Two days later, in the Konoha Ninja Hospital, Sasuke woke up from his coma. He truly wished he could have slept forever.
The events of the past few days had completely surpassed his understanding. His father was not dead, and it had all been a play orchestrated by his brother.
He really wanted to beat them both up!
However, his brother had still left the village, not as a rogue ninja, but something akin to exile.
This was also Itachi's own wish. Having blood on his hands, he no longer felt he deserved to stay in the clan, and his father had stepped down as clan head.
Fugaku had told him all this after tormenting him in the genjutsu space. Sasuke was filled with helplessness at having such a father and brother.
"Waaah, Sasuke, you're finally awake."
Hearing the familiar, tearful voice, Sasuke's skin crawled.
"Idiot Naruto! Speak properly!"
Seeing Sasuke awake, and recalling the events of the past two days, Naruto finally made up his mind.
"Sasuke, let's go to the hot springs!"
Sasuke's face turned red, and he roared, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
Naruto cautiously leaned in and whispered, "Sasuke, I'm being targeted by a pervert, you have to help me!"
"A pervert? What does that have to do with hot springs?"
Sasuke's mind was still sharp. Even after being tormented by Itachi and Fugaku, he still managed to react.
"Well..."
Naruto became flustered. How could he explain this? Should he say he wanted to give you his first time?
Or did he also want to see Sasuke's body?
*Slap!*
Naruto slapped himself. They were both men, what was wrong with going to the hot springs?
Seeing Naruto suddenly slap himself, Sasuke's eye twitched. He felt that Naruto, not him, should have been the one lying in the hospital bed.
"What's going on, explain it clearly."
Naruto, helpless, recounted everything about Shisui.
"That's how it is, I suspect he's already got his eye on me!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and replied, "And what does that have to do with me?"
Naruto was stunned and incredulously said, "Sasuke, we're best friends, how can you be indifferent!"
"Who's best friends with you, idiot."
Sasuke glanced away. Seeing Naruto's crestfallen face, he still said, "Where is this person named Shisui?"
Naruto immediately pounced on Sasuke's bed, his face beaming, "I don't know."
"Then where did you encounter him?"
"I don't know where, it seems to be in a house."
"...Get lost!"
"Hey, Sasuke, don't start a fight. What about the hot springs, have you considered it?"
Sasuke gritted his teeth and kicked Naruto off the bed. This scoundrel Naruto was always pushing his luck!
*Creak...*
The door opened, and Sakura, Ino, and Karin, who had come to visit, looked despairingly at Naruto and Sasuke who were wrestling.
The strong "romantic" aura immediately made them retreat three steps.
It seemed Sasuke was completely corrupted. They might as well go home and find their mothers.
...
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Sunagakure, a sandstorm raged, engulfing the village. This was different from usual; the sandstorm was unusually fierce, as if artificially induced.
"Still no sign of Shukaku?"
"Reporting to the Kazekage, the One-Tailed Beast has merged with the sandstorm, making it difficult to locate its true form."
Rasa, wearing his Kage hat, looked at the sandstorm that engulfed the entire village with a grim expression.
A sandstorm of this magnitude might be manageable for a day or two, but if it persisted for a month, Sunagakure would be paralyzed. This could not be allowed to happen!
Chiyo had ultimately chosen to revive Rasa using the Reaper Death Seal, not just because he was the Kazekage, but more for Sunagakure.
If news of the Kazekage's disappearance spread, other countries would surely seize the opportunity.
Chiyo was willing to do this because she had fulfilled her wish, seen her grandson Sasori, and felt Sasori holding back during their battle.
No matter how cold a puppet was, human emotions would eventually take precedence.
Chiyo finally let go of everything and chose to seek self-redemption in the Pure Land.
Having experienced death, Rasa had also changed. Not that he had become a good person. In the ninja world, there was no such thing as good or justice; it was all a struggle for power.
Rasa did not regret betraying Pakura for personal gain. He only felt he had not been cautious enough; otherwise, a mere Pakura wouldn't have been able to kill him.
"What exactly does Shukaku want?"
Rasa frowned. Shukaku's appearance meant Gaara's death. Although he had been mentally prepared for it, a trace of sadness remained.
But it was only a trace. When he had sent people to assassinate Gaara repeatedly, he had already abandoned any familial affection between them.
The sandstorm continued to rage outside. A tenth of Sunagakure was already buried. Rasa sighed, put on his coat, and walked out of the building. He was going to talk to Shukaku.
Upon reaching the village walls, Rasa shouted into the storm, "Shukaku, I know you're here. Hiding your head and tail is not the way of a Tailed Beast."
Shukaku's shrill voice echoed from within the sandstorm, "Rasa, don't try to provoke me! Things are different now! I am now a beast with a system!"
"I'm here to collect a debt this time! One hundred million ryo. If you give me one hundred million ryo, I'll leave immediately."
"What?"
Rasa's expression was one of disbelief. A Tailed Beast coming to collect a debt? What use did Tailed Beasts have for human money?
Other than as toilet paper, Rasa couldn't think of any other purpose.
"If you want to fight, then fight! Stop making excuses!" Rasa could only assume this was Shukaku's excuse and that its true intention was to destroy Sunagakure, after all, he had personally sealed Shukaku three or four times.
"Rasa! You think I'm afraid of you! I'm only here for the money this time. If you don't pay, your Sunagakure will be buried!"
Rasa's face turned ashen. Looking at Shukaku, who was hiding in the sandstorm like a shrinking turtle, he snorted and returned to the Kazekage's office.
Soon, the higher-ups of Sunagakure were summoned.
"Tell me, what does Shukaku want this money for?"
The effeminate Jonin, Yura, couldn't help but say, "Could it be that someone is controlling Shukaku? And the one demanding the money is the person behind it."
Rasa denied it, "No, although the Jinchuriki was captured, I don't see any signs of Shukaku being artificially controlled."
"You should all be aware of Shukaku's violent nature. It would never submit."
Everyone nodded. A high-ranking official said, "Then could it be that this is just an excuse, and the real goal is to destroy Sunagakure."
Rasa said angrily, "Didn't you see what I said outside just now? Are you still spouting such nonsense!"
The official was taken aback. He had been in the restroom just now and hadn't actually seen anything.
For a moment, the conference room was filled with a cacophony of voices, but no one could provide a logical explanation.
At this moment, Baki couldn't help but say, "What if Shukaku owes someone money, and that's why it's come to us, Sunagakure, to demand payment."
"Don't be ridiculous! How could a Tailed Beast be in debt!"
"Jonin Baki, have you been gambling too much lately?"
"Hahaha..."
Baki covered his face. He had lost quite a bit of money recently, but he felt his statement was well-reasoned and very logical!
Rasa glared at Baki and asked the financial department's high-ranking official, "How much liquid capital does the village have left?"
The financial department's high-ranking official's face was unsightly as he whispered, "Fifty million ryo left. The repair costs for the buildings damaged during the last invasion took a large chunk."
"Then there's only one option!"
Rasa expressionlessly took out his wallet and placed it on the table. He said to everyone,
"Everyone, let's pool our money!"