The earth-shattering duel in the desert had concluded, but the terrifying battle scars capable of altering the terrain, along with the final image of the Steel Giant—its body wrapped in mysterious glowing patterns and exuding an aura of divine majesty—were deeply imprinted in the hearts of every Hidden Sand Village villager and Ninja who witnessed the fight.
A deathly silence persisted for a long time, eventually replaced by gasps and uproar like a mountain collapse and a tsunami.
Sayo... won?
Minister Shaye defeated the Fourth Kazekage?!
In such an unbelievable and unprecedented manner?!
Immense shock washed over everyone's understanding. They had personally witnessed the birth of a legend—a fifteen-year-old boy who, relying on his era-defying Puppet Technique and a near-miraculous mastery over Magnet Release, had directly defeated the Fourth Kazekage, a Kage-level powerhouse in his prime!
In the deep pit, the dark iron sand torrent that had imprisoned Rasa slowly dissipated. Rasa stumbled back onto the ground, his face pale, not so much from severe injury but from spiritual shock and disbelief. He watched Sayo lightly leap down from the shoulder of the Gundam, whose unsettling Natural Energy patterns were gradually fading. Rasa's eyes were filled with extreme complexity—shock, frustration, confusion—which finally turned into a long, infinitely weary sigh.
He had lost, completely and utterly, crushed in the field where he held the most pride. The title of the Hidden Sand Village's strongest combatant had, at this moment, undeniably changed hands.
Sayo walked up to Rasa and bowed slightly: "Kazekage-sama, thank you for the match."
His tone was calm, lacking the arrogance of a victor, possessing only his usual composure.
Rasa looked at the young man before him, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. What bravery could a defeated general speak of? Moreover, the level of power the opponent displayed was completely beyond his comprehension.
Soon, the high-ranking officials quickly recovered from their shock and escorted the two back to the Kazekages Building. An emergency meeting concerning the Village's future highest authority was convened amidst an extremely delicate and stunning atmosphere.
The atmosphere in the conference room was so heavy it could almost drip water. Everyone's gaze was focused on Sayo, filled with awe, curiosity, and a hint of unconcealed fanaticism. Determining influence through military strength is an unspoken rule of the Ninja World. Since Sayo had defeated the Kazekage, he naturally possessed the ultimate decision-making power over the Village's future.
The most senior Elder was the first to stand up. His voice trembling with excitement, he looked at Sayo: "Sayo... the result of this battle is clear. You have proven with absolute strength that your power far exceeds our imagination. The fourth generation leader has also acknowledged your victory. According to the rules, and for the future of Sunagakure, we unanimously believe that you should succeed as the Fifth Generation Kazekage and lead Sunagakure toward new glory!"
"Seconded!"
"We ask Lord Sayo to succeed as Kazekage!"
"Sunagakure needs a powerhouse like you to lead!"
There was virtually no dissent. All high-ranking officials, including Rasa, whose face was still pale, tacitly approved the proposal. Strength above all else—this was the fundamental logic of Sunagakure and the entire Ninja World.
However, facing the supreme power that was within easy reach, Sayo slowly shook his head.
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over every official present, his voice clear and firm: "Thank you for your kindness and trust. However, I must refuse the position of Fifth Generation Kazekage."
"What?!"
As soon as he spoke, the entire room was astonished! No one could understand why someone would refuse to become the Kage of a Village? That was the ultimate goal countless Ninja dreamed of!
"Why?" Rasa couldn't help but ask, his brow furrowed.
Sayo explained calmly, his reasons sound and sincere: "Firstly, I am too young. At only fifteen, I may possess strength, but governing a Village cannot be done by military power alone. It requires experience, knowledge, and a deep understanding of human affairs and international dynamics, qualities I cannot acquire overnight. Rashly taking that position would not be for the Village's benefit."
He paused, then continued, a light of idealism flickering in his eyes: "Secondly, my ambition does not lie in ruling. Defeating the Kazekage was not to seize power, but to prove another possibility—to prove that Sunagakure's path is not solely one of war. My dream is to use the knowledge I have learned and the power I possess to fundamentally change the face of the Land of Wind, to make oases bloom in the desert, and to turn barrenness into prosperity. The Kazekage position involves complex administrative duties that would severely restrict my energy, preventing me from focusing on this great endeavor."
"Thirdly," Sayo looked at Rasa, his tone carrying a hint of respect, "although the Fourth Kazekage suffered a loss in this battle, his years of governing experience, contributions to the Village, and external prestige remain. For him to continue leading Sunagakure will better maintain the Village's stability and policy continuity."
His words were clear and logical, every point reasonable. This was not a hypocritical refusal, but a deeply considered choice. Power, to him, was merely a tool to achieve his goals, not the goal itself.
Silence fell upon the conference room again. The officials exchanged glances; they had never encountered such a situation, nor had they ever heard anyone view the Kazekage position in this manner.
After a long pause, Rasa slowly raised his head. The feeling of frustration in his eyes was gradually replaced by a complex emotion. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "So, your philosophy... peace and development prioritized over wars of revenge—do you still adhere to it?"
"Yes, I adhere to it," Sayo replied without hesitation. "We have a better way to become strong, rather than gambling our future on a highly risky war. Starting a war with Konoha will only result in mutual destruction, benefiting the watchful Kirigakure and Iwagakure."
This time, no one immediately voiced a rebuttal.
Sayo had earned the right to articulate his philosophy through his absolute strength. His victory itself proved the immense potential contained within the path he championed. The source of power for that Sage Mode-enhanced Gundam seemed directly related to the development model he advocated.
Rasa closed his eyes, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, he let out a long breath, as if shedding a heavy burden, or perhaps having made a difficult decision.
"I understand." Rasa's voice regained its usual composure, but carried a different nuance. "Perhaps... you are right. Blindly clinging to past hatred might indeed cause Sunagakure to miss its true future."
He looked at the officials: "I have decided to adopt Minister Shaye's suggestion. All military action plans against Konoha will be postponed. The Village's future focus will shift toward internal development, improving livelihoods, and... supporting the various projects of the Sunagakure Research and Development Department."
The transition of supreme power was completed in an unexpected manner. Although Sayo did not take the Kazekage position, his invincible strength and visionary philosophy had effectively made him the spiritual leader and guide for the Hidden Sand Village. His development philosophy was finally accepted by Rasa and the entire high command.
After experiencing an internal clash of power and philosophy, the Hidden Sand Village finally turned completely toward a new path focused on endogenous development. Sayo, freed from the constraints of administrative trivialities, was able to fully dedicate himself to his grand dream of changing the nation.