"Lord Kazekage, it's Yubi."
In the Hidden Sand Village, the Third Kazekage had just returned to his residence to rest after finishing a day's work.
Someone had come to see him.
Sasori, acting as the Kage Guard, knocked on the door.
Arai had already stepped down, having resigned of his own accord.
"Yubi?"
The Kazekage perked up. "Let him in."
It was no longer normal office hours; for some reason, Yubi had come to discuss something with him at this late hour.
But regardless of what it was—he had to see him.
Now that the Village had money, the construction of the Medicine Factory was in full swing. For this purpose, the Village had specifically hired craftsmen from across the Land of Wind, as well as professionals from other small countries.
In short, once the factory was completed, the Village's industry could fully get on the right track.
It was operating at high speed.
One must know that after half a year of promotion and marketing, especially after Yubi personally led trade caravans to negotiate with other Villages, the income from medicine had been doubling continuously.
This included the Village itself, where many branch stores had been opened. Many merchants had also sensed the business opportunities and joined the Village's industrial chain.
The entire Hidden Sand Village was developing rapidly, having cast off its former desolation. Traveling merchants from other countries and Villages even flocked to the Hidden Sand Village to stock up on goods, greatly increasing the flow of people.
Of course, to avoid any incidents, the Hidden Sand Village remained quite strict in its vetting of people entering the Village.
Most were business partners they collaborated with.
Sasori pushed open the door and walked in with Yubi.
Having taken off his Kage robes, the Third Kazekage sat at the head of the bed in casual clothes.
"Yubi—you've worked hard during this time—cough cough cough cough—"
Looking at the boy who walked in, the Third smiled.
Whether it was the research and development of the medicines or their subsequent promotion in the Ninja World, Yubi deserved the greatest credit; this was undeniable.
Furthermore, Yubi was personally overseeing the construction of the factory now, which helped share a lot of his pressure.
After speaking, the Kazekage motioned for Yubi to take a seat, then suddenly began to cough.
"Lord Kazekage—you still need to pay more attention to your rest."
Yubi reminded him.
"It's nothing. Now is a critical time for the Village's development, and I cannot slack off—as the Kage, there is still much for me to do," the Third replied.
After finishing his sentence, he coughed a few more times.
Clearly, the Kazekage didn't feel anything abnormal with his body; he just thought he was a bit overworked recently.
"What is it?"
The Kazekage asked.
He knew that Yubi coming to see him so late must have something to do with the factory.
"I want to select a site within the Village to allocate another piece of land—to build an additional Branch Factory based on the original design of the main factory," Yubi said.
"A Branch Factory—"
The Third pondered for a moment.
"No problem—I'll discuss it with the others tomorrow and give you an answer."
He nodded slightly.
Judging by the current momentum of medicine sales, the productivity of a single factory was indeed not quite enough.
"There's one more thing—the issue of funds. Although we're recouping cash flow while investing in the factory's construction through the medicine business, a large portion of it still needs to be allocated to the renovation and expansion of the hospital, including purchasing large quantities of medicinal herbs as raw materials. What's left is the construction cost for the new factory, which has already nearly exhausted our income. If we want to build a Branch Factory, the money definitely won't be enough—so, I hope you, Lord Kazekage, will negotiate with the Daimyo."
Yubi said: "For the coming period, he can no longer take his cut of the medicine profits."
"Otherwise, we won't have the money to continue moving forward."
"
Hearing this, the Kazekage's expression froze.
At this moment, Sasori, who was standing to the side, brought two cups of tea to them.
The Kazekage reached out to take one and fell into silence.
He didn't answer immediately.
"Is it not possible?" Yubi sighed, seeing the Kazekage's reaction.
He then exchanged a glance with Sasori.
The Kazekage took a sip of tea and looked at Yubi. "If we want our industry to grow large, the Daimyo is indispensable—"
"Really?"
However, before he could finish his sentence, Yubi suddenly questioned him.
He wasn't that easy to fool.
"Hmm?"
""
This caused the Kazekage to show a hint of displeasure.
It was only because it was Yubi that he was willing to be patient and offer an explanation.
He hadn't expected this brat's words to carry a hint of defiance.
"Our industry is already self-sufficient—this is enough to prove that in terms of funding, we don't need the Daimyos Estate's help at all. The reason Lord Kazekage is unwilling to speak to the Daimyo is that the Daimyo is the nominal political representative of the Land of Wind—and you, as the Kage of the Hidden Sand Village, want to possess an extraordinary historical status and be praised by future generations of the Village and even the entire country. For that, you must have the Daimyos Estate's affirmation—only then will you be draped in glory and remembered by posterity—right?"
Yubi's gaze suddenly became a bit sharper, but his face still wore a smiling expression.
His words hit the nail on the head, directly exposing the true thoughts hidden in the Kazekage's heart.
As soon as these words were spoken, the temperature in the room dropped sharply, becoming as cold as an ice cellar.
"Yubi, I always thought you were very smart—I admired you, and I could even say I indulged you a bit."
The Kazekage's face darkened as he put down his teacup.
"But your value to the Village and your contributions are not capital you can use to question me! Whether or not to demand profits from the Daimyo is for me to decide as the Kage! Even if you are dissatisfied in your heart—you can only obey, do you understand?"
The Kazekage's eyes also became sharp, even revealing a sense of intimidation.
"Go. You are still young—I'll treat it as you being immature, but don't let there be a second time."
"Otherwise—"
The Kazekage stood up and issued an order to leave. "Sasori, take him out."
"Yes."
Sasori said indifferently.
"That really is your style, Lord Kazekage—completely self-centered."
From behind, Yubi's laughter could be heard.
"The time should be about right—"
Yubi teased.
Sasori nodded.
Hearing the sudden conversation between the two brats,
the Kazekage's heart skipped a beat.
In the next second, a wave of intense dizziness suddenly struck him.
This caused the Kazekage to realize something instantly.
In an instant, several rotating Iron Cones appeared around him.
"You two brats!!!"
The Kazekage was furious. Turning around, he stared at Sasori and Yubi with eyes nearly bursting with rage.
He never would have imagined that this pair of 'Twin Stars' of the Hidden Sand Village would actually harbor killing intent toward him, their Kage.
Swoosh!
"Ugh—"
Just as the Kazekage's Iron Sand was being mobilized, a droplet of blood-water shot through a gap at an even faster speed, aiming straight for his head.
The Kazekage forced his body to steady itself, and a mass of Iron Sand was about to gather to block it.
That streak of dark red, however, pierced through his face at an even higher speed.
With a clattering sound,
all the floating Iron Sand fell.
The Kazekage's body froze on the spot.
"Lord Kazekage, I am no longer the person I was back then—sparring with you over these years under your guidance has given me a very good understanding of your abilities—"
Yubi stood up from his seat and spoke slowly.
He bowed slightly to the Third Kazekage, whose life force was rapidly dissipating. "I'm sorry, but for the Hidden Sand Village to have a better tomorrow, you must—die."
After speaking, Yubi turned and left quite decisively.
He didn't look back at the Kazekage's stiff expression, which was full of ferocity and killing intent.
"The rest—is up to you."
Yubi whispered before walking out the door.
Sasori responded silently.
He looked at the Kazekage's deathly state, his eyes showing a hint of mockery and satisfaction.
"Letting you live until now was already quite generous—"
Sasori thought to himself.
Immediately after, he flicked out Chakra Threads from his hand toward the falling Kazekage.