Naruto: Eat this fruit and we will be brothers

It was a day of soft drizzle.

The iron-willed leader of Sunagakure, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, was finally ready to leave the hospital.

Qi Hai, accompanied by his three students—Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō—had come to greet him.

It was worth noting that Rasa wasn't exactly a model father. Even after spending several days in the hospital, his children hadn't once expressed a desire to visit him.

Standing at the hospital's entrance, the group waited.

After a while, Rasa emerged, supported by the ever-dutiful Chiyo. He was dressed simply in his usual brown shirt.

As soon as he stepped outside, Rasa's sharp gaze locked onto Qi Hai, the most prominent figure present.

Without hesitation, Rasa strode over, his expression grim.

"Qi Hai!" he roared, his voice filled with what seemed like anger.

For a moment, everyone froze, their hearts pounding. Was their ruthless Kazekage about to attack someone right here in public?

But Qi Hai remained as calm as ever. A little sandstorm isn't enough to scare me, he thought.

To everyone's surprise, Rasa suddenly hugged Qi Hai tightly.

"Thank you for choosing to stay in Sunagakure," Rasa whispered in his ear. "Together, we will bring glory to our village."

Chiyo, watching from nearby, felt tears well up in her eyes. The sight of these two powerful figures getting along filled her with hope. With them leading us, Sunagakure will surely rise again!

Qi Hai, however, felt conflicted. He could sense Rasa's genuine desire to recruit him, but a storm was brewing in his heart.

The Mission Conflict

Qi Hai's system had assigned him a critical task: to become the Kazekage. Failure would mean losing his ability to produce Devil Fruits, and worse, every fruit he had already created would disappear along with their powers.

This meant he would have to overthrow Rasa—a task that likely meant killing him.

Qi Hai clenched his fist. It's not just about Rasa. What about Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō? How would they handle it if I took their father away from them?

The weight of this internal conflict bore down on him as Rasa continued to express his gratitude.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Kazekage-sama," Qi Hai finally said, his tone neutral.

"Thank you," Rasa replied with a strained smile, sensing the subtle distance in Qi Hai's response.

Turning to Gaara, Rasa's expression softened slightly. "Gaara," he said, "come back home. Starting today, I want you to live with us again."

Gaara's eyes widened in disbelief.

Live… at home?

The words hit him like a tidal wave. Memories of Rasa's coldness and attempts on his life flashed through his mind. Wasn't this the man who had always wanted me dead?

Temari, sensing Gaara's hesitation, rushed to her father's side, gripping his sleeve tightly. Her silent plea was clear: Don't hurt Gaara again.

Rasa understood her unspoken words.

He sighed inwardly. His past actions had been harsh, driven by the declining state of Sunagakure and his inability to fully control the One-Tailed Beast.

But things were different now. Qi Hai's presence had shifted everything. With him around, the village no longer needed to rely so heavily on the power of the tailed beasts.

Rasa had come to realize that it was time to let go of old grievances. Perhaps Gaara wasn't the monster I had made him out to be. Perhaps I had been the coward all along.

That night, at the Kazekage's residence…

The once-empty home smelled faintly of stale air and rotting food.

"Seriously, Kankurō?" Temari scolded. "You didn't even take out the trash before you left?"

"Wha—? That's not my banana peel!" Kankurō protested, his face flushed.

"Oh, really? Then whose is it?" Temari snapped, her hands on her hips.

As the siblings bickered, Gaara stood silently behind Qi Hai, glancing around the house he hadn't entered in years.

This is… home?

Later, the family gathered for dinner. Despite the strained history between them, the atmosphere was surprisingly warm.

The meal was simple, but laughter filled the room as they shared stories and teased one another. Even Gaara managed a small smile.

After dinner, as Temari and Kankurō prepared Gaara's room, Qi Hai stayed behind to help Rasa with the dishes.

"Qi Hai," Rasa began, his tone serious. "You haven't taken on any missions since becoming a jōnin, have you?"

Qi Hai shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"Well," Rasa said, placing a plate down with deliberate care, "I have a mission for you. An SSS-rank mission."

Qi Hai raised an eyebrow.

Rasa turned to face him fully, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"We're going to attack Konohagakure."

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