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My Journey as Fourth Kazekage 90
🕑 Added 2025-02-19 16:00:03 +0000 UTCChapter 90: Aftermath
Konoha’s devastating defeat in the Land of Rivers was beyond anyone’s expectations.
That day, when the surviving shinobi, led by Shibi Aburame, returned to the village, even Konoha’s higher-ups couldn’t keep the news under wraps. Before long, the entire village was filled with wails of grief and sorrow.
A thousand shinobi didn’t just mean a thousand lives lost; it meant a thousand families shattered. Each one of them had been the backbone of their household, the hope of their lineage.
Since Konoha’s founding, they had never suffered such a catastrophic loss.
But the real problem was that even if Konoha wanted revenge, they no longer had the strength to take it.
As news of Konoha’s crushing defeat spread, spies from other shinobi villages wasted no time in relaying the information.
Both Kumogakure and Iwagakure found it hard to believe at first, but once the reality sank in, they immediately recognized it as a golden opportunity.
The Third Raikage of Kumogakure seized the moment and launched a full-scale invasion of Konoha.
The Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure wasn’t about to let this chance slip by either.
However, as he studied the intelligence report in his hands, his mind wasn’t just on his own attack plans.
"Has Sunagakure really grown this strong?"
Although the report didn’t specify Sunagakure’s losses, the fact that they had managed to cripple Konoha’s forces so thoroughly was enough to put the cunning Ōnoki on high alert.
Rasa understood this as well.
So, after executing his plan flawlessly and annihilating Konoha’s troops, he made a decisive move. He abandoned the Land of Rivers, ordered all Sunagakure shinobi to withdraw back to the Land of Wind, and shifted to a defensive stance. At the same time, he publicly announced that Sunagakure had also suffered heavy casualties.
However, despite the official statement, the truth was clear to anyone from Sunagakure. Their loved ones had returned unharmed, their triumphant expressions betraying the reality behind the facade.
And the ripple effects of Konoha’s crushing defeat had only just begun to unfold.
---
Takumi Village (Village of Artisans)
Like the Land of Whirlpools, it was an island village, surrounded by the sea near the Land of Rivers.
Takumi Village was somewhat recognized in the shinobi world for its expertise in crafting ninja tools.
(Author’s Note: It appeared in a filler episode related to Gaara. Also, this village does not have ‘Gakure’ in its name.)
However, rather than bringing prosperity, this specialty had turned them into a target for exploitation. Due to their small size and lack of military power, they were forced into servitude, supplying the great nations with ninja tools at unfairly low prices. The entire country had essentially become nothing more than an armory for the Five Great Nations.
As a result, both the Land of Rivers and Takumi Village had long been searching for a way to break free from their oppressive status. But for years, the overwhelming power of the great nations had left them without hope.
Until today.
Within a courtyard built in the classical Japanese style, a man clad in full armor knelt on one knee before an elderly figure dressed entirely in white, his hair as white as snow.
"Suiko, what business do you have with me?"
The armored man, Suiko, bowed his head with deep respect.
"Leader, I have come to request permission to leave Takumi Village!"
The white-haired elder’s expression darkened instantly.
"Suiko, do you intend to betray the village?"
Suiko shook his head firmly.
"No… Leader, it is precisely for the future of our village that I must leave."
As he spoke, Suiko took out a scroll from his sleeve and carefully presented it.
The elder frowned as he accepted it, unrolling it with a look of confusion.
"What is this?"
"Leader, you must have heard about the battle between Sunagakure and Konoha in the Land of Rivers two days ago."
The elder nodded with a sigh.
"I never expected that Sunagakure, long regarded as the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, would repeatedly humiliate Konoha and deal them such devastating losses. But what does that have to do with us? You must remember, neutrality is the only reason we have survived between the Five Great Nations."
Suiko nodded, his voice steady.
"I understand. That was true when we had no means to escape their control. But now, I see an opportunity…"
The elder’s gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
Suiko's eyes shifted toward the scroll in the elder’s hands.
"Curious about Sunagakure’s sudden rise, I personally traveled there yesterday under the guise of delivering ninja tools. That is when I made an important discovery—Sunagakure is desperately searching for a solution to its severe transportation problems. Whoever can provide a viable solution will be granted the status of an elite or even an elder within the village."
The elder’s eyes flickered with interest.
"If we can obtain such a position," Suiko continued, "we may finally gain access to something that has always been beyond our reach—a Tailed Beast."
The elder’s expression shifted, his sharp gaze lingering on Suiko before he finally spoke.
"Proceed."
Suiko chuckled.
"As we all know, among the nine Tailed Beasts in the shinobi world, only Sunagakure’s One-Tailed Shukaku is sealed within an elderly jinchūriki. It won’t be long before they seek to create a new host. And in the entire shinobi world, no one surpasses us in crafting ninja tools. If we seize the right opportunity, we might be able to take Shukaku’s power for ourselves and revive Seimei-sama. With Lord Seimei’s strength, Takumi Village will no longer be reduced to a mere weapons factory for the Five Great Nations. Instead, we will rise and conquer the entire shinobi world!"
The elder’s expression wavered. The temptation was undeniable, but doubt still lingered in his eyes.
"Is this truly possible? If we fail, Takumi Village will be wiped out completely…"
Suiko’s gaze remained steady.
"Our village specializes in crafting ninja tools. Even if I fail to become an elder, infiltrating Sunagakure should not be an issue. For the future of Takumi Village…"
The elder closed his eyes for a long moment before exhaling deeply.
"I understand. Then I will entrust the village’s future to you. To aid your mission, take the Four Celestial Symbols Men with you."
"Yes!"
---
Takumi Village wasn’t the only one with such ambitions.
In a remote part of the land, an elderly man with a gentle demeanor studied a newly acquired scroll.
Sunagakure’s victory over Konoha had drawn attention from all corners of the shinobi world. The village was now under unprecedented scrutiny, and any movement within its borders quickly spread across the entire world.
Behind the old man, in a grand hall covered in intricate sealing scripts, a massive creature lay in deep slumber.
Its form resembled a serpent, but it lacked scales. Malicious chakra radiated from its body, coiling ominously in the center of the chamber.
"It seems the time has come to pay Sunagakure a visit. With Shukaku’s chakra, the Zero-Tails can be revived…"
---
Meanwhile, in Kirigakure, within the Land of Water.
The Third Mizukage sat in silence, his eyes scanning the intelligence report in his hands.
Lately, reports had surfaced of Sunagakure shinobi lurking near Kirigakure’s borders. This was clearly not a gesture of goodwill, but the Mizukage had little interest in investigating further.
Kirigakure’s internal problems were far worse than Konoha’s.
The three great bloodline clans that had helped establish the village—Hōzuki, Kaguya, and Yuki—were even more troublesome than Konoha’s Uchiha clan. Their constant infighting had fractured the village, leaving the Mizukage unable to mobilize his bloodline shinobi effectively.
This was precisely why he had invested so much effort in cultivating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
But now…
As he examined the unexpected intelligence report, a thought surfaced—perhaps it was time to meet this young Kazekage.
Since Sunagakure’s shinobi had appeared in the Land of Water, it was clear that the Kazekage had an interest in Kirigakure.
With this in mind, the Third Mizukage made his decision.
There was no harm in testing the waters. Who knew? This might lead to an unexpected opportunity.
