Chapter 279: Talent Emerges
Jōran's actions were not motivated by any affection towards Chiyo, but by his own hidden motives. He believed that the most powerful Kazekage candidate, Arashi, had died. He no longer posed a threat to his daughter, Pakura. Chiyo, after losing her loved ones, had gone mad, and her faction was on the verge of collapse.
However, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Despite their decline, the influence of Chiyo's faction should not be underestimated, which made them a valuable target for political courtship. Following the principle that my enemy's enemy is my friend, it was worth winning them over.
Thanks to Jōran's mediation, the Third Kazekage finally stopped blaming Chiyo. He simply sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair tiredly. "Konoha is truly a land of exceptional talent. Almost every generation has witnessed the emergence of astonishing geniuses."
The Third Kazekage's gaze swept over the numerous battle reports on the table. "Now, a White-Haired Demon and a White Fang, before reaching maturity, have already revealed their ferocity. They have revolutionized the Land of Wind, annihilating several of our warriors one after another, forcing Chiyo to return in person. Konoha is a formidable force, while our Sunagakure lacks strength!"
In his opinion, the two remaining Kazekage candidates were far inferior to them. While Rasa was talented, his character was flawed. As for Pakura, she was good, but too naive and kind-hearted.
Jōran's heart sank upon hearing the words "lack of successors," fearing that the Kazekage was not satisfied with his daughter. He quickly straightened up. "Lord Kazekage, you have foresight. Konoha is undoubtedly a deep and talented nation. Of course, my daughter, Pakura, has also worked very hard. Although she is trapped behind enemy lines, she will never abandon any of her comrades. Her loyalty will never let down the name of 'Pakura of the Scorching Style'!"
The Third Kazekage possessed considerable political wisdom. He observed the concern that Jōran was striving to hide. He understood it and felt a little moved. He nodded, softening his tone: "Pakura is, without a doubt, a good girl. Faced with such a situation, she did not choose the easiest path. This sense of responsibility and courage are the most precious qualities of a Suna ninja! Fengcheng, you have raised a good daughter. Tell her that the village will not forget her sacrifice."
"Thank you, Lord Kazekage!", Jōran bowed deeply, excited and concerned.
"Fengcheng," the Kazekage said, "according to the information from the front, the White-Haired Demon possesses strange abilities and is extremely effective against our puppeteers. In addition, he seems to master an even more powerful puppet technology. In that case, Chiyo's journey could fail, and she could even end up like Ebizō..."
Jōran had seen the White-Haired Demon and had even done business with him. "Lord Kazekage, this must be an excuse. The art of puppets in our village originated thanks to the brilliant Second Kazekage and has been perfected for generations. How could a young ninja master techniques that surpass ours in such a short time?"
The Kazekage slowly shook his head, his gaze becoming particularly sharp: "No, Fengcheng, don't take it for granted. I won't be surprised by anything that happens to this demon!" His voice rose. "Think about it, who would have thought he could use the idiots of the Sunataki clan, selling them troublesome explosive tags and then giving them to Ebizō? Those are two thousand lives from our village!"
Zhuo Lan Feng Cheng was filled with joy upon hearing the Third Kazekage finally point out the Sunataki clan. He immediately followed suit, adding fuel to the fire.
"Lord Kazekage is wise! If the Sunataki clan had not been blinded by greed, how could the White-Haired Demon have taken advantage of such an opportunity? The sins of the Sunataki clan are truly grave!"
After hearing this, the Third Kazekage's face became gloomy, and his displeasure towards the clan became a reality.
"Damn it! The damn Sunataki clan must pay for this! Fengcheng, I already asked you to take care of confiscating their industries, how is everything going?"
Zhuolan Fengcheng, secretly happy, reported: "Reporting to Lord Kazekage, I have been supervising this matter. The main minerals, workshops, and properties of the clan have been confiscated. It's just that Rasa is now the front-line commander and the clan patriarch. Some sensitive industries still require his final decision, so as not to affect morale."
Zhuolan Fengcheng cunningly implicated Rasa in the clan's crimes. The mention of his name irritated the Third Kazekage. 'Rasa? Humph! If it weren't for the fact that Sunagakure has suffered a crushing defeat and urgently needs men, how would I have allowed him to replace Chiyo?'
"Lord Kazekage, how wise!", Jōran continued. "Although Rasa is powerful, his family carries those sins. On the other hand, my daughter Pakura, although she is trapped, has a pure heart and is loyal. If Lord Kazekage can give her more opportunities, I believe that with her understanding, she will grow faster and become a pillar for the future of our village."
The Third Kazekage remained silent. He understood Jōran's subtle intentions. For now, he had to choose between the highest of the two and train Rasa and Pakura as successors. Of course, he was already furious with the Sunataki clan, and his preference for Pakura had increased.
Unconsciously, the balance in his heart began to tilt.
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