I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 575: Overemphasizing details leads to neglecting the overall picture, and vice versa.

"Sigh~"

Inside the tent, Ye Cang sighed, looking at the documents on the table, becoming more and more annoyed.

Seeing his teacher's expression, Juan asked, "Teacher, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Is it because we haven't recruited enough ninjas?"

Yekura shook her head. Not recruiting the expected number of ninjas was actually within her expectations; what truly dampened her spirits was...

"Has Ginpachi-san left?"

Although they had only known each other for two days and their time together was not pleasant, Yekura inexplicably felt uncomfortable. Ginpachi-san was completely different from him, but he also resembled that guy.

Unaware of her teacher's true meaning, Juan replied with slight confusion, "Didn't Mr. Ginpachi leave four days ago?"

"No, I mean, is his leaving just an excuse, and is he actually not coming back?"

Yecang shook his head. Mr. Yinba said he was going to find Luosha to "ask" for some gold, but three or four days have passed and not only has he not received any gold, but Luosha hasn't even sent a single fax with questions.

Perhaps Ginpachi didn't actually go to see Rasa? He probably just made an excuse to go see him, but actually...

"Sigh~"

Yekura sighed again. Without Ginpachi, the gap between her and Rasa would never be closed, and she would only be defeated by Rasa step by step, and it would probably be faster than she imagined.

In political competition, no matter how many forces are involved, there can only be one winner. Yecang had also thought about what would happen if he lost. He would probably become a political prisoner or a war criminal and die as a sinner.

But she doesn't seem afraid of death now. Perhaps she has already experienced death and finds it not scary, even somewhat beautiful.

But if I fail, won't that person look down on me even more? How infuriating! I've tried everything, but I still can't get what I want.

If only she had the strength of Sakamoto Tatsuma, she could not only defeat Rasa and become the Fourth Kazekage, but also lead Sunagakure to repel the Konoha forces, and finally...

Let's make that guy take a serious look at himself, shall we?

Unfortunately, such a scene can only exist in imagination. She doesn't have the same talent and ability as that guy. She will probably be defeated, die, and then be forgotten.

Decades later, during a casual conversation in Konoha, when the past of Sunagakure is discussed and a ninja named Pakura is mentioned, that guy might only say something indifferent.

"Yakura, huh? I think there is such a person. He's a hopeless case."

"Click~"

Just imagining that scene made Yecang's hands unconsciously tighten, the pen in her hand broke off, and Juan looked at her teacher with a puzzled expression, but quickly handed over her pen while getting up to tidy up.

"Ding ding ding~"

But at that moment, a sharp alarm bell rang outside the tent. The teacher and student exchanged a glance, threw down their pens, and rushed out of the tent.

"What happened?!"

Rushing out of the tent, Yecang arrived near the alarm bell and asked the Sand Ninja who had rung it. Upon seeing Yecang, the Sand Ninja quickly replied:

"Lord Yekura, the reconnaissance team spotted Shukaku near the camp, as well as traces of Rasa's Gold Sand Magnet Release technique."

"Thump~"

Yekura's head was ringing as if he'd been hit by a bell, the words of the Sand Shinobi echoing in his mind.

She instinctively thought that Luo Sha planned to launch an armed competition against her, which was a process that many political competitions went through in the end, and also the last resort to determine the winner when there was no other way.

Yekura had also considered how she would deal with this day when it came, but it was too early, far too early.

"teacher"

Seeing Ye Cang's face turn pale, Juan grabbed her arm worriedly. Ye Cang also snapped back to reality, feeling the tingling sensation on her back, but her heart calmed down.

"Everyone, stay put."

"Yes, Ye?"

The ninja in charge of communications was about to relay the order for a defensive counterattack, but it seemed that Yekura had not given this order, but rather told him to stay put.

What's the difference between this and admitting defeat?!

"Lady Yekura! We..."

Before he could say anything, Yecang raised his hand, stopping him from continuing, and said, "I know what you want to say, but I won't allow it."

No matter how fierce the competition between me and Rasa is, you, as ninjas of Sunagakure and as members of the Land of Wind, your mission is to protect this country, not to die in civil war.

This is a competition between me and Luo Sha. If today is destined to end with the death of our lives as the final curtain call of this competition, then the only ones who deserve to die are me or him.

I will not give up my competition with him, but you cannot let Konoha reap the benefits for my sake.

After Yekura finished speaking, the Sand Ninja remained silent. Yekura turned around, touched Maki's cheek, and said, "If this is the last time we see each other, Maki-sensei hopes you will be a Sand Ninja, not a revenger."

"teacher"

"Don't cry."

Wiping away the tears that had spilled from her hand, Yekura let go, looked at the communications ninja, and asked, "Which direction is Rasa in?"

"Southwest direction."

"Alright, notify all ninjas in the camp to remain in place. All reconnaissance teams and resource gathering teams to withdraw. If I do not return, do not resist."

Ye Cang gave the order. She had considered a fight to the death, but perhaps that would make her die a quicker death? Or perhaps it would make her feel more guilty before she died, but the ultimate winner would be Konoha.

We must not let this happen.

After giving his instructions, Yekura left the camp amidst the puzzled, resentful, and unwilling gazes of the many Sand Ninja in the camp, heading towards the direction where Rasa was located, as discovered by the reconnaissance team.

After crossing one sand dune after another, Yekura stopped at the top of one of the dunes, because there was no need to go any further.

Even if you're not an excellent sensory ninja and can't sense what's happening in the distance, you don't need to anymore. You only need your naked eyes to see what's happening in the distance.

That thing, as large as a mountain, rushing towards this side, is the tailed beast of Sunagakure, Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast.

The dazzling light reflecting off Shukaku's body in the sunlight was Rasa's Gold Sand Magnet Release. This made sense, since Rasa had controlled Bunpuku, the Jinchūriki who had been rescued by an unknown person, from the very beginning of their competition.

For two years, Rasa also kept the Jinchūriki's freedom firmly under control. Wherever he went, he took Bunpuku with him, claiming that in the present Sunagakure, only he had the ability to stop the rampaging Shukaku.

Watching the round, rolling Shukaku, raising countless clouds of dust along the way, Yekura was calmer than she had imagined.

She untied the water cup from her waist, lifted the lid, looked at the half-full cup of water, and drank it all in one gulp. Before she died, she wanted to enjoy the deliciousness one last time.

Although the clean water that the Sand Village could find wasn't particularly delicious, it still had a refreshing taste after being steeped in a cup for a while.

With her head held high, she held the water glass upside down, shook it, and let the last drop of water fall into her mouth. Ye Cang then hung the water glass back on her waist, and tossed the rubber lid in her hand aside.

"Boom boom boom~"

The next instant, fireballs appeared around her body. The extremely dry weather was just right for her to fully utilize her Scorch Release technique.

Even placer gold can be melted down into steam!

but.

"Wow, so sincere! You came all this way to welcome me?"

The sound that made you want to punch someone rang out, and Shukaku stopped. Then, Yekura saw a figure sitting up straight above Shukaku's head.

Although the two were still quite far apart, those red eyes remained as distinctive as ever.

Tatsuma adjusted his gold-plated glasses, then waved dismissively.

"Why is it you?"

Yekura was somewhat incredulous, even wondering if what she was seeing was a mirage. Tatsuma scratched his head and asked, "What's wrong with me?"

Then he paused, because the feel of the hair was wrong, the twists and turns of the hair were not right!

"."

Even the wind and sand seemed to fall silent in agreement. Chenma touched his eyebrows and eyes, then his mouth and nose. Something was wrong, very wrong!

He looked down at the tendrils of vines on Shukaku's head, and Tatsuma seemed to remember something: he used to sleep on Shukaku's head.

Then the sun came out, and the gold, with its excellent thermal conductivity, immediately became a warm blanket. It got a little hot and lifted the blanket off its body, but where did it get a blanket when it was sleeping on top of Shukaku's head?

It was the Wood Release technique covering his body.

I thought that plating my glasses with gold would better create a refined scoundrel image, but I didn't expect that without the skin, what's the point of adding a mole?!

The two stared at each other in silence. Shukaku's beady green eyes darted around for a while before Tatsuma finally spoke, "Haha~ As you can see, it's me."

Ye Cang's chest heaved as he asked, "You? Mr. Ginpachi?"

"If possible, please keep this a secret. This is probably the darkest chapter in my ninja career."

Tatsuma covered his face, feeling utterly ashamed. He couldn't believe he had made such a mistake. In his nearly fifteen years as a ninja, he had never made such a basic error. Money really does tempt people to make mistakes.

As he spoke, vines wrapped around his body, and he quickly transformed back into Ginpachi. Yecang, however, blushed and waved his hands, sending fireballs flying toward Tatsuma.

"Go to hell!"

Tatsuma formed hand seals, and water spheres shot from his mouth, extinguishing Yekura's Scorch Release. He then leaped down from Shukaku's head, stood before Yekura, and grabbed her hand holding the kunai, saying:

"I'm here to help you, aren't I? Look."

Tatsuma turned around, pointed at Shukaku, and said, "I brought you the gold, and I even brought you a Shukaku along with it."

"What do you mean 'conveniently'?! It was clearly you who specifically went to invite me, and I only came along out of pity!"

Shukaku was very dissatisfied with Tatsuma's words, which made it sound like Shukaku was cheap!

At this moment, Yekura didn't care about the Golden Beasts or the Tailed Beasts at all. With one hand restrained by Tatsuma and the other grabbing his collar, she asked, "Why did you lie to me?!"

"Because... Sakamoto Tatsuma can't help you, you should understand, right?"

"Then why did you act like such a jerk?!"

"The sense of contrast is what makes a good actor—the ability to portray vastly different roles."

Hearing Tatsuma's nonchalant reply, coupled with his current deadpan expression, Ye Cang's face flushed with anger. Just as she was about to say something, Tatsuma grabbed her hand that was clutching her collar, giving it a gentle squeeze. Ye Cang involuntarily released her grip. Tatsuma said:

"Your men are here. If there's anything else, we can talk about it another time. Right now, you must take on the role of camp commander."

"you"

Ye Cang suppressed the words she wanted to say and looked back in the direction she had come from. Clearly, she had ordered everyone to remain where they were. Why?

"You're quite charming too."

Tatsuma suddenly spoke, and Yekura was stunned for a moment. Then, not only did her face turn red, but even the skin on her earlobes and behind her ears turned completely red.

"Did they misunderstand me as Luo Sha? Their killing intent is considerable. Even though they're facing certain death, they're still willing to rush to your aid. That's true charisma."

"Personal charisma."

Is this the charm?

"Thump~"

"Hiss~"

Chenma's dead fish eyes widened, he hopped back a step on one leg, then squatted down, rubbing his trampled instep with both hands with a ferocious expression.

"Hmph! Serves you right!"

(End of this chapter)