Rasa's expression grew grave. He attached even greater importance to the boy now—so much so that a trace of killing intent arose in his heart.
Tamura Zairo sensed the surge of hostility, but he didn't bother reacting. After a moment of thought, he spoke:
"Your footsteps are heavier than Karura's. You should also be covering your skin with a layer of sand—but not ordinary sand. It's much heavier.
"I've heard that the Third Kazekage possessed Magnet Release, with chakra carrying powerful magnetic force that allowed him to control iron sand in battle. Your bloodline limit should also be Magnet Release.
"In terms of combat power, Magnet Release far surpasses Sand Manipulation. The Third Kazekage was hailed as the strongest Kazekage of all generations—you shouldn't be inferior in the future either.
"High-density Magnet Release materials can greatly amplify your power, but they can also become a weakness. Against Earth Release techniques enhanced with gravity, your magnetic material would be completely suppressed and hard to mobilize.
"Large-scale sealing techniques should also be very effective against your Magnet Release.
"As for your personality, I see coldness and a strong sense of responsibility, along with ambition—no, rather, grand aspiration. Combined with Magnet Release's special significance to Sunagakure, your goal should be the position of Fourth Kazekage.
"Among the three of you, you're clearly the leader of this mission. Add Magnet Release to that, and I'd guess you're the Third Kazekage's disciple. Any other young genius wouldn't be qualified to meet the Raikage directly.
"Lastly, during the meal earlier, you and Karura exchanged glances several times. You should be lovers. Judging from Karura's shy looks, you probably haven't been together very long."
After saying all that, Tamura Zairo ignored their expressions and calmly sipped his juice.
Warm pool water paired with cool fruit juice—perfect. It felt just like sunbathing on a beach. And there were even two pleasing-to-the-eye beauties nearby.
All three fell silent.
Rasa's hostility intensified further—and for the first time, it was directed squarely at Tamura Zairo. Zairo clearly felt it.
He showed no reaction, but he noted it down mentally. If there's a chance later, I'll get rid of this guy.
"I need some time to write down the chakra-training techniques from memory. We'll come back here tomorrow."
Karura fulfilled her earlier promise. She didn't have ready-made scrolls on hand; she'd need to return to the inn and write them out.
But this little brother was truly formidable—seeing so much in such a short time.
Is this what a strategist-type ninja is like?
Maybe Lord Ebizō should have this kind of eye too…
Tamura Zairo's smile widened. "Then thank you, Sister Karura."
Getting chakra-thread training techniques would help him greatly—especially with the upcoming Uzushiogakure battlefield. Using chakra threads with explosive tags would be more than enough for self-preservation.
On the side, Pakura was starting to doubt her life choices. It felt like that kid had seen straight through her from head to toe.
Are all Kumogakure ninja this terrifying… or is he just a special case?
She really hoped it was the latter.
The four finished bathing in silence. Rasa's group had no mood left for entertainment and returned straight to their inn.
They gathered in one room, all fairly quiet.
Karura wrote steadily with the pen and blank scroll she'd just bought, yet her thoughts kept drifting back to that boy.
Is Kumogakure's education system really this strong?
"Do we still need to keep in contact with him?"
Leaning against the wall and playing with a kunai, Pakura asked.
That kid had shocked her more than once—despite being weak, his mind was downright frightening. Someone like that would definitely rise high in Kumogakure. His information was worth understanding.
Karura paused in her writing, equally thoughtful. She too placed great importance on that little brother. Enemy or ally in the future—she couldn't tell.
Hopefully not an enemy…
After a long while of thought, Rasa finally shook his head.
"We're not suited for this kind of game. Continued contact would only let him see even more of our cards. And someone with that level of intelligence—if he chooses to hide things—we won't be able to see through him at all.
"He might even deliberately present a false front to mislead us. That would be even worse."
All three of them were combat-type ninja, not good at probing or investigating enemies. And this was Kumogakure—many methods simply couldn't be used.
"Will he participate in the Uzushiogakure plan?"
Pakura asked again.
That kid was young, but his mind far surpassed even some jōnin. She wondered if he would be involved in the coming Uzushiogakure war.
"Even if he goes, it would only be to gain experience under the elders. There's no way he'd be part of the decision-making. He's too young."
Though Rasa was shocked by the boy's intellect, age was an unavoidable hard limit. No matter how much Kumogakure and the Raikage's son valued his wisdom, they wouldn't let him dictate a war.
War was no child's play—none of them were qualified yet.
"Our Sunagakure has put itself in a very passive position by taking the initiative this time."
Rasa suddenly sighed. He knew all too well that proactively seeking cooperation for the Uzushiogakure war would only leave them at a disadvantage.
But they had no choice.
They desperately needed a sealing technique capable of perfectly sealing and utilizing Shukaku.
Shukaku didn't just possess powerful Magnet Release—its combat power multiplied in desert environments. Its chakra also had sealing and seal-breaking properties; ordinary sealing techniques simply couldn't hold it, or at least not for long.
As a result, Shukaku frequently went berserk, causing massive losses to the village.
Even the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand Magnet Release struggled to suppress it. His own Gold Dust Magnet Release could use the weight of gold dust to counter Shukaku's sand, but he was still too young—his strength far from sufficient.
Although there was now a One-Tail jinchūriki, it was still far from perfect.
Worse still, Sunagakure had only one tailed beast. Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure each had two. Konoha had only one Nine-Tails, but it was the strongest of them all.
In this regard, Sunagakure was at a severe disadvantage.
Rasa had never even seen Shukaku fire a Tailed Beast Ball.
Don't tell me the One-Tail can't even use a Tailed Beast Ball?
If that were true, they'd be in an even worse position. Future ninja wars would inevitably revolve around jinchūriki. A single Tailed Beast Ball was enough to destroy heaven and earth—ordinary ninja couldn't possibly contend with that.
They had to gain perfect control over tailed-beast power. Sealing techniques were the key.
At the same time, in the Raikage's office, the Third Raikage stared at the ANBU report with a dark expression.
"That brat is way too casual. He actually made contact with foreign ninja inside the village—and even made a deal. If it were anyone else, they'd already be locked up."
"What did he do this time?"
At another desk, busy with paperwork, Tsuchidai looked up. Had that kid stirred trouble again?
"Take a look!"
The Third Raikage tossed the report over, but there was a hint of amusement on his face. He wasn't truly angry.
"Rasa! The future Fourth Kazekage!"
After reading the report, Tsuchidai pondered for a moment—then smiled, even feeling a sense of satisfaction.
"To analyze and deduce so much information from such brief contact… he's even more outstanding than I imagined."
This kid really is better suited to be my disciple.
In the future, he'd be perfect to take over my position and assist the Fourth Raikage.
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