008 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

The Lake Tsuki, more accurately described as a large oasis surrounding it, lay about 400 kilometers from Sunagakure. Though modest in size—only about 20 acres—it was the largest inland freshwater lake in the Land of Wind. Around its shores, low shrubs were deliberately planted to prevent erosion. Beyond the lake, drought-resistant desert vegetation spread in concentric circles for over a hundred kilometers, creating an expansive oasis. At its outermost edge, a rudimentary windbreak wall and several military fortifications stood as remnants of the First Kazekage, Reto's era.

"This place is beautiful," Arashi said, shading his eyes with his hand as he admired the shimmering blue water. "I think it's even better than Sunagakure. It's about the same size, but having such a vast body of water in the desert is a rare blessing. If we built a city here and planned it well, in five years, I could triple its size. Chiyo-sama, why didn't Lord Retto establish Sunagakure here instead?"

Chiyo glanced around to ensure they were alone before answering. "It wasn't for lack of consideration. The decision was strategic."

She continued, "When Reto was scouting locations for Sunagakure, this was his first choice. But being meticulous, he sent Ebizō to study the Lake Tsuki's water source. After a year of investigation, they discovered that Lake Tsuki isn't a self-sustaining body of water—it's fed by subterranean flow from the Shule River. If the upstream source were ever cut off, the lake would dry up, and this place would become a wasteland. Keep this information to yourself—I'm only telling you because you're the Kazekage. If Danzo gets wind of it, he'll probably block the upstream flow just to spite us, hah!"

"No wonder the First and Second Kazekages always kept an eye on the Land of Rain. I used to think—..."

"You thought they cared about that perpetually rainy, miserable place? Don't underestimate their strategic foresight." Chiyo chuckled, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked ahead.

"Then we should turn this into a logistics base—build farms, relocate people here to grow crops, vegetables, and medicinal plants, even raise livestock. That would surely improve Sunagakure's economy!"

"And how would you transport the goods? It's 400 kilometers of desert away."

"Build a road."

"A road in the desert? Half of it would get buried before you finish!" Chiyo scoffed, shaking her head. Changing the subject, she asked, "Speaking of that old turtle Danzo, he sure knows when to retreat. Took a small loss and scurried back to the Sands Oasis to lick his wounds. What do you think he's planning now?"

"What else? Thinking up ways to deal with me," Arashi said with a smirk.

Chiyo suddenly stopped in her tracks. "You're pushing your luck. You're not just an elite jonin anymore, you're the Third Kazekage. Stop putting yourself in harm's way all the time. Do you think your life belongs to you alone?"

Arashi sighed. "I don't want to, but we lack capable hands. There are too few people I can truly rely on. Some tasks, I just can't entrust to others."

"I think after this war, I'll go traveling under the guise of diplomacy. These chaotic times are bound to hide great talents in the wilderness. Stirring up the stagnant waters of our village might bring fresh life. It's only been a few generations, yet we've produced so few exceptional shinobi."

Chiyo nodded. Compared to Konoha's adaptability and Kumogakure's militaristic extremes, Sunagakure's talent cultivation lagged behind. The lack of a system to nurture and protect rare kekkei genkai users was glaring. In all these years, only Pakura with her Scorch Release had emerged—a discovery Arashi had made from his memories.

In the original timeline, Sunagakure's late stage had only two notable shinobi: Gaara and Sasori of the Red Sand. One was a future Kazekage, the other a rogue ninja. Temari and Kankurō didn't even come close. Veterans like Chiyo and Ebizō, who would've been museum pieces in Konoha, were still fighting battles during the Fifth Kazekage's era. It was as if Sunagakure had no choice but to rely on them. This needed to change. A village where the leader had to handle everything personally couldn't sustain itself.

"You've always been ambitious, even as a child," Chiyo said, shaking her head with a wry smile.

"You're already dreaming about the fruit before planting the tree. But first, you need to finish this war, don't you think?"

...

"Do you think we've missed anything, Shikachō?" Danzo asked, his gaze fixed on the middle-aged ninja before him.

"There's too little reliable intel," Nara Shikachō replied, shaking his head. "This Arashi, despite his youth, is a seasoned ninja. He rarely leaves survivors during missions. All we know is that he can control iron sand and use Shadow Clones. Beyond that, nothing. Our current plan is crude at best, with a 60% success rate at most."

"Refine it as much as you can. Whatever resources or personnel you need, just say the word," Danzo replied, his tone calm as ever.

"I believe that capturing him will bring this war to an end. Do your best, Shikachō-san," Danzo added, bowing slightly. The Nara clan leader returned the gesture.

Danzo's calculating, suspicious, and ruthless nature was already evident, even in his prime. He never tolerated the slightest oversight, ensuring everything went his way. While he preached self-sacrifice for shinobi, he rarely practiced it himself.

Now, with Sunagakure and the Land of Rain at each other's throats, Danzo had opportunistically intervened, sacrificing the Sannin to confront the famed "Salamander" Hanzo of the Rain. Once the tide turned, he used overwhelming force to compel Hanzo to sign a humiliating treaty. Similarly, when facing the Second Kazekage Shamon, he sacrificed Uchiha Kagami to lure the enemy into a trap, securing victory from the shadows.

Everything was going according to plan. All that stood in his way now were the Sunagakure remnants at Lake Tsuki. Once he removed that obstacle—whether through annihilation or subjugation like Hanzo—Danzo would solidify his position. His influence within Konoha would grow, and the Hokage's seat might finally be within reach.

But then, a blue-haired upstart had appeared to derail everything! Arashi's strategic retreat from the Sands Oasis left Danzo with nothing but abandoned shacks and foul-smelling, dung-filled wells. It was like gulping down hot porridge too quickly—impossible to swallow or spit out.

Pursuing with the entire army to Lake Tsuki would stretch the supply lines tenfold, leaving them vulnerable to ambush. Not pursuing would allow Sunagakure to regroup, resupply, and even seek external reinforcements. A failed campaign would give Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Konoha leaders leverage against him. To make matters worse, reports suggested Iwagakure's forces were already encroaching near the Land of Rain's borders.

"Summon Jiraiya and Orochimaru," Danzo ordered, his eyes flashing with a cold, murderous gleam.