Rasa returned to Sunagakure looking battered and filthy, his body still covered in battlefield dust, bloodstains, and dried gold liquid.
He walked through the village gates with a gloomy expression, not even bothering to answer the guards' greetings.
The moment he entered the Kazekage Building, several senior elders were already blocking the corridor. The veteran elder at their head said coldly:
"Lord Rasa, given our repeated defeats on the front lines, we demand an immediate High-Level Meeting."
Rasa looked at the elders before him and couldn't help cursing inwardly.
Though unwilling, he was only the acting Kazekage and had limited authority. He could only comply.
Inside the meeting room, an elder slammed the table and rose to his feet:
"Pakura was captured, and our main force was routed."
"Now even you have returned in defeat after personally leading the troops!"
"You've utterly disgraced Sunagakure!"
Another said snidely:
"Does someone think his Magnet Release bloodline ability alone will secure him the Kazekage's seat?"
"If you lack the strength, step aside for someone capable before it's too late!"
Rasa shot to his feet, barely resisting the urge to slap the man dead.
"Konoha has Tsunade holding the fort, and her antidotes rendered our poisons useless!"
"What a joke!" the veteran elder interrupted with a sneer. "Tsunade was still at the main camp when Pakura was captured. Are you blaming Pakura's defeat on the antidotes too?"
A female elder piled on:
"I heard that brat spat on you?"
"You're undoubtedly the most disgraceful Kazekage in Sunagakure's history!"
Rasa gritted his teeth. He truly had no way to refute the leadership's accusations.
Just as he was about to remove his Kazekage hat and step down, the meeting room door suddenly opened.
Granny Chiyo suddenly pushed her way in, scorch marks still visible on her