The weather was growing hotter by the day.
Sunagakure, being a semi-enclosed shinobi village, was surrounded by towering sandstone walls. All the buildings inside were constructed like fortresses—blocky, heavy, and packed tightly together.
It offered protection from sandstorms, but it also trapped heat, making the village stiflingly hot.
As usual, Karura walked toward Rasa's residence. Ever since he had left for the northern frontlines, she visited his home daily to tidy up, change the bedding, and, if the wind wasn't too strong, air out the sheets.
"Lady Karura!"
"Good morning!"
Karura returned the greetings with a gentle smile, nodding to both shinobi and civilians along the way.
Word had already spread throughout the village: Rasa had crushed both Grass and Stone forces, breached enemy camps seven times, and singlehandedly slaughtered over a hundred Iwa Jonin. His name had become a pillar of strength for the entire village.
After the Third Kazekage's mysterious disappearance, Sunagakure had fallen into quiet despair. With no funds, too few shinobi, and a war looming from all sides, the village was on edge.
A Kage was more than just a leader. They were the symbol of faith and unity for every shinobi and civilian. When one vanished, the impact was devastating.
But now—
With Rasa's stunning rise, and the strength described by messengers who had witnessed him firsthand, it was obvious: he would be the next Kazekage.
Rumor had it that even the Tsuchikage, despite the heavy losses Iwagakure had suffered, was reluctant to confront Rasa directly.
"Lord Rasa absolutely has the strength to carry Sunagakure and become the Fourth Kazekage!"
Karura smiled proudly, arms full of supplies as she approached his home. She kept her chin up, her steps light.
The village had already accepted Rasa as the next Kazekage—and as his fiancée, how could she not be proud?
So as she walked, she returned every greeting with warmth, wearing a quiet confidence.
As for the gossip about Rasa "stealing women"… Karura wasn't worried in the slightest. They were childhood friends—she knew who he was.
Rasa isn't that kind of man!
Before long, she reached his house. She glanced behind her, relieved no one had followed, then took out the spare key he had given her. Just as she was about to open the door—
"Huh?"
Karura stepped back with a surprised expression, eyes falling on the ground beside the entrance.
There, growing stubbornly from the sand, were two small, delicate green saplings.
"What in the world? Why… are there tree sprouts here?"
Seedlings sprouting in the desert? That was no small matter.
What Rasa didn't know was that the fruit pits he had casually tossed by the door months ago had somehow taken root and begun to grow.
Had he been there to see it, even he would've found it hard to believe.
At that moment, Rasa was leading a squad of Suna shinobi—including his subordinate Kana—toward the battlefield where Lady Chiyo was stationed.
In the late spring of Year 43 of the Hidden Leaf calendar, Kumogakure officially declared war on both Konoha and Iwagakure. Their army, long prepared, marched toward the borders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.
Faced with one of the five great villages, Iwagakure couldn't afford to hold back. They immediately shifted their focus from Sunagakure to the Kumo–Konoha front.
Why keep watching Konoha?
Because even if they lost to others… they had to fight the Leaf.
That was the unspoken consensus among the other four great villages.
Seeing Kumo move, Kirigakure quickly followed suit, eager to join the anti-Konoha war.
In short: Konoha was too powerful—so everyone decided to cut it down.
With all five great villages entering the conflict, a new shinobi world war erupted. Smaller hidden villages joined in as well, hoping to profit from the chaos and carve out a place for themselves.
The Third Great Ninja War had truly begun.
Rasa wasn't surprised. He had long known this war was inevitable. Still, the irony wasn't lost on him—after all the tension with Kumo, it was Kumo's move that lifted the siege on Sunagakure.
The world works in strange ways…
Then again, Sunagakure had nothing worth stealing—no land, no wealth. Just a handful of secret techniques and bloodline limits.
What was the point of sending a huge force to invade Suna?
It would've been a waste of resources.
Konoha, on the other hand—possessed more jutsu, more secret techniques, more bloodlines, more money, and far more people. After the destruction of Uzushiogakure, Konoha had also inherited most of its legendary sealing arts.
That made them the top village in sealing techniques.
In short: if you were going to strike someone, you struck the Leaf.
Konoha had won both previous wars even when outnumbered. For the other villages, weakening Konoha was the only way to close the gap.
Even Suna, for all its backroom deals with Konoha's shadowy "ally," Shimura Danzo, still sought opportunities to strike.
To reach the front in time, Rasa, Kana, and the other support units traveled without rest, heading toward the battlefield near Kumo's lines.
As the war escalated, the entire shinobi world seemed to fall into an eerie, oppressive silence.
After all—war meant death.
No shinobi could be certain that once they stepped onto the battlefield, they'd return alive.
Many arranged marriages were postponed. Couples made quiet vows before parting:
"Once the war is over—we'll marry."
Hope, sorrow, longing, and chaos had become the dominant emotions across the world.
A week later, late at night, Rasa and his unit finally reached the front.
Waiting for them were Advisor Chiyo, Advisor Ebizo, and over a hundred high-ranking Suna shinobi. Despite their smiles, it was clear from the bags under their eyes and their weary posture that they were utterly exhausted. Some were even stifling yawns.
Still—they had all come out to greet him.
Rasa understood.
With her grandson and the Third Kazekage both missing, Chiyo was clearly working to raise Rasa's prestige so she could endorse him as the next Kazekage—someone who could lead the village forward.
"You've come a long way, Rasa," Chiyo said kindly, clasping his hand. Her smile was gentle, but her tone carried a tinge of fatigue. "I'm sorry, but… given the circumstances, you might not get a chance to rest."
"No problem," Rasa replied with a smile, scanning the assembled shinobi.
He had a good guess what had happened.
Someone must've exaggerated my achievements… Now it sounds like I've surpassed the Third Kazekage himself—hell, like I'm practically a god of shinobi!
As he looked around, he saw many relieved expressions. It was as if his arrival alone had assured them they could win.
They're setting me up!
He knew the truth—he was just a bit stronger than the average Kage. Nothing more.
But if not now, when would he build his reputation?
This whole gathering was clearly Chiyo's doing—her way of publicly endorsing him.
Rasa took a deep breath, shifted to a more serious tone, and spoke with conviction:
"Our conditions are harsh—but we of Sunagakure have always embraced hardship. We carry the legacy of the First Kazekage. We endure. We fight. We lead. We complete every mission with unwavering resolve.
We battle our enemies, we battle the elements, and we battle ourselves—not with complaints or excuses, but with dedication to our village.
We are shinobi of Sunagakure!"
He raised his fist high.
"And that makes all of us—exceptional!"
The moment his voice dropped, thunderous applause erupted across the camp.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Laughter, pride, and unity filled the air.
A rare moment of light amid the coming storm.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin