Chapter 145: Storming Sand Village
Yasushi returned to Rain Village in a cheerful mood, heading directly to find Orochimaru.
The entertainment activity had concluded. Next came settling accounts with Sand Village.
The door opened. Orochimaru appeared before him with a gloomy expression.
Yasushi acted like he saw nothing, smiling cheerfully as he extended his hand in greeting.
"Yo, good morning, Lord Orochimaru."
"We're going on a mission together again."
"Hmph!" Orochimaru snorted coldly with extreme displeasure. "Becoming partners with you was truly my worst decision."
"You're so bored you volunteer for Tailed Beast capture missions."
"This frequent mission activity has seriously impacted my experimental progress."
Indeed, this research fanatic was the real Orochimaru!
Being proactive about completing missions—that didn't exist.
Obito's disguise was completely unconvincing!
"Hey, hey, isn't that simple?" Yasushi smiled and offered a suggestion. "This mission I can execute alone. Lord Orochimaru only needs to go through the motions."
"After leaving the village, Lord Orochimaru can return to Sound Village for experiments. After I capture the One-Tail, I'll notify Lord Orochimaru to reconvene."
"If that's the case, then it's acceptable."
Orochimaru wasn't surprised Yasushi knew about his Sound Village base. After slight hesitation, he agreed.
The two simply packed, then left Rain Village.
Once outside the village, they parted ways, each heading toward different destinations.
This time Yasushi acted alone, bringing no one.
Karin and her mother were currently learning jutsu with Hiruko. Haku was also too young—likewise receiving training from Hiruko.
The three Yashiro were hiding elsewhere with Rin, preventing Obito from finding her.
Such an important hostage as Rin couldn't be dragged around everywhere. If some accident occurred, Yasushi would lose a good dog.
Sand Village's territory was actually quite large—even larger than the Land of Fire. However, most of this land consisted of desert—barren soil that produced too little food to support large populations.
But beneath these deserts lay abundant treasure—for example, gold dust.
As the Land of Wind Daimyo continuously reduced shinobi numbers and village funding, Kazekage Rasa used Magnet Release to collect gold dust, bringing stability to the village.
This gold dust served as the village's funds—also Sand Village's capital for trading with other nations.
Rasa's ability to become Kazekage—even after he orchestrated Pakura's death with the village merely pretending ignorance—was inseparable from his control over the village's primary economic source.
But now, Sand Village had lost their money tree. They were currently arguing about who should be elected as the new Kazekage.
At the jonin council meeting, when the presiding elders raised the topic of selecting a new Kazekage, everyone immediately exploded.
"Select a Kazekage now? Aren't we rescuing Lord Rasa?"
Facing numerous jonin's confusion, the elders all sighed.
"This is unavoidable!"
"We're not unwilling to rescue him, but Konoha's conditions are too harsh! Our interception plan failed!"
"So let's follow Elder Ebizo's suggestion and select another Kazekage!"
Now everyone was shocked. One jonin slammed the table excitedly, face flushed red as he shouted:
"Too humiliating! We can't even rescue our own Kage! How will other villages view us?"
This statement immediately gained much support.
Rasa had considerable support for occupying the Kazekage position. Many called out:
"We can't just let this go! We must rescue Lord Kazekage!"
"How do we rescue him?" Rasa's opposition faction immediately shouted.
"Lady Chiyo and the others died in battle, proving this rogue shinobi called Uchiha Yasushi possesses tremendous strength. The price the village must pay to capture him is too great."
"Elder Ebizo sacrificed his life as rear guard precisely to prevent greater losses in the village. Otherwise, even if we rescue the Kazekage, other nations won't miss this golden opportunity."
"Forget others—take Onoki, that old bastard. He's been eyeing us covetously. If we're too weakened, he'll definitely be the first to pounce."
Rasa's supporters also knew the village's strength was weak. They hastily explained:
"We never said we'd definitely use force to complete Konoha's demands."
"We can negotiate with Konoha again, have them change conditions!"
"Konoha people have always been reasonable. As long as we ask nicely, the Third Hokage can be very benevolent!"
"At worst, we'll provide Konoha Village with more food and supplies. They're currently at war—they need these things most!"
"What? Send precious supplies to Konoha Village? Unacceptable!" Even the centrists disagreed now.
"Because of the war, all supply prices have skyrocketed. We barely have enough ourselves—how can we give to others?"
"Then we must exchange Lord Kazekage back!" The supporters came to persuade the centrists. "Lord Kazekage's Magnet Release can gather gold dust. Though we pay considerable resources now, once we get Lord Kazekage back, naturally we can recoup previous losses."
Centrists were fence-sitters by nature. Hearing this reasoning, they changed their tune:
"Indeed, besides Lord Kazekage, no one else in the village knows Magnet Release anymore!"
"Without Magnet Release to gather gold dust, the village lacks even daily maintenance funds."
"If possible, rescuing Rasa would be better."
Once this argument emerged, someone from the opposition immediately shouted:
"At such a time, you're still worried about money?"
"Shouldn't the Kazekage's most important qualities be strongest prowess and highest prestige?"
"Rasa never should have become Kazekage!"
"He should've been made a financial elder advisor, honestly staying in the rear, contributing funds to the village!"
"If Pakura were Kazekage now, with her Scorch Release, how could she be so easily captured alive by Konoha?"
"The shinobi world changes increasingly. Even Konoha might be destroyed now. Who knows when it'll be Sand Village's turn? We absolutely need sufficient martial strength!"
The group argued noisily, unable to reach consensus for ages.
While arguing intensely, suddenly violent explosions erupted outside.
Before they could exit to observe, alarm sounds blared. Immediately an ANBU appeared via Body Flicker, reporting:
"An Uchiha wearing Akatsuki organization clothing appeared outside. He destroyed the village gates, demanding we hand over the culprits who ambushed and intercepted him."
"If the village dares refuse, he'll level Sand Village today and seize our jinchuriki by force."