My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

Rasa's words carried weight far beyond the accusation he had leveled against Danzo. It wasn't merely personal animosity toward the man that motivated Rasa to pin the disappearance of the Third Kazekage on him. No, this was a strategic move, one born of necessity and ambition. As the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Rasa was not simply fighting for the honor of his village—he was fighting for its survival and future.

In this tense moment, he needed more than just an explanation for the war he was about to ignite. He needed to create chaos within Konoha, to plant the seeds of doubt and suspicion deep within the heart of the village. Only then, after a raid on the Land of Fire, would Konoha struggle to find a legitimate reason to retaliate against Sunagakure. And even if they did find such a reason, the internal turmoil that would follow would keep them too distracted to act decisively.

By this point, Rasa understood that he didn't even need to provide solid proof to back his accusations. His words were so detailed, so carefully crafted, that the burden of proof now shifted to Danzo.

It was as though Rasa had written an intricate conspiracy theory, one so compelling that Danzo was now the one forced to clear his name.

But could Danzo do so?

Of course not.

Whether it was the transplanting of the First Hokage's cells or the acquisition of the Sharingan, both actions were absolute taboos in Konoha. Rasa knew this would cause a ripple effect that could not be contained. The entire village would soon learn of the truth behind Danzo's secret dealings, and once that revelation spread, there would be no turning back.

The Senju Clan, with only Tsunade remaining, might not be much of an obstacle, but the Uchiha Clan—now that would be a different matter altogether.

Some might argue that at this point, Danzo had not yet completed the transplanting of the Sharingan. But that, in itself, no longer mattered. The accusations had already been made, and once Danzo was proven guilty of one of them, the rest would follow. After all, the Sharingan could always be transplanted at any moment.

On top of that, Danzo's long-standing antagonism with the Uchiha Clan would make it nearly impossible for him to defend himself. The Uchiha had long suspected him of treachery, and these new revelations would only serve to confirm their worst fears. The accusations would spill over beyond the Uchiha. Like, for example, wouldn't the Hyuga Clan also worry that Danzo might set his sights on their Byakugan next?

Such suspicions would inevitably lead to further fractures within Konoha. Internal divisions would begin to fester, and Konoha would find itself torn from within.

But perhaps the most critical question was—did the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, have the resolve to punish Danzo?

Rasa didn't think so. If he did, Danzo would have never survived this long. Rasa understood the political dynamics of Konoha well. The Third Hokage's reluctance to confront Danzo directly had allowed him to operate unchecked for years.

For now, Rasa knew what he needed most was time. If he could endure the immediate storm, if he could use his Kāma Seal to continue strengthening himself, then he would eventually reach a level where no one—least of all Konoha—could challenge him. By then, Konoha would no longer pose a threat to Sunagakure.

But that was a matter for the future.

For the present, as soon as Rasa finished speaking, the battlefield descended into chaos. The Konoha shinobi were in disarray, their morale shattered by the powerful accusations they had just heard. On the Sunagakure side, it was painfully clear that Konoha's confidence had crumbled.

Even Minato, ever the composed leader, found himself momentarily stunned.

The truth, as inconvenient as it was, began to settle in. Rasa's words had struck a chord, and for a brief moment, Minato could not help but question everything he thought he knew. The possibility that Danzo could be responsible for such treachery seemed all too plausible.

Could it be true? Would the elder truly go to such lengths?

Even Minato, a man known for his unshakable resolve, doubted the truth of his village's leadership.

Rasa's reminder hit Minato like a jolt of electricity, making him pause and think. The sight of Danzo's arm, wrapped in a bandage marked with sealing jutsu, suddenly seemed far more suspicious than it had before. What kind of injury would necessitate such an odd form of binding?

It wasn't just Minato who was now reflecting on this—it was clear from the tense expressions of the other Konoha Jonin that they were all starting to question the truth of Rasa's words.

Danzo, the head of the so-called "Root" organization, had never been a popular figure among the Konoha shinobi. His methods, his secrecy, and his cold ambition made him a figure of mistrust, even within his own village.

At that moment, however, Choza Akimichi spoke up, breaking the tense silence. He was standing behind Minato, his tone grave as he addressed the situation.

"Minato, we can't let this continue. If this goes on, there won't even be a battle."

The words struck Minato hard. Why would there be a battle when their enemies were already on the brink of victory—before a single jutsu had even been cast?

The realization hit him: the morale of the Konoha shinobi was faltering fast. Rasa's truth, coupled with the accusations against Danzo, had shaken their resolve.

Minato snapped out of his daze, nodding decisively. His gaze hardened, and the warmth of the sun seemed to evaporate as he regained his composure.

"Apologies, Kazekage. I cannot determine the truth of your claims at this moment. I will need to report this to the village before I can provide you with an answer. However, the fact remains that Sunagakure has invaded the Land of Fire. Therefore, I must ask you to leave our territory immediately."

"Well, I-"

"What?! Are you joking?"

Rasa hadn't even finished his sentence before a Jōnin from Sunagakure, standing behind him, roared with fury.

"The Konoha shinobi murdered our Third Kazekage, and yet you speak so lightly of it... Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!"

The anger in the voice of the Sunagakure shinobi ignited a fierce fire in the hearts of the others around him. Their cries rang out across the battlefield.

"That's right! Avenge the Third Kazekage!"

"Kill every last Konoha ninja!"

"Hand over that bastard Danzo!"

The atmosphere became charged with tension as Sunagakure's warriors seethed with rage. It was clear now that they were prepared to fight to the death.

The Konoha shinobi, in turn, found themselves looking grim. The challenge was laid before them—not just to protect their territory but to confront a furious enemy in the midst of the growing storm.

But to Rasa, this was precisely the reaction he had hoped for. The surge of anger and the battle cries of his forces were music to his ears. They were fully committed now, and he knew that the battle was about to escalate beyond words.

Rasa fixed his cold, calculating gaze on Minato, his expression hardening with purpose.

"Konoha ninja, you see for yourselves—if you don't hand over Danzo, we will never leave!"

Minato's mind raced. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. His instinct screamed that a confrontation was inevitable, and yet—he could not deny the truth of the dilemma.

As a shinobi of Konoha, he had no other choice. It was his duty to defend his village, even against overwhelming odds. His right hand moved instinctively, reaching for the tools in his pouch.

"If that's the case... Since our positions are different, I have no other choice!"

Rasa raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in Minato's demeanor. The tension in the air thickened as the two leaders stood across from one another, each aware that a battle was on the verge of erupting.

"Oh? Are you going to make a move?"

Rasa's tone was taunting, but his alertness was palpable.

Minato's face twisted into a bitter expression as he assessed the situation. Could he avoid a fight? The answer was clear—no.

He was a Konoha shinobi, and Sunagakure had already crossed the threshold of his village's borders. No matter how conflicted he might feel, the duty to protect the Land of Fire was paramount.

But could he win this battle?

Given the disparity in numbers and the growing tension in the air, Minato felt the weight of the situation. His thoughts raced, but one thing was clear—he had no time to waste.

"No other choice! I have to end this quickly!" He thought, pushing aside his doubts. With resolve settling over him, he acted instantly. His right hand dove into his ninja pouch and quickly retrieved six specially crafted kunai. Without hesitation, he hurled them toward Rasa, each kunai glinting in the sun as they zipped through the air.

"Hmph!" Rasa sneered, his eyes narrowing with precision. The moment the kunai approached, the ground beneath him shifted. In a flash, a golden whip shot upward from the earth, lashing out with terrifying speed. The whip struck with perfect accuracy, knocking Minato's kunai aside before they could even reach their target.

"What?!" Minato's eyes widened in shock, disbelief washing over him.

This was completely unexpected.

Minato had never thrown his Flying Thunder God kunai directly at an enemy before. Normally, he would scatter them around his opponent, strategically placing them at a distance to create openings for his next move. Because his kunai never aimed directly at the enemy, most shinobi wouldn't bother to defend against them.

But Rasa was different.

The moment Rasa recognized the Flying Thunder God Kunai, he reacted with deadly precision. Without a second thought, he intercepted and knocked them out of the air, disrupting Minato's entire strategy. It was as if Rasa had anticipated Minato's every move.

An uncomfortable feeling began to creep into Minato's mind—a growing sense of unease that he couldn't shake.

Of course, Rasa had been prepared from the very beginning.

The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, he had deliberately kept his distance from Minato. Once he learned that Konoha's greatest shinobi was Minato, Rasa's mind rapidly assessed the situation. Two thoughts had emerged, clear and concise:

First, he could not allow Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai to limit his movement.

Second, he must avoid close combat at all costs.

The implications were undeniable. With Minato's mastery over the Flying Thunder God and his devastating Rasengan, any close-quarter confrontation would spell disaster for Rasa. He might survive the encounter, but the injuries he would suffer could be crippling. Minato's speed and power made him nearly unbeatable at close range.

"Did my plan fail?" Minato thought, a sharp frown appearing on his face. The realization hit him hard—he had underestimated the terrain.

The wide, open plain they fought on was vastly different from the dense forests where he usually operated. In the forest, he could easily hide his Flying Thunder God kunai and set traps. Out here, however, every movement was more exposed, leaving him with fewer options.

But that wouldn't stop him.

If he couldn't control Rasa's movements from a distance, then his only option was to close the gap. He had to get closer, and he had to do it fast. With renewed determination, he pulled out another Flying Thunder God kunai. His figure flickered as he vanished from sight, a blur of motion in the wind.

"Body Flicker Technique!" Minato muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of resolve.

Rasa saw the shift in Minato's movements. He knew exactly what the Fourth Hokage was attempting. There was no hesitation in his actions. His hands flew through a series of seals, his eyes glinting with lethal intent.

"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"