"What? Sensei went there?"
Rasa quickly broke free from Karura's embrace.
Also, the office lock needs to be upgraded—at least three locks, and the best quality.
"Rasa-sama, four days ago, after the Kazekage-sama left the village, he headed west for some distance. In that area, we found traces of residual iron sand. However, it was worn—Kazekage-sama may have fought someone there."
"Where is it? Take me there immediately."
"Yes, Rasa-sama."
"Karura, I'm leaving first."
"Mm. Be careful."
Rasa followed the Sand ninja and rushed toward the desert without stopping.
Two hours later...
Rasa stared at the endless stretch of yellow الرمال before him.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Funeral."
Massive waves of golden sand surged up from the desert, bringing with them objects buried beneath.
Rasa spotted fragments of iron sand.
And then—
"This is...?"
He looked at the puppet head before him, the red scorpion emblem on its neck unmistakable.
Other than that, there were no traces of anyone else.
Sensei's enemy was Sasori of the Red Sand?
Impossible. No one could defeat Sensei head-on. There had to be some misunderstanding.
Sasori... find Sasori, and everything would become clear.
Rasa put away the puppet head marked with the Red Sand Scorpion symbol and buried everything else beneath.
Some things were better known by as few people as possible.
As Rasa emerged from the desert, the Sand ninja who had followed him stepped forward.
"Rasa-sama, is there any sign of Kazekage-sama?"
"No. Sensei merely passed through here."
"Ah... the village elders are already preparing to go to war with Konoha. Without Kazekage-sama, what are we supposed to do?"
That single remark struck Rasa like a revelation.
That's right—Konoha. This was all Konoha's fault.
After returning to the Hidden Sand Village, Rasa immediately went to see Chiyo, who was already showing signs of age.
"Chiyo-sama."
"Rasa, what brings you here?"
"Chiyo-sama, do you know where your grandson Sasori is right now?"
"Sasori? He should be out on a mission. I haven't seen him for several days."
That settled it. Sasori of the Red Sand—it really was you.
Rasa clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
No... calm down.
Sensei once said that Chiyo's love for the village was no less than his own. This matter should have nothing to do with her. I can't weaken the Hidden Sand Village any further.
"Chiyo-sama, Sasori and Sensei seem to have been ambushed by Konoha ninja. Their whereabouts are currently unknown."
"What?! Who dares lay a hand on my grandson?!"
Chiyo shot to her feet, fury blazing.
"Konoha—Shimura Danzō."
Well, you've already taken enough blame—one more won't hurt.
"Shimura Danzō... Rasa, I want you to launch an attack on Konoha immediately. No problem?"
"Understood, Chiyo-sama. I'll begin preparations right away."
Blinded by concern for her grandson, Chiyo lost her composure.
But one man did not—
Ebizo, known as the brain of the Hidden Sand.
After Rasa left Chiyo's room, Ebizo sought him out.
The two moved to a secluded place.
Ebizo spoke first.
"Tell me—why did you lie to my sister and me?"
Seeing through his deception, Rasa dropped the act.
"Lying to traitors of the Hidden Sand—I see no problem with that. Besides, everything I did was for Chiyo-sama's sake."
"Bastard! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"In a desert west of the village, about two hours away—if you have time, Ebizo-sama, go see it for yourself. Only these two things were left at the scene."
Rasa tossed the damaged iron sand and the puppet head bearing Sasori's mark in front of him.
"This... this is..."
Ebizo's hands trembled.
Rasa might not recognize it, but as a puppet master, Ebizo instantly saw the truth—the wear on the iron sand came from needle-like projectiles launched by mechanisms. Combined with the emblem...
Sasori... why would you do this?!
"Ebizo-sama, do you believe me now?"
"Don't tell my sister. We will die on this battlefield."
"Ebizo-sama, Sasori is Sasori. You are you."
"Rasa, I'm begging you. My sister and I cannot become sinners of the Hidden Sand."
Ebizo dropped to his knees, pleading.
"Ebi—"
"Please!"
Tears streamed down his face.
His sister's grandson had killed the greatest Kazekage of the Hidden Sand. How could they, who loved the village so deeply, bear such a burden?
"Ebizo-sama... in this war, you will be at the front lines."
"Thank you."
...
Ebizo returned home.
He watched his sister busily working, assembling hidden weapons into puppets, checking whether the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets were properly maintained.
"Ah, Ebizo, where did you go? Why are you back so late? The food's gone cold—heat it up yourself."
"Ah, sister, I was busy with strategy matters. I'll eat in a bit—don't worry about me."
"Alright, make sure you heat it before eating."
Ebizo looked at his busy sister, tears gathering in his eyes once more.
Widowed young.
Lost her child in middle age.
And now her grandson had become a rogue ninja.
She could not endure another blow like this.
Rasa was right—deceiving her was for her own good.
Sister... let me atone for Sasori on this battlefield.
...
The next day...
The Hidden Sand Village officially declared war on Konoha.
The reason: Shimura Danzō had ambushed their Third Kazekage and Chiyo's grandson Sasori, leaving both missing.
"Danzō, what have you done this time? Haven't you caused enough trouble for Konoha already?!"
Mitokado Homura slammed an intelligence scroll down in front of Shimura Danzō.
"It wasn't me."
Danzō replied.
"You're still denying it? The Third Kazekage doesn't just disappear for no reason! The Hidden Sand has already declared war, and you're still hiding things!"
Homura continued angrily.
Utatane Koharu kept trying to calm him down.
Wait—wasn't I the one who used to be calmed down? Homura, did we swap roles or something?
"Homura, calm down."
"Danzō, Homura isn't angry because you're hiding things from us. It's because—you have a way to deal with the Third Kazekage, so why didn't you use it to kill the Third Tsuchikage or the Third Raikage? They're Konoha's greatest enemies right now! This was extremely poor judgment on your part."
Danzō's expression darkened.
If something never even happened, how am I supposed to explain it when none of you will listen?!
And even if I did have a method to deal with a Kage, my first target would definitely be Hiruzen.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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