#20

The two sides stood face to face, tension hanging in the air as the negotiations reached their conclusion.

Mufasa recalled Mechanical Godzilla, its massive form retreating from the battlefield.

Before the valley, both parties prepared for the exchange.

The Konoha shinobi watched as Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi bound themselves, willingly offering themselves as prisoners of war.

On the other side, the Sand shinobi released Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, guiding them back toward their allies.

The Konoha forces remained composed, avoiding any sudden or reckless actions that could jeopardize the fragile truce.

Mufasa observed this with satisfaction. "I trust Konoha will treat the captured Sand shinobi fairly."

Many Sand shinobi had fallen into Konoha's hands during this conflict, including Kankuro. Their fate would be decided through diplomatic talks at the upcoming Twin Shadows Summit.

Jiraiya gave a slow nod. "At the same time, I expect you to ensure the safety of those three."

Mufasa smirked. "As long as they don't attempt to escape, they have nothing to fear."

As soon as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were back with their comrades, Naruto couldn't hold back. He sprinted forward, throwing himself at Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi's visible eye softened with relief. Seeing the three of them unharmed was more than he could have hoped for. "You're all safe… That's what matters."

A weight lifted off his shoulders, though guilt still gnawed at him. He had sent them on a dangerous mission to pursue Gaara—one that had nearly cost them their lives.

Naruto's excitement quickly turned into concern. "Sensei, what about the village? Is everyone okay?"

Sasuke and Sakura leaned in, eager for an answer. Sasuke's stoic mask couldn't completely hide his unease, while Sakura, thinking of her family, clenched her fists.

Kakashi reassured them with a calm voice. "The village is intact. Everyone is fine."

But beneath his mask, his lips pressed into a grim line.

The truth was, not everyone had made it. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had fallen. His death left a gaping void, and the peace he had upheld for so long now felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment.

Naruto exhaled in relief. "That's good to hear!"

Then, with his usual lack of tact, he turned to Mufasa, grinning. "Old man Mufasa, guess this is goodbye for now!"

Mufasa let out a short laugh. "Something tells me we'll see each other again soon."

He shifted his attention to Jiraiya. "Once I become Kazekage, I'll send envoys to Konoha. I expect you to be ready for negotiations."

Jiraiya met his gaze. "Agreed. We want to settle this conflict as much as you do."

With that, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the rest of the Konoha shinobi turned away, beginning their long journey home.

As they disappeared into the distance, Mufasa turned to his own forces. "Let's head back."

The Sand shinobi erupted into cheers.

"We survived!"

"We made it!"

"Thank you, Mufasa-sama!"

Many of them had been prepared to die, thinking they stood no chance against Konoha's elite. Seeing the power of Konoha's forces firsthand had been a humbling experience.

But Mufasa had turned the tide, driving back Konoha's pursuit and securing not only their lives but also three high-ranking hostages.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Someone muttered in disbelief, "This doesn't even feel real."

On the way back, they encountered a Sand shinobi named Onpu, a Jonin known for his flute-playing.

Onpu's face was grim as he approached. "I bring urgent news. We found the Fourth Kazekage's body."

The group fell silent.

Mufasa's expression darkened. "Take us there."

Following Onpu, they arrived at a valley where the lifeless form of Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, lay. His body had been preserved well enough to determine the cause of death.

Baki knelt beside the corpse, inspecting the fatal wound. "A piercing strike straight through the heart. A blade of some kind."

Temari's breath hitched, tears welling up as the reality set in.

Gaara, however, remained cold and expressionless.

Baki stood and turned to Mufasa. "I suspect the assassins were from the Hidden Sound. They likely killed Lord Rasa and disguised themselves as him to carry out their plan."

Mufasa crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "I'll deal with this later. For now, we need to stabilize the village."

Baki bowed his head. "Understood."

Mufasa glanced at Rasa's body one last time before giving the order. "Bring his remains. We're heading home."

Sunagakure - The Village Hidden in the Sand

The earthy tones of the village blended into the desert landscape. Among the uniform buildings, one stood out—the Kazekage's Tower. Oval-shaped and towering above the rest, it was the heart of the village, where the leader lived and worked.

Inside, a tense meeting was underway.

The village elders, senior officers, and Jonin commanders had gathered. The atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.

Everyone had seen the Kazekage's body. His death was undeniable. And now, without a leader, Sunagakure was vulnerable.

To make matters worse, the conflict with Konoha was far from resolved. Another misstep could lead to full-scale war.

A long, uncomfortable silence stretched across the room.

Baki finally broke it. "We can't afford to hesitate."

"We need a new Kazekage. Now. Someone who can lead and protect this village."

Chiyo and Ebizo, the village's most revered elders, remained silent, observing from their seats. They had long withdrawn from politics, leaving this decision to the current leadership.

One of the senior council members, Sajō, nodded. "Baki, you're right. Choosing a new Kazekage is our priority."

Other high-ranking officials, Jōseki and Tōjūrō, voiced their agreement.

Sajō turned to the gathered shinobi. "Then, who do you nominate?"

Baki didn't hesitate. "I nominate Mufasa-sama."

A murmur spread through the room.

"Mufasa? The merchant ninja?" Sajō frowned.

Kazekage wasn't just a title—it was a symbol of power. If their leader was weak, Sunagakure would become a laughingstock among the other villages.

Baki scoffed. "You've seen his strength. Do you still doubt?"

He gestured for them to follow him to the balcony.

Below, in front of the Kazekage Tower, a large crowd had gathered.

Hundreds of shinobi stood in formation—warriors who had fought alongside Mufasa and lived to tell the tale.

Together, they raised their voices in unison.

"Mufasa-sama is our Kazekage!"

"We support Mufasa-sama!"

Sajō, Ryusa, Jōseki, and Tōjūrō were stunned.

How was this happening?

Why were so many people rallying behind Mufasa?

Baki stepped forward. "If you had seen Lord Mufasa push back the might of Konoha's elite single-handedly, you would understand why everyone believes in him."

The council members exchanged uncertain glances. Seeing so many shinobi supporting him so wholeheartedly, they could no longer deny Mufasa's strength.

Jōseki hesitated. "But what about Lord Rasa's children? Especially Gaara?"

Would Gaara react violently to being passed over?

A raspy voice broke the silence. "My sight may not be what it used to be, but I can still see clearly."

It was Elder Ebizo.

"Look," he said, pointing.

Everyone turned to where his finger directed them.

Gaara stood alone on the rooftop of a building opposite the Kazekage's Tower. He did not chant with the crowd, nor did he display any outward emotion.

Instead, he simply crossed his arms. The gourd on his back was open, sand flowing into the air, twisting and swirling until it formed six distinct words:

"I support Mufasa-sama."

Gaara's message was silent, yet undeniably clear.

If even Gaara, who had once been feared as a monster, was standing behind Mufasa, then what reason was there to argue?

In the shinobi world, the strong ruled.

And right now, Mufasa was the strongest in Sunagakure.

Sajō, Ryūsa, Jōseki, and Tōjūrō turned to the village elders.

Chiyo gave a weary sigh. "If Mufasa has no objections, then let him bear the weight of the Kazekage's mantle."

Ebizo nodded. "We have no objections."

Without further delay, the village council dispatched envoys to seek out Mufasa and formally offer him the title.

Mufasa rarely stayed in the village itself. He spent most of his time thirty miles away at his ninja tool factory, a place many within the village had only heard rumors about.

When the delegation arrived, they were greeted by Temari, who was now working at the facility.

She smirked. "The boss is in the insect nest, training the sandworms."

"Training... sandworms?" The council members exchanged confused glances.

As they followed her to the back of the facility, the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.

By the time they reached the massive enclosure, the source of the tremors became clear.

Inside the reinforced area, Mufasa was in the middle of a battle against a towering, hundred-meter-long sandworm.

"You ungrateful bastards!" Mufasa growled, dodging as the creature lunged. "I feed you, shelter you, and you still think you can go wild?"

With a flick of his wrist, he seized the worm mid-air and slammed it into the ground. The sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the sand.

The onlookers were stunned into silence.

Even elite Jonin hesitated to face sandworms alone. Yet here was Mufasa, handling one like it was a mere nuisance.

"Boss!" Temari called out. "We have visitors!"

Mufasa turned his head and spotted the group standing at the edge of the enclosure.

He grinned. "About time."

With a single leap, he soared over the fence and landed before them.

He dusted off his hands. "Had to teach that thing a lesson. No point in raising something if it won't respect you."

Sajō and the others shared uneasy smiles.

"Mufasa-sama, you certainly handle things in... unique ways," Sajō said. "We've come because—"

"I already know why you're here," Mufasa interrupted, his gaze sharp.

The group stiffened.

"Is there anyone else in Sunagakure more qualified to be Kazekage than me?" His voice was calm, but the weight of his words was undeniable.

Mufasa never bothered with false modesty. He took what he deserved.

And right now, he deserved this.

The delegation exchanged nervous glances.

Mufasa continued, his tone commanding. "Sunagakure is at a crossroads. We face two major crises: financial collapse and the fallout from the war with Konoha."

"I have solutions for both."

"Konoha will renegotiate peace with us. That's non-negotiable. And as part of that agreement, they will compensate us to help stabilize our immediate situation."

"But that's only a temporary fix. The long-term plan is far greater."

His expression hardened with determination. "We will transform this village. No longer will we be a relic of the past, relying on outdated tactics and scraps from other nations. We will forge our own future."

"Every shinobi will have a job. Every family will have a home. There will be food on every table and clean water for all. Orphans will be cared for, widows will be supported, and anyone who wants to become a ninja will have the opportunity to train."

His voice grew more fervent. "We will build a village where trees grow, flowers bloom, and rivers flow freely. No longer will Sunagakure be seen as the barren wasteland of the shinobi world. We will make it a place people admire. A place they envy."

The assembled shinobi and elders stared at him, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.

Was such a thing even possible?

Or was this just an impossible dream?

Mufasa smirked, reading the doubt in their eyes. "I know you find this hard to believe. That's fine. You don't have to understand right now. You just have to follow my lead."

His gaze turned ice-cold. "But know this—anyone who stands in the way of progress, anyone who dares to sabotage this future we're building..."

His voice dropped, dangerously low. "Will not be forgiven."

Sajō and the other high-ranking officials quickly bowed their heads. "We would never dare oppose you, Kazekage-sama. We pledge our full loyalty."

Sunagakure had its weaknesses—its economy was in shambles, and its resources were scarce—but if there was one thing its people had, it was loyalty. Even if there were dissenters, they wouldn't last long.

Sajō stepped forward. "Then, shall we begin preparations for the Kazekage's inauguration ceremony?"

Mufasa waved a hand dismissively. "No need. The village is already struggling financially. We won't waste money on pointless celebrations."

And just like that, Mufasa took the Kazekage's hat. That very day, he stepped onto the balcony of the Kazekage Tower, looking down at the gathered villagers. Their cheers echoed through the streets as they welcomed their new leader.

That night, Mufasa convened a high-level meeting.

Alongside the usual Sand Village officials, he included his own trusted allies—Gaara and Temari.

Sajō laid out the state of the village's finances. "Sunagakure has a population of around 80,000, with 4,630 registered shinobi. Our monthly expenses total one million ryō."

(For reference: 100 yen = 1 ryō.)

"Mission commissions and mercenary contracts bring in around 400,000 ryō per month."

"Previously, Lord Rasa covered the remaining costs using his Gold Dust technique."

"Right now, our total funds amount to 970,000 ryō. At this rate, we can barely last another month before the village runs out of money."

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Mufasa.

He removed his Kazekage hat and set it on the table with a sigh.

Sunagakure's financial state had always been dire, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad.

Rasa had single-handedly covered nearly 60% of the village's expenses using his Gold Dust technique. It was no wonder Orochimaru had taken him out so easily—he'd probably been too drained from constantly producing gold to properly defend himself.

Mufasa leaned forward. "Besides missions and mercenary work, does the village have any other sources of income? Do we have any businesses or shops?"

Sajō frowned. "Kazekage-sama, we are shinobi. Why would we waste time on such trivial things?"

Several other officials nodded in agreement.

"A shinobi's duty is to sharpen their skills and be ready for battle at all times."

"Running shops and businesses? That's small-time. Missions bring in far greater rewards."

"Kazekage-sama, if I may be blunt, I suggest you follow in Lord Rasa's footsteps and refine Gold Dust."

Mufasa's expression darkened. The same backward thinking. The same short-sightedness. It was no wonder Sunagakure was always struggling.

"And what happens when I'm gone? Or if I can't produce gold?" He let his words sink in. "The Daimyo has been cutting back on funding, and mission requests are drying up. What was your long-term plan?"

Silence.

The officials looked at each other, but no one had an answer.

Mufasa scoffed. He already knew how things had played out in the original timeline—Sunagakure had no choice but to beg Konoha for help, becoming completely dependent on them.

He clenched his jaw and exhaled sharply. "Tch."

He rose from his seat, his presence commanding.

"I don't blame you for thinking this way—it's the result of our environment. Konoha has fertile lands, rich resources, and trade routes that connect them to every corner of the shinobi world. Naturally, they've developed a business mindset."

"But Sunagakure? We live in a wasteland. Sand as far as the eye can see. Our economy has suffered, and in turn, our way of thinking has become rigid. We're used to surviving through bloodshed, not innovation."

He let his words sink in before continuing. "That changes today. Sunagakure will no longer survive by selling our blood. We have something even more valuable—something that will change our future."

He paused, letting the tension build. Then, he said a single word.

"Oil."

The room fell silent. Gaara and Temari remained composed, but the others looked confused.

"Oil?" Ryusa echoed, frowning.

"Yes. And our first priority will be to build an entire industry around it."

Seeing their blank expressions, Mufasa smirked. "I'll take you to see it later. Once you understand its value, you'll realize how powerful it is."

The officials exchanged uncertain glances, but curiosity flickered in their eyes.

Mufasa pressed on. "At the same time, we'll begin the first phase of Sunagakure's transformation. Right now, our village is surrounded by stone walls, like some outdated fortress from the past. That's not the future I envision."

His voice grew more determined. "I want a modern village—one with elevators, computers, transportation systems. A place with designated industrial, scientific, commercial, agricultural, and residential sectors. A village that is truly self-sufficient."

He gestured toward the council. "For security, we will develop chakra-powered machine gun towers, electromagnetic barrier nets, and fully automated puppet guards. We will no longer rely on outdated defenses."

"We will also establish a proper welfare system to support orphans, widows, and the elderly. And our ninja academy? It will expand twentyfold, ensuring future generations have the best training possible."

The room was spinning with information. Ryusa looked dazed. "Kazekage-sama, how much will all of this cost?"

Mufasa didn't hesitate. "About 3.2 billion ryō."

A stunned silence fell over the council. Ryusa nearly choked. "Three billion?! Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?!"

Even if they captured every high-ranking rogue ninja in the world, they wouldn't come close to that amount.

Mufasa's smirk widened. "We won't get it all at once. The money will be invested in phases, funded as we earn it."

The officials exchanged nervous glances. "Earn it? From what?"

Mufasa leaned back, confident. "From my industry, where else?"

_____________

Word count: 2876

Comment below on what you think so far.

Also, if you're interested in reading some advanced chapters, you can support me on my patreon.

patreon.com/Rai_jin

Thanks for reading guys.