Chapter 377: Fervent Convert
After confirming time remained frozen within Daikokuten's space, Nagato finally calmed down and followed Yasushi back to the battlefield.
The battle situation had already settled. Orochimaru was leading people to clean up the battlefield.
Seeing Nagato return carrying two jinchūriki, Orochimaru couldn't help glancing several times before greeting with a smile:
"Looks like Rain Village is about to rise completely after this!"
After shattering his "divine" idol persona, Nagato became considerably more "human." Facing Orochimaru's conversation, he no longer maintained his previous cold, business-only demeanor. Instead, he nodded and explained:
"I've decided to lead Rain Village in merging with Konoha, joining Hokage-sama in creating the new shinobi world order."
"Hmm?" This truly surprised Orochimaru.
He knew how aloof and arrogant Nagato used to be. During the battlefield slaughter earlier, Nagato hadn't been like this. How had the man changed so completely after just an hour or so?
Could he have been hypnotized by Sharingan?
Orochimaru's gaze toward Yasushi grew increasingly strange.
"Alright, stop overthinking!"
Yasushi saw exactly what nonsense Orochimaru was imagining. He waved dismissively:
"Nagato simply realized the shinobi world order he originally wanted to establish couldn't be achieved, so he's entrusted his dream to me instead.
"He's given up becoming the Ten-Tails jinchūriki, but since preparations for Ten-Tails' revival are nearly complete, abandoning everything now would be too wasteful. So I'll take over.
"As for the other Four Great Nations, you and Neji lead teams to handle them. I won't go."
"I see!" Whether Orochimaru truly believed or just pretended, he smoothly changed topics, nodding in agreement: "No problem.
"The shinobi alliance has already collapsed. Other nations won't have significant resistance capabilities. There won't be wars of this scale anymore."
While they discussed subsequent plans on one side, Sand Village's group gathered dejectedly on the battlefield's opposite side—starkly contrasted with Konoha's jubilant forces nearby.
Though no one oppressed them, the vigilant glances occasionally cast their way made them painfully aware they were the distrusted group.
Most of them actually didn't want to surrender, but they couldn't resist when their leader surrendered first. The enemy forces proved overwhelmingly powerful, impossible to resist. Not surrendering meant death.
Helplessly, aside from a few die-hard holdouts, the rest followed suit.
Yet though these people surrendered, their hearts remained with Sand Village. Countless minds were plotting how to find opportunities to escape.
Everyone stared at their former Kazekage with cold eyes. Though no one spoke, most hearts likely overflowed with resentment.
Rasa naturally understood this. So he approached them with serious expression:
"I know everyone has strong opinions about me, thinking I'm a coward who disgraced Sand Village.
"But you don't understand. We were sent out this time essentially to die.
"The village never intended letting us return alive!
"The Daimyo issued death orders—we must win this war at any cost and kill Hokage-sama.
"But everyone witnessed Hokage-sama's power. Even if we all threw our lives away, this remains an impossible task.
"Of course I could recklessly pile everyone's lives up to complete the Daimyo's mission. Even if everyone died, I wouldn't face blame. But I can't bear it!
"You're all my direct subordinates who've steadfastly supported me for years. How could I bear letting everyone die here so senselessly?
"And even if we died here, do you think the village would define us as heroes and properly care for our remaining families?
"They won't!
"I'll tell you plainly!
"As long as we didn't complete the mission, the village will discard us as abandoned pawns, then curry favor with Konoha Village to gain Hokage-sama's goodwill and forgiveness.
"When that happens, our remaining families will be ostracized by the village. Our wealth will be divided up by hostile factions.
"Can you accept such an outcome?
"I cannot!
"So I'd rather endure this infamy and humiliation to bring you back to Sand Village and seek justice for everyone!
"Why should we become discarded pawns?
"This isn't fair!"
Rasa's impassioned speech successfully changed everyone's gaze. They no longer looked at him as an enemy but returned to their previous trusting, dependent expressions. His heart filled with joy as he continued:
"Everyone saw it—Hokage-sama is determined to unify all nations. The shinobi alliance has been defeated. No one can stop Hokage-sama's ambitions anymore.
"Wind Country's destruction has become an inevitable conclusion.
"Of course we don't want our homeland destroyed, but the problem is—Sand Village no longer considers us their own.
"We're abandoned pawns now. Sacrifices!
"Not just us—our families too!
"If we died at Konoha's hands, our families would inevitably hate Konoha Village.
"After Wind Country's eventual destruction, under the new shinobi world order, our families will have no room to survive.
"We certainly don't mind dying for the village, but we can't let our families suffer because of us after we're gone.
"So rather than perishing alongside the village later, better to surrender early."
These words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Expressions began turning hesitant.
Family—forever the final weak point in these fearless shinobi's hearts.
Seeing this, Rasa struck while the iron was hot. Looking around, he added mysteriously in a low voice:
"Konoha Village severely lacks manpower right now. They can only use Edo Tensei legions as support.
"But after Hokage-sama establishes the new shinobi world order, governing the nation will require massive personnel. They can't always use the dead for everything.
"Presumably we'll still manage the Sand territory.
"Calculated carefully, we're merely changing headbands. Nothing else actually changes."
This reminder immediately stirred many hearts, changing their minds.
Rasa then employed his advantages—leveraging years of accumulated prestige and favors to thoroughly rally the crowd. He stirred these Sand shinobi until their hearts surged with passion, morale soaring high.