Rasa's words left everyone in the room a little taken aback.
Up until now, the general expectation was that Rasa would never drag Sunagakure into this war. His actions and orders over the past month had been focused on strengthening the village while the other nations were caught up in conflict. It was clear that Sunagakure's priority was to use this chaotic time to bolster itself, not engage in battle.
So, as Rasa spoke, everyone waited for an explanation.
"My reasoning is simple. In this world of ninjas, whether it's Iwagakure, Kirigakure, or Kumogakure, I believe with enough time, Sunagakure could surpass them. But Konoha... unfortunately, I don't see a future where we could ever surpass them, not even in ten, twenty, or fifty years."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed his words.
"Thus, from the village perspective, weakening Konoha is crucial. As Kazekage, I fully support any action that accomplishes that."
Ebizō nodded thoughtfully.
"Kazekage-sama has a point. Even without the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, we're still no match for Konoha. At best, we can only hope to strike when they're vulnerable."
Rasa's declaration had hit home. But there was still something lingering in the air.
"So, what do you mean by 'not agreeing too easily'?"
Pakura asked bluntly, her eyes narrowing as she addressed Rasa directly.
Rasa didn't seem bothered by her challenge. Either he didn't mind being questioned, or he was simply used to it.
"The primary goal remains strengthening the village. Sunagakure is a ninja village, but no matter how well-built it is, if it lacks powerful ninjas, it's of little use. This war, however, presents a good opportunity."
Pakura's brow furrowed.
"Are you suggesting we send the children to the frontlines?"
Rasa gave her a deadpan look.
"Do you really think I'm that reckless?"
Pakura fell silent, realizing she had asked a rather foolish question. Rasa then continued.
"A ninja's true strength can't come from training alone. They need real-world missions, actual combat. This is the best way to sharpen their abilities. Sunagakure has been lacking in this regard, but now, Iwagakure and Kumogakure have given us the perfect opening."
The others in the room began to understand his plan.
"My strategy is simple. I don't intend to wage an all-out war with Konoha. Instead, I want to provoke small skirmishes that will put pressure on them while also turning the battlefield into a training ground for our ninjas. We'll need to discuss the specifics of how to implement this."
The others exchanged looks, clearly considering Rasa's idea. But there was still a sense of caution.
"War is no trivial matter."
Chiyo spoke up coldly. Rasa nodded in acknowledgment.
"Of course, I understand that. But ninja work is dangerous by nature. And don't worry, we won't be entering the Land of Fire. We'll keep the fight to the Land of Rivers, avoiding direct large-scale conflict."
He looked around, meeting everyone's gaze.
"By rotating our ninjas into the field, we can give them experience while still minimizing the risks. They'll be able to take on missions and soak in the atmosphere of a battlefield, which will help them grow faster. If necessary, I, Pakura, and Michikawa can take turns overseeing the front lines."
The room grew quiet again as everyone processed the plan. Slowly, they nodded in agreement.
Rasa had thought the plan through carefully, and the others quickly agreed that it was a solid approach. After all, there was no better way for ninjas to grow rapidly than by stepping onto the battlefield and experiencing life and death firsthand.
However—
"Won't Iwagakure and Kumogakure object to this?"
Michikawa asked, his concern evident. Rasa scoffed at the question.
"The issue right now isn't whether they agree or not. The real issue lies with us—Sunagakure. If they want us to join the war and attack Konoha, simple diplomatic words won't be enough to make us comply!"
"???"
Rasa's words caught everyone off guard again.
Yashamaru, who was attending such a meeting for the first time, couldn't help but admire his brother-in-law. So, this is the presence of the Kazekage…
"Now, let's work together on a plan. If Sunagakure's ninjas are to fight alongside Iwagakure and Kumogakure in attacking Konoha, they'll need to offer something in return. I propose we demand ten times the standard ninja mercenary fee for our services."
The room fell into stunned silence. Even Baki hesitated, his forehead tense.
"Kazekage-sama… Is this really alright?"
"Of course it is."
Rasa replied with unwavering confidence.
He surveyed the room, leaning back in his chair with an air of authority before adding.
"Here's a solid justification for it: I'm the newly appointed Fourth Kazekage. My position isn't fully established yet, and the village still has internal strife. To convince the people in Sunagakure, we need something that will secure us enough leverage."
A wave of understanding washed over the room. Everyone began to see the logic behind his reasoning.
---
The discussion continued deep into the night as everyone brainstormed ways to fine-tune the plan to better align with Sunagakure's interests.
Given the substantial gains from their previous surprise attack on the Land of Fire, there was a palpable sense of optimism about the success of this new plan. By morning, they had finalized Sunagakure's second invasion of the Land of Fire, with the Land of Rivers chosen as the battlefield.
The battlefield was divided into three fronts:
First Front: The border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.
This was the most dangerous battlefield, where Rasa, Michikawa, and Pakura would lead Sunagakure's jonin in direct combat with Konoha's main forces.Second Front: Inside the Land of Rivers.
This area was much safer. Few Konoha ninjas would make it past the first front. Here, Sunagakure's ninjas would face off against Konoha's forces, using this front as the main testing ground for their skills in battle.Third Front: Inside the Land of Wind.
This area was completely safe. Newly graduated genin would handle simple escort missions here, offering them early exposure to the battlefield atmosphere.
With the plan solidified, Baki would be responsible for calculating the necessary materials and military expenses for Sunagakure's deployment. These costs would be presented to Iwagakure and Kumogakure as demands for their cooperation.
By dawn, the entire plan was finalized.
Following Rasa's instructions, Baki set off to convey Sunagakure's demands to Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
Once Baki left, the group, now fully confident in the plan they had crafted, exhaled in relief.
"Now, it's up to Iwagakure and Kumogakure's response."
Rasa nodded.
"Indeed. We'll act accordingly. After all, the ones in a rush now aren't us—it's Iwagakure and Kumogakure."
With the matters regarding Iwagakure and Kumogakure settled for the moment, the group shifted focus to another pressing issue. Pakura scanned the papers in front of her, then looked up, her expression serious as she asked.
"What's going on with Rōran? Something this important—shouldn't you, as Kazekage, have discussed it with us before making a decision?"