The Duke of Zhou Spits Food, and the World Submits

The desert sands are like snow, the sun setting over the dunes.

Under the twilight, Rasa and Pakura walked together, treading the evening glow as they returned to Sunagakure, exchanging idle chatter.

The captured Roshi enjoyed VVIP treatment: unconscious, all joints restrained, and floating along inside a Gold Dust Coffin.

This time of day was a rare moment of leisure for the people of Sunagakure. The sky had not yet darkened, the temperature was perfect, and having finished their meals early, people were out walking the streets, chatting and strolling.

Rasa and Pakura, returning from outside the village, were particularly eye-catching; they were, after all, the two most outstanding young people in the village.

Not long ago, rumors had spread that Rasa had easily defeated Pakura to become a Kage-level powerhouse, and Pakura had tacitly accepted this.

Yet today, the two were actually walking back to the village together, laughing and talking. No one could see any tension between them; on the contrary, they looked more like a couple.

It was mostly Pakura doing the talking, with Rasa chiming in from time to time. Female ninjas were already scarce, and Pakura, while powerful, was not exactly quick-witted; she had some followers, but few friends.

The "Golden Leftover," after being guided by a few words from Rasa, had finally let down her guard and was chatting with him with the attitude of a friend.

Something's up!

In the crowd, Yashamaru, who was cruising the streets, felt a surge of alarm. He shoved through the throng and dashed over to Rasa.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!" he shouted, waving his hand.

Rasa slapped Yashamaru on the back of the head and scolded him with a smile: "Be steady. You're a Chunin now."

"Hehe."

Yashamaru scratched his head, deliberately squeezed Pakura aside, followed behind Rasa, and asked: "Did you just finish a mission, brother-in-law? Why are you back with this woman?"

It was impossible not to care. His brother-in-law and sister were a perfect match; how could Pakura wedge herself in?

Pakura glared at Yashamaru. Mindful that Rasa was still nearby, she didn't start a fight, instead silently moving to the other side and subconsciously stroking the Iron Butterfly on her head.

"We met on the way, so we just came back together," Rasa replied casually.

He didn't blush or skip a beat. Caught red-handed by his brother-in-law while flirting, he felt no guilt at all. As long as my skin is thick enough, embarrassment can't catch up to me.

"Oh, I see."

Yashamaru glanced at Pakura on the other side. This woman was very strong, and her beauty was no less than his sister's; she would be a formidable rival.

But it didn't matter. First come, first served; his sister would definitely be the primary wife.

He glanced at the coffin behind Rasa, tapped it twice to listen for movement, and after a bit of fumbling, asked curiously: "Brother-in-law, what's inside?"

"A gift for the village."

"A coffin? That's not very auspicious. Did some elder in the village pass away?"

"Take a closer look at who's lying inside."

Rasa smiled and opened the coffin lid. Yashamaru leaned his head over and peered inside.

A man with red hair and a red beard, knocked cold—other than that, nothing special.

"Who is he?" Yashamaru asked again, unable to understand what qualifications this man had to serve as a gift for the village.

"His name is Roshi. He is the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of the Land of Earth. In other words, a Tailed Beast is sealed within his body!"

Pakura chimed in, raising her eyebrows. Although she hadn't been the one to defeat Roshi, she had at least been a spectator on the sidelines—a front-row seat for a VIP.

"Hiss!"

Yashamaru quickly stepped back two paces and looked at the coffin again, shocked and incredulous.

A Jinchuriki was one of the greatest powers of any village. As long as the vessel didn't fail, they could at least possess power comparable to a village's Kage.

Overwhelming strength, vast chakra, defense and recovery far beyond ordinary ninjas, and ultimate moves capable of leveling a small mountain!

This made defeating a Jinchuriki exceptionally difficult. Even ordinary Kage-level powerhouses couldn't do it, because once a Jinchuriki entered their Perfect Form Tailed Beast state, they were equivalent to a Tailed Beast.

Counting the current Shinobi World, there were only a few people who could defeat a Tailed Beast. The Third Raikage had relied entirely on his own strength to suppress the Eight-Tails and sever one of its horns.

Long ago, the Third Kazekage had also used the properties of Iron Sand to suppress the One-Tail, though it was a bit of an unfair victory—let's call it half a win.

The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, possessed the strongest offensive Kekkei Tōta in the Shinobi World, Dust Release, and also had the strength to suppress Tailed Beasts, which he had done before.

The Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was in his prime and proficient in all five elemental ninjutsu, known as the strongest Hokage. Although he had no record of suppressing a Tailed Beast, no one doubted his strength.

After all, Konohagakure possessed the Nine-Tails, which was stronger than the other eight combined; when it went berserk, it was more terrifying than all the other Tailed Beasts put together.

Yashamaru was inexplicably excited. He forced himself to calm down, his voice trembling as he pressed: "Brother-in-law, how did you defeat a Jinchuriki?

Did you defeat him before he could transform into the Tailed Beast?"

Yes, that must be it. Even though his brother-in-law was very strong and his Kekkei Genkai had evolved, making him a master of mowing down human opponents, Tailed Beasts were giant monsters.

And the Four-Tails wasn't like the One-Tail, which was countered by the Iron Sand and Gold Dust techniques of the Kazekage lineage.

"Hmph."

Pakura raised her head, looking down at Yashamaru, and said proudly with one hand on her hip: "Rasa suppressed the Four-Tails Jinchuriki the entire time!

Even when the Four-Tails Jinchuriki finally transformed into the Tailed Beast, he was still subdued by Rasa in one move. Kid, don't underestimate people."

He was subdued only after transforming into the Tailed Beast!

Yashamaru stood frozen on the spot. Defeating a Jinchuriki and defeating a Tailed Beast were two completely different concepts.

The Third Kazekage can only rely on the Iron Sand Technique to bully the One-Tail; doesn't this mean that brother-in-law's strength has already surpassed Lord Kazekage?

The strongest in Sunagakure, the Double Flower Red Pole!

Suddenly noticing the change in Pakura's tone, Yashamaru clicked his tongue twice and said with a sarcastic, mocking air, "My brother-in-law defeated a Tailed Beast with his own strength; as his brother-in-law, I should be the one feeling honored.

You woman, what are you acting so proud for?"

Incredible, simply incredible. This woman already has a sense of ownership; I must tell my sister.

Pakura's cheeks flushed, her face turning beet red as she stammered, "A powerhouse capable of defeating a Tailed Beast has appeared in the village.

As a member of Sunagakure, isn't it only natural for me to feel proud?"

That makes perfect sense.

Yashamaru stopped pestering her, looked around vigilantly, leaned in close to Rasa, and asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, will this news be announced to the whole village?"

"It will." Rasa nodded.

For a long time, his predecessor and Pakura had been pecking at each other like chickens, still just elite jonin in their early twenties.

While they were considered equals, Pakura was two years younger than Rasa; if not for Pakura's lack of political talent and his predecessor's backing from the Third Kazekage, public opinion would not have favored Rasa.

The Raikage's two sons, Konohagakure's Hatake Sakumo, and the Sannin were all capable of fighting true Kage-level powerhouses at Rasa's age.

That is to say, quasi-Kage. While quasi-Kage have obvious shortcomings in certain aspects compared to true Kage-level powerhouses, they are not much different when facing ordinary ninja.

Defeating Pakura some time ago was clearly not enough; this time, he would go big. A Jinchuriki, a Tailed Beast—was that not impressive enough?

Furthermore, releasing the news at this time would help boost the cohesion of the village's ninja. With their spirits lifted, their combat effectiveness would rise by two points out of thin air.

The Land of Earth had just claimed their Jinchuriki went missing in the Land of Wind and sent a special squad to search for him. Rasa had turned around and knocked the man out, bringing him back.

This was a powerful counterattack. Compromise could never win peace; if you want something, you have to fight for it with your own fists.

Therefore, releasing this news was all benefit and no harm to Rasa.

"Then brother-in-law, you don't mind if I go spread the word first?" Yashamaru asked hopefully.

"Why, do you enjoy being a messenger so much? If you like it, go ahead," Rasa laughed.

Having received Rasa's permission, Yashamaru cheered and leaped for joy, bumping through the crowd as he ran toward the Kazekage Office.

He shouted as he ran: My brother-in-law Rasa has defeated a Perfect Form Tailed Beast and captured the Land of Earth's Four-Tails Jinchuriki...

Along with other heart-stirring words.

The streets of Sunagakure erupted in an instant. Defeating a Tailed Beast and capturing a Jinchuriki were things many people couldn't even dream of.

Sunagakure is vast but sparsely populated, and with few ninja, the small base made it difficult to produce true powerhouses. The niche profession of puppetry also had too many limitations.

Decades of talent decline, being cornered in a remote area, and the failure of the Second Shinobi World War—all these reasons made every person in Sunagakure yearn for a true powerhouse to emerge in the village.

A powerhouse who could lead them to strike out and seize more resources.

Everyone on the street stepped aside, clearing a path for Rasa and his companion, looking at Rasa with the eyes of people gazing upon the village's only hope.

Worship.

Some elderly ninja even had tears in their eyes, running to tell others, shouting that Sunagakure had a future!

An elite Kage-level powerhouse who could defeat Pakura and a Kage-level powerhouse who could suppress a Tailed Beast and capture a Jinchuriki carried completely different meanings.

The latter could boost the morale of the entire village much more effectively.

Rasa played along, remaining calm and composed. He opened the coffin, manipulated his Gold Dust to lift Roshi, and displayed his battle achievements to everyone.

System: Points +1+1+1+1...

At this point, Rasa had truly conquered all the people of Sunagakure. Even those who supported Pakura had to admit that Rasa was better suited to be the Kazekage.

To achieve success without returning home is like wearing fine silk in the dark.

The Duke of Zhou spits out his food to welcome scholars, and the world turns its heart toward him!

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Rasa walked all the way to the Kazekage Office, with Pakura having long since silently stepped aside.

Hearing the cheers and receiving the news from Yashamaru, Chiyo and Ebizo, who was disguised as the Kazekage, stood before the office with great satisfaction, watching Rasa.

Heroic and spirited, his strength had improved with such terrifying speed; even if he were to take over as Kazekage right now, it wouldn't cause any waves.

"Clang!"

Rasa put Roshi back into the coffin and stood it heavily on the ground with a loud thud. He said calmly, "Report to Teacher and Elder Chiyo.

Jonin Rasa, while on a reconnaissance mission, encountered the Land of Earth's Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, who had trespassed into the Land of Wind with the intent to assassinate the Kazekage.

Out of a desire to protect my teacher, I engaged him in battle and successfully captured him."

In short, it was best to pin a label on him first.