My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

"Shut up!"

Upon hearing Baki speak that name, Chiyo instantly shouted, as if the name itself was some forbidden taboo. She then glared fiercely at Baki.

A ninja of the Kage level emanates extraordinary pressure, and Baki is immediately drenched in cold sweat, unable to say a word.

It was Rasa who spoke to ease the situation.

"It's okay, Elder Chiyo. Please don't worry. Baki's lips are sealed. This information won't leak out."

Seeing this, Chiyo withdrew her pressure, sighed deeply, and with a slightly more aged voice, said,

"I understand. Follow me."

"Older sister, you... huh... I understand..."

From this moment on, at least Chiyo and Elder Chiyo could no longer act as obstacles to Rasa's control over Sunagakure.

---

Although Sunagakure is located deep in the desert, it doesn't mean there's no water. Otherwise, the first Kazekage wouldn't have established the village here.

In fact, beneath the canyon where Sunagakure is situated, there is a massive underground river. This results in several oases within the village, proving that it is not devoid of greenery.

At the deepest part of the Sunagakure canyon, there is a fairly large lake. Behind the lake is a towering cliff, and halfway up the cliff, there is a huge cave.

This is where Sunagakure's first One-Tailed Jinchūriki, Bunpuku, is imprisoned.

"This is the sealing technique for Shukaku, along with the key to undo the seal. Go on your own... hmph..."

Although she had agreed to Rasa's request, she was still being coerced and had to hand over her beloved grandson. Chiyo couldn't bring herself to be polite to Rasa. Once they arrived at their destination, she threw a key and a scroll at Rasa, then turned and left without looking back.

Elder Chiyo's brother, Ebizō, felt conflicted upon seeing this.

"The tailed beasts and their Jinchūriki are critical. I hope you, Kazekage, will act with caution and not lead yourself astray."

After this caution, Ebizō also left.

Rasa paid no attention to the two of them.

At this moment, his focus was entirely on the tailed beast and the Jinchūriki imprisoned in the cave.

His control over the village would strengthen as long as he controlled the tailed beast and Jinchūriki.

"Be alert around the area. No one should approach unless I give the order!"

After instructing Baki, Rasa waved his hand, and numerous sand grains surged beneath his feet like spring water, lifting Rasa's body and carrying him to the entrance of the cave.

The two guards at the entrance were surprised to see the Kazekage's arrival and quickly saluted.

"Kazekage-sama!"

What Rasa was about to do could not be seen by anyone, so he waved his hand and said,

"You two step aside. I need to speak with Bunpuku..."

The two guards exchanged a glance. Although curious, they weren't courageous enough to disobey the Kazekage's order. Since Rasa had arrived, it was clear that the two elders had already given their approval, so they nodded and saluted.

"As you command, Kazekage-sama!"

Once the guards left, Rasa stepped forward and slowly walked deeper into the cave.

The cave where Bunpuku was imprisoned wasn't very deep. After just a few steps, Rasa saw the massive wooden-barred prison, and inside it was an elderly man with white hair, resembling a monk, along with a giant teapot behind him, which was used to seal Shukaku.

Although Rasa, being familiar with the storyline, had mentally prepared for the treatment of the Jinchūriki, he still couldn't help but sigh upon actually seeing the elderly man locked up here for his entire life.

The old monk's ragged robes were covered in dust, his gaunt body with visible scars, and the food scattered across the floor made it a sight of misery.

Bunpuku.

Compared to this old man, Naruto had led a much better life.

At that moment, Bunpuku, sensing a stranger's presence, lifted his head weakly and, in a voice full of age, spoke.

"You seem sorrowful, young man..."

Rasa didn't respond immediately, instead asking,

"Do you hate this village? Since the way they've treated you..."

Bunpuku didn't answer. Instead, he pressed his palms together and closed his eyes, as if meditating like an ascetic monk.

Seeing this, Rasa didn't press further. He walked up, noticed the keyhole at the center of the prison, and took out the key that Chiyo had given him. He inserted it.

The sealing technique visibly broke with a series of clicks, and the large prison bars slowly retracted into the air. Upon seeing his prison open, Bunpuku was startled and asked,

"You... are..."

"I am the village's fourth Kazekage..."

"I see... you are already the fourth... looks like a long time has passed outside..."

Bunpuku sighed deeply.

Rasa stepped forward and began to observe the old man closely.

Unlike Gaara, who worried about Shukaku taking over his body and had sleepless nights, Bunpuku showed no signs of that fear.

"It looks like you've gotten along with Shukaku."

While chatting with Bunpuku, Rasa also took out the scroll Chiyo had handed him and began to examine it.

Bunpuku, perhaps feeling a bit lonely and not having had anyone talk to him for a long time, responded,

"Tailed beasts, like humans, also have emotions. No matter what, if there's mutual understanding, we can coexist peacefully and accept each other."

"You're an extraordinary person. Unfortunately, there aren't many people in this world willing to understand the tailed beasts like you do."

Rasa's words surprised Bunpuku.

Because Bunpuku could clearly sense the way Rasa spoke, treating both humans and tailed beasts as equals—something he had never felt from previous Kages, who had always viewed the tailed beasts as terrifying beasts and chakra weapons, Bunpuku took a serious look at this young Kazekage for the first time.

Unfortunately, Rasa wasn't paying attention to him.

Given Rasa's skill, mastering these sealing techniques wasn't difficult for him. In just about five minutes, Rasa had almost fully understood the technique.

Finally, he gathered the scroll and turned to Bunpuku, saying,

"My purpose here is simple. I need Shukaku's chakra."

Bunpuku's gaze dimmed again.

"I see. You're after Shukaku's power."

"Yes. And with your current condition, if I forcibly undo the seal and extract that much chakra, you might die. So, I hope you can give me Shukaku's chakra yourself. Given how familiar you are with it, you should be able to use Shukaku's power now."

Upon hearing this, Bunpuku sighed deeply.

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama, but unfortunately, even though I've made peace with the beast inside me, it still harbors a grudge against humans and refuses to lend me its power."

"Is that so..."

At that moment, Rasa hesitated. Although death and killing were normal in the ninja world, he still couldn't bring himself to make the decision that might kill this pitiful old man.

Moreover, while Shukaku's power seemed weak in the original story, Rasa wasn't sure if he could control it once released. He hadn't prepared a new Jinchūriki.

Rasa had just become the Kazekage, and if he let Shukaku escape and cause destruction in the village, his reputation would plummet.

Sensing Rasa's hesitation, Bunpuku spoke up gently.

"Kazekage-sama, do you really need Shukaku's power?"

Rasa nodded faintly.

"I understand. Then, there's no need to hesitate. I'll do my best to hold on and try not to die."

Seeing Bunpuku's resolve, Rasa's gaze sharpened.

Although Rasa had effectively usurped the position, the fusion of memories gave him some of the original personality traits—after all, this man had turned his son into a monster.

Without further hesitation, Rasa stepped forward and extended his hand.

"Thank you."

"Grand Sealing Technique… Release!"

As Rasa broke the seal on Bunpuku's body, an evil purple chakra poured out from Bunpuku, causing the temperature in the cave to drop several degrees.

Seeing all this, Rasa didn't waste any time. He placed his palm on Bunpuku's head.

The black diamond-shaped symbol on his palm absorbed the dark chakra that spilled from Shukaku, pulling it into Rasa's body.