Chapter 98: The Development of Sunagakure

With Sēramu as his assistant, most of the major affairs were taken care of, allowing Rasa to return to the Dragon Oasis and focus on his training without wasting energy on trivial matters.

It could be said that Rasa was quite fortunate, he had obtained the Eight Gates Release Formation from Danzō.

Previously, he had been searching for a way to increase the storage limit of his senjutsu energy, and now, the Eight Gates had practically delivered itself to him. Of course, he couldn't just follow the training method of the Eight Gates word for word.

After studying the scroll he obtained from Danzō, Rasa gained a general understanding of the technique's essence.

According to the scroll, chakra flows through a person's body along the circulatory system and passes through eight key nodes, listed from top to bottom as: Gate of Opening, Gate of Rest, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.

Each time a gate is opened, the ninja's chakra surges at least twofold, and the increase in chakra enhances the user's physical strength, granting them greater power and speed.

At first glance, this seemed identical to the Star Release Chakra Mode, a technique that burns the body's potential to unleash immense power. However, the two were fundamentally different.

If a ninja's chakra had a fixed upper limit, then Star Release Chakra Mode functioned by stimulating the body's cells to generate more chakra, increasing that limit. Meanwhile, the Eight Gates merely improved the efficiency of utilizing existing chakra.

Yes, efficiency!

As described in the Eight Gates scroll:

If the chakra inside a ninja's body were compared to a river, then the eight gates would be like dams built along its course, restricting the flow of water downstream.

For example, if a ninja's maximum chakra capacity were 100 units, the natural flow through the gates would reduce that amount significantly at each checkpoint. This biological safeguard prevents organs from being overwhelmed by excessive chakra circulation. The foundation of the Eight Gates technique lies in rigorous training to condition the body's pathways and organs to withstand greater stress.

Conversely, when a ninja opens a gate, they unlock a portion of their restricted chakra, instantly doubling their available reserves.

From this perspective, mastering the Eight Gates wouldn't necessarily benefit Rasa much, as it only unshackled chakra that was already present rather than expanding its natural capacity.

And currently, Rasa didn't even have chakra in his body.

However, on the flip side, when Rasa absorbed senjutsu energy, it still followed the same chakra pathway system.

This meant that unlocking the Eight Gates could increase the efficiency of his senjutsu absorption.

Additionally, the specialized training involved in the Eight Gates, exercises designed to enhance the body's pathways and organs to withstand greater stress, would, in turn, boost his overall physical capabilities and, indirectly, his capacity to store chakra.

Of course, these were just theoretical deductions Rasa had made based on the Eight Gates technique.

Now, it was time to put them to the test. Thus, Rasa began his Eight Gates training in the Dragon Oasis.

---

While the outside world was engulfed in the flames of war, Sunagakure was experiencing an unprecedented period of prosperity.

The village's two victories against Konohagakure, especially the second battle, significantly boosted its standing in the shinobi world. Once considered the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure had now risen to stand on equal footing with Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

This newfound status brought immediate benefits.

First, more people began coming to Sunagakure to commission missions. Second, a growing number of civilians wished to settle in the village.

After all, finding a safe place to live was no easy task with the world in chaos. Despite the harsh desert environment, Sunagakure offered something far more valuable, security. This influx of people and resources led to a rapid increase in wealth and population.

To screen these new settlers, the village's shinobi were working around the clock, overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants. At the same time, the surge in population and economic activity triggered a construction boom within the village.

New residents needed places to live, food to eat, and daily necessities, leading to the creation of countless job opportunities.

Furthermore, after the recent wars, Sunagakure's shinobi were flush with money. With increased welfare benefits, even ordinary villagers found their pockets full. And where there was money, there was spending.

This combination of external and internal demand spurred rapid economic growth. Caravans from all over began traversing the desert, bringing goods and services to Sunagakure.

Upon arrival, many merchants realized that the village's environment wasn't as harsh as the rumors claimed. In fact, it was thriving.

Word spread quickly, and even more people became interested in Sunagakure, creating a self-sustaining cycle of prosperity.

The local villagers had never seen the village so lively before. Of course, with an open village came risks, like the infiltration of foreign spies. But compared to the risks, the benefits of growth and wealth were far more appealing.

After all, this was a golden age for Sunagakure.

One Month Later

Over the next month, Sunagakure's shinobi lived in a state of exhaustion and excitement.

Though they were busier than ever, seeing their village flourish under the leadership of the Kazekage filled them with pride.

To compensate for the shortage of Chūnin, some of the older Genin were granted battlefield promotions.

Though these newly promoted Chūnin lacked combat strength, their years of experience made them well-suited for maintaining order and managing internal affairs.

However, a new issue soon emerged.

At the current rate of growth, it wouldn't take more than a year before the village ran out of land and housing.

Some of the higher-ups voiced concerns, arguing that restrictions should be placed on incoming settlers.

After all, Sunagakure was a shinobi village. Too many outsiders could destabilize its core foundation.

But when Sēramu reported this to Rasa, his response was simple:

"Ignore them. A village's core will always be its shinobi. As long as the shinobi remain stable, everything else is secondary. As for land and housing, I'll take care of it when the time comes."

Given Rasa's overwhelming influence, no one dared to oppose his decision openly. At most, they grumbled in private.

Meanwhile, after over a month of grueling training, Rasa had successfully mastered the fourth gate, Gate of Pain.

The results exceeded his expectations.

He could now feel himself surpassing the level of an ordinary Kage.

He had stepped into the realm of the Super Kage.