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Kumogakure's retreat brought little sense of victory; what remained was devastation and heavy grief. Sunagakure's southeastern line had been almost obliterated—scorched earth, shattered puppet wreckage, and blood not yet dry bore witness to the brutality of the battle. The lingering stench of ozone from the A-B Combination's lightning mingled with the iron tang of blood.
Casualty reports were rushed in, every figure weighing on the leaders' hearts. A large number of Chūnin and precious Puppeteers had perished in the opening assault, and the village's infrastructure was in ruins. Though the enemy had been repelled, Sunagakure paid a staggering price, its strength—already weakened by the Third Kazekage's disappearance—now further crippled.
The morning after, atop the Kazekage Building, the conference room felt graver and more stifling than ever. Elder Chiyo and Ebizo led the Council of Elders; heads of every department and elite Jōnin who had distinguished themselves in the war sat in attendance. Rasa, Pakura, Baki, and the rest were all present, exhaustion and solemnity etched on every face.
"The situation is clear," Elder Chiyo said, her voice hoarse, breaking the suffocating silence. She surveyed the room, her gaze finally settling beyond the window on the ruined land. "The Sandaime has been missing nearly half a year; hope of survival… is slim. Kumogakure dares strike across the sea precisely because they see our fatal flaw—no acknowledged leader, a village weakened within."
She paused, her tone sharpening. "This time we held—barely. Next time? Iwagakure watches from the northwest, Konoha's stance remains ambiguous, and smaller neighbors stir. Without a strong, recognized leader to unite us and speak with one voice, Sunagakure may not survive this Ninja World war—indeed, may face… annihilation."
No one disagreed. A village's Kage is more than its strongest fighter; he is its spiritual pillar and decision-making core. Without that, Sunagakure was loose sand, collapsing at a touch.
Ebizo continued, his voice calmer yet equally firm: "We need a new Kazekage—not an interim commander, but a legitimate fourth-generation leader who can lead Sunagakure out of peril. This is not a mere transfer of power; it is a necessity for survival."
Every gaze in the room converged on one man—Rasa.
He sat there, his crimson hair still vivid, his face showing battle fatigue, yet his back ramrod-straight. In head-on clashes with the A-B Combination, he had displayed formidable power—Magnet Release: Gold Dust—steady command, and, most crucially, the feat of turning the tide. Gold, being far denser than standard sand, had provided the physical mass necessary to ground the Raikage's lightning and halt his momentum.
Pakura pressed her lips together; her Scorch Release had also won merit, yet in terms of strategic value and the ability to act as an anchor on a massive battlefield, it was indeed slightly inferior to Rasa's Magnet Release. Baki's seniority was shallow, and Karura's siblings were still young.
The most senior elder rose slowly and spoke in a heavy voice: "Jōnin Rasa, in this defense, your achievements and might are plain for all. Your Magnet Release is a precious legacy of Sunagakure; your courage, the villagers' reliance. Therefore, I formally propose: let you succeed as the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure. Does anyone object?"
The room fell silent. After several seconds, scattered voices of assent rose, quickly becoming unanimous approval.
Rasa drew a deep breath and stood. He showed neither excessive excitement nor false modesty. He knew full well what responsibility the office entailed—especially in such dire times. Meeting every gaze, he spoke in a quiet yet unshakable voice: "I thank the elders and comrades for their trust. Sunagakure now faces an unprecedented crisis. I, Rasa, accept the post of Yondaime Kazekage."
He paused, his eyes sharpening. "I vow to devote all my strength to unite the village, to defend Sunagakure's dignity and survival, and to make any foe who covets this desert pay a bitter price!"
Official word soon spread through the village. Learning that Lord Rasa had become Kazekage, most shinobi breathed easier, as though a backbone had been found. Villagers, too, saw a ray of hope amid the uncertainty.
Sayo, helping temporarily in the Puppet Repair Class, paused while adjusting a puppet gear when he heard the news. He lifted his gaze toward the Kazekage Building.
"The fourth generation… Rasa, huh…" he murmured. He recalled the battlefield figure that had stood like a golden mountain against the Cloud's onslaught. A new era had begun, though its first steps were strewn with thorns and blood. For him, the new Kazekage's rise might also herald fresh chances and challenges. Lowering his head, he resumed his work, his eyes more focused than ever—in this increasingly perilous world, only by growing stronger could one survive and perhaps realize the dream of changing the Land of Wind.
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