After the report, the Fourth Kazekage decided to meet this newly appointed Eighteen Seats member—Toda.
In the past, the Kazekage would never meet someone of this status. First, it was unnecessary and a waste of time. Second, the gap in status was too vast, which would be undignified.
However, at this moment when Rasa was desperately craving power, he still decided to meet this insignificant figure Toda.
In the Kazekage's office, Toda walked to the Kazekage's desk with his head lowered and a humble expression, carefully offering his greetings.
"Good morning, honorable Lord Kazekage."
Across the desk, Rasa nodded slightly and responded with an expressionless "hmm."
"What business do you have, Mr. Toda?"
Hearing this, Toda bowed even deeper, and a flash of ruthless light passed through his deeply lowered eyes.
"Lord Kazekage, the current Lord Kaza is an impostor!"
As soon as the words fell, Rasa and Maki, who was standing beside him, both twitched at the corners of their eyes.
Before they could voice their doubts, Toda continued:
"Lord Kazekage, you should know that before I took the Eighteen Seats position, I was Lord Kaza's assistant for three years. Without boasting, I'm definitely among those who understand him best. But recently, I've discovered serious problems with his behavior."
"What problems?" Rasa interjected.
Faced with Rasa's question, Toda didn't choose to answer directly, but instead asked back:
"Lord Kazekage, please forgive me for addressing this question later. I have a doubt I hope you can clarify."
After speaking, Toda pondered for a moment before slowly continuing:
"May I ask if that Lord Kaza just now sought an audience with you, Lord Kazekage, just like me? If so, did he promise you Yōhei'sEighteen Seats position, saying that as long as you secretly act to remove Yōhei, you could have that seat?"
Hearing this, Rasa's eyes narrowed slightly, and the confident smile at the corner of his mouth slowly disappeared.
"Oh? This is your reason for judging that Kaza has been replaced?"
"It's only part of it," Toda nodded.
"If I'm not mistaken, Lord Kaza has already used this method to trade three seats to you before. In my view, Lord Kaza wouldn't use the same method twice. Moreover, you've seen it yourself: over the past half year, the Eighteen Seats meetings have been held three times, and none have passed the newspaper proposal. Do you think Lord Kaza is the type of person who drags things out and can't get things done? Combined with some changes in behavioral details, I can confirm this Lord Kaza is definitely fake."
After hearing these words, Rasa didn't speak, only quietly observing this outwardly humble man before him.
After quite a while, Rasa finally asked in a deep voice:
"You're very loyal to Kaza, aren't you?!"
Hearing this, Toda's body trembled violently, and he hurriedly raised his head, stammering with a stiff expression:
"Lord Kazekage, I... I..."
Faced with Toda's stuttering inability to speak, Rasa waved his hand dismissively with little interest:
"Alright, I understand this matter. You may go."
Faced with Rasa's command, Toda nodded with both helplessness and disappointment, still humbly walking out of the room.
Leaving the Kazekage building, Toda couldn't help but look back at this spittoon-shaped Kazekage building, a trace of mockery flashing in the depths of his pupils.
He understood his situation very well. Although he was one of the Eighteen Seats, in front of these high-ranking officials, he was really no different from an ordinary civilian.
So to get revenge, he had to rely on the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's power.
Most importantly, he didn't want to hide his reverence for Lord Kaza.
Any superior might not value their subordinates' abilities, but they definitely valued loyalty.
His purpose of demonstrating ability and showing loyalty this time had been achieved.
Thinking of this, Toda walked toward the Municipal Department without looking back.
In the Kazekage's office, Rasa stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window, his thoughts racing.
If this Kaza was fake, then some things could be explained: why he gave him such a strange feeling.
The previous Kaza appeared humble on the surface but always gave him a sense of being at ease, like... like a fierce tiger hiding in the shadows.
But this morning's version appeared humble on the surface too, but lacked that vague sense of oppression, always making one feel like he was a fox.
As Rasa pondered, Maki behind him suddenly spoke hesitantly:
"Fourth-sama, this Toda isn't trustworthy."
Hearing this, Rasa slightly turned his head, glancing at Maki with some confusion, and asked back:
"What makes you say that?"
"Uh..." Maki frowned and pondered for a moment before saying thoughtfully:
"Fourth-sama, the people from the Municipal Department... uh... how should I put it? They give me a very strange feeling. Their way of speaking, acting, and their temperament are completely different categories from us. Perhaps in their eyes, money is everything, and ninjas like me are no different from tools. I can sense that what they revere and respect is simply intelligence and cunning. Uh... these people lack respect for the strong."
There was another sentence Maki didn't dare say aloud. He believed that the Eighteen Seats people very likely didn't take even the Fourth Kazekage seriously at all.
Hearing Maki's words, Rasa, looking out the window, immediately pulled his lips into a mocking smile.
Having been Kazekage for a long time, he had gradually come to understand.
The reason these people could be so unscrupulous was simply that they exploited the rules. In peacetime, the default rule was not to openly attack the village and comrades. These people were parasites who hid under this universal rule and feasted greedily.
However, Rasa didn't care. He was the Kazekage—both momentum and time were on his side.
As long as he had money, he could cultivate his own forces and gradually sweep away all these old fossils.
Thinking of this, Rasa spoke:
"Don't mind it. As long as they're people of Hidden Sand Village, they're under my jurisdiction! Toda has some cleverness. With our current shortage of personnel, he can be used as one of our peripheral people. By the way, Maki, what do you think about Kaza being replaced?"
"Fourth-sama, regarding this point, I think that Toda makes sense. Three Eighteen Seats meetings unable to decide on one proposal—this dragging style indeed doesn't seem like Kaza's way of doing things."
Hearing this, Rasa nodded.
Kaza was fake, and the fake wasn't as capable as the real one.
So the question was: did this count as his opportunity?!
Yes!
As long as Kaza was fake, then the five-year agreement he had made with Kaza in front of the village's high-ranking officials and the Kazekage clan leader could be voided!
This meant he could act again and reclaim power into his own hands.
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