Proactive Hidden Sand and Nagato's Reflections

Land of Earth, Sunagakure military base.

Baki had just finished communicating with Rasa and was feeling slightly excited.

He received a mission from Rasa to take over three resource points occupied by Konoha.

Baki didn't understand how Rasa did it, nor did he care; he only knew that Sunagakure would be great again.

The reason for all this is simple: it was a deal between Ren and Rasa.

The delegation heading to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran was quite large, and it was led by Ren himself.

To reach the Dragon Vein, one must traverse the Land of Wind.

However, the team consisted of more than a few people, making it possible to conceal their movements.

If it can't be hidden, then diplomatic means are the only option.

Therefore, Konoha used three resource points from the Land of Earth in exchange for the Rōran ruins located in the desert of the Land of Wind.

Sunagakure was naturally well aware of the matter concerning the Dragon Vein.

Furthermore, relevant research has been conducted, after all, a natural giant Chakra source is a treasure no matter how you look at it.

Unfortunately, the Sunagakure's level of expertise was limited, leading them to conclude that the Dragon Vein Chakra could not be utilized by ninjas.

It's not entirely unusable, but it can only be utilized within the Dragon Vein's radiation range.

Unless Sunagakure moves to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, the Dragon Vein is like a chicken bone—useless and worthless.

Of course, while the Dragon Vein might seem like a useless resource, there were other reasons why the Hidden Sand Village readily agreed when Konoha had a need for it.

Although it's useless to us in Hidden Sand Village, it would be useful to you in Konoha. So Hidden Sand Village would rather no one use it than let you in Konoha.

This is in accordance with the rules of the Shinobi World, therefore Konoha's sacrifice was not simply a matter of three resource points.

After some negotiations, it was agreed that in addition to sharing the use of the facilities, researchers from Hidden Sand Village Sunagakure also be involved throughout the process.

Ren would never agree to something like this, according to common sense.

However, the matter of the Dragon Vein was an exception. Rasa thought the Dragon Vein was a good thing and insisted on getting involved.

Ren had no reason to refuse.

Whether Rasa and the others will still be so happy once they understand what it means to have their Chakra converted and what they will have to face remains to be seen.

You can never have too many friends, Ren.

At that time, Konoha and Hidden Sand Village will form the strongest alliance, becoming inseparable.

A few days ago, when Ren and Rasa reached an agreement.

I'm also wondering if every world possesses a natural power of self-correction.

Since Ren became the Uchiha Clan Head, a series of actions have caused Konoha and Hidden Sand Village to drift further apart.

But at this moment, it was abruptly pulled back, just like in the original story, and bound together.

Even if Rasa hadn't died, Gaara hadn't become Kazekage, Tsunade hadn't become Hokage, after the Dragon Vein expedition, Konoha and Hidden Sand Village would still be completely bound together.

Ren's conjecture naturally couldn't be proven, so he didn't think about it in detail. Anyway, it was a good thing for Ren and for Konoha.

When Baki approached Shikaku and explained his purpose,

Having already received instructions from Ren, Shikaku did not hesitate and readily gave up the resource point.

They began discussing the handover with Kazuma.

More than ten kilometers away from the Konoha military camp, at the location of the Amegakure forces.

Nagato was alone in his tent, deep in thought, and even Konan was called away by Nagato.

Nagato, who had participated in almost the entire Allied Shinobi Forces operation against the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, was reflecting on what he had seen and heard along the way.

Nagato has matured somewhat, realizing that in both war and peace, there is a crucial element: self-interest!

Because interests can cause even blood-related brothers to quarrel and even fight each other.

Also because of shared interests, the two sides, entangled in hatred, put aside their disputes and joined hands to cooperate.

Nagato once thought that the chains of hatred were the strongest barrier between people, but during this operation, he discovered his own shallowness.

Everything was laid bare in the actions, both between individuals and between villages.

Nagato wrote the word 'profit' on a blank sheet of paper and continued to think.

Nagato frowned as he watched the Allied Shinobi Allied Shinobi Forces clash with Iwagakure. He wasn't admiring Rōshi, the last Tsuchikage, nor was he praising the Iwagakure Ninja for their fearless spirit in the face of death.

There's only one reason: the gap between the two sides was too large, and too few ninjas died.

Nagato, who thought he understood Ren's plan, realized that it was unrealistic for him to rely on war to deplete the ninja force.

The Allied Shinobi Forces suffered too few casualties.

Looking at the blank paper again, Nagato seemed to have grasped some clues.

If the Land of Earth and the Iwagakure are no match, then the goal is to exhaust all the ninja.

That requires greater benefits and stronger enemies!

There is only one option left.

Nagato picked up his pen and wrote two more characters on the white paper: Konoha!