Tomoki looked at Rasa, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Kazekage-sama, if you're being threatened, please say so directly. I still prefer your old, untamed self."
The kind Hokage-sama, who couldn't stand to see suffering, replied with a serious expression.
"No problem, how much can Sunagakure offer?"
"I wonder if it can be based on weight?"
Rasa, making an outrageous demand, immediately named a price that was like breaking a bone, then breaking it again – a double discount, so to speak.
After hearing Rasa's words, Tomoki didn't speak, but gave Rasa a look that told him to figure it out himself.
The Kazekage-sama, having suffered daily persecution in the Village, had long since lost any sense of 'face.'
However, in front of outsiders, he still wanted to regain his lost dignity. Speaking to Tomoki in a humble tone was already Rasa's last resort.
Facing Tomoki's look, which was like he was staring at an idiot, the Kazekage-sama couldn't maintain his composure.
He wanted to laugh a couple of times to ease the awkwardness, but years of facial paralysis made Rasa forget how to laugh.
The last time he laughed was when he learned Karura was pregnant with their third child, over ten years ago. Rasa had forgotten how to laugh.
His mouth twitched, revealing a rather punchable expression, and Rasa spoke again.
"Hokage, Hidden Sand Village is willing to provide protection, accommodation, and all other necessities for all Konoha Ninja who come to the Rouran Ancient Kingdom."
Tomoki nodded. From the seriousness in Rasa's tone, Tomoki understood that this protection was genuine protection, not surveillance under the guise of protection, just like this time.
However, Tomoki didn't care for such things. How much did food, drinks, and a tent cost?
But at the very least, Sunagakure showed appropriate sincerity, and Tomoki patiently listened on.
"Besides that, Sunagakure is willing to give up six resource points in the Land of Earth that it currently occupies. Whichever Konoha chooses, Sunagakure will unconditionally give it to Konoha!"
Rasa stated the truly valuable offer. In fact, Hidden Sand Village's bottom line was eight, but Rasa wouldn't reveal his full hand right away.
After hearing Rasa's words, Tomoki was a little surprised.
This poor Sunagakure, so generous this time?
Although Tomoki didn't think much of these things, he was, after all, the Konoha Hokage. While Rasa was also a Kazekage, there was a fundamental difference.
When you have ten million, looking at sixty thousand yuan is different from when you have one hundred thousand yuan and look at sixty thousand yuan.
All resource points in the Land of Earth, for Konoha, which possessed advanced productivity, were merely icing on the cake. Not to say they were worthless, but their value was not great.
But for Hidden Sand Village, it was different. As the Ninja Village in the Shinobi Alliance most dedicated to operations in the Land of Earth, Sunagakure's desire for resources was clear to everyone.
Even just one resource point in the Land of Earth could expand the current Hidden Sand Village several times over, ensuring a hundred years of prosperity in the current Ninja World where overall productivity was generally low.
This was the difference in scale between a nation and a Village.
Hidden Sand Village's desire to convert Ninja was no longer a simple need; it was a fervent desire to achieve the goal almost at all costs.
The reason it wasn't truly 'at all costs' was that Rasa still retained his rationality and wasn't thinking of resorting to underhanded tactics.
"Then let me see how far you, Hidden Sand Village, are willing to go!"
A thought of testing arose in Tomoki's mind, and he then smiled and shook his head.
"Not enough!"
Before Rasa could speak again, Tomoki continued.
"At least nine resource points, Konoha can choose freely."
Tomoki truly left Sunagakure with only one last minimum-guarantee point, wanting to see Sunagakure's reaction.
Rasa looked at Tomoki's seemingly unquestionable expression, secretly thinking that Konoha was ruthless, while his desire to achieve his goal became much more urgent.
The Village's bottom line was eight resource points. Just one more cut, and the goal could be achieved.
The reason Sunagakure was so eager for Konoha's technology for conversion was that after Sunagakure learned that Konoha had Sage Mode-related technology, it had already given up hope on self-research.
The current Hidden Sand Village had no contractors with the Three Great Sage Regions.
The only breakthrough was the few who had already been converted, but the difficulty of this was imaginable. Sunagakure was confident it could eventually find a method, but that would take too long.
One step slow, every step slow; falling behind meant getting beaten.
Sunagakure had a deep understanding of this. If there were no resources, they could continue to earn, steal, or snatch them.
As long as they possessed power, other things would come to them on their own.
Perhaps there were idiots among Sunagakure's Ninja, but as a collective, Hidden Sand Village was not foolish at all; it could see the essence behind everything.
Possess power, possess everything!
To gain power, many things could be sacrificed.
Money, resources, face…
They were so insignificant.
The goal was within reach, just one last kick away.
Rasa's heart was filled with anxiety, excitement, and calm, intertwined, yet he showed no trace of it on his face, speaking indifferently.
"Hokage, nine resource points are too many. How about seven?"
"Kazekage, do you think I'm negotiating a business deal with you?"
Tomoki asked back expressionlessly. As his words fell, Tomoki finally saw the change in Rasa's emotions, and in an instant, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face again.
"However, since Sunagakure is so sincere, Konoha cannot show nothing at all. Eight resource points, that's the bottom line!"
Despite Hidden Sand Village making a huge sacrifice, Rasa, looking at Tomoki's re-blooming smile, felt as if he saw light.
No longer a stiff, distorted mouth, Rasa's lips now naturally curved upwards, and he spoke very solemnly and quickly.
"Deal!"
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