My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

The village's high-ranking officials had gathered in the Kazekage's office within the Kazekage Tower.

Present were Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizō, Pakura, Michikawa, Baki, and several other senior ninjas from Sunagakure.

Everyone was listening intently as an ANBU ninja stationed below relayed the latest report.

"Reporting to Kazekage-sama, according to confirmation from the ANBU in the Land of Birds, the vanguard from Iwagakure has already entered the country. The leader of the group is the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails from Iwagakure. Meanwhile, Kumogakure has started moving towards the Land of Wind by sea. Their leader is the elite ninja, Darui, along with the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. If all goes as planned, they should reach our coastline in about two days. The Daimyo has already begun urging us to prepare for battle."

A tense silence settled over the room. Unlike Konohagakure, Sunagakure lacked the strength to face invasions from two major ninja villages simultaneously. On top of that, both Iwagakure and Kumogakure had deployed their Tailed Beasts for the assault.

However, in stark contrast to the grim mood of the room, Rasa remained calm and spoke with an air of lightness.

"So, you're telling me that Kumogakure and Iwagakure are teaming up? Their first target... is actually us, Sunagakure?"

Pakura's voice broke through the tension, cold and sharp.

"It seems, Kazekage-sama, your plan has failed?"

Rasa shook his head, unfazed.

"No... This actually shows that Iwagakure and Kumogakure are desperately in need of our help to break the deadlock. That's why they're using such grand tactics to try to intimidate us."

"So, you're saying Kumogakure and Iwagakure don't actually want to fight us?" Michikawa asked, thoughtfully.

Rasa's response was firm and resolute.

"Of course not. Putting aside the current situation, what would Kumogakure and Iwagakure gain by fighting us? And if they truly wanted war, why would they be so vocal about it? How else could our ANBU have learned about the Two-Tails Jinchuriki being mobilized?"

Ebizō nodded in agreement.

"Kazekage-sama is right. We only knew that Kumogakure had successfully created a Jinchuriki for the Eight-Tails. If they hadn't voluntarily exposed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, we'd have been completely caught off guard."

Ebizō's words brought a collective sigh of relief from the others in the room. If Kumogakure truly intended to launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure, they wouldn't have leaked such crucial information.

"So what do we do now?"

Pakura asked, her tone steady but inquisitive.

"The plan remains unchanged. Whether it's Konoha or Kumogakure and Iwagakure, as long as it's a battlefield, it's an opportunity for our ninjas to prove themselves. The only thing that changes is the enemy. Pakura, I'll leave Iwagakure to you. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki's Lava Release is similar to your Scorch Release."

Pakura's eyes sparked with interest.

"Lava Release, huh? No problem. I've been wanting to face a Jinchuriki."

Especially now that she had mastered Star Release Chakra, greatly increasing her chakra capacity, and developed new techniques for her Scorch Release Chakra.

Rasa continued, turning to Michikawa.

"As for Kumogakure. I'll leave that to you."

"No problem!"

Michikawa responded confidently.

Seeing both of them agree, Rasa nodded and issued his final instructions.

"Our strategy remains the same. As long as the ninjas from Kumogakure and Iwagakure don't cross the borders of the Land of Wind, let them stir up trouble. You all just need to hold the front line. If they want Sunagakure to assist them in attacking Konoha, they'll have to offer us something in return. Baki, send out the ANBU to gather intelligence. While supporting Michikawa and Pakura, we can't neglect Konoha. We need to be prepared for a counterattack."

"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"

Baki responded.

With the meeting progressing smoothly, Pakura, curious about Rasa's own role.

"What about you, Kazekage-sama?"

Rasa glanced at her calmly and answered.

"As for me, I'll remain here in the village, ready to provide support at any time. It's not yet time for full-scale combat, so I shouldn't be leaving the front lines just yet."

The plan to raid the Land of Fire had been initiated when Rasa, newly appointed Kazekage, needed to solidify his position and gain the prestige of leading such a mission. But now, with his position firmly secured, it would be unwise for him to leave the village and risk exposing Sunagakure's internal vulnerabilities.

More importantly, despite Rasa's acquisition of the Dragon Vein Chakra through the Kama Seal, he still hadn't mastered its full potential due to the limited time he had been able to study it.

To put it simply, Rasa had the chakra but not the techniques to wield it to its fullest.

What was ninjutsu, to Rasa? It was the most efficient means to use chakra to defeat an opponent.

At present, Rasa's chakra is divided into three types: Shukaku Chakra, Star Release Chakra, and Dragon Vein Chakra.

Of these, Shukaku Chakra was the easiest for Rasa to utilize, thanks to his inherited connection to Sunagakure's Magnet Release and the second Kazekage's research, not to mention Gaara's techniques. Rasa could effortlessly use a variety of techniques with this chakra.

Star Release Chakra's ability was straightforward: it activated the physical limits of the user's body, meaning that even its basic mode was highly effective.

However, Dragon Vein Chakra...

Whether for techniques like inorganic reincarnation, material transformation, ultra-speed regeneration, or chakra absorption, each of these abilities could potentially be developed into a unique Bloodline Limit.

This was why Rasa didn't want to waste the potential of Dragon Vein Chakra.

He planned to use his position as Kazekage and his knowledge to develop a series of techniques that would best utilize these four abilities.

At the same time, he wanted to understand Dragon Vein Chakra more deeply, hoping that one day he could teach it to others in Sunagakure, just like Sage Mode.

Rasa had studied the God Tree born from the Dragon Vein Chakra fruit for several days, but aside from observing some minor environmental changes around Sunagakure, he hadn't yet figured out what the God Tree truly did or whether it was linked to the Ten-Tails.

With time running short, Rasa had to put his research on the God Tree on hold and focus on further developing the Dragon Vein Chakra for now.

---

After an hour of intense discussion about how to respond to the looming threat from Kumogakure and Iwagakure, the group had devised a rough plan. Thanks to Rasa's calm confidence and composure, the atmosphere in the room had settled, and the initial panic had subsided.

"Remember, our objective remains unchanged. Our goal has never been war. We're simply trying to buy time and space for the village to develop. Now, let's move forward with the plan. Everyone, go prepare!" Rasa declared, his voice steady but resolute.

"Yes!" The team responded in unison, each member quickly leaving the room.

Soon, the office was empty, and the heavy silence settled in.

At that moment, Baki entered with two individuals behind him.

"Kazekage-sama, Lady Karura and Lady Sēramu have arrived."

"Mm, let them in."

Rasa replied, his attention momentarily shifting to the visitors.

With curiosity in their eyes, Karura and Sēramu entered the room. Rasa gestured for them to sit down, his tone immediately softening as he addressed Sēramu.

"My apologies, Sēramu. The welcoming of the Rōran citizens into Sunagakure will have to be postponed for now."

Sēramu nodded, understanding that there were more pressing matters at hand. In fact, the two women had already noticed a group of ninjas, including Pakura and Chiyo, leaving the Kazekage's office. They had exchanged brief greetings with them, but it was clear that something serious was unfolding.

Karura, sensing the situation, turned to Rasa and asked on behalf of Sēramu, her voice tinged with concern.

"Is war about to begin again?"