Two days later;
A team of 4 was running through the forest as they headed back to Konoha. Kudo couldn't help but recall his conversation with his Sensei.
A few hours earlier, at the inn,
"Are you ready to go?" Ai asked as Kudo flexed his arms, feeling the bandages beneath his clothes. Tsunade and Shizune had already left; now it was time for the return trip back to Konoha.
"Before we leave, I will tell you this and only once." Takao stepped into the center of the room, drawing attention. "No one outside of the six of us should know that Kudo has awakened the Sharingan because if they do, his life might be at risk," Takao said, making his students tense. Turning to Kudo, "You are already considered one of the most talented genin and someone who might reach the rank of elite jonin if you are lucky. That was if you had continued as a civilian shinobi, but since you are of the Uchiha clan, that is even more guaranteed.
You have been left alone because your chances were slim, but if you add the Sharingan, the equation changes, and not favorably for you. So, you need to keep your Sharingan secret until you have enough strength to secure your life on your own terms. This goes for you too, Ai and Enya. Potential is, after all, just potential, not strength." Shimura Takao spoke solemnly, his fists clenched; it was embarrassing and shameful to have to warn his students against the very village they call home, but he had no choice. The Hokage faction was not a safe haven. Kudo and the rest digested the warning and promised to remain alert.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked forward to reaching home and having to tell his mother that he had awakened his Sharingan. After 3 generations, someone in their bloodline had done it.
Sunagakure;
In the vast desert plains, "Boom!" A compressed shot of air collided with an overarching wave of golden sand, causing the golden sand to scatter. Baki stomped heavily, air bursting out of his soles as launched into the air chasing after Rasa who was on a cloud of golden sand.
Rasa waived his hand and a shower of small sand balls shot towards Baki as Rasa maneuvered away increasing the distance between them. Baki, mid-air, made a series of hand seals. "Wind style: Pressure Damage!" The sand balls were hurled away like nothing as Baki continued his ascent into the air. Twisting his torso, he shot his leg backward along with a gust of air, allowing him to change direction as he narrowly avoided the two giant sand palms about to squish him. Slowly, his altitude decreased as he couldn't yet fly, only releasing gusts of wind from his hands and legs to remain airborne, and it consumed a lot of chakra.
'Not yet.' Baki thought as he lured Rasa into a false sense of confidence, thinking that his chakra reserves were too low.
Rasa closed in, golden sand surging in waves as it surrounded Baki in the center. "Tch." Baki felt a flicker of irritation. 'In that case then.' Wind style; Furious Fang!" Blades of wind, 5 meters, blasted the sand cocoon, creating a dust cloud as a follow-up slash headed directly at Rasa. "Boom!" The sand collided with a makeshift sand wall, sending Rasa flying back as he tasted blood in his mouth.
As the two met post-battle, "Not bad, another improvised technique? It seems you will truly be the foremost expert in wind techniques." Rasa chuckled.
"It is nothing serious, Lord Kazekage. I just improved the B-rank wind blade to that jutsu. Its power has reached A-rank, and its versatility has increased. With enough mastery, it should be able to eliminate at least a dozen chunin at once." Baki said as he knelt. His usually stern face had a flicker of doubt.
"What is it?" Rasa spoke as they departed towards the village.
"No, I was wondering if there is any need anymore for your death lord fourth. Given my rise in strength and yours as a well-established Kage, don't we have the strength to deter the other Villages without bowing to Konoha?
Even though stopping the planned attack on Konoha during the Chunin Exams is not possible. Konoha will be weakened, and we will have by then 2 Kage-level shinobi." Rasa spoke as they dashed through the desert.
Rasa remained quiet for a bit. "Honestly, I don't know if I have the same conviction as I did back then when I wanted Sunagakure to rise as a shinobi power. To stop being looked down on as the weakest of the 5 villages and finally bring our people to prosperity. The village is still somewhat stable, but it is clear to anyone paying attention that we are drowning. Perhaps you are right, and my death is not necessary; maybe, given your rise, we can withstand and deter a retaliation from Konoha.
The plan then would be to sign a new alliance agreement that restores our sovereignty over the deserts and finally put in check the Land of Wind's daimyo.
All right, we will proceed with that in mind, but that means Orochimaru will be very displeased. I could sense his impatience to kill me, and I was just gonna go along with it, but it seems the tides of sand have not stopped shifting." Rasa chuckled.
Baki, following behind, allowed himself a rare smile. 'Only you deserve to be Kazekage, my liege.' He thought while looking at the village ahead.
" I will be meeting with Orochimaru to hash out the final details in the plan. Let's see how things will go now that I am not so ready to die yet." Rasa murmured.
In a cave in the wilderness;
Within the cave, a massive statue with two palms open, seemingly holding the sky. 10 figures appeared atop each of the 10 fingers. Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki, looked at his followers. "There is unrest in the shinobi world, and the time is ripe for Akatsuki to make its move. The ripples made by the failed capture of the 5 tails have settled as the 5 great shinobi villages sharpen their blades, seeking war. Akatsuki, like the darkness, shall usurp the light and cast its gaze on the world.
The re-capture of the 5 tails begins now." The 10 figures fizzled out, leaving the statue roaring towards the sky and moon.