Chapter 118: Wordplay
As the most respected and revered ninja in the Hidden Sand Village, Chiyo's words at this moment were a clear declaration of her stance.
She had chosen to place her trust in Rasa—chosen to believe in the Fourth Kazekage.
She entrusted her own future and fate completely to Rasa.
This was nothing short of setting an example for all the hesitant ninjas still wavering in the village.
She didn't even need to say another word. Around her, countless Sand shinobi had already started murmuring among themselves.
"Even Granny Chiyo…"
"She's completely entrusted her fate to Lord Fourth Kazekage, choosing to believe in his wager…"
"If Lord Fourth loses, Granny Chiyo will abide by the agreement too—is that her message?"
"Even someone like her—a legendary figure—has chosen to compromise… Then what are we supposed to do?"
"Hey, isn't it obvious? Granny Chiyo has already set an example. If even she thinks there's no point or no hope in continuing a war with Konoha, then shouldn't we follow her lead?"
"…"
Granny Chiyo's words and actions had an incredibly powerful influence.
Because in the hearts of the people of the Hidden Sand Village, her status was exalted.
Now that she had chosen to trust Rasa and was willing to entrust her personal fate to the Fourth Kazekage, more and more Sand ninjas and villagers began to make their own decisions.
"Lord Rasa, I'm willing to entrust my fate to you too! No matter the outcome, I'll have no regrets!"
"Me too! I don't regret this!"
"Lord Fourth, we're counting on you!"
"Damn it… Lord Fourth, I'm placing my fate in your hands too!"
"…"
More and more villagers and Sand shinobi made their choice.
Voices of consensus began to rise from every corner of the Hidden Sand Village.
Seeing so many villagers make their choice stirred a complex wave of emotions in Rasa—part gratitude, part anguish.
He looked toward Chiyo. "Thank you, Granny Chiyo."
Rasa didn't know what else to say—he simply looked at her with sincere gratitude.
"Go fight with peace of mind, Rasa."
"You're the strongest man in the Hidden Sand Village—the one who bears the title of Kazekage."
Chiyo encouraged him.
Upon hearing this, Rasa slowly turned to face Uchiha Dali.
The latter spoke nonchalantly, "If I win, the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Wind will surrender unconditionally and come under the jurisdiction of the Land of Fire. From this day forward, you must obey all orders without question."
"If I lose, the same applies."
His words made Rasa's brow twitch slightly, his expression growing heavier than ever.
That kind of wager… the pressure was overwhelming.
At this moment, he alone bore the fate of the entire Land of Wind.
If he lost, that would mean—wait, hold on a moment.
"Lord Fourth Hokage, what was that second thing you just said?"
Rasa stared intently at Uchiha Dali and asked in a low voice, "That doesn't sound right."
"Hm? What doesn't?"
"Your words have two possible meanings. Which one did you mean?"
Rasa's eyes sharpened, and his tone turned deadly serious.
Just now, Uchiha Dali had repeated the terms of their wager.
The first part was clear.
If he defeated Rasa, then the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Wind would surrender unconditionally to Konoha and follow Dali's orders henceforth.
But the second part was problematic.
He had said that if he lost, "the same applies."
Those three words—"the same applies"—were the crux of the issue.
That could mean one of two things.
If it referred to the first condition, then it would imply that regardless of whether Dali won or lost, the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Wind would have to submit unconditionally.
That would be utterly absurd.
But it could also mean that if Dali lost, then the opposite would be true—the Land of Fire and Konoha would submit to the Land of Wind and be ruled by Rasa.
Faced with Rasa's serious questioning, Uchiha Dali chuckled.
"Seems my wording was a bit ambiguous. Fine, let me clarify it clearly."
"If in our battle, you defeat me, then from this day forward, the entire Land of Fire, the Hidden Leaf Village, including myself, will all unconditionally follow your commands."
"The Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village—our current allies—will also pledge allegiance to you."
"Does that sound good enough for you?"
Uchiha Dali spread his hands, looking at Rasa with a half-smile.
But those words meant little.
Because he had no intention of losing.
He only said it to reassure the other side and put their worries to rest.
There was no need to make it this complicated.
He could have wiped out the entire Land of Wind outright.
But what would be the point?
He didn't want a ruined Land of Wind—he wanted to claim it.
Now that Uchiha Dali had given a definitive clarification, Rasa could finally let down his guard.
He carefully recalled everything Uchiha Dali had just said, parsing it word by word to make sure there were no traps. Only then did he speak again.
"We'll need to sign a contract."
"That's the only way to ensure the validity of our mutual promises."
As he spoke, sand and wind gathered in the palm of Rasa's hand, and in an instant, a contract scroll materialized.
Seeing the scroll in Rasa's hand and the solemn look on his face, Uchiha Dali couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
"You certainly have confidence in yourself, Lord Fourth Kazekage."
Rasa paid no attention to his words. He calmly and seriously signed his name on the scroll and pressed his bloodstained handprint onto it.
With that, one half of the blood contract was complete.
All that remained was for Uchiha Dali to sign it as well—then the pact would be fully sealed.
Whoever broke the contract would suffer the consequences.
No one would go to such lengths unless they were confident in their own strength.
Rasa raised his head and looked at Uchiha Dali again.
He handed over the blood contract and solemnly emphasized, "Whoever breaks this agreement will be punished. The violator will be permanently sealed in a realm of infinite darkness—unable to reincarnate, unable to be summoned by any means."
"Oh? The Hidden Sand Village has such a powerful sealing technique?"
Uchiha Dali sounded genuinely surprised.
"It's a secret technique passed down through generations in the Sand Village to protect our home."
Granny Chiyo explained calmly.
Hearing this, Uchiha Dali casually accepted the blood contract scroll that Rasa handed over.
He said nothing more.
This contract clearly served to bind the opponent, and he had no reason not to sign it.
With bold strokes, he signed his name.
As a flash of light shimmered, the contract was officially sealed.