Chapter 197 Disappearance of Rasa

The death of Sarutobi Hiruzen had followed the course of the original timeline. The Third Hokage had fallen, and Konoha had mourned. But fate had other plans.

During a routine patrol near the outskirts of Konoha's borderlands, a Jōnin from the reconnaissance unit noticed something unusual—a swarm of crows, unnaturally thick in number, circling above a weathered wooden shack near the sandstone desert.

The sight alone sent a shiver down his spine.

Crows were never a good omen.

Hand resting on his kunai, the Jōnin moved cautiously toward the structure. The wooden beams were rotting, and the door was slightly ajar. As he stepped closer, the unmistakable stench of decay hit him like a physical force. His instincts screamed danger.

Something was wrong here.

With a flicker of chakra, he leaped back and formed a quick hand seal. "Tsuchiya reporting in. I found something strange—possibly a crime scene. Requesting backup immediately."

Minutes later, a full investigation team arrived. Under the dim light of dusk, they forced open the door and braced themselves for whatever lay inside.

What they found made the most hardened among them gag.

Three lifeless bodies, twisted and left to rot, lay sprawled across the dirt floor.

And one of them… was wearing the unmistakable robes of the Kazekage.

A murmur of disbelief swept through the team.

"This… This is the Fourth Kazekage," one of them whispered in horror.

"Impossible," another muttered, his voice hoarse. "The Kazekage was just in Konoha during the Chūnin Exams."

"No," Tsuchiya said grimly, stepping forward. "That wasn't him. It was Orochimaru."

Silence.

A sickening realization settled over them.

The insects crawling over the bodies, the signs of prolonged decomposition… these men had been dead for weeks.

One of the younger Chūnin stumbled back, covering his mouth. "Which means… the man we thought was the Kazekage during the invasion—"

"—was Orochimaru in disguise."

A chill ran through them.

The weight of the discovery crushed the air from their lungs.

Konoha had been attacked by an enemy they never even realized was inside their walls.

A veteran Jōnin clenched his fists. "We need to report this to Hokage-sama. Now."

The investigation team wasted no time returning to Konoha. The moment they arrived, they were escorted straight to the Fifth Hokage.

Minato Namikaze, standing behind his desk, arms crossed, listened intently as Tsuchiya relayed the details of their grim discovery.

When the words "Kazekage's corpse" left the Jōnin's mouth, Minato's normally composed expression darkened.

"This means the real Rasa was dead before the Chūnin Exams even started," he muttered.

Tsunade, who was standing nearby, exhaled sharply. "Orochimaru played us like fools. He didn't just assassinate a Kage—he wore his skin and walked right into our village."

Jiraiya, who had been leaning against the wall, ran a hand through his hair. "Damn snake always had a taste for theatrics, but this… this is next level."

Tobirama's dark legacy lived on through Danzo—and now, Orochimaru's schemes mirrored the darkness Konoha had cultivated in its shadows.

Minato closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled. Hiruzen had died thinking he was protecting Konoha from an external invasion. But the real threat had already been inside the village, manipulating events from within.

"The Sand will want answers," he said finally. "And so do I."

He turned to Jiraiya, his blue eyes cold with determination.

"Find Orochimaru."

Jiraiya nodded. "I was gonna track him down anyway," he said, smirking despite the gravity of the situation. "I still owe him for ruining my research trip."

Tsunade shot him a glare. "This is why people call you a pervert first, Sannin second."

Jiraiya held up his hands in mock innocence. "Hey, hey, I can multitask!"

Meanwhile, Tatsuya found himself caught in an exhausting whirlwind of attention from Kurenai and Terumi Mei. It seemed like his every move was under their watch, and he could feel his resolve beginning to crack. The constant pressure was wearing him down. He could only endure so much before breaking. After all, even those who wielded iron needed their rest.

Tatsuya's actions during the Chūnin Exams had inadvertently saved Konoha, but his kindness now felt like a double-edged sword. How could the village, with its vast network of ninjas, be so oblivious to the revenge that was slowly boiling beneath the surface?

Fortunately, Rin remained calm and well-behaved, not as reckless or fanatical as the others. This was a small relief for Tatsuya, who found comfort in her composure amidst the chaos.

In his quiet moments, Tatsuya found himself curious. Despite Orochimaru's departure from Konoha, the man hadn't contacted him once. When Tatsuya had seen the mark on Sarutobi Hiruzen's abdomen, he couldn't help but conclude that Orochimaru had sustained serious injuries. The cunning of Sarutobi Hiruzen had far exceeded Orochimaru's expectations, and it was clear that Orochimaru had paid a heavy price for his miscalculations.

Though Tatsuya had no desire to become entangled in the conflict between them, their shared goals and alliances meant that he couldn't simply ignore the situation. Besides, while Sarutobi Hiruzen's seal would be difficult to break for some time, Tatsuya was confident in his methods of approaching it more delicately.

As the final round of the Chūnin Exams was still a week away, the original teams stayed in Konoha for the time being, though no one expected what was about to unfold. Gaara, struggling with the hatred that had consumed him for so long, suddenly erupted in a violent outburst. His forehead, bearing the symbol of "love," was a cruel irony—his heart was filled with nothing but bitterness and rage.

In the presence of a tailed beast, even the most powerful shinobi appeared insignificant.

Minato, ever the diligent Hokage, was quick to arrive at the scene as soon as the news broke. Meanwhile, Hatake Kakashi sought out Tatsuya, knowing that only he could resolve this escalating situation.

The last time Konoha faced a rampaging beast—the Nine-Tails—Tatsuya had single-handedly subdued it. Now, it seemed that Shukaku, like the Nine-Tails, was a threat only he could handle.

"Go, without delay," Kakashi urged, sensing the urgency of the situation.

For Tatsuya, this was just another storm to weather. But in times like these, it was as if the rain had arrived exactly when it was needed.

As long as it wasn't the end of the world, Tatsuya had no reason to worry.

The two women in the room watched the flashing figure, muttering quietly to themselves. Surprisingly, the two individuals who had never interacted before now coexisted in perfect harmony, their interests aligned in the absence of conflict.

Breathing in the long-lost air of freedom, Tatsuya felt a rare sense of clarity. Yet, for Minato and the others, the situation was far from ideal. Gaara's violent rampage was quickly becoming a headache for everyone involved.

Temari and Kankuro were doing their best to contain Gaara, who was losing himself in his rage. At this point, Gaara couldn't distinguish friend from foe. Anyone who came near him was viewed as a threat.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Naruto, hiding safely in a secure zone, watched the chaos unfold. Secretly, he felt a wave of relief that he wasn't in Gaara's shoes. The thought of being consumed by such terrifying hatred sent a shiver down his spine.

"If you don't want to lose your family, it's best to come here now," Tatsuya's voice echoed, his tone calm yet forceful. "He has no self-awareness at all. I promise it won't cost him his life."

From the air, Tatsuya observed Gaara, who was already using his false sleep technique. It was difficult to tell whether he was even conscious at this point.

Temari and Kankuro, concerned but now clearly out of their depth, exchanged uncertain glances. Though their worry for Gaara was genuine, it was becoming clear that they were no longer in control of the situation. Their concern was shifting to the fact that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"If you're not careful, you'll end up provoking this man—and with your brother caught in the middle," Tatsuya continued, his words sharp as he landed before them.

"Five to five, get everyone back," Tatsuya ordered, before stepping forward to confront the rampaging Gaara.

Hatake Kakashi let out a sigh. Following Tatsuya's instructions, he quickly ushered the others out of the immediate combat zone. As the group retreated, a massive mound of sand exploded in the space they had just vacated.

Tatsuya's movements were so swift that even those of Kage-level, like Minato, could only catch a brief glimpse of his afterimage. The power he displayed was overwhelming.

Shukaku, the tailed beast within Gaara, was under constant assault. Sand and debris fell with each strike, while the once-green forest rapidly transformed into a desert wasteland.

The onlookers, stunned by the sheer scale of the battle, could do little more than watch in awe as the scene unfolded before them.

Tatsuya's power was already well-known, but seeing the way he effortlessly subdued the rampaging-tailed beast was nothing short of astonishing.

True to his word, Tatsuya had kept Shukaku in check, never once harming Gaara, who remained dormant on his head. Most would have seen such a situation and immediately targeted the Jinchūriki, attacking the host to punish the tailed beast. But Tatsuya's approach was different, a quiet testament to his control and restraint.

Temari and Kankuro, witnessing this first-hand, were filled with awe and respect for the strength of Konoha—and for the man standing before them. Despite Shukaku's violent nature, the beast showed no signs of stopping, its fury still palpable in the air.

Everyone present could sense the ongoing tension, but Tatsuya had already anticipated it. His earlier barrage of attacks, though fierce, had merely been for show—an effort to warm up. After all, being cooped up at home for so long had made him eager to stretch his limbs, and this was the perfect opportunity.

What most didn't realize was that Tatsuya had used this battle against Shukaku as a personal exercise routine—testing his limits before facing the true challenge.

With a swift Body Flicker Technique, Tatsuya appeared before Gaara, who was still disoriented, and whispered a few words into his ear.

In an instant, Shukaku's violent rampage ceased, as if the beast had been undone by Tatsuya's words. Gaara's eyes fluttered open, staring at the man before him with a mixture of confusion and wonder.

"Instead of harboring hatred, it is better to protect those who recognize your worth," Tatsuya said, his voice calm but resolute.

Gaara sat motionless, the moonlight casting stark shadows over his bloodstained form. His sand, usually an extension of his will, lay still around him, as if even it had lost the will to fight.

Tatsuya knelt in front of him, unwavering, his voice calm but firm. "You think you're alone, that no one can understand what it's like to live with something inside you—something that makes people fear you, hate you. But you're wrong."

Gaara's teal eyes narrowed. "You… know nothing." His voice was hoarse, strained from overuse of his bloodlust. "Since the day I was born, I've been nothing but a monster. That's all I've ever been to them."

Temari flinched at his words, and Kankuro clenched his fists. They had spent years trying to reach their brother, but he had always pushed them away, drowning in his own hatred.

Tatsuya didn't back down. He met Gaara's cold, empty stare without fear. "And what did that get you? Do you feel stronger? Happier? Are you any less alone?"

Gaara's hands trembled.

"You kill to prove your existence," Tatsuya continued, voice unwavering. "But what if I told you there's another way? That your strength doesn't have to be built on hatred?"

Gaara scoffed, but there was something different in his expression—hesitation. Doubt.

Tatsuya pressed on. "I've met someone just like you. A boy who had nothing, who was hated for what he carried inside him. But instead of giving in, he too is fighting for a place in this world. And now?" He leaned in slightly. "He has people who would die for him. People who call him their brother."

Gaara's breath hitched. Friend. A word he had never truly understood.

Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance, seeing something shift in their brother's eyes. The pure, unwavering rage that had always burned there was flickering, like a candle against the wind.

Tatsuya placed a hand on the sand between them, letting it shift through his fingers. "You don't have to walk this path alone, Gaara. You were never meant to."

The words struck deep, breaking through cracks that Gaara had never acknowledged before.

For the first time in his life, Gaara wasn't being looked at with fear.

Not as a monster.

But as someone worth saving.

The sand beneath him stirred slightly—not in hostility, but uncertainty.

Temari, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward. Slowly, carefully, she placed a hand on Gaara's shoulder.

"Gaara," she whispered, voice trembling. "You're not alone. You never were. We… we've always been here."

Kankuro swallowed hard before stepping beside them, nodding. "We're family, man. We never stopped trying to reach you."

Gaara's body tensed, his mind racing. They had always been there. He had just refused to see it.

The weight of their words settled in. The blind rage, the bloodlust—it had been his shield, his armor. But now, as he sat there, with Tatsuya in front of him and his siblings at his side…

For the first time, it felt okay to let go.

His fingers curled into the sand, but there was no intent to kill.

Only the unfamiliar sensation of something he had never dared to feel before.

Hope.

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