Neji deactivated his Byakugan and shook his head.
"He wasn't using his full strength."
"And... that Kazekage really did look like he was in a hurry to leave. He probably really had something to do."
Rasa ran at full speed with Baki.
Only when familiar sand and gravel finally lay beneath their feet did the two dare stop to catch their breath.
The wind of the Land of Wind swept dry heat into their faces, carrying fine sand that struck their skin.
That familiar feeling finally let the tension Rasa had carried for months ease for a moment.
Baki bent over, bracing his hands on his knees as he panted, his forehead covered in sweat.
He raised his head and looked at Rasa's back, his eyes full of questions.
Their frantic flight, their escape, and that patrol shinobi's bizarre decision to turn a blind eye all left him full of doubts.
Rasa saw Baki's questions too. Without waiting for him to speak, he explained his cooperation with Xuandou from beginning to end.
From their secret conversation in prison to the delivery of the Impure World Reincarnation army, and finally to Xuandou's tacit permission: "Handle it as you see fit."
As Baki listened, his expression shifted from shock to contemplation, then to a complicated silence.
Of course he knew that if they followed Xuandou's plan and let the Uchiha unify the Shinobi World, Sunagakure would inevitably become a vassal, no longer an independent ninja village.
But without cooperation, Sunagakure's future would hold even fewer options.
He remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his head and kneeling on one knee.
"Whatever decision Lord Rasa makes, I will carry it out without hesitation."
"Sunagakure... can't withstand any more upheaval."
Rasa nodded in satisfaction.
Then he changed the subject, lowering