Good Qualities

If I remember correctly, during this war, he should have used Magnet Release: Gold Dust on the battlefield against Kumogakure, resisted the invasion, protected the village, and thereby rightfully become the Fourth Kazekage.

But in the current situation... no matter how he looked at it, he had no chance of leaving. Where would he get the chance to show off on the battlefield near Kumogakure?

Rasa hid himself and rubbed his chin. He had to admit that his gains over the past two months had been substantial. Starting in the morning, he would diligently pan for gold, and in a day and a half, he could probably manage one ten-pull. Over two months, he had made around five or six hundred pulls, but...

The drop rate was still terribly low. Most of what he got was useless junk, along with some things that increased attribute points. As for two-star products, he had only drawn three.

Adding in the two-star rare card he had obtained at the beginning, that meant... on average, he could get one two-star item from more than a hundred one-star pulls. The drop rate was simply too low.

Of course, with the increase in all those attribute points...

Rasa had also discovered that he had indeed grown quite a bit stronger. In particular, the mechanical movements involved in panning for gold had made him much more proficient at controlling his Magnetic Shield. After this, he might truly be able to seal the One-Tail by himself in the desert.

Of course, if he wanted to act like the Shinobi God and show off his B, he still had a long way to go~

After all, the Nine-Tails could fight eight opponents at once, while the Shinobi God... could use nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine hands to grab the Nine-Tails by the neck with a single claw.

The difference in strength was still far too great~!

Of course, all the junk that had piled up by the basketful—apple cores, pear cores, all kinds of kitchen waste... he had sorted and stored most of it.

Most of it was useless. A small portion had special descriptions, and if used correctly, it might produce unexpected results. Even the mutated kitchen waste had been put away.

However...

He still had not discovered anything special. They were more or less the same as the kitchen waste he usually threw away after eating.

Rasa gazed toward Kusagakure in the distance. It was already the beginning of spring, but the Land of Wind was still suffering from drought. There was no spring rain at all. For the Land of Wind... rain was extremely rare, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter.

The climate did not change much, and for these people who had long since made their War Preparations, it could not cause any real hindrance!

Moreover, this battlefield had received no reinforcements. Most of the reinforcements had been sent to the battlefield against Kumogakure.

So losing was perfectly normal~

Although Sunagakure could use the Puppet Technique to narrow the gap in numbers, not everyone possessed superb puppet-control skills~

Sunagakure ultimately lacked a Kage as its Pillar, so it had already lost half the battle in terms of morale.

On top of that, it was now facing so many villages. Being able to hold out like this was already quite impressive.

Rasa had observed the Sand Ninja's situation a few days ago. It was not good. Compared to two months ago, when he had left, there were far fewer people, along with quite a few more immature faces.

He knew that in order to make up for the lack of strength between the two sides, Sunagakure had already begun sending young children who were still in school onto the battlefield. Many Ninja villages did the same. Although these ignorant children could not accomplish much on the battlefield, and might even drag others down if they panicked or became frightened, as long as they did not lose in terms of numbers and morale... that was enough.

That was also why a certain Kage who shouted all day about leaves dancing and whatever else, when faced with insufficient forces during wartime, had allowed students still attending school to graduate early and go to the battlefield.

Some people were good at shouting slogans, while others... never shouted slogans. With a single order, they had their subordinates make the arrangements.

Sunagakure's birth rate was second only to that of the future Bloody Mist Village. In truth, no matter how many children it sent to the battlefield, it still could not compare with the other Ninja villages.

Everyone knew that, but... there was nothing anyone could do~

As someone who might become the Kage of Sunagakure in the future, Rasa still felt somewhat reluctant when he saw those ignorant children~

After all, the future economy... might have to rely on them. Otherwise, who would pay for his ten-pulls?

These...

"It's all money~"

So he had made up his mind!

First, blow the hell out of them!

Rasa narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked toward Sunagakure's camp.

Although Iwagakure had chosen to pass through Kusagakure and enter Sunagakure directly, the two villages were currently in a honeymoon period of cooperation.

But Ninja could not be judged by common sense.

Even the closest allies would not deliberately draw too near to each other at a time like this, whether Iwagakure or Kusagakure.

Therefore, they would keep a moderate distance—not too close, but not too far either.

Not far from Kusagakure, Iwagakure was located on the other side. As temporary allies, the two villages would occasionally hold joint war councils, especially since Kusagakure was also Konoha's ally. Whether Konoha would intervene in this battle, and what it would do...

Perhaps they could obtain some information from Kusagakure's Ninja.

At this moment.

"Has the advance team led by Hato still not sent back any news?" In the temporary command room—a tent—a somewhat portly middle-aged Ninja wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector looked at the Stone Ninja before him, frowning slightly as he said, "Given the situation... with so many Jonin accompanying them, even if they were defeated, it would be impossible for all of them to disappear without a sound."

"Kitsuchi, sir, we still haven't found any information about Lord Hato," the Stone Ninja said helplessly, shaking his head. "Even Rasa from Sunagakure, the disciple of the Third Kazekage, has disappeared."

"The Third Kazekage's disciple? That suspected mentally devastated, incoherent fellow?" Upon hearing the Stone Ninja's words, Kitsuchi furrowed his brows and sank into thought. "Did both sides disappear at the same time?"

Could that Rasa really be that strong?

After fighting to the death, did he perish together with Hato and the others?

Otherwise, as the son of the Third Tsuchikage and someone who had experienced several wars of varying sizes, he truly could not think of any reason why both sides would disappear together.

As for the Third Kazekage...

No need to look into it. It was definitely Konoha's doing!

Although his father was very powerful, to erase a Kage so silently and without leaving behind the slightest trace—aside from Konoha, the other Ninja villages would probably find that quite difficult.

Perhaps saying this would damage the morale of his own village. They often shouted to the outside world that Iwagakure was the strongest Ninja village, while Konoha had long since declined.

But as the son of the Third Tsuchikage, he still had enough self-awareness.

Shouting slogans was merely a way to get more people to commission missions from Iwagakure. If even he lost himself in them, the village would sooner or later be finished.

"Continue investigating. If..."

If that Rasa really is so powerful, then Hato and the others did not sacrifice themselves in vain. At least, for the short term, it would be impossible for Sunagakure to find someone capable of becoming its Kage.

However, before he could finish speaking...

"Lord Kitsuchi, Lord Kitsuchi."

A Stone Ninja suddenly rushed in, looking panicked.

"What is it? Why are you rushing around like that?" Kitsuchi looked unhappily at the panting Stone Ninja. "Have you forgotten the excellent quality of our Will of Stone—unyielding and immovable?"

"But... Kusagakure right now..." The Stone Ninja took a deep breath, quickly forcing his panicked emotions to calm down. "Kusagakure seems to have come under attack by an unknown enemy!"

"???"

I've used up all my stored chapters. I'm out of chapters~