In Sunagakure, at the Kazekage's tower, in the meeting room.
The room was silent. Although Shukaku had been sealed and the village's crisis was temporarily averted, it was clear that everyone was still lost in thought in the aftermath of the previous battle. The elders and advisors present were all old men who had not been on the battlefield or on missions for a long time, and had become somewhat distant and unfamiliar with combat. Their concept of battle was still stuck in the past struggles between Sunagakure and Konoha, and Konoha had never fought all the way to their village.
Seeing is believing. Now, Ryoho Kyohiko had completely stunned and awakened them. The current Sunagakure truly had no right to negotiate or haggle with Konoha…
Rasa stood at the very front, swept his gaze around, and then took the initiative to break the silence.
"After learning of our trouble, Konoha immediately dispatched Ryoho Kyohiko to provide support. Their attitude was indeed very sincere. Let's discuss it."
"First, the commission to seal Shukaku must be paid as agreed. Otherwise, we cannot answer to Konoha."
"Secondly…"
Rasa took a deep breath, and his somewhat wavering gaze quickly calmed down in a short time. His emotions settled.
"Regarding the matter of the Jinchuriki, how should it be arranged?"
Everyone looked at each other. The Jinchuriki… if it were an ordinary Jinchuriki, they would still dare to speak. But the current Jinchuriki was Rasa's daughter, Temari. How would they dare to comment recklessly? If they touched a sore spot, they would be the ones to suffer in the end. Several old men looked at each other, not daring to speak for a moment.
Rasa said calmly.
"It's fine. Don't worry about status. Speak freely."
"Well then, Kazekage-sama, this old one will speak bluntly."
"Please speak, Elder Naito."
Rasa nodded.
Elder Naito cleared his throat.
"Between us and Konoha, we had a conditional exchange back then, promising to send Temari to Konoha for school when she is five. Could we consider letting her go two years early to adapt to the environment?"
Everyone's eyes lit up. Brilliant! It was clearly not a good thing, but in Elder Naito's mouth, it was as if Sunagakure had gained a huge advantage, rather than sending a hostage to Konoha. They immediately had a line of thought.
"I agree with Elder Naito's opinion. Konoha promised to let our ninjas study at their school. Isn't it just right for the two matters to coincide?"
"What about the housing problem?"
"The issue of treatment, I think we need to negotiate with Konoha. We can't let our children suffer after going there."
Everyone was chattering and discussing animatedly.
Rasa pondered, and then his eyes gradually brightened. He had some ideas! Immediately, he cleared his throat.
"Elders, I have an idea. I don't know if it's feasible, so I'd like to ask for your advice."
"Kazekage-sama, please speak."
Elder Naito nodded lightly.
He still appreciated Rasa quite a bit. Although some things were done dishonorably, Sunagakure was in a perilous time of crisis, and it was Rasa who had supported the village and let it get through its most difficult period. If one had to say his ability was insufficient… that was only in comparison to Konoha's two new stars. In terms of strength, he was indeed outmatched. But how many in the shinobi world could compare to those two?
In fact, everyone's thoughts were about the same. The current Sunagakure really couldn't choose anyone better.
Rasa answered.
"My meaning is, we spend money to send a few outstanding children who are already in school to Konoha to receive education, to learn from Konoha's experience and philosophy…"
He explained his idea. How to make a speck of dust less conspicuous? Throw it into the dirt! Send a group of people first, and mixing Temari in among them would make it seem less strange.
Everyone looked at each other. This idea, they hesitated for a long time.
"Will Konoha agree?"
Rasa said.
"We can ask first. I think they will agree."
If Konoha really valued it that much, they wouldn't have proposed for Temari to go to the Konoha Ninja Academy in the first place.
Everyone exchanged a few glances. This method seems feasible? In terms of education, they admitted that Konoha was indeed stronger; there was almost no comparison between the two. If they could learn from Konoha's excellent and advanced experience, they might have to spend more money now, but in the future, it might bring great changes to Sunagakure.
"If Konoha agrees, it is indeed feasible. But it's best to choose those over 8 years old to avoid being brainwashed by Konoha's Will of Fire."
"Right!"
Everyone chattered, and gradually, the proposal was pieced together.
***
On the other side, Ryoho Kyohiko sat on a high place in Sunagakure, looking down at this village covered by yellow sand.
The village only had a few oases. But they were too small! The limited resources restricted the population development here, so Sunagakure's resident population was not large. Most were scattered in various parts of the Land of Wind. To change Sunagakure was by no means a matter of a single day. First, wind and sand prevention. Then changing the climate and environment…
Ryoho Kyohiko looked at this desert, his mind immediately thinking of countermeasures. This will all be our land in the future!
He opened the panel.
[You accepted Sunagakure's commission, subdued Shukaku and completed the sealing, and facilitated the early pledging of the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki with Sunagakure.]
[Reward: Puppet Creation (Grandmaster)]
This was the reward he got for defeating Shukaku. Better than nothing. Of course, compared to puppetry and Wind Style ninjutsu, this thing was more technologically advanced and was of no small use to both Konoha and Kyohiko. Especially—combined with the Chakra Armor, this thing might be of great use.
Ryoho Kyohiko lay on the edge of the earthen platform, his fingers tapping lightly.
"I wonder how Yazawa is doing."
Chakra Armor combined with puppets, who knows, it might allow for further improvement and iteration of the puppets. If he could really do it, another lifeline of Sunagakure would be in his hands.
A voice came from behind.
"What are you doing here?"
Ryoho Kyohiko turned his head. Temari. She had climbed up from under the earthen platform, covered in dust, but with no sign of crying at all.
He chuckled lightly.
"I'm looking at your village."
"What's there to see?"
Temari looked into the distance, her gaze filled with silence.
In just a few short hours, she seemed to have transformed from a lively child into an old woman with no interest in anything. But she was clearly still just a child. His own appearance had changed the destiny of Gaara and Temari. In the future, there might not be another "Gaara," but what Temari would become… would depend on them in Konoha.
According to the prompt just now, Rasa should have already passed the "early pledge" plan. That is to say, in the near future, Temari would go directly to Konoha to live. So, Ryoho Kyohiko had a little more patience, and said with a smile.
"Although this place is desolate, it is full of infinite possibilities."
"Huh?"
Temari's originally indifferent mood was immediately broken.
This endless desert is full of infinite possibilities? What a joke! She pouted.
"You say it nicely. Why don't you switch Konoha and Sunagakure?"
Ryoho Kyohiko answered confidently.
"If we switched, with my current ability, I could still make Sunagakure very strong."
Temari was silent. Although she was only two or three years old, many things were still unknown to her, and her understanding of ninjas was very superficial. But in today's battle, Rasa had fought for a long time without taking down Shukaku… A comparison was all it took to know how powerful Kyohiko was. With the other's ability, he could indeed easily change Sunagakure.
She leaped up and jumped to the edge of the earthen platform.
"He said I'm going to your village next. Is that right?"
"Yes."
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
Temari snorted, her cheeks puffing up.
"That's great. This way I can destroy things with impunity!"
Ryoho Kyohiko responded faintly.
"You might not have such a chance."
Temari was taken aback.
"Why?"
"Ha, go ask Shukaku."
After speaking, Ryoho Kyohiko picked her up. "Alright, let's go down. Little kids shouldn't run so high."
With a body flicker, he brought Temari down. At this time, Rasa came looking in a hurry. After seeing Kyohiko and Temari together, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. Good, she's alright!
Temari pouted.
"Seeing that I'm not dead, you must be overjoyed, right?"
After speaking, she turned and left. Rasa's mouth twitched, a little embarrassed.
Ryoho Kyohiko comforted with a smile.
"It's normal for children to be rebellious. Don't take it too seriously."
Rasa was stunned for a second, then looked at Kyohiko gloomily. Rebellious phase… whose rebellious phase is at less than 3 years old? And you, you're only about eight or nine years older than Temari! Of course, he only grumbled in his heart and didn't dare to say it out loud.
Rasa watched Temari's departing back, sighed silently, then squeezed out a smile.
"Kyohiko-kun, we have already discussed and reached a result. But there are some details, we hope to ask for Konoha's opinion."
"Then, at your office or?"
"Either is fine."
Rasa responded humbly.
As the Kage of a village, logically, even if Kyohiko was Konoha's Anbu captain, he should have taken the initiative to find Rasa, not the other way around. But the reality was, Kyohiko seemed polite, but it was actually Rasa who was in the subordinate position… he simply didn't dare to be assertive.
In a secluded room, Rasa presented the plan discussed by their Sunagakure to Kyohiko.
Ryoho Kyohiko glanced at it and immediately became thoughtful. Sunagakure… reacts quite quickly! Add a few more people to influence and support each other, making it difficult for Konoha to teach Temari with the "Will of Fire." A good idea. But they simply didn't know the power of Konoha's education, and his own future goals.
Ryoho Kyohiko thought for a moment and nodded lightly.
"I have to ask for the Hokage-sama's opinion, but I personally approve of your village's proposal. It's just that some details may still need to be negotiated."
"Understood."
Rasa breathed a sigh of relief.
Kyohiko's statement meant that these things were negotiable, and they could sit down and discuss them slowly. That was enough!
"Then, Temari…"
Ryoho Kyohiko answered.
"It depends on her personal wishes, whether she wants to go this time or next."
Then, he clapped his hands.
"Stop eavesdropping. Come in."
Outside, footsteps were heard. Temari walked in, her face indifferent.
"Boring."
Ryoho Kyohiko asked.
"Do you want to leave now, or stay in Sunagakure for a few more days?"
Temari looked at Rasa. A few seconds later, her eyes dimmed.
"Let's go now. I don't have much attachment to this village."
Ryoho Kyohiko looked at Rasa.
"Kazekage-sama, what do you think?"
Rasa nodded lightly.
"Alright."
"I will first send a message back to the village. After discussing the specific plan, I will take Temari back to Konoha. Please rest assured, our Konoha will definitely offer the best treatment."
"I believe you."
Rasa squeezed out a smile.
He looked at Temari, wanting to say goodbye, but Temari turned her head away, not making eye contact with him at all.
Ryoho Kyohiko wrote a letter and teleported it back to the village with the Flying Thunder God.
***
Tsunade sat in her office. Sensing the chakra fluctuation outside, she opened the door at the first moment. But the imagined Kyohiko did not appear. A trace of disappointment appeared in her eyes. But the next second, her attention was focused on the scroll on the ground.
She walked over and picked it up. After opening it and reading it, Tsunade let out a sigh of relief. Success. That's great! She let out a sigh of relief, then looked at the text handwritten by Kyohiko. After reading it, Tsunade's brows furrowed. Sunagakure students coming to Konoha Ninja Academy to study… She naturally knew Kyohiko's idea, but in this way, wasn't it directly letting spies in? How to screen and guarantee?
But she took it back into the room. Tsunade naturally understood Kyohiko's intention. Unification! Compared to money and the hidden danger of Sunagakure's future growth, Kyohiko cared more about ideological unity. Using things like the Will of Fire and spirit to assimilate the concepts of some people in Sunagakure. Combined with the deepening cooperation between Konoha and Sunagakure, the binding and union of the two villages would only become deeper and deeper. As long as Konoha remained strong, the superior power… Sunagakure would find it difficult to escape the shackles, and would become more and more assimilated in the future.
Feasible! The three old men's side, she could inform them later! Anyway—this matter couldn't be rushed, it still had to be dragged out for a while.
She thought for a moment, began to write a reply, and at the same time sent someone to inform Namikaze Minato. Such an important letter still had to be delivered by Minato personally.
***
Half a day later, at the gate of Sunagakure.
A woman was teary-eyed and reluctant to part.
"Please take good care of her."
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"I will."
Rasa broke the silence.
"That matter, please give it more attention in your village."
Tsunade's response was similar to Kyohiko's, just a bit more official. The meaning was "it's possible, but we still need to talk at present."
"Someone will come over to negotiate later. This is not a small matter. The specific charter still needs to be discussed in detail."
It was just that her attitude was more clear. They can come to Konoha to study!
After saying goodbye, Ryoho Kyohiko took Temari and rushed towards Kikyo Castle. In the desert outside, he quietly created a wood clone. Not long after, the wood clone disappeared with the Flying Thunder God.
***
"Kyohiko-kun, it seems the plan went smoothly!"
Ryoho Kyohiko went up to question him.
"Orochimaru-senpai, Big Sis should have asked you to look after things, right? How come in the end, I was the one fighting for my life?"
Orochimaru chuckled lightly.
"What you did, you call that fighting for your life? If I had gone up, that would have been fighting for my life!"
As he spoke, he took out a scroll.
"I intercepted that thing. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture him alive. Obito's ability is too strange, and he got away. But I did find out one piece of intelligence…"
"Obito's control over his ability is getting more and more mature."
Ryoho Kyohiko was not surprised. With Obito's character of becoming strange after encountering a major setback, plus the repeated provocations from Black Zetsu's group, it was not surprising that he had unlocked Kamui. With Madara and Black Zetsu's guidance, if Obito still couldn't master these eyes, he would be too much of a waste!
As for this White Zetsu's body…
"Senpai, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you."
"What idea?"
"To create a special chakra armor puppet based on this kind of cell."
"Huh?"
Orochimaru was puzzled.
When did Kyohiko start researching puppets again?