Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 147 Rasa's Plan B

"That's impossible!"

"absurd!"

The entire delegation from the Land of Fire was in uproar.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting at the head of the table, fell silent at this moment.

Unlike the others, he didn't get emotional. Instead, he squinted slightly and slowly turned the pipe in his hand.

If we withdraw our troops first, what if the Sand Village turns on us?

Koharu Utatane, a member of the delegation, frowned and was about to object when Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to stop her.

"Alright! I can agree to this condition!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision surprised everyone.

The meeting room fell silent immediately.

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly, took a deep look at Rasa opposite him, and quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, the previous Kazekage had disappeared, and Rasa, the fourth Kazekage, had just succeeded to the throne with an unstable foundation. Furthermore, the Sand Village had suffered heavy losses due to the invasion of the Land of Lightning and the disastrous defeat in the Kirigakure War.

Today, Sunagakure has plummeted in both military strength and morale, and has completely lost the ability to pose a threat to Konoha.

Moreover, Konoha is currently facing pressure from both Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Although Kumogakure and Iwagakure are also locked in fierce battles, they are always eyeing Konoha and constantly making small moves.

If the troops stationed on the border of the Land of Rivers could be redeployed to the battlefields defending the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, it would undoubtedly greatly alleviate the pressure on Konoha on two fronts.

However, in Rasa's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi's concession was a blatant humiliation!

This is not sincerity at all!

This is mercy! This is charity!

This was telling Rasa, and the entire Sunagakure village, that they were so weak that they didn't even have the right to make us wary. This intense sense of humiliation completely twisted Rasa's mindset.

At this moment, Luo Sha was like a gambler who had lost everything.

After the negotiations ended, Luo Sha returned to his post and made an extremely crazy decision.

He secretly sent his trusted confidants to contact Kirigakure, the village that had just defeated them on the battlefield, and expressed his desire to form an alliance.

When this secret letter reached the hands of the Kirigakure leadership, they almost burst out laughing.

"The Sand Village was just beaten to a pulp by us, and now they're shamelessly coming to us for an alliance? Do they really think the Mist Village is stupid?"

""

The higher-ups at Kirigakure certainly didn't believe Rasa's words.

Trying to form an alliance with empty promises? Dream on!

But they did not immediately refuse.

For the Blood Mist Village, if there is an opportunity to eliminate a major threat to the enemy country without bloodshed, why not take it?

So, Kirigakure wrote a letter back to Rasa.

The contents of the letter were very simple.

An alliance is possible, but Sunagakure must first demonstrate sufficient sincerity.

Hand over Pakura, the "Scorching Release" ninja who killed many Hidden Mist ninjas on the battlefield of the Land of Water, to us as a token of our "sincerity" in the peace talks!

Looking at the glaring conditions on the scroll, Rasa's breathing suddenly became rapid.

Instead of being angry that the village's heroes were being used as bargaining chips, a chilling smile gradually crept onto his lips.

The Land of Wind, Sunagakure Village.

Since being recalled to the front lines of the Land of Water, Yekura, a former scorching release user who had shone brightly on the battlefield, has not been living a happy life.

Although Luo Sha did not openly suppress her, the tasks he assigned her were either to clear out the roaming bandits on the border or to escort some unimportant logistical supplies.

Anyway, they were all tiring, tedious, and pointless peripheral tasks.

It's clear to anyone with eyes that this former hero of Sunagakure is being gradually marginalized.

Yekura did not complain about any of this.

After completing those tedious tasks and returning to the village, she would immediately devote her energy to guiding her disciples in their cultivation.

Watching her disciples grow day by day under her tutelage seemed to be the only way she could briefly forget the dirty political infighting and backstabbing in the village.

-

She naturally received news of the defeat at the front lines in Kirigakure and the massacre of thousands of her comrades by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Aside from feeling heartbroken and regretful for her fallen comrades in the dead of night, there was nothing she could do.

This is the fate of ninjas: as tools, they can only obey.

However, this calm did not last long.

That afternoon, Ye Cang had just completed a mission to wipe out sand bandits and returned to the village covered in sand.

She was instructing Maki in physical training when two masked members of the Sand Village's ANBU appeared without warning at the edge of the training ground.

"Jonin Yekura, the Kazekage-sama requests to see you."

The ANBU ninja's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

Yecang wiped the sweat from his forehead, his brows furrowing slightly.

Luo Sha is looking for her?

The two had not seen each other since they were recalled from the front lines.

She instinctively sensed something was wrong, but as a ninja from Sunagakure, obeying orders was an instinct ingrained in her bones.

"Juan, you continue practicing, I'll be back for a bit."

Ye Cang gave a brief instruction and then followed the Anbu toward the Kazekage Building.

Stepping into the Kazekage's office again, Yekura was somewhat surprised to see Rasa.

At this moment, Luo Sha sat dejectedly behind his desk, completely devoid of his former spirited and high-spirited demeanor.

His eyes were sunken and bloodshot, and a layer of bluish stubble had even grown on his chin. He looked extremely tired, as if he had aged ten years.

Seeing Yekura enter, Rasa waved his hand, signaling the Anbu to step back, and then pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Please sit down, Yekura."

Luo Sha's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Ye Cang didn't sit down, but just looked at him coldly: "Lord Kazekage, what mission do you have for me?"

Luo Sha gave a wry smile, slowly stood up, and even lowered his head slightly towards Ye Cang.

"Yakura, I'm sorry."

This apology completely stunned Yecang.

She never expected that Luo Sha, who was always arrogant and conceited, would apologize to her.

"I was wrong."

Rasa raised his head, his eyes filled with self-blame and regret. "I shouldn't have brought you back, and I shouldn't have sent that idiot Gravel to take your place. Because of my foolish decision, Sunagakure's strategy in the Land of Water has completely failed, and thousands of comrades have sacrificed themselves in vain."

"This is my dereliction of duty as the Kazekage, and I cannot shirk my responsibility."

Seeing Luo Sha's heartbroken expression, Ye Cang's heart began to soften slightly.

"What's the point of saying all this now? Our fallen comrades are gone forever."

Rasa took a deep breath and looked sincerely at Yekura: "I know that nothing I say now can undo my mistakes. But Yekura, Sunagakure is now at a critical juncture of life and death!"

"The eastward expansion plan has failed, the village's elite forces have suffered heavy losses, and morale is low. If Kirigakure were to engage in another war at this time, Sunagakure might truly be eliminated from the Five Great Shinobi Villages—"

Although Luo Sha did not finish speaking, Ye Cang already understood his meaning.

Although she was dissatisfied with the higher-ups, she deeply loved the village where she was born and raised.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Ye Cang asked, frowning.

Rasa stepped forward, his tone earnest: "Yakura, I hope you can put aside your personal grudges and help me, and help the village! After all, you grew up in Sunagakure, and this is your home too!"

Upon hearing the word "home," Yekura's gaze finally softened completely.

Yes, no matter how despicable the higher-ups are, Sunagakure is still her home. Her disciples are here, and it's where she grew up.

"Lord Kazekage, please assign me any tasks you have. I will not refuse for the sake of the village."

Yecang lowered his head slightly, indicating his attitude.

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Rasa's eyes, and then he solemnly said, "What Sunagakure needs most right now is to recuperate and buy time to develop. Currently, our alliance negotiations with Konoha have entered the final stage, and the establishment of an alliance is basically confirmed."

"However, relations with Kirigakure have reached a freezing point because of what happened before. We need to repair our relationship with Kirigakure to prevent them from retaliating against us at this time."

Rasa paused, looking into Pakura's eyes: "I hope you can serve as Sunagakure's special envoy, representing the village, and travel to Kirigakure for secret peace talks!"

"Go to Wuyin for peace talks?"

Ye Cang was stunned, his brows furrowed. "We just had a fierce conflict with them in the Land of Water, killing many of them. How could they possibly agree to peace talks?"

Luo Sha seemed to have anticipated Yekura's question and immediately explained, "You don't need to worry about that. I've already communicated with the higher-ups in Kirigakure through secret channels."

"The Hidden Mist Village also knows about the alliance between the Sand Village and the Leaf Village. Although they are ruthless, they are not stupid and would never dare to provoke two major powers at the same time. Moreover, the Hidden Mist Village has always implemented a policy of isolationism, so as long as others do not provoke them, they will not take the initiative to attack."

"Your visit this time is just a formality, to express our sincerity in coexisting peacefully with Sunagakure. As long as you represent the village, this matter can be resolved."

Looking at Luo Sha's "frank" gaze, Ye Cang felt a little uncomfortable, but for the sake of the village's overall situation, she finally nodded.

"Okay, I accept this task."

Stepping out of the Fengying Building, Ye Cang looked up at the blinding sun in the sky, let out a long sigh, and then turned to walk towards his residence.

After returning to her residence, Yekura began to quietly pack her belongings.

Kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, soldier pills—she carefully checked each ninja tool and put them into her ninja tool bag.

Just as she finished getting ready and was about to leave, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Yekura turned her head, and the light fell on a wooden lattice on the wall of the room.

There was an unassuming earthenware pot there.

She walked over, took the jar off, and opened the lid.

Inside lay a palm-sized, yellowish-brown sand lizard, the most common species in the desert of the Land of Wind.

As the box lid was opened, the sleeping sand lizard slowly awoke, its small, beady black eyes staring blankly at Yekura.