029 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

"Ah, finally back. I swear, once I lie down, I never want to get up again."

Arashi sprawled unceremoniously on his bed in Sunagakure, burying his head into the soft goose-feather pillow as if planning to never emerge.

At this moment, Arashi was at his house—yes, his own house. Not a modest ninja dorm provided by the village, nor a resting chamber in the Kazekage's Hall. It was a three-story luxurious villa, purchased with his hard-earned money back when he was just a Jonin.

No, this wasn't corruption—he hadn't even had time to skim funds after less than a year as Kazekage. Arashi had always been well-off for a ninja. He became a Jonin at 16, and now, after ten years in the role, his cumulative income included completing 16 S-rank and 107 A-rank missions. He didn't gamble, didn't indulge in vices, and being single meant his expenses were minimal. With additional earnings from taking out bandits or capturing fugitives during missions, Arashi was a regular at the underground exchange network. By the time he became Kazekage, his net worth was already nearing one-third of his goal.

But from the moment he took office, it was one war after another, followed by diplomatic visits and more wars.

Damn it, I deserve some relaxation for once, he thought.

"Maybe it's time to find a woman and settle down?" Arashi muttered to himself, leaning against the headboard.

He wasn't bad-looking—quite the opposite. Among all the Kazekage in history, his appearance was arguably the most distinguished. Back when he was a Jonin, he'd been popular with the village's girls. But with his high ambitions (or cowardice, as he called it, considering how easily life could be snuffed out in their world), he focused solely on training and honing his skills. By the time he became Kazekage's bodyguard and later Kazekage himself, his schedule left no room for romance.

"Well, if it comes to it... maybe Pakura would do. Wait, no! She's only sixteen!" Arashi scolded himself and slapped his cheek in self-disgust.

"Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang.

"Who is it?"

"It's me! Pakura! You skipped dinner, so I brought some food over."

"Give me a moment! I'll be right down!" Arashi scratched his head, pausing briefly before muttering,

A few more years, and it wouldn't be too bad.

In a cozy room elsewhere, a lifelike puppet dog tumbled and somersaulted, delighting a red-haired child who burst into uncontrollable giggles.

Chiyo, the puppeteer, watched her grandson with a face full of love and kindness. Her expression radiated warmth as she controlled the puppet, making it perform tricks to amuse the boy.

"Sasori, don't bother Grandma too much now. It's bedtime, and you have school tomorrow morning," came the gentle reprimand of Sasori's parents, Akasuna Kaiki and Akasuna Hideki, as they entered the room.

The little Sasori was obedient, a stark contrast to the cold and ruthless persona he would have had if Arashi hadn't saved his parents from White Fang's blade. Now, he was sweet and polite, bowing to Chiyo before heading to his room with his father.

Once the door was shut, Chiyo's demeanor shifted dramatically. The warmth vanished, replaced by a sharp, calculating coldness.

"Have you confirmed it?" Chiyo asked curtly.

"Yes," Kaiki replied.

"Report."

"The visitor claims to be from the Kirigakure, an envoy from the Third Mizukage. His identity seems legitimate."

"I never doubted his identity. I want to know his purpose."

"He says he wishes to speak with the Third Kazekage directly and has refused to disclose any further details."

"Arrogant!" Chiyo slapped the armrest of her chair in frustration.

Since being appointed the head of Sunagakure's Intelligence Division, Chiyo rarely lost her temper. Normally composed and measured, her demeanor became volatile when it came to matters involving Arashi. She held the Kazekage in high regard, admiring his perfect handling of both warfare and diplomacy. His leadership had unified the village to an unprecedented degree, fostering stability and growth.

However, the assassination attempt in the Land of Rivers had been a harsh wake-up call. The mere thought of Arashi's potential demise at such a critical time sent shivers down her spine. Though Arashi had downplayed the incident with a casual report and a diplomatic statement, Chiyo had been wracked with guilt. Determined to rectify the shortcomings of the village's defenses, she resolved to reorganize the Anbu and create a formidable "shadow force" to protect both the village and Arashi.

"Let him wait for a few days. Meanwhile, activate our covert agents to uncover his true intentions."

"It's already underway," Kaiki replied, passing her a report.

Chiyo's brows furrowed deeply as she read the document.

"Kirigakure... A village full of lunatics. They can't even keep their factions in check. Look at this!" She handed the report to Kaiki.

Kirigakure's situation was unique compared to other villages. While places like Konoha and Sunagakure had been established by dominant, unifying figures, Kirigakure was more of a loose coalition of island clans. The First Mizukage, Byakuren, acted more like a wise elder than a ruler. It wasn't until the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, that Kirigakure underwent a transformation, uniting under his formidable strength and shrewd policies. Gengetsu's reforms included creating a ninja academy, an Anbu unit, and implementing laws to protect Kirigakure's secrets.

However, with Gengetsu's death in the First Shinobi War, Kirigakure reverted to its fragmented state under the weaker Third Mizukage. The Mizukage's authority barely extended beyond the main island, leaving the village rife with factional disputes. The assassination attempt on Arashi had been orchestrated by a warlord faction led by Fuguki Suikazan, entirely unbeknownst to the Mizukage.

"This information needs to be reported to Kazekage-sama immediately," Kaiki suggested. "Delaying might cause more harm than good."

Chiyo nodded after a moment of contemplation. "It's still early—only 8 PM. Arashi should still be awake. Let's go to his house and discuss this."

...

"Meet him. Arrange a meeting first thing tomorrow morning," Arashi said decisively after reviewing the intelligence.

"Why so certain?" Chiyo asked.

"Simple. No matter which faction sent him, we need to understand their stance." Arashi poured tea for Chiyo and Kaiki, gesturing for them to sit.

"Care to elaborate?"

"If he truly represents the Mizukage, his purpose would likely be one of two things: either to explain the assassination attempt and seek peace, or to twist the truth and declare war. But the latter is unlikely. Past Mizukage rarely waste words on declarations—they simply act."

"And if he doesn't represent the Mizukage?" Kaiki asked.

"I find that highly improbable." Arashi shook his head. "Warlords don't apologize, especially after failing to assassinate a foreign leader. What could they possibly gain from sending an envoy?"

"Then what's his true purpose?"

Arashi smirked. "That's precisely why we must meet him. Only by speaking with him can we uncover his motives and plan our response accordingly."