Sunagakure's Hero: I Am the Sea God!

Once the investment in the Capital of the Land of Wind was settled, Ebizo led the Sunagakure delegation on the long journey back to the village.

It was year's end. A biting wind howled across the desert, sweeping yellow sand over the village's stone walls.

In past years, gloom had settled over Sunagakure at this time. Its treasury was stretched thin, and every expense—military equipment, transporting drinking water, relief for the people—had to be weighed again and again.

But this year, everything was different.

Before long, Hatake Sakumo delivered the Angel Fund's first year-end dividend to Sunagakure, right on time.

Fifty million ryo in silver. Not a coin short. It went straight into the treasury.

When the accounts were laid before Shamon, the Second Kazekage, every senior official in the council chamber fell briefly silent. Then the room erupted.

"Lord Kazekage, is this real?"

"Is money really this easy to make?"

"Are things finally going to get better for Sunagakure?"

A principal of two hundred million ryo had yielded a fifty-million-ryo dividend in no time. Countless Sunagakure ninja could have mined the mountains and panned for gold until they dropped and still struggled to earn that much.

The news soon spread through every street and alley in Sunagakure.

At the training grounds, in the puppet workshops, and along the market streets, everyone was talking about Ebizo.

"Lord Ebizo really saw this coming!"

"I heard Lord Kazekage only told him to test the waters with a small sum, but he went all in with the treasury's silver!"

"We won't have to work ourselves to the bone in the mines anymore. Sunagakure's finally going to make it!"

Civilians and ninja alike looked at Ebizo with admiration. Once an ordinary Elder, he now enjoyed soaring prestige.

In the Kazekage's office, Shamon pored