Sunagakure.
Round Table Conference Room.
Bang!
The door was violently pushed open as a Sunagakure's Shinobi hurriedly barged in.
"Mitsui-sama..."
The Shinobi reported to an old man sitting at the head of the round table. "We've spotted Ryuji-sama's mechanical bird in the sky about 300 kilometers from the village. It's rapidly approaching."
"I understand. You may leave."
"Yes."
As the Shinobi left the conference room, the old man named Mitsui looked at the council members seated around the table...
Their faces were generally in their forties and fifties, with two noticeably younger faces near thirty.
They were not the young councilors promoted by the Third Kazekage, but the former senior councilors who had been dismissed by the Third Kazekage.
The failure of Sunagakure's war against Amegakure... They seized upon this topic, widely publicizing it, attributing all causes to the brain injury sequelae left after the Third Kazekage's assassination by Sasori.
Using various decisions that seemed absurd but contained long-term strategic goals, they stirred up the villagers' and ordinary Shinobi's love for the village, making them firmly believe that the Third Kazekage had brain injury sequelae and reject every decision he made after his brain injury.
Experienced elders in war and management being collectively dismissed, replaced entirely by inexperienced young people... To the uninformed, this seemed utterly absurd, and naturally, it was also overturned by ordinary villagers and Shinobi.
These former elders, riding the wave of public sentiment, pressured the young Round Table Councilors to step down.
Some who did not comply were suppressed by force. Others who knew which way the wind was blowing collaborated with these old fellows.
Although the process wasn't smooth sailing, they ultimately regained power and sat back in the Round Table conference seats.
"Based on previous data calculations, Senki Ryuji will return to the village in about ten minutes. Let's discuss how to proceed." Mitsui scanned the people around the table. "We currently have public momentum. Forcing him to relinquish power would be very easy. But doing so would inevitably place us in opposition, and he likely wouldn't create youthful bodies for us anymore."
They coveted power but even more so desired rejuvenation, even immortality.
That was why they held a separate discussion specifically targeting Ryuji.
If their goal was merely to seize the power of the Puppeteer Corps' Head and Councilor, with their current public momentum, they could even overthrow the Kazekage's administration.
"But I heard he doesn't care about power?" An old man dressed in Arabian-style robes said. "Senki Ryuji is usually easy-going and carefree and doesn't seem to care much about important village decisions. I learned from people in the Puppeteer Corps that since taking over, he hasn't even inquired once. Someone like him fundamentally doesn't care about power. Even if his position and power were taken, he probably wouldn't care."
"Not caring is one thing, but having it taken for no reason by others is another. I think everyone has things they don't care about, but having them taken by unrelated people would still be upsetting!"
"That makes sense."
Everyone nodded slightly, agreeing with this view.
A middle-aged man around forty said, "I suggest retaining his original position and cooperating with him, giving him a considerable degree of convenience. Once he integrates into our circle, getting his help will be very simple."
"Good point. The members of the Puppeteer Corps are all very proud. Even if we remove Senki Ryuji from this position, we can't gain control of this unit. Better to use him to make this unit serve our purposes."
"Ignoring the lack of experience issue, Senki Ryuji is indeed an excellent Shinobi."
"As for the Round Table Council, there's even less worry. With so many of us, do we fear one person?"
"…"
Everyone spoke one after another, discussing intensely.
Mitsui glanced at the time, raised a hand to quiet them, and after everyone quieted down, said, "Ryuji will return to Sunagakure in five minutes. I'll summarize based on everyone's opinions. No more excessive debate."
Hearing this, everyone quietly waited for what was next.
"We need something from Ryuji, so we cannot become hostile. We should try to pull him into our circle."
"But to prevent him from riding over our heads, a show of force is also necessary."
…
The clouds on the eastern horizon were tinged with red. As time passed bit by bit, the sun gradually peeked out, illuminating the entire sky.
Under the morning sun, the figure of a person riding a mechanical bird flew across the sky, completely visible.
"How much longer?"
The girl asked.
But due to the wind, her voice was faint. The boy piloting in front didn't hear.
"Ryuji..."
The girl, dressed in cool clothing revealing her fair, smooth back, tugged the reddish-brown-haired boy's clothes.
Seeing the boy's questioning expression upon turning back, she shouted again loudly, "How much longer to the village?"
"Oh, we're already there."
Ryuji pointed into the distance.
On the edge of the horizon, a village situated in a large canyon entered their view.
The mechanical bird was extremely fast. Before Pakura could see clearly, the distance had closed, and the familiar architectural environment was clearly imprinted before her eyes.
Sunagakure's Shinobi knew about the mechanical bird, so Ryuji directly flew into the village and landed on the roof of the Kazekage Building.
As soon as the mechanical bird landed, before it even fully stabilized, Aka jumped down, turned, and extended her right hand to Ryuji. "Master, be careful."
"Mm!"
Ryuji nodded, grabbed her hand, and jumped down. Then he turned and reached toward Pakura with his right hand. "You be careful too."
Pakura, who had just felt jealous and upset at their intimate action, immediately smiled brightly and quickly reached her hand over.
"Thank you."
'Huh?'
Ryuji glanced at Pakura in surprise, feeling somewhat strange.
'Since when did this girl become so polite with me?'
'Had we become distant after not seeing each other for a while?'
'Hah! Women are so heartless!'
Ryuji thought to himself while storing the mechanical bird in his Portable Space.
Pakura didn't find it strange either.
She and Aka had boarded midway in the Great Rift. Ryuji had already shown them the space when he came to pick them up, and she had even gone inside to look around.
Not sure if it was because of Aka or if the enemy was overly cautious.
That group of unknown individuals from the continent across the sea, coveting the Gelel Stones... After their initial ambush on Pakura, they kept hiding in the shadows, not showing themselves. They just kept setting up traps and probing near the Great Rift, hindering Sunagakure's investigation of the Gelel Stone Vein.
That group seemed to have abilities to evade or counter Sensory-type Shinobi detection. Combined with their cautious actions, they remained unfound.
That's why, despite having a trump card like Aka, they had dragged on for so long without solving the problem.
…
"Ryuji-sama!"
"Ryuji-sama!"
"Ryuji-sama!"
As the three entered the Kazekage Building, staff in the corridor occasionally greeted him.
However, everyone seemed hesitant to speak, looking like they were hiding something.
Many also winked at him as hints.
Ryuji understood in his heart but didn't show much, just nodding in acknowledgment, then walked directly towards the Round Table's conference room.
Soon, the three arrived at the Round Table's conference room door.
Two guards were stationed outside. Seeing Ryuji arrive, instead of making way, they reached out to block the path.