053 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

"Magnet Release: Gundam Technique!"

A towering, black iron figure wielding a massive shovel stood imposingly before the sand dunes. Its majestic and awe-inspiring appearance drew cheers from the crowd gathered below.

Arashi stood atop the iron figure, shading his eyes with his hand as he surveyed the expanse of sand dunes from above.

"Wow, this is quite a large dune field. What do you think, Shukaku? Care to compete?"

The One-Tail, Shukaku, squinted its coin-like eyes at Arashi, its expression full of disdain.

"Don't get cocky, brat. I'm only here because that monk asked me to help."

Shukaku then cast a dismissive glance at the dunes ahead.

"Kid, when it comes to fighting, I might not be the best—but when it comes to playing with sand, you don't stand a chance."

"Then… by all means, go ahead first." Arashi responded politely, as his iron figure mimicked the gesture by leaning on the shovel and making a humorous "please proceed" motion.

"Hmph!"

Shukaku faced the dunes, opened its massive mouth, and began gathering an enormous amount of chakra. Within moments, a gigantic black chakra sphere formed in front of its maw—a Tailed Beast Ball.

"No way! You're actually using a Tailed Beast Ball?!" Arashi exclaimed in shock.

"BOOM!"

The black Tailed Beast Ball tore through the air like a giant wrecking ball, obliterating everything in its path. The dunes crumbled as the sphere barreled forward, until it vanished into the distance. Moments later, an earth-shaking explosion echoed, followed by a shockwave rippling toward them. The wind whipped ferociously as everyone ducked low to avoid being swept away.

When the dust finally settled, the crowd lifted their heads to see the aftermath. Before them, the entire dune field had been leveled into a flat expanse of sand. Arashi stood frozen in place, dumbfounded.

"Long live Shukaku!" someone shouted, sparking a chain reaction.

"Long live Shukaku!"

"Long live Shukaku!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their admiration for Shukaku swelling. Such a display of power left everyone in awe.

"Hmph. So noisy." Shukaku grumbled under its breath, feigning indifference. But its small eyes gleamed with a hint of pride—this was the first time it had received such widespread recognition and praise. It almost… enjoyed the feeling.

Arashi, of course, noticed the subtle change in Shukaku's demeanor. He was pleased to see the outcome. Bonds could be forged not just between people, but also with Tailed Beasts. If Shukaku could transform from being a feared monster into Sunagakure's beloved guardian spirit, it would be a great victory for everyone.

As Arashi gazed at the flattened desert, he couldn't help but shake his head.

If I'd known it was this easy, I'd have just brought Shukaku here and let him fire off a few Tailed Beast Balls. Why go through all the trouble?

Still, this method had its advantages. The newly reorganized ninja forces were able to use this as a valuable training exercise. With that in mind, Arashi pointed toward the distant dunes.

"We can't fall behind! Follow me!"

With those words, he controlled his iron figure to charge toward the next set of dunes. The ninja followed eagerly, their morale soaring as they kept pace with their Kazekage.

"Construction team! Take advantage of the calm weather and the flattened sands! Start staking and setting the foundation—don't waste the efforts of Kazekage-sama and Shukaku-sama!"

The team from the Lake Tsuki New District responded with a resounding cheer, grabbing shovels and deploying ninjutsu as they got to work.

"At this rate, the Satsuki Highway might be completed in less than two months. Kazekage-sama's methods are truly remarkable,"

In fact, the progress was even faster than Karuke anticipated.

"Wind Release: Giant Rasenshuriken!"

Arashi's iron figure gripped a spinning chakra sphere in its hand, emitting a sharp, high-pitched whine. The sphere's edges gleamed with blade-like extensions, a clear product of highly compressed Wind Release chakra.

"What's that…?" Shukaku asked, its curiosity piqued.

"Here goes!" Arashi hurled the chakra sphere toward a towering dune over 200 meters high.

The result was devastating—on par with the Tailed Beast Ball. The dune was leveled instantly.

"That should be the last of it. Huh? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Arashi glanced at Shukaku, who was watching him silently.

"After fighting you for so many years, I picked up a thing or two. This technique was inspired by your Tailed Beast Ball. Pretty good, right?"

"Hmph. You've got some nerve, copying me. But your technique is nothing more than an imitation. It lacks the true essence of a Tailed Beast Ball."

Shukaku snorted disdainfully.

"Well, maybe you can give me some pointers?" Arashi said with a grin.

"We'll see. Depends on my mood." Shukaku replied loftily, pretending to be nonchalant.

Arashi simply chuckled. He knew that after this road-building effort, Shukaku's attitude toward Sunagakure would change. Respect and recognition were powerful forces. Even the fiercest beast wouldn't harm the territory it had come to care for.

The Wind Release: Giant Rasenshuriken was essentially a scaled-up version of Naruto's Rasenshuriken. The original manga had explored the development of Rasengan and its variations in great detail. Its practicality—no hand seals, immense power—made it an irresistible technique for Arashi.

Using his Wind and Magnet Release affinities, Arashi had adapted the technique after only a few experiments. If his Sage Mode were more refined, he might even create a fully functional imitation of the Tailed Beast Ball.

Take a break, Minato—I'll teach you if you want.

The sand dunes were finally cleared. Karuke's construction team wasted no time, working tirelessly. Thanks to their efforts and the combined power of over ten thousand Sunagakure ninja, the Highway was completed in just one and a half months.

"Crystal Release: Tunnel Technique!"

With a loud shout, Kentarō unleashed a half-moon-shaped crystalline tunnel that extended forward, connecting seamlessly with the entrance to Victory Valley. Before construction began, Kentarō and the Crystal Release users from Lake Tsuki had undergone specialized training. Their mastery of chakra and their bloodline ability had reached new heights, allowing them to shape crystal structures with incredible precision.

Standing at the mouth of the valley, Arashi looked down at the crystal highway. Every hundred meters, the road alternated colors—purple, red, yellow—preventing thermal expansion cracks. The gaps were filled with asphalt and rubber. Under the sunlight, the multicolored crystal shone brilliantly, creating a dazzling rainbow-like bridge winding through the desert.

"It's beautiful… truly a magical Highway." Arashi was momentarily moved by his own creation.

"I hereby declare the Highway officially open for operation!"

The valley erupted into cheers as the ninja celebrated their achievement.

(Author's Note: This story does not follow the Boruto timeline. Please don't compare it to that. And no arguments about it either!)