Chapter 212: Rasa Has Passed the Point of No Return

An hour later, at the foot of Kikyo Pass, Minato arrived with Kakashi and Obito. The three of them appeared before Veigar, and without wasting a moment, the four left the mountain, heading straight for the front lines.

Land of Rivers, Sunagakure Command Post.

In the command chamber, Rasa sat at the head seat, a trace of worry visible on his face. Beside him, Chiyo had her eyes closed, seemingly resting.

Suddenly, a Suna ANBU, one of the Kazekage's personal guards, appeared inside the chamber. He knelt before Rasa and Chiyo and reported:

"Kazekage-sama. Chiyo-baasama."

"The operatives we dispatched have returned. Jonin Ryoma and Jonin Yūki are waiting outside. Do you wish to see them?"

Rasa, troubled as he was, felt a flicker of anticipation upon hearing the news. He addressed the kneeling ANBU:

"Let them in."

"Yes, sir," the ANBU replied, before vanishing with the Teleportation Jutsu.

Moments later, the two Suna jonin, Yūki and Ryoma, stepped into the command room.

"Kazekage-sama. Chiyo-baasama," they greeted respectfully.

Rasa's voice rose slightly with hope as he asked, "Any news?"

Ryoma bowed his head and answered with formality:

"Yes, we've received confirmation."

"Both Kumogakure and Iwagakure have significantly increased their troop presence along their respective borders after receiving your letters."

"Tensions between them and Konohagakure are at a boiling point. War may erupt at any moment."

He went on to deliver a full intelligence report to Rasa, detailing the movements of Kumogakure and Iwagakure's forces and their increasing readiness.

Chiyo, who had remained silent with eyes closed until now, finally opened them and asked sharply:

"What about Konoha's front line? Did you acquire the information I requested?"

She had little interest in the movements of the other villages, her sole focus now was vengeance for Ebizō.

Yūki immediately turned and replied:

"Chiyo-baasama."

"We haven't gathered much intel on Konoha."

"From our reconnaissance of their front lines, we estimate that Konoha has between 2,500 and 3,000 shinobi deployed."

"We've also identified the locations of most of the Hyūga clan on the battlefield. However, we haven't yet pinpointed any significant weak points in their defenses."

"As for the specific intel you asked us to gather, we've got that too."

"Konoha's Special Jonin, Veigar Koshima, has been holed up on Kikyo Pass this entire time. But we've been unable to determine his activities or gather any deeper insight."

Rasa, knowing how volatile Chiyo had become since Ebizō's death, feared she might lash out at Yūki for his limited findings. He quickly cut in:

"It's fine."

"You've done well, Yūki. Just locating the Hyūga presence at the front lines is a great achievement."

"This information is critical to our next move."

Yūki gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, Lord Fourth."

He understood clearly, Rasa was shielding him from Chiyo's wrath. Since Ebizō's assassination, she had become increasingly unpredictable and temperamental.

Rasa gave Yūki a small nod, then turned to Chiyo.

"Advisor Chiyo, what are your thoughts?" he asked gently.

But it was as though she hadn't heard him. Chiyo simply closed her eyes once more and sank into silent contemplation.

Seeing her blatant dismissal, Rasa, despite his rank as Fourth Kazekage, fell silent. Ryoma and Yūki did the same, unwilling to interrupt the elderly advisor.

The room grew still. The three of them waited for Chiyo to speak.

But to their surprise, an entire hour passed, and she remained unmoved, eyes still shut.

Rasa's expression darkened. He realized Chiyo wasn't just ignoring him, she was publicly undermining him.

Even as the Kazekage, Rasa couldn't ignore the implications. And with Ryoma and Yūki present as witnesses, the sting was worse. If word of this spread, his authority would be called into question.

Cold sweat formed on the two jonin's brows. They now understood what this was: a test. A message.

This was Chiyo forcing them to choose a side.

If they leaked what happened here, it would signal their allegiance to Chiyo.

If they kept it secret, they were siding with Rasa.

A choice between the Kazekage and the most powerful elder in the village.

No matter what, there would be no turning back.

"Advisor Chiyo…" Rasa finally called out, his voice lower but laced with anger.

"Wake up. Advisor Chiyo."

And just then, a faint sound of snoring rose from Chiyo's direction.

That was the final straw.

This wasn't just an insult. It was open provocation. She was daring him to retaliate, daring him to lose control.

If they had been alone, Rasa might have swallowed the insult. But with Ryoma and Yūki watching, and perhaps the whole village eventually hearing, he couldn't afford to simply endure it.

He clenched his fists.

The two jonin were drenched in cold sweat. They too heard the snore. And they understood, it was deliberate.

This was her way of forcing a reckoning. Their silence or betrayal would speak louder than any words.

One path pointed to Chiyo.

The other, to Rasa.

The consequences of their choice would reshape Sunagakure.

Rasa raised his voice again, this time unable to fully conceal the heat within it.

"Advisor Chiyo!"

But even now, he restrained himself.

Because he understood all too well, he couldn't afford an open break with Chiyo. Not now.

He had cornered himself.

When he agreed to Chiyo's plan to report that Ebizō had been assassinated by Veigar Koshima at the front lines, and to secretly fan the flames of hatred among the villagers, he had made a critical error.

Now, that fire could no longer be contained.

Even if he wanted to pull back the Suna shinobi already mobilized, to halt this all-out war effort…

He couldn't.

He had lost the initiative.

Technically, he could still use his position as Kazekage to cancel the operation.

But the cost would be immense.

The people would see it as cowardice. He would be forced from the Kazekage's seat. A Fifth Kazekage would rise.

Rasa clenched his jaw.

He had gone too far.

There was no turning back now.

The old guard still had the sharper fangs.

He had been outmaneuvered.

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