After turning it over for a while, Yuji reached a conclusion in his mind.
He would not interfere with the Nine-Tails incident.
The reason was simple. He had the capability to lead the Sand Village in reshaping the ninja world's structure through direct means. From the very beginning, the only person who had genuinely required his wariness was Madara.
He was not Madara and had no need to follow Madara and Obito's approach of manipulating everything from behind a veil where no one could see his hand.
Beyond that, the Sand Village was currently in the middle of launching its nation-transforming initiatives. With Jiraiya as an unpredictable factor, and with the butterfly effect already having altered the story's trajectory in meaningful ways, Yuji had no desire to introduce additional variables at this stage.
Whether Minato lived or died, and what direction Naruto's fate would ultimately take, were things Yuji did not particularly care about in the final analysis.
He was certainly capable of causing trouble quietly behind the scenes. But that did not mean he enjoyed doing so.
Compared to scheming in the shadows, what he genuinely preferred was standing in the open and letting the Sand Village become the defining symbol of a new era, the way Hashirama had done. Speaking through strength directly.
That was the righteous path.
If the ninja world insisted on resolving things through war, then direct confrontation it would be. Come and see what happens.
This was the kind of contest and competition Yuji actually wanted.
To be honest, he did not have the patience to spend his energy worrying about other people's business. As for Minato specifically, the two had not crossed blades since their last encounter, and at that time Minato had still been the one who lost. As for the future, Yuji had complete confidence in himself.
"The exchange gathering then. That works well enough," Yuji said, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
He would find a suitable time and make a trip to Konoha.
A powerful figure should carry the bearing that power deserved. The Sand Village's current strength was not merely economic or limited to any single dimension of development. It was comprehensive.
A Kazekage walking into the enemy's main stronghold was admittedly a somewhat dangerous proposition. There was no telling whether some reactionary elements within Konoha might try to make a move.
But this trip Yuji was determined to make.
If someone extended an invitation and he simply ignored it and declined, that would only reflect poorly on him. Or worse, it might give certain people the mistaken impression that the Sand Village was afraid.
On Konoha's side, Kushina was already pregnant. In not too long, the protagonist Naruto would be born.
There were other things worth noting as well. Among the Konoha Twelve, most of the key story characters were due to be born around this same period, with the exception of Kiba and Ino.
Worth mentioning specifically was that not long before Yuji had left the village on his diplomatic tour, Gaara had already been born. Because Yuji had personally overseen the arrangements, Karura had not died in childbirth as she had in the original story.
Ayame had also formed a bond with a Sand Village Jonin and was already expecting a child. In about two months, Karin would be born as well.
Children like Kimimaro who had been brought in from outside were all growing up healthy within the Sand Village.
But Yuji had too many pressing matters demanding his attention. These areas were primarily handled by Shimizu and Chiyo. He only occasionally checked in on the news from those fronts.
In truth, from Yuji's perspective, the Sand Village was already moving along the track he had laid out for it. For him as Kazekage, now that the Third Great Ninja War had ended, the only thing that genuinely required his continued focus was preparing for the next Great Ninja War that would eventually be directed at the Sand Village.
Everything else no longer required his direct involvement.
"Lord Kazekage."
But at this moment, a knock sounded at the office door.
Baki came hurrying in with urgency in his steps.
"What is it?" Yuji looked at the expression on his face and steadied himself before asking.
"It is the ninja temple," Baki said, swallowing once.
Shimizu was beside him organizing documents on the work desk. Hearing those words, he immediately understood what was happening.
Bunpuku was ready to pass on.
Yuji stood immediately, left the Kazekage building, and accompanied the monk who had come to deliver the message to the temple.
When he arrived, Bunpuku still had consciousness and had not yet drawn his last breath. He remained seated upright on his meditation cushion in his cell, hands clasped before his chest in a composed posture of quiet contemplation, just as he always had.
Ever since Yuji had first met Bunpuku and begun receiving guidance on Sealing Jutsu cultivation from him, the old monk's circumstances within the Sand Village had changed. The guards assigned to watch over him no longer regarded him as a prisoner but treated him with deep respect.
Now, sensing that the end was near, Bunpuku had sent word and asked for Yuji to be called.
"Lord Kazekage."
When Yuji appeared, Bunpuku smiled and slowly opened his long-closed eyes.
Yuji stepped inside the cell. He could sense the vital energy within the old monk's body fading rapidly. His expression held a quiet sorrow as he let out a soft breath.
After such a long period of contact, Yuji had come to understand clearly what kind of person this monk was. Pure and clean in a way that was rare. In terms of his mastery and cultivation of sealing arts, he was at a level that far surpassed Yuji's current ability. Extraordinarily deep.
This character from the original story, never given any significant focus or detailed description, had turned out after genuine acquaintance to be someone Yuji could only describe as a true hidden master who had swept the floors of this world without recognition.
"Lord Kazekage, please do not grieve. Birth, aging, illness, and death are the way of all things. To be able to witness in my final years a Kazekage of your caliber rising to lead this village, for me that is already a great blessing."
Seeing Yuji's expression, Bunpuku spoke with warmth.
"These past months, I am grateful for your teaching and guidance," Yuji said with sincere feeling.
"It is Lord Kazekage's own extraordinary natural gifts. This old monk merely moved his lips a little," Bunpuku replied with a gentle smile.
As the two of them spoke, outside the cell a considerable number of monks had gathered, along with several members of the Sand Village's sealing division. Among them was also Mei.
"The time is about right," Bunpuku said, looking at the assembled gathering, offering the quiet reminder.
"Forgive the imposition," Yuji said simply, then gestured and directed several Sand Village ninja forward to carefully lift Bunpuku and carry him out on a stretcher.
The assembled monks and sealing division members then proceeded together to an open stretch of desert outside the Sand Village.
The equipment for sealing the Tailed Beast had been prepared carefully beforehand. It was an enormous earth-brown clay vessel wrapped in white rope inscribed with sealing script, with talisman seals affixed across its surface. This was the container in which the Ichibi had been sealed ever since its Jinchuriki had first taken the beast into their body.
Because Yuji had not yet discussed the matter of making Gaara the Jinchuriki with Rasa and Karura, he had decided to seal the Tailed Beast first and keep it contained.
Bunpuku settled himself upright on the open sand of his own accord. The Sand Village and ninja temple contingent stood at a respectful distance, waiting in silence.
Yuji could have used faster and more efficient methods to seal the Ichibi into its container directly. But he had wanted to witness Bunpuku's peaceful passing with his own eyes. This was why Bunpuku had been allowed to make his departure in this way.
The others had been called primarily to ensure nothing unexpected occurred.
Shortly after, within the swirling sandstorm, Bunpuku released the Tailed Beast seal of his own accord in the moments before his death. The enormous Tailed Beast chakra erupted from his body in an instant.
Immediately, a terrifying sandstorm and a torrent of golden sand filled the air, making it almost impossible for anyone present to keep their eyes open. The overwhelming force caused every person standing there to tremble with involuntary fear, their expressions shifting dramatically.
Monk Bunpuku then lowered his head and was still. His vital energy ceased.
He had passed on in meditation.
In his final moments he had released the Tailed Beast. This had been arranged beforehand between him and Yuji, and was specifically what Yuji had requested. Without this arrangement, when a Jinchuriki died, the Tailed Beast sealed within them would be affected by the manner of death.
From this moment, the Ichibi, Shukaku, was briefly restored to a moment of freedom after being released from this particular monk's body.
And Shukaku understood what was happening. After all, during every conversation Yuji had held with Bunpuku, every word had been heard clearly from within.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Within the chaotic sandstorm, an enormous towering silhouette appeared above the desert and let out a thunderous, arrogant laugh.
Yuji stood directly beneath the shadow of that enormous form, smiling quietly.