Icy Vein

Hoshino Maki's heart skipped a beat, nearly severing the connection as he looked at the person before him.

"Orochimaru!"

"It seems you recognize me~"

Orochimaru licked his lips with a snake-like tongue. "But I don't recall ever meeting you."

"Your appearance, as a qualified ninja, it's normal to know of you."

Orochimaru chuckled and said nothing, rising from the samurai armor in front of him.

Hoshino Maki's puppet had been placed inside the armor by Danzo and was openly displayed in his reception room.

"Is there something you need?"

Orochimaru shook his head, a flicker of fanaticism in his eyes. "I'm just curious, how did you transfer your consciousness from a thousand miles away to Konoha? This technique, combined with a humanoid skin exterior, is a very promising ninjutsu~"

Hoshino Maki's heart tightened. If this experimental maniac set his sights on him, he'd be in for endless trouble. He quickly brushed it off, "It's just some petty trick, similar to the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu. But their ninjutsu is far more advanced than mine. Perhaps you should ask them."

Orochimaru smiled without a word. Hoshino Maki felt he should remind Danzo to hide him in a safe location. He didn't want to wake up next time with only his puppet's head remaining.

Just then, the lattice door outside was pulled open. Danzo, with his usual grim expression, hid his gaunt body within a loose, plain robe.

"Hokage-sama."

Hoshino Maki bowed slightly.

Danzo frowned. "I've told you many times, the Hokage is in the Hokage Building. Stop with your damned divisive tactics!"

Hoshino Maki offered an apologetic smile.

The old man always says that, yet I've never seen him truly angry.

"Lord Danzo, I have some bad news. The Sand Ninja are preparing to mobilize."

"What?!"

For the first time since entering, Danzo's usually placid face showed a violent fluctuation.

"Those old fossils dare?"

Danzo seemed to recall something and looked at Hoshino Maki with murderous intent. "You're behind this, aren't you?"

Hoshino Maki spread his hands, looking wronged like an MVP. "After I reported the intelligence to the elders, I also stated my opinion of holding back. But Rasa and Chōjūrō insisted. Lady Chiyo has always harbored hostility towards Konoha due to her son. I couldn't possibly refute her decision, could I?"

Danzo's breathing grew heavy, and he snorted. "You can't do this, you can't do that, and you still want to be Kazekage?"

"Lord, it's precisely because my words carry little weight that I need your support~"

Danzo was stumped by his words, a lump forming in his throat that he couldn't dislodge for a long time.

But he had to admit, Hoshino Maki was his highest-level intelligence source in Sunagakure. Coupled with Sunagakure's unique administrative system, it was indeed difficult to influence the Elder Council's decisions.

"I'm warning you, don't play any tricks."

In the end, Danzo could only utter a powerless threat.

"Lord, what are you saying? I'm counting on you to help me become Kazekage."

Hoshino Maki said with a smile, then glanced at Orochimaru.

Danzo noticed his gaze and calmly said, "Orochimaru, you should return to the laboratory first."

Orochimaru said no more, smiled at Hoshino Maki, and nodded in agreement.

Hoshino Maki knew this was a futile attempt at self-deception, but as a 007, he had to maintain his caution.

After Orochimaru left, Hoshino Maki said in a low voice, "The Elder Council is preparing to have Rasa lead the troops. The direction of attack is still unclear."

Danzo stroked his chin. Rasa was the foremost among the younger generation in Sunagakure. Sending Rasa to lead the troops would undoubtedly be an unstoppable force.

"Lord, I wonder how Minato's injuries are healing? With him around, Rasa shouldn't be a problem."

Danzo glanced at him. "Minato's injuries haven't fully healed, but his love for the village can help him overcome any difficulty."

Hoshino Maki nodded. It seemed he was almost recovered. Then he couldn't let Minato go to the western front.

"What about Choza Akimichi? If the Ino-Shika-Cho formation defends the western front, Rasa will have a hard time dealing with them."

Danzo stared at Hoshino Maki. "You seem very interested in Konoha's defenses?"

Hoshino Maki nodded generously. "Lord Danzo, if Rasa's troops attack Konoha and achieve some success, there will be few factors preventing his ascension. I don't want Konoha to be attacked at its doorstep, only for Kai to return and don the Kazekage's robe."

Danzo looked into his eyes, and after a moment, said, "No one will attack Konoha's doorstep. Rasa doesn't have that capability. I guarantee it."

Hoshino Maki nodded. When it came to the conflict between Konoha and the Sand Ninja, Danzo's stance became much firmer.

The subsequent conversation was unproductive. Since Danzo was now on guard, it was difficult to extract more information.

Hoshino Maki opened his eyes on the bed and sniffed. The air still carried the familiar scent of heat and dust.

"Did I not close the window properly yesterday?"

Hoshino Maki got up to close the window and saw a tumbleweed running over, sweating profusely, its clothes soaked with sweat.

"Lord!"

Kazaguruma pushed open the gate of opening. Seeing a dark shadow flying towards him, he instinctively grabbed it. The coolness in his hand made him pause. It was a bottle of iced beverage.

"Finish your drink first."

Kazaguruma didn't say a word, tilted his head back, and chugged.

Hoshino Maki shook his head. He actually drank it? So stupid.

Kazaguruma let out a burp and wiped his mouth sheepishly.

"Lord, Rasa agreed."

"What was his expression like?"

"His expression?"

Kazaguruma hesitated, frowning in thought.

"It didn't seem to change much."

Hoshino Maki nodded. He had just asked casually; it was too much to expect Kazaguruma to glean anything from Rasa's expression.

"It's fine, you can go back to practicing ninjutsu."

"Lord..."

Kazaguruma didn't leave. He looked at Hoshino Maki timidly.

"If you have something to say, spit it out."

"Can... can I still follow you?"

Hoshino Maki stepped forward and ruffled his hair. "If you want to follow me, then work harder."

"Okay!"

Hoshino Maki watched the excited figure retreat without saying anything. He turned to the mirror, stretched his neck, and muttered, "I hate solving problems with force."

Night. With the widespread application of electricity in Sunagakure, the village was no longer completely dark at night. Specks of light shone from the windows of every household, decorating the village wrapped in stone exceptionally beautifully.

Unfortunately, the sand dunes in the distance were not high enough to see this scenery.

"You're here early, Lord Rasa."

Hoshino Maki, wearing a brown cloak, walked over slowly. Rasa was already waiting.

"Since your sights are set on the position of Kazekage, you don't need to call me 'Lord' anymore."

Hoshino Maki nodded. "You don't seem surprised."

Rasa looked at Hoshino Maki calmly. "Do you know, I've known you for longer than you think. Back then, I described you as a catfish, one that would stir up ripples in the stagnant water of Sunagakure. I just didn't expect you would..."

"Expect me to leap over the dragon gate?"

Hoshino Maki interrupted him, just as he had done during his first appearance at the public trial.

Rasa looked at him. "Who is behind you now? Chiyo or Chōjūrō?"

"Who do you think is behind me?"

Rasa watched Hoshino Maki approach, their eyes meeting.

"Behind me could be Chōjūrō, it could be Chiyo, it could be people from Sajiu's Kazekage faction, but what I hope for most is Sunagakure itself."

Rasa shook his head in disappointment. "Honestly, I didn't expect such an immature statement to come from you."

The model was either to attach oneself to a clan collective or become an appendage to all clans. This was the path taken by the Second and Third Kazekage, apart from the First Kazekage.

Among Sunagakure's leadership, this model was also a consensus.

"You're wary of me, aren't you?"

Rasa felt Hoshino Maki wasn't telling the whole truth.

Hoshino Maki stood beside him. "Do you think if one attaches themselves to a certain clan, they can still be a true 'Kage'? I haven't met Lord Lie Dou, but I heard that when Lord Lie Dou was around, it wasn't like this. Both sides were equals, and he was even the dominant one. Why isn't it possible now?"

"That was a special period when the village was just established. It's incomparable to now."

"But special periods can reappear, can't they?"

Rasa's gaze immediately became hostile.

Hoshino Maki felt the other's stare and chuckled. "Don't misunderstand, I have no intention of destroying Sunagakure. The special period I'm referring to is reform."

"Reform?"

"The Elder Council is a good management model. The elders check and balance each other, restraining one another. But the fatal flaw is that no person or organization can restrain their exploitation of the lower classes. An unchecked Elder Council is like a greedy venomous snake, devouring everything it can. As long as there's a profitable industry in the village, it's controlled by the elders' clans or clans affiliated with the elders. Isn't this form deformed?"

"Let me tell you something. The civilian birth rate in the village has been negative for five consecutive years. And this is without any major wars! That's why I want to attract more outstanding people to Sunagakure. Otherwise, this village will truly have no hope, understand?"

Rasa remained silent. He looked at the darkness ahead. This scenery had been the same since he was a child, as a youth.

People change, but the only constant is this desert.

He thought of his master, an excellent ninja, even better than himself in his eyes.

He had taken him to many places in the Land of Wind. They had discovered over a dozen oases and found many mineral veins. Rasa still remembered how his master had cried tears of joy when they found that huge silver vein, saying that the people of Sunagakure would have good lives from then on.

It was the first time he had seen his master cry. The man hadn't wept when his chest was pierced by a blade, but he shed tears upon seeing the cold silver mine.

He didn't understand why his master cried, nor why this mineral vein could bring prosperity to the village.

Especially since the mineral vein was later exploited and utilized, it was still at a loss until his disappearance, not bringing a single cent to the village.

Of course, Rasa now understood why his master cried and why the mineral vein had been losing money for years, but he still couldn't understand why his master had so naively believed that those people would share the money with the villagers below.

Their greed was written all over their faces!

Therefore, he became different. The mineral vein was no longer given to the village for free, but used to trade with the Elders, to gain more say. So, although the Kazekage faction nominated him as Kazekage, he was not a puppet, but a decision-maker who could participate in the faction's decisions.

And he firmly believed that the path he was taking was the only way to revitalize Sunagakure.

"Hoshino Maki, perhaps what you said makes sense, but I still believe that only I can lead Sunagakure onto the right track."

Rasa turned sideways, his gaze icy. "Since you want to contend for Kazekage, let me see if you are qualified first."

Hoshino Maki scratched his head and said helplessly, "So. We still have to fight, right? Why is it like a forced plot in a game? Can't we just use Talk no Jutsu?"

Rasa couldn't understand the nonsensical words he said later and frowned. "If you want to divide your forces into two, then let me see your strength. The weak are not fit to lead Sand Ninja."

Hoshino Maki nodded, but the moment he nodded, a sand spike made of Gold Sand erupted from beneath his feet!

"Despicable!"

Hoshino Maki leaped up, condemning the opponent's unethical behavior while controlling the puppets that had long been ambushed under the sand to surround Rasa.

Two Gold Sand shields quickly appeared beside him. The sharp swords flashing on the puppets collided with the Gold Sand, emitting a clanging sound of metal hitting metal.

Rasa completely ignored the blades beside him. He had absolute confidence in his shields.

He reached out and clenched his hand in the direction of Hoshino Maki, and a giant Gold Sand palm rose from the ground, quickly enveloping Hoshino Maki.

With a forceful press, the Gold Sand palm tightened. Rasa frowned, not showing any joy.

At this moment, a puppet beside him suddenly released the blade in its hand, lunged forward, its arms like a drawn bowstring. It took a step forward and punched the Gold Sand shield.

The puppet shattered into countless pieces. The fist wrapped in pale blue chakra on the puppet's body forcefully hit the shield. The shield cracked rapidly with the fist as the center. After blocking for less than a second, this rock-solid shield could no longer withstand it, allowing the punch to hit Rasa.

Bang--!

Rasa, hit by the fist, turned into fine sand. Hoshino Maki's alarm bells rang, and he immediately jumped up and twisted, blocking with his arms.

Several thin and sharp Gold Sand cones had already pierced the sand layer where he was originally standing.

Although he was already on guard, four or five Gold Sand cones still pierced his arms.

The two retreated, and Hoshino Maki pulled out the Gold Sand cones. The injuries on his arms quickly healed.

"So troublesome~"

Hoshino Maki sighed.

"I hope you don't make any small moves when you speak."

Rasa crossed his arms, his expression calm, but the shield beside him remained upright, with several linear scratches on it.

"Honestly, this makes things difficult for me. If the representative of the Kazekage faction is seriously injured, I'll be in a lot of trouble."

Hoshino Maki shook his head. The wind and sand blew past, rolling up his robes. A cracking sound came from his bones.

Rasa narrowed his eyes, instinctively feeling danger.

Hoshino Maki tilted his head up. "Have you heard of the Eight Inner Gates?"

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