Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
The yellow sand filling the sky had settled, and the entire village had fallen quiet. The enemy had left, but none of the Sand shinobi could feel happy.
Collapsed buildings, enormous gullies in the ground, and bodies strewn everywhere laid bare Sunagakure's wounds.
Their village had been wounded and suffered devastating losses. Every Sand shinobi knew it, and none could find the words to speak.
Granny Chiyo and the others approached the Fourth Kazekage with heavy hearts.
Gazing at Rasa lying there, motionless and without a trace of breath, they all sank into grief-stricken silence.
Rasa lay facedown on the ground, so they could not see the state of his face or chest.
"Ah..."
With a sigh, Granny Chiyo stepped forward and turned Rasa over.
"Lord Fourth Kazekage!"
"Waaah!"
When the people gathered around finally saw his condition, they burst into tears, which streamed down their cheeks.
The Fourth Kazekage lay still, as though asleep, without a trace of breath.
There was no doubt. He was dead.
The enemy had taken his life in this battle.
Rasa did not possess Raikage A's powerful physique. He could not survive an attack from Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
Almost no part of his body remained unharmed, and blood covered his robes. Though he appeared intact on the outside, his insides had been shattered by the impact.
"The Kazekage... is gone!"
Someone murmured in a trembling voice.
Sobs erupted, and grief swept through all of Sunagakure.
"Father!"
In the crowd, Temari and Kankuro, still only children, cried loudly.
Granny Chiyo lowered her gaze to the Fourth Kazekage, who looked as though he were asleep. Hesitation flickered in her eyes. After a long while, she took a deep breath, as though she had made up her mind.