In Konoha, Tsunade met with Rasa again, a smile on her face.
"Kazekage, there's a collaboration I'd like to work on with you."
"What collaboration?"
Rasa couldn't help but be curious.
For the previous collaboration, he had already agreed in his heart and had secretly sent the Anbu back to the village to have an elder go and discuss it with the Daimyo. As long as the Daimyo gave his consent, he could give the mine to Konoha in exchange for this other direction of puppet technique. Tsunade, after all these years, surely knew his personality and also knew that a ninja village did not have the sole authority over resources. She probably didn't come for this.
Tsunade smiled.
"Both of our countries are coastal. Many nobles in the Land of Wind have merchant fleets sailing south. You must have quite a bit of friction with the Land of Water, right?"
Rasa glanced up, then was somewhat speechless. Isn't this asking the obvious? With Konoha's intelligence, how could they not know that Sunagakure and Kirigakure had been fighting for many years? Part of the reason for sending Pakura to her death back then was to ease the conflict with Kirigakure and form an alliance. However, this matter would certainly not be brought up again now.
He thought for a moment, figuring that Tsunade probably wouldn't be settling old scores. The so-called collaboration… Rasa's eyes suddenly lit up.
"You want to open a sea route?"
Tsunade asked in return.
"The Land of the Sea to the south has hired a group of ninjas from Kirigakure. You once wanted to contend for the interests around there, am I wrong?"
Rasa nodded.
"Mm."
"Actually, the position of the Land of the Sea will definitely be much stronger than the Land of Water's in the future. We should strike first and seize the territory!"
Tsunade's tone was firm.
Rasa's heart stirred. He looked at the map on the side, then was a little puzzled.
"Why does the Hokage believe the Land of the Sea has more potential?"
Tsunade smiled.
"Because on the Land of Water's side, there are many alternative footholds. It was just that before, only they were the safest. But a location like the Land of the Sea is one of a kind."
Rasa's gaze swept over, and then his expression immediately became serious. Indeed. The geographical location of the Land of the Sea, in the short term, was indeed not as good as the Land of Water. But in the long run… as the performance and speed of ships become stronger in the future, the Land of the Sea would become more and more popular. In comparison, the position of the Land of Water would become awkward. The islands over there were too dense; resources could be replenished anywhere.
He was tempted.
"An alliance between our two villages?"
"Yes. They can form a three-party alliance, so of course we can form a two-party alliance."
Tsunade nodded.
She sneered.
"Originally, our Konoha had always been allied with the Cloud Village, but they were always thinking of getting benefits from us. They even wanted to capture Kushina before…"
Speaking of which, Tsunade leaned back, the smile on her face slightly receding.
"So, their Killer Bee and Gyuki are now guests in our Konoha."
The Eight-Tails, Gyuki. Tsunade had mentioned this matter before. However, he really didn't know about Kushina being captured. So there were so many grudges between Konoha and the Cloud Village. No wonder they were so ruthless. This way, their Sunagakure was even safer. For a short time, they didn't have to worry about being replaced by Konoha.
Rasa secretly let out a sigh of relief, then thought for a long time. The Land of the Sea. He rubbed his brow.
"It's not easy to handle. The Land of the Sea is an official employment. Attacking the Kiri ninjas there is equivalent to attacking the Land of the Sea."
Tsunade was disappointed in him.
"Rasa, why are you so inflexible? Who told you to attack them?"
Rasa was puzzled.
"Then…"
"Attack the merchant ships! Isn't that what they're doing? Look, your Suna has a part in it too."
Tsunade threw a scroll to Rasa—this was the intelligence about raids related to the Land of Wind's merchant fleets that she had Kyohiko pick out.
After Rasa finished reading it, veins popped on his forehead. One or two incidents weren't conspicuous, but when put together, it was enough to make one's blood pressure rise. He took several deep breaths.
Tsunade smiled.
"Calm down. Our Konoha has more than you."
Rasa slammed the scroll on the table and snorted coldly.
"If they can do it, of course we can do it too."
He understood what Tsunade meant. This group of people could break the rules, so they didn't have to follow them either. However, listening to Tsunade's meaning… clearly, they weren't going to fight at home, but were going to fight outside. Rasa was also smart. He quickly understood the benefits of this. He wouldn't feel bad about smashing his own pots and pans. Who knows, it might even force some safety-conscious merchant fleets to take other trade routes. This gave them an opportunity.
For example—the shipping routes along the coast of the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. If they could cause trouble and make the Land of the Sea lose confidence in Kirigakure, that would be even better. When they were stationed in the Land of the Sea, they would get rid of the sea bandits… Rasa's eyes rolled. A business with huge profits and no losses!
Tsunade's tone was indifferent.
"We can't beat them in the north, so we'll fight in the south. Two of us against one Mist Village. Won't that be a piece of cake?"
The rules of war in the shinobi world were simple: either the many fight the few, or the strong bully the weak. In this southern area, compared to Kirigakure, they had more people and their two villages were stronger. They would definitely profit from a fight.
Thinking of this, Rasa's thoughts cleared up, and he suddenly felt the world was wide. Before, he had felt that he was bowing and scraping, the most disgraceful Kazekage in the history of Sunagakure. Now he felt—who knows, Sunagakure might even be able to expand! Can cooperating be called bowing and scraping?
He smiled.
"It's a deal!"
***
The intelligence was transmitted quickly.
In the south of the Land of Fire, several ships set sail. On one of the ships, a middle-aged man with an eye patch and a fierce aura sat on a chair, majestic and menacing.
"Kosuke-sama…"
"Hmm?"
The stout man glared at the other.
They immediately fell silent, then changed their words.
"Takisui-sama, this getup of yours, isn't it a bit too avant-garde?"
Kosuke sighed. He didn't want to either, but to make himself look more like a sea bandit, he could only use his own advantages. The eye was his biggest advantage.
He was silent for a few seconds, then said in a strained voice.
"We wandering ninjas make a living by robbing. But we're a bit short on manpower right now. Let's go to the sea and catch a batch first."
They were definitely not professional sea bandits. So, they had to catch a batch of real sea bandits first.
Maruboshi Kosuke sat in the pirate chair and couldn't help but let out a long sigh. He had been a ninja for thirty or forty years. To suddenly become a sea bandit, he was really not used to it. Damn that Ryoho Kyohiko! What a sin! How could I have thought he was like the Nidaime-sama back then? No wonder I lost an eye!
Maruboshi Kosuke cursed himself, but after a few seconds, he reconsidered and couldn't help but fall silent—this matter, if the Nidaime-sama were resurrected, he probably would have done it too.
***
"The Land of the Sea? What am I doing setting up a base there?"
Orochimaru's tone was indifferent.
He was staying in Konoha, with countless experiments to do. Where would he find the free time to run to another place?
Ryoho Kyohiko explained.
"Some things in the sea are also worth studying. Also, the geographical location of the Land of the Sea is very good."
"That's true."
Orochimaru nodded in agreement.
He understood Kyohiko's thoughts. However, Orochimaru really didn't want to move. Pondering for a moment, he gradually came back to his senses and looked at another person in the research institute.
"Why not let him go."
Kazuma. This guy had some ambition, but was quite talented. After following Orochimaru for these years, he had become much smarter and more nimble after being taught a lesson or two. It was just that his previous teacher was a spy. Now, even if he worked under him, it was impossible for him to be trusted too much. Even Kyohiko didn't trust him.
Orochimaru chuckled in a low voice.
"This person is very interesting. And now my curse mark has made progress, so I'm not afraid he'll be disobedient."
Ryoho Kyohiko thought for a moment and nodded lightly.
"That's also possible. It's just to occupy a spot anyway. But it's best to keep those secrets under wraps."
"Don't worry."
Orochimaru nodded.
The Tongue-Destroying Seal. He also knew this jutsu and had used it on Kazuma long ago to prevent this brat from revealing his research. For this, he had to update it every once in a while, which was very troublesome. However, Kazuma was very useful, a usable talent. Orochimaru was very short of people now; how could he kill him?
He walked into the base.
"Kazuma, you must be very eager to go out, right?"
"Orochimaru-sama, this subordinate absolutely has no such thought!"
Upon hearing this, Kazuma was horrified, thinking he had done something wrong for Orochimaru to want to kill him to silence him—from the moment he stepped in here, he understood that he couldn't get out. The only possibility of getting out was lying down. If it had been when he had just arrived, Kazuma still had the determination to die. But now, he had gradually lost that kind of spirit. Instead, doing experiments and research with Orochimaru was actually quite good. The so-called "Jade" and "Orthodoxy" of the past seemed too foolish to him now. That was clearly a brainwashing method used on him by his spy teacher.
Kazuma hurriedly showed his loyalty. Orochimaru grinned and did not stop him. After a few seconds, he finally said.
"Alright, I like to hear you talk nonsense, but today we have serious business."
"Please give your orders!"
Kazuma immediately lowered his head respectfully.
Orochimaru said.
"I want you to go to the Land of the Sea and establish a secret base."
"Just me alone?"
Kazuma was stunned for a long while.
"Isn't all the knowledge I've given you enough?"
"Yes! This subordinate will go immediately!"
Kazuma quickly came to his senses.
Indeed. He had the knowledge taught by Orochimaru for many years and had mastered more ninjutsu than before. Although he didn't know what his strength was now, for a mere Land of the Sea, it was more than enough.
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips.
"Before that, I'll give you a gift."
"Wha—"
Just as Kazuma responded, he looked up and saw a blur before his eyes. Orochimaru's neck stretched out like a snake and shot to the side of his neck. A bite!
A sharp pain came. He held back from crying out. The monkeys around him, on the other hand, chattered and jumped up and down, terrified. A curse mark appeared on Kazuma's neck. When Orochimaru withdrew his fangs, Kazuma instantly collapsed on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Orochimaru smiled.
"This thing can give you some help at a critical moment, but it can only be used once."
"After, after using it, what will happen?"
Kazuma's mouth was dry.
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips.
"Nothing will happen. I will come out and save you."
Kazuma was first relieved. Then, his pupils shrank, and he quickly realized—this was more terrifying than death! This meant that this curse mark not only contained Orochimaru's jutsu, but also sealed a clone of Orochimaru. If he wanted to betray, Orochimaru would take his life at any time.
He was both afraid and respectful in his heart. Perhaps Kyohiko's strength was greater, but Orochimaru's methods, in Kazuma's view, were too bizarre. The various forbidden jutsu inspired awe.
His lowered head became even more respectful.
"This subordinate will definitely not disappoint Orochimaru-sama!"
"Come with me."
Orochimaru led him out.
After going out, Kazuma saw Ryoho Kyohiko. He looked up slightly, a fighting spirit in his eyes. In these years, I have learned a lot from Orochimaru. I am much stronger than before!
Ryoho Kyohiko glanced at him.
"Where are you sending him?"
"A place near the south. He'll go to the Land of the Sea on his own."
Orochimaru smiled.
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded and directly pressed his hand on Kazuma's body. With Orochimaru in front, Kazuma did not dare to resist. He was just pondering, when the space before his eyes changed, and in an instant—from the forest, he arrived at a cliff. This is? He looked outside. The sea roared, and the salty wind blew on his face. The seaside?
Kazuma was stunned. What kind of power is this, to send him directly from Konoha to the seaside… With just one person's chakra, can such a terrifying Flying Thunder God teleportation be achieved? His gaze was dull as he looked around. But the facts proved that all of this was not an illusion. It was real!
"Ryoho Kyohiko, how strong has he become?"
Kazuma muttered to himself.
He had thought that in these years, although Kyohiko had been improving, he had also made greater progress with Orochimaru. But seeing this jutsu, he understood that he was by no means Kyohiko's match. Even the other party could probably kill him easily! It was hard to accept, but it was very likely the truth.
Kazuma was silent. He walked along the coast, looking for a boat or a house to inquire about information. As it turned out, he found a town and learned that this was the south of the Land of Rivers, where many wandering ninjas gathered. From them, Kazuma learned a lot. For example, Ryoho Kyohiko's name was known even to wandering ninjas. The other's strength was comparable to that of Senju Hashirama back then. Everyone believed that he could inherit the title of the God of Shinobi.
The God of Shinobi. This kind of title, Kazuma wouldn't even dare to dream of at night. As it turned out, Ryoho Kyohiko had already been recognized by many… He understood that the gap between them was already like heaven and earth, no longer comparable. His own hostility, the other party might have noticed, but did not care. After all—who would pay attention to a weakling far inferior to oneself?
Kazuma was silent. It was not at all shameful to lose to such a person. He let out a long sigh and completely resigned himself to his fate.
***
At this moment, the Third Raikage was following Minato and the others, heading towards Konoha Village.
He was very anxious to bring Killer Bee back. After all, the longer Killer Bee stayed in Konoha, the greater the possibility of something being researched out of him. Even—whether the Eight-Tails, Gyuki, could be kept was also unknown. Namikaze Minato was too strong. The Third Raikage vaguely had an ominous premonition. This trip of his might not necessarily get him everything he wanted. Perhaps… the Eight-Tails, Gyuki, very likely could not be brought back in its entirety. This was the price their Cloud Village needed to pay.
"Chichi-ue, is something on your mind?"
"It's nothing."
The Third Raikage shook his head.
After a long while, he sighed.
"A, if my generation fails, you must never make an enemy of Konoha in the future. Their strength is too great!"