Momu would never forget that day.
It was like any other—clear skies, a gentle autumn breeze that made them feel a bit lazy. As usual, Kusagakure and Iwagakure launched an attack on the Sand shinobi.
The assault wasn't overwhelming, but it wasn't weak either.
Yet, with Rasa-sama's protection, the Sand shinobi's daily losses on this battlefield had gradually decreased.
After all… this was war. Sacrifices were inevitable.
That day… as Rasa-sama's indispensable right-hand man, Momu was, as always, dashing, dedicated, and just a hair less skilled than Rasa-sama himself. But as his loyal aide, he had to shoulder some of Rasa-sama's burdens!
So…
On that day…
Facing a surge of enemies, battle-worn and exhausted, Momu rummaged through his pockets but found not a single ryō. Turning to his equally weary comrades, he asked, "Got any money? Lend me some!"
As expected, after such a long war, their ryō had all been taken by Rasa-sama for his gacha pulls. They were flat broke—no spare coins to be found.
To ease Rasa-sama's worries, Momu paused, glanced at the bodies strewn across the desert, and turned to his comrades with a resolute tone. "Cover me! I'm going to 'borrow' some money!"
No sooner had he spoken…
Ignoring their protests, he leapt over the sand trenches, dodging through the battlefield's chaos. Under his comrades' shocked, admiring, and bewildered gazes, he skillfully evaded enemy ninjutsu. With their cover, he crawled step by step toward the fallen shinobi in the desert.
In that moment, amid smoke and roaring flames, he reached his target. Swiftly, he scavenged what he needed from the enemy corpses, reaping a bountiful haul.
Several bodies lay close together, saving him the trouble.
But… on his way back…
His comrades' shouts—"Get back! Hurry, Momu!"—and a sudden, terrifying roar exploded in his ears.
And then…
He blacked out.
"So, Rasa-sama, it's not much…" Momu said with an embarrassed grin, scratching his head. "Just a hundred thousand ryō or so. I heard you can get stronger by spending money, but… heh, Sunagakure's just too poor."
"You…"
"No need to thank me, Rasa-sama! We're all part of Sunagakure, and you're our village's hope!"
"If that's the case, go rest and heal up."
"…I won't disturb your rest then, Rasa-sama."
"That guy…" Rasa watched Momu's bandaged, limping figure depart, chuckling and shaking his head. "Why put on such a show if you don't want thanks?"
If he really didn't care for gratitude, why tell such a detailed story, hobbling over on crutches to deliver it in person?
And that story…
It felt strangely familiar.
[If you swapped money for cigarettes… oh man, isn't that…]
As Rasa mused, Kanna's gentle voice broke in. "Everyone truly trusts and respects you, Rasa-sama."
"Maybe so."
Rasa nodded with a smile, pulling out the tightly wrapped bundle of over a hundred thousand ryō. It wasn't much—about 160,000, plus his recent savings. Enough for a twenty-pull gacha roll.
[No wonder… I've been so serious about mining gold to support the village.]
One part poverty, one part… responsibility.
Glancing at the darkening sky, he stood and stretched. "Time for a bath!"
He'd even forgotten the gamer's essential skill: looting corpses. How careless. Early on, looting Iwagakure's vanguard was safer, but now… it was risky. One misstep, and you'd end up like Momu.
Still…
Thinking about it now, he felt like he'd missed out on billions of ryō.
…
Meanwhile…
Iwagakure's camp was restless. Nearly a year had passed since they'd taken this route, and their losses… stung.
Not that they'd gained nothing. The intel on Sunagakure's Rasa alone was their biggest prize.
Everyone had been fooled. "Traumatized" or "unstable"? All lies, deliberately spread by Sunagakure to make other villages underestimate them.
Otherwise… how could that guy be so strong? And… he seemed to grow stronger every day.
[He's definitely hiding his true power!]
Ōtsuchi, arms crossed and chin resting on his hands, frowned in deep thought. After a moment, he addressed the gathered Iwagakure shinobi. "What do you think we should do?"
"Well…"
The Iwagakure shinobi exchanged glances, then sighed, shaking their heads with helpless tones.
"What does the Tsuchikage say?"
"The Tsuchikage…" Ōtsuchi paused at their cautious question, frowning again. "He says to maintain the status quo… or retreat."
Though the Tsuchikage was his father, on duty, he called him by title.
"Retreat?!"
Ōtsuchi's words sparked shock and confusion, the meeting room buzzing with debate.
Moments later…
"That's not right," one shinobi said hesitantly. "We haven't lost. We even have the upper hand."
Not pushing forward was one thing, but surrendering and retreating?
"Iwagakure would become a laughingstock."
"I know, but…" Ōtsuchi shook his head, a bitter smile mixed with anger crossing his face. "Based on intel, Kumogakure and Konoha…"
Before he could finish…
"Ōtsuchi-sama!" An Iwagakure shinobi burst in, dropping to one knee, voice tense with respect. "Sunagakure… they've launched an attack!"
"?!"
The Iwagakure shinobi froze, still processing.
What are those Sand shinobi up to now?!
…
"What are we up to?" Rasa faced his Sand shinobi, his expression grave. "We can't keep dragging this out. Advisor Chiyo's battlefield is still in dire straits, and the village has no extra forces to support her. So…"
He raised a fist, his tone resolute.
"We must end this front quickly, then send some shinobi to aid Advisor Chiyo."
"But… Rasa-sama, what about Iwagakure and Kusagakure…?"
A Sand shinobi raised a hesitant hand, but before he could finish…
Rasa waved him off, cutting in with a serious tone. "I know what you're worried about. This time… we have only one enemy!"
"Rasa-sama, you mean…"
One enemy? They didn't get it.
But…
Rasa's face broke into a sly smile, eyes narrowing, lips curling as he let out a cunning chuckle. "This time… we're only beating up Kusagakure!"
"…"
(End of Chapter)