My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

Instead of constantly acquiring new power without ever taking the time to truly understand it… But time wasn't on his side. The chaotic world outside simply wouldn't allow Rasa to pause and rest.

Just like today, he had only spent the morning training before he had to leave the oasis and return to the village. Because today, the shinobi from Iwagakure were scheduled to arrive in Sunagakure for peace negotiations.

Although he, as the Kazekage, wasn't required to personally attend, he still had to remain in the village and oversee things from behind the scenes.

As for the plan to hunt tailed beasts across the future timelines, it had to be put on hold for now.

Other than the Three-Tails, all the other beasts had current hosts. Even though they could locate them through Black Zetsu, capturing them would require detailed preparation to proceed smoothly.

So Rasa simply entrusted the entire operation to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru, far from being resentful about taking orders, was in fact enthusiastic, he immediately set about helping Rasa draw up plans.

Upon returning to the village, Rasa went straight to the Kazekage's office and met with Baki and Sēramu to confirm a few details.

"When will the people from Iwagakure arrive?"

"According to reports from the ANBU, they should arrive by tonight. Everything is already arranged."

Rasa nodded in understanding.

"Good. Sēramu, just as planned, I'll leave the negotiation to you. Baki will assist from the side. If there's anything uncertain, report directly to me."

"Understood, Kazekage-sama."

"What about the two jinchūriki?"

"They're still sealed. But to help ease tensions with Iwagakure, I've already had them cleaned up and well tended to."

"Hmm. What a pity, we can only extract a bit of chakra from them."

Rasa had hoped he could extract enough chakra from each of the two to create chakra fruits. This way, he wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of capturing them. However, he wasn't stupid enough to take that risk.

Even though he could now travel to an alternate future timeline, this world was still his home base. He had to proceed with utmost caution.

"Even though Iwagakure is coming to negotiate peace, the ANBU mustn't lower their guard. We can't rule out any tricks."

"Hai!"

After giving a few more instructions, Rasa left the office and returned to his home.

---

At Rasa's residence.

It was unusually lively.

Two timelines' worth of family now gathered under one roof.

Under the soft, warm lighting,

In the kitchen, Temari stirred the pot with joy. Gaara, under Karura's guidance, gently sliced carrots. Kankurō was in the dining area setting the table.

This scene, once only a dream for the three siblings, had now become reality.

Of the three, Gaara had changed the most. A mother's love truly was a powerful thing. Even though all three understood that this Karura wasn't their actual mother, love couldn't be faked.

The once-violent Gaara now behaved like a gentle kitten around her. And with Shukaku's chakra having been absorbed and the seal reinforced… Gaara was finally able to rest properly, and his entire demeanor had become much brighter and sunnier.

Just then, the door opened.

Rasa walked in.

Compared to their time with Karura, the three had spent far less time with their father from this timeline.

Still, they understood why.

In recent days, they had come to understand the situation in this version of Sunagakure.

Surrounded by the threat of war, attacked by both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, with Konohagakure watching like a hungry wolf.

Yet despite such dire circumstances, their father in this timeline had displayed a level of political skill and personal strength far beyond the one they had known; he had even captured two of Iwagakure's jinchūriki, completely turning the tide of the war.

Watching their mother smile so gently at their father's return… Temari glanced at her mother's swollen belly, which held a future version of herself, and for a moment, she felt a pang of envy.

And so, a special family dinner began.

Meanwhile, beneath the surface of Sunagakure, dark currents had already begun to stir.

Ever since Rasa captured Iwagakure's Two-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki, an awkward problem presented itself to Sunagakure's ANBU: the village didn't actually have a facility suitable for holding the two of them.

A regular prison was obviously out of the question.

These two jinchūriki were capable of communicating with their tailed beasts and actively harnessing their power. As a result, standard restraints and sealing techniques proved entirely ineffective.

Fortunately, Baki, the current ANBU commander, thought of one place. It was the old facility Sunagakure once used to confine Bunpuku, the previous One-Tail's jinchūriki.

Under the night sky, at the cliffside edge of Sunagakure, teams of shinobi patrolled the perimeter.

In addition to ANBU operatives, members of the sealing division were stationed there as well. All precautions were in place, just in case.

At that moment, a Sunagakure shinobi carrying a basket slowly approached.

The ANBU squad captain responsible for guarding the site spotted the man and greeted him warmly.

"Kuroishi, it's you again today?"

The ninja named Kuroishi nodded.

"No choice, no one else dares get close to the jinchūriki."

The ANBU captain gave a knowing nod.

Although both jinchūriki were sealed, the prison still radiated a sinister chakra from the two tailed beasts inside, too oppressive for ordinary shinobi to withstand.

"Appreciate your hard work."

Kuroishi nodded silently, and the ANBU stepped aside. Following a mechanical lift upwards, Kuroishi arrived at the cave where the two tailed beasts were imprisoned. At the cave entrance, the seal squad stationed there also recognized him and let him through after a quick check.

None of them suspected a thing.

After all, to be entrusted with a task like this, getting close to two jinchūriki, was proof of absolute trust.

And Kuroishi truly did seem worthy of that trust. He was once a personal guard of the late Third Kazekage, a veteran ANBU operative.

Though his position had become awkward after the Third Kazekage's death and Rasa's rise to power, no one ever doubted Kuroishi's loyalty to Sunagakure. In fact, once Baki became ANBU commander, he brought Kuroishi into his inner circle, which granted him this rare access to the jinchūriki.

Kuroishi himself had never imagined he would one day betray Sunagakure. After becoming Baki's confidant, he had even followed the Fourth Kazekage on two operations against Konohagakure.

In truth, Kuroishi deeply admired the current Kazekage.

Until something happened.

A strange man appeared before him one day, and told him the truth about the death of the Third Kazekage, the man Kuroishi had revered most.

The Third Kazekage hadn't been killed by Konohagakure's Shimura Danzō, as everyone had assumed… He had been murdered by Sasori of the Red Sand, Elder Chiyo's grandson, a traitor of Sunagakure.

And then, that stranger told him something even more painful.

The Fourth Kazekage, Baki, and even Lady Pakura, all of them had known the truth. They had knowingly concealed the fact that the murderer of the Third Kazekage was a rogue ninja from their own village.

Kuroishi's entire worldview collapsed in an instant. The village he once revered had suddenly become unrecognizable.

Why-why had they done this?