"Konoha places a lot of emphasis on intelligence from Hidden Sand. Pakura, I suppose I've saved your life twice. Without my Sage Curse Seal, you would surely have been killed by Rasa."
Upon hearing this, Pakura fell silent. Although she was reluctant to admit it, her survival in the deadly battle with Rasa was entirely thanks to the Sage Curse Seal given to her by Uchiha Yoichi.
Over the course of the year, she had gradually mastered the Sage Curse Seal, and her strength now was slightly greater than it had been.
"You kept me here to say what?"
"I don't like beating around the bush either, so I'll be direct."
Uchiha Yoichi briskly walked to a map of the Ninja World hanging in the office, compiled from various sources. The furthest nations were the Land of Snow and the Land of Rainbow. Next to it was an older map, a Ninja Race map left from the Warring States Period by the Senju Race and the Uchiha Race.
Back then, one or two Ninja Villages occupied a small nation, waging wars against each other. There must have been at least a hundred small nations during the Warring States Period. Yet now, at least half have disappeared.
"Be my inside agent and help me annex the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Wind."
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing this, Pakura's heart surged with anger, then she stood up and said, "Even if you saved my life, you cannot make me betray the Hidden Sand. I am...."
"Fine then, let me put it another way; accept my commission and lead the impoverished villagers of Hidden Sand Village to join Konoha for a better life."
Pakura, still angry upon hearing this, said indignantly, "What gives you the right to say this? Are the villagers of Hidden Sand...."
"Stop fooling yourself, Pakura. I'm the one who ordered the blockade of resources. In less than a year, your Hidden Sand Villagers will be forced to plead for help. If I truly harden my resolve and blockade for four or five years, how many people will starve to death in the Land of Wind?"
Uchiha Yoichi looked at the indignant Pakura, then chuckled slightly and continued, "Even if you know this, it doesn't matter. I can have Konoha blockade even the Land of Tea. Then you'd have at least three to four tenths starvation.... And do you dare to wage war?"
Sixty percent of the Land of Wind's territory is desert. Starving three to four tenths people was Uchiha Yoichi's lowest estimate, given the united efforts of the Land of Wind, the nobles, and the Daimyo striving to aid the people.
But it's obvious the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Wind won't act that way, and starving seven to eight tenths of the population is entirely possible.
"Let's not talk much today. You should take a good look around Konoha later, see if being Konoha's 'dog' is happier, or being a villager of Hidden Sand.... by the way, Konoha's dogs eat meat."
After saying this, Uchiha Yoichi waved his hand, no longer intending to converse with Pakura. She hadn't seen much yet; the more she learns, the more desperate she'll become about Hidden Sand Village rising again.
After Uchiha Yoichi dismissed Pakura, her mind was still slightly confused, only coming to her senses after leaving the Hokage Building.
Upon noticing Konoha Ninjas following her, Pakura opened her mouth and asked, "Can I walk around now?"
A Konoha Ninja replied, "I need to follow you. You can visit all places except those with classified information."
"Thanks for the trouble. I want to look around Konoha...."
Pakura was indignant in her heart, wanting to see whether it's happier being Konoha's dog or a citizen of Hidden Sand.
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"It looks like you've already familiarized yourself with the power of the Rinnegan. As for how the Akatsuki Organization will develop next, you'll have to decide for yourself."
Obito suddenly appeared beside the Deva Path Clone using Kamui and said. He had just witnessed the entire process, easily eliminating enemies from Hidden Rock Village with only two Pain Clones.
Much stronger than when he had faced the encirclement and slaughter of Konoha Ninjas before.
"Are you leaving?"
"I still need to scout for some intelligence, and sealing a Tailed Beast requires nine ninjas with strong Chakra. I'll help you monitor which traitorous ninjas in the Ninja World are suitable."
Obito spoke to Deva Path Pain, but his actual intention was to go to the Land of Water; one, to find the whereabouts of the Three-tailed Beast, and two, to weaken the strength of the Hidden Mist Village, incidentally causing them to continue their war with Konoha.
He felt confident that he could control the current Fourth Generation Mizukage with Illusion Technique, and Nagato's strength had grown stronger too, no longer requiring his constant oversight.
"I know you want to return to the Hidden Rain Village, but I must offer one piece of advice: continue to stay in the Land of Earth."
Obito continued, "Onoki needs your strength. Keep demonstrating strength to help him complete tasks, then perhaps when Hidden Rock is searching for the Four-tailed and Five-tailed, they'll employ you too. Additionally, returning to the Hidden Rain Village won't be easy, especially since the Akatsuki Organization isn't yet powerful."
".... I understand."
Nagato said after a moment of silence; for Yahiko's dream, he could endure. He also knew Jiraiya was searching for them throughout the Ninja World, having been informed by White Zetsu about Jiraiya's intelligence three times.
'He really values another disciple deeply. It's a pity, when Teacher Jiraiya sees his disciple again, who knows what feelings he will have...'
Nagato thought silently in his heart, then took back the new Deva Path Clone.
The Hidden Rain Village wasn't weak in strength now, and the Akatsuki Organization had only three members in total: Nagato, Konan, and Fugaku. Uchiha Obito hadn't joined the Akatsuki Organization and generally didn't offer help.
With their combined strength, returning to the Hidden Rain Village was indeed troublesome. Only if they could kill Hanzo would they avoid making a commotion that might be noticed by Konoha.
As Obito was planning to stir things up, the Hidden Sand Village envoy visiting Konoha also returned to their accommodation.
After a day of negotiation, there was no progress. That beautiful Lady Uchiha insisted on this price. If their Hidden Sand signed the contract, the Uchiha Commerce Alliance would sell goods to other countries.
But the items were too expensive; the money sufficient to buy one batch of supplies now could only buy a fifth of the previous amount. The Shaluo People didn't dare to accept privately and had to send messages to the village waiting for orders.
Upon seeing Pakura return, the Shaluo People stopped her as she was about to head to her room. Opening his mouth, he asked, "Jonin Pakura, what did Uchiha Yoichi say to you today?"
"What does it have to do with you? Get out of the way!"
Pakura said coldly; she wouldn't choose to yield to Rasa even if she chose Uchiha Yoichi, at least the latter had saved her twice.
Upon hearing Pakura's attitude, the Shaluo People could only make threats, saying, "You, I'll report this matter to Kazekage-sama!"
"Hmph, Rasa's dog!"
Pakura shoved the Shaluo People aside and returned to her room.
Other Sand Ninjas didn't dare say anything, as it involved the Kazekage and Hidden Sand Hero, others simply didn't want to get involved.
Returning to her room, Pakura lay down on the bed and suddenly discovered her bed was slightly more comfortable than the one she had at home in Hidden Sand.
"..... How can the gap be so large?"
Pakura wondered, having spent an afternoon in Konoha without visiting all its places, only going around the supermarket, food district, Ninja Paradise, and a residential area.
Flourishing and bustling, peaceful and thriving.
This was the feeling she had from Konoha, where kids could take toys and joyfully run through the streets. Hidden Sand's children absolutely couldn't enjoy such carefree and happy moments.
She even noticed some kids feeding meat to dogs, something utterly impossible in resource-scarce Hidden Sand Village.
After seeing Konoha's prosperity, Pakura found herself momentarily lost, inadvertently feeling that Uchiha Yoichi's words were true. If Hidden Sand remained without resources, a batch of civilians might indeed starve.
By then, there would only be two choices: to let some civilians starve, or to wage war and let Hidden Sand Village's ninjas perish on the battlefield.
Under the influence of the Sage Curse Seal, Pakura was increasingly persuaded by Uchiha Yoichi's words.
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"Teacher Yoichi... Hmm?"
Yuhi Kurenai knocked twice outside, then after pushing open the door, she suddenly saw Uchiha Yoichi standing up from the desk and said to her, "Kurenai, it's late, and you're still not going home?"