#rasa kazekage

[aleksandracoffan]

The author of my inspiration -> @rkaln and another friend ヾ(•ω•`)o

[gaaraisbbg]

The fourth Kazekage was killed with a lightsaber proof

[bakapandy]

There was a Suna chara art style mem on twitter I thought it would be fun to do!

[archer3-13]

I dont think there's ever actually any confirmation on what Rasa [fourth kazekages] relationship was like with his other children, cause thinking on it i dont remember any commentary from the other sand siblings on what their relationship was like with their dad.

certainly they don't seem too aggrieved that hes gone, but at the same time thats because originally the fourth kazekages death was a complete afterthought. relevant only in the sense it was an out from further suna konoha conflict, and by the time the sand siblings showed up again other things were more important/relevant to the story. when rasa showed up as an edo tensai could have presented that opportunity of learning what those relations were like, but rasa showing up again is solely for the gaara therapy hours so he can get some closure. in that moment rasa might as well not have had any other children and gaara might as well not have had any other siblings.

not that i think rasa being a shit dad to his other kids is unreasonable fanon [cause that is technically what it is with the main story being reluctant to comment any which way], as interesting as I find the man he is much like chiyo a cock, cause everyone in suna projects as much asshole energy outwards as possible. and his handling of gaara as a human being was deplorable, even if it also highlights the very real and unaddressed problems of the shinobi world and its values where human individuality, liberty and rights are sacrificed in the name of village prosperity and nation statehood [as opposed to just him being a cock].

but by that same token, I think all thats really confirmed about how he treated the other sand siblings is that he kept gaara forcibly separated from them. and if you separate gaara from the fandom woobification of him and think about it from the perspective of a military nation states leader it makes sense to keep your dangerous ticking timebomb unstable murder weapon away from the easily breakable children that represent the villages chances of future success. I'd almost call it good parenting even [bar that gaara is also his kid] to keep the children away from the unstable murder weapon that keeps accidentally maiming anyone it gets close to.

but i think a lot of that is kinda irrelevant to the actual discussion fandom seems interested in on this matter, because I don't think most people headcannon rasa as a bad father to temari and kankuro based on the patterns of his characters behaviour. I think most people do it out of this idea of "sand sibling solidarity". gaara's the baby woobie of the naruto fandom [its most widely accepted one anyways], and the sand sibling dynamic is a popular one. so its cathartic to blame any of their earlier problems/dysfunction and distaste for gaara on the big ol mean rasa/fourth kazekage.

and I think thats entirely too lame, cause it turns the sand siblings and their dynamic into temari and kankuro being gaaras generic yes men. a problem that does kinda intrinsically infect the original work mind, given that after the chunin exams the sand siblings disappear up until the sasuke retrieval missions ending at which point they're all suddenly buddy buddy with each other. but thats something that was a consequence of time and narrative flow, keeping the story focused and all. but fanfiction offers the opportunity to flesh these things out, and theres some real interesting ground in how the sand siblings transition from being completely fucking terrified [for fairly understandable and reasonable reasons] of gaara to being his pillars of support as kazekage following the [partial] failure of konoha crush. reducing it to rasa being the evil bad man who kept them separated when they actually wanted to be gaaras friends all along, is such a waste though.

anyways, feel free to crucify me now for being mean about the writing around the sand siblings.

[vote-gaara]

The majority of the Naruto fandom disregards Gaara as if he didn't carry the entire war arc on his back.

[denouemente]

gaara is my favorite character not because he and naruto are foils and essentially share the same backstory but because of how he reacts to it. he ( and naruto ) have every single right to want everyone dead but he GOES AND BECOMES THE BEST KAZEKAGE THE SAND HAS EVER SEEN

[president-coriolanus-snow]

Baki was a better father to the sand siblings than their own father was.

[evilkitten3]

points for self-awareness bro

[tazova]

Day 5th - MR SANDMAN

Materials: - "Finenolo" watercolour pencils; Inks for fountain pens "Malevich - "Mulled wine"; Fountain pen "Waterman hemisphere - ST"; paper "SketchMarker".

Time: ~ 2h

Not the theme, that I was Excited about, but (I think) it turh out pretty nice. All this fellas used sand techniques + all kages. Sorry Shinki, you're quite short for the photograph, your time just didn't come yet (っ˘з(˘⌣˘ ) ♡

PS: Rasa ufk you

[aleksandracoffan]

[rottensttein]

i need you to see my vision

[bakapandy]

continues to have sand village brain rot

[ceecee-k]

Aweee….. he likes you Shika, he’s even giving you gold 🤩🤩🤩

[rosalinesurvived]

Another one of my toxic traits is that i thoroughly believe Karura, had she lived, would’ve been the most desi-toxic mother to mother. No more ‘Soft sweet womanly mother-love would’ve saved them all 🥺” the Suna family in my mind pass on mental health disorders through bloodlines like their kekkei genkai.

EDIT I wanna elaborate on this actually. I think she would’ve raised her kids up to be militant Suna shinobi like literally everyone in the family. I think she was stubborn and authoritarian and prideful and fiery and jaded like Rasa. They loved each other fiercely for a reason. I think they both had serious mental health issues and just a bad idea in general on how to be People as you would yknow, in a generation-long culture of child soldiers. Just because two people love each other doesnt mean they have a sunshine and rainbows nuclear family relationship, especially in their culture where those emotions were probably frowned upon.

[serditor]

Next chapter!

Previous: 1

Many thanks to @geekthefreakout for the help and support!

Freaks

Chapter 2: Golden Child

Fandom: Naruto (anime/manga)

Main characters: Naruto, Gaara

Warnings: Blood mention TW, Canon typical violence

The boy from the desert stood and looked after the glow of the orange flame that was quickly moving away from him. His hands slowly dropped.

– I... Why...

The one they called Fox was rushing forward, tears of rage were gathering in the corners of his eyes. The headwind was preventing them from rolling down his cheeks, picking them up and blowing them away.

– Why?

He hopped up a tree branch.

– Why is everything like this?

Leaped forward on another one.

– Why is everything always like this?

Ran vertically up the trunk and jumped to the side. The bark fell down.

– How dare they?

Pushed off. A thick branch broke off with a crunch and flew down.

– HOW DARE THEY?

He landed on the edge of the desert again. Three people were descending from the dune.

...

A middle-aged man was walking first, followed by two teenagers: a blonde girl and a guy with a painted face. Both teenagers were noticeably taller and older than Fox. The man was walking light, the girl had a huge fan behind her back, the guy had some kind of weird bundle almost as long as he was.

Fox saw the girl grab the man's hand and start saying something, but he pulled his hand away without looking and continued on his way.

Fox cried:

- Oi, you! Looking for that guy with the gourd?

The man stopped and looked at him haughtily. He folded his arms across his chest in a familiar gesture.

- Did you see him?

- Are you his pops?

The girl stepped forward, put her fan vertically on the sand and shouted angrily:

- Kid! Watch out how you talk to the Kazekage!

The boy tilted his head, puzzled.

– Kazekage? Something like Hokage?

The girl snorted.

– So you're from the Leaf! Is everyone there as stupid as you? You don't even know that there are other villages and other Kage?

– I am the Kazekage. The leader of the Hidden Sand village. Now answer. Did you see Shukaku? Where is he?

– It's none of your damn business, Kage or whatever you are! Why on earth are you trying to kill him? Isn't he your son?

The man looked at him with slight surprise. Finally said:

– It does not concern you.

– Sure it does!

Fox took off. The girl swung her fan. A strong wind threw the boy back and pressed him against a tree. Air currents were sharp as kunai, notches appeared here and there on the trunk. Several trees collapsed nearby. The boy crouched and covered himself with his hands.

Then he raised his head, smiled grimly and walked forward against the wind.

– Answer... Me.

Red eyes were looking straight at the man.

– Why... On earth.

Fangs bared, claws dug into palms.

– Would you wanna... Kill.

Orange flames were blazing around. Wind wounds were appearing and immediately healing one after another.

– Your own son?

The man was looking at him thoughtfully. Then he glanced briefly at the painted guy. The guy waved his hands in a graceful pianist's gesture. Fingers danced in the air. A puppet flew out of the bundle behind his back, grabbed Fox with many hands, pressed him to itself. The boy tried to break free, but the puppet's hands held him tightly.

– I will answer your question. – said the Kazekage. – I must eliminate him because he is dangerous and uncontrollable. After the missions with him, not a single soul remained. Besides, in recent years, he has killed at least six villagers.

The boy was silent for a while, thinking about something.

– Six?

– Yes. Is that not enough for you?

– The six you sent to kill him?

The man winced. The girl gasped.

– Father, did you...

– Keep quiet, Temari. You know as well as I do that this is my duty. Have you forgotten what happens when Shukaku gets out of control?

The girl wilted. Fox was looking from him to her and back again.

– So you're that guy's sister? And you let this happen?

– Shut up.

– And now you're going with this bastard to kill your little brother?

– I said shut up!

– And you? I bet you're his brother too?

The guy with the painted face looked at him threateningly. Moved his fingers. Jagged blades appeared on the puppet's hands and stuck into Fox.

– Let me explain you something, brat. The bad news is that all of this puppet's weapons are poisoned. In about 10 minutes you will lose consciousness, in a few days you will die. The good news is that I have an antidote. If you wanna get it you better stop talking back and start answering questions.

– 10 minutes, you said?

Fox growled, the orange flames grew brighter. He swung in the hands of the puppet that held him in the air, stood up on his feet and bent low. The boy began to look like an ant carrying a large beetle on its back.

Apparently, he was also as strong as an ant, because he did not fall or tip over under the weight of the load. Instead, he pushed off the ground, jumped backwards, flew ten meters in one fell swoop and crashed into a tree. The puppet shattered into pieces.

– What surprises me is not even that you know all this... – The Kazekage said, calmly watching Fox get on his feet. – After all, The Leaf has a good intelligence. What surprises me is why you stick up for Shukaku. And moreover: why are you even alive after meeting him. I think he is more than in a bad mood right now.

The man pointed eloquently at blood stains on the sand, all that was left of the ANBU squad.

– Boy. If you want to find my son, all you have to do is follow the blood trail. He will definitely be at the end of it. He is a monster. Where is he?

– Go to hell! He didn't ask for a demon to be sealed inside him! If someone died, it was your fault!

Fox pulled the last piece of the puppet's arm out of his stomach. Blood ran from the lacerated wounds that were no longer in a hurry to heal. The orange flame began to fade.

– He's in pain and scared and lonely, and it's all because of you! You wanted to create a weapon? A tool? He's your son! Your child! He looks like you, he talks like you, he crosses his arms like you! How could you do this to him?

The man hastily dropped his hands.

– You wanna know why I'm alive after meeting him? Because he saved my life, that's why, you old bastard! No fucking way you'll get him!

The boy staggered and walked forward.

– And you two! How could you leave your little brother alone with this nightmare? How can you go after his head now? You, such strong, such skilled shinobi, you were supposed to protect him!

The girl's face turned pale, she exchanged glances with the painted guy. They both took a few steps back.

– That is enough, – the man said, slowly spreading his arms. – I can find him myself after all.

The gold dust thickened in front of him and turned into a dozen dazzlingly sparkling kunai, hanging as if on an invisible garland. They swayed a little in the air and flew forward.

And hit the wall of sand.

...

Something seized Fox around the waist and threw him into the forest. He flew several meters, knocking down everything in his path, and prostrated on the ground. The orange flame died down completely. He sat up with a groan.

The creature standing before him was only half human. It had a huge clawed paw made of sand, covered with a strange pattern, and the same tail. When it turned around, Fox saw that the right half of the head also belonged to the beast. A yellow, mad eye with a cross-shaped pupil looked at him. Saliva was dripping from the bared mouth.

Fox's mouth opened slightly, he instinctively recoiled.

The one they called Shukaku grinned.

– What, are you finally scared?

He turned to those who came after him. The tail was slowly swishing from side to side.

The Kazekage looked at him sullenly.

– So you came out on your own. Do you think you can do something to me?

The man crouched down and placed his hands on the sand. A shudder ran through it. Golden sparks flew into the air.

When the vibrations reached Shukaku, the part of him that was the sand beast began to crumble quickly. He swayed, but stayed on his feet. The gourd behind him fell apart and became new sand, his paw and tail were restored.

– No, – he said. – I do not think so.

He turned to Fox again and said in a low voice:

– Get out of here as fast as you can. Maybe you will have time to ask for help and get cured. Kankuro does not know how to make complex poisons yet. He said ten minutes, but in reality you have about half an hour.

Fox struggled to his feet and stood next to him.

– Yeah, yeah.

A huge golden wave was heading towards them.

...

A fan landed on top with Temari sitting on it. She jumped down, grabbed the fan and swung it with all her might. The wind tore a gap in the oncoming wave.

She said in a businesslike manner:

– You have a few minutes. We'll hold him off as long as we can. Kankuro summoned another puppet and tries to distract him. I'll cover you here.

She handed them a small bag.

– Here are some medicines, some money and an antidote. Kankuro said that it would work immediately, but then you would need to lie down for about three days. And here's also a scroll with a summoning bird. If you want to contact us, it will find us.

Shukaku was silent. So Fox asked for him:

– And you?

The girl grinned:

– He won't do anything to us. It's not in his best interest. In the Sand, every good shinobi counts now.

She looked at him sternly:

– Don't you dare blab this in the Leaf!

Fox wanted to get offended, but instead he sat down on the ground and leaned against a tree. Temari turned her gaze to her brother and said rapidly:

– I doubt you're thinking clearly right now, so listen to your sister for the first and last time in your life. You are very fast in this form. I know that you can grab a branch with your tail and paw and shoot yourself out like from a slingshot. Father can't keep up with such speed. If you sling this boy over your shoulder and hold him tightly with a human hand, he won't bother you. Look at him. He passed out.

Shukaku looked. Then he raised his eyes again: one light green, the other yellow.

– Run, baby boy. We are... so sorry.

...

They were sitting near a cave on the mountainside and looking at the evening sky.

– So your name is Shukaku?

– No. It is my demon's name.

– Oi, I was also nicknamed Fox because my demon is, y'know, a fox! Although my name is Naruto Uzumaki! And yours?

– Gaara of the Desert.

– Hello, Gaara! Nice to meet you!

Naruto smiled widely and extended his hand. Gaara looked at it suspiciously. Naruto said a little embarrassed:

– I've never done it myself, but usually when people meet, they shake hands. Come on, shake mine!

Gaara placed his palm in Naruto's and squeezed it carefully.

[the-moss-project]

Illustrations for Chapter 30 of The Moss!