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My Journey as Fourth Kazekage 89
🕑 Added 2025-02-18 16:01:00 +0000 UTCChapter 89: Evolution and Conclusion
The twelve Jōnin of Sunagakure were momentarily confused. However, when they followed Rasa’s gaze, their expressions stiffened. A realization dawned upon them, and their eyes flickered with admiration and awe as they looked at their leader. The five Konohagakure ninja who had just escaped—especially the two from the Uchiha clan—came to mind.
"Alright, clean up the battlefield. Since these fallen ninja were all Konoha Jōnin, there might be some unexpected rewards."
"Hai!"
As the twelve Jōnin dispersed, the kunoichi beside Rasa, Hana, looked down at the severed arm she was holding. Her face twisted in disgust. Suppressing a wave of nausea, she lowered her voice and asked,
"Are you sure it is fine to let that Konoha ninja go? What if he exposes your secrets…?"
Even as a ninja, Hana understood the value of intelligence in this world. But Rasa merely waved a hand dismissively.
Of course, he had considered that risk. However, the benefits of letting Danzo escape far outweighed the potential drawbacks.
First, Rasa’s strength was constantly evolving. Any intelligence gathered about him would soon become obsolete. If someone relied on outdated information to deal with him, they would only be walking into a trap.
Second, Konoha with the Uchiha and Konoha without them were two entirely different entities. Rasa had no intention of helping Konoha rid itself of Danzo, that festering tumor. What if, without Danzo, Konoha never eradicated the Uchiha clan? That would be a devastating loss for him.
And finally, even if Danzo leaked every detail about him, attracting countless enemies, Rasa no longer cared.
In fact, he could only smirk. Danzo had unknowingly handed him the greatest advantage in this world.
Danzo had shown no restraint in his experiments on Rasa, implanting only the purest form of Hashirama’s cells into him. That reckless act had delivered Rasa an unimaginable gift.
With that thought, Rasa raised his right hand.
For the first time, the Kāma mark on his palm shifted. A black line extended from one corner of the rhombus-shaped seal, stretching until it formed a single black dot beneath his middle finger.
As the transformation took place, Rasa closed his eyes, attuning himself to the natural energy surrounding him.
Within his perception, deep within the earth, the largest chakra source in this world flickered—its vast presence now revealing a tiny green dot.
And what did that green dot signify?
A small, delicate sapling slowly sprouted from Rasa’s palm.
At that moment, clarity struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Rasa finally understood why Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release was so overwhelming.
Because Hashirama’s Wood Release did not consist of ordinary trees.
Its essence was the God Tree—the power of the Ten-Tails itself. And the God Tree, or rather, the Ten-Tails, was the collective embodiment of all chakra in this world.
For an instant, whether it was an illusion or reality, Rasa felt something profound—a connection to the very world around him. It was as if the energy of the land, the sky, and all living beings pulsed in harmony with his own.
Beside him, Hana’s breath hitched as her gaze locked onto the small green sapling sprouting from Rasa’s palm. Her eyes widened in sheer disbelief. A trembling hand covered her mouth as shock coursed through her veins.
As a survivor of the Uzumaki clan, she knew exactly what this meant.
---
Land of Fire.
Deep within a vast, ancient forest.
A golden figure flickered through the dense woodland, moving at unimaginable speed. Each step carried him over a thousand meters in an instant, his form blurring like a streak of lightning.
Everywhere he landed, intricate formulas appeared—etched onto rocks, trees, and the very earth itself.
This man was none other than Minato Namikaze.
Ever since mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato had been leaving his marks all across the Shinobi World, ensuring that no battlefield was ever too far, no ally ever out of reach. With this, he had become the fastest support force in history.
Yet despite his speed, his expression remained grim.
"Still too slow. It’s still too slow!"
Half an hour ago, an urgent order had arrived from the Hokage, detailing the situation unfolding in the Land of Rivers.
The intelligence scroll had been brief but dire. The moment Minato grasped the gravity of it, he had abandoned all thoughts of rest and pushed himself to his absolute limit. But even then, he knew—deep in his heart—that he was already too late.
By the time the report had reached Konoha, an hour had passed. And in war, an hour was more than enough to change everything.
Minato’s speed was fearsome.
With the Flying Thunder God, he covered a full day’s worth of travel in under ten minutes. But just as he reached the borders of the Land of Fire, something caught his attention.
Without hesitation, he teleported.
At the very edge of the Land of Fire, dozens of Konoha shinobi were retreating in chaos. Their clothes were torn, their faces marred with exhaustion, and their formations utterly broken.
Among them, a familiar figure stood out—his old friend, Shibi Aburame.
But Shibi was in a dire state. Blood soaked his robes, his movements sluggish as he barely managed to shield his comrades while leading the retreat.
The moment they saw Minato, a collective sense of relief washed over the battered shinobi.
"Thank goodness… it’s Minato-sama!"
"Reinforcements! We are saved!"
"Minato…!"
But before their relief could fully settle, movement stirred behind them.
The Sunagakure ninja had caught up.
Without a second thought, Minato stepped forward, placing himself between his comrades and their pursuers. His sharp blue eyes locked onto the advancing enemy, prepared for combat.
But the Sunagakure ninja did not attack.
Instead, the moment they laid eyes on him, their expressions twisted in alarm.
"That look…!"
"It’s the Yellow Flash of Konoha!"
"Damn it! He got here so fast!"
"The Kazekage’s orders were clear. If we encounter the Yellow Flash, we must retreat immediately!"
"Fall back!"
Frustration flashed across their faces, but none dared to disobey.
One by one, the Sunagakure ninja turned and disappeared into the wilderness, abandoning the pursuit without hesitation.
Seeing their pursuers flee at the mere sight of Minato, the remaining Konoha shinobi finally allowed themselves to breathe. Their tense bodies slackened, and many collapsed onto the ground, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair.
Minato stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Shibi, who was barely standing with the support of a young Uchiha.
"Shibi, are you alright?"
Shibi's bloodstained face twisted with guilt. His voice was weak, but the weight of his words was heavier than any wound.
"I'm sorry, Minato… This was all I could save…"
Minato's breath caught. His entire body tensed as the realization sank in.
Over a thousand Konoha shinobi had marched into battle.
Only a dozen had survived.
His fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. A storm of sorrow and fury threatened to surge from within, but he forced it down. Now was not the time for grief.
"What exactly happened?"
Shibi swallowed, his fists trembling as he recalled the nightmare.
"We walked into a trap… Sunagakure planned this long ago. Even their puppet brigade was deployed in secret. The moment we stepped onto the battlefield, our escape routes were already cut off. And with the Jōnin and other elites taken away by Danzo…"
Shibi's voice cracked, frustration bleeding into every word.
"Damn it! I should have seen it coming…!"
Minato listened in silence. He had already pieced the situation together. There was no use in blaming anyone now.
His expression remained composed as he spoke.
"Rest here. I’ll keep going."
Shibi opened his mouth to stop him but ultimately sighed, nodding weakly.
"Your chakra…"
"Don’t worry. I’ll be fine."
And with that, Minato vanished.
Yet deep inside, he already knew—he was too late.
As he traveled, all he found were bodies. Countless corpses of Konoha shinobi, their lives snuffed out on this bloodstained battlefield. Among them were even children, their small forms lying motionless amidst the wreckage of war.
They should have had a future. Now, they would never smile again. Never grow up. Never return to the families waiting for them.
Somewhere in the depths of his mind, an image surfaced.
Rasa.
This was the second time…
The second time Konoha had lost to Sunagakure.
And yet, Minato did not rage. He did not let anger consume him. Instead, he stood amidst the carnage, his golden hair rustling in the wind, his blue eyes void of hesitation.
As he gazed upon the devastation, a decision was made.
For the future of the village.
For Kushina.
He must become Hokage.
