Sunagakure did not get greedy.
After scoring a solid victory, they withdrew the moment they had gained enough, refusing to give Kirigakure any chance to strike back.
After all, this had only been a surprise attack. In terms of true overall strength, Sunagakure was still inferior to Kirigakure.
Greed would only create an opportunity for Kirigakure.
By stopping after a shallow taste of success, Sunagakure had not only cut down a wave of enemies on Fuguki Suikazan's side, but also struck a heavy blow on Jinpachi Munashi's side.
For Sunagakure, it was one of the very few chances they had had in recent times to come out ahead.
The first success had been Fuguki Suikazan's failed ambush.
Before long, the battle report was delivered to the Kazekage's office.
Rasa opened it without delay.
"Good. Very good."
"To catch Jinpachi off guard like this, it means Fuguki Suikazan clearly never shared the information that Pakura might change positions."
"That proves the Dream Card worked."
"There's a very high chance Fuguki Suikazan believed what was shown in Fuguki Choucho's dream."
A smile appeared on Rasa's face.
"It wasn't for nothing that I deliberately fed one of Sunagakure's military operation plans into Fuguki Choucho's dream."
A dream alone would never have been enough to make Fuguki Suikazan believe.
That was why Rasa had intentionally inserted a piece of military intelligence into it.
To Fuguki Suikazan, that kind of information would have seemed highly confidential.
Under those circumstances, it would never occur to him that someone had leaked it to Fuguki Choucho.
And more importantly, Fuguki Choucho was Fuguki Suikazan's wife.
The only way she could have obtained that information… was through a dream.
A dream whose contents came true. Not one or two details, but several.
If that much of the dream had proven real, then what about the rest?
There was a very high chance Fuguki Suikazan would assume the rest would come true as well.
"So this is the proper way to use the Dream Card."
"Insert events into the dream that will really happen."
"That way, the conflict between Fuguki Suikazan and Jinpachi Munashi is bound to deepen further."
"And once two commanding officers fall into discord, how can Kirigakure's army possibly fight at full strength?"
"Sunagakure's forces will gain a period of breathing room."
A flicker passed through Rasa's eyes.
"As long as I keep spreading the rumor about Uchiha Kagami during this window and earn more points, I can draw more items."
"By then, even if Fuguki Suikazan and Jinpachi Munashi reconcile, Sunagakure's situation will still improve dramatically."
He paused.
"But what else can I do?"
Rasa opened a drawer and took out a document.
Inside was a record of all the rumor-spreading methods Ebizo had already used.
It was easy to see that Ebizo had put real effort into it. He had tried many approaches.
Hiring people in secret to spread rumors in taverns.
Drawing picture books.
And the moment Rasa saw the words picture books, a spark flashed through his mind.
In the shinobi world, he actually possessed a rather special advantage—
He could fly high into the sky, to an altitude far beyond what shinobi on the ground could see.
"Taverns. Picture books. Those methods are perfectly fine."
"But the spread is too slow."
"One, the channels themselves are limited."
"Two, we have to reduce the chance of exposing Sunagakure as the one behind it."
"With so many restrictions, the available methods for spreading rumors are heavily constrained."
"But what if I carried a massive quantity of something like leaflets and flew above Konoha's skies…"
He stopped himself almost immediately.
"No. Going directly to Konoha won't work. It's too far, and too risky."
"If I go there, I may never come back."
"But I can fly to the border zone between Konoha's army and Iwagakure's army. I can rise to an altitude so high that even the Hyuga won't see me, then scatter huge quantities of propaganda leaflets from above."
"After dropping them, I'll move over Iwagakure's army, then quietly leave when the chance appears."
"In that case, the chance of exposure will be extremely low."
"Konoha's shinobi would have almost no chance of spotting me. And inside Iwagakure, there are shinobi capable of flying at high altitude as well."
"And for an action like this, Iwagakure may not even deny it."
"Even if they do deny it, Konoha won't believe them."
The more Rasa thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Airdropping propaganda leaflets had proven highly effective in many wars.
Naturally, he could do the same.
"But first, I need to produce enough rumor leaflets."
"The people making them must be absolutely trustworthy."
"I need a printing machine with very high efficiency."
Rasa's gaze turned unconsciously toward a certain corner of Sunagakure.
"Even without this matter, I needed to speak with Chiyo properly."
"Sunagakure needs Chiyo's strength. As one of the village's elders, she can't remain in decline forever."
Not long after, Rasa arrived at that secluded corner.
The entrance to the courtyard was well hidden, and the area around it was deserted.
Very few people knew Chiyo lived here.
Rasa stepped forward and knocked.
A woman opened the door a crack and peeked out with only half her face visible.
"Who is it?"
But the moment she saw Rasa, her expression froze. She hurriedly opened the door fully.
"Kazekage-sama."
Rasa nodded.
"Is Chiyo-senpai here?"
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. Lady Chiyo is here."
"Take me in. There's something I want to discuss with her."
The woman hesitated.
Just then, a voice came from inside.
"Let Kazekage-sama in."
Only then did the woman let out a breath of relief and step aside.
"Please come in, Kazekage-sama."
Rasa entered and saw Chiyo seated by a pond in the courtyard, holding a fishing rod.
In a place like Sunagakure, where water was so scarce, it was an extravagance that bordered on absurd.
But given Chiyo's seniority and her contributions to the village, it was hardly excessive.
"Chiyo-senpai."
"Kazekage-sama."
Chiyo paused.
"What brings you here, Kazekage-sama? Do you want this old woman to go to the front lines?"
"The fact that you didn't sell out Pakura is commendable. Your strategic planning is acceptable too. Your understanding of the village is better than the Third Kazekage's was."
"But I am already old."
"My son is dead. My daughter-in-law is dead. My grandson disappeared. This old woman has nothing left to hold on to."
"I've lost interest in everything."
Before Rasa could even speak, Chiyo had already made her stance perfectly clear.
Rasa felt a trace of disappointment.
But it was also within his expectations.
He already knew that if he tried to persuade her normally, it would be impossible to change her mind.
The only way forward… was Sasori.
"Chiyo-senpai," Rasa said, his tone steady, "what if Sasori is still alive? I have solid information that proves Sasori is alive."
Chiyo's pupils shrank abruptly.
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