Although Rasa didn't notice it just now,
Pakura clearly saw the complicated expression in the eyes of this young kunoichi.
Yasha Rei also quickly noticed Pakura's gaze.
The two girls soon exchanged glances, realizing the complex emotions reflected in each other's eyes.
Soon, Yasha Rei avoided Pakura's eyes and turned her head to the side.
Seeing this, a smile deepened the lines on Pakura's beautiful face, and a strange warmth filled her heart.
Yasha Rei secretly clenched her fists as she glanced at her own body, where her white, tender toes could be seen at a glance.
She felt a surge of indignation. What's so special about having a good figure? Is being a jonin really that great?
With my talent, I can become a jonin in just a few years.
Judging from my sister's figure, if I grow for a few more years, I'll have a body as good as hers!
A few minutes later, Rasa had just walked downstairs and turned to say something to Pakura.
Before he could finish, a rough male voice interrupted him:
"Master Rasa, I want to spar with you!"
Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Rasa immediately turned his head to look at the speaker.
He saw a muscular man, seemingly in his forties, with a rough build and a short beard.
Rasa's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't even had time to exchange for items that could boost his combat effectiveness.
Why would someone challenge me so suddenly?
Rasa immediately recognized the sturdy man—Aoki, a senior ninja who had often led the meeting earlier.
He thought to himself: this is strange. I was at the meeting and didn't say anything to offend him.
Although there were a few remarks that might have slightly rubbed him the wrong way, most were calm statements of fact and not provocations.
I don't even have a sarcastic expression.
Rasa was genuinely confused.
The words he said at the meeting shouldn't have offended Aoki Jonin. But Aoki wouldn't challenge him for such a trivial matter.
Pakura, only half an arm's length away from Rasa, saw Aoki requesting a spar. As an observer, she immediately understood what was happening.
She looked around again.
It was just after four in the afternoon, and many Sand Ninjas were walking around the first floor of the office building, handling various tasks.
Rasa, Pakura, and Aoki were all at the top of the Sand Village hierarchy.
The three of them stopped outside the first floor of the office building, as if discussing something. Naturally, this drew the attention of many people.
Some ninjas glanced briefly and went back to their tasks.
But a few quietly stopped, pricked up their ears, and chose to watch.
Seeing this, Pakura glared at Aoki Jonin with displeasure; her emerald-red eyes burned with anger.
How could Pakura not understand Aoki's intentions?
If he just wanted to discuss something, why choose the office building's first floor?
And why shout it out as if afraid no one could hear?
Nevertheless, Aoki's cleverness was undeniable.
Whether Rasa agreed to this so-called "exchange" or not, the result he wanted was achieved.
Pakura glanced at the growing crowd and continued glaring at Aoki Jonin.
If looks could kill, Aoki would have been dead several times over.
Though Pakura wasn't particularly sensitive to politics, Chiyo's earlier words were so clear that she understood their meaning naturally.
Rasa was her best friend and the strongest among the younger generation.
Additionally, his calm, well-reasoned words in the meeting had reinforced this.
Pakura naturally supported her best friend becoming the Kazekage.
She retracted her fierce gaze, leaned close to Rasa's ear in a natural, intimate manner, and whispered, her breath sweet as orchids:
"He's dissatisfied with what Elder Chiyo said to you in the meeting."
"Don't worry. As your best friend, I support you."
Rasa studied Pakura's stunning face closely.
Even up close, there was not a single blemish or pore.
He could also tell she wore no makeup.
This bare-faced beauty surpassed any retouched photos he had seen in his previous life.
After observing her for a few seconds, Rasa felt his heartbeat accelerate, and a flood of scattered thoughts filled his mind.
He cursed himself silently.
To distract himself, he turned slightly to look at Aoki Jonin, whose face radiated determination.
Pakura's reminder made Rasa understand:
He felt unworthy of being Kazekage and had his own opinions. But he dared not openly oppose Chiyo, hence this public display.
In his memory, Rasa did not immediately become Fourth Kazekage after the Third disappeared.
Instead, after the Third Ninja World War began, he excelled in several battles.
The Kazekage position had been vacant for so long that he was accepted and elected as Fourth Kazekage.
It seemed there was no choice but to fight.
If he could not defeat Aoki, a veteran jonin, even Chiyo's recommendation might not convince others.
Just like Gaara.
After becoming Fifth Kazekage, there were constant assassination attempts within the Sand Village for a long time.
Many ninjas watched him with suspicion.
The situation eased only after he proved himself and earned everyone's respect.
Though Rasa's popularity was higher than Gaara's early on, the first opposition had to be subdued.
These thoughts flashed through Rasa's mind as he slowly nodded to Aoki Jonin.
Seeing the nod, Aoki's face lit up with undisguised joy. Just as he was about to speak, Rasa interrupted:
"Meet at the village gate tomorrow morning."
Then he turned to Pakura with an apologetic look:
"I'm sorry, I can't come to your house for dinner tonight. Maybe tomorrow night."
Pakura's beautiful face brightened with a smile as she shook her head gently:
"Fine."
She naturally knew Rasa was preparing for tomorrow's battle.
Aoki had been a jonin for over 20 years, one of the Sand Village's renowned warriors.
During the Second Ninja World War, newly promoted Aoki killed more than a dozen Anbu from the Hidden Cloud Village with his masterful puppetry.
Over several years, Aoki killed more than twenty jonin, some nearly famous. His military record was extraordinary.
Even Pakura herself would have little chance against this veteran.
She thought surviving fifty moves would be a success.
In her impression, though Rasa was stronger than her, his strength was limited.
If Rasa had gone to dinner today, how could he have recharged for tomorrow's battle?
Besides, a day or two without dinner wouldn't matter.
Rasa's focus was simple: stabilize the village and remove any obstacles to becoming Kazekage.
Other matters like eating or socializing could wait.
Rasa also had a strategic thought: Pakura's favorability was only in the twenties, so nothing would happen tonight. But if her favorability doubled tomorrow, things would change.
Faced with Rasa's reasonable request, Aoki Jonin could only nod silently:
"Okay, be there on time tomorrow!"
He left without looking back, already imagining himself becoming Kazekage.
Aoki's blood raced.
He had long been suppressed by the Third Kazekage, the strongest of all.
He had assumed he would remain in the Third Kazekage's shadow forever.
But the Third Kazekage had mysteriously disappeared, likely dead.
Apart from Chiyo and her brother, only two old warriors remained.
Though a few rivals matched him, Aoki felt confident he would win in a death match.
Thus, defeating Rasa, the strongest of the younger generation, would secure fame and increase his chances of becoming Fourth Kazekage.
He pictured himself as Kazekage, smiling broadly.
Though the Sand Village was the poorest of the five great villages, and its Kazekage's power limited by the Daimyo and elders,
Aoki believed it was far better than remaining a jonin.
No matter the risks, this was countless times better than being a jonin now.