Chapter 491: 491.The One Even Ruthless Than Ōnoki Turned Out to Be Rasa

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Konoha has supplies. Plenty of them.

But what about Sunagakure?

Does Sunagakure have enough money to buy them?

Or enough ore to trade?

It wasn’t that Kazuki looked down on Sunagakure, but their economic situation was... terrifyingly dire.

Besides, Sunagakure was in the middle of a war. Expecting them to come up with a large sum of money, or for Rasa to abandon the village to go mining, was unrealistic.

Faced with Kazuki’s question, Rasa was very frank.

"I’m sorry, but Sunagakure doesn’t have enough money, nor does it have the ores Konoha needs."

"...."

Kazuki felt like his ears were playing tricks on him. Maybe the wind was too loud, making him mishear.

Sunagakure has no money and no ore? Then you, Rasa, come to buy supplies? Are you kidding me?

Feeling mocked, Kazuki’s expression turned cold.

His slightly narrowed eyes emanated a chilling glare. His black pupils had turned red.

Three tomoe appeared on them, spinning, transforming toward the Eternal Mangekyō.

"Very well. I haven’t seen you in a while, Rasa. Your strength hasn’t grown, but your audacity certainly has."

Looks like I’ll have to stomp this groundhog today. It’d be a disservice to his suicidal behavior not to.

No, no. Just stomping him a few times won’t vent my anger.

Danger!

A sense of danger washed over him. Rasa’s heart pounded violently. He quickly raised his hand.

"Wait!!"

Kazuki stared coldly at Rasa.

How do you plan to convince me now?

If you can’t, the consequences will be severe.

Knowing Kazuki was on the verge of exploding, Rasa sped up his speech.

"Though the village doesn’t have enough money or ore, I’ve come with complete sincerity. I’m not trying to mock you or Konoha. Please, hear my terms first."

"Speak!"

"Huf..."

Though Kazuki’s attitude was still harsh and his tone unpleasant, at least he’d given room for negotiation.

Rasa breathed a sigh of relief and spoke quickly.

"Sunagakure will purchase a batch of supplies from Konoha at a very high price. Given that the village currently lacks sufficient money or ore for trade, I hope Konoha will lend the supplies to Sunagakure. After the war ends, Sunagakure will compensate Konoha."

"Do you think that’s possible?"

Kazuki was directly amused. Did Rasa come without his brain today?

You actually dare to say that? What compensation? Isn’t that just asking for credit?

High-priced credit – take the supplies on credit, pay after the war.

Since coming to the shinobi world, this was the first time Kazuki had encountered such a credit purchase of supplies.

The most absurd part was that the other party represented Sunagakure.

"Yes, it’s possible."

Rasa’s expression was serious, full of confidence. He believed Kazuki would agree.

"These supplies will be purchased at triple the price. After the war ends, we’ll repay the debt with various precious ores."

At normal prices, you couldn’t buy supplies because wartime prices had skyrocketed.

Double the price was acceptable, provided Sunagakure had enough money or the ores Konoha needed.

If not, then triple!!

Triple the price, payment after the war.

Ōnoki had ruined his village’s reputation to get money to buy supplies.

Rasa was willing to squander the village’s future developmental foundation to obtain supplies.

Ōnoki and Rasa are truly two unlucky brothers.

Neither is having an easy time.

Triple the price?

Kazuki was at a loss for words.

"Rasa, you need to think carefully. Do you understand what triple the price means? It means that after the war, Sunagakure may be working for Konoha for years. This is a debt – it must be repaid."

In the shinobi world, some debts could be written off. But credit debts could not.

In other words, no matter how fiercely Sunagakure fought Kirigakure, in the end, they would have to repay this debt.

Even if it was paid in installments, the debt couldn’t be defaulted on.

You could pay in installments, but Konoha wouldn’t accept default.

If news of default spread, Sunagakure’s already fragile economy would suffer another major blow.

"I’ve thought it through. I know what I’m doing." Rasa raised a finger, assuring him.

"Regardless of the outcome of the war between Sunagakure and Kirigakure, after the war ends, Sunagakure will compensate Konoha at triple the price for these supplies. And at current prices."

You’re even more ruthless than Ōnoki. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Ōnoki, at least, was ruthless toward outsiders.

But you’re shifting the risk onto Sunagakure itself!

If Sunagakure wins the war, they can get compensation from Kirigakure.

If they lose the war, it’s foreseeable that Sunagakure won’t be able to recover for a long time.

"Alright. You handle transport. Give me the supply list. I’ll prepare a contract. When the supplies are ready, you come sign and take them."

Ultimately, Kazuki chose to accept.

Rasa had come begging; Kazuki hadn’t offered help or dug a pit for Sunagakure.

Since Rasa dared to propose such terms, Kazuki dared to accept.

How to pay afterward was Sunagakure’s problem, not his.

He would just follow the contract.

Taking the supply list Rasa had prepared, Kazuki turned and left the forest, heading toward the camp, tossing back a sentence without looking.

"Because of the weather, the supplies will take about half a month to prepare. Half a month from now, sign and transport."

How to transport the supplies back had nothing to do with Konoha. Rasa would have to consider the risks himself.

"Good."

Rasa didn’t waste words. With the matter settled, there was no reason to stay.

The village had many things waiting for him.

He would just come back in half a month.

"Let’s go back."

Kazuki signaled to Itachi and the Anbu waiting outside the forest. They quickly returned to the camp.

"Itachi, come with me."

Back at the camp, Kazuki signaled Itachi to follow.

Entering the command post, Kazuki took out a blank scroll, recorded the matter, attached the supply list, rolled it up, and handed it to Itachi.

"Make the trip yourself. Deliver this scroll to Shikaku. Once you hand it over, you can return immediately to the camp."

Itachi also needed to watch over Sasuke, protecting him from the shadows. He couldn’t be away for long.

Just delivering a scroll – Itachi could be back from the village by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

Given Itachi’s nature, even without Kazuki’s reminder, he would return that same night.

Complete the mission, then immediately return to the camp, without lingering.