"Change… the village's fate?" The lead ninja stared at Shen Mo, who didn't seem to be joking, feeling an inexplicable belief stir within him.
It was as if this man's words carried a strange, convincing power.
But was that possible?
A complex emotion welled up inside him.
"Quick… inform Lord Kazekage!" he snapped to another ninja.
"Yes!" The ninja jolted, sprinting toward the village.
"Please wait a moment," the lead ninja said.
Unsure how to proceed, he could only notify the Kazekage.
He couldn't let these clearly extraordinary people enter without permission.
Shen Mo didn't mind.
He reached out, gently scratching Hiju, curled up on his shoulder, nestled against his neck.
Outside of snack time, Hiju was clingy—either perched on his shoulder or sitting on his lap, nuzzling him.
Seeing this…
The lead ninja felt a subtle relief. At least, they didn't seem intent on conflict.
Soon…
With a swirl of sand, a figure appeared on the wall.
Black combat gear, short brown hair, and a somber gaze.
The Fourth Kazekage—Rasa.
"Lord Kazekage!"
The other ninja exhaled, as if finding their backbone.
A Kage wasn't just a village's leader but its strongest ninja, deeply trusted.
"You two claim to be traveling merchants?" Rasa said, eyeing Shen Mo and Ikaros standing in midair. His tone wasn't harsh, but his face remained grim.
As he studied them, Shen Mo observed him.
This character…
In the original story, Rasa only reappeared briefly via Edo Tensei.
But to Shen Mo now…
Rasa's spirit was nearing its limit.
The weight on his shoulders, his suppressed emotions, left him lacking a leader's confidence, more like an ordinary man about to be crushed by life's burdens.
Lacking the resolve of a leader yet wielding such power, forced to bear a declining village's weight.
That was Shen Mo's read on him.
"Tired, aren't you?" Shen Mo said, his calm voice carrying to Rasa.
"What did you say?" Rasa didn't catch it.
"I can see," Shen Mo said, his dark eyes turning vast, like a starry galaxy, deep and profound.
Staring into Rasa's eyes, he continued slowly, "Facing a village in slow decline, a son you placed hopes in who became a dangerous monster, and a thriving, ever-stronger Konoha not far away—your soul is exhausted."
With each word…
Rasa's gaze shifted.
By the end…
His chakra erupted, gold dust swirling, his eyes locked on Shen Mo, words grinding through clenched teeth. "What are you talking about!?"
He was furious, humiliated.
No matter his inner weariness…
As Kazekage, bearing the village's hopes, he couldn't show weakness.
Yet here, before his ninja, a stranger laid bare his vulnerability.
Anger was inevitable.
But facing Rasa's outburst, Shen Mo's smile didn't waver.
With a faintly mysterious grin, he said, "I have items that can change all this. Want to buy some?"
Rasa clenched his fists.
Staring at Shen Mo.
Unreadable.
His intelligence network had no trace of this man.
But as Kazekage, his greatest asset was his strength.
"Big words anyone can say," Rasa said lowly, raising a hand. Sand mixed with glittering gold dust surged like a tidal wave.
Magnet Release: Gold Sand Wave!
He chose the quickest test.
Force!
"If you die to this, you're just all talk," Rasa said, hand raised, eyes rimmed with dark circles like Gaara's from using his technique. He paused, then added, "Last chance. State your true origins, purpose, and how you know about Hidden Sand."
Rasa's gaze was cautious.
After his initial anger, he realized this stranger knew his thoughts and Hidden Sand's state too well.
His fears about Konoha were known to few—they were allies, after all.
Yet…
Shen Mo's expression didn't change, as if the golden sand wave wasn't there.
"Hmph!" Rasa snorted coldly.
His raised hand clenched into a fist.
The golden sand wave roared with crushing force toward Shen Mo.
Rasa was confident.
No one could take this unprepared, especially in the desert, where he was strongest, having subdued a rampaging Shukaku multiple times.
Let's see…
Rasa narrowed his eyes.
Real skill or just bluster?
The other ninja watched tensely.
Shen Mo's void-stepping earlier was unforgettable.
Now, facing the Fourth Kazekage's probing attack, Shen Mo didn't react—until the golden sand wave was nearly upon him, its howling wind whipping the ninja's hair and robes.
Everything stopped.
Yes, stopped.
One moment, the sand wave surged fiercely; the next, it froze oddly, less than a meter from Shen Mo and Ikaros.
What happened?
Shen Mo still smiled, seemingly doing nothing.
All eyes turned to Rasa.
"Lord… Kazekage?" a ninja asked tentatively.
They assumed he'd halted the attack.
But…
Sweat beaded on Rasa's forehead.
Why?
His chakra still surged, magnetizing the gold dust.
Yet the sand he controlled wouldn't budge.