Sunagakure at a Disadvantage

Rasa's expression turned solemn. He took the youth even more seriously, and even a trace of killing intent rose in his heart.

Tamura Hiroshi sensed the intensified hostility but paid it little mind. After considering it for a moment, he said, "Your footsteps are heavier than Karura's. You must have covered your skin with a layer of sand as well, and it shouldn't be ordinary sand—it's much heavier.

"I heard that the Third Kazekage possessed Magnet Release. His chakra had powerful magnetic force that allowed him to control iron sand in battle. Your Kekkei Genkai should also be Magnet Release.

"In terms of combat power, Magnet Release is far stronger than the Sand Manipulation Secret Technique. The Third Kazekage was even hailed as the strongest Kazekage in history, so you shouldn't be any worse in the future.

"High-density Magnet Release materials can make your Magnet Release more powerful, but they can also become a weakness. Against Earth Style Ninjutsu enhanced with gravity, your Magnet Release material would be completely suppressed and difficult to move.

"Large-scale Sealing Techniques should also be able to counter your Magnet Release effectively.

"As for your personality, I see coldness, a sense of responsibility, and ambition—or rather, aspiration. Coupled with the special significance of Magnet Release to Sunagakure at present, your goal should be the position of Fourth Kazekage.

"And among the three of you, you're the leader. You should be the one directing this diplomatic mission. Together with your Magnet Release, I'd guess that you're the Third Kazekage's Disciple. No other talented youth would be qualified to meet Lord Raikage.

"Finally, during the meal earlier, you and Karura exchanged glances several times. You should be a couple. Judging by Karura's shy gaze, you probably only started dating recently."

After saying all that, Tamura Hiroshi ignored the three of their expressions and picked up his juice, taking a sip through the straw.

The warm pool water paired with cool juice felt incredible, just like sunbathing on a beach. And there were two beautiful women beside him as well.

The three fell silent. Rasa's hostility grew even stronger, and for the first time, it was directed specifically at Tamura Hiroshi, allowing him to sense it clearly.

Tamura Hiroshi showed no reaction, but he remembered it. If he got the chance in the future, he would get rid of this guy.

"I'll need time to write down the chakra training techniques. We'll come here again tomorrow."

Karura responded to her earlier promise. She naturally did not have a ready-made scroll recording the techniques, so she would have to write them down after returning to the inn.

But this little brother was truly formidable. He had seen through so much in such a short time.

Is this what an intelligence-type ninja is like?

Perhaps Lord Ebizo possessed such insight as well.

"Then thank you, Sister Karura!"

Tamura Hiroshi's smile widened. Obtaining the Chakra Threads training technique would be of great help to him, especially since he would soon be heading to the Land of Whirlpools battlefield. With Chakra Threads paired with Explosive Tags, protecting himself would no longer be a problem.

Pakura, on the other hand, was beginning to question her life. She felt as though that brat had seen through her from head to toe.

Are all Kumogakure ninja this capable, or is he just an exception?

Hopefully, it's the latter!

The four finished soaking in silence. Rasa and the other two had no mood to enjoy themselves in the Entertainment City and returned directly to the inn.

The three gathered in one room, all of them rather silent.

Karura used the pen and blank scrolls she had just bought to write everything down, but she could not help thinking about that youth.

Was Kumogakure's education system really that strong?

"Do we still need to keep in contact with him?"

Leaning against the wall and idly playing with a kunai, Pakura asked the question. That brat had given her quite a shock—no, he had utterly stunned her.

Although he was weak, his mind was terrifying. It even gave her a chilling feeling. His future status in Kumogakure definitely would not be low. It was necessary to learn more about someone like him.

Karura, who had been writing, shifted some of her attention over. She also regarded that little brother highly, though she did not know whether they would be enemies or allies in the future.

I hope he won't become an enemy!

Rasa pondered for quite some time before finally shaking his head.

"We aren't suited for this. If we continue interacting with him, he'll see even more of our information. And someone with a mind like his, if he deliberately conceals himself, we won't be able to discern anything.

"He might even put on a false front to mislead us. That would be even less worthwhile."

The three of them were combat-oriented ninja and were not skilled at probing or investigating enemies. Moreover, this was Kumogakure, where many of their methods could not be used.

"Will he go to the Land of Whirlpools this time?"

Pakura asked again. Though that brat was young, his mind was not immature at all. In certain respects, he was even superior to jonin. She wondered whether he would participate in the upcoming Land of Whirlpools War.

"Even if he goes, it should only be for the elders to bring him along and let him get used to war. He can't possibly become part of the decision-making level. He's too young."

Although Rasa was shocked by the brat's intellect, his age was an undeniable weakness. Even if Kumogakure and the Raikage's Son valued his wisdom, they would not let him decide the course of a war.

War was no child's play. Even they were not qualified for that yet.

"Sunagakure's initiative in this diplomatic mission has put us in too passive a position."

Rasa suddenly sighed. He knew very well that taking the initiative to visit Kumogakure and scheme over the Land of Whirlpools War would only leave them at a disadvantage.

But they had no choice. They desperately needed a Tailed Beast Sealing Technique that could perfectly seal and utilize the One-Tail.

That was because the One-Tail not only possessed powerful Magnet Release, with combat power that multiplied in a desert environment, but its chakra itself also had the properties of sealing and breaking seals. Ordinary Sealing Techniques could not contain it at all, nor could they hold it for long.

As a result, the One-Tail frequently went berserk, causing enormous losses to the village.

Even Third Teacher's Iron Sand Magnet Release struggled to suppress the One-Tail. His own Gold Dust Magnet Release could use the weight of gold dust to mix in and suppress the One-Tail's magnetized sand, but he was still too young and far too weak. He was not yet capable of suppressing the One-Tail.

Although they now had a One-Tail Jinchuriki, it was still not perfect.

In particular, Sunagakure only had one Tailed Beast. Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure each had two, while Konoha, though it only had the Nine-Tails, possessed the strongest Tailed Beast.

In this regard, Sunagakure was at a severe disadvantage. He had not even seen the One-Tail unleash that Tailed Beast Bomb capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Could it be that the One-Tail couldn't use a Tailed Beast Bomb?

If that were true, they would be far too passive. Future wars in the Ninja World would inevitably become the domain of Tailed Beast Jinchuriki. Those Tailed Beast Bombs were powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth; ordinary ninja simply had no way to contend with them.

They had to achieve perfect control over the Tailed Beasts' power, and Sealing Techniques were the key to that.

At the same time, in the Raikage Office, the Third Raikage stared at the intelligence report handed over by ANBU, his face darkening.

"That brat is far too reckless. He actually met with a ninja from another country in the village without authorization and even made a deal with him. If it had been anyone else, they would've been arrested already."

"What did he do this time?"

Dodai, who was busy at another desk, looked up. Had that kid caused trouble again?

"Take a look!"

The Third Raikage tossed the report over, though there was a smile on his face. He clearly wasn't truly angry.

"Rasa! The Fourth Kazekage!"

After reading the report, Dodai fell into thought, then smiled as well, filled with satisfaction.

"He was able to uncover and analyze so much information from such a brief encounter. He's even more outstanding in this regard than I imagined."

This child was better suited to be his Disciple. In the future, he could take over Dodai's role and assist the Fourth.