018 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

"Is this the Land of Rivers?" Arashi shielded his eyes with his hand as he gazed at the endless rice paddies stretching out ahead.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage," Tsunade replied, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"We're not in an official setting; you can drop the title. It feels too formal," Arashi said with a smile.

Young Hidan and an equally young Might Guy were racing ahead like wild children, likely competing to see who was faster. Behind them, Might Duy, with his thick mustache, laughed heartily, yelling at the two to be careful not to fall into a ditch.

The Sunagakure delegation originally consisted of over 30 members. Apart from Rasa and Pakura serving as bodyguards, most of the group were "exchange students" sent to learn under Konoha's guidance. Some were assigned by the Academy, others by the Medical Division or Administrative Division. By the return trip, only five people remained.

At the farewell ceremony, the Hokage had insisted that mutual learning was key to the alliance. It couldn't just be Sunagakure sending people to learn. Konoha would reciprocate by sending a delegation to assist with various tasks in Sunagakure. To lead this group, he had chosen someone Arashi already knew well: Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage and the greatest medical-nin in the world.

The 20 ninja accompanying her were all top-notch in their respective fields. They were to be the first wave of Konoha's aid to Sunagakure. Arashi had no reason to refuse, in fact, he welcomed such an arrangement. Before leaving, the Hokage had pulled Arashi aside and whispered something that shocked him—he'd been targeted by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Looking at Tsunade's team, Arashi quickly understood the Hokage's intentions—they were here as his bodyguards as well.

Before setting out, Arashi had made one small request: to add another person to the delegation—Might Duy, Konoha's "Eternal Genin." He claimed Duy's taijutsu expertise would make him an excellent instructor for Sunagakure's academy. The Hokage readily agreed.

Duy, however, had one condition: that he be allowed to bring his son, Might Guy, since there was no one to look after him at home. Laughing, Arashi agreed and even added Guy's name to the list. Not stopping there, he called over his disciple, Hidan, and pointed at Guy.

"Go play with him!"

Having spent time under Arashi's care, Hidan had grown to deeply respect his kind and attentive mentor. Over time, he began to forget the gruesome teachings of Jashinism. As a child, he found himself quickly drawn into Guy's endless energy—whether it was wrestling or climbing trees, they became fast friends.

"Something's wrong! There's fighting ahead—smoke too!" Pakura's sharp senses picked up on the disturbance.

"Stay alert! Prepare for battle!" Arashi's voice carried authority as iron sand gathered in his hand, his eyes steely.

"Hidan, Guy, stay back and wait outside the village!"

"The rest of you, infiltrate quietly. Don't make a sound until I give the signal!"

The Land of Rivers was a small. Its proximity to Konoha meant it had largely been spared from war, and its residents lived peaceful, pastoral lives. Today, however, that peace was shattered.

Seven terrifying figures wielding bizarre swords rampaged through the village, slaughtering indiscriminately. There was no justification, no reason—just senseless carnage. In under two hours, the tranquil village was reduced to ashes.

Among them, Jūzō Biwa was the most bloodthirsty. When Fuguki Suikazan suggested the village as a potential ambush site, Jūzō eagerly charged in with his Executioner's Blade, killing anyone in sight. As the first villager fell, the sight of blood ignited a frenzy among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. They joined in, turning the once-idyllic village into a hellscape.

"Clang!"

"Huh?"

Jūzō's blade was unexpectedly stopped mid-swing by a gleaming shard of violet crystal. The wielder, a simple farmer, trembled violently, drool dribbling from his mouth. His eyes, wide with terror, held a flicker of defiance.

"A kekkei genkai user in such a tiny village?" Jinin Akebino, carrying the Helmet Splitter, remarked in surprise.

"Looks like they don't even know it themselves," Ameyuri Ringo, with the Kiba blades, sneered. "Jūzō, you can't even handle a farmer? How pathetic!"

Snarling, Jūzō kicked the farmer away and raised his sword to finish him. But before he could strike, a massive golden crystal wall erupted between them.

"Well, now this is interesting," said Mangetsu Hōzuki, the wielder of the Twin Blades, tapping the wall with curiosity.

Behind the wall, five or six other farmers pressed their hands against its surface, clearly the ones who had created it. Huddled behind them were women and children, trembling in fear. The houses around them burned, smoke billowing into the sky as if proclaiming the village's demise.

Jinin, always direct, swung the Helmet Splitter at the wall with all his strength. The weapon struck with a dull thud but left not even a scratch. The Seven were stunned, the Helmet Splitter, known for its ability to crush defenses, had failed.

"Let me try!" Ameyuri shouted, swinging the Kiba blades. A deafening explosion rang out, but when the smoke cleared, the wall stood firm.

Fuguki, silent until now, observed the wall thoughtfully before pulling Jinpachi Munashi aside and whispering. Jinpachi nodded.

"Three, two, one!"

"Water Release: Water Cannon!"

"Wind Release: Blade of Wind!"

The combined techniques created a high-pressure water jet, striking the crystal wall with a piercing screech. The frequency climbed higher and higher until it became unbearable, and finally, the wall shattered into glittering fragments.

"Ha! Nice work, Fuguki!"

"Pathetic fools. Did you really think you could stop us?"

Jinin charged in to claim his victims, but a voice rang out.

"Stop! How dare you slaughter innocents in broad daylight!"

A figure cloaked in blue lightning stepped forward, his presence commanding. In an instant, he delivered a powerful kick, sending Jinin flying several meters.

"Whoa! Your sensei is so cool!" Guy, perched on a tree, looked on with stars in his eyes.

"Of course! That's my sensei we're talking about!" Hidan bragged.

"Bastard," Jūzō growled, swinging his massive sword at Arashi.

Before it could land, another streak of blue lightning flashed. With incredible precision, Duy disarmed Jūzō, his fiery aura making him seem like a god of war.

"Whoa! Your dad is awesome too!" Hidan exclaimed in awe.

"Obviously! That's my dad!" Guy flashed a wide grin, his bright teeth gleaming in the sunlight.