IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Shiro's grip on Rasa's neck loosened, his hand falling back with deliberate calm, a calculated move that exuded unshakable authority. His voice, cold and unwavering, broke the silence.

"I'm borrowing the One-Tail from your village," Shiro declared, his words chillingly casual, as though discussing an inconsequential matter.

Rasa's composure faltered, fear settling into his core. His voice cracked under the weight of panic. "That's impossible!" he retorted, though his defiance carried a hollow edge.

"The One-Tail is the cornerstone of Sunagakure's strength! Why don't you try taking the Nine-Tails from Konoha if you're so confident?"

Shiro halted mid-step, his sharp gaze cutting through Rasa. The oppressive force of his presence seemed to suffocate the room.

"Oh?" Shiro's tone was laced with mockery, his words biting. "Impossible, you say? You call yourself the Kazekage, the leader of Sunagakure, yet you can't even wield your own power effectively. And your son..."

Rasa stiffened at the mention. "Leave Gaara out of this!" he snapped, desperation and anger mingling in his voice.

"Your son?" Shiro's laugh was dark and menacing, each syllable dripping with disdain. "What sort of father weaponizes his own child? A father like you doesn't deserve the title at all."

In an instant, Shiro's hand shot forward, seizing Rasa's neck again. This time, the Kazekage's famed sand armor groaned and cracked under the suffocating pressure of Shiro's chakra.

"You're nothing but a failure, Rasa—a pathetic father and an even more pathetic Kazekage," Shiro spat, his voice a sinister echo in the charged air.

Rasa's teeth clenched as his hands moved swiftly through a sequence of seals. "Magnet Release: Gold Dust Burial!"

A tidal wave of glittering gold dust surged toward Shiro, enveloping him entirely in its shimmering mass. From a distance, Orochimaru watched intently, his expression uncharacteristically tense as the battlefield disappeared within the radiant storm.

As the gold dust began to settle, Rasa stood tall, his body trembling from the exertion. He had poured the full weight of his chakra into the technique. "There's no way you survived that!" he shouted, his voice ringing with strained conviction.

But as the haze cleared, Shiro emerged unscathed, his figure cutting through the golden fog like a specter. Before Rasa could react, Shiro blurred into motion, landing a devastating kick to his side and sending him sprawling.

"Is this the strength of a Kazekage? How utterly pitiful," Shiro remarked, his words a venomous sting.

Rasa struggled to rise, blood dripping from his mouth. "Who... are you?" he rasped, his voice faint and broken.

Shiro remained silent for a moment before a massive projection of the Nine-Tails materialized behind him, its ominous chakra casting a suffocating shadow over the room.

"You're... you're..." Rasa's eyes widened in dawning horror.

Before he could finish, Shiro's hand pressed firmly onto his head. In an instant, Rasa's body disintegrated, his form dissolving under Shiro's overpowering chakra.

As Orochimaru cautiously approached, Shiro formed a shadow clone. The construct transformed seamlessly, mirroring Rasa's likeness down to his chakra signature and smallest mannerisms.

"Impressive," Orochimaru admitted, though unease crept into his voice as he wiped his brow.

Shiro studied the clone with satisfaction. "It's not just a disguise. This clone has inherited Rasa's abilities and will serve as Kazekage until I decide otherwise."

The clone bowed deeply, its movements a perfect imitation of Rasa's authoritative grace. "I will fulfill my duties flawlessly, Master."

A smirk tugged at Shiro's lips. "Good. Now, let's move forward."

With "Rasa" at the helm, Shiro, Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Kabuto entered Sunagakure unchallenged.

"Kazekage-sama!" the village shinobi greeted respectfully as they passed.

"Hmm," the clone replied tersely, its tone embodying Rasa's usual aloof authority.

Orochimaru's wariness deepened. The deception was flawless, but Sunagakure housed sharp minds like Chiyo and Baki. Even a single misstep could unravel the plan.

Shiro, however, remained utterly unconcerned. "Stick to the plan. I have business to attend to," he said, veering toward the Jinchūriki's location.

"Are you certain this isn't reckless?" Orochimaru questioned, his unease evident.

Shiro chuckled softly. "Reckless? Orochimaru, sometimes audacity is the greatest wisdom. Stay the course."

---

Shiro wandered leisurely through the village, his

demeanor casual yet commanding. He paused at a bustling market stall, inspecting trinkets and food items with apparent interest, much to the vendor's confusion.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru and the others followed "Rasa" to the Kazekage's office. There, the clone seamlessly assumed control, issuing orders as though nothing had changed.

As Shiro observed the villagers going about their routines, a faint, cryptic smile played on his lips. "Let's see how long this charade holds," he murmured.

For now, Sunagakure remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within its walls—a storm that threatened to reshape the shinobi world forever.