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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 something happened,' didn't you?"

  "Temari, you're the sharpest kid I've ever met from Sunagakure. I 't hide anything from you." Gojo Kaigetsu's voice was heavy with mock sorrow.

  Temari's world tilted. She stumbled, colpsing onto the sofa, her face pale.

  'Something happeo Father!'

  "What what happeo 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 streamed down her face.

  "How? He he sent me 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 cluded, Sasori of the Red Sand, a Sunagakure missing-nin, attacked. He killed Rasa. Acc to the iigation, someone pced a bounty on Rasa's head, leaked his itinerary. It remeditated."

  Gojo Kaigetsu's calm expnation did little to fort Temari, who was now sobbing untrolbly. He felt a pang of something akin to guilt.

  "Who who did this?! Who pced 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 i st night. A coup. Rasa had named Kosaka Kaoru as his successor. But Baki, who was iigating Rasa's death, arrested Kosaka Kaoru, acg him of orchestrating the assassination. There was a frontation 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 nht."

  Suddenly, she stood up and k befojo Kaigetsu.

  "If you help me I'll be your daughter! I'll do anything!"

  She recalled her father's words:

  [If something happens to me, you sider Advisojo as yuardian. If I die, Sunagakure is no longer your home. Seek Konoha's prote. And then sider avenging me.]

  Don't return. It's not home.

  Her father's words, like a guiding light, dispelled her fusion.

  She remembered a versation with her father, after he'd had a bit too much to drink.

  "Father, if you died, who would be the Kazekage?"

  "You."

  Temari, startled, had asked, "And if I were Kazekage, who would help me?"

  "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 mert, not a true ninja. But he'll mahe vilge'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 ohing was certain.

  Kosaka Kaoru and Yasuke they could be trusted. They wouldn't have betrayed Rasa.

  Sunagakure, after this sudden coup, wasn't home. And the only people she could trust were now imprisoned. She had only one perso Konoha's most iial figure.

  "Please help me. I'll do anything," Temari repeated, her voice filled with desperation.

  In a single day, she'd gone from a priee, 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 't interfere in Sunagakure's internal affairs."

  "Only you do this, Temari. I 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 taining 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 me 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 yuardian. And I'll train you. Are you ready?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu recoiled.

  "Konoha has established a sedary academy in the Land of Rice Paddies. Well, not just an academy, but a small, self-suffit vilge. Otogakure. It's not as safe as Konoha. There's a higher risk of flict."

  "It has everything a ninja vilge needs. And the missions are less demanding. Mostly bandit suppression. And the sedary academy, Konoha Uy, offers advaraining for promising academy graduates, mostly Genin and in with potential. They're taught by Special Jonin and Jonin with unique skills. It's an excellent opportunity. Are you ready, Temari?"

  Konoha Uy was desigo refine ninja, to create specialists.

  Normally, Genin, after graduating, were assigo Jonin or Special Jonin sensei, perf D-rank missions until graduation. It didly prepare them for the realities of the ninja world.

  Eveermining their chakra nature required the seo purchase the necessary materials.

  This wasn't ideal.

  Gojo Kaigetsu's pn was to streamlihe process. Those with talent, those who dreamt of beie ninja, would attend Konoha Uy in Otogakure.

  Those who simply wanted a stable ihey could receive specialized training and be assigo non-bat roles.

  Konoha, under his guidance, had numerous positions that required specialized jutsu.

  Itachi Uchiha had been accepted into Konoha Uy. The "school bullies" had joihe 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 me in Konoha. I 't personally oversee your training in Otogakure…"

  "I manage on my own!"

  "No, you 't. I'll send someone. Someone you know."

  "Someone I know?"

  "And you'll be alone in Konoha. Though you and Izumi are friends it's not the same. Otogakure it's far from home. You'll be lonely."

  Temari started to shake her head, theated.

  "Maki (Pakura Student), She'll join you in Otogakure. You look after each other."

  "But Maki's supposed to return to Suna."

  "She'll stay. And a few of your cssmates will also be transferring to Konoha Uy. 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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