Honoka's eyes lit up for a moment, but then she narrowed her eyes, seems to be taken a few steps back.
"What's wrong? Is it not feasible?"
The reason Rasa proposed this idea was because of the plotline where Jiraiya used the Reverse Summoning Technique to locate Mount Myōboku. Additionally, he recalled someone's analysis of the Flying Thunder God Technique, suggesting that its spatial transportation was essentially a form of Reverse Summoning.
To Rasa's curiosity, Honoka shook her head.
"It's a good idea, and theoretically, it's feasible. In fact, many of the sealing techniques used by our Uzumaki clan are applications of Summoning and Reverse Summoning, such as invoking the power of the Shinigami. However, unfortunately, I'm not particularly skilled in space-time ninjutsu."
"Is that so?"
Rasa felt a pang of disappointment but suddenly remembered something.
"I have something that might help you."
"???"
Rasa pulled out a scroll from his pocket, performed the Summoning Technique, and retrieved a small notebook and four additional scrolls, which he handed to Honoka.
Honoka took them with a puzzled expression, but as soon as she glanced at them, her face filled with astonishment.
"As expected of the Kazekage of Sunagakure. I can't believe you have something like this!"
Rasa shook his head.
"It's not mine... well, actually, it is now."
The small notebook contained research notes on the Flying Thunder God Technique that Rasa had obtained from Mukade's residence during his time in Roran. As for the four scrolls, they were the Four Crimson Flame Formation scrolls he had acquired from Danzo's Root operatives.
Unfortunately, Rasa didn't have the time to study these materials himself. He figured it would be better to give them to Honoka, whose talent in sealing techniques might allow her to make the most of them.
"Will these be helpful to you?"
Honoka nodded, her gaze lingering on Rasa with an unreadable expression.
"I-I can give it a try..."
"Thank you for your efforts. I'll be staying here for three more days. After that, you'll return with me to Sunagakure. The matter of the summoning beast isn't urgent."
Rasa smiled gently.
"Now that we've confirmed it, everything should fall into place."
"U-umu!"
This time, Honoka didn't refuse.
---
While Rasa, the Kazekage, worked tirelessly to improve the state of Sunagakure and unexpectedly gained the allegiance of a surviving member of the Uzumaki clan, the central stage of the shinobi world, Konoha in the Land of Fire, was facing internal division even as external wars raged on.
Ever since Konoha's devastating defeat in the Land of Rivers, the village needed someone to take responsibility for the enormous losses.
Danzo Shimura, the frontline commander who had acted on his own initiative to intercept the Kazekage, leaving Konoha's frontlines vulnerable, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. Moreover, the two Uchiha clansmen who had escaped and returned with irrefutable evidence that Danzo had indeed transplanted the Uchiha clan's Sharingan eyes made him the prime target of blame.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, it took Konoha an entire month to finally convene an interrogation of Danzo. Part of the delay was due to the ongoing tension on the frontlines, and part of it was because Danzo had returned on the brink of death.
Fortunately, after a month, Danzo finally regained consciousness.
Now, inside the Hokage's office in Konoha, the high-ranking officials of Konoha had gathered together, with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, naturally taking the lead. Flanking him were the village's two other elders: Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. Below them sat Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, as well as the clan heads of the Uchiha, Hyūga, and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
At the center of the room, surrounded by everyone, sat Danzo Shimura, his body wrapped in bandages, missing an arm, and his eyes also covered. Beside him was Shibi Aburame, who had also served as a frontline commander in the Land of Rivers.
Looking at his old friend, Hiruzen sighed inwardly and spoke with a tone of resignation.
"Now that everyone is here, Danzo, it's time to discuss your actions..."
Despite his battered and weakened appearance, Danzo's gaze was as sharp and sinister as ever.
"What do you want me to say, Hiruzen? Haven't you already heard everything from Shibi?"
No one else in the room spoke, leaving Hiruzen to continue.
"Shibi has indeed shared his account, but I want to hear it directly from you, Danzo. I also want to know the details of your battle with the Kazekage of Sunagakure."
Danzo, however, showed no intention of cooperating with his old friend.
"What is there to say? I was simply outmatched. The results are clear for all to see, my arm and eye were taken, and even my summoning beast was lost."
Danzo couldn't elaborate further, as too many secrets were at stake. The forbidden techniques he had traded for his life, the use of Izanagi, and Kagami's Mangekyō Sharingan, all of these were things that could never be revealed. Fortunately, the only ones who knew these secrets in Konoha were himself and Orochimaru.
Seeing Danzo's lack of cooperation, Hiruzen's expression grew stern.
"Danzo, do you understand the extent of the losses the village has suffered due to your reckless actions?"
Danzo's icy gaze swept across the room as he responded.
"Losses? Let me ask all of you here, if you had received the same intelligence, wouldn't you have made the same decision? The significance of a surviving member of the Uzumaki clan should be clear to everyone. Not only do they possess the Uzumaki's sealing techniques, but allowing Sunagakure to create a new jinchūriki would be unacceptable for Konoha in its current state. Had my plan succeeded, it would have broken the deadlock we're in. I simply failed, that's all."
His words left the room in silence. While no one could openly criticize Danzo from the perspective of the village's greater good, it was clear that he had been outmaneuvered by the Kazekage.
Koharu Utatane, another of Danzo's old friends, spoke up.
"While victories and defeats are common on the battlefield, Danzo, the losses this time were too great."
Though her words seemed critical, they subtly shifted the blame away from Danzo, a nuance that didn't escape the notice of the more perceptive individuals in the room.
Orochimaru smirked coldly, while Jiraiya and Minato sterned their foreheads. The clan heads also wore uneasy expressions.
Finally, Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan, could no longer hold back.
"Then, Elder Danzo, how do you explain your unauthorized theft and transplantation of our Uchiha clan's Sharingan?"
Danzo glanced at Fugaku with disdain, his tone unyielding.
"Explanation? What explanation do you want?"
Danzo knew all too well the weakness hidden beneath Fugaku's stern exterior, a man known as the "Fierce Tiger of Konoha."
True to Danzo's expectations, Fugaku was momentarily stunned before erupting in anger. However, his fury was quickly quelled by Danzo's next words.
"Since you've asked, I'll tell you plainly. Even during Tobirama-sensei's time, research into your Uchiha clan's Sharingan had already begun."