Inside Sunagakure.
“Lord Ace, this is your payment.
It isn’t much, but please accept it.”
The caravan owner smiled obsequiously as he respectfully handed a thick stack of money to Yagami Yue with both hands.
A super-powerful expert!
The so-called Hurricane Bandits couldn’t even withstand a single move from Lord Ace.
He absolutely had to curry favor with him!
“Lord Ace, I’m the person in charge of the Clover Commercial Alliance.
If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to come to me…”
“The Clover Commercial Alliance?”
Yagami Yue hadn’t paid much attention to the caravan owner originally.
But after hearing that he represented a commercial alliance, Yue’s interest immediately increased.
It should be fairly powerful.
If he eventually established his own village—or perhaps his own organization—he would definitely need commercial connections.
This caravan owner might prove useful.
“Yes, Lord Ace.
Our Clover Commercial Alliance operates throughout the major nations of the shinobi world.
We have considerable influence.
If you ever need anything, perhaps we can help…”
“Oh, right.
My name is Qian Jinbi.”
“Good.
I’ll remember it.”
Yagami Yue waved his hand and casually walked away.
It didn’t take long for Yue to find the Kazekage’s office.
There was no other way to miss it.
The Kazekage’s office building was the tallest building in all of Sunagakure.
“tsk, tsk…”
“Sunagakure really is weak.”
“Even the guards are only chūnin, and there are only four of them…”
“Nothing like Konoha’s security.”
Ace’s Observation Haki allowed him to easily sense the strength of the chakra signatures around him.
And the Fourth Kazekage was currently inside his office.
For the past two days, Rasa had barely been able to sleep.
The fall of Kikyo City had once again pushed him into the center of public outrage.
Calls for him to step down as Kazekage were becoming louder and louder.
He touched his hair.
A large amount of hair came away in his hand.
His midlife crisis had arrived early.
He nearly wanted to cry.
Who could understand the suffering in my heart?
Sunagakure is such a miserable place.
Given the circumstances, the fact that I’ve achieved anything at all is already impressive!
“Lord Kazekage, someone wants to issue an S-rank mission.”
A chūnin assistant who looked rather incompetent knocked on the door and entered.
“What?”
“An S-rank mission?”
Rasa’s expression immediately brightened.
“Quick!
Let him in!”
Sunagakure was poor.
Yagami Yue walked openly into the Kazekage’s office.
He couldn’t help shaking his head inwardly.
Sunagakure really is hopeless.
They don’t even have this little bit of security awareness.
Looks like I, the kind-hearted hero, will have to give them a helping hand…
Then Yue saw Rasa.
The man’s hair was already noticeably thinning.
Yue felt even more sympathetic.
Is this really the terrifying powerhouse from before?
How did he become so miserable?
Wait.
Something wasn’t right.
I’m supposed to be cold, ruthless, and aloof, so why have I been making sarcastic comments all the time lately?
Never mind.
He would first have a nice little chat with the poor Rasa about Konoha’s plans.
“What should I call you?”
“And what kind of mission would you like to commission?”
Rasa looked at Yue enthusiastically.
This only made Yue feel even more sympathetic toward him.
What a miserable Kage.
“I recently obtained some intelligence.”
“I’ve learned that Konoha has a plan to ambush Sunagakure.”
“They intend to use Kikyo City as bait, lure your forces into sending reinforcements, and then set an ambush at Kikyo Mountain.”
“Their goal is to wipe out most of your active fighting forces in one blow.”
Bang!
Rasa abruptly stood up.
His aura surged.
He stared warily at Yagami Yue.
“Who are you?”
“Who I am isn’t important.”
“What’s important is that I’ve given you the intelligence.”
Rasa fell silent.
At that moment, the guards outside heard the commotion and rushed inside.
“Lord Kazekage!”
One after another, they drew their kunai and shuriken.
They stared at Yue cautiously.
As long as the Kazekage gave the order—
They would kill this intruder immediately.
“Honestly, I really hate having weapons pointed at me.”
Yagami Yue’s expression suddenly turned cold.
Conqueror’s Haki!
Pressure!
BOOM!
An invisible wave instantly spread outward.
“Ugh…”
The chūnin and genin guards immediately collapsed unconscious.
They hit the floor one after another.
“What are you doing?!”
Rasa was both shocked and furious.
Fortunately, he had resisted it, and it hadn’t affected him too severely.
But the sheer threat he had sensed was enormous.
“Relax.”
“They’re fine.”
“They’re just unconscious.”
“Oh, right.
I’ve already delivered the intelligence.”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Yue turned around and prepared to walk away.
“Who are you?”
“Me?”
“Call me Ace.”
“What is your purpose?”
“Why provide us with this intelligence?”
“Me?”
Yue smiled faintly.
“I just don’t want Konoha to win so easily.”
“To be honest, Konoha’s potential for war hasn’t even been fully unleashed yet.”
“It’s far too powerful.”
“So we might as well squeeze as much out of it as possible.”
“How do I know whether your intelligence is true or false?” Rasa asked.
“Heh…”
“If I wanted to harm Sunagakure, I could simply kill you right now.”
“Then Sunagakure would fall into chaos before the war even began.”
“Arrogant!”
Rasa was enraged.
Does he really think I’m some weakling?
I’m the Kazekage!
I’m a Kage-level powerhouse!
How dare some unknown nobody claim he can kill me!
“Ace, is it?”
“I’d like to see what kind of strength you actually possess.”
“You dare look down on me like this…”
“You want to fight here?”
Yue glanced around the Kazekage’s office.
“Aren’t you afraid of destroying Sunagakure?”
“Hmph.”
“Then we’ll fight outside the village.”
“Sure.”
Yue smiled faintly.
“I’d like to experience the strength of the Kazekage myself.”
“I’ve heard it’s pretty weak.”
“AAAAAAAHHHHH!”
Rasa was completely furious.
I’m not weak!
I’m very strong!
And besides—
I’m the Kazekage!
Don’t I deserve some respect?!