My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

The retreat of the Konoha ninjas was carried out with military precision.

First, the Genin fell back, followed closely by the Chunin. The Jonin, with their heightened skills, were tasked with holding off the advancing Sunagakure ninjas to give the others time to retreat.

The last to cover the withdrawal were Jiraiya and Minato, ensuring the safety of the retreating forces.

As the Konoha ninjas began their organized retreat, the Sunagakure ninjas initially celebrated their apparent victory. The tension in the air began to lift, and all eyes turned to Rasa, awaiting his next instructions.

Michikawa appeared before Rasa in the blink of an eye.

"It seems like we've won. Should we pursue them?"

Rasa shook his head.

"No need. We'll only overextend ourselves if we pursue them too far into the Land of Fire. It wouldn't be in our best interest."

"Mm!" Michikawa nodded in understanding.

From the outset, the purpose of this war had been crystal clear to Sunagakure. They hadn't intended to engage in a prolonged conflict with Konoha. What they truly sought was the wealth of the Land of Fire.

With that objective in mind, this war's actual "victory" was almost secondary. However, despite this, certain formalities still had to be observed to maintain the appearance of a legitimate conquest.

Though Rasa, Pakura, and Michikawa knew the real reason for the war, many of the Sunagakure ninjas were in the dark. Only the Jonin were aware of the true purpose, as they were the only ones capable of keeping such a secret. To maintain this secrecy, Rasa knew he had to formally conclude the operation for everyone involved.

Rasa stepped forward and addressed the gathered Sunagakure forces, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

"To all the Sand Shinobi! In the name of the Kazekage, I declare that the victors of the first war between Sunagakure and Konoha are Sunagakure!"

"OH!!!"

The crowd erupted in a roar of cheers and excitement, the sound of victory reverberating through the air.

"But. We must not let our guard down. We must remain vigilant against any counterattacks from Konoha. As long as Konoha refuses to hand over the killer of the Third Kazekage, this war will not be over!"

"OH!!!"

The cheer rose again, this time louder and more determined, as the Sunagakure ninjas rallied around Rasa's words.

---

On the Konoha side, the retreating ninjas could still hear the distant cheers of Sunagakure from behind them. The sounds carried through the air, heavy with the weight of their apparent victory. Their faces were somber, but beneath the grim expressions, there was also a sense of relief—they were thankful that Sunagakure had not pursued them.

Minato, his usual composure shattered, wore a dejected expression as he trudged alongside Jiraiya. Seeing his disheartened disciple, Jiraiya placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Minato. It's common to face both victories and defeats on the battlefield. What matters now is reporting everything back to the village and waiting for the old man's decision."

The Konoha ninjas did not make their way directly back to the village. Instead, they retreated one hundred kilometers, setting up a temporary camp after ensuring that it was safe. They needed time to regroup and assess their situation.

Once Jiraiya and Minato delivered their report to Konoha, they received a grim response. The village had no additional resources to spare to deal with Sunagakure. In fact, the situation was even more dire than anticipated. Minato and Jiraiya, already battle-weary, were reassigned to the front lines to face Iwagakure's forces.

In the past few days, Konoha had been embroiled in an intense war with Iwagakure. To make matters worse, two of Iwagakure's Jinchuriki—old enemies of both Jiraiya and Minato—had appeared on the battlefield, further complicating the situation.

Within Konoha, besides the Third Hokage, only Jiraiya and Minato had the experience and ability to deal with the power of these two formidable Jinchuriki. Meanwhile, Danzo, though politically savvy, lacked the military expertise required to command on the battlefield.

To fill their roles, Konoha had sent Shikaku Nara, a brilliant strategist from the Nara clan. His mission was clear: stall Sunagakure's advance as much as possible.

Shikaku's assignment initially seemed daunting. However, when he arrived at the front lines, he was surprised to find that Sunagakure's actions were unusually restrained. It appeared, as Minato had warned, that Sunagakure had no intention of launching a full-scale attack.

"So, what is Sunagakure really plotting? Is it truly just about revenge?"

Despite his brilliance, he could not fully grasp Sunagakure's true intentions at this stage.

---

Two days later, in Sunagakure's camp, Rasa gathered Michikawa, Pakura, and Yura for a final briefing.

"It's done. Our mission has been completed, and we can begin preparations for retreat!"

Rasa announced, his tone resolute.

Pakura, however, seemed hesitant. Her voice carried an edge of frustration. "Just retreat like this? We've seized such a huge opportunity! Konoha is at its weakest right now. If we just—"

Rasa interrupted her, not out of anger but with the calm authority that came from his experience. He understood her sentiment; it echoed in the hearts of many, particularly among those in positions of power who saw the fleeting moments of weakness in their enemies.

"Don't let temporary gains cloud your judgment. The strength of Sunagakure is the most important thing. Look at the situation. Aside from Kirigakure and us, every other village is embroiled in war. This is the perfect time for us to surpass them. If we join this conflict now, we risk losing too many of our own comrades for little gain. The only ones who would benefit are the Daimyo, Raikage, and Tsuchikage."

Michikawa nodded in agreement.

"Kazekage-sama is right. The benefits we've gained are already significant. We should not risk it all for something that would only prolong the conflict."

Pakura, still clearly reluctant, paused and took a deep breath. She suppressed her dissatisfaction and eventually nodded in understanding.

"Understood."

Rasa, seeing the tension ease, continued with the next set of instructions.

"Now, according to our plan, the Chunin will retreat first, followed by the Jonin. Lastly, the three of us will cover the rear. During the retreat, the Chunin and Jonin will not head directly back to the village. Instead, they will rendezvous with Maki and Elder Ebizo to help wrap up the aftermath. Sunagakure's gains from this operation are substantial, and we need to ensure everything is accounted for."

At this, Michikawa and Pakura exchanged a glance, both filled with quiet anticipation, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Yura, you'll be responsible for contacting Maki and coordinating the arrangements,"

Rasa instructed.

"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"

Yura responded promptly.

"Good. This operation has been taxing on everyone. All participating ninjas can return to the village for some much-needed rest. As for defending against Konoha's possible counterattack, Yura, please contact Lady Chiyo and ask her to send the puppet forces. Considering their battles on multiple fronts, I don't expect Konoha to bother with us right now, but we must remain cautious."

Rasa's calm and calculated approach brought a sense of relief to the group. Indeed, with Konoha distracted by multiple wars, the idea of Sunagakure retreating would likely ease their worries.

Rasa's voice softened slightly, but his words remained resolute.

"The success of this plan is thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of everyone in the village. When we return, the village will not forget what was done here. Alright, that's all I have to say. Let's begin preparations for the retreat."

---

The retreat of Sunagakure was executed with quiet precision and efficiency. It wasn't until half a day later that the Konoha sentries, stationed at a safe distance, noticed the eerie silence emanating from the Sunagakure camp.

The ninja who first noticed the anomaly immediately reported it to Shikaku. Originally, Shikaku's strategy had been to avoid any provocation, ensuring Konoha ninjas stayed at a distance from Sunagakure's camp to prevent giving them an excuse to engage in combat. But the sudden quietude raised suspicion, prompting him to reconsider and take a more proactive approach.

Soon after, Konoha ninjas were dispatched to investigate. They confirmed that Sunagakure's camp had become unsettlingly empty, adding a layer of confusion to the situation.

What was Sunagakure planning? First, they launched a swift invasion, only to retreat just as suddenly. The question hung in the air, unanswered and troubling.

Two days later, Konoha received reports from multiple cities—Moriyama, Monobu, Daiwa, and others across seventeen towns. It was then that the full scope of the situation became clear.

The Land of Fire's Daimyo, seething with anger, had received word of Sunagakure's sudden withdrawal. Enraged by the loss of valuable resources, the Daimyo issued a direct command to Konoha: an immediate offensive to reclaim everything Sunagakure had taken from the cities.

However, by that point, Konoha's resources were stretched thin. The ongoing wars with Kumogakure and Iwagakure had depleted the village's strength, leaving little capacity to address the situation with Sunagakure. Konoha was caught in a precarious position, struggling to balance the demands of multiple fronts while the threat of Sunagakure's unexpected maneuver loomed large.

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