Clearing all trails and returning took until evening, so the kage bunshin and his scroll of trophies returned in the dark, making it easy to avoid the rare Suna patrols despite the moon beginning to rise.
The trade routes from one oasis to the next stretched across the desert, intersecting at a hidden village, so unlike other countries, which took work only when there was an order, the Suna people tried to clean up bandits around the main transportation arteries, because every robbed caravan was lost goods, necessary for the survival of the local population.
For the same purpose, they needed posts set up at strategic points, one of which Pakura had not had time to reach.
With two pairs of hands, the work went much faster, and half the amount of chakra left in the clone allowed to restore the reserve not only Pakura. Finished well past midnight, I unsealed the futon onto the second stone bed and fell into slumber almost instantly, leaving the doppelganger on guard.
Following the kunoichi, who was confidently pointing the way and almost immediately determined the right direction to Sunagakure no Sato, I could only marvel at the impatience radiating from her, as if she hadn't been on death's doorstep yesterday.
The reason for this mood was the conversation I'd had this morning, where I'd laid out the full layout and offered to choose, adding that the Nara clan would be happy to accept a kunoichi with such a positive reputation, since the Kazekage didn't need one.
Pakura, thanking me with a deep bow, didn't hesitate long, choosing the opportunity to fight for the throne and smear Rasa with mud for betrayal.
Her mission scroll, as well as that of the accompanying team - which I had already found out by searching the seized bodies - remained in readable condition, greatly increasing the weight of future accusations, and the presence of three great swords of Mist would be the cherry on the cake.
More familiar with the political situation in her home village, the girl was literally vibrating with bloodthirsty gloating, looking extremely well despite her damaged clothes, dirt and blood sweat.
She hadn't brought a spare one with her to change into, she could only drown in mine, which didn't embarrass Pakura in the least. And having received from me a needle and an axe with a hammer, her mood improved even more.
As Pakura explained, five of the elders would support her as soon as they found out who we had managed to kill, add to that the three who had originally promoted the kunoichi to be the next Kazekage, and Rasa would have to answer some very uncomfortable questions.
Now, having had a chance to calmly think and organize the available information, the kunoichi came to the simple conclusion that the fake mission could only have been coordinated with one, at most two elders, whose men had been sent as escorts.
The fact that it could be Anbu's forces was not even discussed - Rasa could not make such a gift to the past ruler, whose loyal men were definitely still in the organization.
So it was a personal initiative of the head of the village, supported by a minimum number of elders, and the rest would simply be put before the fait accompli, suggesting to work out a joint strategy and not to raise a fuss. None of that would happen now.
I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (+ 200 chapter)
patreon.com/Chill76