015 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

"Slow down. No one's going to take your food." Arashi watched the child across from him, devouring his meal with gusto. He reached out and placed another chicken leg into the boy's bowl.

When it came to dealing with the followers of Jashin, Arashi knew better than to be reckless. Hidan alone, with his Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood, had taken down Yugito Nii, two-tails jinchūriki, as well as elite ninja Asuma Sarutobi. Without a clear strategy, it would be all too easy to fall victim to his abilities. Worse yet, Hidan was effectively immortal, making him an exceptionally difficult adversary.

Still, the Valley Leader had been exceedingly polite—offering hot springs and a generous meal—and their offered payment was no small amount. As one of the Five Kage and leader of Sunagakure, Arashi couldn't just turn them down without damaging his reputation. He agreed to the mission and began gathering intel.

The cult of Jashin wasn't vast—only about a hundred members, with fewer than ten reaching jōnin-level strength. The real problem was the so-called "immortals." With this information, Arashi devised a plan emphasizing speed and precision.

He would lead the initial strike, with Rasa following to seal any immortals in gold dust immediately, denying them the chance to use their rituals. Meanwhile, Pakura and the other ninjas would secure the perimeter to ensure no one escaped.

The operation went smoothly. Three immortals were sealed by Rasa, one child was rescued, and all remaining cultists were eliminated. Among the spoils were a tri-bladed scythe, an extendable spear, a scroll from the Jashin statue, and over twenty million ryō in cash.

The rescued child was none other than a young Hidan. It was evident that the cult's leader had been trying to mass-produce immortals, though with a low success rate. After many failed experiments and numerous deaths, only three had been successfully transformed. Frustrated by the waste of his followers, the leader began abducting children from villages, intending to turn them into brainwashed adherents once the experiments succeeded.

When Arashi and Rasa cleared out the cultists, Rasa noticed the child, tied up but still alive—just unconscious. Pulling the dagger from the boy's chest, Arashi paused thoughtfully before saying,

"Patch him up. Let's take him back."

Later, Arashi examined the scroll they had recovered. The words "Death Command Ritual" were written in blood across the top. As he read further, he was surprised. The technique seemed to transcend conventional ninjutsu, resembling Reaper Death Seal with its invocation of divine powers. The first half detailed gruesome rituals and blood sacrifices required to transform a person into a "servant of the god," or an immortal. However, it also noted the extremely low success rate—barely one in a hundred. The second half described the method for performing the curse technique.

Finished reading, Arashi turned to the boy, who was now eating heartily, seemingly unbothered by recent events. Arashi fell into thought.

Should I poach him from the Akatsuki?

In the original manga, Hidan's potential seemed underdeveloped. If handled properly, he could become an invaluable asset. Just imagine if Hidan mastered the Eight Gates—he'd be unstoppable, free to push his body to the limit without fearing the repercussions. Even the likes of Madara would hesitate before such raw power!

A smile crossed Arashi's face as he poured the boy a cup of hot tea and gently patted his back.

"Young man," he said warmly, "I see great potential in you. Would you like to learn ninjutsu from me?"

...

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama, for coming to our aid. This is a debt Tanigakure Village will never forget."

"No need for such formality, Valley Leader-sama. Sunagakure and Tanigakure are neighbors and allies. It was a minor matter, not worth mentioning."

"What you consider minor was a matter of survival for us. Please, allow us to show our gratitude with proper hospitality."

"There's no need. I appreciate your kindness, but I must leave soon to finalize an alliance with Konoha. Lingering here too long would delay my journey."

"Oh, I see. An alliance is indeed a priority. But Kazekage-sama, what should we do with these three?" The Valley Leader gestured toward the three immobilized immortals, bound tightly like hogs for slaughter.

"They're your defectors. How you handle them is entirely up to you."

Valley Leader hesitated, lowering his voice. "Kazekage-sama, these individuals cannot be killed by any means—neither by blade nor fire. Their minds have been corrupted by years of brainwashing. I truly don't know how to deal with them. Please, advise us."

Arashi called Pakura over and whispered a few instructions.

"Magnet Release: Column of Iron!"

A massive column of iron sand rose into the air before drilling into the ground, creating a deep pit overten meters deep.

With a nod to Rasa, Arashi watched as Rasa delivered three powerful kicks, sending the immortals tumbling into the pit. Gagged, they writhed like worms, only able to emit muffled groans.

"These cultists harmed children and committed countless atrocities. They deserve this punishment! Bury them!" Arashi ordered.

A ninja skilled in Earth Release quickly filled the pit, leveling the ground.

"Magnet Release! Scorch Release!"

Arashi formed a massive iron lion from sand, and Pakura's Scorch Release heated it until it glowed red-hot.

With a loud crash, the molten iron lion was dropped onto the pit, sealing it entirely.

"This iron block weighs a thousand pounds. No matter how immortal they are, they'll cause no more trouble from beneath it."

Grateful beyond words, Valley Leader showered Arashi with gifts, which he accepted with a smile before bidding farewell.

...

"What do you think of this young Kazekage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his back to Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, his advisors.

"He's an outstanding talent," Homura said simply.

"From our simulations of his decisions based on his circumstances, his strategies have been consistently optimal," Koharu added.

Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Impressive. No wonder Danzo fell to him."

The advisors exchanged glances. "We believe that forming an alliance with Sunagakure will benefit Konoha greatly."

Hiruzen leaned forward, curious. "Explain."

"With this alliance, we can pull back our forces from the Land of Rain and avoid fighting on two fronts. Konoha would only need to defend against Kirigakure in the east and Kumogakure in the northeast, significantly reducing our defensive burden. Additionally, recent intelligence suggests that Iwagakure has fully entered the Land of Rain and is already clashing with Danzo's forces."

"Ōnoki's a madman!" Hiruzen slammed his fist on the desk.

"Dispatch Hiashi Hyūga and Chōza Akimichi with reinforcements immediately. Make sure Ōnoki regrets his actions. As for the Kazekage…" Hiruzen sat back in his chair, puffing on his pipe.

"Prepare a grand welcome ceremony for him!"