Blade Waltz

Rasa didn't reply. The Gold Dust shield around him kept growing thicker, and a layer of sand armor even covered his body.

After that punch, he no longer had complete faith in his supposedly unrivaled defense.

There was no way he'd just let his opponent unleash a powerful Ninjutsu or calmly launch into a flashback like they did in anime. Rasa seemed to be defending himself with all his might, but the Gold Dust had already slipped beneath the sand where Hoshino Maki stood.

Whoosh—!

A massive Gold Sand Cone burst from underground in the blink of an eye, kicking up a skyful of yellow sand. Rasa narrowed his eyes. Through the moonlight, he saw someone beside the cone, one arm wrapped around it, looking down at him. Green Chakra Flames engulfed the figure, whose gaze was cold and unfeeling.

Suddenly, he grinned. His teeth gleamed so white in the bright moonlight behind him that they were unnerving.

The next second, the Gold Sand Cone burst into countless tiny grains of Gold Dust. Sensing what was coming, Rasa jumped away the moment the cone shattered—but this time, someone appeared in front of him.

Hoshino Maki!

How had he gotten through the Gold Dust shield?!

There was no time to figure it out. The instant their figures overlapped, Rasa found himself unable to move. Countless fine, resilient Chakra Threads had already bound him tight.

A mage had been caught in close combat.

Hoshino Maki curled his finger, and Rasa's body flew toward him against his will.

Thud—!

A fist, its veins bulging and wreathed in green Chakra Flames, slammed into Rasa's stomach.

Urk—

Rasa let out a painful retch, but it wasn't over. He felt blows raining down on his back, shoulders, thighs, chest—above and below, from every direction.

For an instant, it was as if countless people around him were attacking all at once.

It was a full moon tonight. Beneath its vast light, the two men performed a Blade Waltz in midair.

"Rasa is unwell, so I'm conveying his decision on his behalf. He agrees to split our forces into two groups, with Hoshino Maki commanding one of them, and... and to the agreement regarding the position of Kazekage."

In the Elder Council Hall, Sajiu read out Rasa's decision, his expression somewhat displeased.

He couldn't understand why Rasa had agreed to such an absurd decision. It was utterly baffling.

But if Chōjūrō's faction agreed, Chiyo stayed silent, and Rasa agreed too, then there was no point in everyone on his side opposing it.

"Since that's settled, let's discuss preparations for the campaign."

Chōjūrō's voice carried a hint of delight. It had been rare for things to go so smoothly lately. He felt as if everything had finally fallen into place.

Since they couldn't change the decision, they would do their best to secure a say in the matter.

The Kazekage faction argued fiercely over the selection of personnel and supplies that followed. With Rasa's years of influence behind him, Chōjūrō's side lacked the confidence to push back. The best units and equipment still went to Rasa's forces first.

"This is a test for you. If you want to become Kazekage, you should be able to overcome a small problem like this, shouldn't you?"

Hoshino Maki looked at Chōjūrō, who was shamelessly making that claim. He had to admit, the old man had his strengths: he could call his own incompetence a test and a disadvantage a small problem. You certainly knew how to lead.

Oh, he was part of Sunagakure's top leadership, after all. Never mind.

"I'll do everything I can."

Hoshino Maki bowed slightly.

"Don't just do everything you can. You have to win! Understood?"

Hoshino Maki looked at the other man, who had swept his hand through the air with great authority, and chuckled.

"Pakura."

At a newly opened izakaya in Sunagakure, Rasa pushed aside the curtain and went over to the beauty who was already waiting.

Much of her bare back was exposed, so pale it seemed to reflect the izakaya's warm light. Her slender back drew the eyes of everyone around her. She rested her delicate forearms on the counter; from her arm guard, a strip of fair skin extended all the way to her right hand. She toyed with the straw in her cocktail glass, which was already half empty, and stared vacantly ahead, lost in thought.

"Hm? Rasa, what made you ask me out all of a sudden?"

Rasa's voice roused her, and she quickly smiled and greeted him.

Suddenly, Pakura's hand paused. She tilted her head curiously. "Why are you wearing an eyepatch? Don't tell me you had a fight with Karura?"

Then she dismissed her own guess. Karura wasn't the sort to be as violent as she was.

Rasa awkwardly raised a hand to touch the eyepatch, but froze halfway and quietly lowered it again. He shrugged, pretending to be casual. "I got hurt while training."

Seeing the suspicious look in her eyes, Rasa coughed twice. "Let's not talk about me. I asked you here because there's something important."

At the mention of something important, Pakura dropped her casual air and straightened up. In an instant, she became the Shinigami of Scorch Release, invincible on the battlefield.

"Do you know the village is sending out troops?"

Rasa led her to a secluded corner and spoke seriously.

Pakura nodded. The news was still confidential, but some Elite Jonin had already heard about it and begun preparing for battle.

"I hope you'll join my unit. With you there, things will be much easier for us."

Pakura seemed to have expected him to say that. She showed no surprise, but didn't agree right away either. She lowered her head and fiddled with the straw in her hand, her expression conflicted and tinged with annoyance.

After a while, she took a deep breath and drained the rest of her drink. "Sorry, Hoshino Maki invited me first, and I already agreed."

Rasa seemed to have anticipated that, too. He nodded. "I understand. Whatever happens, we're both doing this for the village. Good luck."

"Mm. Thanks for understanding."

Pakura looked a little embarrassed. They'd known each other since the Ninja Academy and had fought side by side for years. Now she was going to help his competitor instead. For someone as straightforward as her, it made her feel ashamed.

Rasa smiled, but it seemed to tug at an injury, and his expression instantly twisted into a grimace.

Rasa stepped out of the izakaya and sighed softly.

Pakura still hadn't gotten any better at lying...

There was no point forcing the matter. Rasa had thought that even without Pakura's help, his own strength would be enough. He seemed to realize something. Well, actually, he really did need Pakura.

What kind of Taijutsu had that monster used? He'd never heard of anything like it in all his years in Sunagakure. Could it be a secret technique of the Chiyo Clan?

A shadow crossed Rasa's face. He couldn't understand why he suddenly seemed to be at a disadvantage in the contest for Kazekage.

Fortunately, Rasa was resilient enough to steady himself. He prepared to visit a few other Elite Jonin, confident that his connections and reputation would keep them from turning him down.

Just as he turned the corner, someone entered the izakaya.

"Pakura!"

Pakura turned to see who it was, gave a cold snort, and turned away without responding.