While Cangyue was leading the Akatsuki members in drumming up business for Ichiraku Ramen...
Outside Konoha, Sunagakure's sizable delegation arrived at the gate.
Rasa walked at the head of the group and turned to look at Gaara.
"Once we're inside Konoha, you must keep your temper under control."
"This isn't Sunagakure. Killing people indiscriminately will violate Konoha's laws."
His voice remained stern, but it lacked the cold, commanding edge it usually carried. He sounded more as though he were discussing the matter with Gaara.
Had Konoha still been struggling with a gap between generations, Sunagakure would not have needed to be so cautious.
But now, Konoha had Kambara Sogetsu.
That boy had single-handedly crushed over ten thousand Sand ninja in a head-on battle, then forced even Rasa into submission with one stroke of his sword.
Regardless of how many other powerful fighters Konoha still had, Cangyue alone was enough to secure its position as the greatest village in the shinobi world.
There was no way Sunagakure could cause trouble in Konoha.
Gaara raised his eyes to his father.
It had been a long time since he had heard Rasa speak to him in that tone.
There was no scolding or disgust.
Nor was he being treated as a weapon that might go out of control at any moment.
Gaara fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently.
At the same time, a strange thought surfaced in his mind.
So once you leave Sunagakure, killing people is against the law.
Sunagakure's delegation carried an official invitation and was led by the Fourth Kazekage himself.
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane briefly checked their identities, then waved them through.
Rasa was about to enter the village when a cold, raspy voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Rasa."
Rasa stopped abruptly and whipped his head