The night was dark as ink, dotted with countless stars.
The weather was excellent tonight.
The snow had already stopped.
Bonfires burned across the open field, driving away the winter cold.
"Turn up the music!"
"You came from Dandong, returning my snowy-white—"
"I want Cantonese food!"
"Break through tears, fear not the sea—"
"Change it! Change the song!"
"Pick something more appropriate, quickly!"
"The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear…"
"The loneliness and sighs within the hearts of those who gaze upward…"
"…"
"I would rather all—"
"Fine. Use this one."
Standing upon the temporary stage, Uchiha Ren's mouth twitched.
He hurriedly ordered someone to switch to a more appropriate song.
Although his benevolence could never be forgotten—and had to be repaid with compounded interest—there was no need to use that song as the background music for an outdoor party.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Launch the fireworks!"
At Uchiha Ren's command—
The first firework tore across the night sky like a meteor streaking through the silent heavens.
It exploded into an enormous golden chrysanthemum.
Its radiant petals shone brilliantly, resembling flames blooming in the darkness and instantly driving away the surrounding night.
Then more fireworks rushed into the sky one after another.
The outdoor New Year party had begun!
The shinobi gazed upward.
Light reflected in their eyes.
Their emotions were complicated.
Another year had ended.
Then came a low humming sound.
Rows of food carts were slowly pushed out from the tents.
Their wheels rolled gently across the ground, creating faint friction sounds.
One lid after another was lifted.
In an instant—
Rich aromas spread through the air.
The fragrance seemed to possess an invisible force, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Charcoal flames danced beneath the grills, crackling loudly.
Chunks of meat rolled across the metal racks.
Fat dripped down, sizzling as it struck the coals and releasing an irresistible roasted aroma.
Nearby, trays of sliced vegetables—
Green peppers, onions, and colorful bell peppers—
Were grilled until soft and fragrant, releasing their natural sweetness.
On another cart, fresh shrimp, crabs, and shellfish were arranged neatly over ice.
After being lightly steamed or grilled, they carried the delicious freshness of the sea.
The shrimp shells gleamed bright red.
The crabmeat was tender.
The shellfish retained a faint trace of salt from the ocean.
Then came the staple-food section.
Steaming rice, noodles, and bread were arranged neatly inside warming containers.
The rice carried a faint sweetness.
The noodles were filled with the rich aroma of sauce.
The loyal and upright eventually begged for food.
The treacherous and cunning ate from morning until night.
Heaven and earth were vast—
But eating and drinking came first!
The moment every shinobi had anticipated most had finally arrived.
Even Konoha's shinobi wore expectant smiles.
Tonight's food standard was considerably higher than their usual meals.
The shinobi from the other four great villages stared with shining eyes.
In the darkness, their gazes almost glowed green.
To hell with ration pills!
To hell with food-waste bins!
They could finally freeload from Konoha's kitchens again!
Uchiha Ren had somewhat underestimated how attractive food would be to this pack of starving wolves.
A large group of shinobi were already preparing to sprint toward the food carts at full speed.
"Don't fight!"
"Line up properly!"
"Tonight's food is unlimited!"
The loudspeaker carried Uchiha Ren's voice across the field.
After realizing it was the Hokage speaking, the starving shinobi finally began lining up obediently.
However, while waiting, they continued urging the people ahead of them to move faster.
Groups of ravenous diners gathered around the bonfires.
They devoured food while watching the stage, where performances celebrating the New Year were underway.
Each of the Five Great Shinobi Villages had prepared several acts.
There was no shortage of hidden talent among shinobi.
Many possessed unique skills worthy of performing beneath a bridge for money.
Soon, everyone began chatting freely.
"If only I were a Konoha shinobi!"
"Hey…"
"Mmm, delicious…"
"A little food is enough to buy your loyalty?"
"How pathetic!"
"Could you swallow the food in your mouth before condemning me?"
"All right…"
"Konoha shinobi really are fortunate."
"I'm jealous."
"I heard joining Konoha requires obtaining permanent residency."
"It's extremely difficult."
"There are other methods."
"You could marry a Konoha shinobi."
"That seems to work too."
Whispers spread across the open field.
Occasionally, someone uttered something outrageously disloyal.
Well—
Not merely occasionally.
Such voices became increasingly common.
The difference between the villages was right before their eyes!
If the Hokage personally offered someone Konoha permanent residency, could they really refuse?
A wise man understood the circumstances!
They had long wanted to join Konoha, bask in the benevolence of Konoha's fatherly ruler, and enjoy Konoha's blessings.
Sunagakure had been infiltrated most thoroughly.
It contained the largest number of people who mentally considered themselves citizens of Konoha.
Its relationship with Konoha was also the closest.
Naturally, Sunagakure's shinobi spoke first.
Kumogakure immediately followed.
Damn those ration pills!
And those food-waste bins…
Kumogakure was far too miserable.
Their home was still a ruin.
Kirigakure followed closely behind.
The bloodline clans made no attempt to conceal their envy of Konoha.
"Damn it!"
"Kirigakure should have been ruled by bloodline shinobi from the beginning!"
"That damned Suitō!"
"He ruined everyone's future!"
"We should overthrow him!"
Originally, Iwagakure's shinobi had not intended to speak.
But comparisons were terrifying.
The gap between Iwagakure and Konoha was simply too enormous.
They slapped the tables and joined the discussion.
Everyone believed opening their mouths at a moment like this should be harmless.
As for reporting one another—
Who would dare do such a thing now?
They were merely eating good food, drinking a little alcohol, and boasting together.
What was wrong with that?
Listening to the whispers, Konoha's shinobi unconsciously straightened their backs.
The corners of their mouths rose.
Some even began humming proudly.
Jealous?
This was fate!
Uchiha Ren was smiling.
He smiled very happily.
Naturally—
Some people were unhappy.
For example, the four Kage.
The Third Raikage's already dark face became even uglier.
Yet there was nothing he could do.
Ultimately—
He bore the greatest responsibility for Kumogakure's current condition.
At the very beginning—
The origin of everything—
Had been that damned Ponzi scheme.
Damn Ponzi…
No.
Wait.
It seemed he was called the Konoha Sickle.
One day, the Third Raikage would kill him.
Although someone had deliberately constructed the scheme to harm Kumogakure—
The Third Raikage was still the village's Raikage!
He should have possessed the ability and responsibility to see through the fraud.
Instead, his head had become muddled.
He trusted Hatake Sakumo and caused everyone in Kumogakure to be deceived.
After the Ponzi scheme collapsed, one chain reaction followed another.
The Third Raikage took the village's elite forces out to seek revenge.
That left the rear defenses empty and gave the Sky Village an enormous opening.
Sigh…
The Third Raikage sighed repeatedly.
Suitō was also suppressing the anger inside his heart.
Those bloodline clans had begun stirring people's hearts again!
They had gone too far!
He could not allow them to continue unchecked.
He had to—
Ōnoki's face hung low.
He said nothing.
He merely smoked one cigarette after another.
Mosa felt bitter inside.
Depressed, he drank several cups of alcohol.
He had always devoted himself tirelessly to Sunagakure.
Day and night, he worked as a gold miner in the desert.
After years of exhausting effort, he had finally improved the village's circumstances.
The living resources once scarce within Sunagakure had become increasingly abundant.
He had built homes from new materials for the villagers.
He brought electricity to the village.
He constructed roads.
He installed electric lights.
Employment rose sharply.
He transformed the fiscal deficit into a surplus.
He had even trained a large number of next-generation shinobi.
I, Mosa—
Am the Third Kazekage!
The hero of Sunagakure!
But Konoha…
Konoha!
The shinobi in his village constantly sang Konoha's praises.
It was as though everything Sunagakure possessed today had been given by Konoha.
They ignored all of Mosa's contributions!
Originally, Mosa had been extremely busy.
He had to manage an increasing number of official affairs.
He had to mine gold dust in the desert.
He had to set aside time for cultivation.
He had to train his students.
Then there was the chaos at home, where his wife constantly demanded that he fulfill his marital duties.
He had no time to pay attention to the rumors circulating through the village.
He believed the eyes of Sunagakure's shinobi and civilians were clear.
They would certainly worship him as their Kazekage.
Unfortunately—
The masses had always been foolish and ignorant.
Of course—
He was referring only to Sunagakure.
Especially under the guidance of journalists, Mosa's achievements had been concealed while Konoha's contributions were exaggerated.
"Why…"
"Can't they see everything I have done?"
Mosa listened to Sunagakure's shinobi whispering nearby.
They dismissed his contributions.
Every sentence belittled Sunagakure while praising Konoha endlessly.
He even saw female shinobi from Sunagakure approaching Konoha's shinobi with suspicious enthusiasm.
Several cups of alcohol went down.
His throat burned.
But Mosa's heart felt cold.
The four frustrated Kage were like magnets.
Without realizing it, they gathered together.
"Kazekage, this doesn't feel pleasant, does it?"
"Konoha's assistance is not easy to accept."
"The Hokage never conducts business at a loss."
Ōnoki smoked as he spoke in a low voice.
There was no mockery in his tone.
They were all suffering the same fate.
"Ōnoki, give me one."
"I want one too."
Before the Kazekage could answer, the Third Raikage and Suitō became freeloaders again and held out their hands for cigarettes.
"Honestly…"
"Can't you buy your own?"
"Kumogakure's situation…"
"We must save wherever possible."
"Free cigarettes taste better."
Ōnoki rolled his eyes.
He pulled out a pack and distributed cigarettes around the group.
"Do you think I wanted things to become this way?"
"The Land of Wind is far too barren."
"Sigh…"
"Those who eat another person's food lose the right to speak boldly."
"Those who accept another person's gifts become indebted."
Mosa sighed.
Although his identity as a shinobi limited his perspective, he was still the Kazekage.
He possessed abilities far beyond ordinary people.
No matter how righteous and magnificent Uchiha Ren appeared—
No matter how loudly his slogans were shouted—
Mosa had never lowered his guard against Konoha.
He firmly believed Konoha desired something from Sunagakure.
However—
Uchiha Ren had used an open conspiracy.
Accept Konoha's assistance—
And Konoha would infiltrate the village.
Uchiha Ren knew it.
Mosa knew it.
But Konoha's methods of infiltration were endlessly varied.
Little by little—
Silently and subtly—
Only now did Mosa finally understand how enormous Konoha's influence inside Sunagakure had become.
Still—
Sunagakure had once been so desperate that Konoha's assistance was like a drowning man grasping a life-saving rope.
Once they caught it—
They could not let go.
It was too late to say anything now.
"Therefore, we cannot continue sitting still."
"If we allow Konoha to proceed like this, sooner or later our villages will…"
"Kazekage, you rejected me last time in the Land of Birds."
"What about this time?"
Ōnoki inhaled deeply and slowly released the smoke.
It spread through the air.
At the same time—
Ōnoki, the Third Raikage, and Suitō unconsciously moved closer together.
All three looked toward Mosa.
"It seems…"
"The three of you discussed this long ago."
Mosa stared at them and revealed a bitter smile.
What a difficult decision.
Although Mosa complained verbally—
His goodwill toward Konoha remained extremely high.
At the very least, it was above the passing line.
After all—
Konoha had provided Sunagakure with real money and resources for years.
Mosa and Uchiha Ren also maintained a fairly good personal relationship.
They exchanged greetings and gifts during holidays.
The connection between their villages had grown increasingly close.
Konoha had never wronged Sunagakure.
Instead—
It had shown Sunagakure tremendous kindness.
Was Mosa supposed to become inconsistent like Ōnoki and stab Konoha in the back?
However—
Konoha was far too powerful.
So powerful that even its allies felt terrified.
Moreover, the shinobi within Sunagakure liked Konoha far too much.
Konoha's influence inside the village had to be weakened.
After all—
Watching his own people throw themselves at another village was truly painful.
"Kazekage, think carefully."
"We merely want to support one another and prevent Konoha from becoming powerful enough to eliminate all of us."
"If we fail to cooperate now, Konoha will only grow stronger."
"We do not want to start a war with Konoha."
"We merely want to…"
"One village dominating everything benefits none of us."
The Third Raikage and Suitō joined Ōnoki in persuading him.
"All right."
"Konoha is indeed too powerful."
"It needs to be restrained."
"I can cooperate with you."
"However, Sunagakure will not openly stand beside you."
"We will only support you secretly."
Mosa still could not bear to abandon Konoha's assistance.
If Sunagakure openly fell out with Konoha—
And Konoha withdrew its support—
Mosa did not dare imagine what his village would become.
It might return to its former poverty overnight.
Moreover, if he tried to oppose Konoha or begin a war—
The first people to reject the decision would be Sunagakure's own civilians.
Therefore—
Mosa intended to benefit from both sides!
"No problem."
"To a successful cooperation."
Ōnoki extended his hand.
He had never expected to persuade Mosa to become Konoha's enemy.
It was enough for Sunagakure to stand with them on certain issues.
"To a successful cooperation."
Mosa first shook Ōnoki's hand.
Then he shook hands with the Third Raikage and Suitō in turn.
"Tell me your plan."
"First, we can no longer waste time on meaningless wars."
"For example, Amegakure."
"Kazekage, you certainly know that Konoha has always been supporting the village."
"What about the daimyō?"
"Konoha stands behind Amegakure."
"The four of our great villages will stand together."
"As for the daimyō…"
"Hmph."
"We will imitate Konoha."
"I have recently studied Konoha again."
"The nobles inside the Land of Fire have been slaughtered by Konoha again and again."
"Damn!"
"You intend to go that far?"
"Time waits for no one."
"That is how Konoha acted."
"We should simply copy them."
"However, we do not need to begin on such a large scale."
"We can proceed little by little."
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