As the commotion following the promotion ceremony subsided, the Forehead Protector Kazuma of Jonin took on new weight, bringing with them a broader perspective and more profound considerations.
Shira did not allow himself to bask in the joy of his new identity for too long. He knew that beneath the surface of Sunagakure's calm, undercurrents never ceased to surge.
The biggest hidden danger, however, may come from the Kazekage's Office.
He recalled the bloody plot in the original work— the Chunin Ninja Exams, the Konoha Crush Plan, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa collaborating with Orochimaru, and ultimately meeting a tragic end.
That was a huge loss for Sunagakure, and it dragged the village into an even deeper quagmire.
Shira didn't have much personal affection for Rasa. This man was essentially ruthless enough to sacrifice his son for the sake of the village, and his methods and decisions often carried the extremes and stubbornness of Sunagakure.
But Shira now has to admit that, in this time of internal and external difficulties, Rasa is an indispensable pillar of stability for Sunagakure.
Gaara is still young and there are very few capable people in the village.
If Rasa were to die suddenly, Sunagakure would inevitably fall into power turmoil, and powerful external enemies, especially Iwagakure, a troublemaker that has a grudge against Sunagakure, would very likely not let this opportunity pass.
When war reignites and lives are lost, Gaara, his friend whom he had finally seen some signs of improvement, as well as his parents, companions, and village, may be dragged into an even deeper disaster.
We must stop Rasa from going down that dead end. But how? Should we just tell him, "Don't cooperate with Orochimaru, he'll kill you"?
Regardless of whether Rasa would believe it, such "prediction" of the future is inexplicable and is more likely to arouse suspicion and doubt.
He needed a reason of sufficient weight, one that Rasa could accept. A warning from a higher being.
He thought of Qinglin, that transcendent immortal who regulated the earth's veins. Rasa and the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure were tight-lipped about Qinglin's existence, but they were both shocked and wary of his level of power.
If the warning comes from the mouth of a "sage" and concerns the very foundation of the village, then even someone as suspicious as Rasa must carefully consider it.
The opportunity soon arrived. After being promoted to Jonin, he needed to give a brief report to the Kazekage alone, especially about his "general" experiences during the four years he was missing.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet without arousing any additional suspicion.
Three days later, in the afternoon, Shira arrived outside Kazekage's Office. After announcing his arrival, he pushed open the door and entered.
Rasa was sitting behind his large desk, reviewing documents. Hearing the sound, he didn't look up, but simply pointed to the chair in front of him. "Sit. I heard you've met some people these past few days. How's it going?"
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Kazekage. I'm adjusting." Shira sat down in the chair, her back straight, her tone respectful but not humble.
Rasa put down his pen, raised his eyes, and swept his gaze over Shira, as if trying to discern something beneath his composed exterior.
"Your performance report has been forwarded to me by Baki. Four years of training and a leap in strength is nothing short of miraculous. The village is very grateful to your 'senior'."
He paused, then changed the subject slightly, "However, some forces are ultimately external. Your success today is mainly due to your own will and hard work. But remember, Sunagakure is your root."
"Yes, I understand. Sunagakure gave me life and raised me, bestowing upon me a name and Forehead Protector; I will never forget this kindness," Shira replied without hesitation.
Rasa nodded, seemingly satisfied. "I've come to see you today not only to report on my duties, but also to hear your views on the current situation in the village, especially regarding the border and the external environment. You've just returned from there and have gained new insights; tell me about them."
Shira knew that the real drama was about to begin.
He paused for a moment, organized his thoughts, and slowly said, "The border situation appears to have stabilized temporarily due to the last defeat of Iwagakure, but the energy disturbances from the ' Heart of the Bedrock ' persist, and Iwagakure will not give up easily."
"What they covet is not just the land, but also what might be hidden beneath it. Friction between us and Iwagakure is a long-standing issue."
Rasa remained noncommittal, only tapping his fingers lightly on the table, signaling him to continue.
As for the outside...
Shira raised her head, her gaze calmly meeting Rasa's scrutiny. " The Five Great Nations appear to be in balance, but in reality, they are constantly engaged in covert struggles. Kumogakure is powerful, Kirigakure is closed off, Iwagakure is greedy, and although Konoha experienced the Nine-Tails' Attack, its foundation remains strong, and it is currently recovering. Any change in any of these areas could shatter this fragile balance."
"How do you think Sunagakure should conduct itself?" Rasa asked.
"Strengthen the foundation and cultivate vitality; be cautious in forming alliances."
Shira uttered the eight words she had already prepared. "The village needs internal unity; improving its strength is fundamental. Externally, we must be extremely wary of those 'olive branches' that extend seemingly tempting offers but are actually laced with poison."
"Especially cooperating with certain notorious, unscrupulous, and selfish forces is tantamount to seeking help from a tiger; in the end, one is likely to be devoured, and it could even jeopardize the very foundation of the village."
Hmm... something doesn't sound quite right.
Rasa's fingers, which had been tapping on the table, stopped. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and fixed on Shira: "Dealing with a tiger for its skin? Backfiring on your foundation? What are you referring to? Or have you heard something?"
Shira knew that the most crucial moment had arrived.
He's about to start spouting nonsense and cosplaying an Oscar-winning actor!
A hint of hesitation and seriousness appeared on his face as he lowered his voice slightly. " Lord Kazekage, this matter may be somewhat beyond the realm of common sense. I am unsure whether I should speak of it, or whether it is accurate."
"During my time practicing under that senior, besides guiding my cultivation, she would occasionally mention some vague sensations she had observed regarding the flow of energy in this land."
"Oh?" A glint flashed in Rasa. "What else did that senior say?"
Shira took a deep breath, as if recalling something, and slowly said, "The senior once said that she adjusts the earth's veins and senses the feng shui. The disturbance of the ' Heart of the Bedrock ' is one of the biggest variables recently, but not the only one."
She had vaguely sensed a chilling, treacherous, and ominous aura, like a venomous snake lurking beneath the sands, writhing in the distance, seemingly harboring a sinister interest in the land of the Land of Wind, especially in certain people and events connected to it.
"The essence of this energy is pure chaos and destruction, devoid of any sense of integrity. Getting too involved with it will inevitably lead to harm; at best, it will result in the loss of important figures, and at worst, it will shake the earth's veins and trigger a series of disasters."
After speaking, Shira paused, observing Rasa's expression.
Rasa's face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes churned surprise, contemplation, and a hint of barely perceptible sternness.
The "sensations" of beings at the immortal level are by no means unfounded, especially when it comes to mysterious yet partially proven things like "earth veins" and "luck".
"The senior also said,"
Shira continued to increase her stakes, her tone becoming even more cautious, "The earth's veins and a person's destiny sometimes influence each other. Those who possess great fortune and are deeply connected to the foundation of a place often have choices that can trigger changes in the earth's veins. Conversely, abnormalities in the earth's veins may also foreshadow a person's major choices and their fortunes."
"She told me to tell the leader of Sunagakure that if there are any major decisions to be made recently, especially those involving cooperation with certain sinister and treacherous external forces, he must be extremely cautious, consider the long-term consequences, and not take risks for short-term gains."
Shira emphasized at the end, "Otherwise... there might be unspeakable trouble."
The office was silent, with only the faint sound of wind outside the window.
Rasa leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms in front of his abdomen, and gazed at the gray-yellow sky of Sunagakure outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.
Shira's words were cryptic and vague, without naming names, but considering the current situation in the Shinobi World and what Rasa might be planning, these warnings were like a cold key, precisely inserted into the lock of his mind.
Orochimaru is a cold, cunning, treacherous, and utterly untrustworthy man who craves chaos and destruction...
These descriptions are remarkably similar to those of one of the Sannin who defected from Konoha, founded the Sound Ninja, and conducted forbidden experiments!
Could cooperating with such a person really trigger the "ominous" events described by the sage, even shaking the foundations of Sunagakure and causing the loss of important figures?
Moreover, that important person could very well be me!
Rasa was a pragmatic and ruthless politician, but he was also a Kazekage who shouldered the fate of a village.
He could not completely ignore the immortal's warning, especially since it concerned "earth veins" and "luck," power levels he could not understand but which did exist, and it was relayed by Shira, who had just proven the authenticity of the immortal's legacy.
"Did your senior ever mention what the specific target of this 'chilling aura' is? Or, how can it be avoided?"
After a long silence, Rasa slowly spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.
"The elders said that the secrets of heaven are chaotic and difficult to fully comprehend. But no matter how things change, the fundamental principles remain the same. If one upholds righteousness and maintains the middle way, strengthens one's foundation and becomes stronger, does not covet external and treacherous forces, and does not venture into unpredictable dangers, then evil spirits will find it difficult to invade, and disasters will naturally stay away."
Shira laid out her prepared explanation, "As for the specifics, the senior only mentioned that the aura seemed to have designs on 'the place that gathers a large number of young talents and is a source of future hope'."
"Perhaps, if there is any major event in the future that brings together young ninjas from all sides, we will need to be extra vigilant. But the more crucial factor is whether the choices made by those in charge have given that 'cold aura' an opportunity to take advantage."
Chunin Ninja Exams! Gathering Genin multiple countries! Rasa's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Silence fell in the room again, this time for even longer. Shira could sense that the scales in Rasa's heart were swaying violently.
In the original story, his choice to cooperate with Orochimaru stemmed from extreme anxiety about the current state of Sunagakure and a desire to quickly change the situation; it was a dangerous gamble.
Now, the immortal's warning was like a bucket of ice water poured on his eager, even desperate, heart.
The price of gambling could be his own life, or even the Sunagakure.
Can he afford to pay this price?
Finally, Rasa withdrew his gaze from the window and turned it back to Shira, his gaze deep and unfathomable, as if trying to see right through him.
But Shira's expression was calm, her eyes clear, showing only concern for the village and solemnity in relaying the divine message.
"I understand the news you brought."
Rasa's voice returned to its usual cold, hard, and steady tone, but upon closer listening, it seemed to have lost a trace of decisiveness and gained a hint of deliberation.
"This matter must not be revealed. You may leave now. Your first mission after being promoted to Jonin will be issued soon. Be prepared."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage. I'll take my leave." Shira rose, bowed, and then steadily withdrew from the office.
The door closed gently behind her. Shira walked down the empty corridor and slowly exhaled a long breath.
That's all he can do now.
In the name of the immortal, a vague but sufficiently alarming warning was issued. The rest is up to Rasa's own decision.
He believed that, given Rasa's personality and his concern for the village, after receiving such a warning from a transcendent being, he would most likely reassess the risks of cooperating with Orochimaru.
At the very least, he would be more cautious, and might even abandon that deadly plan.
The butterfly's wings have already flapped. The trajectory of the future may already be different.
Inside the Kazekage's Office, Rasa sat alone in a chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk, making a monotonous "tap-tap" sound.
He stared at the preliminary opinion letter on the table regarding the next Chunin Ninja Exams, his eyes shifting uncertainly.
A chilling and treacherous atmosphere pervades this place where young talents gather. Do not risk your life for short-term gain, lest you suffer unspeakable calamity...
The immortal's words echoed repeatedly in his mind, like a ghost.
After a long while, he picked up his pen and slowly but forcefully drew a heavy horizontal line on the letter of opinion.
Then, he pressed the communication bell on the table.
"Inform all elders, as well as Baki and Ebizo, that there will be an emergency meeting in one hour."
His voice carried a resolute quality born of a firm decision, yet it also seemed to conceal a subtle hint of weariness.
"The agenda includes reassessing all potential contacts and collaborations with Otogakure and Orochimaru. Also, we need to elevate our security and response plans for the next Chunin Ninja Exams with Konoha to the highest level of contingency planning."
Rasa put down the communicator, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.
Outside the window, the wind of Sunagakure continues to blow relentlessly...