Currently, Rasa is the Village's top combat power, an Elite Jōnin, and a member of the powerful faction.
He is tacitly acknowledged as the successor to the Fourth.
In contrast, Nohara Murashi and Fukushima Oka are just ordinary Jonin, having only been promoted in recent years. Although the three are the same age, there is no comparison in terms of strength, position, power, or military achievements.
But wanting to become the Kage... although it is decided by the higher-ups, public opinion cannot be completely ignored.
Moreover, a Village's Kage has to handle and involve themselves in a great many affairs... strength is only one aspect.
Additionally, coming from commoner Ninja backgrounds, Fukushima Oka and Murashi are better able to "mingle" with the grassroots, while Rasa is somewhat unpopular due to his personality.
Although, Fukushima Oka and the other don't truly threaten Rasa's status...
But this kind of public opinion and atmosphere, as it ferments over time, will still cause some impact.
Rasa himself cannot be unaware of this.
Sometimes, external words can influence hearts the most.
It depends on how Rasa himself chooses to handle it.
If he were a smart man, he wouldn't need to care about this at all.
Because the villagers' discussions about Fukushima Oka and Murashi were just laments that two more decent talents had appeared in the Village... they didn't mention the matter of the Kazekage.
The villagers don't care much about such things, nor do they have such foresight. No matter how much they praise these two, the reality is right in front of them; they still lack the qualifications to challenge Rasa.
But Yubi knows very well that with Rasa's character... he simply cannot ignore such "rumors and gossip."
He isn't that free and easy...
In Yubi's view, Pakura's death in the future was, at least in part, because the timing was sensitive; Pakura's prestige in the Village was rising, which somewhat threatened Rasa's "status."
Furthermore, after some contact with Rasa over the past few years, Yubi guessed that even if he wasn't narrow-minded... he wasn't that magnanimous either.
On another note, suddenly receiving a large amount of attention and enthusiasm from the villagers would also cause some changes in the mindsets of Murashi and Fukushima Oka, as well as the heads of their two families.
Unsurprisingly, the new funds provided by the Daimyo were ultimately invested into the military.
This undoubtedly also potentially increased the conflict between the commoners and the hierarchy.
Yubi was just waiting to see who would take the first wrong step.
But now... his mind wasn't on that.
It was on money!
Sasori's aid money... was all spent.
In less than two months, he was strapped for cash again.
Yubi's current desire for money was extraordinary.
...
"You're going out?"
One day, in the hospital office, Saori, a medical Jonin, looked at Yubi in front of her and asked in surprise.
"Internal hospital affairs are now on the right track, and the Ninja World is very 'calm' with not that many wounded. You are already more than familiar with the training of medical personnel and the usage of the new batch of tools. With you helping to manage things... there's no need for me to oversee it personally."
Yubi took a sip of water.
"What are you going to do?"
Saori felt alert.
She was also one of the researchers in the hospital's newly established department, and she knew very well the difficulties and situation of the current research progress.
Money!
Yubi choosing this time to leave the Village must be related to money.
"I'm going out for a while to travel the Ninja World and learn about the local medicinal herbs and diseases... Although a large part of our finished drugs are intended as resources for the battlefield, for the general public, they are equally non-negligible customers and a market," Yubi said dismissively.
"If you want to engage in some special actions, you'd better take precautions..."
Saori was no newcomer who was easily fooled; she had also grown up struggling on the battlefield... she warned him with hidden meaning.
The translated meaning was... whatever Yubi wanted to do, it was best not to involve Sunagakure, and even better not to expose his true identity.
"I understand."
Yubi nodded.
"While I'm away, don't stop the research. I will send money back in real-time... and remember to send the data to me via letter," Yubi said.
"You plan to use that excuse to apply to the Lord Kazekage for travel?"
Saori smiled.
"I'll still come back every once in a while; the intervals won't be too long, so there shouldn't be any problem... Besides, I'm doing this for the sake of the Village's medical capabilities, it's perfectly legitimate," Yubi replied.
"Yes, yes, my Lord Director, then I wish you a quick departure and a speedy return."
Knowing the truth, Saori didn't say more, just waved her hand and turned to leave.
"..."
Yubi.
Being strapped for cash can stymie even the greatest man.
That was his current situation.
Yubi had borrowed from almost everyone around him who could lend.
He even borrowed from Arai, Pakura... including his Ninja Academy homeroom teacher, Teacher Murayama.
It still wasn't enough.
The manpower for the research project didn't cost money.
After all, they were all from the same Village.
But purchasing medicinal herbs and wasting a large amount of drug costs for comparison during experiments... that was the reason money flowed like water.
Fortunately, Sunagakure had talents in this area. If it were some other Villages where he had to hire extra hands, his small capital would be even less sufficient for the trouble.
The Village didn't have any missions right now, so if he wanted to make money... Yubi's only way out was to look to the outside world.
He hadn't slept all last night, going through everything from burning and killing to looting and plundering in his head.
Finally, he thought of a solution.
Underground forces... the Exchange Shop.
The major financial backers behind this mysterious organization were none other than the Five Great Ninja Villages and the Daimyos of other countries.
His own name was also on the wanted list.
In the future, the Akatsuki Organization could rely on Kakuzu and others to earn 600 billion exploding tags for Konan, showing how lucrative this line of work is.
600 billion!
It wasn't 600 billion in money, but in exploding tags; if converted into money, it would be even more staggering.
So, Yubi decided... he was going out to work!
He had to work... not to mention the project couldn't move forward, he was currently up to his ears in debt.
The feeling of owing money wasn't pleasant either. Even though he was well-liked and no one was pressing him... no matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn't do something like scamming his friends and family.
He was truly forced into a corner, so he could only go out first and spend some time working like a beast of burden in the Ninja World.
Next, Yubi made simple arrangements for the work handover and went to see the Kazekage, using the excuse of traveling for the Village's medical construction.
The Kazekage didn't say much about it.
One must know that the flames of war in the Village had been extinguished for some time.
The Ninja World was now relatively stable, unlike in the past, so he granted Yubi's request to leave temporarily.
Before leaving the Village, Yubi met with Sasori, still at their secret base on the dunes outside the Village.
The true purpose of Yubi's departure naturally couldn't be hidden from Sasori...
However, Sasori would keep an eye on the conflicts about to "explode" within the Village and notify Yubi in real-time.
In case of any situation, even if Yubi wasn't there, Sasori could handle it.
Killing people... he was very good at that.
And so, after everything was properly arranged, Yubi set out once again.
Only this time, it wasn't for a mission or to rush to the battlefield... it was simply to go out and make some money.
Comparing them, it would be a lie to say Yubi didn't envy Orochimaru. After all, the man had been in the "workplace" for many years, with deep pockets and wide connections.
Moreover, he had the support of a high-level "financial backer" like Danzo... and Konoha itself was wealthy and powerful.
They really couldn't be compared...