The massive canyon leading into the village was filled with a sense of grandeur as Shiraishi and Ebizo walked side-by-side. Behind them followed Maki, Shikasa, Ryoji, and a long line of shinobi returning home.
Today, Shiraishi wore a simple teal jacket. His glasses remained the same, and the silver blade rested at his waist.
His appearance was unpretentious, yet the aura he projected was one of profound, unfathomable power.
At only sixteen, he was already a force capable of single-handedly suppressing a Tailed Beast. Among his peers globally, perhaps only the Cloud's A and the Leaf's Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, could stand on equal footing.
At the end of the canyon road, crowds of villagers lined the cliffs and pathways, letting out deafening cheers. Many shouted "Black Mist Shiraishi!" with raw excitement.
It had been years since the Hidden Sand enjoyed such a decisive victory. Under his lead, the village had stood toe-to-toe with two of the Five Great Nations and emerged triumphant.
Even the Kazekage, Rasa, was forced by political necessity to stand below his office at the entrance, waiting to welcome Shiraishi. Despite his rank, Rasa's mood was somber; his Kazekage robes felt heavier and more restrictive than ever.
In the few days since returning to the village, Rasa had felt the shift in atmosphere. He was being checked at every turn by the Council of Elders.
Resolutions that once passed with ease were now vetoed, preventing his orders from even leaving the village center.
Conversely, Shiraishi's proposals as the Commander of the Jonin Class—such as the creation of the Eastern Special Economic Zone and the expansion of the explosive tag munitions trade—passed without a single obstacle.
Who is the real Kazekage here? Rasa thought bitterly. He found himself with an unexpected amount of free time, spending his days with his wife, Karura, while the village leadership hummed along without him.
As the figures of Shiraishi and Ebizo came into view, the Fourth Kazekage forced a diplomatic smile onto his face, stepping forward to welcome the "heroes" back.
When they met, Shiraishi's gaze was as clear as ever, but for some reason, Rasa found himself unable to maintain eye contact.
The betrayal in the Land of Rivers had created a blood feud. Shiraishi had lost students and subordinates—including Fukuyama—and the man responsible for that tactical "oversight" stood right in front of him.
"Welcome back, heroes of the Sand," Rasa said heartily. His greeting was met with cold indifference from the majority of the returning ninjas.
The news of Shiraishi executing Moro had spread through the Jonin circles like wildfire. Everyone knew the Kazekage had tried to sell out the village; even without formal proof, Rasa had lost his moral authority.
"The front in the Land of Rivers still requires supplies," Shiraishi said, his voice level. "When does the Kazekage plan to redeploy the stockpiles from the Revelation Mountains?"
"The war with the Stone is not over," Rasa countered, clinging to his last remaining assets. "The distribution of those supplies requires further deliberation."
"On that matter," Ebizo interjected, ignoring Rasa's darkening expression, "Lady Chiyo has already met with Onoki. A preliminary framework for a peace treaty with the Hidden Stone has just been established."
Rasa paled. He had been completely bypassed. After Chiyo finished treating Rasa's "injuries" at the mountains, she had waited for him to wake up. When he "stubbornly" refused to recover—essentially hiding in bed—the medical team took over, and she stopped consulting him.
After the Land of Rivers incident, Chiyo had been so furious she nearly stormed his room to beat him. When Rasa finally "recovered" and rushed back to the village, Chiyo had already moved on.
She contacted the Stone herself to negotiate peace, and Onoki, weary from the battle at Kanabi Bridge, had agreed.
Seeing the lines drawn, Shiraishi didn't waste words. He took Maki and the arrogant orange cat and departed, leaving the Kazekage standing in the dust.
Walking home along the familiar village paths, Shiraishi quietly reached out and took Maki's hand. She didn't pull away, letting him lead her as the orange cat followed behind them with an exasperated look.
Both Maki and Shikasa had recently been promoted to Jonin. Both had developed Earth, Wind, and Water chakra natures, though Maki's raw chakra reserves were still her limiting factor.
"How is your Sand Control training coming along?" Shiraishi asked.
"I can manage to create a decent amount of sand now..." Maki demonstrated by turning a small stone into a pile of dust.
Shiraishi leaned in and whispered, "I have a special secret technique that can help you condense and replenish chakra quickly."
He explained the principles of the Sand Gathering Art. Maki listened, stunned. She realized this was why Shiraishi's chakra had become so abundant; he was no longer the "Stone" from the academy who would break into a sweat after using a single jutsu.
Shiraishi had been careful not to interfere too much in Maki's natural growth, but since her specialty was Sealing Jutsu—specifically Sand Bindings—her chakra consumption was massive. The Sand Gathering Art was the perfect fix.
The Hidden Sand's own One-Tail, Shukaku, had been sealed within a temple since the passing of its last Jinchuriki, Bunpuku.
Legend claimed Shukaku was a desert spirit born from the souls of those who died in sandstorms, but through his contact with Ashura, Shiraishi knew better. It was a creature of Yin-Yang Release created by the Sage of Six Paths.
"The Desert of Nara..." Shiraishi mused.
Located in the heart of the Land of Wind, the Nara Desert was even more treacherous than the surrounding wastes.
Even with Shukaku sealed elsewhere, the area was saturated with negative, death-aspected chakra. It was a place of extreme danger, but also a potential site for future investigation.
Lastly, Shiraishi turned his attention to his most important spoils from the battle with the Mist: the Skill Cards. In the past, he learned whatever he could get. Now, he was selective, choosing only what enhanced his existing combat system.
He unlocked the cards gathered from the Mist battlefield. Among them, one caught his eye. It was only Blue-quality, but its synergy with his Magnet Release was incredible.
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