Uchiha's personal opinion

"Jonin Yekura...please be careful."

Rasa laughed heartily, "The position of Kazekage is elected by all the Jonin. I, and all the Jonin present here, have equal right to run for the position!"

"What I just said was merely my personal opinion, and I was simply sharing it so that everyone could correct me!"

"Don't you even have the most basic policy agenda for your succession?"

Ye Cang was so angry that smoke started rising from his head.

The elder sighed inwardly and simply closed his eyes to rest.

Although this negotiation has completely deviated from its original purpose, he has no intention of correcting it.

After all... he is now a lonely old man with only one relative.

Undeterred by his argument, Rasa continued his passionate speech, painting a magnificent picture for the Sand Village's Jonin.

This includes, but is not limited to, ninja seniority pay, retirement benefits, and military rebuilding plans.

Even regarding the issue of taxation for the contracted oasis, which is of utmost concern to the Sand Villagers, Rasa promised to renegotiate with the United Company after the expiration date to determine a reasonable tax-inclusive amount.

Furthermore, Rasa proposed a bold hypothesis: to negotiate the "East-to-West Water Diversion" project with the Land of Rain through the framework of the Shogunate, thereby realizing the future of turning the northeastern part of the Land of Wind into an "oasis."

Although the Jonin felt that much of Rasa's talk was just empty promises, compared to the speechless Pakura, Rasa seemed to have a strategic mind and was a suitable candidate for the next Kazekage.

"...Let's stop here!"

After the parched Rosa finished his speech, Ebizo immediately delivered the final blow, leaving the red-faced Yokura no chance.

"From today onwards, we will accept applications from all Jonin who wish to run for Kazekage within three days; the Kazekage election will begin five days later!"

Ebizo, eyeing everyone intently, made his own decision.

Although it was somewhat rushed, none of the Sand Village Jonin had any objections.

They needed time to digest the contents of Rosa's "campaign platform," while Yekura was eager to go back and discuss countermeasures with his confidants.

……

"Is this real...?"

After returning to the eastern district of Sunagakure, and reading the investigation report on the disappearance of the Third Kazekage delivered by the captain of the Shadow Guard, Rasa couldn't help but sigh deeply.

After an extremely large investigation into their whereabouts, the Shadow Guards narrowed down the suspects to the top, with Ebizo's grandson, the Sand Village's genius puppeteer, Sasori!

"There is currently no evidence, but Jonin Sasori disappeared without a trace after the Kazekage entered the desert!"

The Shadow Guard captain's face was also very grim: "And his reappearance occurred after our organization's ninja army entered the Devil's Desert for a search!"

"...The problem is there's no evidence!"

Although the Third Kazekage's Shadow Guard is one of their strongest supporters, Rasa is still undecided.

"Jonin Rasa! That's the Kazekage-sama!"

The Shadow Guard captain immediately said, "If we don't investigate thoroughly, are you really so comfortable accepting the position of the fourth generation?"

"This is the biggest destabilizing factor in the village!"

"...Have the other people on the suspect list been checked?"

Luo Sha took a deep breath, trying to change the subject.

"Currently, only Jonin Sasori has not been interrogated!"

The Shadow Guard captain answered immediately.

This means that, based on the process of elimination, only Scorpion remains a suspect!

But Luo Sha remained undecided and struggled to make a decision.

His followers are at best on par with Yekura, and they may even be at a disadvantage in the Jonin votes; therefore, the number of Jonin votes for the veteran faction led by Ebizo becomes the key to victory.

Although he gained the support of some neutral Jonin through his campaign platform, offending the powerful Elder Ebizo by investigating the Third Hokage's disappearance could be detrimental to his campaign...

"Jonin Rasa! What are you waiting for!"

The captain of the Shadow Guard shouted, "Is this the decision you, as the Fourth Kazekage, make?!"

"Immediately organize a team to locate Scorpion and begin surveillance!"

After weighing the pros and cons, Luo Sha finally made up his mind: "No one is allowed to make a move until the Grand Elder and I have confirmed this matter!"

Chapter 402: Just speed things up and it'll be over.

An hour after leaving Fushimi District, the dazed and confused former daimyo attendant, Shinobu Heiji, could not believe what he was seeing.

As the former commander of the national ninja army established by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to defend against and oppose the Tokugawa Shogunate, and as one of the best among the non-Konoha ninja clans of the Land of Fire, Hattori Heiji was actually quite proud.

Although the Hattori family cannot be considered a powerful ninja clan, it is, after all, a ninja family that has been deeply intertwined with nobles and courtiers since the Warring States period. The Hattori ninjas do not really respect those ninjas who fight to the death for a few coins.

However, any pride is worthless in the face of the Uchiha clan.

Especially considering the presence of a three-tailed beast and two jinchūriki!

To be honest, it's quite remarkable that Hattori Heiji didn't collapse to the ground when he secretly met with Uchiha Tokumitsu.

He still clearly remembered that when Uchiha Tokumitsu received him, the Uchiha ninjas standing on either side all had crimson Sharingan eyes, and the tailed beasts and Jinchuriki exuded a ferocious aura like a natural disaster. As for Uchiha Tokumitsu, who sat high above, he was like a living god, making people dare not look directly at him.

As for Sakumo Hatake... he sat on the back, holding his sword, and had little presence.

Uchiha Tokumitsu's "expectations" of him, or to put it bluntly, his demands of him, were actually very simple: to have Hattori Heiji hand over the list of his retainer ninja, their family information, and their ninjutsu data. In return, the Hattori family would be able to continue living in the Land of Fire or any region under the rule of the shogunate, even if the daimyo's rule were to collapse in the future.

This condition seems very demanding.

But in reality, for the Hattori family today, it is a lifeline tinged with a hint of poison.

The reason it is called "slight poison" is that Hattori Heiji, the chief of staff of the anti-terrorism unit who was "summoned" to Uchiha Tokumitsu, had talked a lot about some secrets of the daimyo's retainer ninja army on the way, which also shows the extent of the shogunate's infiltration into the daimyo's residence.

According to Hattori Heiji's estimation, Uchiha Tokumitsu's reason for choosing to ask him for this information in person and offering conditions that could save his life when the building was about to collapse was definitely not what he wanted!

After all, all Hattori Heiji could provide to the shogunate were some extremely tedious and insignificant intelligence details.

As for the usefulness of these intelligence details...

Hattori Heiji couldn't help but tremble at the thought of the five tailed beasts/jinchuriki.

If each tailed beast were to unleash a Tailed Beast Ball, the Daimyo's capital would probably be reduced to ruins. Why bother with all this effort?

Even though he couldn't understand it, Hattori Heiji decided to accept all of Uchiha Tokumitsu's conditions and stated in court that he would fully accept all subsequent instructions from the shogunate.

Uchiha Tokumitsu, who was "greatly pleased," praised him in front of a group of Uchiha Jonin and designated Hyuga Hizashi, the chief of staff of the joint counter-terrorism force, to coordinate with Hattori Heiji.

In other words, from this point on, Hattori Heiji became Hyuga Hizashi's successor.

Although he felt somewhat frustrated, Hattori Heiji also felt a sense of relief.

The fear and depression that followed Da Ming's dismissal and house arrest have dissipated considerably—at least, he no longer has to worry about his personal safety!

"The Second Confidential Section of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Force will set up a liaison office in Fushimi District at that time..."

As they were about to arrive in the Kinki region, Hyuga Hizashi, who was accompanying them, stopped and took out a scroll, handing it to Hattori Heiji.

"This contains the communication codes and a safe house. Write down the contents and then destroy it."

Hattori Heiji took the scroll, but instead of opening it immediately, he stood there pondering for a while.

Hyuga Hizashi didn't urge him, but just watched him quietly.

"You must have separated from the family, right?"

Hattori Heiji asked.

“That’s right, I come from the Hyuga branch family, and I’m the branch family ninja who is closest to the main family.”

Although he usually doesn't like to talk about his background, this was the first time he had communicated with his subordinate, so Hyuga Hizashi patiently chatted with him for a while.

"However... my branch family has already separated from the Hyuga family."

After a pause, Hyuga Hizashi added another sentence.

Hattori Heiji thought for a while before he finally understood what Hyuga Hizashi meant by the two words "separation".

"That's truly amazing..."

Hattori Heiji stared directly at Hyuga Hizashi's headband and exclaimed, "To be able to withstand the constraints of the Caged Bird Seiryu..."

What do you mean?!

Hyuga Hizashi rudely interrupted Hattori Heiji.

"I mean……"

Hattori Heiji turned his right hand and pressed it against the small dagger at his waist, a look of eager anticipation on his face: "Since you are my superior, you probably wouldn't mind giving your subordinate some pointers!"

"I really don't know how to live or die!"

Hyuga Hizashi was initially taken aback, then burst out laughing.

This was the first time he had ever met someone so ignorant and fearless.

It has to be said that these ignorant "wild ninjas" are really short-sighted. Even someone like Hattori Heiji, who comes from a powerful clan and once commanded the ninja army, is so ignorant.

But since Hattori Heiji has taken the initiative to step forward, Hyuga Hizashi doesn't mind establishing his authority.

"I've heard that the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist taijutsu is unparalleled in the ninja world..."

Hattori Heiji slowly lowered his body, assuming the stance for his Iaijutsu slash.

"Since I am now fortunate enough to work with the heroes of the Hyuga clan, I hope that Hizashi-kun will not hesitate to offer his guidance!"

You think you're worthy of working with me? Don't you even know who you are?

Although Hyuga Hizashi was dismissive, his good manners prevented him from uttering a curse, so he simply beckoned Hattori Heiji with a provocative gesture.

"What an arrogant ninja clan..."

Hattori Heiji's inner fire burned even more fiercely.

To be honest, he didn't understand why he suddenly lost his mind and provoked Hyuga Hizashi.

Perhaps his IQ dropped after being dismissed, perhaps he was terrified by the five tailed beasts, or perhaps he was simply unwilling to be an unofficial informant...

But Hattori Heiji didn't regret his rashness at that moment. He just felt that Hyuga Hizashi's disregard for him was a bit too much.

"Iaijutsu!"