A week had passed since the Nine-Tails Attack and the heroic sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Konoha had suffered a devastating blow, and the once-peaceful shinobi world now rippled with subtle unrest.
Of course… none of that had anything to do with Sunagakure.
All they needed to do was keep their heads down and live their own quiet lives.
Rasa frowned slightly as he reviewed the recent intelligence reports. After a moment's thought, he looked up at Ebizō, who had appeared once again.
"So… what is it this time?"
The funding was approved when we got back, and you're still getting the lion's share of the manpower. What now? Don't tell me we're out of money again.
"Hehe, not at all~" Advisor Ebizō scratched his head sheepishly, then said, "I'm just here to report a few things. The straw checkerboard installation is mostly complete, just as Lord Kazekage instructed. We'll be ready to start laying the electrical grid soon."
"That's it?"
"Of course not. Lord Kazekage, do you remember those… er, those fruit pits you gave me at the end of last year?"
"What about them?"
"After examining them, I discovered they contain a special energy that promotes germination and plant growth. The energy levels vary—some pits contain more, some less. But if the energy's strong enough, they can even sprout in desert conditions," Ebizō said, stroking his beard with a smile. "That's why, out of all the ones buried outside your estate, only two managed to grow. So I propose we designate a special zone, fence it off with straw checkerboards, and transplant the sprouts there. Even if we can't grow fruit in Sunagakure's sand, it'll still help improve the environment. We could also plant some near the lake behind the mountains."
"Special energy that helps plants grow?" Rasa raised an eyebrow, murmuring to himself, "Sounds a bit like the Gelel Stone…"
He recalled that when the Gelel Stone's energy surged, it caused the surrounding trees to grow almost instantly.
But before he could elaborate—
"Gelel Stone?" Ebizō blinked. "What's that?"
"Oh~ nothing," Rasa said, coming back to himself. He smiled at Ebizō. "Anyway, if there's something else, just say it. I doubt you came here just to report routine work~"
He had been personally monitoring the electrical grid project. As for the fruit pits—after handing them off to Ebizō, he hadn't given them much thought.
"So after all that chatter… what's the real reason you're here?"
"Hehe~" Ebizō scratched his head awkwardly again, then finally sighed with a heavy heart.
"It's about Sasori... My sister and I are deeply grateful to you, Lord Kazekage. We truly didn't expect that Lord Third…"
But before he could finish—
"That's enough. Just make sure he's watched closely. Don't let anyone find out about him, and don't let him escape. That's all." Rasa picked up his teacup and took a sip, cutting Ebizō off mid-sentiment. He waved his hand, expression turning stern. "Regardless of anything else, he killed the Third Kazekage. The loss he caused to Sunagakure was immense. You know full well that for a crime like that, execution on the spot wouldn't have been out of line. If it weren't for your and Chiyo's sakes, I would've killed him on the spot."
"I understand." Ebizō sighed, then nodded seriously. "I will keep him under strict supervision. If anything happens again, Lord Kazekage is welcome to take both my life and my sister's."
"No need for that. Just make sure you and Chiyo personally apologize to the Third when the time comes~"
"???" Ebizō was momentarily confused, then seemed to understand. "Once everything is settled, I'll bring my sister and go offer our apologies at the Third Kazekage's grave."
"…That's not quite what I meant~" Rasa gave him a look of speechless exasperation. Judging by Ebizō's face, if not for unfinished business, he looked ready to slit his own throat on the spot. With a helpless smile, Rasa shook his head. "Forget it. Not important. How's Sasori doing lately?"
"He's been stable. My sister's keeping close watch. No incidents. It's just…" Ebizō sighed again, face turning bitter. "That brat seems intent on turning himself into a puppet. And his Red Secret Technique… even I've heard about it. It's… too twisted."
"…"
Rasa fell silent.
Should I tell him that the guy I mentioned before—the one who turned himself into a puppet—was his own grand-nephew?
He gave an awkward chuckle and waved it off. "That's why ideological and moral guidance is so important. You two failed to notice the signs in time, didn't offer proper support or guidance—and this is the result. A good portion of the blame lies with you."
"…You're right. My sister and I bear that responsibility." Ebizō sighed with regret, then pulled a scroll from his robes and said seriously, "This is the Human Puppet technique Sasori created. It's far more twisted than the version developed by the Second Kazekage. I believe it should be sealed inside the Forbidden Techniques Archive and kept out of sight of all puppeteers. As for the Third Lord's body… I'm sorry. My sister could only do so much. He's already been turned into a puppet. There's no way to restore him. What are your instructions, Lord Kazekage?"
"Seal it."
Rasa took the scroll Ebizō handed him. He hesitated, but chose not to destroy it immediately.
As vile as the jutsu was, it still contained valuable knowledge—medical, anatomical, and physiological.
Sasori had clearly conducted detailed research on the human body. Otherwise, there was no way he could have developed such a precise puppetization technique.
Knowledge, after all, was priceless.
Even if it had to be destroyed, they would need to extract all usable information first.
He sighed and shook his head.
"I'll handle it. As for my teacher… pick a day and bury him beneath his original grave marker. And make sure no one finds out."
As he finished speaking, he gave Ebizō a long, meaningful look.
"If word gets out…"
"It was Konoha!" Ebizō said solemnly. "I'll say it was Orochimaru, the missing-nin from Konoha. That it was recovered from Konoha and entrusted to me."
"Then it's settled. And you two don't need to feel guilty. I spared him because he's still useful. As for revenge…"
Rasa took a sip of cool tea.
"Let the Third handle it himself when the time comes."
"???"
Before Ebizō could ask—
"Forget it. Not worth discussing." Rasa shook his head and seemed to recall something. He looked at Ebizō again. "That package I asked you to send to Konoha—is it delivered?"
"To Shimura Danzō, you mean?"
Though he was still wondering what Rasa meant by let the Third take care of it himself, since the Kazekage didn't want to continue the topic, Ebizō let it go.
Sasori's survival was already an immense favor from him.
What more could they ask for?
He nodded. "I had it delivered the day after the Nine-Tails Attack."
Still…
Why were they sending gifts to a ninja from Konoha?
He still didn't understand.
...
Meanwhile…
"Another gift from that Kazekage?"
Danzō frowned slightly at the massive glass sculpture that had been delivered by Root earlier that morning.
It was dashing, distinguished, composed. It didn't capture every detail—but still…
"It seems the Kazekage of Sunagakure really gets me."
He felt strangely touched.
This thing wasn't worth much, not really—but it had come from one of the Five Kage. And more importantly…
"Hiruzen doesn't have one. Hehe~"
Danzō's lips curled into a rare satisfied smile.
He still didn't know why the Kazekage had sent it, nor what was up with that odd letter from before inviting him to "get rich together." None of it made sense.
But the feeling…
Was just right.
"…Huh? What's this?"
Danzō noticed something strange at the base of the statue—a button-like device. He paused, curiosity flickering, and reached out—
Then thought better of it. He turned to the Root operative beside him.
"You. Press it."
"Yes, sir."
The Root ninja stood up, walked to the statue, hesitated briefly, and pressed it.
At once—
Before the stunned eyes of everyone present, the statue emitted a pulse of pitch-black light.
And then… a voice.
A voice filled with a weariness, sorrow, and solitude the world could never truly understand—
"Everything I do is… for Konoha!"