This was the awkward position a Shinobi Village faced when one of its own became an S-rank Rogue Ninja.
If Sasori had died instead of defecting, everything would have been simpler. No matter who had killed him, Rasa would only have had to mourn the loss of a powerful fighter.
He could go to war if war was called for, or seek revenge if revenge was called for.
But Sasori had defected. Beyond declaring him an S-rank Rogue Ninja, Rasa had far too many loose ends to deal with.
Yet he could not devote all his energy to matters inside the village.
The pressure from outside was clearly greater.
Iwa Shinobi had massed along the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Bears. They had not invaded, but reconnaissance shinobi from both sides had already clashed inside the Land of Bears.
And in Konoha, Danzo's Root had already made contact with Sasori.
Danzo commanded the army Konoha had hastily assembled.
He had even sent word to Rasa while contacting Sasori, plainly trying to force Rasa's hand.
What worried Rasa even more was the Third Kazekage's condition.
The greatest blow the Third Kazekage had suffered was to his confidence.
He had always believed Sunagakure was growing stronger under his leadership.
Yet a Kage Level fighter from the village, once the candidate to succeed him as Fourth Kazekage, had defected!
Worse, Sasori had intended to kill him, the Kazekage!
He had personally raised a formidable enemy for the village!
An enemy who had turned hundreds of the village's elite into Human Puppets!
Whenever he remembered that he had helped Sasori obtain the Hanzō Human Puppet, guilt left the Third Kazekage speechless.
Rasa had tried to reassure him many times, but the Third Kazekage was still in a poor state