My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

Kusagakure sprawls across an immense plain, its vast landscape dominated by fields of ryūjō flowers. These blossoms, with their crimson-hued buds, resemble flickering flames, making the entire terrain appear like a sea of fire under the sun's glow.

Lacking natural defenses, Kusagakure has been fortified into a near-impenetrable stronghold. Towering walls of solid rock encircle the village, forming concentric layers of protection. Within these walls, the architecture echoes the grandeur of European castles, each structure hewn from the same hardy stone.

Perched atop the walls, Kusagakure ninjas keep a watchful eye on the plains. Their forehead protectors glint under the light, and their stern expressions reveal unwavering vigilance. A closer look at their attire reveals two distinct factions within the village: most bear flame-like insignias, marking them as members of the Grass Fruit faction—Kusagakure's primary combat force. The remainder wear emblems shaped like budding ryūjō flowers, signifying their allegiance to the Grass Flower faction.

From their elevated position, the sentries scan the horizon, their view unobstructed by the open plains. This keen surveillance allows them to detect potential threats with ease.

Thus, when thirteen figures streaked across the ryūjō-covered expanse at incredible speed, the Kusagakure guards spotted them instantly. However, their reactions lagged behind the sheer swiftness of the intruders—before they could even raise an alarm, the strangers had already reached the base of the fortress walls.

"Who goes there?!"

A sharp voice pierced the air.

Whoosh!

In a blur of motion, the thirteen figures leaped onto the wall. Only then did the Kusagakure ninjas get a clear view of their forehead protectors.

"They're from Sunagakure!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The village alarm bells erupted in a frantic chorus, their chimes ringing across Kusagakure.

"Heh."

A cold scoff escaped Rasa's lips. His dark eyes flickered with resolve as he addressed the twelve covert operatives at his side.

"Proceed as planned."

"Hai!"

With no hesitation, the twelve Sunagakure ninjas dispersed, each one vanishing in a blur of motion. Only three remained by Rasa's side.

Seeing this, Rasa lifted both hands, channeling an overwhelming surge of natural energy through his body. The air around him vibrated as he unleashed his technique.

"Sage Art—Sand Control Jutsu: Flowing Sand Waterfall!"

In an instant, the vibrant plains surrounding Kusagakure transformed. The soft, fertile ground shifted and churned as an ocean of golden sand erupted, swallowing the landscape. Towering waves of sand roared across the terrain, darkening the sky as they surged toward the village.

Kusagakure, though once prosperous, was not a vast village. Rasa estimated it to be only three to four times the size of Hoshigakure, a place he had encountered before. Thus, his sandstorm—rivaling the scale of a natural disaster—was more than enough to engulf the entire stronghold.

A suffocating fear spread through Kusagakure as the sky turned ominous beneath the shifting dunes. Panic gripped the village.

The lower-ranking ninjas, the backbone of Kusagakure's forces, stared in horror. Even the mid-tier elites—considered high-ranking within this village—had never witnessed such devastating ninjutsu before.

"This… this can't be real…"

"Is this really ninjutsu?!"

"Are you joking?!"

A stunned silence overtook the battlefield. At this moment, even the Sunagakure shinobi couldn't hide their own astonishment.

All twelve members of the covert mobile unit were momentarily stunned by the sheer magnitude of Rasa's technique. The vast, shifting sands that now dominated the landscape were a stark reminder of his overwhelming power. But they quickly shook off their awe—none dared to be careless in executing the mission he had entrusted to them.

Just then, four figures emerged from the depths of Kusagakure, moving like shadows before coming to a halt in front of Rasa.

They wore long robes and masked their faces with intricately carved animal masks. These four were among the rare elite jōnin of Kusagakure, warriors who had long stood at the pinnacle of the village's strength.

"Who are you?"

"Why has Sunagakure invaded Kusagakure?"

"Sir, there are agreements between the great nations! You cannot attack us without justification!"

Their voices carried urgency, but Rasa paid them no heed. Instead, he turned slightly to Sand Rat, the operative standing at his side.

"Is it just these four?"

"Yes!" Sand Rat confirmed with a firm nod.

Though Rasa had arrived in Kusagakure with his twelve covert operatives, he had taken the time to lay the groundwork before the assault. One of the most crucial steps had been Sand Rat's mission—securing contact with high-ranking members of the Grass Flower faction, Kusagakure's internal opposition.

Kusagakure was rife with corruption, its two factions locked in bitter strife that had escalated into near civil war. The Grass Flower faction's demands were simple: in exchange for cooperation, Sunagakure would eliminate the high-ranking shinobi of the Grass Fruit faction, their primary rivals.

Rasa, seeing Sand Rat's confirmation, wasted no time.

"Sage Art—Sand Instant Body!"

His form dissolved in an instant, swept away in a spiraling torrent of sand.

"What?!"

The four Kusagakure jōnin recoiled, dread seeping into their expressions.

They immediately activated their sensory abilities, desperate to pinpoint Rasa's location. But the air was still, save for the swirling sands that clouded their vision.

Then—pain.

"Sage Art—Sand Instant Body: Slash!"

A deadly silence hung in the air before crimson streaked the battlefield.

This technique, a fusion of Rasa's Sage Art—Sand Control and advanced elemental manipulation, exploited a fatal weakness in most shinobi—their inability to perceive natural energy. Moving undetected, he had closed the distance with chilling ease, striking them down before they even sensed his presence.

Though not as instantaneous as the Flying Thunder God Technique, nor effective against those with extraordinary reflexes, it was devastating against unsuspecting targets.

Slash!

Three Kusagakure jōnin gasped as deep, lethal gashes split across their abdomens. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath them.

Only one remained.

His entire body trembled, his breath uneven as he stared in abject horror at his fallen comrades. His lips quivered as he forced out a single, shaken question:

"W-who… who are you?!"

Before he could turn, a cold voice whispered from behind him, sending an ice-cold shiver down his spine.

"My name is Rasa, the Kazekage of Sunagakure. Go tell your leader. Hand over the Uzumaki girl."

The remaining jōnin's breath hitched. But upon realizing Rasa had no intention of killing him, terror swiftly turned to desperation.

Without a second thought, he spun on his heel and fled, his heart pounding with relief at having escaped the clutches of death.

---

At the heart of Kusagakure, within the towering fortress that loomed over the village, a tense gathering was underway.

Seated around a long table in the dimly lit chamber, the high-ranking members of Kusagakure had convened in urgency. Yet, their numbers were alarmingly scarce.

There were only nine jōnin present—a testament to just how few elites Kusagakure truly had.

Though their faces remained concealed behind their signature animal masks, their frenzied voices betrayed their fear. The weight of the crisis had shattered any illusion of composure.

"How did the Kazekage of Sunagakure find out about the Uzumaki girl?!"

One demanded, his voice sharp with paranoia.

"Could someone from our own village have leaked the information?"

Another questioned, suspicion creeping into his tone.

"Idiot! Is this really the time for infighting?"

"Then what do you propose we do?"

"What else can we do? The Kazekage of Sunagakure is here in person! Do we really have a choice but to hand her over?"

"Damn it! I can't accept this!"

One of the jōnin clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over.

"That girl carries the power of the Uzumaki Clan. If we just had more time, we could—"

"More time?" Another cut in coldly. "Survival is more important than ambition. Didn't you see? Kudō and the others were killed instantly. Do you really think you're stronger than them?"

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Faced with the stark reality of life and death, even the most reluctant among them knew there was only one rational decision.

Rasa's display of power had been overwhelming. If they resisted, Kusagakure wouldn't just lose the Uzumaki girl—it would cease to exist. And it wasn't just Rasa; other high-ranking Sunagakure shinobi were here as well.

Just as the conclusion seemed inevitable, a voice cut through the stillness.

"No… we can hand her over. But we can't make it easy for them."