Masashi, who had become nothing more than a ruthless stamping and document-reviewing machine, was buried in paperwork. Being the head of a division was no easy job. Whether it was political maneuvering or personal gain, the necessary documents still had to be processed without exception.
In this era, how to distribute power was a challenge faced by all five major ninja villages. The Five Kage couldn't avoid it, and neither could the heads of various departments.
During the village's early days, there were only so many ninjas. Without power division, a bit of overtime was enough for one person to handle everything. Now, even Suna had a greater number than all five villages combined in the past. Failing to delegate power, or not delegating enough, meant working oneself to death. But delegating poorly would result in various factions rising up, sidelining the leader entirely.
He wanted to delegate power, but given the current structure of the ANBU, doing so would leave him with nothing to do. He had no choice but to wait until he could bring in a few more trusted subordinates, then things would improve significantly.
Knock, knock…
"Come in," Masashi said without looking up. He had just finished reading a document and stamped it decisively with a bold red seal.
"Captain," an ANBU member entered the room. "The team from Suna has entered the village."
"Alright. Coordinate with the Police Force to get them settled. Make sure they understand the rules and don't cause any trouble for us."
"That has already been arranged. However, there's another minor issue."
"What is it? Did the Suna ninjas cause trouble? Or was it our people?" Masashi finally looked up. "If they caused trouble, we can revoke their exam qualifications. They should be well aware of that."
"It's hard to explain. Mainly because the individuals involved are sensitive figures."
"Get to the point."
"Yes… It was the Kazekage's child and two teams recommended by the Uchiha clan. They had a bit of a scuffle." The ANBU ninja discreetly observed Masashi's expression.
This was a tricky situation. He couldn't exactly say, "Boss, your little troublemakers saw the Kazekage's son, didn't like what he said, and started a fight."
"Oh?" Masashi shifted his focus away from the documents. "Did they fight?"
"Not seriously, just a minor clash."
"What did the Kazekage say?"
"He said he would restrain his ninjas."
Rasa is being this cooperative?
Even though the ANBU ninja hadn't spelled it out, given the personalities of Sasuke and Naruto in this timeline, there was a high probability that they were the ones who instigated the conflict.
Even if they weren't, Rasa's attitude was suspicious. Was he planning something? Hmm… Could he had already been turned into Orochimaru's puppet?
"I see. I'll visit the Kazekage tonight and apologize in person. Is there anything else?"
"No."
"Alright. The arrival of foreign candidates is a major event. Aside from the examinees, the accompanying jonin, village representatives, and the Three Kage must all be monitored. Don't worry about offending anyone. If someone refuses to cooperate and tries to dig into your identities, arrest them."
"Understood." The ANBU ninja responded and left.
Once the door closed, Masashi picked up his pen again, but his mind remained on the Kazekage. If it really was Orochimaru, this might be an opportunity.
He might have been reckless in the Land of Rice Fields, but could he afford to be reckless here? At the very least, not in front of the Suna ninjas.
If necessary, all Masashi had to do was stab him with a chakra rod and expose him for the monster he was, guaranteeing that the Suna ninjas would immediately turn on him and form an ironclad alliance with Konoha.
That would be fantastic.
The more he thought about it, the more he hoped Rasa was actually Orochimaru in disguise. If possible, he wanted to leave right now!
But…
His gaze shifted slightly to the right, landing on the massive stack of documents on his desk.
Damn it! These reports are full of useless comments from old bureaucrats!
He'd tried using shadow clones to tackle the paperwork, but even they rebelled against the bureaucratic nightmare, dispelling themselves rather than endure another minute of policy revisions and petty footnotes.
Masashi made up his mind. After the Chunin Exams, he would demand training authority from Minato. If he refused, then he'd have to raise hell. Without training authority, dealing with these stubborn bureaucrats was a nightmare.
He resumed reviewing the documents.
In the meantime, more stacks of paperwork were delivered.
Gradually, the sky outside darkened. He lit the lamp on his desk. By this time, only a few dozen documents remained. After finishing them, the night had completely set in.
He rang the bell on his desk.
"Captain."
"Call Torune in," Masashi ordered.
A moment later, Torune arrived.
"For the next three days, I need to conduct special training for the students. During this time, you'll handle paperwork for me. I'll have the secretariat issue an official authorization."
Torune was stunned. He thought he had been summoned for a mission. Why was he being asked to handle paperwork?
"Masashi-sama, why not assign it to the Sandaime instead…"
"You're my direct subordinate, so I'm giving it to you. Plus, you were a former member of Root. If you can't manage it alone, get Fū and the others to help you. Handle it for three days, and I'll evaluate the results."
Since Torune and Fū were the last generation of Root, they were well-rounded talents, not just combat specialists. Even in an organization like ANBU, being only a fighter wouldn't cut it for leadership positions.
Masashi trusted them to handle paperwork efficiently.
Given how much bureaucratic nonsense had infiltrated ANBU, Torune and Fū only needed to process documents with their old Root efficiency, and nothing major would go wrong. Besides, if he wanted to reclaim training authority, he needed to take steps that would make the higher-ups even more uncomfortable.
"Alright, that's settled. From now on, you'll take over. You have three days. If you encounter something you can't solve, come to me. The official authorization will be sent out by the secretariat tomorrow."
"Yes."
Having said that, Masashi could no longer insist. He had no choice but to accept the task. However, as he thought about the situation they and their comrades would face over the next three days, he wasn't scared, in fact, he was excited.
They, the original members of Root, had many complaints about the current ANBU.
Masashi had already stood up and stretched, taking his department head's coat off the hanger and putting it on.
"Masashi-sama, if you have other matters to attend to tonight, would you like us to accompany you?"
Torune quickly suggested. Wearing that coat and going out clearly wasn't for a charitable visit.
"Sure, call Fū as well. The three of us will go," Masashi agreed.
Rasa would definitely have bodyguards. Going alone would give off the wrong impression.
That wouldn't do; at this moment, he was representing the ANBU and needed to maintain his prestige.
"Yes."
A little while later, Fū arrived, being pulled along by Torune. He wasn't entirely clear about what was going on at first. The main reason was that Torune had told him, "It seems Masashi-sama is going out to 'deal with' someone."
This startled him. His first reaction was that one of Masashi's enemies might be among the foreign ninjas who had just entered the village.
Wasn't this a bit rushed? Shouldn't they plan things better? It could be problematic if they were discovered.
"Let's go, we'll visit Kazekage-sama," Masashi said.
Fū immediately realized he had misunderstood. After all, even though Masashi was volatile, he wouldn't go so far as to kill the Kazekage.
"Yes, Masashi-sama"
---
Masashi led the two of them out of the Hokage building and toward the guesthouse where the Suna team was staying.
The three Kage who had come to participate in the Chunin Exams were all staying at the newly built guesthouse, which had been constructed as part of the second phase of Konoha's post-war reconstruction plan.
The leaders of the smaller villages, Ame, Kusa, Taki, and Oto, along with the special envoy from Kumo, were all staying at the old guesthouse. The only remaining teams still on their way to Konoha were those from Kiri and Iwa.
As for Kiri, there were rumors that the Fourth Mizukage was considering abdicating, and a successor was being selected, though it was unclear whether Mei would become the Mizukage like the original timeline.
To be honest, Masashi believed that Yagura might be far superior to Mei, not because he could fully control the tailed beasts, but for his governing abilities as the Mizukage. And in this timeline, Yagura was not a mere puppet, and he had more opportunities to showcase his talents. Using the Association system, Kiri's methods had become much more effective than Iwa's.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had also been reformed.
Zabuza, who had originally fled to the Land of Fire, had returned to the group. He might also be coming to Konoha, as one of the leading jonin of Kiri.
The new guesthouse arrived quickly, and Masashi saw the ANBU ninjas standing guard at the entrance.
This was Konoha, so of course, it was the Konoha ninjas responsible for outer security, while the Suna ninjas would only handle security inside the guesthouse.
Masashi walked over.
His attire, combined with Torune and Fū behind him, clearly indicated his identity.
"Captain!" The two ANBU ninjas immediately saluted.
"No need for formalities. Thank you for your hard work," Masashi waved his hand dismissively, glancing upstairs. Through the bright windows, he could see shadows moving inside.
"Have they had dinner yet?"
"Yes, two hours ago. They handed over their food scraps, but they only accepted raw ingredients. They cooked it themselves."
"Understandable, considering the Kazekage is present," Masashi nodded. "Which floor is the Kazekage on?"
"The sixth floor."
"Alright. Even though you're on duty here, don't let your guard down. Once the Mizukage and Tsuchikage arrive, the attention will be much greater."
"Yes, Captain!"
Masashi patted their shoulders in encouragement and led his two companions into the new guesthouse.
---
In a room on the sixth floor of the new building, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Rasa sat on the tatami, watching the children in front of him.
His eldest daughter, Temari, had grown into a beautiful young woman, resembling her mother. She had the talent to become a powerful ninja, a strong character, and a deep sense of family loyalty.
The second child, Kankurō, had a tactical mind and a strong drive, but his personality flaws were also quite obvious, his emotional control was lacking, and he was prone to losing his temper.
As for the third child… If someone had told him a few years ago that the weak-willed child would grow into a temperamental killing machine, no one would have believed it. And honestly speaking, although Gaara was often regarded as a madman by outsiders, his mind was very sharp. He was much better than Kankurō in that regard.
"Gaara, you did well today. You didn't let Kankurō continue to embarrass our village," Rasa said.
Gaara didn't answer; he maintained a stern face, arms crossed, looking like he was ready to speak or make any comment without care.
"Three days from now, the Chunin Exams will begin. Your respective tasks should be clear, right?"
"Father," Temari said, "Do we really have to go to war with Konoha? If that happens, it will be a betrayal, and that would have negative consequences for us."
The biggest impact of betrayal wouldn't just be on future alliances, but it would make clients distrust the village. This was why Suna had been able to endure up to now. The task load was already tight, and with fewer tasks, the current number of ninjas couldn't be sustained.
"Don't be so extreme," Rasa said. "Who our enemy is, depends on Konoha. Do you understand?"
"But if we don't make a decision now, and things happen suddenly, our ninjas might not be able to respond to your orders immediately."
"An elite should always be in sync with the village's pace. Those who can't do that have already been eliminated by the village," Rasa said, unmoved. "As for those who don't know how to act without specific instructions, they are not qualified to participate in this mission. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes…" Temari lowered her head.
As always.
In Suna, she had many suitors, but she had no time for romance due to her family situation. Her mother was long gone, her father always had a cold face, as though he was ready to sever ties with her, her uncle tried to assassinate Gaara and was killed in return, and Kankurō loved causing trouble. After the assassination attempt, Gaara became the most troublesome.
Temari felt like she was under a lot of pressure every day.
As for what Baki said about elitism, she wasn't concerned. After all, the three siblings were dominating their peers in the village in their respective fields. Unless Suna reduced the ninja population to three, this elitism policy would have no impact on them.
Looking at his daughter and considering that among his three children, she was the most worry-free, Rasa softened his tone a little.
"Don't be too stressed. We can only act based on the situation. Even if it's just an exam, it's possible," Rasa said. "As for the resources we invest, if money can solve the problem, it's not a big deal."
Temari and Kankurō seemed to relax a little. Gaara still had a cold, indifferent expression, with no change.
"However, the people you clashed with during the day, you should pay attention to them in advance. They have special status in Konoha."
Rasa waved his hand.
The guard nearby handed over the prepared materials to the three.
"No way? That stupid kid is actually the Hokage's son?" Kankurō clearly remembered what happened during the day.
The argument was started by a black-haired boy, but the first one to act was that stupid blonde.
"You three are outstanding among the exam participants, but you still have rivals. These people are your opponents," Rasa ignored his son's meaningless comment and said to Temari, "I'm confident in your actions, but you need to pay extra attention to the two members of the Hyūga clan."
"Understood. Are they the strongest among the Konoha candidates?"
"Not necessarily, but their teacher is troublesome," Rasa said. "Gaara has met him before."
Gaara, who had been silent, changed his expression. "Is it that guy?"
"Yes. To say he's the strongest ninja in the current shinobi world wouldn't be an exaggeration. But most importantly…" Rasa said slowly, "This person has no bottom line and won't hesitate to act just because you're young. So, keep your distance from him, especially you, Gaara."
Rasa couldn't explain all his thoughts about Gaara, but he had a pretty good understanding of him.
What was his plan? Challenge Masashi?
Currently, there wasn't a single ninja in Suna who could defeat Masashi, not even Rasa himself. Even Konoha itself probably didn't have anyone who could. Thus, even if a war broke out against Konoha, Suna wouldn't deal with Masashi. Someone else would handle him.
He believed other villages probably thought the same way.
And everyone's choices were not bound by any treaties. Everything was driven by Konoha's current situation, and each village had to make its own judgment.
Who was an ally, and who was an enemy? It was impossible to say for certain. Anyway, Rasa wouldn't be the one to stick his neck out. He hoped his children wouldn't be the ones to do it either.
"Kazekage-sama," Baki entered the room, "Masashi is here to visit."
"Oh?" Rasa thought to himself, Could he really be that sharp? Could he have sensed something from such a trivial matter?
"Did he bring anyone with him?"
"Yes, he brought two ANBU, and they entered through the front door."
The front door? That should be fine.
"You go and personally invite him in," Rasa nodded, "We are the guests, so we should be mindful of etiquette."
"Yes."
As Baki left, Rasa turned to his children and said, "You all may leave now."
"Yes, Father." Temari pulled Kankurō along, hesitated for a moment, and then also pulled Gaara. "Come back with me."
Gaara glanced at Temari's hand pulling him, said nothing, and turned to head for the door.
Once the children had left, Rasa turned to the guards and said, "Bring out the tea I've brought. Brew a pot, and prepare some snacks."
The guards acknowledged the order.
Before long, two guards brought a low table with a pot of hot tea, two cups, and some snacks like dates and roasted fish.
At that moment, footsteps could be heard at the door. Baki entered with Masashi and two others.
"I hope I'm not disturbing your rest at this late hour?" Masashi greeted with a warm smile, clearly very pleased. "It's been a long time, and you look well."
"Not at all. It's the soil and climate of Konoha that's so nurturing," Rasa said with a warm, friendly smile, his usually stern face softened. "Your village's hospitality is very considerate, and I am quite satisfied."
Then, he turned to the two guards and instructed, "You may leave. I haven't seen Masashi in a long time. We have much to discuss, so don't interrupt us unless there's an urgent matter."
"Take care, Fū, you may leave as well," Masashi told the two behind him.
Torune and Fū didn't hesitate, following the two guards out of the room and closing the door behind them.
"Please, take a seat." Rasa smiled warmly, "I've heard you've taken over the ANBU. I know a bit about their work. You must not have had dinner yet, right? Try some of Suna's specialties."
"Thank you," Masashi said as he sat at the low table.
Rasa picked up the teapot, poured tea into Masashi's cup, and then poured some for himself.
"Try the fish. This type lives in underground waters. It was personally caught by Chiyo and is famous for its taste in the Land of Winds," he said.
Masashi used chopsticks to pick up a roasted fish. The fish appeared to be eyeless, but the delicious aroma was irresistible, making one's mouth water.
In Konoha, there was nothing he wouldn't eat. He took a bite, the meat tender and flavorful despite the lack of seasoning. It was delicious and appetizing.
"Good stuff," Masashi commented.
"The Land of Winds has scarce water resources, but wherever there is water, there are surprises," Rasa smiled. "Speaking of which, did you come specifically for what happened earlier today?"
"Yes, our genin were disrespectful to guests. I had to come and apologize in person," Masashi replied.
"Ah, no need, no need," Rasa waved his hand, brushing it off in a magnanimous manner. "They're young, after all. When I was their age, I was quite competitive too. Seeing them so full of energy, I can't help but reminisce."
"That's a different matter. As hosts, they are Konoha's ninjas, and they should think like hosts," Masashi said, a bit hungry, quickly finishing off another roasted fish. "By the way, what do you think of Oto?"
"Oto?" Rasa thought for a moment. "That village that has been developing rapidly in recent years? They've made significant contributions to the stability of the Land of Rice Fields, but their strength is still lacking. They don't have many experts. Are you particularly concerned about them?"
"When Suna, Kumo, and Iwa were fighting, I passed by there, and the northern ports of the Land of Rice Fields were all under their responsibility."
"Oh? So they have quite a number of ninjas," Rasa rubbed his chin. "But the distance from the Land of Winds is too far. Suna hasn't had much chance to interact with them."
Masashi had already figured out where Orochimaru's large demand for a variety of cheap and high-quality materials was being met. It was all from this very person in front of him.
Across the entire shinobi world, only the Land of Winds, with its advanced manufacturing and outside the purview of the associations, could provide such supplies.
Not to mention the metals used to craft ninja tools.
However, from his perception, the person in front of him was truly Rasa himself.
It wasn't a disguise…