"Use!"
In the next instant, numerous names appeared out of thin air on the Verbal Clash Point Exchange Card.
Roshi.
Hozuki Mangetsu.
Sarutobi Asuma.
Killer B.
Chiyo.
Shimura Danzo.
Rasa's gaze landed on Shimura Danzo's name immediately.
For now, he had no real connection to Roshi, Hozuki Mangetsu, Sarutobi Asuma, or Killer B.
As for Chiyo, Rasa still needed her to fight for Sunagakure.
If he used a verbal clash against Chiyo, wouldn't that only reduce the chances of her returning to the battlefield for the village?
Only Danzo remained.
As one of Konoha's elders, he was Rasa's enemy beyond any doubt.
And not long ago, the two of them had just crossed hands.
More importantly, Rasa knew quite a lot about Danzo.
Some things, even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself did not know.
Rasa made his decision.
"I choose... Shimura Danzo!"
At once, all the other names vanished. Danzo's name sank into the Verbal Clash Point Exchange Card, and the card itself became a streak of light.
It disappeared in a flash.
When it appeared again, it was already in Konoha.
Danzo was currently lying on a bed in the medical department, recovering from surgery.
Suddenly—
that streak of light entered his body.
Yet neither Danzo nor the medical ninja attending him could see it.
On the way back to his residence, Rasa pondered how exactly he should engage Danzo in a verbal clash.
Cursing at him face-to-face was obviously impossible.
Of the six candidates, aside from Chiyo, face-to-face verbal sparring with any of them was unrealistic.
"Lord Husband."
The moment he pushed open the door, Karura came forward to greet him.
It was easy to see that compared to before, her complexion had improved dramatically.
Now that Temari and Kankuro were sent to Yashamaru's place during the day, Karura had much more free time. After finishing the household chores, she even had time left for recovery training as a shinobi.
Judging by the look of her, she had only recently finished training.
"Where are Temari and Kankuro?"
"Yashamaru hasn't brought them back yet."
Rasa nodded and said with a smile, "Looks like I made the right decision. This way they have playmates, they won't be bored, and they can learn things too. And you won't be as exhausted, Karura."
"It really is much easier," Karura said.
Then she hesitated for a moment.
"But... Lord Husband, isn't it a little too early for Temari and Kankuro to start shinobi training already?"
Rasa replied, "Yashamaru knows his limits."
"I've checked on them a few times before. His arrangements are quite good. There's no issue of overtraining."
"And the atmosphere there is developing in exactly the direction I wanted."
"In the future, those children will all become Temari and Kankuro's capable subordinates."
Then Rasa seemed to think of something.
"By the way, Karura, has Yashamaru complained to you about anything?"
Karura shook her head.
"No. Lord Husband, did something happen with him?"
Rasa smiled faintly.
"Yashamaru has applied to me more than once to go to the front lines. He probably thinks the work I gave him now is too boring."
"But in truth, this work suits him."
"In this role, he can contribute even more to the village."
Near dusk, Yashamaru returned with Temari and Kankuro.
"Father!"
Temari threw herself straight at Rasa.
She hugged his leg tightly and looked up at him with shining eyes.
"Father, I got first place in the competition today!"
"Well done."
Rasa smiled and rubbed her head.
Then he took out a packet of candy and handed it to her.
"Thank you, Father!"
Temari hurriedly opened it, took one piece, and popped it into her mouth. Sweetness spread instantly, and her eyes narrowed in delight.
A tiny figure beside her tugged at her clothes.
Temari glanced at Kankuro, rummaged around in the bag for a moment, and then stuffed a small piece into his mouth too.
Yashamaru stepped forward and gave Rasa his report.
A small group centered around Temari had basically taken shape.
Yashamaru's guidance had been one factor.
But more importantly, Temari herself had performed very well.
She had a strong personality. Within just a few days of arriving, she had beaten every child around her—some even older than she was.
Except for Uchiha Izumi, none of them were stronger than Temari.
Izumi was older after all, and her own talent was not weak either.
But she understood how to advance and how to retreat. She would never fight Temari for the position of leader.
First, because Izumi had been soft-natured from birth.
Second, because she knew her own circumstances.
She was Sunagakure's prisoner.
A girl whose village no longer existed.
If she wanted Sunagakure's recognition—if she truly wanted to become part of Sunagakure—then she had to be sensible.
Only then could she survive.
Only then would things be better for both herself and her aunt, Uchiha Hanazuki.
Rasa was quite satisfied with Temari's performance.
These children had all been carefully selected. Their talent was not poor, and as long as enough resources were invested into them, and as long as they grew up in an ambitious environment, they would not turn out weak in the future.
The only thing he found less satisfying... was Temari's talent itself.
She had failed to inherit Magnet Release.
The only thing she truly had going for her was a set of Wind Release affinity.
But Wind Release alone was not enough.
Especially Sunagakure's current Wind Release.
Then Rasa suddenly thought of something.
Namely, the Wind Release scrolls he had obtained through the lottery.
"At this rate, collecting all of Danzo's Wind Release techniques through the draw system shouldn't be difficult."
"When the time is right, I can bring them out."
"With those techniques added as supplements, the strength of Sunagakure's Wind Release ninja can rise to another level."
For a shinobi, obtaining a truly powerful jutsu could bring a qualitative change in strength.
Just like Rasa himself.
A single Sand Soldier.
A single Quicksand Shift.
Those two techniques alone had increased his combat strength by an unknown amount.
But even acquiring techniques that were not quite so overwhelming could still improve one's ability.
The more jutsu a ninja knew, the harder it was for an opponent to guard against them.
Not long after dinner, Temari and Kankuro both fell asleep.
Rasa had just bathed and entered the room when he saw Karura looking at him, her cheeks flushed red.
"Lord Husband..."
Rasa lay down. A warm body quickly pressed close to him.
Outside, the wind blew. Something struck the ground with soft pattering sounds.
Some time later, Karura drifted into deep sleep.
Rasa, however, remained half-reclined against the headboard.
"Making Danzo's emotions fluctuate is actually simple."
"As long as I spread the truth of how his latest plan failed, Danzo will absolutely be provoked once he learns of it."
"But what should I use as the medium?"
"A card isn't big enough."
"I need something larger."
"How about... starting a newspaper?"
"Besides news, it could also include a few interesting short stories to attract readers."
"It wouldn't just be useful this one time."
"It would also help spread rumors in the future."
The more Rasa thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.