A Rotten Idea

There was a war going on outside, while we were panning for gold.

This was originally Rasa's plan for the harmonious and healthy development of Sunagakure.

But at this moment...

"Whose suggestion was this?"

Rasa slammed his hand down on the desk and stared at the Jonin who had hurried back from Chiyo's front line to report the news.

His face was livid. He seemed to be suppressing his anger and doing his best to remain calm, but from his widened eyes, it was obvious...

He really wanted to lose his temper!

"Who exactly... declared war on Konoha without permission?!"

This was simply a rotten idea... He had to know that Rasa had swiftly pacified the battles with Iwagakure and Kusagakure precisely so that Sunagakure could escape the vortex of this war sweeping across the entire Shinobi World as much as possible. But now...

There was something on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't know whether he should say it.

Damn you, who declares war on Konoha for no reason at a time like this?!

Although Sunagakure did occasionally go lumberjacking, couldn't they... at least look at what time it was?

Couldn't they just focus on developing the village properly?

Did they really have to cause trouble before they could settle down?

Rasa took a deep breath, trying his best to calm down. He sat down in his chair and looked at the Jonin before him. "Speak! Who exactly was it?"

"C-Chiyo... Chiyo!"

"???"

What exactly was that old woman trying to do?

Did she think Sunagakure had too many people and was planning to send some of them to their deaths to save a little food?

Rasa froze, and even the other Sand Ninja froze as well. They couldn't understand why Chiyo had done this.

However, before he could voice the question in his heart...

"Iwagakure has sent word. They hope that Sunagakure can attack the Land of Fire together with them."

The Jonin continued speaking.

"If we refuse, Iwagakure will have the ninjas stationed at the border attack Sunagakure and officially declare all-out war on us."

As soon as he finished speaking...

"This... is simply outrageous!"

The Sand Ninja angrily slammed their hands on the tables and stood up, glaring furiously at the Jonin before them.

"Iwagakure... They've already been defeated, yet they still have the nerve to be so shameless!"

Besides...

Did they think they could threaten Sunagakure just because they wanted to?

"Fight them! Who cares about Iwagakure? Let's just attack Iwagakure directly!"

"That's right! Let Iwagakure see how powerful our Sunagakure is!"

However, when Rasa heard the Jonin's words, he didn't slam the table and jump to his feet this time. After thinking it over, he instead calmed down.

After all, Chiyo... had experienced so many wars. It was impossible for her to make such a rotten decision for no reason.

As these Sand Ninja had said, even cooperating with Konoha to attack Iwagakure was better than cooperating with Iwagakure to attack Konoha. After all...

The Third Hokage was a good man!

Even if he wasn't a good man at heart, when necessary, he could only be a good man.

As long as they cooperated with Konoha, borrowing eight hundred million or a billion in interest-free loans should be a small matter, right~

At this moment...

Under the gazes of all the Sand Ninja and the Kazekage, the messenger Sand Ninja was also trembling slightly inside. He was worried that this group of guys might vent their anger on him, so he hurriedly said, "Chiyo doesn't want the Land of Wind to remain a battlefield. She plans to shift all the conflicts to the Land of Fire, so..."

At this point, he didn't continue. He believed everyone understood.

Sure enough...

After he shut his mouth, all the Sand Ninja fell silent. Even Rasa crossed his hands and propped them beneath his chin, sinking into thought.

Although... the Land of Wind was what it was, so it didn't really matter whether it became a battlefield or not. Besides... so many Ninja Villages were already using Sunagakure as a battlefield, so adding one more battlefield wouldn't make much difference. But... as an old diehard, and as a ninja of Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, Chiyo was preparing to move the battlefield to the Land of Fire. Combined with the powerful attacks of the other three villages, perhaps they really could defeat Konoha or something.

Of course... this was probably just what Chiyo believed~

Rasa knew clearly... all three Great Shinobi Wars had still ended in Konoha's victory, no matter who its enemy was!

Moreover, using human lives to move the battlefield... deep down, he would still rather cooperate with Konoha and try to borrow more money to develop the village.

For the sake of peace in the Shinobi World, the kind and benevolent Third Hokage would certainly be more than happy to provide them with an interest-free loan. Even if they failed to repay it when the deadline came... as long as they had peace in their hearts, Konoha surely wouldn't blame Sunagakure.

But now...

Rasa rubbed his forehead with a headache and sighed. He looked at the Sand Ninja before him. "Have Chiyo and the others already set out?"

They had declared war in February of Year 45, and now... it was already the end of March. The day after tomorrow would be April.

Most likely...

Sunagakure was already fighting Konoha at the front!

Seeing the hesitation on the Jonin's face, Rasa helplessly shook his head.

"Forget it. Chiyo and the others have probably already launched a surprise attack on the border of the Land of Fire by now~"

So... he could only abandon his idea of taking out a loan. But Chiyo...

Rasa slightly furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with melancholy and helplessness.

It seemed Chiyo... still hadn't gotten used to me being the Fourth Kazekage~

Although she had always staunchly defended the dignity of the Fourth Kazekage and the village, and had been very willing for him to become the Fourth Kazekage, she was still an elder of Sunagakure, after all. Back when the Third Kazekage was still around, she had possessed the authority to make decisions and offer suggestions. Now that she had encountered a new Kazekage like him, combined with the fact that an army in the field did not always have to obey imperial orders, it wasn't surprising that she had ultimately come up with this rotten idea.

Of course, this might not have been solely because of the battlefield. After all, lumberjacking... was a daily activity for every Ninja Village.

Normally, as long as they could cause trouble for Konoha, Sunagakure would be more than happy to do so.

This was something that had long become an accepted custom among the Four Great Ninja Villages.

Therefore, Chiyo might have thought that he, the Fourth Kazekage, would agree with her decision. Did she really think that losing the war was fine, but Konoha absolutely had to be fought was just a joke?

Thinking of this, he sighed helplessly inside and looked at the Jonin before him. "Then Chiyo sent you back this time..."

"This... Chiyo hopes that the Kazekage can send more ninjas and supplies. She also needs food."

The Jonin immediately stated the mission this time without hesitation. Although the Kazekage's face looked somewhat unpleasant because of his words, still...

He had to say what needed to be said!

After all, he was a Jonin of Sunagakure.

"And... she also asked me to tell the Kazekage that... the Chunin Exam... should be held in Sunagakure as well."

"..."

With dark lines across his forehead, Rasa looked at the Sand Ninja beside him, who had fallen silent and was gazing up at the sky. Then he looked at the messenger Jonin standing before him with his head lowered, waiting for instructions. In the end, he could only shake his head and speak helplessly. "Tell Chiyo... I understand. Also..."

His tone became stern.

"I hope that the next time Chiyo makes a decision, she can... think about me, the Fourth Kazekage!"

Now that the arrow was nocked and ready to be fired, he had no choice but to launch it. He couldn't possibly make Chiyo withdraw with the entire army at a time like this~

The war could be lost, but retreating without even fighting... would easily offend both sides.

By then... Sunagakure's situation would become even more dangerous.

Therefore...

"Don't make decisions on your own again!"

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