Konohagakure, a vibrant and thriving village.
Yet inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was anything but bright.
"Hokage-sama, I'm suffering! Yesterday while on patrol, someone suddenly jumped me and beat me half to death! I couldn't see their face, but I swear it was Jōnin Gekkō!"
"I've been beaten four times this month already! Please, I'm begging you—make him stop!"
The anguished voice of a Chūnin drew sympathetic sighs from those around him, and more than a few shared the sentiment.
"Hokage-sama, I'm suffering too…"
"What about that mission you assigned me? And the promised reward? I went all over gathering those medicinal herbs, and Gekkō Jōnin only paid me five thousand ryō—he cut ninety percent of it!"
"I worked for half a month on that task! That doesn't even cover my travel costs!"
Minato Namikaze rubbed his temples.
Ever since Kazuyama Gekkō began his so-called "training," the village had been thrown into chaos.
For the past year, Kazuyama had gone completely off the rails, rampaging inside and outside the village like a madman.
Within the village, he had become a devil in human form. The two complaints just now were merely a fraction of the countless grievances against him.
He had once barged into the Uchiha compound just to "observe" their Sharingan, only to have Fugaku Uchiha chase him for three days and nights with a sword. The Uchiha clan head had finally snapped and cursed him out on the spot.
And Kazuyama? He simply laughed and teleported away with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The village pharmacy had also suffered repeatedly—medicinal herbs vanishing left and right. Thankfully, the bastard at least had the decency to leave payment behind… though when he didn't, he'd leave "compensation" instead—like a wild boar. Or a giant snake.
Just as Minato was pondering how to deal with him, the office door suddenly slammed open. A masked ANBU operative burst in, practically out of breath.
"Hokage-sama, bad news!"
"Intelligence reports that Kazuyama Gekkō went to Sunagakure in the Land of Wind and picked a fight with the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa—he's demanding to take Rasa's son, Gaara, as his disciple!"
"The two are already fighting in the Wind Country's desert—"
Minato nearly spat blood.
What the hell was that man thinking this time?!
"When did this happen?!"
"Yesterday…"
"According to the latest reports, Lord Rasa was furious—his Gold Dust covered the entire desert, visible even from miles away."
"Smack!"
Minato slammed his hand on the desk, shooting to his feet.
"Send the ANBU immediately! Head to the Land of the Wind!"
"No—send Midori instead! Sakumo Hatake too! Bring Kazuyama Gekkō back here!"
But before his anger could cool, a trembling voice came from the ANBU operative.
"Um… Hokage-sama… Lord White Fang went with him. And Lady Tsunade as well…"
Minato felt his brain explode.
"Damn it!!!"
...
The desert of the Land of Wind.
"Gold Dust Burial!"
"Kazuyama Gekkō, you bastard! Are you trying to start another war?!"
In his home territory, Rasa could command an immense volume of Gold Dust. His Magnet Release, combined with the desert terrain, turned into a devastating force.
A storm of Gold Dust swept across the landscape, dyeing the desert golden.
"The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa…"
"With Magnet Release of this level, in this terrain, fewer than five people in the village could take him on."
"Among the younger generation, even the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze, would likely avoid him head-on."
On a distant sand dune, Sakumo Hatake sat cross-legged with a tray before him, holding a teacup and teapot.
Across from him sat Tsunade, sipping sake instead of tea.
"Tch. I don't even need to think to know who those five are," she said. "You, Minato, Jiraiya, the old man, and that brat Kazuyama Gekkō."
Tsunade drained her cup in one gulp.
"But that kid's been in seclusion for a year. The moment he comes back, he stirs up trouble in the Land of Wind—and drags us along to watch?"
"What the hell is he planning?"
Sakumo shook his head. He couldn't make sense of it either.
If Kazuyama truly wanted to make trouble, he didn't need to inform them first.
Still puzzled, Sakumo turned his eyes back toward the battle.
"Gold Dust Drizzle!"
Years apart had only sharpened Rasa's mastery of Magnet Release. Drawing on the terrain, he spread Gold Dust across the sky, then transformed it into a rain of spikes descending from above. The attack's range completely covered the area where Kazuyama had placed his Flying Thunder God markers.
Clearly, Rasa knew that to defeat Kazuyama, he had to neutralize the Flying Thunder God first. Otherwise, he'd never even touch him.
"Hey, hey, hey, Rasa—why so violent?" Kazuyama called out casually. "Wasn't it just a few beatings back in the day?"
"C'mon, it's all in the past! Don't be so petty!"
"I saw your son and thought we'd be a great match. I'm serious about taking him as my disciple!"
Kazuyama stood motionless as the Gold Dust spikes rained down. Yet, as if surrounded by an unseen force, every speck that neared him was repelled. He didn't stop talking the whole time.
Rasa's pupils shrank sharply at the sight.
No seals, no movement—but Kazuyama had nullified every attack. What was that?
Sakumo and Tsunade noticed as well.
"What is that? Some kind of invisible barrier?"
"Tsunade, what do you think?" Sakumo asked, eyes narrowing. Even with his sharp perception, he couldn't identify the technique Kazuyama was using.
Tsunade frowned. "Senjutsu, maybe? But what kind of Senjutsu would do that?"
The Gold Dust kept falling, and Kazuyama looked visibly irritated. With a light wave of his hand, chakra flared outward in a sweeping pulse. Wherever it spread, every grain of Gold Dust vanished without a trace.
"What did you just do?"
"What kind of technique is that?" Rasa demanded, retreating as he gathered more Gold Dust defensively around him.
"Rasa, the war's over. Why do you always have to fight?"
"So, how about my offer?"
"I know you sealed the One-Tail inside your son. Don't worry, I'll make sure he's properly disciplined."
Kazuyama grinned, his aura flaring with power, and Rasa's expression grew even more guarded.
They had clashed many times before, and every time, Rasa had lost.
In his heart, Rasa had long regarded Kazuyama Gekkō as his greatest rival.