My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, near the edge of the Land of Rain, Danzo led a group of Konoha Jonin, positioned in a carefully planned ambush.

While the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers stretched long and vast, it was the quickest route for the Sunagakure ninja to return to the Land of Wind. Danzo had considered the geographical advantages and strategically chosen this location.

He had also thoroughly reviewed his intel, concluding that it would be impossible for the Sunagakure forces to travel through the Land of Rain to reach the Land of Wind. The Kazekage's bloodline techniques, including his sand manipulation and Magnet Release: Sand Gold, would be rendered ineffective in the rain-drenched terrain of the Land of Rain.

However, ever the cautious tactician, Danzo had positioned Jonin with sensory and reconnaissance abilities along the border, ensuring he could track any movement from the Sunagakure forces. After hours of tense waiting, a report finally came in.

"Sunagakure ninja have appeared."

---

Above the vast forest, an eagle soared high in the sky. Its intelligent gaze was sharp and calculating, revealing that this was no ordinary bird. This eagle was a summoned creature—part of the ninja world's common arsenal of summons. While not typically known for their offensive prowess, summoned eagles, like dogs or cats, were invaluable for their reconnaissance abilities.

The eagle's flight skills, keen vision, and unmatched ability to track movement over long distances made it an ideal scout. It could detect an enemy from as far as ten kilometers away, far surpassing the sensory abilities of most ninjas.

Hidden in the shadows of the forest below, Danzo, concealed among the trees, turned to the oil girl, Ryoma, awaiting confirmation.

"Has it been confirmed?" Danzo asked, his voice calm yet filled with the tension of the moment.

Ryoma, nodding, answered, "After the eagle spotted them, I verified with the insects. It's definitely the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, and the red-haired girl accompanying him matches the description of the Uzumaki clan orphan, Hana, as reported by Kusagakure."

Danzo's expression remained impassive, though his mind raced.

"How far are they now?"

"Less than eight kilometers."

"Then let's proceed."

"Understood!"

---

At the border of the Land of Fire, high in the sky, Rasa stood upon his sand cloud, his gaze steady as he surveyed the land below. He had been traveling for over four hours, and by the afternoon, he had reached the border of the Land of Fire, just about to cross into the Land of Rivers. The terrain was unique, serving as a crossroads between three countries.

Beyond the Land of Fire, the landscape seemed surreal. The surface of the Land of Rivers appeared to have been peeled away, creating a steep, sheer cliff-like drop that left the entire region feeling as though it were situated in a massive canyon. The reason for the many rivers in the Land of Rivers became apparent; the land's low-lying terrain gathered water from the surrounding nations.

As the saying went, "water flows to lower ground," and the Land of Rivers was a prime example of this natural phenomenon.

Rasa's sensory abilities, though not extraordinary, immediately sensed the hidden danger in the area. The low-lying land felt like a trap, waiting for prey to wander in. It was as if the land itself was designed to entrap anyone foolish enough to enter without caution.

Rasa, ever the strategist, knew that he was the mantis and that Konoha was the cicada. Yet, he would not let his confidence lead him blindly into a trap. He signaled to his sand cloud to descend, bringing him and Hana down into the forest below to conceal themselves from any prying eyes, including the Konoha summoning eagle high above. The eagle, which had been monitoring their movements, lost track of them as they descended into the trees.

Moments later, twelve Sunagakure Jonin arrived, respectfully standing by Rasa's side. Despite their experience, they were no less cautious, and Rasa did not waste time asking them about the dangers of the forest ahead. Instead, his focus turned to Hana, the young girl by his side.

"Hana," Rasa began, his tone firm yet thoughtful. "I know you have excellent sensory abilities. Can you sense how many Konoha ninjas are ahead, and their general positions?"

The question caused a stir among the Sunagakure Jonin, who looked at Hana with surprise. This girl, the orphan of the Uzumaki clan, was already showing powers beyond what they had expected. Could it be that the Uzumaki clan had such abilities? Their thoughts raced, but Rasa's calm demeanor remained unshaken.

Hana hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before she formed a hand seal. Closing her eyes, she focused on the chakra signatures ahead. The Sunagakure Jonin watched in silence, awe building as they witnessed Hana's talent unfold.

"One... two..." Hana murmured softly, her voice trembling slightly as she began to count.

Soon, her eyes snapped open, her expression serious as she relayed the information she had sensed.

"Thirty-one people in total," she began, her voice gaining steadiness as she spoke. "Their chakras are very large and divided into four squads. The first and second squads each have nine members, the third squad has seven, and the fourth squad has five. The first squad is three kilometers away, the second is four kilometers away, the third is five kilometers away, and the fourth is seven kilometers away."

She paused for a moment, her gaze distant as if trying to sense more deeply.

"One person in the fourth squad has an exceptionally large chakra," Hana continued, her voice lowering slightly, "and he has a very cold aura about him."

Her body trembled slightly as she spoke, the fear evident in her tone.

"Well done."

he praised, his voice filled with genuine admiration. Hana's head tilted slightly, but she didn't respond. The twelve Sunagakure jonin, hidden behind their masks, couldn't conceal the astonishment in their eyes. It wasn't just Hana's bloodline that made her valuable to the Kazekage, but this sensory ability, which no one in their village could match.

With a glance at his subordinates, Rasa continued.

"It seems Konoha's ninjas are trying to use their squads to delay you all one by one, so they can focus on me, the Kazekage."

One of the jonin, his voice tinged with uncertainty, spoke up.

"Then, Kazekage-sama, what should we do now?"

Rasa's lips curved into a slight smirk.

"Heh, since Konoha's ninjas have already made such a plan, we can't let them down by not playing along with their little show. You'll accompany Konoha's ninjas and play with them. It would be even better if you could deal with them."

For a moment, the twelve covert squad members stood still, processing the command. It wasn't that they were unwilling, but the power disparity seemed enormous. They were just twelve against thirty Konoha ninjas. The numbers seemed against them, and yet Rasa's confidence was unwavering.

Sensing their hesitation, Rasa's expression shifted, becoming more resolute. He calmly pressed his hands together, and his chakra began to pulse in a distinctive rhythm. The energy around him grew more intense as he tapped into his Senjutsu powers.

"Sage Art: Shukaku's Avatar · Tanuki Warrior!"

With that, a burst of golden sand and chakra enveloped him, forming a towering, ethereal samurai figure around his body. This powerful transformation, a combination of his natural abilities and Senjutsu, was designed to protect him and give him overwhelming strength. The golden samurai towering beside him glowed like a protective guardian, a reminder of the Kazekage's extraordinary power.

---

In the dense forests of the Land of Rivers, the Sunagakure ninjas suddenly came to a halt.

Their movements were smooth and synchronized as they blended seamlessly into the surroundings. The Konoha ninjas lying in ambush, hidden in the trees and brush, were taken by surprise. They hadn't expected their presence to be detected so swiftly.

Ryoma Aburame, standing near Danzo, tensed up, sensing the shift in the air.

"Have they discovered us, Danzo-sama?"

Danzo's gaze hardened, and a quiet, almost imperceptible smirk curled his lips.

"So what if they have?"

The knowledge of their location didn't faze him. He had long seen Rasa as a thorn in his side, especially since a secret about him had been leaked, making the Kazekage an even greater target in Danzo's mind.

"Regardless of this, I will deal with this Kazekage. But more importantly, the Uzumaki clan... If I can control the orphan, Hana, I might be able to harness the power of the Nine-Tails for Konoha."

The thought of this new advantage filled Danzo with renewed resolve. With the death of Kushina after the appearance of new jinchuriki, Danzo would not only be able to lower Minato's position but also control the power of Nine-tails.

Danzo's eyes narrowed as he gazed toward the towering cliffs in the distance. He had sensed the sunken, almost suffocating aura of the Land of Rivers, and he knew this was a strategic location to confront the enemy. He turned to the four Konoha ninjas behind him, each one carrying a large scroll.

"Let's begin."

"Hai!"