Chapter 405: After the Conflict
The fight between Naruto's trio and Rasa didn't last long. By the time the Konoha Police Force arrived, everyone involved had already left.
The police officers asked a few bystanders about the incident, but the more they heard, the stranger their expressions became.
Just then, Itachi, who had rushed over after hearing Sasuke was involved, arrived.
"What happened? Was Sasuke injured?" Itachi asked gravely.
"Lord Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke… the situation is a bit complicated. You may not believe this, but Lord Kazekage blocked the road and fought Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Gaara—and he lost."
"Hmm. Losing is to be expected. Let's just act like this never happened. Keep the incident under wraps, don't spread the word," Itachi instructed before leaving.
It wasn't out of concern for Rasa's dignity but rather because Itachi felt that if news of the Kazekage losing to kids who weren't even full-fledged shinobi spread, it might disrupt Uncle Haneda's plans.
After all, if Konoha's kids were this strong, what would people think of the genin? Wouldn't a fight between them destroy the world?
Thus, the news of the Fourth Kazekage losing a three-on-one battle and being countered was quietly suppressed by Konoha.
Since it happened in the Uchiha district, those who witnessed it were either members of the Uchiha clan or Haneda's admirers. The information was tightly sealed, and any outsiders who knew were swiftly dealt with by Itachi.
Rasa returned to the guesthouse with a complicated expression. The Sunagakure delegation greeted him immediately.
"Lord Kazekage, how did it go?"
Rasa glanced at his subordinates but said nothing.
He didn't know whether to feel relieved or frustrated.
He had gone out alone to investigate Uchiha Haneda's home but had ended up encountering his rebellious son and couldn't resist making a move.
What happened next didn't need to be said—those who knew, knew.
After the others dispersed, his trusted jonin, Baki, stayed behind and asked:
"Lord Kazekage, did something go wrong?"
"Uchiha Haneda's home is completely sealed off—there's no way to sneak in," Rasa replied irritably.
"And what about Lord Gaara?"
"I've severed all ties with him. From now on, he's an enemy of Sunagakure. You may go."
After Baki left, Rasa began considering whether Sunagakure should participate in the upcoming war.
It was clear to him that Uchiha Sasuke's strength wasn't entirely his own—he must have used advanced technology!
If even a child could harness such power, what about the real ninjas on the battlefield?
As the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Rasa couldn't afford for Sunagakure to be pushed out of the group entirely because of the war.
After some hesitation, he decided to send a detailed report back to Sunagakure and let the elders deliberate.
I've already disgraced myself as a Kage so many times—what's one more humiliation?
Rasa had grown thick-skinned after suffering repeated defeats at Konoha's hands.
As for his rebellious son, Gaara…
For the sake of his late wife Karura, Rasa decided not to concern himself with him anymore.
---
Ichiraku Ramen.
After ordering his favorite tonkotsu chashu ramen, Naruto stared enviously at the diamond-shaped mark on Sasuke's palm.
"Sasuke, how can you transform too? That's so cool!"
"That's not a transformation—it's Tenseigan Chakra Mode! Naruto, this is way better than your Nine-Tails Chakra Mode," Sasuke replied with a smirk, feigning calmness.
For the first time, Uchiha Sasuke understood the joy of having an overpowered ability.
With the Tenseigan Chakra Mode, he finally had a chance to catch up to Naruto! Naturally, Sasuke was putting on airs.
"Darn Uncle Haneda, so biased! That awesome mode, and he didn't give me one!" Naruto complained.
"That's because Uncle Haneda said this mark helps me unlock my eyes. The Tenseigan Chakra nourishes the Sharingan. You don't have Uchiha blood, so you can't awaken anything. Besides, you already have the Nine-Tails," Sasuke retorted.
Naruto grumbled, "Kurama feels so weak. Outside, he can't beat Uncle Haneda. Inside, he can't beat my mom. Even my dad could crush him with a Rasengan. It's like Kurama can't win against anyone!"
Inside Naruto, Kurama remained silent, pretending to be asleep.
Weak? I'm not weak—I'm just unlucky!
There weren't many in the ninja world who could beat him, but he always seemed to run into the ones who could.
Decades ago, he met two peace-obsessed maniacs: Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. Both of them thrashed him.
Later, he was sealed inside Uzumaki Mito, who restrained him completely with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Twenty years ago? Let's not even mention it—Konoha produced a loving couple who sealed him again.
Then, when he finally had a chance to escape, he ran into…
The combination of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara?!
Gaara sighed. "Enough, Naruto. Don't complain. The Nine-Tails is still a tailed beast. Show some respect—at least against ordinary ninjas, he's unbeatable."
Hearing this, Shukaku called Kurama and mockingly said:
"Hey, dumb fox! You just got disrespected—by my jinchūriki, no less. Hilarious!"
Kurama replied, "Hah, stupid raccoon. At least I was defeated by someone like Uchiha Haneda. Unlike you, who couldn't even handle a little Kazekage!"
"That's because I was sealed!"
"And you think I wasn't? Dumb raccoon."
"Stupid fox!"
"Dumb raccoon!"
…
As Shukaku and Kurama bickered in the mental space, Naruto and Gaara could hear everything.
Naruto quickly stepped in. "Alright, alright, stop fighting! Kurama, Shukaku—you're both tailed beasts, part of the same family. No need to argue!"
Gaara, who had built a good relationship with Shukaku over the years, also mediated. "I apologize for my earlier remarks, Kurama."
Kurama huffed. "For Naruto's sake, I won't argue with that foolish raccoon."
Shukaku scoffed. "Hmph. If Gaara hadn't held me back, I'd have fought you already! I won't stoop to the level of a stinky fox today."
Both Naruto and Gaara decided not to bring up the topic again, focusing instead on their ramen in rare silence.
Meanwhile, Sasuke, oblivious to the tailed beasts' argument, was happily showing off his Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
---
The next day was the day of Uchiha Haneda's "burial."
The "body" was a replica grown from Haneda's cells, perfectly resembling him in appearance and even retaining traces of his chakra.
The body was displayed in a grand hall, allowing leaders from other nations to personally confirm Uchiha Haneda's death.
Inside the hall, dignitaries such as Rasa, the Fourth Raikage, Kurotsuchi, and Konan stood on the left.
Konoha's high-ranking officials, including the Fifth Hokage Uchiha Shisui, Shikaku, Asuma, and Tsunade, stood on the right.
At the front were those closest to Haneda.
Fugaku stood with a stern expression, his face unreadable.
Beside him, Sasuke maintained his usual aloof demeanor, mirroring his father.
Naruto, on the other hand, was trying not to laugh but couldn't quite manage it because Kurama was helping him control his facial expressions.
Haku and Kimimaro stood solemnly, their ninja training evident in their composed and respectful demeanor.