They advanced all the way forward, crushing everything in their path.
After the long war against Kirigakure, Sunagakure's ninja had already grown tired of battle.
But now, things were different.
With such a massive advantage, these Sunagakure ninja did not feel tired at all. Instead, their blood was boiling.
"Kill!"
"A mere Kusagakure dares provoke Sunagakure? They're courting death!"
"They've chosen their own path to destruction!"
"Destroy them!"
The ninja of Kusagakure could only retreat.
Again and again.
The leader of Kusagakure shouted furiously,
"Sunagakure, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Are you trying to start another shinobi world war?"
…
No one answered him.
Sunagakure's offensive continued.
In fact, it only grew fiercer.
…
…
"Kazekage-sama."
An intelligence ninja entered the Kazekage Building.
Rasa gave a slight nod.
"How is the situation?"
"Reporting to Kazekage-sama. Under Pakura-sama's command, our Sunagakure army has already gained an overwhelming advantage. Kusagakure cannot withstand us at all. They are even weaker than Kirigakure."
That was only natural.
No matter how badly Kirigakure had fallen, it was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Kusagakure was nothing more than a minor ninja village.
After so many years and so many great wars, Kirigakure had still maintained its title as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. That alone proved the difference between the Five Great Villages and small ninja villages.
The Uzumaki clan possessed a special bloodline and even had marriage ties with Konoha, yet they had never become one of the Five Great Villages.
Hanzo of the Salamander had been called a demigod of the shinobi world, yet even he had never led Amegakure into the ranks of the Five Great Villages.
Kusagakure was even less qualified.
It could not compare to Uzushiogakure or Amegakure.
"What about the reactions from the other ninja villages?"
"Aside from a few strange voices in some minor ninja villages, the other villages have said nothing. Even Konoha and Iwagakure, whose spheres of influence can reach Kusagakure, have remained silent."
Rasa nodded.
"In that case, continue the attack."
"Kusagakure must pay the price it deserves."
"Let everyone in the shinobi world know that Sunagakure repays every grudge and settles every debt!"
The ninja below nodded heavily.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
Rasa glanced out the window.
The current Sunagakure was already moving in a better and better direction.
Kirigakure was no longer its opponent.
Minor ninja villages were even less worth mentioning.
Even Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure would not find it easy to threaten Sunagakure now.
Inside Akatsuki, which had yet to truly grow strong, he had already planted a chess piece in advance.
Once the Sun Disk was completed, Sunagakure's strength would only continue to rise.
"But it's still not enough."
Rasa raised his head and looked into the sky.
It was already evening. The faint shape of the moon hid behind the clouds.
"Leaving Kaguya Otsutsuki aside, there are still other Otsutsuki from beyond the heavens."
"Only an Otsutsuki can contend with an Otsutsuki."
The next day, a piece of intelligence was delivered into Rasa's hands.
It was not about the front line.
It was about Konoha.
Regarding the incident with Nohara Rin, Konoha had placed the entire matter on the Uchiha.
The whole sequence of events was described clearly, from beginning to end.
Including the Uchiha's motive.
The specific Uchiha members who carried it out.
What genjutsu the Uchiha had used to control Kirigakure's ANBU ninja.
Why they had chosen that particular ninja squad.
Names, time, place…
Everything was explained in perfect detail.
It was as if someone who had personally experienced and witnessed the entire incident had confessed everything they knew.
No.
Even a recording device might not have captured it this clearly.
Investigator—Shimura Danzo.
Rasa raised an eyebrow.
"As expected of Konoha. As expected of Danzo."
"When they fabricate something, they really make it look true."
"If I didn't know this was Uchiha Madara's plan, even I might have believed it."
"Looks like that forged suicide note of mine worked?"
"Otherwise, Danzo would have no need to fabricate anything."
Danzo did not care about pressure from the outside world.
The only thing that could make Danzo act like this was pressure from within.
"But that forged suicide note seems to have had poor luck. It didn't spread widely. Someone suppressed it. Otherwise, it should have brought me quite a lot of points."
"Someone who can pressure Danzo and suppress the forged suicide note…"
"That person has to be one of Konoha's higher-ups."
"And not just any higher-up."
"It must be someone at the very top."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi…"
Rasa's eyes narrowed slightly.
"But fortunately, Uchiha Obito has been working hard enough. He has brought me a large number of points."
"I've already reached three thousand."
"That means I can do another small guaranteed draw."
"As for the remaining one thousand, I can start with the Uchiha clan. After all, Danzo pushed the entire matter of Nohara Rin onto them. They're bound to be dissatisfied."
With a thought from Rasa—
An invisible roulette wheel began spinning.
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an F-rank item: One tael of gold.]
…
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a C-rank item: Single-Person Ambition Expansion Card (Kirigakure Jonin Edition).]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a C-rank item: One-Day Loyalty Visualization Card.]
…
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an A-rank item: Summoning Beast Summon Card (Powerful Endurance Type).]
Rasa's eyes lit up.
This draw had produced two brand-new items at once.
[Single-Person Ambition Expansion Card]
[Six random ninja options will appear. The Host may select one of them and use this card. After use, that ninja's ambition will expand to an extreme degree.]
[One-Day Loyalty Visualization Card]
[After use, the Host will gain twelve hours of loyalty visualization. All individuals within the Host's field of vision will have their loyalty toward the Host displayed numerically.]
Rasa quickly analyzed them.
"This Single-Person Ambition Expansion Card is clearly something used to stir up trouble."
"It can inflate a ninja's ambition."
"If it were used on Danzo, he would probably draw up a plan to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi and replace him immediately."
"Unfortunately, this card is limited to Kirigakure."
"It can only be used on Kirigakure ninja."
"But that's fine. With my understanding of Kirigakure, and considering the relationship between Kirigakure and Sunagakure, using this card will definitely have value. It will benefit Sunagakure."
"As for the One-Day Loyalty Visualization Card, it's somewhat similar to the Inner Voice Card from before."
"But there are differences."
"With the Inner Voice Card, if the other person doesn't speak in their heart, I hear nothing."
"But with the Loyalty Card, regardless of whether the other person is thinking anything or not, I can see their loyalty. The downside is that I won't know the specific contents of their thoughts."
"Each has its own strengths. Both are good items."
Rasa's gaze shifted to the third reward, and his brow furrowed slightly.
"But what exactly does this powerful endurance-type summoning beast mean?"