"Interesting."
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, watched Uehara Naraku's fight, applauding, and praised, "Truly a genius ninja of the new generation from The Hidden Rain Village. Just that seamless battle alone makes you qualified to succeed Lord Hanzo as the leader…"
"What are you talking about so casually?"
Uehara Naraku glanced at Rasa speechlessly, unable to resist sarcastically retorting, "Kazekage, have you heard of my name?"
"..."
Rasa felt his blood boil, thinking Uehara was tactless.
Rasa was seldom one to praise an enemy.
Facing a genius ninja like Uehara, his earlier compliment was not without ulterior motives.
Rasa clearly understood the inheritance rules of small ninja villages, which were all family-based successions, unlike the more dignified master-apprentice traditions in the ninja villages of the Great Nations.
The Uehara Naraku in front of him did not wear the unique protective mask of the Salamander clan, indicating he was not Hanzo's clan and definitely had no claim to The Hidden Rain's leadership.
As long as Uehara Naraku denied his qualifications to inherit The Hidden Rain Village, Rasa would seize the chance to tempt him to defect and join their Hidden Sand Village.
After all, this kid had already demonstrated significant potential value.
How could an ordinary ninja from a small country compare to a position and the cultivation resources one could receive in a ninja village of the Five Great Nations?
Rasa didn't know Hanzo of the Salamander had died, nor did he know about Uehara Naraku's recent appointment by Nagato and Konan as the sole heir to The Hidden Rain Village!
Uehara was still fretting about such matters!
Even if he were to defect, he would surely disdain the Hidden Sand Village.
What traitor would want to join a village infamous for betraying its own bloodline ninja and surrendering faster than anyone else?
"I haven't heard of your name? Isn't it because you acted too decisively, killing many of our village's Anbu?"
Rasa's face gradually turned cold. He no longer concealed his covetousness for Uehara, stating directly, "Let me be frank, a genius ninja like you will not last long in The Hidden Rain Village. Sooner or later, you'll be secretly harmed by Hanzo, who only wants to maintain his own power!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Uehara Naraku glanced at Rasa. The Fourth Kazekage's insight was sharp, seeing through the essence of the aging Hanzo in an instant.
However, as a ninja from The Hidden Rain, Uehara Naraku certainly couldn't allow others to insult Hanzo; that's a Rain Village Ninja's integrity!
Uehara looked at the Fourth Kazekage, his face appropriately showing a hint of anger: "How dare you insult Lord Hanzo!"
"That's exactly what he is!"
Rasa waved his hand like he was scolding an immature child, coolly remarking, "If I were to propose a five-year peace treaty with The Hidden Rain Village now, demanding your death, Hanzo of the Salamander certainly wouldn't hesitate!"
After speaking, Rasa added, "Do not refute me. You should understand the weight of the Hidden Sand Village compared to that of an ordinary ninja, and where Hanzo of the Salamander's priorities lie."
What the Fourth Kazekage said was indeed true.
If killing one person could exchange for a five-year peace treaty with the Hidden Sand Village, Hanzo of the Salamander would absolutely not be merciful, and might even send that person's head to the Fourth Kazekage's desk.
Too bad he was facing Uehara Naraku.
The one who personally killed Hanzo of the Salamander.
Now Uehara Naraku had no problem swaggering through The Hidden Rain Village.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, looking at Uehara's face, revealed his true intent: "Leave this weak country, join the Hidden Sand Village! Only the Hidden Sand Village can accommodate your talent. I will provide you with plenty of resources and money!"
"…Just you guys?"
Uehara Naraku's face showed a hint of ridicule.
What kind of person did the Fourth Kazekage Rasa think he was?
This guy is someone who sold Scorch Release Pakura to the Hidden Mist Village for a humiliating peace!
Uehara Naraku chuckled lightly, as a purple Chakra Broadsword hovered beside him. He remarked, "And besides, if I kill you now, there won't be anyone left to persuade Lord Hanzo to betray me, right?"
"Do you not understand what I mean?"
Rasa's brows furrowed again, his expression grim: "Even without me, sooner or later you would be secretly harmed by Hanzo of the Salamander! The Hidden Rain Village is no place for a genius!"
"No!"
Uehara Naraku mocked as he looked at Rasa, gripping the purple broadsword, stressing every word: "Lord Hanzo will surely believe in my loyalty…"
"..."
Rasa watched Uehara's actions, feeling a bit like cursing.
Damn, this kid is crazy!
No, this kid is an idiot!
"Once I capture you, I'll think of ways to get what I want!"
Rasa manipulated the gold sand on the ground to rise, coldly stating, "Idiot, having just fought Shukaku, your chakra and stamina must be almost depleted, right?"
"Well… care to guess?"
Uehara Naraku's figure burst into motion!
The purple Chakra Broadsword in his hand slashed in an arc, fiercely striking toward the Fourth Kazekage in front of him!
A mass of gold sand quickly intercepted Uehara's attack.
Compared with the sand controlled by Gaara, the gold dust controlled by Rasa was heavier in quality and stronger in defense.
The vast expanse of gold sand surged toward Uehara!
Whether it be attack, defense, or maneuvering, Magnet Release: Gold Dust had advantages in battle unmatched by other bloodlines, which was the source of Rasa's confidence as the Fourth Kazekage.
"Quite agile!"
Uehara Naraku dodged the gold sand's attack, only to see the vast gold sand divide into thinner streams, surrounding him.
Unable to dodge, Uehara could only reluctantly swing his Chakra Broadsword, scattering the thin streams of gold sand!
No matter how Uehara scattered the gold sand, they would eventually be manipulated by Rasa's chakra to pursue him again.
Rasa stood arrogantly on a pad of sand, watching the frantic Uehara Naraku: "Brat, you can't escape the grasp of the gold sand, surrender obediently!"
Rasa was nearly certain of his victory.
He was the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, with the Magnet Release handed down from the Third Kazekage, how could he possibly fail to capture a mere teenager?
"My Style Secret Technique! Mist Array!"
Uehara Naraku shot a glance at Rasa. A plume of smoke suddenly appeared around him, concealing his figure and causing the gold sand to lose its target.
The chakra Uehara had used up just now was quickly refilling.
"Thanks to Kazekage for having a little chat with me just now…"
Uehara Naraku's eyes focused on his skill panel. Regardless of whether it was The Moment of Holy Judgment or Roaring Wave, these skills with long cooldowns were now ready again.
Facing a difficult enemy, why not just chat with them?
In this Ninja World, practicing a little mouth ninjutsu never hurts.
"Hiding in the smoke?"
A flicker of bewilderment appeared in Rasa's eyes. The gold sand surrounded the smoke but couldn't precisely detect Uehara Naraku's position.
Rasa quickly figured out the mystery of the smoke. The mist array released by Uehara turned out to be even more refined than the Fog Concealment Technique of the Hidden Mist Village, perfectly concealing one's position.
"Hmph, then I'll simply have the gold sand surround the entire smoke!"
The vast gold sand swiftly gathered around the smoke, forming a sphere under Rasa's manipulation, with the gold sand quickly seeping into the smoke.
At this moment.
A beam of purple energy pierced through the gold sand!
This beam of purple energy, as if cutting, shredded the gold sand sphere into fragments!
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, caught off guard, was swept across his body by the purple energy beam, a burning sensation spreading in the area touched by the energy beam.
At this moment, a sense of dread flooded Rasa's heart.
In that split second, Rasa felt as if he might be obliterated!