Early Morning, Just Before Sunrise
The first rays of sunlight softly filtered through the window, bathing the room in a warm glow. The room, with its cozy, inviting décor, felt peaceful. On the large bed, a man and a woman lay intertwined, their naked bodies pressed together as they slept soundly.
The scattered items in the room and the visible marks on the woman's neck revealed the passionate night the newlyweds had shared.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly before the harsh light of dawn finally stirred them from their slumber.
Karura stirred, feeling the weight of her husband's possessive gaze on her as he looked down at her from such a close distance. Her cheeks flushed as memories of his bold actions from the previous night flooded back. She attempted to sit up, intending to help her husband, the Kazekage, prepare for the day ahead. However, he gently but firmly pushed her back onto the bed, sealing her lips with a kiss.
More than an hour passed in this intimate quiet before the room settled again.
"Rest... just a little longer..."
Her husband's soothing words echoed softly as he pinned her down, urging her to remain in bed a while longer. Karura's face, still rosy from their shared moments, held a trace of confusion.
He had changed, that much was clear. But instead of feeling troubled by the changes, she found herself savoring every moment of it.
"I love him... so much…!"
She whispered, her voice barely audible, as exhaustion slowly overtook her. Her face deepened in color as she buried her head into the covers, where the lingering scent of her husband surrounded her, comforting and familiar.
---
Meanwhile, Rasa, oblivious to the private moments unfolding at home, was already preparing for the day ahead.
After a night of unparalleled intimacy, he felt an unexpected lightness in his heart. The stress that had been building over the past weeks following his sudden arrival in the world of Naruto seemed to evaporate. A new energy seemed to course through him, and, to his surprise, he even felt his chakra surge slightly.
He slipped back into his professional mindset as he made his way to the Kazekage office. As the Kazekage, the weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders, especially after the conclusion of a critical mission.
The piles of documents needing his review and signature were substantial.
Sadly, in Sunagakure, there were few people Rasa trusted enough to delegate this kind of responsibility to.
He also needed to start making preparations for what was next.
However, despite the daunting workload, he didn't find himself overwhelmed. His mood was far too good for that.
Still, a better system of organization would be necessary if he were to avoid the fate of someone like Naruto, overburdened by the administrative demands of the village.
Just then, Baki knocked on the door before entering.
"Kazekage-sama, I've found the individuals you requested for the task yesterday."
"Good. Bring them in."
A short time later, Baki returned, leading twelve masked Anbu shinobi into the room. The squad knelt before Rasa with disciplined precision.
"Remove your masks."
Even Baki could sense that Rasa was in an unusually good mood today. The usual coldness in his voice was replaced with a warmth that was almost surprising.
However, despite this shift in tone, the Anbu remained wary, quickly removing their masks.
Rasa's gaze swept across them, his eyes sharp as he assessed each member's capabilities.
At that moment, Baki handed Rasa dossiers of the twelve shinobi. Rasa scanned them quickly, nodding in approval.
From their backgrounds, it was clear that these twelve shinobi were perfect candidates. They had been born and raised in Sunagakure, with parents who had also served as shinobi for the village—an ancestral connection that ensured their loyalty.
Their family ties were minimal: their parents had died as war heroes, and they had no significant living relatives. Their lives were simple and uncomplicated as a result.
Furthermore, none of them had any affiliation with factions, whether commoners or the aristocracy. Their sole allegiance was to the Kazekage.
"Excellent."
Rasa placed the dossiers on his desk and addressed the group.
"From now on, you are no longer members of the Anbu. You are the first members of a new department I am establishing: Sunagakure's Covert Operations Unit."
The twelve shinobi bowed their heads in acknowledgment.
"We obey, Kazekage-sama!"
Rasa's tone turned cold again as he continued.
"The purpose of this unit is straightforward. There are tasks the Anbu cannot handle or must remain completely secret. Do you understand?"
Even Baki, sensing the gravity of the situation, shifted uneasily and knelt slightly.
"I apologize for the Anbu's shortcomings, Kazekage-sama."
Rasa shook his head in response.
"No... The Anbu has done well. This is simply an additional measure."
Baki let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"The Covert Operations Unit will temporarily remain under the Anbu's jurisdiction, retaining its current code names. However, from this day forward, this unit will report directly to me and answer solely to my orders. Is that clear?"
"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"
Rasa nodded in approval, then began issuing tasks.
"Now, among you, who is familiar with Kusagakure?"
Three shinobi stepped forward in unison.
"I've completed missions in Kusagakure before, Kazekage-sama."
"I once accompanied the Third Kazekage to meet with Kusagakure's representatives."
"I've conducted infiltration missions in Kusagakure."
Rasa nodded approvingly and handed them a prepared scroll.
"There is someone in Kusagakure I need you to investigate. All the details are in this scroll. Begin immediately and report back with your findings as soon as possible."
"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"
The three shinobi departed swiftly, their mission clear and urgent.
Rasa continued, his voice steady.
"Who here is familiar with the Land of Demons?"
Three shinobi stepped forward, each indicating their experience with the region. Rasa handed them another scroll, and they, too, left promptly.
That left six shinobi standing in the room.
"Who is familiar with Rōran?"
Two shinobi stepped forward, ready to offer their expertise.
"Good. You two will accompany me to Rōran in three days."
Rasa's gaze shifted to the remaining four.
"As for the rest of you, I have another mission."
He handed them a scroll detailing an operation involving Jūgo.
Once all twelve shinobi had departed on their assigned missions, only Baki and Rasa remained in the office.
Baki, though outwardly calm, was still tense. To him, creating the Covert Operations Unit felt like an implicit criticism of the Anbu's capabilities.
Rasa, aware of this unease, decided to address it through action rather than words.
"Come here, Baki. Extend your hand."
Baki, though confused, approached with his head slightly bowed and extended his hand without question.
The moment Rasa's chakra flowed into him, Baki experienced the same overwhelming surge of power that Yashamaru and Pakura had once felt when they first encountered the Star Release chakra mode. His strength doubled in an instant, a sensation that left him momentarily breathless.
"This is my reward to you, Baki. I never overlook the loyalty of my subordinates."
Baki trembled with emotion, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Serving you, Kazekage-sama, is my greatest honor!"
Rasa gave a brief nod of approval.
"Good. Here's a scroll that explains the chakra I've shared with you. Study it carefully. Sunagakure will face many challenges in the coming days."
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