Rasa's face was full of struggle; he was unwilling for his child to become a Jinchuriki.
Because Shukaku would constantly erode the Jinchuriki's sanity, inducing them into a slumbering rampage.
To prevent such rampages, a Jinchuriki is unable to sleep normally for long periods.
Rasa did not want his child to be unable to sleep normally for long periods.
Especially for an unborn infant, not to mention that his wife faced the risk of a difficult labor.
Sunagakure's Sealing Jutsu didn't wait for the child to be born; instead, they sealed the Tailed Beast while the child was still in the womb, using the mother's Chakra to counter the beast.
The proposal to seal the Tailed Beast within the child in Karura's womb was an old one.
Because Karura had once trained alongside the previous Shukaku Jinchuriki, the monk Bunpuku, her Chakra was very special.
It represented the ultimate power of protection, which was the key to countering Shukaku's erosion.
Rasa struggled as he spoke, "Karura won't agree, and besides, the Village's Sealing Jutsu is still crude; Karura will be at risk of a difficult labor."
Chiyo snorted coldly, "Karura's opinion is not important. Rasa, don't think I don't know about your schemes against Pakura."
"To even be capable of such an act as betraying a fellow villager, are you really fit to be the Kazekage?"
"..."
Rasa was rendered silent.
Chiyo added, "Consider this your punishment! Shukaku must be contained by your child."
Why did Rasa, as the Kazekage, still have to obey Chiyo?
First was Chiyo's seniority; she had been a Village elite since the time of the Second Kazekage.
She was also an important advisor to the Third Kazekage.
Now, she could be considered the Great Elder of Sunagakure.
Additionally, Sunagakure had an Elder Council, and the Kazekage's power was greatly restricted by them.
Sunagakure wasn't large, but its internal politics were treacherous.
In the original work, when Gaara was captured by the Akatsuki, the elders of the Elder Council were not prepared to retrieve him.
Because of Gaara's unstable track record, they didn't have much faith in him as the Kazekage.
Furthermore, the Sunagakure led by Rasa had not won the Third Great Ninja War, so his prestige was insufficient.
He became the Fourth Kazekage only because of the Third Kazekage's sudden disappearance, and it just so happened that he had inherited the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release.
Rasa's appointment as the Fourth Kazekage relied entirely on Chiyo's support.
Rasa remained silent for a moment before saying to Chiyo, "Grandmother, can I become the Jinchuriki of Shukaku?"
Chiyo shook her head, "No, you already possess Magnet Release, which overlaps with Shukaku's power. Even if concentrated together, it wouldn't increase by much."
"A Shukaku Jinchuriki can be groomed to be a Kage."
Rasa then slowly came to a realization. Although there were currently no cases of a Jinchuriki becoming a Kage, Kirigakure's Mizukage candidate was undoubtedly a Jinchuriki.
If his child could withstand Shukaku's backlash, then the next Jinchuriki would still be from his family.
Certainly, Karura's Chakra could counter Shukaku's erosion.
"Fine, I will find a way to make Karura agree to let our child become the Shukaku Jinchuriki."
"Also, about the Five Kage Summit! The Land of Fire wants us to head to Konoha in three days to participate."
Chiyo nodded, "The alliance of the Five Great Ninja Villages is inevitable. Only by gathering all the power of the Ninja World can we deal with Uchiha Madara."
"However—"
Chiyo was suddenly interrupted by a young talent of the Village, the Wind Release Jonin—Baki.
"Lady Chiyo, Lord Kazekage, Sasori has returned to the Village!"
"What?!"
Chiyo and Rasa were both greatly shocked.
Chiyo's expression immediately turned into one of pleasant surprise, and she grabbed Baki by the collar.
"Where is he? Where is my grandson?"
"At the Village entrance, the Pass!"
Hearing this, Chiyo immediately ran toward the Village entrance regardless of everything, even stumbling because she was in such a hurry.
Ever since Sasori disappeared three years ago, Chiyo had been sending people to find him, but they hadn't found anything for so long.
Chiyo was very worried that something had happened to Sasori.
Rasa quickly stepped forward to support Chiyo, "Grandmother, you are old, slow down! I'll use my Gold Dust to take you there."
Rasa summoned his Gold Dust and flew toward the Pass at the Village entrance with Chiyo.
Baki chased after them with all his might, "Lord Kazekage, take me with you!"
Chiyo's dark eyes were filled with irrepressible joy, but that was soon followed by deep concern.
Because Sasori was a defector.
At this point in time, it was the first day of the 51st year of Konoha, and three years had passed since the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War.
Sasori's defection had occurred three years ago.
Sunagakure's memory of Sasori was still very vivid, and they weren't aware that it was Sasori who had killed the Third Kazekage and defected.
However, the Third Kazekage's disappearance and Sasori's defection happened during the same period.
Chiyo used her minor authority to stop everyone from thinking further in that direction.
So, ordinary Ninja believed that the Third Kazekage had simply gone missing.
Sasori's defection was defined as a long-term failure to return to the Village to fulfill his duties.
If Sunagakure were to learn that Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage, he would face pursuit from hundreds or thousands of Sunagakure elites.
His only end would be death.
It was Chiyo who had been protecting Sasori.
Having been missing for so many years and not being found despite searching the entire Ninja World, the Third Kazekage would probably be in kindergarten by now if he'd been reborn.
The term "missing" was merely an illusion to comfort everyone that the strongest Kazekage in history wasn't dead yet.
Although Sasori believed he had been very discreet, the Village high-ranking officials could still find some clues.
First of all, there were no signs of a large-scale battle at the scene of the Third Kazekage's disappearance; the only way to make the strongest Kazekage in history disappear or die without any defense was poison.
Whose poison in the Village was the strongest?
Aside from Chiyo, it was Sasori, who had surpassed his teacher.
Many people had guessed it, but they didn't dare say it out of respect for Chiyo.
Chiyo looked at Rasa and said, "Rasa, since you can call Pakura back, you can also tolerate Sasori."
"..."
Rasa remained silent. Sasori and Pakura were different; Sasori was the most talented Puppeteer in Sunagakure's history.
Even Chiyo's Puppet Technique couldn't compare to Sasori's.
He was regarded as a leader by the Village's Puppeteers.
If Sasori hadn't defected, it would have been hard to say who the position of Fourth Kazekage would have fallen to.
At the very least, if Sasori wanted to run for Fourth Kazekage, Chiyo and Ebizo, these two high-ranking officials of Sunagakure, would definitely support him with all their might.
And the biggest difference between Sasori and Pakura was that Pakura wasn't very bright; she was always clashing with the Village elders in her speech and actions.
Sasori was suspected of killing the Third Kazekage and defecting from the Village; he was a highly venomous scorpion.
Seeing Rasa's silence, Chiyo softened her tone slightly, "Rasa, I can choose not to make your child the Shukaku Jinchuriki."
Now, it was Rasa who was unwilling, "No, let my child contain Shukaku!"
"Grandmother, I can understand you, but after all, the Third Hokage was my teacher who taught me the Magnet Release Secret Technique."
Chiyo said, "I know what you mean, but in the face of the threat from Uchiha Madara, we must set aside all grudges."
"Sasori's Puppet Technique is very strong, stronger than mine. In these three years he's been missing, I don't even know how strong he has become."
"You plotted against Pakura before, and now you have to recall her because of the threat of Uchiha Madara."
"The same goes for Sasori. Regardless of whether he murdered the Third Kazekage, his power is what Sunagakure needs right now."
"..."
Rasa's brow furrowed, and he said nothing.
Chiyo continued, "Ebizo and I will firmly support all your decisions from now on and help you suppress those elders who don't obey you."
"Kankuro is very interested in the Puppet Technique. A while ago, you even came to ask me for the puppet toys Sasori made when he was a child."
"I can teach Kankuro the Puppet Technique."
Rasa's brow relaxed, "Fine, I will forgive Sasori."
There was no need for the living to bargain on behalf of the dead.
Chiyo breathed a sigh of relief.
The Pass was right before them; Chiyo was already impatient to see her grandson who had been missing for three years.
Soon, he was right there.
Rasa controlled the Gold Dust to fly through the Pass, and Chiyo saw that figure she had been longing for.
Sasori seemed unchanged, looking just as he did three years ago.
Chiyo's heart was full of pain; she thought Sasori had lived a poor life as a defector in the Ninja World, leading to malnutrition and no change in his appearance at all.
The atmosphere at the scene was somewhat heavy.
Because the Ninja guarding the Pass wanted to restrain Sasori; after all, no matter how much merit Sasori had earned for the Village in the past,
He was still a rogue Ninja.
The Ninja at the Pass wanted to control Sasori.
But ten Chunin and Jonin were directly controlled by the Chakra Threads in Sasori's hands.
Seeing Sasori's powerful puppet manipulation abilities, the Ninja at the Pass didn't dare to act rashly.