Compared to the Raikage, who had arrived with only a handful of subordinates, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, made a much more striking entrance.
He brought no fewer than twenty Genin teams to participate in the Chunin Exams, along with a substantial number of accompanying personnel.
"Lord Hokage, it has been years since we last met. I have truly missed you," Rasa said, his face lighting up with warmth the moment he saw Kakashi Hatake waiting to receive him outside the Hokage Residence.
"The Kazekage's passion is as fierce as fire; I hardly feel worthy of such a greeting," Kakashi replied with a smile as he shook Rasa's hand.
"Nonsense. Lord Hokage is a hero among shinobi; you deserve nothing less. These Chunin Exams are the perfect opportunity to deepen the friendship between our two villages. To that end, I have brought many of our village's shinobi. I hope you don't mind, Lord Hokage," Rasa said, smiling as if the bond between Sunagakure and Konohagakure truly were as unbreakable as he claimed.
"Not at all. The more, the merrier. You are too kind, Lord Kazekage," Kakashi responded in an equally warm tone, acting as though the man before him were his own brother.
"These are my three direct children: Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara." Rasa stepped slightly to the side. The three siblings, who had been following closely behind, stepped forward and spoke in unison.
"Lord Hokage," they greeted him respectfully.
"As expected of the Kazekage's children. One can see they are geniuses beyond the norm at a single glance," Kakashi praised modestly. "It is a pity my own children are only five years old and quite unruly. If they were to meet you, Lord Kazekage, I fear they would only cause a scene."
"Think nothing of it. Five is the age for playfulness; you worry too much, Lord Hokage," Rasa laughed.
"The wind is picking up out here. I will have my people escort your group to their quarters. Lord Kazekage, please, come inside the building so we may converse," Kakashi said, gesturing toward the Hokage Residence behind him.
"I would be honored. After you!" Rasa did not hesitate, entering the building alongside Kakashi.
As they walked, Kakashi continued to chat enthusiastically with Rasa. To anyone unaware of the underlying secrets, they would have looked like brothers from different parents, and Konoha and Suna would have seemed like the most steadfast of allies.
With Rasa's high-profile arrival, the Raikage—who had been cooped up in his temporary lodgings—received the news immediately. He needed to find a time to speak with Rasa to secure his help in pressuring Konoha.
Konoha was becoming too powerful. As an ally of Konoha, Rasa had no reason to refuse the proposal. After all, a "partnership" only truly exists between powers of equal standing; otherwise, the weaker party is nothing more than a subordinate to the stronger one. The Raikage didn't need to spell this out; surely Rasa, as the Kazekage, could see it clearly for himself. Thus, the Raikage was confident he could persuade Rasa.
However, since Rasa had just arrived, Kakashi would have to host him personally. The Raikage couldn't afford to be too hasty. Furthermore...
At this moment, three of the top figures in the shinobi world—the Hokage, the Raikage, and the Kazekage—were all gathered within Konoha. Even if Kakashi didn't want to, he was obligated to arrange a banquet to host them. The Raikage wasn't worried about missing his chance to meet the Kazekage.
Just as the Raikage expected, the opportunity came quickly. That very evening, a Konoha shinobi delivered an invitation for him to attend a banquet alongside the Kazekage.
Night.
In a banquet hall decorated in a traditional, antique style, the Shadows of the Leaf, Sand, and Cloud villages gathered. Because Rasa had brought his three children, Kakashi had also brought Mirai and Ichigo.
"There was no opportunity during the day, so I'm taking this chance to let the Lord Kazekage meet my children," Kakashi said with a smile, patting the head of Mirai, who sat quietly beside him. "Mirai, Ichigo, greet our guests."
Compared to their rowdy behavior at home, Mirai and Ichigo were much quieter in this formal setting.
"Uncle Rasa, Uncle A," they greeted respectfully at Kakashi's prompt.
"Good children," Rasa said with a smile, and the Raikage grunted a deep affirmation from the other side.
"Go on, go sit with Big Sister Temari and the others," Kakashi said with a light chuckle, seemingly unconcerned about any potential danger to his children.
"Yes, Father," they replied.
Compared to Mirai, the usually crybaby Ichigo appeared more composed and steady in this environment. This surprised Kakashi slightly. Ichigo took his sister's hand and, with great etiquette, led her to sit beside Temari. He respectfully called the Kazekage's eldest daughter "Big Sister," a gesture Temari accepted with a polite smile.
Watching this scene of apparent familial harmony, Rasa nodded slightly.
"Lord Raikage, we met once years ago at the Lord Hokage's wedding. I wonder if you still remember me?" Rasa raised his glass toward the Raikage.
"I remember, of course. You haven't lost your touch, Lord Kazekage," the Raikage replied, raising his own glass.
"You're too kind. Compared to me, the Lord Raikage is as formidable as ever." Rasa then turned his glass toward Kakashi. "Whether years ago or today, we have gathered because of the Lord Hokage. Lord Hokage, I offer you a toast."
Seeing Rasa's attitude, Kakashi raised his glass as well. The Raikage spoke up in a booming voice, "Count me in."
The banquet ended amid Rasa's hypocrisy and the Raikage's patience. Kakashi eventually bid the two Kages farewell and departed with his son and daughter. Feeling the cool night breeze, Kakashi glanced back at the two Kages walking away together in the distance. A cold light flashed in his eyes.
Tonight's banquet had been a deliberate setup to create an opportunity for the Kazekage and Raikage to have a private encounter. He hoped Rasa wouldn't disappoint him.
"Papa," Ichigo said, tugging on Kakashi's hand.
"What is it?" Kakashi knelt down and asked with a soft smile. Unlike his demeanor with the other Kages, his smile was genuinely warm when facing his children. He was pleased with Ichigo's performance today.
"I'm still hungry," Ichigo said, blinking his eyes.
"Then shall we go get some ramen?" Kakashi asked, rubbing the boy's head.
"I want to go too!" Mirai added, her true personality finally beginning to resurface.
"Alright, let's all go together." Kakashi chuckled, tousling Mirai's hair as well. He didn't demand too much of Mirai; while Ichigo's performance was a pleasant surprise, it didn't diminish his love for his daughter. They were only five, after all; it was normal to be shy.
While Kakashi was taking his children to Ichiraku Ramen, the Kazekage and Raikage stood together on a rooftop. Watching the father and children walk further away, a coldness settled in Rasa's eyes.
"So, Lord Raikage, what is it you wanted to say?" Rasa asked. A barrier had been erected around them, ensuring their conversation would not leak out.
"Kumogakure needs Sunagakure's help. Konoha is too powerful. Surely you don't want to see an ally grow so strong that no one can keep them in check?" The Raikage leaned against the railing, his eyes gleaming.
"An ally? Heh." Rasa's lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk at the word. There were no permanent allies in this world, only permanent interests. And Konoha's strength had indeed begun to make Suna uneasy.
"In normal circumstances, I would naturally help you pressure Konoha into backing down," Rasa said, causing the Raikage to frown.
Normal circumstances? Does he mean the current situation is special?
"Pressuring Konoha might seem like the most appropriate request to you, Raikage, but haven't you thought of something more... permanent?" Rasa turned to look at the brawny man beside him, his voice laced with a hint of manipulation.
"What do you mean?" The Raikage's brow furrowed tightly. He sensed that Rasa's purpose for coming to Konoha wasn't just the Chunin Exams.
"Everyone knows Konoha is powerful. But if it becomes too powerful, what should I do?" Rasa asked. "Sunagakure is Konoha's ally. You know exactly what happens to an ally who becomes too strong, Lord Raikage."
The Raikage was startled. Could it be...
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell the Hokage about your attitude?" the Raikage asked in a low voice.
"My attitude? What attitude?" Rasa sneered dismissively. "Did I say anything? Or is it that you, Lord Raikage, are content to be Konoha's dog?"
Rasa looked intently at the man whose expression was shifting rapidly. The Raikage finally understood Rasa's intent. This trip to Konoha wasn't about the exams at all! His goal was... to weaken, or even take this chance to crush Konoha!
But...
"What gives you this kind of confidence?" the Raikage asked. Just as he had implied, Sunagakure trying to take down Konoha alone was a laughable pipe dream. Rasa wasn't a fool; he had to have another trump card—or rather, reinforcements.
If Rasa's reinforcements were strong enough, then the Raikage... his heart hammered against his ribs. If he could help Rasa crush Konoha, then Kumo wouldn't have to suffer Konoha's pressure anymore, and he would never have to bow his head to the Hokage again!
"By saying that, Lord Raikage, are you planning to join us?" Rasa looked at him with a knowing smile.
"Let's not beat around the bush. If your reinforcements are strong enough, I will lend you a hand. But if this is just wishful thinking on your part, then pretend I was never here tonight. Don't worry, I won't breathe a word of our conversation to anyone."
Ultimately, no matter who Rasa's ally was, the goal was to weaken Konoha. The Raikage understood this, which is why he would keep his mouth shut regardless of whether he joined.
"Since you've put it that way, I'll be direct," Rasa said. "That person is... Orochimaru."
Hearing that familiar yet distant name, the Raikage's pupils constricted slightly. Orochimaru...
In the Raikage's eyes, Orochimaru's raw power was only mid-tier among Kage-level shinobi, but even he had to admit that Orochimaru possessed an endless array of bizarre and dangerous methods. He was a man of significant weight.
The Raikage closed his eyes, feeling the night wind of Konoha brush against him. He remembered standing alone against the overbearing Konoha high-ranking officials...
"In that case... count me in."
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