The Sacrifice of a Heroine, the Burial of Minato Namikaze

Land of Wind border.

Sunagakure's main camp, command tent.

Rasa looked at Yugito Nii across from him.

Though this Hidden Cloud Two-Tails jinchūriki was still young, the chakra fluctuations radiating from her carried an intense pressure.

Her catlike eyes held undisguised arrogance.

"I have seen the Raikage's sincerity." Rasa braced both hands against the long table, his tone steady.

Yugito lifted her chin.

"Hidden Cloud's army has already assembled at the Land of Lightning border."

"That old bastard Ōnoki has tied down a large number of Hidden Leaf's forces at Kannabi Bridge, thinking he can reap the rewards without lifting a finger."

"As long as Sunagakure can hold back Orochimaru's main force in the Land of Rivers, or even deal them a heavy blow—"

"Hidden Cloud will launch a surprise attack on the Land of Fire from the eastern front."

Yugito traced a line across the map, driving straight toward the heart of the Land of Fire.

"When the time comes, Sunagakure will take land from the west, while Hidden Cloud seizes resources from the east. Both sides will get what they need."

A flash of heat passed through Rasa's eyes.

This was the opportunity he truly wanted.

Lowering his head to Hidden Leaf and ceding the gold mines had only been a means of luring Hidden Leaf into the trap.

The Land of Wind was barren, and the daimyo kept cutting military funding. Sunagakure had nearly been driven into a dead end.

Rasa naturally did not believe Hidden Cloud would sincerely split the spoils with Sunagakure, but as long as Hidden Cloud joined the war and Hidden Leaf was forced into fighting on three fronts, Sunagakure would have a chance to turn things around.

Yugito abruptly changed the subject.

"However, the one Hidden Leaf sent to escort Pakura this