Mizuhara Ippei—civilian jonin.
Aoyuo Yucai—civilian jonin.
…
Hoshigaki Heitan—of the Hoshigaki clan.
Suikazan Chōchō—Fuguki Suikazan's wife.
"So she's Fuguki Suikazan's wife."
A glint flickered through Rasa's eyes.
"My luck isn't bad. Out of the six Kirigakure jonin I drew, one of them actually turned out to be someone like this. And Suikazan Chōchō just so happens to be on the front lines."
"In terms of individual strength, she's probably only average among jonin, which is why Sunagakure hasn't paid her much special attention."
"But the identity of being Fuguki Suikazan's wife… that's far too special."
A series of thoughts flashed through Rasa's mind in rapid succession.
"Fuguki Suikazan and Kushimaru Kuriarare never got along. If I fabricate something in Suikazan Chōchō's dream that works against Kushimaru, I can intensify the conflict between Fuguki Suikazan and him."
"If the two of them clash, the cooperation between those two Kirigakure forces will worsen."
"And Sunagakure's situation on the battlefield will improve."
Rasa did not hesitate any further. He quickly settled on the target.
"Use it. Suikazan Chōchō."
Not long after, Rasa finished weaving the dream.
The next moment, the One-Night Dream Fabrication Card transformed into a streak of light and vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Once the chosen target falls asleep, the dream card will take effect."
"I wonder whether it'll produce the result I'm hoping for."
Rasa's eyes flickered.
"I still don't have enough tools. I need more points. Ebizo's side can only push the rumors so far—the rate of point gain won't improve for the time being."
"If there are no other sources of points, building up to a thousand will take about a month."
"But Sunagakure may not have that much time."
Rasa sighed.
"Sunagakure's circumstances really are too harsh. It's nothing like Konoha. Even after something as serious as the Uchiha rebellion, they can still steady themselves. Truly enviable."
"If this dream card doesn't achieve the effect I want, then I may have no choice but to go to the front lines myself. I can't let Pakura bear all the pressure alone."
"If Pakura dies, Sunagakure's situation will only become worse."
At that thought, Rasa looked toward one corner of the village.
"Chiyo…"
"If Chiyo were willing to act, the village's situation would improve somewhat. But how do I convince her?"
"Use Sasori of the Red Sand's whereabouts as bait?"
But Rasa knew full well that empty words would never work on a shrewd old fox like Chiyo.
If he wanted her to believe him, he would need evidence first.
"Or perhaps… hire outside help."
Rasa thought of a man.
A missing-nin from Takigakure—Kakuzu.
A ruthless figure who had once assassinated the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Of course, he had failed.
But after returning to Takigakure, he had been thrown into a death cell by the village leadership under the pretext of mission failure, only to slaughter his way out and steal the Earth Grudge Fear technique before escaping.
The man's strength was undeniable.
It was just that Senju Hashirama had been too monstrous.
After leaving Takigakure, Kakuzu had become a bounty ninja.
The sort who worked for whoever paid.
"Sunagakure may lack money… but I don't seem to."
Rasa glanced at his drawer.
So far, he had already drawn thirty-seven times.
He had obtained one forged suicide note.
Three ninja experience cards.
One dream fabrication card.
Two ninjutsu scrolls.
And everything else had been gold.
The amount of gold in the drawer had already reached three jin.
That was no small sum.
"But even for a powerful bounty ninja like Kakuzu, he'd only strike when a target is isolated. Charging straight into a Kirigakure army camp to take someone's head is probably beyond him."
"Still, it's worth trying to make contact."
"If a long-term trading relationship can be established, there's a chance Kakuzu can be drawn to our side."
But Rasa was also wary of Kakuzu.
First, he was not from Sunagakure.
Second, Kakuzu was violent by nature, had his own interests, and unlike children or youths such as Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Hanazuki, he was an old, scheming veteran who had survived since the era of the First Ninja Villages.
Used well, he would be a useful tool.
Used poorly, he would bring trouble to Sunagakure.
"I'll leave this task to Baki."
"Young people need some tempering."
"There's danger, yes—but not too much."
Not long after, Baki received the order and hurried to the Kazekage Building.
"Sensei."
"Baki, I have a task for you."
"Please give your orders, Sensei."
"Go find a missing-nin from Takigakure named Kakuzu. Hire him to assassinate a Kirigakure shinobi. As for which Kirigakure shinobi he is to kill, I'll leave that decision to you."
Baki looked puzzled.
"Sensei, how many Kirigakure ninja could a hired man like that possibly kill? And bounty ninja like him certainly won't come cheap."
"I have my own reasons. Go."
"Yes, Sensei."
Baki did not understand Rasa's intentions.
But he would still carry out Rasa's orders to the letter.
That was why Baki could become Rasa's disciple.
It wasn't just talent.
Rasa watched Baki's retreating back for a long while before finally withdrawing his gaze.
After finishing his work, Rasa went up to the rooftop of the Kazekage Building.
The pillar that had been cut in half last time by Wind Release: Vacuum Wave was still unrepaired.
Rasa took out a ninjutsu scroll.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade. By infusing Wind Release chakra into a kunai, one can form a sharp invisible blade capable of inflicting enormous damage in battle."
"But it isn't limited to kunai."
"Other things work too."
"And if the weapon contains chakra metal, even better."
Rasa opened the scroll and read through it carefully.
After a long while, he put it away and took out a kunai.
Then he inhaled deeply and raised the kunai.
A breath of Wind Release chakra flowed onto the weapon.
At once, an invisible blade formed over the kunai.
Holding it in hand, Rasa slashed at another stone pillar.
Crack!
In an instant, the pillar was severed and began to fall.
A mass of gold dust appeared, caught the upper half, and gently lowered it to the ground.
"Not bad. In close combat, this technique is a deadly threat to opponents. Half the shinobi out there wouldn't be able to defend against it. Even if they had ninja tools, ordinary ones wouldn't withstand it."
"And the wounds caused by this technique are very distinctive. At a glance, anyone would think Danzo did it."
…
…
Deep in the night, Fuguki Suikazan was suddenly startled awake.
Turning his head, he saw that his wife beside him still had her eyes shut, but her face was full of terror.
"Fuguki, don't die! Help! Don't die, Fuguki!"
Fuguki Suikazan: "???"
When exactly had he died?
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Inkveil_