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"So what is it?" Temari asked, nodding absently.
Then, she froze, her eyes widening as she stared at Gojo Kaigetsu.
"You said 'if sothing happened,' didn't you?"
"Temari, you're the sharpest kid I've ever t from Sunagakure. I can't hide anything from you." Gojo Kaigetsu's voice was heavy with mock sorrow.
Temari's world tilted. She stumbled, collapsing onto the sofa, her face pale.
'Sothing happened to Father!'
"What what happened to him?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Rasa is dead."
The words hit her like a physical blow. If she were an Uchiha, perhaps she'd have awakened her Sharingan.
Tears stread down her face.
"How? He he sent a letter just a few days ago!"
"Be strong, Temari. Rasa wouldn't want to see you like this. The ninja world is cruel. After the ceremony concluded, Sasori of the Red Sand, a Sunagakure missing-nin, attacked. He killed Rasa. According to the investigation, soone placed a bounty on Rasa's head, leaked his itinerary. It was preditated."
Gojo Kaigetsu's calm explanation did little to comfort Temari, who was now sobbing uncontrollably. He felt a pang of sothing akin to guilt.
"Who who did this?! Who placed the bounty?!" she cried, her voice filled with rage.
"It's too early to say. But we've received intel from Sunagakure. There was an incident last night. A coup. Rasa had nad Kosaka Kaoru as his successor. But Baki, who was investigating Rasa's death, arrested Kosaka Kaoru, accusing him of orchestrating the assassination. There was a confrontation with Yasuke and other ninja loyal to Rasa. They almost used a Tailed Beast Bomb on the Kazekage Tower. But the situation was resolved. Kosaka Kaoru and Yasuke were arrested, and Baki is now the Fifth Kazekage."
"Kosaka? Yasuke?" Temari's eyes narrowed. "That's not right."
Suddenly, she stood up and knelt before Gojo Kaigetsu.
"If you help I'll be your daughter! I'll do anything!"
She recalled her father's words:
[If sothing happens to , you can consider Advisor Gojo as your guardian. If I die, Sunagakure is no longer your ho. Seek Konoha's protection. And then consider avenging .]
Don't return. It's not ho.
Her father's words, like a guiding light, dispelled her confusion.
She rembered a conversation with her father, after he'd had a bit too much to drink.
"Father, if you died, who would be the next Kazekage?"
"You."
Temari, startled, had asked, "And if I were Kazekage, who would help ?"
"Pakura. She's a hero of Suna. She's known you since you were a child."
"And if Pakura died?"
"Then Yasuke. He's loyal."
"And if Yasuke died?"
"Then Kosaka Kaoru. He's a rchant, not a true ninja. But he'll manage the village's finances."
"And if even Kosaka Kaoru died? Then who?"
Rasa hadn't answered. He'd passed out.
Whether he'd truly been too drunk, or simply had no answer, she'd never know. But one thing was certain.
Kosaka Kaoru and Yasuke they could be trusted. They wouldn't have betrayed Rasa.
Sunagakure, after this sudden coup, wasn't ho. And the only people she could trust were now imprisoned. She had only one person left Konoha's most influential figure.
"Please help . I'll do anything," Temari repeated, her voice filled with desperation.
In a single day, she'd gone from a princess to a refugee, and Gojo Kaigetsu was her only hope.
"Temari you mustn't say such things. What if I were a bad person?" Gojo Kaigetsu gently wiped away her tears. "I'm a Konoha elder. Even if Baki did kill Rasa I can't interfere in Sunagakure's internal affairs."
"Only you can do this, Temari. I can provide support. But you have to be strong."
Temari's sobs subsided, her eyes hardening with resolve. "I will be strong."
She retrieved the scroll containing Rasa's savings and offered it to Gojo Kaigetsu.
"What's this, Temari?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"It's Father's money. One hundred million ryō. He said to give it to you for my care. He wanted to study in Konoha, to learn powerful jutsu, to protect myself."
One hundred million? Rasa was surprisingly wealthy.
Gojo Kaigetsu accepted the scroll. It wasn't about the money. He cared about Temari.
"Temari," he said, his voice gentle, "Since you've asked, I'll accept. I'll be your guardian. And I'll train you. Are you ready?"
Gojo Kaigetsu recoiled.
"Konoha has established a secondary academy in the Land of Rice Paddies. Well, not just an academy, but a small, self-sufficient village. Otogakure. It's not as safe as Konoha. There's a higher risk of conflict."
"It has everything a ninja village needs. And the missions are less demanding. Mostly bandit suppression. And the secondary academy, Konoha University, offers advanced training for promising academy graduates, mostly Genin and Chunin with potential. They're taught by Special Jonin and Jonin with unique skills. It's an excellent opportunity. Are you ready, Temari?"
Konoha University was designed to refine ninja, to create specialists.
Normally, Genin, after graduating, were assigned to Jonin or Special Jonin sensei, performing D-rank missions until graduation. It didn't exactly prepare them for the realities of the ninja world.
Even determining their chakra nature required the sensei to purchase the necessary materials.
This wasn't ideal.
Gojo Kaigetsu's plan was to streamline the process. Those with talent, those who dreamt of becoming elite ninja, would attend Konoha University in Otogakure.
Those who simply wanted a stable inco they could receive specialized training and be assigned to non-combat roles.
Konoha, under his guidance, had nurous positions that required specialized jutsu.
Itachi Uchiha had been accepted into Konoha University. The "school bullies" had joined the Konoha Jutsu Workforce.
They all had bright futures.
"I'm ready! I'll do anything to avenge my father!"
"Good."
Gojo Kaigetsu stood and began to pace. "I promised Rasa I'd take care of you. But my responsibilities they keep in Konoha. I can't personally oversee your training in Otogakure..."
"I can manage on my own!"
"No, you can't. I'll send soone. Soone you know."
"Soone I know?"
"And you'll be alone in Konoha. Though you and Izumi are friends it's not the sa. Otogakure it's far from ho. You'll be lonely."
Temari started to shake her head, then hesitated.
"Maki (Pakura Student), She'll join you in Otogakure. You can look after each other."
"But Maki's supposed to return to Suna."
"She'll stay. And a few of your classmates will also be transferring to Konoha University. They'll arrive in a few days."
Temari's eyes filled with tears. She rushed forward and hugged Gojo Kaigetsu.
By midday, Temari, her bags packed, waited at the Academy gates. Maki, however, carried nothing.
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