Inside the private quarters of Kazekage Rasa in the Revelation Mountains, the full report on the battle between the Mist and the Sand in the Land of Rivers had been presented. As Rasa read through the details, his face twisted into a mask of pure rage.
He gripped the edge of his desk so hard the wood splintered. "How dare he... how dare he kill Moro! That man was the supreme commander of an entire defense zone!"
"Moro arbitrarily redeployed troops, leaving the West Coast wide open. He was practically a traitor by proxy. If I were in Shiraishi's shoes, I would have executed such a shameless turncoat as well."
Facing the Kazekage's loss of composure, Baki recounted the facts with a chillingly indifferent tone. Although Shiraishi's summary execution of Moro was technically a breach of protocol, every faction within the Sand had already tacitly accepted it.
Moro had claimed to have "reliable intelligence" but possessed no formal transfer orders. In the eyes of the village, that was treason.
Had Pakura and Shiraishi's forces been wiped out in the Land of Rivers, Moro might have gotten away with it. But now that they had returned as conquering heroes, a sacrificial lamb was required.
"Baki, you..."
"Lord Kazekage, the situation is critical. The Council of Elders, the Arakawa clan, and the Yamaji clan are showing signs of forming a unified front."
Rasa felt a surge of vertigo. His attempt to manipulate his internal rivals had backfired spectacularly; the Arakawa and Yamaji clans had chosen to support Pakura and Shiraishi instead. To be "sold out" by his own kin—specifically Ryoko, who had pivoted to support Shiraishi—was a humiliation Rasa could barely process.
Soon, news arrived from the Hidden Sand Village proper. Ebizo had convened a High Council meeting and officially designated Shiraishi as the Kazekage Candidate. Furthermore, the council discussed a motion stating that if Rasa remained "critically ill," Shiraishi would be directly inaugurated as the Fifth Kazekage.
Essentially, Shiraishi was now the legal successor. If Rasa continued to play dead, Ebizo was prepared to make it a reality. This proposal had passed with a unanimous vote following the victory in the Land of Rivers, backed by the major noble houses.
"There is also the matter of the Daimyo," Baki added, his voice dry. "Shiraishi's new 'Silver Sand' Magnet Release can extract rare minerals far more efficiently than standard methods. Combined with the North Island family's influence..."
Rasa listened, his heart sinking further. Shiraishi and the network behind him had woven a web so vast and powerful that a direct move against him was now politically impossible.
Panic finally set in. If he stayed "comatose" any longer, he would wake up to find Shiraishi wearing his hat.
"Baki, what do we do?"
"We go back to the village."
In a "miraculous" turn of events, Kazekage Rasa suddenly "awoke" from his coma. Upon hearing the news of the great victory over the Mist, the Kazekage expressed his profound joy and authorized a massive bounty reward for Shiraishi.
While issuing commendations with one hand, Rasa packed his bags with the other, racing back to the Hidden Sand Village. The defense of the Revelation Mountains was handed over to Lady Chiyo.
The Third Shinobi World War was currently peaking near the borders of the Hidden Leaf. The Iwa and Mist were pincer-attacking Konoha, while the Cloud showed signs of joining the fray.
Compared to the chaos outside, the Hidden Sand—having secured major victories at Kikyo Mountain and the Land of Rivers—had essentially stabilized its position in the war.
The remaining Mist forces in the Land of Rivers surrendered, while Fuguki Suikazan and the others fled back to the Water Country. The Mist's strategic invasion was a total failure, costing them a legendary blade and their Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
Negotiations began immediately. Prideful as they were, the Mist were forced to the table.
"The Six-Tails is a fine weapon, but it means little to us. The Land of Wind needs land and resources," the Sand negotiators stated.
The Sand demanded not only the permanent annexation of the Southern thirteen sectors of the Land of Rivers but also the cession of the Kingdom of Nan, a strategic island nation situated between the Lands of Wind, Fire, and Water.
While not rich in natural resources, Nan was one of the six major trade ports of the Water Country. Facing the Sand's newfound military dominance, the Mist reluctantly conceded control.
In exchange, the Sand returned the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
Ebizo personally visited the main camp in the Land of Rivers to see the wounded soldiers. His eyes flashed with a rare, cold anger. Rasa's recent actions had chilled him to the bone; he had genuinely considered stripping Rasa of his title.
However, Shiraishi was still very young, and Rasa had not made a public "mistake" large enough to justify a coup without causing massive internal instability.
Ebizo's punishment for Rasa was swift and structural: the Council of Elders would now manage all mission assignments and control the resulting revenue, effectively cutting off Rasa's direct control over the village's purse strings.
The Daimyo, influenced by the North Island and Arakawa families, consented to this change. However, the Daimyo insisted that Rasa remain in charge of vein mining.
To the ruler of the Land of Wind, Rasa—the "Mining Kage"—was predictable and manageable, whereas the brilliant, young "Black Mist" Shiraishi was far more dangerous to control.
In other areas, Ebizo showed no mercy. He officially appointed Shiraishi as the Commander of the Jonin Class.
In this role, Shiraishi was responsible for the evaluation and promotion of all Jonin and Chunin in the village, as well as serving as a senior instructor at the Public Ninja Academy.
As the war entered its second year, Rasa's prestige was at an all-time low, defined by his "coma" and his utility as a miner. In contrast, Shiraishi's victories at Kikyo Mountain and the Land of Rivers had cemented him as a hero. His renown now far eclipses the Kazekage's.
"Karura's first child has been born. A girl named Temari," Ebizo sighed.
Despite Rasa's failings, his wife Karura was a woman of great character. Even while living in seclusion, she had always looked after Ebizo and Chiyo, visiting them frequently. For the sake of the newborn child, Ebizo chose not to be overly harsh with Rasa—for now.
"This time, you have truly made a name for yourself across the Five Nations," Ebizo said, looking at the young man sitting across from him. "A Magnet Release that surpasses the previous Kazekages... you are now regarded as a Super S-Rank powerhouse."
Shiraishi had changed out of his Ninshu robes and back into a black jacket and his Hidden Sand forehead protector. For a moment, Ebizo was dazed. The frail, thin boy from two years ago had grown into a titan.
Now, not just the Mist, but the Leaf, Stone, and Cloud had placed Shiraishi at the very top of their watchlists.
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