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My Journey as Fourth Kazekage Chapter 22
🕑 Added 2025-01-19 10:32:28 +0000 UTCChapter 22: Hoshigakure
Hoshigakure, the Star Ninja Village, is one of the lesser-known ninja villages in the world of Naruto, yet it is one that Rasa, the Kazekage, recalls with distinct clarity.
The reason for this is straightforward: it’s tied to the meteorite that once fell from the heavens, crashing onto the very land that would become Hoshigakure.
Legend has it that two hundred years ago, long before the Five Great Ninja Villages were founded, a meteorite fell from the sky, landing in the Land of Bears. A skilled ninja discovered this celestial rock and realized it held extraordinary, mystical powers. The meteorite radiated an immensely potent chakra, which, when absorbed, could amplify a ninja's own chakra. By training in its proximity, a ninja could enhance their abilities at an accelerated rate.
This discovery led to the creation of a technique known as the Peacock Feathers Jutsu, which allowed the user to channel chakra into powerful, tangible beast attacks. This ninja, who discovered the star’s secrets, went on to establish Hoshigakure and assumed the title of Hoshikage, claiming the village as his own.
Why, then, did Rasa decide to target this meteorite as his next potential source of power? The answer lies in a theory he had heard before, one discussed among enthusiasts who speculated that this "star" might have originated from the moon or, perhaps, had once been part of the Ten-Tails itself.
Of course, such ideas were nothing more than wild speculation, lacking any real evidence to support them. However, for Rasa, who was struggling to find new sources of power in the short term, the idea of tapping into this extraterrestrial meteorite seemed like the most cost-effective option available.
As he reflected on this theory, he gazed down upon the small village of Hoshigakure below. With fewer than a thousand residents, it was hardly a major threat. He quickly pinpointed his target, scanned the area for any protective barriers, and descended from the sky.
With Rasa’s power as a Kage, infiltrating a small village like Hoshigakure was effortlessly simple. Even the ANBU patrols, whose abilities were limited to the level of Chunin, stood no chance of detecting his presence.
Soon, he found himself inside a large shrine. The spacious main hall held a single altar, upon which sat a fist-sized, purple stone radiating a deep, purple chakra.
Rasa studied the stone closely, noting the protective barriers surrounding it. But these barriers posed no real challenge for him. Instead of rushing to seize the stone, he decided to first analyze the chakra it emitted, curious about its true potential.
Rasa recalled his earlier research, aware of the significant side effects that accompanied training with the star's chakra.
With his vast knowledge and experience as a Kage, Rasa quickly attuned himself to the chakra's true nature. While he could not confirm if this star was truly a fragment of the Ten-Tails, one thing became abundantly clear: the chakra emanating from this star possessed a remarkable ability to activate and enhance a ninja’s physical capabilities.
What is activation? Simply put, it's akin to bloodlust or frenzy in a video game.
The chakra that ninjas use is drawn from their bodies and spirits. This process, however, has its limitations due to factors like the speed of cell division, the intensity of the chakra, and the ninja’s mental fortitude.
But activation has the power to stimulate and speed up this process. The result is that ninjas can extract more chakra from their bodies, drastically enhancing their physical and mental attributes—things like defense, speed, recovery, and mental reflexes.
This concept is somewhat similar to the Lightning Style Chakra Mode used by the Hidden Cloud Village, where lightning-based chakra stimulates bodily activation, granting incredible defense, speed, and strength.
However, a person’s chakra is finite, and the accelerated process of activation overdraws the body’s potential, much like the speed of cell division is limited. This rapid process ultimately accelerates aging.
"No wonder… This must be the side effect of the star."
Still, Rasa was ready to absorb the chakra from the star using his vessel. The side effects would only become a concern later on. For now, the activation could compensate for his weaknesses in close combat. Furthermore, perhaps the vessel could nullify the side effects entirely.
And if it couldn’t, Rasa had a backup plan.
That plan involved Natural Energy. Yes, the very same energy used in Sage Art.
He recalled that during Naruto’s training on Mount Myoboku in Sage Mode, Gamamaru had mentioned that Sage Mode allowed its user to absorb external natural energy. This not only refreshed the body but also prevented fatigue without burdening it.
As for where Rasa could learn this Sage Art? As the Kazekage of Sunagakure, he couldn’t exactly visit the three major sacred places. But that didn’t mean he was without options.
That was where Juugo came in—an individual capable of automatically absorbing natural energy.
Even without Juugo, Rasa knew there were other ways, like using the Tailed Beasts. He was confident he could manage the side effects.
With this thought in mind, he acted swiftly, forming hand seals.
"Five Sealing Barrier."
A square barrier materialized, encircling Rasa and the star. The barrier isolated perception both inside and outside its boundaries.
Next, he released the barrier beneath the star and extended his right hand, directing his vessel toward it.
In an instant, a massive suction force surged, pulling the chakra directly from the star.
---
After about an hour or so, the two ANBU guarding around Hoshigakure became aware that the Kazekage had returned.
While they were curious as to why the Kazekage, who had originally stated he was heading back to the village, had chosen to visit such a small ninja village, they wisely chose not to voice their thoughts, as was expected of ANBU operatives.
"Forget everything that happened today."
"Yes, sir."
"Now then, let’s head back."
The two ANBU silently followed the Kazekage, noticing that the direction he was taking was not towards the village. However, they kept their silence, understanding that it wasn’t their place to question their superior.
Rasa, of course, had no intention of allowing these two ANBU to follow him any further. But with the mysterious disappearance of the Third Kazekage, as the Fourth Kazekage and the current leader of Sunagakure, Rasa found it difficult to operate completely alone.
It wasn’t impossible to act alone, but given the current state of the village and the lingering aftermath of the war, it was prudent to consider the opinions of the village’s ninja during this delicate period.
As for his recent acquisition, Rasa found it… how should he put it?
Although the meteorite didn’t provide him with the same powerful chakra as Kusanagi’s sword, it still yielded unexpected results.
However, if he wanted to fully understand and verify its potential, he would need to wait for the right time.
For now, with his goal achieved, it was better to return to the front lines. The round trip alone would take at least two days. As the deadline for the four-day mark approached, the situation on the front lines grew more unstable.
His concerns were justified.
As Rasa made his way back, a white-haired boy was hastily making his way toward the front lines of Konoha.
Meanwhile, Hoshigakure would soon discover that the star at the heart of their village had vanished.
Ironically, this might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Hoshigakure. The disappearance of the star could prevent potential future tragedies from unfolding.
