Kazekage's Office, Nightfall. The evening of Shira's spar with Temari.
The halls of the Kazekage's tower were nearly silent at night. Just the occasional rustle of paper, the faint shift of guards at their posts, the distant hum of desert wind curling through the upper vents. The moonlight bled through a narrow slit in the stone wall, casting pale silver across the floor of the office.
Rasa sat at his desk, the wooden surface cluttered with different objects of significance, the air smelling faintly of wax and dry parchment. His robes, still the formal cut of state, trailed across the floor in folds that whispered when he shifted.
A single candle burned beside him, its vivid flame casting a play of light and darkness that stretched out in long, undulating silhouettes on the wrinkled parchment carefully laid out in front of him. He did not lift his head when the door opened, his complete attention fixed on the work in progress.
"You rarely request personal meetings.", he said in a flat tone, his voice carrying the restrained but palpable weight of authority that hung in the air.
Baki stepped inside without hesitation, his boots making nary a whisper on the stone. He bowed courteously.
"I would not waste your time if it weren't important."
Rasa turned a page in his scroll, unhurried. "Then speak."
"There's a boy.", Baki began. "Civilian-born. Lives on the outer edge of District Seven. Name: Shira."
The Kazekage's hand stilled, the pen poised mid-stroke.
"Not a name I've seen on any roster.", Rasa said without looking up.
"No, sir.", Baki confirmed. "He's not enrolled. But he's been training, independently. Guided unofficially by one of our second-year cadets. Isan."
"Unofficial training?", Rasa repeated, his tone edged and cool.
"Yes.", Baki said, without excuse. "But the outcome is... notable."
That earned a glance. Rasa's sharp, metallic-dark eyes lifted to meet Baki's. "Explain."
"He sparred with Temari yesterday morning. She didn't hold back, but she didn't win easily either."
A slight shift in Rasa's expression, barely a movement. A narrowing of the eyes. "And?"
"He's fast. Powerful. His endurance exceeds anything I've seen from a non-trained individual. But it's his resolve that sets him apart."
"Resolve?", Rasa repeated, expressionless.
"He kept getting up,", Baki said. "no chakra-enhancement. No academy foundation. He simply refused to stay down. If honed, he could be our answer to Konohagakure's taijutsu anomaly."
Rasa's expression grew stiller. "You're referring to Might Guy."
"Yes.", Baki confirmed. "A man that focused on his physique and Taijutsu, and yet rose to Elite Chūnin. If Konoha could produce one… so can we."
Rasa leaned back in his chair, fingers steepling beneath his chin. The name Might Guy was familiar. As Kazekage, he had access to more in-depth intelligence than most. Reports on Guy's performances in great wars, his father's sacrifice, even rumors of the jutsu that strained the body in exchange for incredible levels of strength and speed.
Still that was Konoha.
"We are not Konoha.", Rasa said finally. "We don't chase gambles. We invest in results."
"And if this outlier becomes our result?", Baki asked, voice measured.
Rasa paused to study him meticulously, his eyes locked on his for a long moment. "Are you making this your official recommendation?"
Rasa looked at him silently, his face reflective and considering. He had a great respect for Baki, knowing the merit of the outcomes he always delivered. Rasa, however, was not one to indulge in the practice of playing with hopeful theories or speculative concepts.
Still… this wasn't a baseless proposal. It was rare for Baki to speak in such terms and he was rather reminiscing that piece of information regarding Might Guy' father and, coupled with Might Guy own reputation, it was starting to tilt his judgment in regards to Shira.
"Indeed.", Baki replied immediately without hesitation. "If we take the time that is needed, follow a well-organized method of teaching, and pay close attention, I have no doubt that Shira can play an important role in the future of Sunagakure."
Silence stretched. Rasa turned back to the window behind his desk, gazing out at the moon-washed rooftops and spires of Suna.
He remained silent for almost a minute. Then, without looking around, he spoke:
"Very well. Quietly. No records. No announcements."
"Understood.", Baki said with a short bow. "I'll handle it personally."
Rasa nodded once, faintly. "Keep your expectations realistic."
Baki did not say anything in response. He merely did a slight bow once again and then walked out, the door closing softly behind him with a muted thud that signaled his exit.
Soon after Baki had left the room, close to 5 minutes, Rasa found himself being greeted by another presence in his office. This time, though, it was a presence that was considerably smaller in size, but still carried a significance that was equally important and vital.
Temari stood just inside the doorway, back rigid, fists clenched at her sides. She hadn't been summoned, something that she knew it would be noted. Her presence was already an error.
Rasa didn't look up.
"You came in without an appointment."
Temari gulped. "I know. I... I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important."
Further silence. The pen halted in mid-stroke. He raised his eyes, slow and unhurried.
"Speak."
Temari moved forward a step, ensuring that she kept a safe distance that she felt was proper. To her own surprise, her voice came out far steadier than she had been expecting it to. "It's regarding a boy. A civilian, more specifically."
Rasa's eyebrow went up. "Civilian?"
"He... his name is Shira. He's… not a member of the Academy."
"Then what is the reason that you are choosing to speak to me about him?"
Temari paused, her throat felt parched. "Because he fought me."
That got a slight reaction. Rasa leaned back in his seat, expression unreadable. "You were challenged by a non-shinobi?"
"I... I asked for the match.", she staggered a little, aware that if her words slipped too close to truth, his disappointment would fall heavier than anger.
"And he didn't win. But it wasn't easy either."
Rasa's fingers touched the surface of his desk rhythmically. "You struggled?"
"His name is Shira. He's not enrolled, but—"
"Then he's not my concern.", Rasa cut in. His pen started moving again, dismissive and detached.
Temari's jaw clenched, but she didn't back down. "He fought me today. In front of the other students. I took him seriously, and barely walked away with a win.", she knew that she couldn't tell the complete truth to him.
Rasa finally set the pen down. "You want me to interfere in the Academy because you struggled against a civilian?"
"He's more than that.", Temari said, her voice growing tighter and more strained now. "He's stronger than some of the second-years. His endurance alone..."
Rasa rose slowly from his seat.
"You come to me here, not as a trained shinobi or fighter, but as my daughter, asking me to put aside long-standing protocol and regulations for the sake of one young boy? On what grounds do you ask me to do so?"
Temari met his gaze with stubborn fire.
"On the basis that he might be handy. And on the basis that I'd prefer to fight with him than against him."
Rasa did not blink. Nothing stirred for a moment.
Then he turned his back to her, looking out the window over the sun-bleached rooftops of Suna.
"You've never made a request like this before."
"I've never met anyone like him before."
A pause. The wind scraped gently against the windows.
"Baki mentioned something similar."
Temari blinked. "He did?"
Rasa turned his attention to the many papers that littered his desk, his cloak rustling softly as a warm wind crept through the gaps in the room.
"You may leave.", he said at last.
Temari paused. Then bowed awkwardly. "Thank you."
She walked out silently, the door closing behind her.
'It seems I need to take this case more seriously... let's see what this Shira is doing... tomorrow.', Rasa thought while continuing to go over his papers.