The straw checkerboard sand control method could now be considered a success.
Although the cost remained high—making large-scale implementation impractical for Sunagakure at the moment—small-scale use was still feasible. For instance, in the upcoming electrical circuit project, laying down the straw checkerboards would prevent sand erosion and reduce circuit damage.
Rasa reviewed the electrical project proposal that had been submitted some time ago. After a moment of contemplation, he signed off on it. By now, the other major shinobi villages had already begun electrification. There was no benefit to Sunagakure falling behind. Sooner or later, the infrastructure would have to be laid, and with the straw checkerboard barrier now proven successful, the timing was perfect.
As for the workforce…
He had already dispatched Pakura, one of the village's elite Jōnin, known for her diligence, integrity, kindness, and tireless work ethic. He figured it wouldn't be long before Advisor Ebizō came storming in.
Of course, this wasn't some petty attempt to settle scores over what happened a few days ago when he stepped in something… unpleasant. Cough cough. As the leader of Sunagakure, Rasa didn't see himself as a small-minded man.
Even that slacker Mōmu, always laughing, never serious, constantly spreading rumors about the Kazekage—Rasa hadn't gotten angry. In fact, he had entrusted Mōmu with important duties in the Land of Rain, which showed how much he valued his abilities.
And Jōnin Teishi, from not too long ago… Even though he repeatedly challenged and publicly questioned his superiors, Rasa remained patient. To show just how broad-minded he was—and to demonstrate his deep sense of duty to Sunagakure—he had reluctantly assigned that "truth-speaking" elite Jōnin to work at Advisor Ebizō's side.
He…
The Fourth Kazekage...
Was absolutely not a petty man.
Rasa placed his glass of cool water on the desk and looked up as the door burst open.
Advisor Ebizō walked in, his face dark.
"Didn't I already approve your budget? What now?" Rasa asked calmly.
See? He really wasn't angry about what happened the other day. He didn't even withhold the funding. That's how generous he was.
But—
"Oh, Lord Kazekage~," Ebizō said in a tone laced with complaint as he dragged over a nearby chair. "Why'd you send Pakura to demand manpower from me?!"
Don't you know I've developed a phobia of that woman? She's terrifying! One wrong word and it's straight to Fireball Jutsu! My old bones can't take that kind of abuse!
"Couldn't you have sent someone who could talk to me civilly?"
"And let you drug them again?" Rasa rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Tell me, how many people have you drugged so far?"
Thankfully, it hadn't been any kind of lethal poison. Most of the victims just passed out for a few hours and woke up on their own. Otherwise, Ebizō would've been out wandering the desert with his great-nephew by now.
So no, sending Pakura this time wasn't about payback. It was strategy.
Because when it came to dealing with a shameless old rogue like Ebizō, Pakura was absolutely the right choice.
"That potion… don't tell me it was made for you by Lady Chiyo?" Rasa added, deadpan. Even gas masks can't block that stuff.
"That's not the point!" Ebizō protested, his expression stern. "I really don't have enough manpower! The weaving and laying of the straw checkerboards, the glassworks, the cement plant, the toy factory—every place needs people! Why are you taking mine?!"
"I know you've worked hard," Rasa said, voice lifting slightly as he adopted a slow, deliberate tone. "But right now, you're the only department in the village with the manpower to spare."
He stood up and opened the window to strike a somber pose—hands clasped behind his back—only to immediately get a mouthful of sand from a gust of wind. Choking, he hurriedly closed the window again, wiped his face, and resumed the pose with exaggerated seriousness.
"Laying the electrical grid is for the good of the village."
"It's not even urgent yet," Ebizō muttered. This whole project could take who knows how long anyway. Why not just wait until the checkerboards are fully laid?
"It's not urgent."
It's just very satisfying watching your face turn black from stress.
Rasa nodded without emotion, sat back down in his chair, picked up the cool water, and took a sip.
"But for now, we only need the straw checkerboards in the specific areas where the circuits will be laid."
He looked toward Ebizō, whose face had frozen at that statement. Rasa sighed and shook his head.
"I know what you're trying to do. You're planning to cover all of Sunagakure in straw checkerboards, to stabilize the sand, conserve water, and then move on to land development and agriculture, right?"
Big man… You're taking such a huge step. Aren't you afraid of tearing something important?!
"That kind of goal… just isn't feasible for Sunagakure right now."
"But if it succeeds," Ebizō said with a wry smile, "Sunagakure wouldn't be a sea of yellow sand anymore. I don't know how much longer I'll live… maybe I won't see the whole Land of Wind transformed, but I believe I can cover the village at least."
"...!"
Rasa stared at the old man strangely.
You've got another twenty years in you at least. Why are you suddenly waxing poetic about death? Are you just bored?
"Desert reclamation can't be rushed. It has to be steady. No need to push yourself so hard."
Right now, the priority was building up the economy. Only with a full treasury could deeper reforms begin.
"Sleep early, wake up early, and keep your distance from Pakura. Do that, and… you probably won't die anytime soon."
"…"
That's harsh, Lord Kazekage. What do you mean, 'keep my distance from Pakura'?!
Ebizō stared speechlessly at Rasa, then sighed again.
"I'll handle the grid installation," he said. "But don't take my people. Once the wiring's done, they'll be returned to me anyway… Wait a minute."
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the Kazekage, who suddenly looked a bit evasive.
"You… you already gave them away, didn't you?"
"Hey, not my fault," Rasa said with a sheepish smile, pouring the elder a glass of water. "You didn't manage them properly. The moment they returned, the other factory supervisors snatched them up."
"Damn it! You spendthrift of a Kazekage!"
"Wait—hold on! You can't hit the Kazekage, you know!" Rasa backpedaled fast, raising his hands in surrender as Ebizō looked ready to throw hands. "Calm down, calm down! Deep breaths!"
"Didn't you say this was about laying the wiring?"
"Plans change! What do you want me to do?!" Rasa said, trying to calm the grumbling old man again. "So, yeah~ The grid project's going to need people from every sector."
"You're telling me… I've got to cough up workers again?!"
"Just a few. Most of the shinobi construction teams are under you anyway, so we'll need your—"
"Forget it! Unless you return the hundred—no, two hundred—people you stole!"
"Weren't there only about a hundred? How'd it become over two hundred?"
"I don't care!"
"…"
Rasa looked at the now-pouting, temper-throwing Advisor Ebizō and was momentarily speechless.
He considered comforting him—maybe tell him another batch of Rain Country civilians would be arriving soon to help out—but just then—
Knock knock~
"Come in!"
He looked up to see a Sand shinobi rush in.
"Lord Kazekage, there's a confidential letter from the Land of Rain—personally delivered by a Rain ninja."
"A confidential letter?"
Rasa blinked, accepted the envelope, and looked puzzled.
"From Kabuto?"
He frowned and broke the seal, pulled out the letter, and read it carefully.
A moment later…
He set the letter down, a faint smile forming on his lips as he looked at Advisor Ebizō.
"Don't be mad. Just wait a few days… I'll get you a real genius."
"??? What genius? I don't need some random genius! One person's no good—I want two hundred people, not one less!"
"Oh, really? Well, this genius can do the work of over a hundred people… and he only draws one salary."
"…There's a genius like that?"
"There is~" Rasa narrowed his eyes, smiling meaningfully as he nodded. "He's just… a little high maintenance. So—do you want him or not?"
"I WANT!!!"