Naruto: Kazekage 02

Inside the Kazekage Office, Reto was fuming.

Word has spread across Sunagakure about his ridiculous 'request' in the 5 kage summit, and threatening for war.

For the first time in the known history, the Land of Wind is at peace. In the desert, resources are very less, so there has always been fighting for resources.

Amongst the 5 big Shinobi villages, Sunagakure formed the last, even after Kiri, which has the most kekkai genkai clans after Konoha, who are at each other's throat all the time.

So, most of the villagers were angry at the Kazekage for trying to drag them into war.

While some would have admired Reto for being brave to work for getting more resources, his humiliating defeat where he couldn't even touch one of Hokage's clones, even though it was just standing on the top of his wood golem, has also spread.

"Hashirama Senju is strong enough to easily defeat every ninja village alone himself."

This rumour is spreading. And while Reto has judged it to be true, that he can't offend Konoha as long as Hashirama is alive, this doesn't mean that he will admit it.

As for the source of rumour? Since he wasn't the one who spread it, there can only be two explanations.

First is Tobirama or some other ninja village doing it. But, that would mean that a ninja village bothered to plant spies in the newly formed Suna. None of the major village should be interested in doing that at this point. Maybe a small ninja village?

No. Even if countries like Land of Grass, Rain or Waterfall have more food resources, there isn't a strong ninja in those villages.

Land of Wind's main source of income is Gold, but that is under the control of Daimyo. Maybe a smaller ninja village is targeting the weakest big country because of it?

He shook his head. The possibility of that is too low.

In his heart, he knows who is responsible for spreading these rumours. Ichika.

Afterall, the rumours didn't leave out that she made sure that Daimyos don't use ninjas from other villages, and got Hokage and Tobirama to build a forest and water body near Suna.

She has been showing her fangs against him since the beginning.

She killed his subordinate, Shamon when he demanded her to hand over Ryumyaku for his puppet research.

Well, Shamon did threaten her, and even dared to try to use some her people as hostage.

Moreover, when Reto himself came to her kingdom to subdue her and make Roran a subordinate of Suna under him, he brought a lot of ninjas with him.

In Roran, at that time, only she was strong. She understood it, and he understood it. That's why she challenged him to a duel instead.

In terms of raw power, summons, and chakra, they were almost evenly matched. If not for his poison, Reto isn't sure who would have won that duel.

So, it's natural that Ichika is wary of him. And hostility wouldn't subside easily. Afterall, he tried to use entire Roran as a hostage with the number of ninjas behind him.

She has even brought a clan of Samurais to serve her, and is even sending help to the helpless Samurais up into the cold barren lands in the north through them.

Reto scoffed. In front of ninja, samurai aren't anything. Normally ninjas and Samurais aren't that different in strength. But, Samurais are straight forward, and don't use deceptive things, including ninjutsu. Just chakra in their swords.

Their weakness is their trustworthy and loyal nature.

While Reto doesn't know how strong Hatake clan is, since they come from the land of lightning, it is clear that she is building up her own force.

Reto is afraid that she is planning to overthrow him.

That's why, Reto is planning something.

Ichika's ten year old little sister, Kinoshita, is in the middle of engagement talk with the son of the Daimyo.

What if, she tries to assassinate Daimyo?

That will make Ichika, who is favoured by Daimyo more than Reto, lose her base support, and Reto will be able to assassinate her.

And, Kinoshita will be kidnapped beforehand as someone else tries the assassination. As long as she produces a kid, Ryumyaku, and Roran, will under be Suna's control through that child.

But, Reto is aware that if she asks for help from Konoha, they will. Afterall, he proposed war, and she proposed peace.

If Hokage intervenes, it will be over for him. Afterall, Hokage is someone who even killed Madara, his best friend who founded Konoha for him. And Reto is a stranger who threatened Konoha.

Reto knows that Ichika is very smart, perhaps even more than him. There is no way she wouldn't expect such tactics from him. She must have already started preparing countermeasures against him.

He grumbled in frustration. Hokage is the variable that made him afraid from acting rashly. He previously thought that while Hashirama may be strongest in the Land of Fire, and probably even a bit stronger than Reto himself, they should be comparable as fellow Kage.

But, if Hashirama wanted to, he could do anything in the ninja world.

Still, it is a relief that Madara is no more in this world. Afterall, Hashirama is mild compared to that demon.

The second ninja village, Iwagakure, sent Mu, the subordinate of the old Tsuchikage who will likely due in some years, for goodwill and learning about how Konoha is managed.

Mu will undoubtedly become the second Tsuchikage after the old Tsuchikage's death. And Mu's dust release is as infamous as the Wood Release of Hashirama.

Yet, Madara casually defeated Mu and told him that Iwa needs to be Konoha's subordinate.

That's why, only after Madara died, the leaders of other villages met the Hokage.

Reto sighed.

It's best to not cause any trouble for now. But, he has to bring Ichika under his control so that there isn't an internal conflict in Suna.

If Hashirama Senju died with Madara, he would have gone for assassination.

But, he will have to resort to another method.

He will have to apologize his four wives later.

He will have to sacrifice for his village, and marry Ichika.

Well, it will ensure that Roran comes under his control.

Now that he thought about it, it's better to marry her than trying to kill her.

She is beautiful, Queen of Roran, and their child will be able to control Ryumyaku. It will stabilize Suna, and since she is the second strongest in Land of Wind, it will be a waste to loose the combat power.

But the problem is, he is already 40, at his prime. She is just 16, and with enough time, she will grow stronger than him.

So, the best thing is to have her give birth to his child, which can control Ryumyaku, and disguise her death with childbirth.

Hmm, and by that time, who knows, maybe Hokage will die? Well, even he doesn't die, this will be the perfect excuse.

Satisfied with his great strategy, Reto started preparing for fifth wedding, and it started with a proposal letter to Ichika.

He will announce it once Hokage arrives in Suna to grow the forest. He knew that for peace, she will agree to marriage.

If she doesn't, she will be painted as someone who isn't ready to sacrifice for Suna's peace.