Don't Undermine Unity

As dawn broke, a faint morning mist curled between the towering mountains ahead.

Deep within Mount Tenmoku, the core experimental base lay sealed behind layers of barriers and rock. The acrid smell of poison hung in the air year-round. Lights blazed throughout the base. Countless puppet components, poison-mixing vessels, and Human Compatibility Instruments stood in orderly rows, while machinery rumbled without pause.

Rasa stood on the main control platform inside the base, dressed in black fighting clothes. He had rushed back from Sunagakure overnight, and a little morning dew still clung to his short red hair. Fine grains of Gold Dust floated around him, but a closer look revealed heavy shadows beneath his eyes, almost as dark as his son's.

Here, he showed none of the gentleness he feigned in the village as a Kazekage candidate. His eyes held nothing but naked ambition. To strengthen Sunagakure and give it an advantage in the coming Shinobi World war, he had long since grown used to doing whatever it took.

Of course, if he could claim the Kazekage's seat along the way, so much the better.

In his mind, that old Third Kazekage had grown weak. Only he could lead Sunagakure to its peak. Only he could make Sunagakure great again!

Well, Rasa and a certain Pot Kage would probably have plenty to talk about!

Below the platform, two subordinate Ninja in black experimental uniforms and Sunagakure Forehead Protectors stood with their heads lowered, respectfully delivering their report.

"Sir, we completed the final review of every parameter for the Living Puppet experiment last night. The poison ratios, adjustments for bodily rejection, and puppet activity tests have all met the required standards across multiple rounds."

The middle-aged Ninja on the left bowed as he spoke, his voice steady and assured.

"The experiment has now entered its final adjustment phase. The last group of samples will be tested by this morning at the latest. Once we confirm the complete data, we can announce that the experiment has succeeded."

"Also, as you instructed, we spent the past three days organizing the base's files. The core experimental data has been sealed, and the precision instruments are packed. Once this round of adjustments is complete, we can stop all operations here and evacuate as quickly as possible."

Rasa nodded, satisfaction flashing in his eyes. A smile appeared on his face, and the tension he had carried for days finally eased a little.

For an entire year, he had captured vast numbers of human test subjects in the Land of Rivers for this experiment. He had endured countless rounds of trial and error, even sacrificing Ninja from Sunagakure through factional conflict. The resources it had consumed were staggering.

He had even spent a year digging in the desert to raise funds. The less said about that, the better!

Fortunately, the First Kazekage had watched over him. Despite setbacks along the way, the experiment had reached its final step.

Once the Living Puppet experiment succeeded, he would command an army of poison-bearing puppets that feared no death. Then he could do more than surpass Pakura. Even the Kazekage's seat would be within reach.

I laugh at the Third Kazekage's lack of vision and Pakura's lack of wit! Across all Sunagakure, who but me deserves the Kazekage's seat?!

After a moment of silence, the young subordinate on the right raised his head. Hesitation and confusion crossed his face, but he finally spoke in a low voice.

"Sir, there's something I don't understand. It's been troubling me."

He paused. When Rasa motioned for him to continue, the young subordinate went on.

"We set a trap before, using a mission to lure six elite Ninja from the Pakura Faction deep into the poison-production outpost, where they died at the hands of a Konoha squad... Those six were still Ninja from Sunagakure. Was it really right to set up... to sacrifice fellow village Ninja like that?"

"If... if the village finds out, won't it disrupt your plans?"

His voice shook. He could not understand why they had betrayed Ninja from their own village, and he feared the plan might be exposed.

He was still a young Ninja with genuine devotion to the village. To him, deliberately leading fellow Sand Ninja to their deaths was simply too cruel.

"Fool! How short-sighted can you be?"

The middle-aged Ninja on the left rebuked him the instant he finished, glaring at him.

"Those who accomplish great things don't get caught up in trifles or worry about temporary gains and losses! Pakura is a prodigy of the village and one of the candidates for Fourth Kazekage. Over the past few years, she's won over a large following of Ninja. She's become an obstacle to Lord Rasa!"

"Those people can't see which way the wind is blowing. They stand in the way of Sunagakure's future rise! If we don't seize the chance to weaken her forces, how can Lord Rasa take power?"

"The Third Kazekage is old. Only when Lord Rasa becomes Kazekage and takes control of Sunagakure can he lead the village out of its shortages and military decline. For the village's future, what are a few sacrifices?!"

"But... but..."

The young Ninja wanted to argue, but faced with his colleague's harsh rebuke and his superior's will, he could only lower his head and fall silent.

"Enough."

On the platform, Rasa raised his right hand to stop his two subordinates, then looked at the middle-aged Ninja. The area fell quiet at once, save for the low hum of a few instruments.

"The Third Kazekage is still in his prime. In future, don't say things that undermine unity."

Despite his warning, his eyes held no sorrow for the deaths of Ninja from his own village, nor any respect for the Third Kazekage. There was only coldness and ambition. To Rasa, every sacrifice made on his path forward was worthwhile.

"Yes, sir!" the middle-aged Ninja answered meekly.

After hearing the base's report, Rasa abruptly changed the subject and asked about developments outside.

"What about the sensory Ninja sent to the poison-production outpost in the southwestern mountains? Has any intelligence come back? What is that Konoha investigation squad doing?"

The middle-aged Ninja stepped forward and replied respectfully, "Sir, Shalin sent a secret report late last night."

"After investigating the outpost, the Konoha squad fell for our plan. Their suspicions of Sunagakure faded, and the Cloud Hidden Metal Fragment we left there successfully turned their attention toward Cloud Hidden."

"All members of the Konoha squad have now left the Land of Rivers and returned to the Land of Fire. I doubt they'll investigate this area again anytime soon."

"He wasn't discovered?"

"Rest assured, sir. Shalin's Sensory Ninjutsu is exceptional, and he has a natural talent for concealing his presence. There's no chance they found him!"

Hearing the report and recalling Shalin's past performance, Rasa finally relaxed. A cold smile tugged at his lips.

He had never been naive enough to believe his attempt to frame Cloud Hidden would fool Konoha forever. Even luring Ninja from the Pakura Faction to their deaths would not clear Sunagakure of suspicion. From the start, his goal had only been to buy time.

If he could briefly draw Konoha's attention elsewhere and slow their investigation, buying a few days to finish the experiment, he would have achieved what he wanted.

"Good."

Rasa nodded in satisfaction, looking certain of victory. He rose and took his two subordinates outside the laboratory to wait.

"As soon as the adjustments are complete this morning and we have the full set of data, everyone is to evacuate immediately. Destroy every trace and record."

"By the time Konoha realizes something is wrong, all they'll find is an abandoned outpost. They'll leave empty-handed!"

"Yes!" the two subordinates answered.

The morning mist gradually dispersed, and the daylight grew brighter.

Inside Mount Tenmoku Base, instruments ran at full speed. The final adjustments had begun and were progressing steadily.

Rasa did not enter the laboratory. He waited outside, watching the experimental staff bustle back and forth within. Already, he was imagining a future in which he ruled Sunagakure and strode across the Shinobi World.