The peaceful days did not last long. Shira knew that once word of his performance at the Land of Rivers border reached the village, it would inevitably draw the attention of the higher-ups.
He had not expected that attention to come so directly, or to be so oppressive.
That afternoon, Shira had just left the Ninja Academy and was about to head to Chiyo's courtyard when two masked Sunagakure Anbu with cold auras appeared silently before him, blocking his path.
"Shira, Lord Kazekage wants to see you." One of the Anbu spoke without a trace of emotion, like a machine.
What had to come had finally come. Shira felt a chill in his heart, but kept his face calm and nodded. "Yes."
He asked no questions, silently following the two Anbu through the most heavily guarded part of the village toward the Kazekage's office building, the symbol of Sunagakure's highest authority.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive. Every ninja they passed lowered their head, not daring to look directly at them. The Anbu led him to a heavy door and indicated that he should enter alone.
Shira took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
The Kazekage's Office was spacious and austere, with a cold air that smelled of metal and sand.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa sat behind a large desk, his back to the door as he gazed out at the sand-filled village.
He did not turn around immediately, but an invisible pressure had already filled the room, so heavy it was almost impossible to breathe.
Shira stood respectfully in the center of the office, his head slightly bowed. He said nothing and waited patiently.
His heart involuntarily began to race, but he did his utmost to control his breathing and maintain a calm appearance.
Only after a long while did Rasa slowly turn around. His face was stern, and his gaze was intensely piercing, as though it could see through any disguise and reach straight into a person's heart.
He looked Shira up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on the sturdy build that did not match his age and his unusually calm eyes.
"Shira," Rasa said, his voice level and cold, without the slightest emotion. "Son of the merchant Shiya and his wife. Currently enrolled at the Ninja Academy. Assessed Chakra control: zero. No talent for learning Ninjutsu or Genjutsu."
He sounded as though he were reading out a cold report.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage," Shira replied quietly.
"But according to Rani and Fūi's reports, and the Anbu's verification, you single-handedly defeated three adult bandits at the Land of Rivers border using pure Taijutsu. One of them had the strength of a Chunin."
Rasa's tone remained even, but the scrutiny in it suddenly intensified. "How do you explain that?"
Shira raised his head and met Rasa's gaze, his eyes clear and unwavering. "Lord Kazekage, I didn't defeat them single-handedly. It was only because Brother Rani and Brother Fūi held the bandit chief off from the front that I had a chance to launch a successful sneak attack from the side."
"All I did was use my speed and strength to attack weaknesses the enemy had overlooked. It can hardly be called an achievement worth boasting about."
He had not denied the facts, but had skillfully shared the credit and framed his own actions as a sneak attack and an exploitation of weaknesses, making himself seem modest and pragmatic. That should have sounded about right for a child who had gotten lucky.
Rasa tapped his fingers lightly on the desktop, producing a rhythmic tapping sound, as though weighing the truth of his words.
"Speed and strength..." Rasa repeated, more puzzled than before.
"According to the report, that state of yours was very strange. I've never heard of it. What was it?"