Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

Both of them were actually quite strong, worthy of the title of clan leaders, but they weren't powerful enough to fight him one-on-one. However, their fighting styles were completely different from his hard-hitting style. Especially the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist, which was soft and looked quite uncomfortable. They never fought him head-on, but always attacked his pressure points from behind. The Aburame clan was even more disgusting. Just thinking about the swarms of insects made the Raikage lose his appetite. Moreover, the chemistry between the two in doubles was incredibly good. Although he was suppressed by fighting them both, he really couldn't finish off this pair of backline gunners. Every time they dragged him to the end, his body was covered with all sorts of insects gnawing at his chakra, and several pressure points on his body were also hit, preventing his chakra from flowing smoothly.

He was so frustrated playing here. That bastard Kazekage probably wanted to steal the victory like Hanzo the Salamander. Just thinking about it made him incredibly annoyed. Was that all-star lineup they put up at the start just for show?

"...Lord Raikage, I feel there must be some inside story we don't know. Logically speaking, if everyone attacks Konoha together, they're sharing Konoha's strength. If Konoha can't hold out, the whole thing will be lost. I think the Kazekage is aware of this. But they're delaying like this. Could it be that they've done something shady with Konoha, gained some benefits, and want to back out?"

Tu Tai also frowned as he spoke.

"...That brat Shiki is cunning, it's not impossible...Asabu, what do you think?"

The Raikage frowned upon hearing his subordinate's analysis. Recalling Shiki's outwardly loyal but inwardly treacherous nature, he realized that such a thing might indeed be possible. On the surface, Sunagawa, that effeminate man, was in charge of Sunagawa, but anyone who knew the status of the Miyako clan in Sunagawa knew that the Miyako clan was the ones in charge. Sunagawa, the Kazekage, was nothing more than a puppet with some power.

However, he always leaves the brain-taxing tasks like analysis and judgment to Big Brain; otherwise, why pay him a salary...?

"Tsuchikage's analysis makes sense, but I don't think it's because Sunagakure received benefits, but rather that they somehow managed to extract enough benefits. If they really received benefits from Konoha, they wouldn't have continued to declare war on Konoha; it would just be a redundant move. Reputation isn't always that important, and Konoha's White Fang has indeed deployed a large force to the border. So, I suspect Sunagakure's current situation is similar to Hanzo's, only they are even more shameless... I even suspect the lineup they presented this time is fake. Shiki might be there, and the puppeteer couple might be there too, but whether the Kazekage will actually appear is hard to say. After all, Shamon died during the First Shinobi World War due to the tailed beast's rampage, and now Sunagakure has an additional Seven-Tails. Chiyo and Ebizo are staying at home, and I don't think Shiki and the puppeteer couple will feel at ease. You know, compared to Shamon, Chiyo's importance to Sunagakure is self-evident."

After thinking for a while, the burlap-headed man analyzed.

"Snapped!"

"Damn it! I thought only Onoki wasn't authentic enough, but I didn't expect Sunakawa to be such a cunning old fox too! (▼he▼メ)"

After hearing Big Head's analysis, Raikage felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the moon. If Big Head's analysis was correct, then the recent events in Sunagakure could be completely explained.

The thought that Sunagawa, with his effeminate face, was actually a cunning old fox made the Raikage so angry his liver ached.

........

"What the hell is that bastard doing! Give this idiot another gold medal, and if he doesn't get to the battlefield soon, he can forget about ever coming back! (╬◣д◢)"

In the Kazekage Tower of Sunagakure, Ebizo was furious, spitting everywhere, completely lacking his usual refined demeanor. Even Sunagawa, who had been unfairly blamed countless times, had the same dark expression. In the past three months, they had replied to Iwagakure and Kumogakure countless times, and he had been scolded countless times by that bastard Raikage. All of this was because of that bastard in their village.

They had indeed planned this war beforehand, and they had already made a lot of money. One should be content with what one has and not be too greedy. So, the main thing for them to do in this war against Konoha was to make a big show of it and put on a good performance. They could just show off their horses to Konoha, shout slogans to boost their morale, and then go with the flow when the other villages had decided the outcome of their battles with Konoha.

This method, though shameless, is most beneficial to the village, who cares if it's shameless or not!

So before declaring war, they had already shouted out the slogan that the Kazekage would personally lead the current three generals of Sunagakure to fight Konoha and decide the fate of the world!

As already mentioned, when the time comes to fight on the battlefield, let them have a casual battle with Konoha to keep the situation within a certain range. It shouldn't be too exaggerated or too forceful.

But now things are really messed up. That bastard led the team, and three months have passed, and that bastard is still dragging his feet and hasn't even arrived at the battlefield yet. Now he knows why that bastard insisted on having him personally lead the team.

That bastard, he's just being used as a scapegoat! (▼へ▼メ)

.......

"Big brother, this is the thirty-third gold medal. Uncle said if we don't get to the battlefield soon, you're never going back to the village..."

Meanwhile, in a sandstorm not far from the border of the Land of Wind, more than 10,000 Sand Ninja were leisurely traveling. Their uniform small steps looked as if each step had been measured with a ruler, with none exceeding 45 centimeters. This group seemed to be on vacation rather than going to fight, and there was no sense of impending battle.

In the center of the crowd, Handsome Scorpion's father took out a gold medal that his uncle had sent over that day and said helplessly to the older brother next to him.

(Thanks to everyone for the monthly votes. I went to get my second shot yesterday and was typing while waiting in line at the hospital. I wasn't really in the zone and only managed to type three chapters.)

269. There was a child in the village named Luo Sha.

"...You know, they're really something. It's just carrying a few pots, they act like it's their life. It's for the development of the village, so what if they carry a few more? They were so happy when they were being praised, but now they're complaining about carrying a few pots. Jie, remember this: try to avoid hanging out with these guys who can only share the good times but not the bad, lest you catch their bad luck too."

Shinto looked at the gold medal in Sasori's father's hand and pouted, saying, "I don't know when Ebizo and Sunagawa became so formalistic, handing out gold medals like this. Do they really think they're emperors..."

"You can't say that. Brother, we've already been dragging this out for almost three months. The Iwa ninja and Konoha have already fought one battle, and the Kumo ninja have reportedly fought two or three. If we don't get to the battlefield soon, it really won't be good. Besides... Brother, your excuse is too lame. Who encounters sandstorms and tornadoes every day for three consecutive months..."

Handsome Scorpion's dad rolled his eyes and said speechlessly, "This is a real army of 15,000 people. If they encountered a once-in-a-century sandstorm or tornado every day, they would have been reduced to wrecked soldiers long ago..."

"I'm doing this for the good of these kids. Look at them, they're only in their teens or twenties and they're already going to the battlefield. Many of them don't even have girlfriends. War is a cruel thing, and countless talented young men have fallen in history. Can you bear to see their parents outlive them? Do you think their parents will be left without anyone to care for them? What the elderly need isn't that little bit of pension every year, but the company of their children. Speaking of Roca, why aren't you waiting in the Anbu to inherit your father's position? What are you doing running around like this? There will be plenty of opportunities to build your reputation later. If all else fails, your uncle can take you to Konoha for a while and try to become a Konoha advisor or something. Why come here and take such a risk? If you were missing a limb or something, I wouldn't have such a big son to give to your father."

Masato's genuine emotions deeply moved the Sand Village underlings around him. It turned out that Masato's slow pace wasn't out of cowardice, but rather for their sake. It was truly touching!

They're like second parents to me! (?^?)

However, the tears of these underlings are worthless. After Masato finished speaking, he looked at Roka, the son of Rozen, the head of the Anbu Department, who was planning to retire in two years. The young man was already in his twenties, and his son was only one or two years younger than Sasori. Due to some uncontrollable factors, Rozen, who was already a grandfather, could not retire at home to hold his grandson. Instead, he had to stick to his front-line work despite his old age.

Actually, there aren't many strict requirements for the position of Anbu Chief. As long as you have decent strength, are good at administration, and have connections, you're good enough. Roka has all three of these qualities. He's already an elite Jonin, and with a few more years of experience, reaching the level of Quasi-Kage shouldn't be a problem. After graduating from school, his Anbu father arranged for him to join the Anbu, and he's been there for over ten years now. He's a veteran and very familiar with the Anbu's operations. As Chiyo's family member, he also has connections. All he has to do is say "I'm willing," and Roka's retirement report, along with a joint recommendation letter from Chiyo and Ebizo, will immediately appear on Sunagawa's desk.

However, this young man's thoughts were the same as those of Sasori's father when he first debuted. Even though his father had a certain reputation in the ninja world, he felt that he was just an unknown nobody in the ninja world. If he couldn't make a name for himself, he would be embarrassed to take over the position of ANBU chief. So, seeing that his father's eyebrows had turned white from working so hard, he decided to take advantage of the war to try his luck and make a name for himself so that his father could stay at home and take care of his grandson.

In short, reputation can be deadly!

In the original work, Sunagakure is just a supporting character. Masato doesn't know if Roka will be the next head of the Anbu. However, he guesses that it shouldn't be. In the original work, this kid should be the type who dies young. Why?

Because this kid's son is the famous richest man in the ninja world and one of the most tragic men in history, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa!

When he first heard that this kid named his son Rasa, Masato was quite shocked, but he wasn't entirely sure if it was the tragic man. However, when the kid awakened Magnet Release last year and could control gold sand, he was 100% certain that it was the tragic man.

If Rosa hadn't died in World War II, he would definitely have taken over as the head of the Anbu after returning to the village. Following this life trajectory, Rosa should also be a candidate for the next Anbu head. Even if Sasori really became obsessed with art and stole Sunagawa and left the village, and the village really had no talent, Chiyo would not agree to Rosa becoming Kazekage. After all, Chiyo has been deliberately reducing her family's influence in Sunagakure for many years. A situation where one family is in control is not a good thing for the village. Although there has been little effect over the years, Rosa is her family. With her own people still controlling the Anbu, Chiyo would absolutely not let Rosa become Kazekage.

There's only one scenario for Rasa to become Kazekage: Rasa dies in World War II, his father Rasa retires in disgrace, and the position of head of the Anbu is handed over to someone else. Only then will Rasa have a chance to become Kazekage.

So, this kid died in World War II just like Scorpion's parents. It's just that Scorpion's parents died at White Fang's hands, but we really don't know who killed this kid.

Shinto is under immense pressure right now! After all, Luo Zhen is his old leader in the Anbu. He can't let his old leader outlive his son, can he?

In the original story, Konoha's lineup definitely wouldn't be what it is now. Because of his appearance as a little butterfly, plus the slogan that Sunagawa personally led the team before leaving the village, Konoha's current lineup is much stronger than in the original story. Just protecting Sasori's parents from letting Chiyo "infatuated" with Sakumo Hatake for decades is already exhausting enough. Now they also have to protect this kid and prevent the old leader from burying his son... It feels like he's here to be a babysitter this time.

"...That's different. How can you see a rainbow without going through the storm? Don't worry, Master Masato, I'll take good care of myself."

Roca, now a father, is no longer the little boy who would cry at a few words from Masato. Instead, he always has a deadpan expression and does everything with a serious demeanor, which makes Masato's heart ache.

This is the aftereffect of spending too much time in the shadows. Being exposed to the dark side and violence every day turns a young man with volatile emotions into a deadpan character.

"Just do as much as you can. If you really can't keep up, just stay behind me. Don't try to be a hero..."

Shinto rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "I've already provided hundreds of bodyguards for Sasori's parents, so I feel bad about giving this kid so many more. It's not right to use my position for personal gain..."

270. Those Sand Villagers are having a BBQ?

"Lord Sakumo, Sunagakure has arrived, but the commander is not the Kazekage as rumored, but Shiki the Golden Lion... They arrived last night and set up camp ten kilometers away from here."

"Phew...that bastard finally came..."

At the border of the Land of Fire, in the camp where Hatake Sakumo was stationed, they had been preparing for three months. Nara Shika even practiced all the formations he knew. Now, after hearing the report from his ANBU subordinates, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The saying that the most agonizing time in the world is waiting is absolutely true.

Over the past three months, not only others have been anxious, but those of them who are going to face off against Sunagakure have been even more anxious. Firstly, the lineup that Sunagakure fielded when they set out was simply too impressive!

The Kazekage, the three generals of Sunagakure, and the unknown group that had previously tormented their chief, Danzo, to the point of being unrecognizable in the Land of Rain—this was a lineup capable of winning the championship. They'd been on edge every day since arriving here, barely able to sleep, not daring to sleep too soundly. Even though their Nara-like leader had guessed Sunagakure's intention to stall for time, they couldn't relax until Sunagakure appeared, fearing that Sunagakure might attack from any direction while they slept.

The mental anguish of more than three months has finally come to an end, which is a huge relief for them. They can finally get a good night's sleep tonight...

"Just as Lord Lu Yi said, the Wind Shadow didn't come, but this guy is only now bringing people here... Let's go find out what they're doing right now?"

Sakumo Hatake looked puzzled. The war had been going on for several months. He had thought that because the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire were adjacent, Sakumo had brought his men to prepare for a confrontation long ago. But this guy had only just entered the fray, and he wasn't launching a sneak attack as they had expected. Moreover, after arriving, he simply set up camp and came to make threats, just as was the custom in the ninja world. He was really confused.

"...No need to check, they're probably having a BBQ right now...I can smell the aroma even from this far away..."

The head of the Inuzuka clan wrinkled his nose and looked helplessly at the husky beside him, which was drooling incessantly.

Wow, the barbecue at Sunagakure is seriously amazing!

"BBQ? Those guys are having a BBQ? Σ(⊙▽⊙a)"

The heads of the various Konoha clans inside the tent were completely bewildered. They could disregard Inuzuka's words, but the drooling husky beside her was enough to prove that Sunagakure's barbecue skills were lacking...

...Coming to the battlefield for a BBQ, isn't that a bit too much!

But... does that mean we don't have to fight anymore?

Thinking of this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was just that the Golden Lion was too easily carried away. Although Shuo Mao could lane against him, he couldn't stop the Golden Lion from spamming sword energy. The dense sword energy was invincible in such a large-scale team battle. If you were hit by it, you would be crippled even if you didn't die. Of course, they didn't want their clan's younger brother to be hit by it.

This situation is perfect. The Sand Village is having a BBQ and has no intention of fighting, so they can have a banquet or something to keep things quiet while they stand their ground! It would be best if everyone could peacefully persevere until the war ends! ヾ(^Д^*)/

"...It seems that Sunagakure really did reap the benefits after gaining them, just like Hanzo of the Salamander. The current situation is very unfavorable for Konoha. Iwagakure has deployed the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and the Hokage is too busy dealing with Onoki to spare any attention. There is simply no one who can deal with the Four-Tails. The Hokage has already retreated three hundred miles..."

Seeing everyone's beaming faces, Nara Shika was not so optimistic. If the Iwa ninja couldn't hold on, just one breach would mean the end for Konoha. They were holding on for now, so Sunagakure hadn't made a move, but if the Hokage couldn't hold on, Sunagakure would definitely launch an attack, which would be even more troublesome.

But now they have to confront Sunagakure. Even though the Kazekage didn't come, Sunagakure's overall lineup is not bad. Moreover, puppeteers have always been a great weapon in war. They simply don't have time to support the Hokage. Red Staff is useless if they go, as they can't deal with the Four-Tails Jinchuriki. And Double Flower Red Staff... If Sakumo goes, who will hold off Shiki?

If the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were twenty years younger, he might still be confident in going up against Shiki with his intelligence. But not now. The Akimichi family members are indeed no longer strong enough... They feel pressured just going up against the Puppet Master couple.

"I just hope Orochimaru's situation ends soon..."

Hatake Sakumo also frowned. It was unrealistic to support the boss's side, as supporting Kumogakure was out of the question. The leaders of the Hyuga and Aburame clans were barely managing to hold off the Raikage, and it would be too much for them to defeat this battle maniac.

It's even more impossible for them to end the battle quickly. That Golden Lion is not so easy to deal with. Being able to restrain him from attacking recklessly is already his limit.

The only chance lies with the Land of Rain. The forces led by Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya are better equipped than those of the Rain Ninja. If they can quickly secure support from the Land of Rain, they will have a good chance of winning this long war. Three villages can't defeat Konoha in a protracted war.

......

"Brother, we've received news that the people of Konoha in the Land of Rain have initiated a war with the Rain Ninja. It seems that Konoha can't hold out any longer."

On the Sunagakure side, after Sasori's father finished showering Yusa with their lovey-dovey moments while holding a greasy, meaty leg, he came over to Masato, who was also fighting with a meaty leg, and said something.

"Nonsense! The Iwagakure side has all their Four-Tails Jinchuriki, while Konoha only has Hiruzen Sarutobi, a single Red-Haired Swordsman. Hiruzen is lucky if he can even stop Onoki from unleashing his area-of-effect attacks. The Uchiha clan has been weak ever since Madara, your father's killer, left. What can they possibly use to stop the Four-Tails Jinchuriki? It's only a matter of time before the Rain Country takes action. The only question is how long Hanzo of the Salamander can hold out. Tsunade's team is incredibly strong...! Roca, put less salt next time, I prefer it bland..."

While gnawing on a large meat leg, Masato said, "The Sannin of today are not the same as the Sannin of the original story who relied on Hanzo of the Salamander for face. In the original story, 'Yellow, Gambling, and Drugs' couldn't defeat Hanzo of the Salamander, who was known as a demigod, but Hanzo of the Salamander was very famous in the ninja world. So even if they couldn't defeat Hanzo of the Salamander, they were still honored and were given a title by Hanzo of the Salamander."

However, Hanzo of the Salamander doesn't currently have the title of a demigod, and his reputation in the ninja world is overshadowed by Hanzo and White Fang, making him rather unremarkable. Meanwhile, Tsunade, one of the "Three Legendary Sannin" (of gambling, drugs, and prostitution), has already become famous for her incredible stats during the Rain Country War, snatching the MVP award from White Fang. She doesn't need Hanzo to bestow a title upon her; on the contrary, Hanzo is worried that his "good brother" Hanzo won't be able to withstand the onslaught of the "Three Legendary Sannin." Although Jiraiya's Sage Mode skills are only half-baked, Sage Mode is still Sage Mode. If Jiraiya were to activate Sage Mode, Hanzo might not be able to handle it.

271. A man who treats the battlefield like a barbecue grill

"I never imagined that the Four-Tails Jinchuriki was so powerful, enough to make Konoha hesitate to act against him. How come we didn't see it back then..."

Sasori's father sighed. "Isn't this Four-Tails Jinchuriki the kid he and his older brother kidnapped from Iwagakure back then? That big Four-Tails monkey was beaten like a dead dog by his older brother back then, and the Jinchuriki was just a kid. I really didn't realize how powerful this Jinchuriki was. And this is the first time a Jinchuriki has been on the battlefield. Although Sunagakure also has Jinchuriki, Bunpuku chose to seal himself away because of Shamon's death. I've only seen him once in all these years. I really don't feel how powerful a Jinchuriki is."

Unexpectedly, the kid they kidnapped back then has left Konoha helpless.

"It's not that the Jinchūriki are powerful, but rather that the Tailed Beasts are powerful. Once a Jinchūriki gets along with a Tailed Beast and gains its approval, they can borrow its power and even communicate with it, completely surrendering their body to its control and unleashing its full power. That's the true weapon of war. Imagine a creature hundreds of meters tall appearing on the battlefield—a single slap could send it to godhood. However, this brat who's the Four-Tails Jinchūriki can probably only borrow a portion of the Four-Tails' power; he can't yet achieve perfect fusion with it and become a complete Jinchūriki. Otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have been killed long ago. Konoha is the common enemy of all the Tailed Beasts except Shukaku. A true Jinchūriki who can truly align with the Tailed Beast..." The perfect fusion of beast and human form was something Mito Uzumaki of Konoha could achieve in the past, but now that she's passed away, it's uncertain whether Konoha's new Jinchūriki can do it. That's why I plan to make Sasori's future wife the Jinchūriki. Once she becomes the Jinchūriki, your son can work hard to make her fall head over heels in love with him, and then Sunagakure will have another double-flowered red-spotted ninja. Logically speaking, the Seven-Tails' personality is relatively weak, not as volatile as its brothers, so your son's future wife is the most likely to become the perfect Jinchūriki. Shukaku, on the other hand, has the destiny of the leader but not the luck; its temper is even more volatile than the Nine-Tails'. Fortunately, Bunpuku is a monk, even more talkative than Shukaku. Anyone else would have been driven mad by now!

Seeing that Sasori's father looked down on the Tailed Beasts, Shinto immediately corrected his suicidal idea. Perhaps it was because he had seen him beat two Tailed Beasts to a pulp that he had the illusion that the Tailed Beasts were trash. What if he actually ran into a Tailed Beast one day and got carried away and went to fight it? Wouldn't all his efforts to protect him have been for nothing?

"However, while this Four-Tails Jinchuriki is decent, he's still a bit lacking. If Konoha sends another Double-Flower Red Staff as reinforcements, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki will immediately be forced to retreat. It's not time yet. So, ultimately, the outcome of this war depends on the Land of Rain. Once they finish their battle there and go to support Hiruzen Sarutobi, the situation will be much clearer. Similarly, if Konoha can't quickly resolve the Land of Rain's conflict, and Hiruzen Sarutobi can't withstand the Iwa ninja's attack, then it will be our turn to act. Fighting around now is pointless. If your men can't hold back, let them confront Konoha's forces. But remember to keep things within limits; don't go too far. So many parents in the village are watching you..."

Seeing that Handsome Scorpion's father looked thoughtful, Zhen Dou reminded him once again that most of the underlings who came with him this time had never experienced war or seen its cruelty. So their eagerness was because they wanted to use this war to gain points and rise in rank. After all, what young man wouldn't want to rise in rank and be content to be a lackey for life?

He couldn't possibly control such a restless mind. Rather than letting them fester, it would be better to let them vent. Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are determined by fate. Whether they can rise to power depends on themselves.

........

"What?! The Sand Village isn't led by the Kazekage, it's led by Shiki! They're having a BBQ on the battlefield?! Σ(⊙▽⊙a)"

When Sunagakure finally entered the fray more than three months late, everyone was expecting an earth-shattering, epic battle. However, Sunagakure's next move left everyone dumbfounded.

There was no earth-shattering, epic battle. The second day after the Sand Village arrived and set up camp, they had a unique battlefield BBQ. It didn't look like they were preparing for a fight at all. Instead, it looked more like they were going on a vacation and camping trip. They even brought oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. It seems like Shiki has been tricked again!