Year 53 was just around the corner.
Sunagakure had officially entered its winter break.
Which meant that across the village, toys like mini 4WD racers, battle tops, kiddie rides, and arcade machines had all become part of everyone's daily recreation. In fact, the arcade cabinets and kiddie rides were in such short supply that many people had started asking the Kazekage himself to release more into circulation.
Those two were probably the hottest commodities in the entire village right now.
Most machines were hogged two players at a time—and once they were on, they weren't moving for the rest of the day.
Of course, that was just the adults.
The kids… still had to focus on their studies. Can't let entertainment ruin your education, after all.
So if any child came early to reserve a machine, they'd get maybe one or two rounds in before being righteously scolded and dragged home by some late-arriving parent—who then sat down and started playing themselves.
Even though the current number of machines and rides hadn't yet met village-wide demand, as Kazekage, Rasa couldn't exactly roll out a one-per-citizen plan.
Where's the fun in that?
You need a few bystanders hanging around shouting at the screen to really build an atmosphere.
"You suck! Can't even input your special? What are you playing for?"
"Block! Block, dammit! Don't you know how to block?"
"Idiot! You can't even pull off Body Flicker and you picked Shisui? Get off the machine and go watch someone else play first!"
Or even…
"You're amazing! Wow, you're so cool! You pulled off Third Kazekage's combo like it was nothing!"
"Incredible! You've even got the advanced moves down—can you teach me? I'll pay you with three tokens!"
"With skills like that, you're easily top ten on the leaderboard."
The noise around you? That's what makes it feel alive.
Sure, the backseat commentary could get annoying—make you want to throw hands—but wasn't that also part of the fun?
That's why, back in the day, even when he had a computer at home, Rasa still liked going out to internet cafés to game.
The atmosphere matters.
As he stepped out of the crowded arcade, the warmth he'd built up inside quickly faded.
After all, the game center was packed. With the heating on full blast and the number of bodies stuffed inside, it was actually hot enough that most people had taken their coats off. Some players even left drenched in sweat.
Rasa looked up at the neon sign glowing with rainbow lights—Game Center—and mused to himself for a moment.
"I really need to diversify the lineup…"
After all, a proper arcade couldn't just have one game—Shinobi King 52 alone wasn't enough.
He glanced toward the front, where Gaara and Shukaku were playing together on a kiddie ride.
A few days ago, Elder Ebizo had returned from the Land of Rain with her people and beasts to settle in for the winter. As for Shukaku—well, now that he was back in the village, Rasa wasn't about to let him run off again.
So lately, the tanuki had gone back to playing house mascot.
Now, almost every villager knew that the Fourth Kazekage's family had a talkative, fat, somewhat cute summoning beast—though its temper sucked. Always calling itself "Great Me" and spitting sand in people's faces if they ticked it off. But it loved kiddie rides.
There was even a rumor that it once stole money from Lady Temari's piggy bank and got strung up at the front gate for it.
All in all, a very entertaining summon.
Rasa didn't interrupt his youngest son or Shukaku. He tugged his coat tighter and decided to head home for some rest.
It was freezing out. No way those two would stay outside too late.
...
"Phew~ It's been way too long since I've enjoyed myself like this."
Shukaku sprawled out in a black pot-shaped ride, eyes half-lidded in bliss, his lazy voice rumbling with that peculiar tone of his.
"Do you know how much crap I went through in the Land of Rain?"
Working from pre-dawn to late night was bad enough, but then—no paycheck?!
Of course, he had said he didn't want a salary… and the strongest Tailed Beast always kept its word.
Still…
Why did everyone else get holidays while he had to work around the clock?
Unfair!
Outright discrimination against the strongest Tailed Beast!
Shukaku sighed, shaking his big head.
"Your dad's a total schemer. He dug this giant metaphorical pit, and I just jumped right in. If I hadn't come to my senses in time, you probably wouldn't even know who I was anymore."
"Schemer? But everyone in the village says Papa's the best Kazekage ever."
"Pfft, and what does that mean? The last Kazekage was a total weakling, and they still called him the strongest! People just love kissing ass. You hear them praise someone? Take it with a grain of salt."
Shukaku waved his chubby paw dismissively.
"Real strength? That speaks for itself. Like me—Shukaku the One-Tail, the strongest of the Tailed Beasts. Ever hear me go around bragging about how I could slap Kurama around with one hand? No, right?"
He dropped into a "wise sage" voice.
"Why not? Because I am strong, and I don't need to show off. That's true strength."
"Is that really how it works?" Gaara blinked his big, curious eyes. Then he glanced down and frowned, watching Shukaku drop another token into the ride.
"Wait… where did you get all that money from? You didn't… not Temari's stash again?! If she finds out you stole from her, and gets you strung up outside again, I'm not gonna help you this time!"
"Shut it, you brat! Talking nonsense again." Shukaku shot him a sideways glare. "You think I'm the kind of beast who steals money?"
"Yes."
"..."
This brat had gotten way too cheeky after just a few months.
Shukaku smacked Gaara's little hand away in frustration.
"I earned this money."
"But you don't even get paid?"
"Not having a salary doesn't mean I can't make cash. Unlike you humans, I don't go around doing shady stuff."
Shukaku puffed up with pride, then gave a couple of dramatic coughs and said:
"Remember the Gold Panner Factory? That's where I made my earnings."
"You mean gambling? Gambling's bad, y'know!"
"It wasn't gambling!"
"Then… wait, can you use Papa's Magnet Release now?"
"Pfft. That weak jutsu?" Shukaku scoffed. "It's awkward as hell to use, and I can't do that weird Gold Dust version."
Besides—
"I wasn't using Magnet Release at all."
"Then how'd you make the money?" Gaara tilted his head in genuine confusion. "Did you help the gold miners sift sand or something?"
"Not that either!" Shukaku sighed heavily, shook his head, and said, somewhat proudly and somewhat melancholically:
"You'll find out in a few days."
"So… you're saying that Shukaku is now the mascot ambassador for your Gold Digger Factory brand?"
Rasa sat curled up inside the kotatsu, blinking in surprise at Yashamaru, who'd come by to visit. After a pause, he slowly shook his head and sighed.
"The shinobi world's changing way too fast…"
How many years had it even been? And now they had mascot endorsements?
"Wait… do you not know what that thing really is?"