"Take a look—this is the new type of glass developed by our Sunagakure research department. It's not only clearer and sturdier, but also capable of blocking ultraviolet rays from sunlight. You don't know what ultraviolet is? It's a kind of invisible light just beyond the violet end of the sunlight spectrum, the kind that can make silver bromide photographic film react... Forget it, you probably won't get it either. Just know it's a type of light that, with prolonged exposure, can damage your skin. This new glass can block that. Once production ramps up, it'll be used in all Grand Sail Hotel suite windows."
"And this ceramic… see it? Smooth and delicate to the touch, but just like the glass, incredibly durable. Its load-bearing capacity is vastly improved. I believe President Danzō has enjoyed the bathtub in his suite, yes? That's right—made from this very ceramic. Even the toilet is made with it now—sturdier, ergonomically designed, less prone to cracking."
Rasa was enthusiastically knocking on the glass and ceramics as if he were pitching merchandise.
"If we turn it into floor tiles, they're not only glossy and bright, but also non-slip and resistant to damage."
He glanced at the Iwagakure delegation, who'd gone from furrowed-brow seriousness, to surprise, and finally to yawning boredom.
Sunagakure's elite surveillance unit—the White Zetsu Squad—had gathered intel that these Iwa shinobi were very curious why Sunagakure had taken such interest in seemingly worthless ores from the Land of Earth.
So, in order not to reveal too much, Rasa had to reveal… a little more. Otherwise, that persistent bunch would just keep pushing.
Of course, whether this strategy worked or not would depend on Iwagakure's follow-up moves. Still, they probably wouldn't put too much stock in what a foreign village's leader said.
After all, caution, skepticism, and critical thinking were basic qualities of any shinobi.
Judging by the time, most of the tour was done. As for the more confidential areas… those were absolutely off-limits. No way he'd let them see those.
However—
Just as Rasa was starting to relax, thinking that as long as security was tightened and they kept out spies, everything would be fine...
"How much is the jacuzzi?"
Everyone froze, turning toward Danzō, who had suddenly and inexplicably asked about the jacuzzi's price.
What the hell is this old guy up to?
"I've tried it. Not bad," Danzō said.
Now a certified tycoon, Danzō had no intention of explaining himself under those surprised stares.
Expressionless as ever, he looked Rasa dead in the eye.
"I want one designed just like the suite's jacuzzi. How much would it cost?"
At that, the Iwa representative Akatsuchi's eyes lit up—he clearly thought of something.
Rasa, for his part, figured thanks to Danzō's little stunt, the rare-earth materials used in the jacuzzi would probably spike in price again after the contract ended.
But business was business—he wasn't going to turn it down.
That familiar salesman smile returned to his face. "President Danzō wants a set? That jacuzzi is one of Sunagakure's new product—pure indulgence, as I'm sure you've experienced. However, due to the complexity of its construction and the need for handcrafted tooling and customized sizing to ensure perfection and comfort, production is currently limited…"
"I plan to install one in my house in Konoha," Danzō interrupted, nodding and squinting at Rasa's sales pitch. He let out a cold snort. "Just give me the damn price. I don't care for this idle talk."
"President Danzō, you're a man of action!" Rasa was visibly impressed by his blunt confidence and got straight to the point. "Because of the difficulty in transport, the complexity of assembly, and the need for professional installation—plus a full one-year no-questions-asked replacement guarantee and five years of free maintenance—the price is…"
He raised one finger.
"Ten million."
"Arrange it!" Danzō waved his hand casually and said in a flat tone, "But I expect it installed as soon as I return to the village."
"..."
Danzō really was filthy rich.
He only had to bankroll Root.
Rasa, as Kazekage, had to fund an entire village!
Sighing quietly to himself, Rasa ignored the shocked looks from the other village representatives, who were clearly stunned by Danzō's boldness. Smiling, he said, "No problem. I'll have someone send the contract to your suite shortly."
He extended a hand in invitation.
"It's getting late. Let's head to dinner."
Unexpectedly landing a major sale put Rasa in a pretty good mood. As for whether Iwagakure would raise the prices on raw materials later—that was a problem for the future.
By now, night had fallen across the streets.
With the influx of tournament participants, Sunagakure had grown much livelier than before.
That was exactly why Rasa had placed solving the village's transportation issues second only to the North-South Water Diversion mega-project in terms of importance.
After all, the village was remote, surrounded by desert. Who would come if they didn't have a reason?
...
Nighttime.
Shops across the village lit up with activity. Open-air barbecue stalls were, as always, the most popular nighttime choice.
Knowing that this event would draw more people—and last longer than the previous one—Sunagakure had already coordinated food logistics with President Danzō back in early August.
So there had been no shortages or supply issues.
Meanwhile, the arcade was packed to the brim with players from all over. No one wanted to give up their spot—clearly trying to squeeze in a few more rounds while they still could.
"There are still too few arcade cabinet," Danzō said flatly as he glanced at the crowd outside the arcade. "With this many players coming to Sunagakure, the machines simply can't meet the demand."
"It's only for a few days," Rasa replied with a helpless smile. "If we bring in too many, once the guests leave, it'd be a loss."
"You could install a few in the suites," Danzō said, casually tossing out another idea. "Let the hotel offset the daily arcade rate from the room fee. Price it slightly higher than normal arcade tokens. They're easier to maintain too—less wear and tear. Once the tournament ends, you can collect them back. You won't lose much."
"..."
An esports suite too?!
Rasa stared at the still-expressionless Danzō, speechless. After a moment, he said sincerely, "I've learned something new today. You truly have a head for business, President Danzō."
"Hmph. It's just business," Danzō scoffed, curling his lip in disdain. "You think I wouldn't understand such simple things?"
"..."
To be honest, aside from being treacherous, power-hungry, greedy, manipulative, deceitful, and ruthlessly scheming…
Danzō really wasn't a bad guy.
At the very least, he was generous. If he liked something, he never haggled. Of course, if you didn't sell to him—he might just take it by force.
Rasa didn't bother reacting to Danzō's swaggering.
But just then, he spotted a sign in the distance—"God Tree BBQ." He paused for a moment.
He remembered Kana mentioning earlier that she'd been too busy lately to take care of her ancestor, so she planned to open a restaurant to give the old man something to do.
In the end… the two of them teamed up and opened this BBQ place as entertainment for her elderly ancestor.
But since Sunagakure didn't have much of a late-night food culture, word was they'd lost quite a bit of money.
Now though... business looked pretty good.
After a moment of hesitation, Rasa smiled.
"A new BBQ spot? Let's go check it out!"
Gotta help out the lonely old ancestor's business a bit~