"What's this?"
Rasa noticed a senior official walking toward him with a notebook in hand and asked impatiently in a low voice.
"It's Fujiwara Kōya's dietary habits and the ingredients he avoids."
The senior official helplessly handed over the notebook, grumbling as he did so: "And he even demanded that the samurai he brought along be given the best standard of meals. Yet not long ago, he was still looking down on us."
In the official's opinion, if the man was really so capable, why didn't he handle the meals himself instead of leeching off Sunagakure's pitiful budget?
"Forget it, let them be. If this noble brat really signs the investment treaty, then our efforts will have been worth it."
Rasa sighed helplessly, staring at the end of the incoming entourage.
Perhaps his last round of sutra chanting really had moved the heavens. Not only had the daimyō uncharacteristically increased Sunagakure's military budget by ten percent, but just recently he had also sent an envoy to inform Rasa that the Fujiwara clan of the Land of Fire was interested in investing in a ninja tool production line in Sunagakure.
Though the tax revenue would not go directly into his pocket, the land rental fees would still be real income.
For Sunagakure, impoverished to the point of bleeding dry, even that rent was enough to make Rasa, the Kazekage, personally lower himself to greet the visitor.
The noble's temperament might be unpleasant, but to Rasa, who was already well accustomed to the arrogance of nobility, this so-called young master was nothing more than a teenager. As long as Sunagakure's attitude was deferential enough, the brat would eventually obediently sign the contract.
"Has the relationship between this Fujiwara Kōya and the head of the Fujiwara clan been investigated?"
To be safe, Rasa had made sure to gather intelligence before the young noble's arrival.
"We've only managed to uncover part of it, since it concerns nobility—and nobles of the Land of Fire at that."
The intelligence officer responded quietly:
"The Fujiwara clan suffered a heavy blow a few years ago. It's said the main family was reduced to a single child, while this Fujiwara Kōya comes from one of the branch families. More detailed information hasn't been obtained yet."
"Just a branch family, and yet he still stands over us, acting so high and mighty. Infuriating."
Another senior official muttered angrily after hearing this.
"The Fujiwara clan harbors resentment toward Konoha because of that catastrophe, so in recent years they've gradually shifted many of their assets. That's also the reason why they now want to invest in a production line here in Sunagakure."
Suffered a heavy blow...
Rasa narrowed his eyes after hearing this, lost in thought.
For nobles, investing across borders wasn't anything unusual.
Aristocratic families across nations were interconnected by blood; the daimyōs themselves were tied together in webs of kinship.
So the Fujiwara clan's interest in investing in Sunagakure was not strange in itself.
But Rasa still felt that the atmosphere in the Land of Fire had been unusual lately.
Sunagakure's intelligence network in Konoha had already been shattered into pieces by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, making it nearly impossible to acquire detailed information.
Though suspicious, Rasa was powerless to probe deeper into Konoha's internal affairs.
At that moment, the Fujiwara clan's grand procession had already passed through a canyon path under Sunagakure's escort and entered the village, heading straight for a hotel.
The establishment had been built by a Wind Country noble and normally only accommodated aristocrats or Sunagakure's upper echelon, so it was mostly empty.
The curtain of the palanquin was lifted by attendants, and Fujiwara Kōya stepped out. His features were concealed beneath a sand-stained turban, making his appearance impossible to discern.
As planned, he would spend three days here for inspection.
As the Kazekage, Rasa's personal welcome was already the highest possible courtesy. The actual hosting he left entirely to his subordinates.
He himself was too preoccupied with finding other ways to relieve Sunagakure's economic crisis.
...
Inside the hotel room.
"Fujiwara Kōya" untied his headscarf, revealing a familiar face.
"Ugh, suffocating. So, our steward Kakuzu—any Sunagakure shinobi spying outside?"
Takeshi spat several times, feeling as though sand had gotten into his mouth, while asking Kakuzu to check the guards' arrangements.
The tall, imposing man was naturally Kakuzu, while the petite girl beside them was Uchiha Hikari.
When she heard there was a chance to scavenge benefits in Sunagakure, the Uchiha girl decisively joined Takeshi's party, posing as one of the noble's guards to come to this forsaken place.
"Unlike you, they're not so reckless."
Lifting the curtain, Kakuzu glanced outside. Aside from two Sunagakure shinobi stationed far on the perimeter, the rest of the positions were guarded by the samurai they had brought along.
"Hiring this batch of samurai cost me a lot of money." Kakuzu shot Takeshi a sharp look, making his displeasure plain.
"Small-minded, far too small-minded. We're supposed to be playing the part of high nobles of the Land of Fire. Even an idiot like Rasa would become suspicious if we didn't go all-in with the act."
Takeshi didn't even look at him, instead clinking glasses with Uchiha Hikari as they admired a bottle of fine liquor.
"This wine looks like it's complimentary for guests."
Pointing at the note on the table, Uchiha Hikari carefully read the words.
"Hmm?"
Hearing that, Kakuzu's interest immediately perked up. He strode over quickly, snatched the bottle from Takeshi's hands, and inspected the label, appraising its price.
"I'll be taking all of these."
Recognizing the brand, Kakuzu wasted no time in shoving Takeshi and Uchiha Hikari away from the area, clearly staking his claim as though it were his personal domain.
"Greedy bastard."
Pushed aside, Takeshi muttered in irritation, straightening his clothes with a cold snort.
The stylish, breezy outfit he wore had cost a fortune to custom-make—the down payment alone had been over a million ryō.
Even Uchiha Hikari, after comparing it to the average mission payout for a ninja, had to admit that he'd made that money far too easily.
Still, nobles bought into this kind of image.
"In any case, according to the plan, you'll send someone to negotiate the investment with Sunagakure. As for me... I want to meet this so-called shrewd Kazekage in person."
Turning toward the window, Takeshi stared at the curtain, as if he could see through it to where Rasa resided.
...
Compared to the Hokage, Rasa's work schedule wasn't especially heavy.
At present, Sunagakure had only one pressing issue to resolve—money.
That was why he had been willing to chant sutras at the daimyō's residence for the daimyō's mother, just to secure that ten percent budget increase.
In the face of reality, pride was meaningless. What mattered was the village's survival and growth.
Leaving the Kazekage's office, Rasa strolled home at an unhurried pace. As he neared the entrance, the cheerful laughter of children reached his ears. With a cold expression, he pushed the door open.
"Kazekage-sama, you've returned."
Yashamaru, wearing an apron, was just about to carry a dish to the table. Spotting Rasa, he hurriedly set the plate down and rushed forward to greet him.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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