After collecting today's gold dust and ensuring the refining site was in order, Rasa quickly left.
He couldn't let things continue like this.
If they did… Yashamaru might lose it.
Perhaps it was the scorching summer or the tense battlefield atmosphere, but the refining site's ninja were showing signs of mental strain.
And his speech back then…
Whether refining gold or fighting on the front lines, both contributed to Sunagakure's peace and stability.
As a result… the injured, idle shinobi began to see refining as a way to protect Sunagakure, fulfilling their ninja purpose. In a burst of fervor… they'd gone overboard.
This wasn't a big issue. It even boosted work enthusiasm and refining efficiency.
But…
They were at war!
Most injured ninja, once healed, had to return to the battlefield. If they refused, obsessed with refining, what then?
Advisors Chiyo and Ebizō would probably poison his water, eliminating him as a reckless future Fourth Kazekage.
So…
Rasa frowned, pondering briefly…
"Yashamaru's nearly healed. It's time he returned to the battlefield."
The battlefield was unpredictable, fraught with danger. As his brother-in-law, Rasa felt obliged to look out for Yashamaru. But… someone had to fight.
He'd keep an eye on him.
Rasa sighed, entering his tent. He washed his face and wiped down briefly—water was scarce, unlike at the Kusagakure front.
Then, he checked the gacha interface's ryō balance.
"Enough for ten ten-pulls?"
The refined gold… he kept, of course. As temporary frontline commander and future Fourth Kazekage, who else would?
To protect Sunagakure with funds… he had to pour it all into the gacha!
What? Misappropriating funds?
As the future Kazekage, how was using money misappropriation?
Sighing inwardly, he shook his head, tapped ten ten-pulls, and muttered, "I wonder how Momu's doing."
…
"Lord Momu, Kusagakure seems to be planning a retreat!"
"Retreat? They dare retreat?" Momu slammed the table, standing with a scowl at the Sand shinobi. "Do they think Sunagakure's a place they can come and go as they please?"
If they left…
How would Sunagakure profit?
Lord Rasa was counting on him!
"But… Kusagakure's broke," the shinobi said, shaking his head. "They've been hiding their ryō before battles. Some of our comrades, looting corpses, fell for their traps—blown up by explosive tags."
Hence…
Strict orders banned close-range looting or direct ninja scavenging.
Puppet-wielding ninja had become highly sought-after.
"And… Iwagakure's shifted focus to Konoha and Kumogakure. The ninja stationed here haven't withdrawn yet."
The war wasn't over, and unexpected twists could happen, so troops rarely pulled out quickly.
"…"
Momu fell silent. Indeed, those Kusagakure ninja… had gotten smarter.
Why bring money to battle? Be poor like Sunagakure!
No funds to take!
Initially, Lord Rasa's tactics provoked Kusagakure. Now… they didn't want to play anymore.
As for Iwagakure… small skirmishes persisted, but large-scale clashes had ceased since Kumogakure's bold one-against-three stance emerged. They…
Clearly didn't take the Sand seriously.
Momu gazed at the sandstorm outside, sighing inwardly, then glanced at his recent haul.
[Time to send this to Lord Rasa.]
…
Meanwhile…
After the battle, the Fourth Raikage, Ai, sternly summoned all Kumogakure jōnin for a meeting.
"Still no clues about Sunagakure's scheme?"
Ai frowned at the jōnin, his voice heavy.
"Playing with sand for no reason at a time like this… what are they planning?!"
"Lord Raikage, maybe… Sunagakure knows they're outmatched and is preparing to surrender?"
"Impossible! This morning's battle—they fought fiercely to stop us!"
"Maybe just token resistance? As one of the five great villages, they can't surrender without a fight. That'd be humiliating!"
"As a great village, Sunagakure wouldn't give up so easily!"
"There's… definitely a plot!"
"A plot? Can Sunagakure threaten us now?"
We're ready to take on three villages! Can't we be confident?!
"A plot might not win the war, but… heavy losses would be bad!"
"Sand's digging sand, Cloud's in an uproar, big bro's face is dark, everyone's ignoring it. Let's fight it out—who wins, decides! Yeah, yeah, awesome!"
"…"
The meeting room erupted into chaos.
Kumogakure's shirtless, rough shinobi couldn't stay calm all day. The more they talked, the angrier they got, each with their own opinions. As tempers flared, some rolled up their sleeves, ready to settle it with fists…
"Quiet, all of you!"
Ai slammed the table, standing with a roar, glaring until they settled. He signaled a ninja to drag out the instigating rapper—Kirabi. [This idiot… can't he read the room?]
Rubbing his forehead, Ai looked at the now-quiet jōnin, frowning in thought.
"Fine… based on your input: First, keep sending ninja to investigate what Rasa's up to and why the Sand are… playing with sand."
He adopted a stern expression.
"Second! Bolster defenses and… intensify attacks on the Sand. Show them… Kumogakure fears no schemes!"
(End of Chapter)