After some intense back-and-forth, the final plan was locked in.
Grass Village would pay compensation to Sunagakure, Konoha, and Iwagakure based on each village's actual losses.
The compensation amounts were basically whatever the three villages had shouted out earlier.
Sunagakure had demanded the most. Konoha came in second. Iwagakure had asked for the least.
That was exactly why Ōnoki had fought the plan so hard at the start.
But with Sunagakure and Konoha already in sync, his lone opposition didn't mean much. Plus Rasa's tournament plan gave him a graceful way to back down.
Ōnoki figured he could still claw back some value through the competition.
"Three fighters per village. Age limit—fifteen and under."
"Each fighter does two matches."
"Two losses: 0.8 points."
"One win, one loss: 1.2 points."
"Two wins: 1.6 points."
After the tournament, Grass Village's reparations would be split according to the final point totals.
It was relatively fair, and it let each village's own ninja earn extra for their village through their own effort.
All three villages believed their fighters would come out ahead under this system.
Sunagakure's roster was decided almost immediately.
There really wasn't much to choose from.
The first pick was Baki—Rasa's disciple.
He only used Wind Style, but his strength was nothing to sneeze at.
The second was Kisame Hoshigaki.
Yeah, Kisame was an outsider.
But who said outsiders couldn't be used?
The moment Rasa offered Kisame a real chance, he'd already registered him as an official Sunagakure ninja. His name was on the list.
This tournament wasn't about whose bloodline was "purer."
It was about who was stronger, who could win, and who could bring the most profit back to the village.
Kisame's strength wasn't weak.
Even without Samehada right now.
But Rasa had loaned him something else.
The Infinite Armor.
A ninja tool similar to Samehada, with insane chakra absorption.
It came from the Artisan Village.
All four of the great ninja tools were currently in Sunagakure's hands.
The Infinite Armor, the Dragon-Eye Expanding Sword, the Peacock Twin Swords, and the Light Sword.
The Infinite Armor absorbed chakra.
The Dragon-Eye Expanding Sword could be used like a flexible tentacle, making it almost impossible to defend against.
The Peacock Twin Swords let you unleash powerful Wind Style.
The Light Sword could fire extremely strong laser beams.
The Infinite Armor was weaker than Samehada.
But when Kisame put it on, the boost was still massive.
His own chakra-absorption techniques stacked with the armor's absorption ability. Against anyone in his weight class, as long as they couldn't finish him quickly, Kisame could just keep draining them until they were bone-dry.
Rasa gave the Peacock Twin Swords to Baki.
For someone who had already mastered Wind Style, the swords cut his chakra cost while boosting the power of every jutsu he unleashed.
It was a straight upgrade to Baki's overall combat ability.
"Don't worry, sensei. Kisame and I will win for sure."
Baki was brimming with confidence.
Kisame ran his hands over the Infinite Armor, feeling it out for the first time. The fit was perfect—like it had been made specifically for him.
The second he put it on, he was in love.
But one thing still confused him.
Why would Rasa trust him with something this valuable?
Even if it was only a loan.
He was still an outsider, after all.
Wasn't Rasa worried he'd just run off with it?
Or break it?
He hadn't been in Sunagakure long, but Kisame could already feel the difference.
This place wasn't like the Hidden Mist.
There was no heavy, suffocating pressure hanging over the entire village.
Still, compared to Baki and Kisame, Rasa's real hopes rested on the third fighter.
Ryo—formerly known as Shishi from the Red Mountain clan.
A genius puppet master who had been held back by his own family.
When forced to choose between his clan and the village, he chose the village.
After switching to puppetry, his growth had been explosive.
His personal strength had skyrocketed.
And more importantly, the two puppets he now controlled.
One was made from Kusa no Erito.
The other from Risan.
Both had been elite Mist jonin.
And both puppets had been crafted by Chiyo herself.
The quality was obvious.
In this tournament, against any other opponent, these two puppets were basically a cheat code.
And nobody could even complain.
Everything was completely within the rules.
To stack the odds even higher in Ryo's favor, Rasa had temporarily loaned him the Long Sword Needle and the Blunt Sword as well.
"When talent isn't enough, let the tools make up the difference."
Rasa had no intention of letting the other villages steal the victory he'd worked so hard to earn in Grass Village.
Sunagakure was taking the lion's share—at minimum.
"With Ryo as our safety net, Sunagakure's results are guaranteed to be excellent."
"Neither Konoha nor Iwagakure has anyone that strong in this age group. It's impossible."
Rasa pulled his gaze back.
Grass Village's compensation was already being prepared.
Three separate payments.
Sunagakure getting the most. Konoha next. Iwagakure the least.
Ōnoki was already kicking himself for lowballing the damage claims when he first arrived.
"Sunagakure… Konoha…"
"Working together like a pair of bastards."
"But in the tournament, Iwagakure is taking first place. Mark my words."
Three separate convoys left from three different directions, all heading toward the Land of Grass.
They reached the border quickly.
The moment they arrived, both the Leaf and Rock ninja felt their pupils shrink in shock.
Because they saw it.
An absolutely massive figure.
Step by step, it was pulling an enormous ship right up to the edge of the desert. Two plumes of white mist shot from its nostrils. Its eyes were huge and cold, like it was ready to charge and flatten the first thing that annoyed it.
"What the hell is that?"
"Sunagakure's… horse? No, bull? No, ship?"
"That thing is enormous!"
"So extravagant!"
"They're actually using a giant summoning beast to pull a ship?"
The massive endurance bull's sheer size was enough to intimidate every normal ninja present.
And the sand ship behind it was even bigger—towering and imposing.
Rasa stood at the very front of the deck.
When the Leaf and Rock ninja looked over, Rasa's gaze met theirs at the same time.
But really, it wasn't them he was looking at.
Rasa's eyes were locked on his system panel.
The final 1,000 points for the third rumor had just come in.
"Start the draw!"