"Oh? What's your plan?" Chiyo and Ebizo asked curiously, eager to hear Rasa's answer.
Ever since the Third Kazekage's death, Rasa's performance had perfectly matched their expectations for the Fourth Kazekage.
He had political savvy, formidable strength, courage, and a clever mind. Time and again, Rasa had exceeded their expectations.
Whenever they thought he had already done enough, Rasa would deliver an even more impressive performance, telling them: I'm the only one fit to be the Fourth Kazekage.
At that moment, they were eager to know how Rasa planned to solve this problem.
Once they returned Roshi, the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth would likely fight again in the future, and Roshi would once more become a formidable force on the enemy's side.
"Elder Chiyo, have you ever heard of a condition called myocardial infarction?" Rasa asked mysteriously.
Chiyo nodded. Anyone skilled in poison knew a thing or two about medicine. Though her Medical Ninjutsu was nowhere near Tsunade's level, she was still as capable as an ordinary jōnin.
"Of course. I've studied the condition before.
"Some people are born with narrowed blood vessels leading to the heart, while others develop blockages later in life. This makes strenuous exercise impossible.
"If they exert themselves, their heart rate rises and their blood flows faster. The heart then suffers intense pain from an inadequate blood supply, causing symptoms such as a lack of oxygen and ischemia. If these symptoms aren't relieved in time, the person can die on the spot.
"Even if someone with this condition becomes a shinobi, their combat ability will be severely diminished. They won't be able to use even thirty percent of their strength."
Chiyo explained patiently. A myocardial infarction was, in fact, a kind of heart disease.
"If the infarction is caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries, then may I ask, Elder Chiyo, is there anyone in the Shinobi World who could treat it?" Rasa asked.
Chiyo considered the question before replying, "Probably not. Tsunade of Konohagakure might have the medical skills for it.
"But surgery involving the heart and its vessels is far too risky. Even Tsunade probably couldn't be completely sure of success."
Rasa smiled without a word. It wasn't just that Tsunade couldn't be sure—she had suffered from Hemophobia ever since the Second Shinobi World War, and any operation involving the heart would inevitably involve blood.
Sending a heart patient to Tsunade at this point would be like sending a pig straight to the slaughterhouse.
"Come with me."
Rasa rose and went to the Gold Dust Coffin, manipulating the Gold Dust into a square platform.
Roshi still lay unconscious upon it, every joint and bone locked in place. The Four-Tails Son Goku, for some reason, hadn't taken the opportunity to rampage either.
Perhaps Rasa's Heaven-Based Kinetic Weapon had scattered it, and it hadn't recovered yet.
Chiyo and Ebizo followed Rasa to the platform, eager to see what he would do next.
Electromagnetic Force, move!
Buried deep underground, tiny metal particles of high density and hardness—about one or two taels' worth—slowly gathered in Rasa's hand.
Chiyo and Ebizo suddenly understood what Rasa intended to do, and their opinion of him rose even higher.
This wasn't merely underhanded. He was so wicked it showed in every step he took. But they were more than happy to see this kind of wickedness.
Rasa took out a Shuriken and cut into one of the arteries in Roshi's chest. Blood immediately flowed out. Rasa guided the metal particles in his hand through the wound and into Roshi's artery.
Chiyo cooperated without being asked. She used Medical Ninjutsu to stop Roshi's bleeding and heal the artery.
Human blood actually contained quite a few trace amounts of metal. Rasa's Electromagnetic Force Precision, however, wasn't high enough to control them yet.
He manipulated the fine metal particles, guiding them along Roshi's artery throughout his body. Some clung to the blood vessels, restricting the flow of blood.
Others were sent into and around the left ventricle, where they adhered to the heart.
The operation complete, Rasa snapped his fingers cheerfully and said with a smile, "If we don't gain enough, we've lost. This way, we can minimize our losses.
"From now on, Roshi won't be able to exert himself. Otherwise, the fine metal particles hidden in his artery and left ventricle will kill him.
"This Jinchūriki is as good as useless. He can also keep Iwagakure tied up for a long time. There aren't many suitable Jinchūriki.
"Until they find a new candidate, Roshi will be a useless burden—neither worth keeping nor worth discarding.
"Even if he ignores the danger and undergoes Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, it won't matter. We won't lose much. When the time comes, I'll manipulate the metal particles in his heart and send him on his way.
"The Four-Tails will die once again and return to the wild."
What a towering scheme!
"Brilliant! Simply brilliant! They'll have paid a fortune in supplies, only to get back a Jinchūriki who can never fight again.
"When Iwagakure discovers the truth, they'll be furious. I'd love to see Ōnoki's face!"
Ebizo clapped his hands in approval. Mercy to the enemy was cruelty to oneself, and Rasa's wickedness was all for Sunagakure's sake.
Anyone who sincerely advocated a conciliatory policy toward potential enemies was a traitor—if not in fact, then in spirit!
Rasa glanced at the Starry Sky Vortex in his mind. [Points: 407]
Once the negotiations with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth were over, changing the original storyline again should earn him enough points to raise Electromagnetic Force Precision to Lv. 2.
Raising its strength to Lv. 2 would cost 2,000 points, so he wouldn't consider that for now. Improving his own strength was more important.
If he already had the power to sweep through the Shinobi World, he wouldn't need to play dirty. Wouldn't it be nice to show off and enjoy himself? Until then, he'd have to resort to a few little tricks.
Sigh, this damn Shinobi World had forced such a pure-hearted young man into becoming a master of underhanded schemes. What a bitter life.
As something occurred to him, Rasa suddenly said, "By the way, have the village's Sealing Jutsu specialists add a few more layers of Sealing Jutsu to Roshi.
"Don't worry about whether they work. Add as many as they can.
"Also, have them study the Sealing Jutsu Iwagakure used on the Four-Tails. I remember the Sealing Jutsu in our village has always had its flaws."
Even the Sealing Jutsu on Bunpuku had flaws. The only reason Shukaku didn't rampage was that it had accepted Bunpuku.
Whether Gaara could be born safely was another matter, but Rasa certainly wouldn't seal Shukaku inside Gaara in the future. Just look at the dark circles around his cheap son's eyes in the original storyline.
Even so, it was important to learn Iwagakure's advanced Sealing Jutsu. Rasa wouldn't pass up any opportunity to improve himself or strengthen his side.
That was how you made steady progress!
Chiyo and Ebizo nodded. They summoned the village's Sealing Jutsu specialists, who did as Rasa had instructed and thoroughly worked Roshi over.
The news about the clash between Ōnoki and the Raikage would probably take a while to arrive. They couldn't just sit idle in the meantime. They might as well put this waste to use.
A few days later, when Roshi finally came to, he was shocked to find himself completely naked, with Sealing Jutsu layered all over his body.
A group of shinobi bustled around him, treating him like a test subject.
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