"What? It did not work?"
"Even Onoki does not believe it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was ugly.
"Jiraiya and Tsunade do not believe it either?"
"There is even a rumor saying that I am trying to make Uchiha Fugaku take the blame?"
"That Uchiha Fugaku mistakenly trusted me?"
"Have these people gone mad?"
"A Uchiha Fugaku who controlled the Nine-Tails—is he someone I can control just because I want to?"
The rumor squad had only given it a gentle push, and the rumor spread throughout the entire shinobi world.
All sides cooperated extremely well.
And they truly did not trust Konoha.
Some people used Jiraiya's attitude as a reference.
"Even Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi's own disciple, does not believe him. How are we supposed to believe him?"
"Exactly. Konoha has done this sort of thing far too many times."
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's claim that he was no match for Uchiha Fugaku, who controlled the Nine-Tails, the people of the shinobi world rejected that statement as well.
"Uchiha Fugaku awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and controlled the Nine-Tails. So what? That is merely the level Uchiha Madara reached back then."
"But was Uchiha Madara not still suppressed by Senju Hashirama?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is known as the strongest Hokage of all generations. His strength must surely be above Senju Hashirama's. If we calculate it like that, then Uchiha Fugaku definitely cannot be Hiruzen Sarutobi's opponent."
Seeing this argument, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not even know whether the other party genuinely believed he was that strong or was deliberately speaking in mockery to disgust him.
At that moment—
A piece of news spread from Sunagakure.
"The one who attacked Sunagakure was not Uchiha Fugaku!"
This news was personally confirmed by Rasa.
In an instant, Hiruzen Sarutobi's statement suffered even more criticism and suspicion.
The argument that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Uchiha Fugaku to take the blame gained widespread recognition.
"Damn it!"
"Is Rasa doing this on purpose?"
"If not Uchiha Fugaku, then who else?"
Danzo said viciously, "Hiruzen, I suspect all of this may be that brat Rasa's conspiracy. Otherwise, why did nothing happen to Sunagakure alone?"
"The attack on Sunagakure may have just been a performance."
"Perhaps Uchiha Fugaku had already contacted that brat Rasa in secret."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo.
To be honest, Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely dissatisfied with Danzo.
He had only been unconscious for such a short period, yet Danzo had turned Konoha's situation into a complete mess.
"Danzo, do you now understand why Teacher Tobirama did not choose you?"
Danzo: "…"
Those words stabbed directly into his heart, making Danzo deeply uncomfortable. But Danzo knew Hiruzen Sarutobi currently held great resentment toward him, and the present situation was an absolute disadvantage for himself.
Therefore, Danzo endured it.
"Hiruzen, I was wrong."
On the other side.
Amegakure.
The members of the Akatsuki organization had gathered.
Nagato was still controlling Pain in his place, with Konan standing beside him.
Sasori of the Red Sand and Kakuzu stood together.
Then there were Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui.
"The shinobi world has already pointed its spearhead at Konoha. They cannot find our traces. Next, we can put most of our energy into collecting the tailed beasts."
"The Three-Tails and Six-Tails will revive before long."
"The Four-Tails still requires patience."
"As for the One-Tail, I will personally make a move."
Nagato knew the intention behind Sunagakure transferring its jinchuriki outside the village.
On one hand, it was to protect Sunagakure.
On the other hand, it was a trap.
They had gathered elites from every major shinobi village in the shinobi world, forcing anyone who wanted to obtain the jinchuriki to cross this barrier first.
"But for me, and for these eyes, that is no obstacle!"
Nagato possessed absolute confidence in the Rinnegan.
But Rasa also had the Rinnegan.
And by now, it was no longer merely one eye.
[Otsutsuki Bloodline: 88%!]
Rasa noticed that as his Otsutsuki bloodline concentration increased, aside from immense changes in strength, physique, and chakra volume, his appearance was also slowly changing.
His skin was becoming fairer.
Rasa looked at himself in the mirror.
One eye had the appearance of the Rinnegan.
The other eye had also changed into the appearance of the Rinnegan.
"Just like last time, I can choose one of my previous abilities and carry out an SS-rank evolution."
Last time, Rasa had chosen Quicksand Displacement.
After its evolution, it had granted Rasa extraordinary spatial movement ability, with its own distinct characteristics compared to Uchiha Sasuke's Amenotejikara.
"This time, I should choose an attack ability."
Rasa's gaze fell upon his abilities.
"I will choose Anubis."
"A Stand that is already mature. If it undergoes SS-rank evolution, what level can it reach?"
With a thought from Rasa—
The next moment.
Rasa felt a surge of power flow toward his eyes.
Then, a wave of information appeared out of thin air.
[Anubis/Silver Chariot Requiem.]
Rasa revealed a strange expression.
"One Stand became two Stands?"
Rasa held Anubis in his hand.
At the same time, beside Rasa, a figure appeared out of thin air—a silver figure, like an armored swordsman holding a rapier.
[Silver Chariot Requiem]
[—Ability 1: Possesses extremely powerful swordsmanship and considerable defensive ability. After removing its armor, its speed will greatly increase, but its defensive ability will decrease accordingly.]
[—Ability 2: With itself as the center, it can cause a forced hypnotic effect over a certain area, causing living beings to fall into a deep sleep and causing the souls of adjacent living beings to exchange.]
"Not only did it add another Stand, it is also the evolved version created by the Arrow."
"Not bad. Not bad."
"Such a bizarre ability is entirely worthy of an SS-rank evolution."
"It also improves my offensive ability considerably."
With a thought from Rasa, both Stands disappeared.
"Next, I only need to wait for the rumor points to come in."
"With two rumors, I should basically be able to push my Otsutsuki bloodline concentration to one hundred percent."
"Given the shinobi world's current situation, using Blood Collection to obtain another two percent Otsutsuki bloodline concentration will not be difficult."
"Even if Otsutsuki Kaguya's descendants are no longer effective, there is still Jigen."
"Once I seize the Chakra Fruit as well, even if the Otsutsuki clan from beyond the heavens arrives, I will have nothing to fear."
Rasa raised his head and looked high into the sky, slowly letting out a breath.
"For these few things, I only need to wait."
"During this process, I can properly plan Sunagakure's development."
"The issue of water sources can be placed on the agenda."
"And also, the Dragon Vein…"
There was a theory that the Land of Wind had not always been this barren.
The reason it had become like this was because the Dragon Vein had absorbed too much energy.