Kumogakure Shinobi Lodgings
Darui let out a heavy sigh as he finished reviewing the latest intelligence reports gathered from throughout the village.
Calling his sole remaining subordinate to his side, he announced in a grave tone:
"Prepare for our return. Our mission here is complete."
"Complete? What do you mean, Darui-sama?" the subordinate asked in confusion.
Darui saw no reason to conceal the truth.
"This Kazekage's political acumen is extraordinary. He's even managed to bring the Wind Daimyō firmly to his side, rendering all our pressure tactics completely ineffective. The Raikage has made his decision, Kumogakure will join forces with Iwagakure to launch a full-scale assault on Sunagakure."
"I... I understand. I'll make the necessary preparations immediately!"
"Good."
As his subordinate hurried away, Darui turned his gaze toward the distant silhouette of the Kazekage's tower, his expression unreadable.
In the two weeks since their arrival, he had never once managed to secure an audience with the young Kazekage.
This deliberate avoidance only served to deepen the air of mystery surrounding the man.
With political maneuvers that belied his youth, Rasa had systematically dismantled every scheme that Kumo and Iwa had thrown at him.
But now, facing the combined military might of both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, with Konoha potentially joining the fray as well, how would the young Kazekage respond?
---
Meanwhile...
In an almost perfectly synchronized movement, Iwagakure's delegation also began making preparations to depart Sunagakure.
This coordinated exodus sent a clear and ominous signal to Baki, the Commander of Suna's ANBU forces. The atmosphere was thick with the unmistakable tension of impending war.
He immediately mobilized his ANBU operatives, dispatching them throughout the village and beyond to gather intelligence.
The reports that came back confirmed his worst suspicions.
Both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, who had previously appeared to be standing down, were now actively mobilizing their resources and forces, all signs pointed toward preparations for full-scale military engagement.
But this time, their target wasn't Konoha.
This time, their sights were set squarely on Sunagakure.