However, no matter how difficult it was, he was determined to give it a try.
"Kurenai-sensei, don't interrupt me just yet. And you two, don't make that kind of expression. Listen carefully to my analysis."
"The Sand Village is different from our Leaf Village. Without their Third Kazekage—their strongest and most respected leader—it will be difficult for them to unify with one voice. Right now, their internal politics are fragmented, and at the very least, they'll split into two competing factions."
In truth, if one were to compare internal unity, the Leaf Village wasn't exactly a beacon of order either. But Kawaki Aoba couldn't say that out loud.
---
Kawaki Aoba: Come, Listen to My Analysis (Deceptive Style)
"As far as I know, there are three notable shinobi of the new generation in the Sand Village."
"First, there's Rasa, the former disciple of the Third Kazekage and a master of Magnet Release.
Second, there's Pakura of the Scorch Release, a prodigy who rose to fame near the end of the Second Great Ninja War.
And third, Sasori of the Red Sand, whom we encountered recently. However, since he has already defected from the village and aligned himself with criminal elements, we can disregard him for now."
"Of the remaining two, Rasa is the closest to being the Third Kazekage's ideological successor—powerful, pragmatic, and with strong ties to the upper echelons. He likely sees the Kazekage title as his by right."
"Pakura, on the other hand, is a battlefield legend with incredible talent. While she may not actively seek leadership, the number of powerful followers around her means she could easily be pushed toward it. Whether she desires the title or not, her supporters might demand it for her."
These deductions were spun from a mix of fact and clever guesswork. To be blunt, Kawaki Aoba was bluffing—reconstructing the outcome from the conclusion backward.
Yet somehow, these speculative words made Kurenai Yuhi pause.
He realized that his most promising student might not just excel in ninjutsu but also possessed a strategic mind that had quietly absorbed valuable intelligence on other villages. Even if the details were publicly known, it still took initiative to learn and understand them—especially for a freshly graduated Genin.
Seeing Kurenai waver, Kawaki pressed the advantage.
---
"As long as Rasa and Pakura remain in the Sand Village, they must compete to determine who becomes the Fourth Kazekage."
"The real question is: how will they decide? What kind of contest would prove which one is more suited to lead?"
"There's only one answer: a war against the Leaf Village."
"Whoever gains more merit—more benefits—from a successful campaign against us will hold the upper hand in the leadership race."
---
This time, Kurenai Yuhi fell silent. Kawaki's theory, while seemingly exaggerated, couldn't be ruled out completely. After all, the Sand Village had begun mobilizing troops near the border.
---
Observation Haki: Max level unlocked. Teacher Kurenai is almost convinced.
A slight smile crept across Kawaki Qingyu's face as he added the final card to the table.
"There's another reason the Sand Village might wage war: they need someone to blame for the Third Kazekage's death."
---
"What?!" Asuma, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly burst out. "That's nonsense! Everyone knows it was one of their own—Sasori of the Red Sand! We've seen the human puppet ourselves!"
"You're right, Asuma. That is the truth." Kawaki replied calmly. "But they won't believe it. In fact, they can't afford to believe it. Want to know why?" He stared at Asuma, anticipating his next objection.
"Because they need this war."
"Rasa and Pakura both need a battlefield to prove themselves. Their factions need the chance to earn merit and prestige. The higher-ups, scrambling to maintain order after losing the Kazekage, will use any excuse to direct the village's grief and anger outward—and the Leaf makes for the perfect scapegoat."
"And honestly, whether they win or lose, it still benefits them."
"If they defeat us, the Sand Village will become legendary. They'll gain prestige, attract more mission contracts, and the Wind Daimyō might finally increase funding. Even if they lose, the conflict will solidify internal unity and give their leaders valuable battlefield credibility."
"So tell me—why would they ever accept the truth? That the Third Kazekage was murdered by Sasori, Chiyo's own grandson? It would be a blow to the morale of the entire village. Far easier to accuse the Leaf."
---
Asuma was stunned. He found no immediate flaws in Kawaki's argument. Worse, a part of him even began to understand the Sand's motives.
But then—he found the key.
"Wait… what if they lose?" Asuma blurted, faster than he could think. "Can the Sand Village really afford to fight and lose to the Leaf?" He stared intently at Kawaki, hoping that this would unravel the logic.
---
But Kawaki had already anticipated it.
He turned, eyes calm and sharp. "Isn't that normal? We are the Leaf Village. Losing to us isn't shameful—it's expected. But even in defeat, they'll gain experience, rally internal unity, and elevate their war heroes."
"And don't forget—we've got powerful clans: the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Inuzuka, the Aburame… even the Uchiha and Hyuga haven't shown their full strength. From a tactical standpoint, we're not easy prey."
---
And so, Asuma had been pulled fully into Kawaki Qingyu's web of reasoning—a Genin's bold analysis that cut to the heart of high-level strategy. Right or wrong, it had opened the eyes of two Jonin.
In terms of bloodlines, we have the Uchiha and Hyuga—clans with dōjutsu techniques that have stood at the top of the shinobi world for generations.
Even without Kekkei Genkai or hidden techniques, there are still powerful clans, such as the Sarutobi and Shimura families.
And if we talk about civilian shinobi—how many talented individuals do you think would survive and thrive in the harsh environment of Sunagakure?
But ultimately, the most critical factor in war is the number of powerful individuals. Let's talk about Sunagakure this time. Who do they really have?
From the newer generation, there's Rasa and Yūra. From the older generation, we have Chiyo and Ebizō. That's four, at most. Now compare that to Konoha.
Among the current clan heads we just mentioned—aside from the Hyuga perhaps—none are weak. Even if just the two of us were to go up against them, we'd still have powerful shinobi left watching from the sidelines.
When faced with such overwhelming odds, is it any surprise they lose?
Returning to the Village
"What does it matter if they lose? They're used to losing to us," Qingyu said coldly. "The Wind Daimyō won't blame them too harshly. At most, he'll call them incompetent and move on."
"And to take this idea even further—if either Rasa or Yūra were to die in battle against Konoha, it might actually help them."
"One would become the next Kazekage, consolidating power in Sunagakure and unifying their fragmented forces under a single banner. The other would become a martyr, a hero whose death would rally the village, fueling hatred against Konoha and strengthening their will to fight."
"A unified Sunagakure, both politically and ideologically, may not have the power to defeat Konoha outright—but it could certainly drag us into a prolonged war along the River Country or the Wind–Earth border."
"Now imagine this, Asuma—if you were the Kage of any of the other three Great Shinobi Villages, wouldn't you take advantage of that moment to strike, while Konoha's already entangled in conflict?"
Kawaki Aoba fell silent, having said everything he needed to. His words, woven with careful calculation and dread, seemed to hit harder than he expected.
Yuhi Kurenai, now fully convinced, was already planning to report directly to the Hokage upon their return.
Even if Qingyu's claim that Sasori of the Red Sand alone could spark another Great Shinobi War felt far-fetched, the consequences he outlined were too serious to ignore.
Sarutobi Asuma, meanwhile, had broken into a cold sweat. Whether it was the ruthlessness Qingyu attributed to Sunagakure, or the scenario of Konoha being besieged on all fronts, it was too much for someone his age to digest calmly.
And then something strange occurred to him.
The calculating, composed expression on Qingyu's face… It reminded him of his father. Sarutobi Hiruzen. That look of intense contemplation—it was uncanny.
Startled by the thought, Asuma shook his head. Impossible. No way.
Just then, Kurenai spoke. "Whether or not what Qingyu said will happen, it's beyond our team's ability to decide. We need to return to the village and report to Lord Hokage. He'll know what to do."
Kurenai's judgment was, as always, spot-on.
After a brief rest, the team of four headed straight back to Konoha.
Given the severity of Aoba's claims, they traveled with urgency. Their speed was even faster than when they left.
On the way, Aoba, Kurenai, and Asuma each drank a small blue soldier's pill to maintain their stamina.
As they neared the village, they passed two Konoha shinobi teams heading out on missions. Something about their hurried pace and lack of civilian escorts felt off.
The direction they were heading? Toward the Land of Rivers.
Kurenai felt a heaviness settle in her chest. Could that boy really have been right?
Because their route had been so indirect—both into and out of the Wind Country—Kurenai hadn't seen the border's situation with her own eyes.
But now, rattled by Aoba's words and the sight of those teams, her unease only grew.
Upon returning to Konoha and confirming their identities at the gate, Kurenai led her team directly to the Hokage Tower.
She was too anxious to wait.
Unbeknownst to her, they were already being watched.
But Kawaki Aoba wasn't so easily caught off guard. His Observation Haki had already locked onto those watchers long before they noticed him.
And who were they?
The Hyuga Clan, of course.
The moment they saw him, they hurried back to their clan compound to report.
Surprisingly, Root didn't show up at all. Not since that incident in the Hokage Tower where the Hyuga were cornered.
Is Danzo ignoring me because I'm not worth recruiting? Aoba thought. Or is he blind?
Then he chuckled inwardly. No wait… the blind one's me.
As Aoba observed the Hyuga messengers disappearing around the corner, Kurenai led them into the Hokage's office.
After a brief wait, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned them in.
"You've returned so soon? Only four of you? Did something unexpected happen during your mission?" Hiruzen asked calmly, his voice measured. He seemed willing to listen before judging.
Kurenai stepped forward, confident. "Lord Hokage, during this mission, we encountered Sasori of the Red Sand. He has defected from Sunagakure—and turned the Third Kazekage into a human puppet."
Hiruzen's pipe trembled in his fingers.
"What?" he blurted, before regaining composure. "Kurenai… can you confirm this?"
After a beat, he collected himself, voice steady again: "Give me a full report on everything that happened during the mission."
Kurenai had been waiting for that.
A direct inquiry from the Hokage gave weight to every word she said—and allowed her to include additional details Qingyu had warned about.