A Glimmer of Hope
Though the Fourth Kazekage was dead, the gathered shinobi of Sunagakure refused to fall into despair.
Their minds all turned to one person—the fifteen-year-old youth who had accomplished the impossible.
A boy who had defeated a Kazekage in combat, become a jōnin in a week, and nearly killed a high-ranking shinobi before taking his place as a trusted bodyguard of the Fourth Kazekage in record time.
This wasn't someone to envy.
This was someone sent by the heavens to save Sunagakure.
A Voice That Stirred the Masses
Qi Hai stepped forward, his expression firm.
"From today forward, this place shall no longer be known as Sea Lord Hill. It will be called Shame Hill of the Sand!"
The crowd fell silent.
"This land marks the greatest humiliation of Sunagakure. Let it serve as a reminder to all!"
Qi Hai's voice boomed like thunder:
"Anyone who dares to harm the innocent people of the Land of Wind—death!"
"Anyone who dares conspire with Orochimaru—death!"
The declaration sent waves of emotion through the crowd.
"Death!" someone shouted.
"Death!" others echoed, their voices rising to a roar.
"I swear on my life—we'll kill that snake, Orochimaru!"
Their cries reverberated through the desert air, stirring hope among the shinobi.
Honoring the Kazekage
Qi Hai turned to the three siblings—Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara.
"Bury the Kazekage here, on the highest hill," he ordered. "Let him watch over us as we wash away the shame of the past and forge a brighter future for Sunagakure."
Tears streaming down their faces, Temari and Kankuro nodded.
A Solemn Burial
On the peak of Shame Hill, Gaara used his sand manipulation to create a grave.
The Kazekage's body—now restored to its original appearance—was laid to rest.
Everyone gathered at the grave to pay their respects.
From a distance, the ever-scheming Daiten Momonosuke snapped photos with his old-fashioned camera, a sly grin plastered across his face.
"This is gold. Absolute gold," he muttered to himself. "Four titles for tomorrow's headlines:
The Fourth Kazekage Assassinated by Orochimaru!
Orochimaru Flees in Terror from Qi Hai!
The Rise of the Fifth Kazekage!
Sunagakure's Shame: The History of Shame Hill!
"I'm going to make a fortune," he chuckled.
A Kazekage's Final Words
Back at the camp, Maki approached the gathered shinobi, clutching a scroll.
"This is a Kazekage's Directive," he announced solemnly.
The shinobi fell silent.
Maki carefully unfurled the scroll, revealing its contents:
"If I, the Fourth Kazekage, should perish, my successor as the Fifth Kazekage shall be… Qi Hai."
The words were a hammer blow, leaving everyone stunned.
"Qi Hai… is the new Kazekage?"
Maki's voice was steady, but his eyes brimmed with emotion. "These are the words of the Fourth Kazekage himself. There can be no mistake."
Qi Hai, meanwhile, stood frozen in disbelief.
Fate's Irony
Mission accomplished.
Qi Hai had spent countless nights plotting Rasa's demise, only for fate to take the Kazekage's life in an unexpected twist.
And now, Rasa's dying wish was for Qi Hai to lead Sunagakure.
"Rasa… you really were a straightforward guy," Qi Hai thought to himself, a mix of guilt and amusement tugging at his emotions.
Though he had resented the Kazekage, he couldn't deny Rasa's vision and integrity.
A New Era
Maki approached Qi Hai, holding the scroll.
"Kazekage-sama, this belongs to you now."
The shinobi dropped to one knee.
"Lord Fifth Kazekage!"
One by one, the shinobi followed suit, pledging their loyalty to Qi Hai.
Even the three siblings knelt before him.
"Kankuro, at your service, Lord Kazekage."
"Temari, at your service, Lord Kazekage."
Gaara was last to kneel, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Gaara, at your service, Lord Kazekage."
A System Notification
Ding! Congratulations! Mission 'Become the Kazekage' completed.
Random skill acquired: Tenfold Physique.
Qi Hai's eyes widened as the system described the skill:
[Tenfold Physique]: A passive skill that increases stamina, recovery speed, and physical strength tenfold. The exact boost depends on the user's base attributes.
It was a simple yet unimaginably powerful ability—perfect for someone who had honed their body to the peak of human potential.
With this skill, Qi Hai felt like he had ascended to a new level.
"Now this," he thought with a grin, "is what I call a reward."
A New Mission
System Notification:
New Mission Generated: Launch the Leaf Collapse Plan.
Objective: Inflict 50% destruction on Konohagakure.
Reward: Random skill draw.
Penalty for failure: Loss of [Tenfold Physique].
Qi Hai smirked.
A mission to attack the so-called "greatest hidden village"?
No problem.
"Time to show Konoha what happens when you mess with the Sand," he thought.
Raising his voice, he addressed his shinobi:
"By the will of the Fourth Kazekage, we will crush Konoha and bring glory to Sunagakure!"
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