[Sun Disc]
[—Capable of efficiently gathering solar energy across a wide range and converting it into stored internal power.]
With a thought, Rasa took out the blueprint.
Compared to the single line of information that had flooded his mind, the contents of the blueprint were far more detailed.
"The Sun Disc… it looks like the one from Shurima, but not quite."
"The appearance is similar."
"It's divided into three modules."
"One is the absorption module. Its solar energy absorption efficiency is incredibly high."
"One is the storage module. It can store enormous amounts of energy."
"And the third is an automatic defense module. Once anything not recognized as friendly enters its range, the module will automatically launch a powerful strike against the intruder, powered by the storage module."
"As for identifying allies, their aura has to be entered into the automatic defense module."
A smile appeared on Rasa's face.
"This is good. Very good."
What did Sunagakure lack?
Sunagakure lacked everything.
And what did it have the most of?
Sand. Wind. And scorching sunlight.
The Sun Disc could absorb solar energy and convert it into stored power. In other words, it could turn something that was useless—or even harmful—to Sunagakure into a usable resource.
And those reserves of energy could be used for a great many things.
For example, charging special ninja tools.
Or obtaining water.
What Sunagakure lacked most was water.
If these energies could be used to produce water, then Sunagakure's environment could be improved tremendously.
With water, the land could become fertile.
Once the land became fertile, crops could be planted, livestock could be raised.
And once the people of Sunagakure began to live better lives, the probability of talented shinobi appearing would increase. Sunagakure's overall strength would rise with it.
Of course, by "talented shinobi," he did not mean people like Naruto, Sasuke, or Uchiha Itachi.
Those were too dependent on bloodline.
He meant shinobi like Yashamaru and Baki.
If Sand Soldiers Manifestation and Quicksand Shift had qualitatively changed Rasa's personal strength—
Then this blueprint for the Sun Disc had the potential to bring about a qualitative transformation for all of Sunagakure.
But then, Rasa frowned.
According to the notes on the blueprint, constructing the Sun Disc would require an enormous amount of resources.
Some of the rare metals involved did not even exist in Sunagakure.
"With Sunagakure's current situation, even if we pour every last resource into it, we could probably only build one."
"And with the war still ongoing, we don't have the conditions to start constructing it anyway."
Rasa turned his attention to the other rewards.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere Technique. Once I learn this, I'll have fully mastered Danzo's Wind Release arsenal."
"And as for the One-Day Mind-Listening Card…"
He had already used one before.
After activating it, he had almost toured all of Sunagakure and identified a great many sleeper agents and spies.
That was the main reason why both Shirosha Kouichi's and Danzo's actions had ended in such disastrous failure.
"The One-Day Mind-Listening Card is extremely valuable."
"I've already cleaned out the inside of Sunagakure once."
"But once the Suna army regroups, if I use it on the front lines, I'll be able to identify all the hidden traitors and spies among our ranks. That would be a tremendous help to the village."
But before the Suna army had fully gathered—
An intelligence shinobi quickly ran toward him.
"Kazekage-sama."
"What is it?"
"There's unusual movement on Konoha's side."
"What kind of movement?"
"We don't know."
Rasa's thoughts stirred.
"Yata Crow!"
The Yata Crow flew down. With a light leap, Rasa landed on its back. Then the giant crow beat its wings and rose high into the sky, heading toward Konoha's position.
…
…
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A howl of utter agony rang out—so miserable it tore at the heart.
A masked figure stood there.
Two bodies lay on the ground.
One dead.
One still alive.
Around them stood a number of Kirigakure shinobi, laughing and grinning as though they had accomplished something great. That only made Uchiha Obito, who had just witnessed Nohara Rin's death, even more furious.
Obito could not accept it.
He had already died once, in a sense.
Crushed beneath the boulder.
Surrounded by Iwa shinobi.
With the Konoha team already gone.
At the time, what had comforted him was that at least Kakashi and Rin were still alive.
He had saved Rin.
He had even given one of his eyes to Kakashi.
Kakashi would live on carrying his share as well.
Even if Rin eventually married Kakashi, he thought… then at least he would have no regrets.
But then—
He had survived.
He had been saved.
And after recovering enough to move on his own, the very first thing he wanted to do was return to Konoha.
He wanted to see Kakashi.
He wanted to see Rin.
He wanted to stand beside them again and fight for Konoha.
He wanted to see the joy on their faces when they realized he was still alive.
He wanted to defeat Iwagakure and become a hero of Konoha.
He wanted to become Hokage in the future.
To marry Rin.
To stay friends with Kakashi for the rest of his life.
But Obito had never imagined that the very first thing he would see upon returning…
would be this.
The moment Rin and Kakashi entered his line of sight, he had been overwhelmed with joy.
But before he could even call out their names—
He saw Rin lunge toward Kakashi.
And in Kakashi's hand was a kunai.
Rin drove her own body into that blade.
It pierced a vital point.
Her chin dropped weakly onto Kakashi's shoulder as she forced out a tragic, miserable smile. Blood dripped down, drop by drop.
In that instant, Obito's eyes went red.
He had rushed back, full of hope and excitement—
Only to see this as the very first thing before his eyes.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why?"
Obito roared in fury.
He couldn't understand why fate would toy with him like this.
Why let him survive—
Only to force him to witness this?
If Rin was gone, then what meaning was there in his life at all?
He glared at those Kirigakure shinobi, unable to understand why Kirigakure—Konoha's ally, supposedly—would do something like this to Konoha.
"You all deserve to die!"
Obito's anger burned like wildfire.
"Die!"
A scarlet light rose in his eyes.
The pattern inside them grew more and more complex, more and more profound.
Under this violent emotional stimulus, his eyes leapt directly from two-tomoe Sharingan to Mangekyo.
The eyes Uchiha Yashiro had yearned for desperately, yet could never obtain.
"Puchi!"
"Puchi!"
"Puchi!"
In an instant, Obito's attack arrived.
The Kirigakure shinobi around him barely managed any meaningful resistance.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Obito moved closer to Rin's corpse, wanting one last look at her face.
"Rin!"
"Why?"
"If only I had come just a little faster!"