Naruto: Rebuilding the Hidden Sand Village

Konoha had refused Sunagakure's proposal to allow their shinobi to reside long-term in the village under the guise of business. However, they did not object to short-term visits for the sake of tours or friendly exchanges between the two villages.

After all, shinobi were covert operatives by nature. While short-term exchanges was acceptable, letting foreign ninja stay for extended periods? That was just asking for trouble—what if classified village information leaked? Who could bear the consequences if their secrets ended up in another village's hands?

So the refusal wasn't surprising.

This is also why ninja villages, if they need to visit another, must do so openly. If not… and they're caught, even if they haven't done anything, other villages won't let them off easily.

That's why Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, had originally hoped to engage in legitimate trade and stop getting entangled in the usual messes of the shinobi world. He didn't want to end up looking like a spy using business as a cover, only to get himself burned in the process.

But unexpectedly—

Konoha, the so-called peace-loving village, rejected them!

Seriously? It's not like they weren't going to pay rent or taxes. Was it really necessary to shut them down completely like that?

They even said something like: If it's for cultural exchange and cooperation, you're welcome. But for long-term stays? Sorry, no.

"So tell me!" Rasa slammed his hand down in frustration. "Does Konoha even want peace in the shinobi world anymore? They won't even agree to such a small request from their ally. Do they still consider us, Sunagakure, their ally?"

However—

"Kazekage-sama, technically Konoha isn't wrong." A Suna jonin hesitated before raising his hand to speak. "As a major military base, a shinobi village has every reason to restrict entry from foreign ninja."

And then there was the list of demands Rasa had proposed…

He wanted Konoha to waive all taxes, ensure the safety of Suna shinobi sent for business, not interfere with any commercial activities of those shinobi, and to treat Suna ninja with fairness and neutrality...

What ninja village would agree to these demands?

Allowing enemy shinobi to operate freely within your territory with no restrictions? Rasa was dreaming.

At this point, they might as well just send in actual spies. Do what they wanted in secret. If they got caught—well, that was the risk of being a spy. If you couldn't stay hidden, you had no one to blame but yourself.

"So, Kazekage-sama… I think we should forget about going through Konoha and just carry out espionage instead."

With that.

"…."

What were these guys thinking?

Espionage?

If they got caught, all their cargo and profits would be seized by another village. And if that village publicly condemned Suna afterward? The whole thing would blow up in their faces!

Rasa sighed and looked over the other jonin. "And what about the rest of you?"

"Well… Kazekage-sama," another Suna shinobi spoke up cautiously, "why don't we just declare war on Konoha again? Like the old days—if we want something, we take it by force. Sure, we've never actually won a war against them, but at least it would show our determination and that we fought for our ideals."

This guy was getting more fired up as he spoke.

"As proud inheritors of the Will of Sand, we don't fear defeat. As long as we persevere, one day, Sunagakure will prevail!"

"That's right! We've lost so many times, what's one more?"

"So what if we break the alliance treaty? Konoha was the one being unreasonable first, refusing Kazekage-sama's modest request! It's an insult to Sunagakure's honor!"

"Declaring war is still an option. What if we win this time?"

"Let's do it, Kazekage-sama!"

"Yes! Let's fight!"

"…."

These lunatics.

Rasa looked speechlessly at the Sand Shinobi who had inexplicably become agitated and were trying to incite him to declare war. He had a strong urge to say, "What the hell?", but didn't know if he should.

And these bastards… they knew it was a guaranteed loss, yet they still had the nerve to say…

We've already lost to Konoha so many times, what's one more?

If we just keep trying, we'll win eventually!"

What's defeat anyway? It's not like we've ever won before!

…

Was Sunagakure really that bad at war?

They had beaten Kumogakure once, right?!

Looking at the crowd of fanatics in front of him, all proudly insisting that repeated loss was a sign of inheriting the Will of Sand, Rasa couldn't help but let out another deep sigh.

Then—SLAM!

He smacked the table hard. "Enough!"

Maybe he should never have gathered this group of so-called "Will of Sand" inheritors in the first place.

He rubbed his temples, clearly exasperated, and slowly sat back down in his chair. With a serious expression, he said, "Your suggestions are… very creative. Your thinking is truly progressive. And your shamelessness has indeed perfectly inherited the Will of Sand. You are all respected veterans of Sunagakure—faithful, capable, and dependable."

"So…"

"???"

"Meeting's over. Get back to work before you're late and get your pay docked."

As the shinobi departed one by one after receiving the order, Rasa's serious expression melted into a bitter smile.

"Screw it. I'll think of something myself."

According to the intel returned by Suna's shinobi, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had initially been open to the proposal. He believed it could improve cooperation between the two villages, foster mutual understanding, and ultimately contribute to peace across the shinobi world.

However—

The village's advisors were against it. As expected from the older generation, they were all about maintaining stability and protecting the village first and foremost.

Allowing a foreign village to freely conduct trade and commerce in your territory? What kind of joke was that?

Who knew if they were truly conducting business or using the guise of business for espionage activities! Therefore, it was better to kill a thousand innocents than let a single guilty one go.

As for Konoha's advisors… two fence-sitters and the "Darkness of the Shinobi World"… for the Hokage to compromise, it was likely that Danzō Shimura himself spoke out, then the two advisors concurred, the Third Hokage hesitated, and then… the Fourth Hokage found he had no choice.

"Looks like I was trying to take too big a step."

Trying to establish open trade between two historically hostile villages was never going to be easy.

It reminded Rasa of his previous life, where international trade often came hand-in-hand with gunboats and cannons.

Especially in Sunagakure's case—thanks to certain incidents, their reputation wasn't exactly stellar. Breaking treaties was practically a tradition. Konoha had good reasons to be wary.

Rasa frowned slightly, clasping his hands before his chin, sinking into thought.

Whether or not they got approval from Konoha, it wouldn't make much difference to Sunagakure's operations in the Land of Fire… for now. But without Konoha's official greenlight, every commercial activity they attempted would be met with resistance.

Because—at the end of the day, foreign ninja on your soil are a potential threat.

He didn't know how long he sat there, but eventually Rasa let out another long sigh, shaking his head as he muttered:

"I guess we'll have to give a little first."

Using proxies—a classic method for getting local companies into foreign markets.

And maybe… make things just a bit more annoying for Konoha in the process.

"So…"

"It's decided then, Danzo-san."

Konoha's regional acting general manager—there's no one better for the role!

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin