"Since this Greer Stone is so important, why are you telling me about it, Aniki Rasa?" Seiki asked in confusion.
"Haha, I consider Seiki part of the family!" Rasa laughed loudly. "There are no secrets from you in Sunagakure!"
Touched, Seiki said, "Rasa, Aniki..."
"Haha, no need to think much of it," Rasa waved his hand. "Even if I didn't say anything, the traitor's information would still attract others inside anyway."
Seiki nodded slightly and asked, "Then when do you plan to send people to look for the crystal, Aniki?"
"Hehe, no rush," Rasa grinned. "I've already sent people to guard the ruins. If they want to leave, they'll have to hand over one-third of their Greer Stone first!"
"So you're charging protection money?"
Seeing the strange look in Seiki's eyes, Rasa coughed twice. "Since the ruins are in the Land of Wind, they naturally belong to us Sunagakure. Is collecting a little protection fee really unreasonable?"
Seiki asked suspiciously, "But didn't you previously say the ruins were on the border between the Land of Wind and the River Country?"
"Did I?" Rasa hesitated for a moment, then sighed dramatically with a 'pity the misfortunate' expression. "The River Country is so weak—valuable crystals might bring disaster to them. For the stability of our neighboring country, I can only reluctantly play the bully this time!"
Seiki's lips twitched slightly. "How truly difficult for you, Aniki!"
"Exactly, it really is quite inconvenient for me!" Rasa shook his head with emotion, then said, "Start preparing to move out!"
Seiki nodded slightly, then hesitated and asked, "Are you going too, Aniki?"
Rasa looked serious. "After all, the rumors say it's a treasure that can greatly enhance puppet masters. It might even lure out Sasori. I really can't let others go alone. Regardless, my Magnet Release can somewhat counter him!"
"Sasori?" Seiki's expression also turned serious. "He's definitely not an easy opponent, Aniki. Have you gathered any intelligence on him?"
Rasa shook his head slightly. "He's even more cautious than we imagined. We haven't found any trace of him in years. The reason we're deliberately letting that traitor spread information is also to lure him out!"
Seiki nodded with sudden realization. "So that's why your reaction seemed so slow. It was all part of your plan!"
"If we encounter Sasori in the ruins, I'll need your help to capture him!" Rasa, who had finally dropped all that fake politeness since becoming Kazekage.
Feel embarrassed about asking Seiki to help capture a Sunagakure traitor? As if!
Seiki nodded solemnly. "I will!"
...
In the meeting room of Iwagakure.
From a distance, you could feel a tense and bitter atmosphere.
"Not just a forest? Who cares? I'm not jealous at all!"
"Yeah, what's there to be proud of?"
"Those Sunagakure bastards are just country bumpkins who've never seen the world!"
A group of Iwagakure ninja spoke through clenched teeth. Jealous? Of course they were jealous!
The essence of war is profit, and for the Shinobi World (the world of ninja nations), the most long-term benefit is territory.
The Land of Fire occupied the most prosperous territory in the shinobi world, which made it the focal point of every war.
The Land of Wind, though the largest among the Five Great Countries, was nothing but a wasteland no one wanted, so naturally it drew no envy.
But now things were different. The desert had transformed into an oasis, a place so desirable even they envied it.
Most frustrating of all, Iwagakure had paid such a heavy price in the war, yet gained absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, Sunagakure had simply latched onto Seiki Shimaseki's strength and achieved a complete turnaround.
This stark contrast had made them envious beyond reason!
"Enough," said Onoki sternly. "Let's set aside the oasis issue for now. No matter how envious you are, are you going to kidnap Seiki Shimaseki to grant Iwagakure its own Wood Release?"
His voice was harsh, but inwardly he sighed deeply.
That man was like Iwagakure's nemesis. Even improving Sunagakure's environment could simultaneously demoralize them.
"The topic today," he continued, "is a Ruin recently discovered along the border between the Land of Wind and the River Country. According to the latest reports, the Crystal within this Ruin can not only enhance Puppets, but also greatly benefit us shinobi—based on this intelligence, the Crystal appearing in the Ruin is very likely the legendary Greer Stone!"
Upon hearing the Tsuchikage's words, the Jonin present began to discuss.
"Whether it's really the Greer Stone or not, just the fact that it can enhance Puppets means we absolutely cannot allow Sunagakure to obtain it!"
"We've obtained some Greer Stones from wandering Caravan before, but those small quantities weren't very useful. However, this time it's potentially a full ore vein within a Ruin—it must not be monopolized by Sunagakure!"
They had studied the matter beforehand and naturally understood the value of Greer Stones.
"Tsuchikage-sama, we should act quickly!"
Yet Onoki frowned. "Sunagakure itself is nothing to fear, but I heard Seiki Shimaseki is with them..."
At this, everyone fell silent.
Indeed, if they encountered Seiki Shimaseki in the Ruin, who knew whether he would go on a killing spree?
With Seiki Shimaseki's strength, he could wipe them all out without effort!
At that moment, Han suddenly spoke, "Tsuchikage-sama, I believe that as long as we don't provoke him, a man of Seiki Shimaseki's caliber wouldn't even deign to notice us!"
Onoki's frown deepened. "Are you asking me to gamble my subordinates' lives on his mood?"
"That's not gambling, Tsuchikage-sama," Han sighed. "With all due respect, do you really think Iwagakure's barriers and military strength could even stop Seiki Shimaseki?"
Onoki's expression turned grim, and he remained silent.
"Our peace until now has never depended on the village's protection, but rather on the order within the shinobi world. Seiki Shimaseki is a man who upholds that order. As long as we don't break the rules, he won't raise a hand against us first!"
Han said firmly, "Therefore, our true enemy is not Seiki Shimaseki, nor even Konoha, but the rising Sunagakure!"
"When Sunagakure gradually grows stronger, if we remain fearful of Seiki Shimaseki's power and take no action, we'll eventually fall behind Sunagakure and ultimately be defeated by enemies we once underestimated!"
Onoki seemed dazed, muttering almost to himself, "Sunagakure?"
Ever since being humiliated by Madara Uchiha in Konoha years ago, he'd secretly vowed to make Iwagakure surpass Konoha.
But now, he was being told that Iwagakure wasn't even a match for Konoha anymore.
For him, this was undoubtedly a tremendous blow.
Yet he couldn't deny that Han's argument about the Sunagakure threat was indeed convincing.
Konoha controlled the finest lands in the shinobi world. There had been little benefit in opposing them to begin with, not to mention Konoha's longstanding peaceful and diplomatic stance toward the shinobi world.
But Sunagakure was different. Every Kazekage throughout history had been ambitious individuals. Even that seemingly timid Fourth Kazekage was likely a venomous snake concealing its fangs. You absolutely cannot let your guard down!
"Sigh, perhaps I really should reconsider my views," Onoki sighed, seeming suddenly much older. "Han, you're in charge of a team – go now!"
"Yes!"
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