Outside Sunagakure, just beyond the village gates.
"Are you really sure you don't want any payment?"
"Really sure!"
Rasa smiled helplessly and shook his head as he watched Shukaku dusting off the sand from himself.
"Use him however you like! No need for food, water, or pay—just don't treat him like a human."
"This is honestly unbelievable..."
Ebizō stroked his beard, still finding the whole situation hard to accept. He had originally requested manpower—and the Kazekage sent him the village's terrifying ultimate weapon: the One-Tail.
At the time, he had been scared out of his wits.
After all, the chaos of the Nine-Tails attack just a few years ago was still fresh in everyone's minds. Now Sunagakure was casually unleashing another Tailed Beast—who wouldn't be terrified?
Sure, the little guy was obedient, well-behaved, and even kind of cute curled up inside his black cauldron—but a Tailed Beast was still a Tailed Beast. If it let loose with a Tailed Beast Bomb in the middle of the village, the destruction would be unimaginable!
Especially with so many factories in the village now—if those got leveled...
It could take years for the village's economy to recover.
Ebizō eyed the small Shukaku cautiously and hesitated. "You're absolutely sure this won't be a problem?"
"No problem!" Rasa rolled his eyes and replied impatiently, "I already told you, if something happens, just let me know and I'll give him a beating!"
Then his expression turned more serious.
"But just so we're clear—I made a proper agreement with him. Even if he doesn't eat, drink, or get paid, you're not allowed to abuse him."
Tailed Beasts had suffered centuries of discrimination and abuse. They were emotionally fragile and could lash out over the smallest perceived insult. Especially the others—most of them had been doing fine in the wild until… two certain "Pokémon Masters" aiming for world peace appeared, and their freedom were gone.
Say the wrong thing, and you might eat a Tailed Beast Bomb to the face.
"Of course, we'll use him well. No need to worry. I've already talked to him too. If he misbehaves, we'll just seal him up again."
"..."
No food. No water. No pay. And you'll still beat him?
Isn't that exactly what abuse is?
Ebizō quietly grumbled in his heart, but on his face, he smiled as he looked at the bouncing little Shukaku inside the black cauldron.
"Very good. With his help, the project in the Land of Rain should progress much faster."
Still, he couldn't help but look a little worried.
"But... if we let him leave the village and he runs off, then what?"
Tailed Beasts were terrifying creatures after all.
"It's fine! If he dares to run, just notify me immediately and I'll beat him again!"
"Truly safe?"
"Totally safe."
"No problems?"
"No problems!"
"With Kazekage-sama's guarantee, I'm relieved."
"Glad to hear it!" Rasa rolled his eyes again and sighed. "You've asked me this every day!"
Always worrying, always worrying!
Even after seeing him treat Shukaku like a pet tanuki, Ebizō still couldn't relax.
Was he really that scary?
Looking at the racetrack under construction, Rasa finally nodded with a smile. "The competition starts in early September, so we're on a tight schedule. The village also needs some renovations. And if there are any special local products—like snacks or treats—we can display and sell those too."
"I understand all that. It's just, Kazekage-sama..." Ebizō seemed hesitant. "You asked the refinery to make some iron lumps out of scrap and name them things like 'Love Stones' and 'Lucky Stones.' Isn't that just... a scam?"
"A scam? Please! Since when is a merchant's work called scamming?" Rasa sighed and gave him the classic 'I'm disappointed in you, village elder' headshake.
"Those are made with iron smelted at the Star Gazing Platform. And what is the Star Gazing Platform? It's where the Star Gods descend! How could that possibly be fake?"
"But the Star Gazing Platform... what's so special about it? Isn't it just a pile of desert sand like everything else around here?" Ebizō gave Rasa a disdainful look. "You can watch stars from anywhere in the desert, can't you?"
Is there really a difference?
"If one of the other Hidden Villages exposes us, we'll become the laughingstock of the entire shinobi world."
But—
"It's totally different!" Rasa shook his head with conviction and gave a mysterious smile. "You'll see. Once people see them, they'll love them!"
If the timing were right, he'd even tie some ropes around the Star Gazing Platform and sell 'Wish Plaques'—just small wooden plaques for 150 ryo each. Write your wish on it, and maybe the Star Gods will hear you.
Aside from the manpower and a bit of wood, it was basically pure profit.
Once the ropes were full, they'd just scrape off the old plaques and sell them again to someone else.
"Oh, and make sure the iron lumps from the refinery get tied with red string."
What kind of wish charm doesn't have a red string?
"I've already given the orders," Ebizō replied.
He sighed, clearly helpless, but with the Kazekage himself pushing this plan, what more could he say?
Though honestly...
The sideways look he gave Rasa was equal parts admiration and judgmental disbelief, and it made Rasa really want to punch him.
"The cars, accessories, decorations, and displays need to be prepped. The atmosphere is key—we've got to spark their desire to spend money," Rasa continued, brows furrowed in thought. "Also, we need to highlight Sunagakure's unique flair. Puppets, for example—bring out some of our interesting designs. Doesn't matter if they're fun to play with or not. As long as they're eye-catching and distinctively Suna, that's good enough."
"As for lodging... that's on you to arrange."
"I understand." Ebizō nodded. "I'll organize it the same way we did for the Chūnin Exams."
"That's acceptable, but this time our goal is to grow Suna's tertiary industry—to boost the village's economic development," Rasa added. "Of course, village security is still a priority. Any confidential areas must be kept off-limits to foreign shinobi."
Whether or not they'd come again would depend on how well this first tournament went.
"Oh, right—did someone deliver my letter to Danzo?"
"...It was sent long ago!"
...
[Letter Contents]
To my dearest friend Danzo:
It has been many years since we last met. My fists long to spar with you again. Though communication has been sparse, I think of you often.
In recent years, the shinobi world has found peace, thanks in no small part to the efforts of you and me. There is more laughter now in every nation and village.
I know your heart is noble, always striving for peace in the shinobi world. That intent remains etched in my memory and fills me with admiration.
Therefore...
Sunagakure has some good stuff!
Got time?
Come and take a look!
The Shinobi World 4WD Grand Prix in September—consider this your invitation. Let's meet again and talk about making big money!
Danzo finished reading the letter, his brow furrowing.
He couldn't quite understand why the Kazekage had written so much nonsense, but the message was clear—he was being invited to visit Sunagakure.
"To be so cautious… it seems there must be some good stuff. If that's the case, then this old man shall—"
Before he could finish his sentence—
"Danzo-sama."
A masked ROOT ninja appeared out of nowhere, kneeling down.
"The Hokage-sama requests Danzo-sama immediate presence for a meeting in the Hokage's office."