As someone who had lived in Sunagakure since its founding, grown up during the era of the First Kazekage, became a jonin during the Second Kazekage's reign, and rose to the position of elder during the Third Kazekage's time, Chiyo was intimately familiar with the surroundings of the village.
In fact, she knew the area like the back of her hand.
But now, as she looked down at the winding rivers and sprawling forests that seemed to have sprung up across the vast desert, Chiyo was utterly baffled. This wasn't a trick of her eyes.
Her reaction caught Ebizō's attention, and he too noticed the changes in the desert below, his face filled with astonishment.
"What is this?"
The others quickly noticed as well.
While they might not have the same deep understanding of the village's surroundings as the two elders, they knew one thing for certain: this desert, with its harsh environment, was known as the Devil's Desert.
But now, looking at the patches of greenery scattered across the desert, it didn't look like hell—it looked like paradise.
Suddenly, everyone recalled the "Green Miracle" that had appeared in the village. Glancing at Rasa, who stood silently at the front, they began to understand.
At that moment, the beauty of the night sky no longer held their interest.
After all, while the desert nightscape was stunning, for those who lived in the desert, the miracle of green life was far more captivating.
As Rasa led them further toward Dragon's Salt, the group noticed that the forests below became increasingly dense, with birds and other animals appearing here and there.
This left everyone even more amazed and curious about how Rasa had accomplished such a feat.
After about half an hour, an even larger forest came into view. The forest was so vast that it was roughly a quarter the size of Sunagakure itself. To the people of Sunagakure, this was nothing short of a divine miracle.
Among the group, only Baki remained relatively calm, as he had witnessed this transformation firsthand.
Upon reaching their destination, Rasa controlled the Gold Dust cloud to descend.
Bunpuku, having been informed in advance, had lit a bonfire at the edge of the forest to welcome them.
As the group stepped off the Gold Dust cloud, they felt like country bumpkins entering a grand palace, staring in disbelief at the enormous forest before them. Some even wondered if they were dreaming.
Chiyo and Ebizō, however, had mixed expressions as they looked at Bunpuku, who now appeared more vibrant and energetic than ever.
"I hope bringing so many people here hasn't disturbed you, Bunpuku-sama,"
Rasa said politely, introducing Bunpuku to the group.
Despite being high-ranking members of Sunagakure, neither Pakura nor Michikawa had ever met Bunpuku in person. As the jinchūriki, Bunpuku had been kept in secret confinement during the Third Kazekage's era due to his advanced age and the high risk of losing control.
As expected, the moment Bunpuku's name was mentioned, everyone's attention shifted to him, their expressions turning serious.
Only Hana and Honoka, who didn't know what Bunpuku represented, remained oblivious.
Bunpuku smiled gently.
"Not at all, Kazekage-sama. You're too kind. All of this is your doing. I'm merely a guest here."
Hearing Bunpuku's words, the group's expressions grew even more peculiar as their suspicions were confirmed.
Rasa, however, didn't waste any time. He turned to the group and said,
"This place, I've named it Dragon's Oasis. As you can see, this was once a desert. But through a special method, I transferred the Dragon Vein chakra from Roran here, creating what you see before you."
Once Rasa confirmed their suspicions, everyone couldn't hold back their excitement.
"Dragon's Oasis? What a fitting name!"
"This is nothing short of a miracle!"
"But Kazekage-sama, why have you brought us here?"
"Have you found a way for us to learn how to use the Dragon Vein chakra?"
Seeing everyone chime in with questions, Rasa explained,
"The reason I've brought you here is exactly what you're thinking; it is to help you master the power of the Dragon Vein chakra. However, the term 'Dragon Vein chakra' is outdated. I now refer to it as 'Senjutsu energy.'"
"Senjutsu energy!"
Pakura's eyes lit up with excitement. However, Rasa quickly tempered their expectations.
"But unfortunately, I haven't yet found a way for all of you to master Senjutsu energy. Can you sense the dense Senjutsu energy radiating from this forest?"
At this, everyone closed their eyes to focus. Most of them frowned and shook their heads, unable to sense anything.
Only Hana raised her hand excitedly and said,
"I can feel it! It's a warm, life-filled energy, just like Rasa-sama's!"
"Good."
Rasa nodded with a smile.
"That's why I brought Hana here as well."
He then looked at the rest of the group.
"Hana is special. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, she possesses extraordinary sensory abilities. But unfortunately, aside from her, none of you here have that ability. Without the ability to sense it, you can't absorb this energy, let alone master it."
The group understood that Rasa must have another plan in mind.
Sure enough, Rasa continued,
"So, I have an idea—though it's just an idea for now. I'm not sure if it will work, which is why I've brought all of you here. You are the most talented shinobi in Sunagakure. If even you can't harness this power, then there's no hope for the rest of the village."
Chiyo, understanding now, said,
"So, Kazekage-sama, you've brought us here to help develop this power?"
"Exactly. While I've mastered this energy, the method I used is unique and can't be taught to others. So, you'll have to rely on yourselves. However, I can offer you a suggestion."
"What suggestion?"
Pakura asked eagerly. In return, Rasa didn't keep them in suspense.
"I call it the 'Breathing Technique.'"
"Breathing Technique?"
"That's right. The principle is simple."
Rasa spread his arms wide.
"Even though you can't sense this energy, it doesn't mean it isn't there. In fact, your bodies are surrounded by dense Senjutsu energy right now. So, since you can't sense it, the best way to absorb it is through breathing. By inhaling this energy, you can use its powerful life force to activate and strengthen your bodies. That's my idea."
The group's eyes lit up with understanding.
"However, the specifics of how to develop this technique will be up to you. While I'll assist you in sensing Senjutsu energy, I don't have much time to dedicate to this project. My expectations are high—I want you to develop a taijutsu technique that all of Sunagakure can practice, allowing us to harness this vast Senjutsu energy and enhance our strength."