Rasa Wants to Assert His Authority

The heart of the Land of Wind, Red Rock Canyon.

This was where several underground water veins within the Land of Wind converged. Aside from Sunagakure, it was the most important strategic buffer zone.

Normally, several wandering shinobi clans beyond the daimyo's jurisdiction, armed merchant caravans, and wealthy local tyrants who occupied the oases held sway here.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the canyon was so tense that even the dust in the air seemed to have stopped moving.

A huge round table stood in the center of a hastily erected windproof tent. Fully armed Sunagakure Anbu surrounded it.

The dozen or so so-called "leaders" seated around the table were all pale, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.

The man seated at the head of the table had short dark-gold hair and a gloomy gaze.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

"Everyone, the daimyo's cuts to Sunagakure's military funding have reached the breaking point."

Rasa crossed his hands beneath his chin, his voice low.

"To maintain peace in the Land of Wind, Sunagakure took part in the Third Ninja World War and paid a tremendous price. And you... as those under our protection, you've made a fortune over the years through smuggling and occupying oases. Don't you think it's time to show some loyalty to your country?"

"L-Lord Kazekage..."

A burly leader of a wandering shinobi clan wiped the sweat from his face and forced himself to speak. "It's not that we don't want to pay taxes. It's just that the sandstorms have been terrible these past two years, and the trade routes are hard to travel. On top of that, that... that place called Rōran has been acting strange lately. It seems to be sucking all the moisture out of the surrounding area..."

"Hmph."

Rasa snorted. A layer of glittering Gold Dust instantly appeared across the surrounding sand, surging like golden snakes as it radiated a suffocating wave of Magnet Release chakra.

"I don't care about your excuses. I'm asking you one thing: do you want to end up like the leader of Boundless Oasis and be killed by my hand?"

The leaders exchanged glances.

Seeing that they were still hesitating, Rasa slammed his hand on the table, no longer hiding the murderous intent in his eyes.

"Starting next month, I want half of everything you earn! And your private forces will be incorporated into Sunagakure's reserves and placed under the village's command! Who's in favor? Who's against?"

The words set the entire gathering abuzz.

Half their earnings, and their private forces as well? He might as well drain the marrow from their bones!

But faced with the deadly Gold Dust swirling through the air, no one dared voice their anger. Rasa meant to make an example of them and use the proceeds to fill Sunagakure's enormous budget deficit.

Just as tensions reached a boiling point and Rasa prepared to kill one to frighten the rest—

"Jingle-jingle—"

The clear, melodious sound of camel bells abruptly pierced the ring of guards surrounding the canyon, drifting into the grim ravine.

"Who's there?!"

The Sunagakure Anbu on guard were alarmed.

How had the sensory barrier they'd set up failed to react at all?

"Someone here to do business."

As everyone stared in astonishment, the sandstorm at the canyon entrance subsided.

There was no army—only two people.

The one walking in front was a mysterious young man wearing a black coat and a mask marked with strange patterns.

Half a step behind him followed a young girl of around thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a bright red padded jacket.

Her large, dark eyes, clear and black-and-white, were idly taking in the Gold Dust poised to strike all around them.

The pair were simply too strange.

They looked like a young nobleman out on a picnic with his little sister, stumbling into a feast of wolves.

"You're... the one they say controls Rōran?"

Rasa narrowed his eyes. He'd seen descriptions of this attire in intelligence reports.

He'd never taken Rōran seriously, but anyone who could slip through the barrier without a sound clearly had some ability.

"Pleased to meet you, Lord Kazekage. You may call me Aizen."

Yue Uchiha strolled over to the round table, ignoring the palpable killing intent of the dozens of Sunagakure shinobi around him.

He casually pulled out a chair and sat beside the leader who'd just been trembling in fear, then took out... a beautifully printed product brochure from inside his coat.

"I overheard you outside, Lord Kazekage. Are you short on money?"

Yue gently pushed the brochure toward Rasa, a professional smile curling beneath his mask.

"Rather than wringing these poor people dry, why not discuss some business with me? Rōran's latest products—the 'Fully Automatic Steam Water Pump,' 'Compressed Dehydrated Vegetables,' and 'Chakra Amplification Ninja Tool'—could solve many of Sunagakure's current problems."

"Business?"

Rasa didn't even glance at the brochure. The shadows in his eyes deepened.

He was making an example of them, establishing absolute authority.

And this Rōran fool had dared to barge in at a time like this and disrupt things, even trying to negotiate with him as an equal?

"In the Land of Wind, all resources belong to Sunagakure. Rōran is no exception. Half your earnings, or else!"

Rasa slowly stood. Behind him, Gold Dust shot into the sky and formed a huge golden claw that hovered over Yue's head.

"Sigh..."

Yue sighed helplessly. He didn't look up at the golden claw, which could smash rocks to pieces, but instead turned to Hikari behind him.

"See? I told you there's no point reasoning with politicians. The only thing they understand is the sound of a fist."

Uchiha Hikari narrowed her eyes. "Yue, should I kill them all?"

The girl's voice was clear and calm, as if she were simply asking whether they were having grilled fish for dinner.

"No, no. They're all potential customers."

Yue raised a finger and wagged it. "Just show them that Rōran can keep the 'trade routes safe.' Let's see... give Lord Kazekage a chance to cool off."

"Understood."

Hikari nodded.

In the next instant, a chilling killing intent, as if it had risen from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, burst from the seemingly harmless girl!

"Foolish! Die!"

Rasa's eyes sharpened, and the golden claw crashed down with tremendous force!

"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Wave!"

Facing the Gold Dust claw crashing down over his head, Yue didn't even shift in his seat. He remained seated in that elegant posture, as if he were still promoting his products.

"Clang—!"

A razor-sharp ring of a blade, as if it could slice through space, rang out.

Everyone present saw a flash of red.

Then—

"Boom!!"

The Gold Dust claw, powerful enough to pound an elite jonin into a pulp, abruptly shattered half a meter above Yue's head!

It hadn't been blocked. A ferocious force had cleaved it apart straight through the center!

Golden dust rained down from the sky, pattering softly.

Amid the shower of Gold Dust, Uchiha Hikari's figure landed lightly in the very center of the round table, like a red butterfly.

Her Short Blade shone with no trace of chakra, yet a chilling aura that made the heart tremble coiled around its edge.