Naruto: Rebuilding the Hidden Sand Village

The shinobi world has no future!

As he looked up at the sky, Rasa felt as if he could see the gloom shrouding the shinobi world.

Just imagine…

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who has systematically learned ninjutsu! Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who can conjure anything she calls for with a clap of her hands!

And even worse, Kana had seen her potential and actually begun teaching her the fundamentals of a shinobi's combat mindset.

This wasn't the same straightforward goddess from legend anymore.

No—this was a new Kaguya.

In a decade or so, when the chakra reincarnations of Asura and Indra faced off with their legendary ancestor… Kaguya would be the one teaching them about respecting their elders.

And word was, she'd recently become interested in other elemental jutsu as well.

At that point, Kaguya wouldn't just be the progenitor of chakra, sealed away for centuries—she'd be a fully trained shinobi goddess who had mastered actual techniques.

Rasa shuddered, recalling the dozen water dragons she summoned last night.

Thank the heavens his Magnet Release wasn't just good for getting rich—it also had solid defensive value. If not for that, he would've been thoroughly humiliated.

Of course, after a quick exchange of blows, both sides stopped. After all, they had no real animosity, and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki wasn't yet the Ten-Tails Kaguya capable of using Infinite Tsukuyomi, so fighting further would be pointless.

Still… the real reason she attacked might have been simpler.

Maybe she was just showing off her strength.

Trying to tell him:

"Hey boss, I'm getting stronger. Time for a raise."

Rasa sighed, rubbing his temples.

"She hasn't even passed her trial period… and she's already asking for a raise? Unreal."

He shook his head.

But before he could stew in that thought—

"A raise? What are you mumbling about?" asked Ebizō, squinting at him suspiciously. "Something happen in the village?"

"Well, it does concern the fate of the shinobi world. You tell me—big deal or not?" Rasa rolled his eyes, then poured Ebizō a cup of hot tea and changed the subject. "Anyway, what brings you here today?"

"Ah, not much." Ebizō sipped the tea, winced at the heat, then blew on it. "Just about the Stargazing Platform outside the village…"

"Don't tell me you're short on manpower again?" Rasa frowned. "Didn't you not release the Academy construction team after the school was done?"

"Don't even think about it," Rasa said, seeing where this was going. "Those people can't be moved right now.."

Especially if things went well in the Land of Rain. They couldn't afford another manpower shortage.

"Shame. I was hoping we could start our experiments early."

"What kind of experiments?" Rasa raised an eyebrow.

"Agricultural. Livestock, too. Eh, never mind—you wouldn't understand."

"...Excuse me?"

You've gotten cocky, old man.

Rasa stared at him.

He learns a little and suddenly he's a genius? You think you know what anti-desertification grids are? Or clay sand barriers? Fencing-based soil anchors?

Yeah. Didn't think so.

Still, Rasa was oddly satisfied watching Ebizō light up and start furiously scribbling notes on Rasa's nonsense terms.

Moments later…

"Clearly… this experiment still has a long way to go." Ebizō sighed wistfully. "I wonder if I'll live to see the results."

"Relax. You've probably got twenty years left in you."

"...What?"

"Anyway." Rasa took a sip of his now-lukewarm tea and looked at Ebizō curiously. "I've actually been meaning to ask… Why did you have the merchant caravans bring back a dozen piglets?"

"Ah!" Ebizō's eyes sparkled as he stroked his beard proudly. "I'm studying the differences in manure between species. Their effect on plant growth varies. I'll have you know, although you first taught me about this, I now know more than you do! For example, our villagers' waste tends to be dry due to dehydration. Compared to wetter—"

"Stop. Stop right there." Rasa held up a hand.

You win. You win. You win.

Let's not go down this path.

Suddenly, past complaints made sense—about how Ebizō had been lurking around public toilets, or how the Academy staff reported him hovering near the women's restroom, acting suspicious.

They thought he was caught in some genjutsu.

But nope.

This was the real reason.

"Don't keep lingering near the women's restroom from now on!" Although it was "gathering material" just like a certain perverted spiky-haired individual, still… "Be careful not to ruin your reputation in your later years!"

"Reputation?" Ebizō chuckled. "This old man has lived for most of his life; what do I care about my reputation in my later years?"

Then, with a wise smile:

"If I die in service of the village… I'll die proud."

"But you can't do it like that. Find another way. For example, why not send a woman? You wouldn't possibly…" Rasa looked at Ebizō suspiciously. "You're not trying to personally…"

"Cough! I am not that kind of man!" Ebizō snapped upright, coughing awkwardly. "Anyway, if you're not giving me more workers, I'll take my leave!"

But as he turned—

"Oh, right. Almost forgot—about that Jinchūriki experiment…"

"Don't even think about it," Rasa cut him off. "Even with the budget in place, it's off the table. Just focus on doing your own job properly~"."

"But the Jinchūriki is vital to the village's future…" Ebizō started, then sighed, seeing Rasa's resolve. "Forget it. Clearly, you've already made your decision."

"…"

Decision? What decision?

The One-Tail?

That useless thing?

All it ever did was pollute the environment!

Rasa grumbled as Ebizō walked out.

"Damn old coot."

Sighing, he slumped back into his chair and opened the latest document that had just arrived.

He blinked.

"Konoha has rejected our trade proposal? According to intel, the Fourth Hokage agreed initially, but someone on Konoha's council…?"

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain…

Still recovering from his injuries, Yahiko sat in a wheelchair next to Nagato, who was also in a chair, both staring solemnly at the rows of freshly made graves.

"Are they… all gone?" Yahiko asked quietly.

"Yeah." Nagato nodded. He didn't say more.

"I failed them," Yahiko whispered, shaking his head. "If only I hadn't…"

"It wasn't your fault. It was Hanzo who broke the deal."

"No… it was my mistake. A bad call." Yahiko clenched his fists. "I'm not fit to be leader. You should take over, Nagato. You have the Rinnegan. You can lead the world to peace—just like Master Jiraiya said. You're the Child of Prophecy."

"But… Yahiko, I don't want to be the leader."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to." Nagato smiled calmly. "I'll help you with everything. But you're still the leader of Akatsuki."

Yahiko stared at him, stunned—then slowly smiled.

"Alright."

He looked down at Nagato's legs, guilt in his eyes.

"This wouldn't have happened if not for me. I promise—I'll find a way to help you walk again."

"I…"

"Don't say anything, Nagato."

Yahiko raised a fist, his voice steady and sure.

"We'll both stand back up again—together. I'll find a way."

"...Yeah." Nagato, infected by Yahiko's determination, nodded. "We'll rise again."

Yahiko was still Yahiko.

But then, a shadow passed over his expression.

"That Sand ninja… Momu…"

"…"

Yahiko also flinched, remembering him.

"I'll go to the Hidden Sand myself in a few days."