After intense discussion, the plan was finally settled.
Kusagakure would first compensate Sunagakure, Konoha, and Iwagakure according to the losses suffered by each of the three shinobi villages.
And this compensation was basically equivalent to what the three shinobi villages had previously demanded.
Sunagakure had demanded the most.
Konoha was second.
Iwagakure had demanded the least.
That was why Onoki had disagreed with the plan at first.
But because Sunagakure and Konoha had reached a tacit understanding, Onoki's objection alone held little meaning. Added to that, the reparations plan Rasa proposed gave Onoki a way down.
Onoki believed he could recover some benefits from the reparations.
"Each shinobi village will send three ninja, with the age limit set below fifteen."
"Each person will fight two matches."
"Two losses: 0.8 points."
"One victory and one loss: 1.2 points."
"Two victories: 1.6 points."
After the matches ended, Kusagakure's reparations would be distributed according to those proportions.
This was relatively fair, and it allowed the ninja of each village to use their own efforts to bring benefits to their village.
All three shinobi villages believed that under this plan, their own ninja would be able to gain more benefits.
Very soon, Sunagakure's list was selected.
Because in truth, there was not much to choose from.
Sunagakure simply did not have many options.
One was Rasa's disciple, Maki.
Even though he only used Wind Release, his strength could not be underestimated.
Another was Kisame Hoshigaki.
Kisame Hoshigaki was an outsider.
But who said outsiders could not be used?
From the moment Rasa said he was willing to give Kisame Hoshigaki a chance, he had already completed Kisame's ninja registration in Sunagakure.
His name was clearly listed.
This competition was not about whose "bloodline" was purer.
It was about who was stronger, who could win, and who could secure benefits for the village.
Kisame Hoshigaki's strength was not weak.
Even if the current Kisame Hoshigaki did not have Samehada to match him.
However, Rasa lent Kisame Hoshigaki something else.
The Infinite Armor.
A ninja tool similar to Samehada, possessing extremely powerful chakra absorption ability.
It came from Takumi Village.
At present, all four great ninja tools were in Sunagakure's hands.
They were the Infinite Armor, the Dragon Eye Extending Sword, the Peacock Twin Swords, and the Light Sword.
Among them, the Infinite Armor's ability was chakra absorption.
The Dragon Eye Extending Sword could treat its blade like a tentacle, allowing it to move flexibly and making it extremely difficult for opponents to defend against.
The Peacock Twin Swords could unleash fairly powerful Wind Release.
As for the Light Sword, it could fire lasers with tremendous destructive power.
Compared to Samehada, the Infinite Armor was weaker.
But Kisame Hoshigaki, after obtaining the Infinite Armor, would still receive an enormous enhancement.
His own chakra absorption ninjutsu, combined with the Infinite Armor's chakra absorption ability, meant that against opponents of the same level, as long as they could not defeat Kisame Hoshigaki in a short time—
Kisame could rely on chakra absorption to forcibly drain them dry.
Rasa gave the Peacock Twin Swords to Maki.
For Maki, who was proficient in Wind Release, the existence of the Peacock Twin Swords could reduce his chakra consumption while also increasing the power of his Wind Release.
It was equivalent to strengthening Maki overall.
"Teacher, rest assured. Kisame and I will definitely achieve victory."
Maki was full of confidence.
Kisame Hoshigaki examined the Infinite Armor on his body. From the first moment he used it, he could feel how well this thing suited him.
It was almost as if it had been made for him.
The moment he wore it, Kisame Hoshigaki liked it.
But what Kisame Hoshigaki could not understand was this—
Such a precious ninja tool, and Rasa actually dared to give it to him.
Even if it was only lent to him temporarily.
He was still an outsider, after all.
Was Rasa not worried that he would run away with it?
Or damage it?
He had not been in Sunagakure for long, but Kisame Hoshigaki could already feel that Sunagakure was different from Kirigakure.
It did not have that oppressive feeling lingering over the entire village.
However, compared to Maki and Kisame Hoshigaki, Rasa actually placed more hope of victory on the third person.
Akayama Lie.
Now simply called Lie.
A genius puppeteer delayed by the Akayama Clan.
A heroic ninja who, when forced to choose between clan and village, chose the village.
After switching to puppetry, his progress had been astonishing.
His personal strength had risen sharply.
More importantly, there were now two puppets in Lie's hands.
One was Jinin Akebino.
The other was Kushimaru Kuriarare.
Puppets made from two elite jonin of Kirigakure, and former members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen at that.
And Chiyo had personally made them.
One could imagine the quality of those two puppets.
In this tournament, when facing the other candidates, it was practically a dimensional strike.
And the others would have nothing to say.
Because this completely followed the rules.
To increase Lie's chance of victory even further, Rasa even temporarily lent the Longsword: Nuibari and the Bluntsword: Kabutowari to Lie.
"If we lack enough geniuses, then ninja tools can make up the difference."
Rasa had no intention of allowing the Kusagakure that Sunagakure had spent effort conquering to have its victory fruits stolen by other shinobi villages.
Sunagakure had to take the largest share at the very least.
"With Lie serving as insurance, Sunagakure's results absolutely will not be bad."
"Whether it is Konoha or Iwagakure, their ninja at this age cannot be too strong."
Rasa withdrew his gaze.
Kusagakure's compensation was already being prepared.
There were three portions in total.
Sunagakure's was the largest.
Konoha's was second.
Iwagakure's was the smallest.
This made Onoki deeply regretful. When he first began taking action, the damage he had claimed Kusagakure had inflicted upon Iwagakure had been far too little.
"Sunagakure. Konoha."
"Colluding like wolves and jackals!"
"But in the upcoming tournament, Iwagakure will definitely seize first place."
Three convoys moved toward the Land of Grass from three different directions.
Before long, they reached the border of the Land of Grass.
In the next moment, the pupils of the Konoha and Iwagakure ninja shrank violently.
They were shaken.
Because they saw it.
An incomparably massive figure.
Step by step, it pulled a ship and stopped at the edge of the desert. Two streams of white mist sprayed from its nostrils. Its eyes were huge, radiating an icy aura, as though it wanted to randomly crash into something and kill it.
"What is that?"
"Sunagakure's horse… no, ox cart… no, ship?"
"That is far too large!"
"Too extravagant!"
"They actually have a giant summoning beast like that pulling a ship?"
The giant bull with its super endurance possessed a massive body large enough to intimidate all ordinary ninja.
And the sand ship behind the giant bull was even larger and taller.
Rasa's figure stood at the very front of the ship's bow.
When the Konoha ninja and Iwagakure ninja looked over, Rasa's gaze also turned in their direction.
But in truth, that was not what he was looking at.
What Rasa was truly looking at was the system panel.
The final one thousand points from the third rumor had been obtained.
"Begin the draw!"