Chapter 86: The Wealth God of Sunagakure, Rasa!

"Also, as ANBU, we never use our real names."

"Do you want to come up with your own code name, or would you like to choose one from the ANBU list?"

Kazuyama immediately replied, "I'll definitely come up with my own."

"The ANBU names are all so ugly, and we already wear masks. If I had an ugly name too, I'd go crazy."

After saying this, he began to think about his code name.

Soon, an idea clicked. He put on his mask and spoke with satisfaction, "From now on, I will be ANBU Rokudenashi!"

Zou blinked, clearly not reacting right away. He stared at Kazuyama, puzzled by the name.

"Rokudenashi? That's not a very good name you've come up with..."

"It's not even as good as the name we came up with..."

If Kazuyama wasn't wearing a mask, he would've spat in Zou's face.

Don't talk nonsense if you don't get it! As one of your own, I'll make you understand the meaning of 'Rokudenashi!

Without another word, the two of them jumped onto the roof, ready to head out on their mission.

The moment Kazuyama jumped up, he felt a gaze. He turned to see Pakura standing in the courtyard, watching him, her lips moving slightly.

Although Pakura had joined the Hatake Clan, she still lived in the Gekkō residence because the Hatake house was too small—just two rooms, nowhere for Pakura to stay.

Kazuyama read her lips, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth under the mask.

He then sped off, heading into the distance.

"Be careful... be safe..."

His heart swelled with joy, and his hands tingled. Sunagakure? Last time he escaped, and now, the One Thousand Years of Death technique awaited!

…

Outside the gates of Konohagakure, Zou arrived with Kazuyama.

Haru and Rinkaku had been waiting for a long time.

"Zou, are we ready to go?"

"Well, this time it's not me going out with you. This is Rokudenashi, the new member of the ANBU."

"He'll be going on missions with you from now on."

Rokudenashi? Hearing this strange name and seeing the cat-like mask, Haru and Rinkaku exchanged puzzled glances but didn't object. After all, anyone who could join the ANBU was an elite.

"Remember your mission: destroy the Suna ninja and gather the necessary information."

"Go!"

With Zou's single command, Kazuyama, Rinkaku, and Haru set off towards the border of the Land of Fire.

Zou watched their retreating figures, his thoughts drifting.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Sakumo... can he really be the ANBU's head?"

…

On the way, Haru, who was speeding ahead, suddenly spoke up.

"It's the first time we've teamed up. Let's communicate. What are your strengths?"

Haru and Rinkaku were both veterans of the ANBU and, like Zou, had held ANBU positions since the Third Hokage took office.

Haru's mask resembled a frog, with green markings on his head that were strikingly suggestive. Rinkaku's mask, on the other hand, was unusual—featuring a dot at the top center, two eye holes shaped like eagle heads, and inverted triangles below them. Combined with his bald head, it always made the swordsman think of the word "bald."

Both carried swords on their backs.

"Me?"

"Stealth. I'm an intelligence ninja, not very strong in combat."

Kazuyama didn't want to reveal his true strength, so he gave a simple answer that hinted at a concealment technique.

"Concealment Technique?"

Each village had its own unique concealment techniques. Kirigakure ninjas used the Hiding in Mist Technique, while Iwagakure specialized in the Hiding in Rock Technique. In Konohagakure, however, ninjas typically relied on tools and props, such as the Cloak of Invisibility Technique, to stay hidden.

But Kazuyama was different. Aside from the backpack around his waist, he carried no tools for concealment. How did he intend to hide?

Though curious, they refrained from asking further questions. ANBU members often had their own secrets—hidden techniques they'd never disclose.

"Alright. When the time comes, you gather the intel, and Rinkaku and I will handle the rest."

With their roles assigned, the three increased their pace, speeding toward the border.

A day later, just as night fell, they arrived in the Land of Rivers.

"Lord Rasa, we're almost through the Land of Rivers," one of the Sunagakure ninja said.

"Once we enter the Land of Fire, stay hidden. Rescue Pakura, gather the intel, and retreat immediately," Rasa ordered.

The man had short brown hair, wore black ninja clothing with a mesh undershirt, and notably lacked eyebrows.

Behind him stood five Jōnin from Sunagakure.

Rasa, like Pakura, was an elite Jōnin highly regarded by the Third Kazekage, who had named him the best candidate to succeed him. Their mission this time was to sneak into Konoha and rescue Pakura, who had been captured earlier.

Pakura, one of the few Sunagakure ninjas with a Kekkei Genkai, was far too valuable for the village to abandon. However, the mission had been delayed due to Rasa's absence from the village and another elite Jōnin, Kankichi, being injured.

Suddenly, in the midst of walking, Rasa came to a halt. Under the watchful gazes of the other Jōnin, he crouched down deliberately, pressing his hands against the ground.

"The closer we get to the Land of Fire, the more fertile the land becomes. The gold content beneath the rock layer here is remarkably high," he stated, his tone calm yet calculating.

"Umahara, mark this spot. When we leave, I'll extract the gold."

Rasa's words carried authority, his unique ability making such claims commonplace. As a user of the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, like the Third Kazekage, he wielded the power to manipulate gold. It was largely thanks to his presence that Sunagakure's recent situation had seen improvement—after all, gold was a universally recognized currency.

"Yes, Lord Rasa," replied Umahara promptly, moving to mark the designated spot. With the task complete, the group resumed their march toward the Land of Fire, maintaining a brisk and deliberate pace.

Elsewhere, just as Kazuyama Gekkō and his companions left the Land of Fire and crossed into the Land of Rivers, Kazuyama halted abruptly, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"Stop. I see them," he announced with certainty.

"One kilometer ahead," he added, his voice steady. "We'll meet them soon."

His words brought Haru and Rinkaku to an immediate stop, tension rippling between them. Haru was the first to question him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Kazuyama replied confidently. "My technique enhances my range of vision. I wouldn't mistake it."

That wasn't what unsettled him, though. What truly shocked Kazuyama was the leader of the group they had detected. There were few individuals in the ninja world with such distinctive features—chiefly, the absence of eyebrows. And this particular individual was among the most dangerous.

The future Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

"No wonder Zou insisted you come with us," Haru muttered. "Turns out you're a perception-type ninja."

"Not bad, Rokudenashi," Rinkaku chimed in, a rare grin tugging at his lips. "I'm starting to like you more and more."

Unlike Kazuyama, both Rinkaku and Haru were combatants, unfamiliar with the intricacies of sensory techniques or stealth. For them, Kazuyama's skills were proving invaluable.

"What's their number?" Haru asked, his tone sharper now.

"Six," Kazuyama replied after a brief pause. "The one leading them has an immense amount of chakra."

If they were going to mistake him for a sensor ninja, Kazuyama figured he might as well play the role.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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