Fame and Fortune Are Like Floating Clouds to Me

It took a long while for Chiyo and Ebizo to compose themselves, yet they still cast appreciative glances at Rasa from time to time; it was no easy feat for Sunagakure to produce such a promising talent.

In their eyes, Rasa's Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai far surpassed that of the Third Kazekage. As long as his chakra reserves continued to grow, he would undoubtedly rank among the elite even when compared to other Kage-level powerhouses.

With a truly top-tier expert at their disposal, Sunagakure would possess immense deterrent power, leaving them with no reason to fear the other hidden villages.

Eventually, Chiyo calmed down, pondered for a moment, and said, "Since your strength has advanced by leaps and bounds and your Kekkei Genkai has evolved, this next matter is perfectly suited for you."

"What is it?" Rasa asked, more than willing to accept the task.

Ebizo pulled open a drawer, took out a file, and pushed it toward Rasa, saying, "You know of the Land of Artisans, don't you?"

Rasa nodded. He had some impression of the Land of Artisans—a faction that appeared in the anime around the two-hundred-episode mark.

After the founder of the Land of Artisans, Seimei, was resurrected, he had once attempted to wage war against the Five Great Shinobi Villages, only to be finished off by his own son, Gaara.

What kind of strength did Gaara have around the two-hundred-episode mark? He was a total scrub, barely on par with Kimimaro.

It was akin to a village chief in some remote mountain valley declaring himself emperor and sending a diplomatic letter via post to the Generalissimo, appointing him as the Prince of the South.

Three days later, the local police discovered the kingdom and sent a small squad to wipe out the dynasty; that was roughly the concept.

Thus, Rasa had a rather deep impression of the Land of Artisans. It was rare to see people capable of being that ridiculous.

As Rasa flipped through the file, Ebizo explained from the side, "The Land of Artisans possesses the best craftsmanship heritage in the shinobi world and handles many orders. Whether it is the Five Great Shinobi Villages or the samurai of the Land of Iron, most of the ninja tools and blades used are commissioned from them."

"War is about to break out. We previously dispatched over a dozen squads disguised as merchant caravans to the Land of Artisans to commission custom ninja tools, yet so much time has passed, and there has been no word. These squads were not weak; they were capable of escaping even if they encountered a Jonin, yet now they have vanished without a trace, with no news at all."

Rasa tossed the file onto the table and lowered his head in thought.

To avoid leaking news that Sunagakure was preparing for war, the dispatched ninjas had been disguised and were operating under different identities. This meant that if there truly were enemies involved, it was highly unlikely they were specifically targeting Sunagakure.

The available intelligence was too scarce; no further analysis could be drawn from it.

"You want me to take a trip to the Land of Artisans?" Rasa asked. Thinking about it more was useless compared to going there and seeing for himself; then everything would become clear.

"Yes."

Chiyo nodded and explained, "We haven't finished our pre-war preparations, and the capable ninjas in the village all have their own missions. As for the rest, they either lack the strength or their ability signatures are too distinct, making it easy for their identities to be exposed and our true objectives to be deduced."

"This mission requires few people but high-level strength. As it stands, you are the perfect fit."

In other words, he had to travel to the Land of Artisans without revealing his identity, uncover the truth, and bring back the ninja tools.

"Fine, I accept," Rasa nodded, his tone calm.

Chiyo and Ebizo exchanged a smile, knowing they had found a young man willing to give his all for the village.

Fearing they might dampen Rasa's spirit, Chiyo offered some comfort: "We will keep this mission secret for now and make it public when the time is right. The village will remember your contribution. Rest assured, it won't be long before you take the next step. You are the only candidate; Pakura is not suited to be a leader."

What kind of candidate? The Kazekage, of course. Some things didn't need to be stated so bluntly.

Was this a sign of being hand-picked?

Rasa put on an expression suggesting that fame and fortune were like passing clouds to him, saying, "Elder, what are you saying? Even without the current special circumstances, solving problems for the village is my duty. As for taking the next step, I only hope that day comes as late as possible—preferably decades from now."

"A general's success is built upon ten thousand bones. I would rather toil my whole life than see the villagers and my comrades caught in the flames of war!"

When would Rasa become the Kazekage?

After the truth of the Third's death was exposed, after they were invaded by a massive army, and after he had performed meritorious service. Ebizo and Chiyo knew that day was not far off.

Yet Rasa said he hoped that day would never come, wishing for eternal peace in Sunagakure—a masterclass in subtle posturing.

This was what you called enlightenment; this, damn it, was true enlightenment. Chiyo and Ebizo clapped in approval.

It was truly a great blessing for Sunagakure to have a "three-virtue" youth like Rasa—someone with ideals, awareness, and strength!

Points +1+1+1+1...

Rasa was extremely satisfied. By simply putting on a show, he had gained points, and he now understood the mechanics of his golden finger even better.

By using personal effort to push the progress of history, he could harvest points whenever he influenced the original plot.

The easiest way to influence the plot was to affect the original characters or those in high-ranking positions within the major shinobi villages.

Chiyo had a decent amount of screen time, and while Ebizo had less, they currently controlled Sunagakure. Every bit of influence he exerted on them would indirectly affect the actions of Sunagakure, thereby directly impacting the landscape and progression of the shinobi world.

This was the leverage effect combined with the butterfly effect; with both superimposed, the points would roll in.

Give me a chance to posture, and I can pry the entire shinobi world!

"Since that is the case, go and prepare yourself."

"This mission is of great importance. The future of our Sunagakure is in your hands!"

Chiyo jumped up, excitedly grabbed Rasa's hand, and said.

Closing the door behind him, Rasa left the Kazekage's office. He first sought out Yashamaru and Karura to inform them that he had gained new insights and would be secluding himself at home for a few days.

He hoped that not only would they refrain from disturbing him, but they would also ensure no one else did.

Yashamaru naturally patted his chest and agreed; if his brother-in-law became even more formidable, didn't that just mean he was more formidable by association?

After Yashamaru left, Rasa told Karura about the secret mission he was about to undertake, hoping she wouldn't worry.

To say "don't worry" is to ensure she does; playing hard to get isn't a tactic exclusive to women.

Were the secrets of Sunagakure more important than his own pursuit of romance? Besides, Karura was truly a good woman, a genuine helpmate who knew exactly what lines not to cross.

Finally, Rasa returned home to prepare for his mission.

Being unable to reveal his identity meant he could not use puppetry, the unique ninjutsu of Sunagakure, or his own Kekkei Genkai.

Perhaps for others, adhering to these restrictions would significantly impact their strength, but it couldn't stump Rasa—it was easy.

There were too many directions in which electromagnetic force could be developed; even at his current low level, it was enough to perfectly disguise himself in many identities without compromising his combat prowess.

First was the swordsman or samurai; the difference was that the former used their hands to wield blades, while Rasa used electromagnetic force to manipulate the sword in his hand.

On the surface, he would be a swordsman; aside from a slight impact on his attack range, his offensive power and lethality would remain largely unaffected.

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